Dutch St Martin gets interim govt ahead of elections

THE HAGUE: An interim government is to take over on the Dutch part of the hurricane-hit Caribbean island of Saint Martin ahead of elections next month, Dutch media reported Saturday. The caretaker cabinet, headed by prime minister Leona Marlin-Romeo, was agreed late Friday after a row with the Netherlands over aid to the devastated territory forced the resignation of the previous premier in November. Marlin-Romeo and her cabinet will be sworn in on Monday, the Dutch news agency ANP reported. Known as Sint Maarten in Dutch, the territory was ravaged when Hurricane Irma torpedoed through the Caribbean in September. Up to 70 percent of its buildings and infrastructure were destroyed, and recovery efforts have been slow.