SXMElections.com

Former Vdsm Head Detained In Tarpon Investigation

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The former head of the St. Maarten National Security Service VDSM J.A.J.R. (41) has been arrested on Tuesday, July 19 by members of the National Detective Agency assisted by officers of the St. Maarten Police Force KPSM.

His house in Ebenezer, Cul de Sac was also searched in connection with the ongoing investigation concerning embezzlement and money laundering called Tarpon, led by the National Detective Agency.

A search was also done in a hotel room and at a moving company Read more

Smcp Opens Headquarters And Presents Its Manifesto

PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten Christian Party (SMCP) opened its headquarters on lower Back Street and launched its manifesto on Wednesday, becoming the first party to do so ahead of the September 26 Parliamentary elections.

Interim Work Permits For Adult Entertainers

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Emil Lee announced on Wednesday that adjustments to the old work permit policy for adult entertainers were made to prevent any abuse and to ensure that Government does not facilitate human trafficking.

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Missing In Action Is A Total And Broadly Carried Vision For St. Maarten

Not unlike elections before, there is no shortage of “plans” during this campaign leading up to the September 2016 election. Plans and ideas of individual (prospective) candidates are now surfacing at least one every day. And there is basically nothing wrong with this. Anyone is free to “share” his/her ideas.

However, it would be much more revealing if these ideas were part of the vision of the party that the candidate represents Read more

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Book Of The Dead By St. Martin’S Lasana Sekou: “Memory, Identity, And Immortality In The Caribbean”

By Michela A. Calderaro

Caribbean literature has been gaining stature and critical attention beyond its territorial boundaries, not only in countries whose people speak the Caribbean languages, but also in such countries as my Italy.

In Italy the study of Caribbean literature, culture and history is part of university curricula, and more and more high school teachers are introducing their students to this rich and colorful world. This is happening, in part, because today the Caribbean is the most dynamic literary environment, where a lot is happening, where literary festivals are organized one after another and, mainly, where a new use of language is taking form, or, better, where language happens.

And when one talks about language, Lasana Sekou’s name comes to mind at once with shimmering colors.

Reading Book of the Dead felt like embarking on a journey on high seas Read more

Frans: Usp Is About ‘True Leadership’ For St. Maarten

PHILIPSBURG – Leader of the United St. Maarten Party (USP) Frans Richardson, on Wednesday, July 20, stressed that while he is the political leader of the party, any good leader must embrace the fact that leadership is more about moving forward together than thinking and acting individually.

Richardson said that leadership within the USP is about being decisive and clear in motive, but also having the ability to structure a team and movement in which everyone can see themselves in.

Speaking with Lady Grace on 102.7FM on Wednesday morning, Richardson said it is very encouraging to him and the party board to hear from so many people who have confidence in USP’s team structure.

“We reflect true leadership and behave as a family where everyone has a voice Read more

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Money Is Not Everything

That is something I was taught growing up in a Christian home. Today I can look back and applaud my parents for teaching me this, because I can now apply it to the methods our Government use to run their business when it comes to the collection of taxes.

We need to understand that small businesses are vital to our economy, a matter of fact, to any economy around the world. Small businesses are more versed and play a big part in creating some of the revenue that Government needs.

In this day and age, we see our Cruise Industry shrinking by leaps and bounds Read more

Mp Frankie Meyers Considers Legal Action Against Na Board

PHILIPSBURG – On July 17, UPP Faction leader and Member of Parliament (MP) Frankie Meyers appeared on radio show “Breakfast with de Robert” where several topics were discussed.

One of the topics was Government using Government-owned company GEBE to plug the holes of the country’s budget. An example was given of the request by the current National Alliance (NA)-led Government to withdraw NAf Read more

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“Back And Forth Bickering Between Na And Upp Over Gebe, But No Solution In Sight!”

PHILIPSBURG – It is the people of St. Maarten who are continuing to suffer while the heated debate over who is most responsible for the current GEBE woes continues between the National Alliance (NA) and the United Peoples Party (UPP), noted leader of the One St. Maarten People Party (OSPP) Lenny Priest, who opined that workable solutions are what the country needs and not “high school antics from elected officials.”

Priest was reacting to recent media statements on the situation at GEBE from the board of NA who alleged “it seems every time that government or government-owned companies needs to make a significant purchase some family or friend is involved in some way or the other,” and to statements by the UPP alleging that it was the NA who stopped the purchase of the engine needed by GEBE.

“This constant back and forth between the largest political parties over what has happened at GEBE under their tenure with accusations of nepotism and the like levied against each other is in no way a solution to the problem Read more

Ministry Vsa Receives 3 Bids For Construction Of The New Hospital

PHILIPSBURG – St. Maarten is one step closer to the realization of the construction of the new St. Maarten Hospital. “As the Ministry of VSA, we continue working towards providing a high quality medical system that is affordable and easily accessible for the people,” said Minister of VSA Emil Lee.

During Wednesday’s, July 20, Council Of Ministers Press Briefing, Minister Lee stated that the Ministry of VSA, along with SZV, and SMMC received 3 completed bids for the new St Read more

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Health Minister Lee Announces Interim Work Permit Policy For Adult Entertainers

PHILIPSBURG – During Wednesday’s, July 20, Press Briefing, Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor Emil Lee stated, “Adjustments to the old work permit policy for adult entertainers were made in order to prevent any abuse, and to ensure that Government doesn’t facilitate human trafficking.”

He also mentioned that “the policy will serve until the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, and Transportation develops their permanent policy/solution for the adult entertainers.”

Due to a memo received from the Prosecutor’s Office earlier this year, the Council of Ministers agreed that the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, and Transportation would develop and present a new policy for commercial sex workers.

In the interim, the court ruled that Ministry VSA needed to accept requests for adult entertainers and process within 2-3 weeks Read more

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Ministry Vsa Receives 3 Bids For The Construction Of The New Smmc

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - St.Maarten is one step closer towards the realization for the construction of the New St.Maarten Hospital. “As the Ministry of VSA, we continue working towards providing a high quality medical system that is affordable and easily accessible for the people” said Minister of VSA Emil Lee.

During Wednesdays Council Of Ministers Press briefing, Minister Lee stated that the Ministry of VSA, along with SZV , and SMMC received 3 completed bids for the New St.Maarten Medical Center on Monday July 18 by 2 PM.

12 original interested bidders were narrowed down by preselection criteria to a total of 5 bidders and of those 5, 3 submitted their bids by the cut off time.

In order to guarantee transparency, the bids were received at the Tjon A Jong Civil Law Notary office located on Frontstreet, and was received in the presence of the awarding team consisting of representatives of the Ministry of VSA, SZV, SMMC, KPMG (projectleader), and Royal HaskoningDHV who is an engineering consultant Read more

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The Hague, The Netherlands, Incumbent Kingdom Ambassador the Hon. Mr. Norbert Braakhuis , well known to Sint Maarten, who was previously stationed in Havana, Cuba will be taking up his new post in Venezuela as per August 12th, visited the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary accompanied by Mrs. Jacinda Hofland from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs..
He was received by the Cabinet’s Director, Perry Geerlings and acting Director of the Cabinet, Margie van Gijn Read more

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Sarah Wescot: New Hospital On Gov’T’S Agenda

St. Maarten News —The construction of a new hospital is one of several projects in the pipeline for the current government, according to President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams. At press conference yesterday, Mrs. Wescot-Williams explained that there will be an announcement of the names of the companies who have won the bid for the new hospital Read more

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Up Mp Franklin Meyers Blasts Gov’T On Gebe

St. Maarten News—United People’s Party (UP) member of Parliament Franklin Meyers blasted the government for what he terms a mismanagement of power company GEBE in light of the latest string of power outages on the island. “This is unbelievable! The mismanagement of GEBE goes beyond party politics Read more

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Ppa Introduces New Candidate Anique Liu

St. Maarten News —People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA) leader Gracita Arrindell announced on Sunday that Anique Liu will be contesting the September 26 parliamentary elections. “We are pleased to have Anique join the P.P.A Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- St.Maarten is one step closer towards the realization for the construction of the New St.Maarten Hospital. “As the Ministry of VSA, we continue working towards providing a high quality medical system that is affordable and easily accessible for the people” said Minister of VSA Emil Lee.
During Wednesdays Council Of Ministers Press briefing, Minister Lee stated that the Ministry of VSA, along with SZV , and SMMC received 3 completed bids for the New St.Maarten Medical Center on Monday July 18 by 2 PM.
12 original interested bidders were narrowed down by preselection criteria to a total of 5 bidders and of those 5, 3 submitted their bids by the cut off time.
In order to guarantee transparency, the bids were received at the Tjon A Jong Civil Law Notary office located on Frontstreet, and was received in the presence of the awarding team consisting of representatives of the Ministry of VSA, SZV, SMMC, KPMG (projectleader), and Royal HaskoningDHV who is an engineering consultant Read more

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Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- -During Wednesdays Press Briefing, Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor Emil Lee stated that “Adjustments to the old work permit policy for adult entertainers, were made in order to prevent any abuse, and to ensure that Government doesn’t facilitate human trafficking”. He also mentioned that “the policy will serve until the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, and Transportation develops their permanent policy/solution for the adult entertainers”.
Due to a memo received from the prosecutor’s office earlier this year, the Council of Ministers agreed that the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, and Transportation would develop and present a new policy for Commercial sex workers.
In the interim, the court ruled that Ministry VSA needed to accept requests for adult entertainers and process within 2-3 weeks Read more

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Candidates in this article:

Back And Forth Bickering Between Na And Up Over Gebe But No Solution In Sight.

PHILIPSBURG: --- It is the people of St. Maarten who are continuing to suffer while the heated debate over who is most responsible for the current Gebe woes continues between the National Alliance and the United People Party, notes leader of the One St. Maarten People Party Lenny Priest who opined that workable solutions are what the country needs and not “high school antics from elected officials.”
Priest was reacting to recent media statements on the situation at Gebe from the board of the NA who alleged ‘it seems every time that government or government owned companies needs to make a significant purchase some family or friend is involved in some way or the other’ and to statements by the UP alleging that it was the NA who stopped the purchase of the engine needed by Gebe.
“This constant back and forth between the largest political parties over what has happened at Gebe under their tenure with accusations of nepotism and the like levied against each other is in no way a solution to the problem Read more

Frans: Usp Is About ‘True Leadership’ For St. Maarten.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United St. Maarten Party (USP) Frans Richardson on Wednesday stressed that while he is the political leader of the party, any good leader must embrace the fact that leadership is more about moving forward together than thinking and acting individually Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United St. Maarten Party (USP) Member of Parliament Frans Richardson dismissed jabs against his party as a party for “ship jumpers” by focusing on the fact that the individuals targeted still have lots to contribute to the country Read more

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PHILIPSBURG: --- MP Christopher Emmanuel is calling on the Temporary Manager of GEBE Andrew Zaggers to step down from his post immediately simply because he is out of touch and has no consideration for the employees of GEBE. He said that Zaggers has no feelings for the moral of the workers, and their ability to function under this HR manager Read more

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The Hague Netherlands:---On July 19th, 2016 the Director and acting Director welcomed the Minister Councillor at the Belgian Embassy in The Hague, Mrs. Emmanuelle De Foy, to the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary .
The Director of the Cabinet, Mr. Perry Geerlings, gave a brief synopsis of the role Sint Maarten plays within the Kingdom since obtaining its autonomous status Read more

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Former Vdsm Head Detained In Tarpon Investigation

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The former head of the St. Maarten National Security Service VDSM J.A.J.R. (41) has been arrested on Tuesday, July 19 by members of the National Detective Agency assisted by officers of the St. Maarten Police Force KPSM. His house in Ebenezer, Cul de Sac was also searched in connection with the ongoing investigation concerning embezzlement and money laundering called Tarpon, led by the National Detective Agency.

A search was also done in a hotel room and at a moving company Read more