SXMElections.com

Country has 480 taxis and 263 bus licences

PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten has a total of 480 taxi licences and 263 bus licences on the roads. There are 39 large “tour” buses with “T” (tour bus) licence plate numbers and a total of 31 “G” licence plate numbers. This is based on numbers given to Parliament’s Permanent Committee for Transportation by Transport Minister Claret Conner on Thursday.

He also informed MPs the moratorium on the issuance of bus and taxi licences remains in place until a study on the state of the industry is conducted Read more

High Court rejects all but one Standard Trust appeal

PHILIPSBURG--The High Court in The Hague this week rejected all but one appeal filed in the so-called Standard Trust case. Only the case of Standard Trust Company (STC) NV director co-director Jodi Lynn Garner (42) was referred back to the Joint Court of Justice in St. Maarten for retrial.

In November 2012, STC and its directors Allard Stamm, Corinne De Tullio-Stamm and Garner were acquitted by the Appeals Court of money laundering, but found guilty of violation of the Ordinance on Unusual Transactions.

For this crime, committed between June 1, 2006, and July 21, 2006, each defendant was sentenced to suspended NAf Read more

Community meets police on escalating burglaries, violence

SOUTH REWARD--About thirty concerned residents of Waymouth Hill and South Reward gathered Thursday evening for a meeting with Police Force representatives concerning a serious and escalating string of break-ins in the area.

Some of the residents, discontented and having lost some faith that a solution was being found, say they would have been very disappointed had it simply been a "lock your windows and doors" type of meeting. However, they said they found it informative, and found the police representatives to be "open, frank and candid," as put by one resident.

"They didn't make excuses," and came across as approachable Read more

‘St. Maarten still uncooperative to solve Saba, Statia dilemmas’

THE HAGUE--The St. Maarten Government is still uncooperative in certain areas of the relations with St. Eustatius and Saba. Areas include (double) taxation of goods for the two smaller islands, the medical evacuation of patients and the airport taxes.

Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk stated this in a letter that he sent to the Dutch Parliament on Thursday. The letter, which was released on Friday, dealt with a number of obstacles in the relations between St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---  Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (Ministry TEATT) Honorable Claret Connor was present for the oath-taking ceremony of civil servants from the Ministry TEATT that took place recently.
"I am very proud to be able to work with these professional women and men who have taken an oath to serve the people of this country.
"I have a great team to work with Read more

Central Committee meeting to further discuss the Integrity Chamber Ordinance Adjourned to Monday.

style="text-align: center;">Polices, Legislations and Guidelines needed to strengthen the Purpose of the Integrity Chamber.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Members of Parliament mostly from the governing coalition requested that the chairman of Parliament adjourn the central committee meeting that was supposed to continue on Friday morning to discuss the draft ordinance to establish an Integrity Chamber on St. Maarten. The Members of Parliament from the governing coalition wanted more time to study the additional documents that were presented to them on Friday morning Read more

>Cole Bay: --- Caribbean Auto Sales owned and operated by the Amjad family has added another top of the line brand of vehicles to their fleet as they are one of St. Maarten's biggest auto dealer on the island. When one hears the name Masood, the first thing they think about is insurance as he is the architect that built NAGICO Insurances from scratch.
However, the Amjad's "Mac and Rena" are dedicated business people that are not afraid to take chances, while working endless hours to build the businesses they own Read more

Foreign Id Accepted When Voting Confirms Chairman Of Main Voting Bureau

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - "The electoral ordinance does not prohibit the use of foreign identification for voting purposes," stated chairman of the Main Voting Bureau, attorney Jason Rogers.

Attorney Rogers was at the time speaking on the floor of Parliament discussing the issue of alleged discrepancies during and in preparation of the August 29th parliamentary elections last year.

The meeting was at the request of MPs Read more

Harold Jack Passes Away Friday

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Well known entertainer Harold Jack passed away at the St. Maarten Medical Center on Friday afternoon.

The late Harold Jack in his later years was well known for his operation on the "look out point" from where he sold refreshments to the islands visitors who stopped at the location to take picture and enjoy the scenic view of the islands South and Western coastline including Cay Bay, Cole Bay, Simpson Bay and the Lagoon.

At the "look out point" Harold would only sell non-alcoholic beverages.

Harold Jack died who was in his 70s, died after a short illness at the St Read more

The Case Against Dollarization

The fact that there is still a discussion on the dollarization issue is somewhat strange to me and not because I think it would the worst thing that can happen to us in St. Maarten but because of the total lack of actual benefits proposed by those supporting dollarization.

The symposium on dollarization organized by the Council on Advice at the University of St. Maarten only confirms what I have believed all along, that dollarization is not a valid option for St. Maarten. Although I am basing my article on what was published in the media since I was unable to attend the actual meeting.

In the media, supporter of dollarization, Mr Read more

Implementation Counterpart Policy Is Still Far Away

Ministry publishes rules in National Gazette

St. Maarten – The labor department will deny work permits to companies that refuse to hire “a counterpart found suitable by the department and made available to the employer.” This is one of the rules laid down in the counterpart policy the government published in the National Gazette last week. It will still take some time though, before the private sector is going to feel the effects of the controversial counterpart policy because the ministry first wants to do a pilot project that will last one year from the moment it begins.

“The quality of the execution of the policy by the labor department is a determining factor for the success of the counterpart policy Read more

Integrity Chamber Meets Resistance From Coalition

St. Maarten – The draft ordinance for the establishment of St. Maarten’s Integrity Chamber met with unexpected opposition from within the governing coalition yesterday. Members of the opposition also expressed their doubts. Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs said that he is facing a May 5 deadline. On that date, the Dutch Council of State renders judgment on the advice the Kingdom Council of Ministers has requested about a looming instruction for St Read more

Silver Medallist Returns To Rousing Welcome

St. Maarten – Shakeba Pink wrote her name boldly in the sporting books of Country St. Maarten when she won a Silver medal at the 44th Annual Carifta Games which took place in St. Kitts over the Easter weekend.

Pink, the leading middle distance runner on the island, follows the footsteps of Claude Paul, a former member of the Lab Sports Academy who was also the first male runner to medal at the same event several years ago under the Netherlands Antilles. Ironically, this is Pink’s second time at the Carifta Games, she was unable to secure a place on the podium in her first outing, but this time, she did it and that is a plus for St Maarten Read more

Public Notice For Sunday April 12 (Cycling Race)

In connection with the upcoming cycling race which is organized by Soualiga Riders and scheduled to take place on Sunday April 12th the police department is announcing the following:

The race will start at 01 p.m. on the Welfare road in the vicinity of Willy’s Restaurant and Mini Mart and head towards the Kruythoff round about and turning right on to A.J.C. Brouwers road, round about on the top of the hill, A.J.C. Brouwers road, Church hill round about, Bush road, Zagergut road, The Cottage round about, A Read more

1,000 to jam in Lighted Parade, motorists should note diversions

~ Zero tolerance in effect ~

PHILIPSBURG--Police on Thursday called on motorists to take note of the traffic diversions that will result from road closures associated with Rio Productions' fourth annual Lighted Parade on Saturday, April 11, from 8:00pm to 2:00am.

Front Street will close as of 5:00pm on Saturday in preparation for the parade, and vehicles parked on the road after this time will be towed at the owner's expense.

Brenda Wathey of Rio Productions told reporters at a press conference on Thursday that the parade has grown tremendously with some 1,000 persons registered to jam this year Read more

New law on transport expected in mid-2016

PHILIPSBURG--“To professionalize, promote and enhance public transportation equally for consumers and operators alike” is the goal of the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication, Minister responsible Claret Connor told Parliament’s Permanent Committee for Transport on Thursday afternoon.

Conner was at Parliament House to talk with the committee about the state of the country’s transportation sector Read more

Halley land saga heard by Petitions Committee

~ 'Something wrong,' way forward to be determined ~

PHILIPSBURG--Marlon Halley, supported in particular by community spokesperson Yvette Halley, had the transfer of land rights plaguing him heard by Members of Parliament on Thursday during a Petitions Committee meeting at Parliament House.

The meeting was the result of a petition submitted March 4 that called for Parliament to thoroughly investigate "fishy business" surrounding the land deal that entailed government taking ownership of the land where Marlon Halley has operated a business for some 28 years, and long-leasing it to developers without his knowing Read more

Hennis-Plasschaert: Kingdom partners have to ‘hold hands’ and work together

PHILIPSBURG--The countries in the Dutch Kingdom have to "hold hands" and continue to cooperate in the best interest of their citizens and in the interest of security.

This was the main message from Dutch Minister of Defence Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, who wrapped up her visit to the islands of Curacao, St. Eustatius, Saba and St. Maarten on Thursday.

The minister and her delegation will depart for the Netherlands today, Friday. While in St. Maarten, Hennis-Plasschaert met with the armed forced in the defence ministry, Governor Eugene Holiday, Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs and Justice Minister Dennis Richardson Read more

US and Cuba hold highest-level meeting in more than 50 years

PANAMA CITY--The U.S. and Cuban foreign ministers were to meet in Panama on Thursday, the U.S. State Department said, in what would be the highest-level meeting between the two sides since the earliest days of the Cuban revolution more than half a century ago.

The discussions between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez would be the first time the two nations' chief diplomats have met since a historic opening by President Barack Obama and his Cuban counterpart, Raul Castro, that was announced on Dec Read more

Stephane Earl Duzong ready for Eruption in Paradise

PHILIPSBURG--Stephane Earl Duzong will represent the SXM Rock Boxing Club on the pro-am boxing card Eruption in Paradise at L.B. Scott Sports Auditorium May 30.
    Duzong has been in the sport for one year. He trains with former pro St. Maarten fighter Claudette Alexander.  Eruption in Paradise will be his first fight Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Council of Ministers approved the long lease that is to be granted to Rainforest Adventure on March 18th 2015.
According to documents SMN News obtained showed that an advice prepared by Domain Affairs which was signed off by the head of VROMI Louis Brown on March 9th 2015 and booked in at the Department of General Affairs under Div Read more

Heated Debate by Members of Parliament as to how they will deal with the Petition sent to Parliament regarding the Simpson Bay Development.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Chairlady of the petitions committee of Parliament MP Leona Marlin-Romeo opened a pandora box on Thursday when she asked the Members of Parliament to establish how they will handle petitions sent to Parliament. While the debate on how the committee will handle petitions, the three residents of Simson Bay were sitting in Parliament to be heard Read more

Central Committee Meeting reconvened for Friday about Draft National Ordinance to Establish Integrity Chamber

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Central Committee of Parliament will meet in public session on April 10. The Minister of General Affairs Hon. Marcel Gumbs will be present for the House session.

The public Central Committee meeting is was adjourned on April 8 is now being reconvened for Friday at 9.00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.

The three point agenda is: the draft National Ordinance for the establishment of a Integrity Chamber; second agenda point is approval of the travel schedule for the year 2015 in connection with Committee and Board of Directors meetings of the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino); and the third agenda point is approval of the composition of the delegation and provisions for General Assembly of Parlatino from May 15-16.
Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary session will be carried live on St Read more

Central Committee Meeting Reconvened For Friday About Draft National Ordinance To Establish Integrity Chamber

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The Central Committee of Parliament will meet in public session on April 10. The Minister of General Affairs Hon. Marcel Gumbs will be present for the House session.

The public Central Committee meeting is was adjourned on April 8 is now being reconvened for Friday at 9.00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.

The three point agenda is: the draft National Ordinance for the establishment of a Integrity Chamber; second agenda point is approval of the travel schedule for the year 2015 in connection with Committee and Board of Directors meetings of the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino); and the third agenda point is approval of the composition of the delegation and provisions for General Assembly of Parlatino from May 15-16.

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary session will be carried live on St Read more