SXMElections.com

United St. Maarten Party: Democratic Deficit Is A Slippery Slope To Authoritarianism

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Board of the United St. Maarten Party expressed concern over the newly developed culture of the NA/UP Coalition to casually, but consistently systematically maneuver around the core principles of democracy. They seem to be taking the country and its people down the shadowy pathway to an authoritative state, said President Cecil Nicholas.

Nicholas in an invited comment said, democratic principles such as equality, political tolerance, accountability, and transparency are currently being clouded by polarized political rhetoric and decisions that place individualistic idealism above the greater good of the country Read more

Sint Maarten Authorities Start New Project With Eu Support

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Technical Assistance for Disaster Response and Preparedness project began on June 20, in coordination with the Sint Maarten authorities.

The overall objective of the EU-funded project is to support the Government of Sint Maarten in its vision to strengthen its institutional capacity to plan, monitor and coordinate post-disaster response and reconstruction.

One of the first activities of the project is a Disaster Risk Mapping in all districts Read more

Voluntary Korps Of St. Maarten (Vks) Special To Be Air On Tuesday

Philipsburg The Department of Communication (DCOMM) will post and air a Voluntary Korps of St. Maarten (VKS) Special on Tuesday, the 30th of August.

This year the VKS marked their 25th anniversary on June 28, when it was formally established.

The VKS Special can be seen across DCOMMs mediums at 7pm on TV 15 and TelTV+ and on the Government of Sint Maartens Facebook Page and YouTube Channel.

DCOMM interviewed Commander Read more

Mp Emmanuel: Brison Attempts To Muddy The Water Against Buncamper

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Independent Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel on Sunday said that at some point in time the people of St. Maarten have to see how dangerous MP Rolando Brison is to the country, considering the ease with which he uses people and their circumstances to hold on to power and the underhanded twisting of an issue to influence outcomes in his favour Read more

RollocksJr.Proposes Gebe To Implement Prepaid Electricity/Water Billing?

Phillipsburg, Sint Maarten – Concerned businessman Julian Rollocks Jr. is urging the members of parliament to question GEBE Management in today’s (24/08/2022) meeting of Parliament. “why Sint Maarten has not implemented prepaid electricity? Similar opportunities are possible on our sister islands of Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire. Aruba’s prepaid billing is called ‘prepaid meter‘ Read more

Gromyko Wilson Questions Pro Local Approach Of Government And Public Sector

Gromyko Wilson anaspiring politicalcandidate for theupcoming (2023) elections

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — In a press statement of Tuesday, August 20, 2022, Gromyko Wilson questioned the so called Pro Local approach of Government and organizations within the Public Sector.

It is baffling to see how our Government officials campaign every single election on job security, employment and stimulating the locally owned small businesses, yet job vacancies are predominantly published in print media abroad and on LinkedIn or other international online recruitment platforms, Wilson stated.

What happened to promoting our own? How is it that politicians stop fighting for jobs for our locals when they get in office? What happened to the qualified political slogan? Why is it that we do not advertise on the different local online media platforms and on our radio stations? continued Wilson.

As of June 2022 SZV has hired a local in the position of HR Management Read more

Witu Demands An Explanation From Doran

Philipsburg — President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) Stuart Johnson met with mainly WITU members of Government subsidized school boards on Wednesday afternoon.

“The reality of their hardship caused by the non-payment of the vacation allowance was brought forward,” Johnson said.

Present in the meeting were union colleagues of the WISCU/PSU, NAPB, SMCU, ABVO and WIFOL in soalidarity.

Johnson before delving into the outcomes of the general membership meeting referenced his concerns about the remarks made by Deputy Prime Minister Egbert Doran.

“I believe the Honorable Minister Doran owes teaching, non-teaching staff and by extension the nation an explanation or an apology,” Johnson stated.

In the spirit of transparency, Minister Doran should explain the outcome of the meeting held with the Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion regarding the solution of the vacation allowance payment which he alluded to during the Council of Ministers Press Briefing on August 10, 2022.

He added, “it seems to be obvious from listening to remarks made in the recent Council of Ministers Press Briefing that he not only misspoke but gave a false hope to educators.”

The WITU President expressed that, “in these challenging and financially difficult times you simply do not make such frivolous statements.”

However, if Minister Doran has a solution we are eager to hear such Read more

Population Census 2022 Starts Soon

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Population Census 2022 is set to start soon. The population census takes place every 10 years. The last census in Sint Maarten was in 2011. Due to the pandemic, this exercise was postponed in 2021. Sint Maarten joins at least 13 other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean in executing the population census in 2022.

The Department of Statistics is responsible for the successful execution of the population census. Two groups of enumerators have undergone an extensive training program and by the end of September, approximately 100 enumerators will be dispatched island wide to interview every single person in every household on Sint Maarten.

The questionnaire is quite extensive as the government of Sint Maarten tries to capture as much data as possible to answer the following questions:

Who are we? How many are we? Where do we live? How do we live?

The data gathered is anonymous and confidential and no individual data will be published Read more

Parliamentary Schedule (August 15-19, 2022)

AUGUST 15-19, 2022MEETING WEEK Monday, August 15, 2022 CC 39 14.00hrs 1.Approval of composition delegation and provisions for Members of Parliament to participate in Committees of Parlatino to be held on August 18 and 19 in Panama (IS/1130/2021-2022 dated July 12, 2022, IS/1131/2021-2022 dated July 12, 2022, IS/1129/2021-2022 dated July 08, 2022, and IS/1168/2021-2022 dated August 8, 2022) 2022),

Discussion on the content of

2.Systematic Investigation regarding the tendering and awarding process of the Solid waste collection 2021-2026 (IS/1098/ 2021-2022 dated June 27, 2022)

3.Ombudsman Sint Maarten 2021 Year report (IS/1167/2021-2022 dated August 8, 2022)

  Tuesday, August 16, 2022 CC 40 11.00 hrs 1 Read more

Mp De Weever: Issues At Gebe A Matter Of National Security Now

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — The Honorable Member of Parliament (MP) Ludmila de Weever sounded the alarm that the deafening silence coming from the management of GEBE is very concerning and requested an urgent public meeting. The meeting request was also supported by MPs Christophe Emmanuel, Melissa Gumbs, and Sarah Wescott-Williams Read more

United St. Maarten Party: Proposed Child Sex Abuse Law Amendments Needs Immediate Attention

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — On Sunday August 14th, 2022 the board of the USP lamented that proposed amendments to the child sex abuse law submitted to parliament by its leader Pamela Gordon-Carty needs to be prioritized and passed.

On March 11th, 2022 proposed amendments to strengthen child sex abide laws was presented to the Chairlady of Parliament, MP Grisha Heyliger-Marten by the leader of the United St Read more

St Maarten Civil Aviation Authority Receives Upgraded Licenses

SIMPSONBAY, Sint Maarten — On Thursday, August 11, 2022, the Acting Minister of TEATT, Mr. Omar Ottley met with the St. Maarten Civil Aviation Authority (SMCAA) to present the much anticipated aviation licenses, which were upgraded to an innovative new ID format.

The new licenses are an upgrade from the old paper licenses that were issued to the aviation professionals (pilots, mechanics and air traffic controllers) Read more

Minister Ottley Meets With The United Bus Drivers Association

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten On Sunday August 14th, acting Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication (TEATT), Omar Ottley met with the United Bus Drivers Association at the Milton Peters College to discuss various issues concerning the bus terminal and routing system, price list increase, minimum and maximum fare possibilities, addition of extra routes, medical insurance from SZV and more.

The United Bus Drivers Association informed Minister Ottley that while they know these concerns were prior to his tenure, they are extremely grateful that the Minister made his Sunday afternoon available to hear their grievances.

Minister Ottley expressed his gratitude to the association for inviting him and requested the opportunity to gather further information on the above mentioned concerns Read more

Mp De Weever Continues Work With Cruise Industry

Philipsburg, St Maarten Today, Thursday, August 11th, 2022, the Honorable Member of Parliament (MP) Ludmila de Weever met with representatives from Royal Caribbean Group (RCG), namely Vice President of Destination Development Joshua Carroll and Manager of Destination Development Mario Eges during their recent visit to Sint Maarten.

MP de Weever was delighted to catch up with the team that helped bring the home porting project with Celebrity Cruise Lines to fruition during her tenure in office as Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication.The RCG team was on the island to continue discussions with members of the Council of Ministers and the management of the Harbor Group of Companies.

Sint Maarten has long been one of the preferred destinations of cruise passengers yet with one of the lowest head-tax rates Read more

Witu Makes An Urgent Plea To Pm Jacobs Via Letter

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — On Tuesday, August 9th,2022 the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) submitted a letter addressed to the Honorable Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs titled, Discrimination created among the teachers with non-payment of vacation allowance to subsidize school.

President of the WITU Stuart Johnson stated in his letter, As President of the WITU, I would like to bring the following to your attention requesting your intervention in this matter to bring equality, peace, and tranquility among the teaching fraternity in our beloved country.

As we stand at the beginning of the new school year 2022-2023, the board of the WITU is deeply concerned about the fact that to date the teaching and non-teaching staff employed at the various Government-subsidized schools boards with the exception of the Protestant Christian Schools (3%), have not received their vacation allowance as yet.

Johnson continued in his letter stating, In representing and looking after the best interest of all concerned, WITU held various meetings with the stakeholders to come to a consensus and solution as it pertains the vacation allowance that was paid since June 15th, 2022 to civil servants and employees of the public education.

Needless to say that this has created a sense of discrimination and lack of equality in the education field to teaching and non-teaching staff.

Even though WITU can empathize with the school boards, the fact is that one school board has paid 3% Read more

Witu Host Creative Exchange Event

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — The Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) hosted a creative exchange for its members on Friday, August 5th. President of the WITU Stuart Johnson said, “Assisting our members in any way possible will remain one of the primary goals for our members.” Members of the WITU had the opportunity to make educational posters for their classrooms or offices with resources made available by the WITU. The event took place at the WITU’s office from 12 pm until 6 pm with complimentary snacks and drinks. “Preparing classrooms for the start of each school year is a costly out-of-pocket expense many teachers face; this has not gone unnoticed by WITU Read more

Academy Schools Stagger Reopening

~Academic section Aug. 15; PSVE Aug. 22~

CUL DE SAC St. Maarten Academy is preparing for an exciting new school year as it gears up to welcome 80 new students at the academic section, and 50 at the PSVE campus with registration still continuing. Both schools, which fall under the Board of the Foundation for Academic and Vocational Education (FAVE) will also be reopening at different times, with the academic section starting instruction on August 15 and PSVE, on August 22.

FAVE schools saw major changes this year both at the Board and Management levels, with Mr Read more

Dp Extends Congratulations To The People Of The Federation Of Saint Kitts And Nevis

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Democratic Party of St. Maarten (DP)extends congratulations to the people of theFederation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, who on Friday, August 5th, z022 exercised their Democratic right and elected a government,to be lead by theSt Kitts and Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP), who with their victorycaptured6 ofthe8 seats in Saint Kitts. Theremaining two seats wenttothe Peoples Action Movement (PAM) and the Peoples Labour Party (PLP).The Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) captured all 3 seats in Nevis.

Heartfelt and warm congratulations go out to the newly elected Prime Minister of St. Read more

Ministry Of Teatt Launches Msme Development Program

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten On August 2nd, 2022, The acting Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication (TEATT), Omar Ottley signed a service level agreement with local entity, A&A Accounting, Business Support & Training Center to launch a training and business support program geared towards the development of micro, small and medium enterprises on the Island (MSMEs).

The training and business support program, which is scheduled to commence in September 2022, was conceptualized based on the National MSME Policy Framework and is designed as a sustainable solution to help strengthen and grow MSMEs and to overcome temporary liquidity problems, protect jobs and, at the same time, allow efficient business continuity and operations with the view to better position MSMEs to cope with the economic fallout.

The program which is expected to run for one year in the first instance will allow for training of 25 existing and aspiring MSMEs and it will cover two components:
Component 1 is based on the support through the St Maarten Enterprise Recovery Project Read more

Ottley Says Airlift To Reconvene Between Dominican Republic And St. Maarten

PHILISPBURG, Sint Maarten — Aviation Authorities of the Dominican Republic and St. Maarten have resolved the issues affecting airlifts between the two countries following the intervention of Acting Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation & Telecommunication (TEATT) Omar Ottley on Tuesday. Based on the resolution Ottley has given the approval for Director of St Read more

Breast Abnormalities Screening Project To Be Held September 17Th 2022

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor in collaboration with the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC) and the Positive Foundation is pleased to announce the return of our breast abnormalities screening program for women.

This initiative started in 2017, to educate the community about breast abnormalities, while empowering women to use key strategies to proactively monitor their health. The program experienced great success prior to COVID-19 and the organizers are excited to relaunch these health screenings with the communitys support Read more

U 2 Can Move Announces Its Annual Market Fair, A Market With A Flare

U 2 Can Move is once again having its annual Market Fair, this Saturday, August 6th, at the John Larmonie Center, Long Wall Rd.

Founder of U 2 Can Move, MP Sarah Wescot-Williams is calling on the community to support our micro and small entrepreneurs, who will be displaying their art, craft, food, plants and offering these and much more for sale.

Unfortunately, we were not able to accommodate more vendors, due to limited space and COVID spacing Read more

Wilson Applauds Efforts Of Gebe Employees To Fix Streetlights

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Gromyko Wilson commends the hard working field men and women in Gebe and its managmeent responsible for fixing the street lights on Sint Maarten. September 5th, 2022, will mark the 5th year since the passing of Hurricane Irma and Maria. Unfortunately for residents of many neighborhoods, a number of street lights are yet to be fixed Read more