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Government, development fund sign management agreement

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister (PM) Sarah Wescot-Williams and St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) Interim Director Keith Franca signed a Fund Management Agreement Tuesday, August 19, between the St. Maarten government and the SMDF. The agreement formalises their working relationship and outlines their respective responsibilities.

The SMDF was established in May 2012 to ensure the continuity of funding available to local non-governmental organisations (NGOs), as Dutch financing organisation AMFO was in the process of withdrawing.

"Many NGOs in St Read more

Indian Ambassador To Venezuela Visits: Indian Merchants Association Snubs Parliament

St. Maarten – In what appears to be a political move, the Indian Merchants Association (IMA) snubbed the Governor and Members of Parliament, including President Gracita Arrindell, on the first visit of the Indian Ambassador to Venezuela, Smita Purushottam, by not inviting them to an event tonight at the Belair Community Center. According to sources, the only member of the St Read more

Lively Political Debate On Laser 101: Connor (Up) Estimates Gray Economy To Be 50 Percent

St. Maarten – “The government has a debt of 500 million guilders to the Netherlands, and 200 million to creditors. The 2015 budget is expected to be around 465 million. Unemployment is 11.5 percent. It is your first day in office. What will you do?”

This is how moderator Glen Carty started the political debate on radio station Laser 101 on Saturday evening with participants Emil Lee (number 4-candidate Democratic Party), George Pantophlet (number 2-candidate National Alliance), Claret Connor (number 10-candidate United People’s Party) and Harlec Doran (number 6-candidate United Sint Maarten Party).

The lively debate outshone earlier debates on AVS and the political mixer at the St Read more

South Reward Community Council General Meeting A Success, Minister To Look Into Community Center With Playground

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The general meeting for the South Reward Community Council held last week August 13th, 2014 was a great success.

This meeting had nothing to do with Politics that night. It was about the community and the concerns of the residences.

The attendee's of the meeting were Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake, S Read more

President Henson Happy About Possibilitys For Country Coming Out Of Operational Programme For European Cooperation

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - To the tune of 10 million Euros, on Monday morning, the government of St. Maarten and the Collectivite signed a letter of Intent Operational Programme for European Cooperation Territories.

The programme is geared specifically towards joint projects such as, the Waste Water Management, Disaster Management and Environment protection for the two sides of the island.

For the signing of the LOI, the French side was represented by the Prefet Philip Chopin and the President Madame Aline Hanson, while the Dutch side was represented by the Prime Minister, the Honorable Sarah W Williams.

Whilst speaking at the signing ceremony on Monday, the President of the Collectivite, Madame Aline Henson stated that she was happy that they have taken a decisive step towards the designing of a wholesome St Read more

Tripartite Parliamentary Meeting Concludes On St. Maarten

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Tripartite meeting between Members of Parliament of Aruba, Curacao and St. Maarten ended here on Tuesday Morning.

The urgently convene meeting between the parties was to discuss some issues of importance for the three countries.

These include among others, the recent decision of the Kingdom Council of Ministers to give an instruction to the Governor of St. Maarten to investigate integrity related issues within the public administration, and the instruction given to the Governor of Aruba to with hold his signature to the draft budget of 2014 of that country.

The meeting was at the request of the Parliament of Aruba Read more

Public Urged To Attend Dp Public Meeting This Friday At The Miguel Arrindell Property In Sucker Garden Starting At Seven Pm

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Democratic Party of St. Maarten is inviting the residents of Sucker Garden, Middle Region, the At. Th. Illidge Road, Guana Bay and surrounding areas to come out to its public meeting this Friday, August 22nd starting at seven pm at the Miguel Arrindell property in Sucker Garden.

The Board, membership and candidates invite the public to come out to listen to the red thread and hear what the DP plans for its vision bringing St Read more

President Arrindell Receives Courtesy Call From Indian Ambassador

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – President of Parliament Hon. Gracita Arrindell on Monday received a courtesy call from Indian Ambassador Smita Purushottam at the House of Parliament.

Ambassador Purushottam's visit is of a courtesy nature to meet the Governor, President of Parliament and Prime Minister as well as to meet with Indian nationals.

President Arrindell stated on Tuesday that the Ambassador is stationed in Venezuela.

"The Ambassador's visit was to acquaint herself with the institutions of the country Read more

>PHILIPSBURG/MARIGOT:--- Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams, President Aline Hanson and Prefet Delegue Phillipe Chopin signed an operational agreement on the European Funding tha Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- President of Parliament Hon. Gracita Arrindell had the honour of meeting Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese in France Cardinal Archbishop Philippe Barbarin. The Cardinal was accompanied by Bishop of Basse Terre & Pointe a Pitre in Guadeloupe Jean-Yves Riocreux.

President Arrindell was invited to form part of the welcoming delegation which included Prefet Philippe Chopin, Madame President of the Collectivite Aline Hanson as well as Father Bob Johnson.

The Cardinal and Bishop arrived last week Wednesday at Grand Case Airport from Guadeloupe.

"The Cardinal expressed his sincere gratitude for the warm welcome he received from the dignitaries from both sides of the island Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams received a courtesy visit from commander Hans Lodder at her Cabinet on Thursday. The Prime Minister was updated on the change in command and the operational aspect of the Dutch Navy's presence in the Caribbean. Commander Hans Lodder has received the command of the Dutch Navy in the Caribbean, replacing Brigadier General Dick Swijgman Read more

William: NA’s attempt to stem short term contracts obstructed.

style="text-align: center;">UP-led govt dragging feet; MPs afraid to vote on issue

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the National Alliance NA William Marlin says it appears as though the United People's Party-led parliamentary coalition is afraid to put its foot down and address the abuse of short term labor contracts once and for all.

Marlin said the National Alliance faction in Parliament had requested a meeting to debate the issue some time back, but to date the meeting was never convened to give MPs a chance to finally put the issue to a vote and bring relief to the people of St Read more

style="text-align: center;">Laser 101 Offering Leaders of Political Parties to Debate the issues.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The first political debate hosted by Glen Carty on Laser 101.1 on Saturday evening was successful. Then four candidates George Pantophlet (NA), Claret Conner (UP), Emil Lee (DP) and Havic Doran (US) managed to share their views on the current issues affecting St Read more

Prime Minister Wescot-Williams; "No member of Parliament, faction or what have you has ever thought on changing the date of elections."

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams again reiterated that the reason elections are being held in August is based on the date for the new Parliament having to be installed being the tenth of October 2010. The Prime Minister made her remarks on her weekly call-in Radio Program One on One with the Prime Minister; "I am still hearing comments that the fact that elections are being held in August is being questioned Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Presidents of Parliament of Curacao, Aruba and Sint Maarten held an urgent tri-partite session at the House of Parliament on August 18th, 2014 in Philipsburg. The members of the Permanent Committees of the three countries of the Kingdom Affairs and Inter-parliamentary Relations were present.

The Committee from Aruba suggested the agenda point which is to reach a consensus on creating the legal framework within the Kingdom for legal constitutional disputes between the countries in the Kingdom Read more

The Indian & Chinese elephant in the room

Dear Editor,

St. Maarten people are being proper. They are being kind and open. St. Maarten people are being themselves. Mr. Editor, I've been pondering this letter for quite some time. I think it's amazing how little fanfare or minor attention has been given to the fact that a man of Indian descent and woman of Chinese descent are contesting the elections on the slate of the two oldest parties, the DP and National Alliance.

Now, don't get it twisted Read more

MPs agree to motion on dispute committee

PHILIPSBURG--The tripartite meeting of Members of the Parliaments (MPs) of St. Maarten, Aruba and Curaçao to discuss a uniform stance on the installation of the kingdom dispute committee had a bit of a rocky start in St. Maarten Monday afternoon, but by early night the delegations had a draft motion worded the way they desired.

The motion and other related statements from the meeting are set to be signed at Parliament House this morning. More information about the content will be made public at that time Read more

Prime Minister Wescot-Williams Signs Letter Of Intent With French Side For Waste Water Treatment Facility Benefitting Both Sides Of The Island

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams together with the Prefet of St. Martin and St. Barths Philippe Chopin and the President of the Collectivite of St. Maarten Mrs. Aline Hanson signed the Letter of Intent (LoI) for cross border cooperation between both sides of the island at a signing ceremony on Monday.

The European Trans-border Cooperation (ETC) Operational Program is a program of cooperation between both sides of the island to work on various mutually important projects for both sides of the island.

Prime Minister Wescot-Williams stated that administrations over the years on a technical level have been making agreements on how to move various areas forward for the people of St Read more

Prime Minister Wescot-Williams Highlights Contribution Of Indian Families To Development Of Country St. Maarten At India Independence Day Celebrations

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams congratulated the members of the Indian Community on St. Maarten at the Indian Merchant's Association's event celebrating the India Independence Day at the Belair Community Center Monday.

During her address to the crowd the PM highlighted the Indian Community's commitment to contributing to the society of St Read more

Political Parties Reminded To Publish Their Manifestos

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Electoral Council would like to remind all political parties contesting the upcoming parliamentary elections that in accordance with the National Ordinance on Registration and Finances of Political Parties they are required to timely make their manifestos public.

The Electoral Council is of the opinion that all manifestos should be available for the public, with less than two weeks remaining for the Elections of 2014.

The Electoral Council has thus f Read more

Na Holds Public Meeting In Cole Bay Saturday

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The National Alliance will continue to outline how it will be putting the people of St. Maarten first at its third public meeting at the property across from Harley Davidson in Cole Bay on Saturday, August 23 at 7:00pm.

Leader of the National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament William Marlin says the party's 23 candidates will be touching on some of the areas that the party will be championing in the next governing period at the meeting.

Candidates will also continue to speak about some of the burning issues in the community.

Marlin said government needs to be placed back in the hands of the people of St Read more

Level Of Political Debate Shta Mixer Disappoints

St. Maarten - The political mixer organized by the St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) at the Sonesta Great Bay Beach Hotel began with a disappointment when the leader of the United St. Maarten party did not show up. Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams, who was expected to attend, was also absent. Five parties were represented: NA (Rodolphe Samuel), UP (Miguel De Weever), DP (Roy Marlin), SRP (Jacinto Mock) and OSPP (Lenny Priest).

Parties first got the opportunity to explain in broad strokes what they stand for Read more

Publication Integrity-Report Delayed Until Next Week

St. Maarten – The publication of the integrity-report from the Wit-Committee has been delayed until next week Friday, Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams informed this newspaper yesterday. The original publication date of the report plus the comments from the government on it were scheduled for yesterday.

“Due to unforeseen circumstances we have not yet ratified the government’s position Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The National Alliance has expressed concern about what appears to be a growing number of errors being made by notaries practicing in the country.

Leader of the NA Member of Parliament William Marlin said whether the errors were an oversight or were being done deliberately, they should not occur as they can have serious consequences.

Marlin alluded to two recent cases brought before the court which found that errors had been made by notaries in the respective sales of Caravanserai Resort and in the former Pelican Resort Read more