SXMElections.com

Uneven Developments In The Monetary Union In The First Quarter Of 2016.

WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG:---  According to the Quarterly Bulletin of the Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten, economic developments in the monetary union were uneven in the first quarter of 2016. Curaçao recorded a real GDP contraction, while Sint Maarten’s economy expanded in real terms.

Real GDP contracted in the first quarter of 2016 by 0.2% in Curaçao, while the economy of Sint Maarten expanded by 0.4% Read more

Robert Budike, # 18 Candidate On The National Alliance Slate Release Animation

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Robert Budike, candidate number 18 on the National Alliance Slate released a very interesting animation of his program. He has been the first one who used animations to inform the electorate about his sincere intentions Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Lake: Needs Of Local People Should Be Addressed By Focus On Chinese Project

PHILIPSBURG--Independent Member of Parliament Maurice Lake said Thursday Government has "to start put our local people before big projects."

---

Candidates in this article:

Be Prepared For This Year’S Election: Tune Into Fresh With The Y2x Crew

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — It is election time again. September 26 is just around the corner. The question is, “are you ready?”

Youth 2 Xtreme (Y2X), the youth wing of Victorious Living Foundation, has the tools you need to be ready for the upcoming election. Y2X presents: Election Series 2016 on their weekly radio program, FRESH, on Youth Radio 92.5FM.

During this election series, candidates from various political parties have the opportunity to debate on important topics, such as education and health as well as to prove to you, the people of St Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Calypso Registration Deadline Closes Today Friday, Sept. 9

PHILIPSBURG – RAW Promotions Foundation, the organization in charge of organizing the 2017 Nagico Calypso competition, informed all calypsonians that the deadline to register for the

2017 Nagico calypso competition is Friday, September 9 at 5:00pm.

Registration forms can be obtained from the foundation’s president Fernando Clark, at WTN Cable/Xerox in the Obersi Building at Harbor View.

Thus far 19 calypsonians have registered for next year’s competition Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Dp Commemorates World Literacy Day

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — On September 8, countries all over the world are celebrating the 50th anniversary of International Literacy Day.

The Democratic Party (DP) candidates have chosen to dedicate their time to take part in a project that involves taking the time to go to different schools or community after school programs and read to our youth. Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams took time to read to the students of the Seventh Day Adventist School (SDA) School, and Jorien Wuite read to the youths at the Sister Borgia School.

Other candidates have decided they will be donating some books to different organisations or ensuring that they spend time helping one of our youths to read and/or write Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Dp Launches Public Bus Outreach Initiative

PHILIPSBURG – The Democratic Party (DP) plans to officially launch its innovative outreach initiative where teams of four DP candidates will drive around various districts on a special DP public bus as well as catching other regular buses this Friday, September 8.

On the route, candidates will listen to citizens’ concerns, dreams and wishes for the future Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Prime Ministers Of Barbados & Jamaica Hold Talks

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Prime Minister of Barbados, Freundel Stuart and Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness today discussed the state of bilateral relations between the two countries via telephone.

The discussions took place against the background of two recent incidents related to Jamaican travellers to Barbados and came a day after Prime Minister Stuart received the Letter of Introduction of the new non-resident High Commissioner of Jamaica to Barbados, His Excellency David Prendergast, at his Ilaro Court residence Read more

Bodyguard Of Prime Minister Shot In Robbery

NASSAU, Bahamas – A Bodyguard attached to Prime Minister Perry Christie was shot several times during an armed robbery.

According to police, the bodyguard, who is a sergeant on the Royal Bahamas Police Force, had just pulled into the driveway of a home on Olde Corner when two men with handguns approached and demanded cash. A struggle followed and the officer, Sgt Brent Dixon, was shot three times – twice in the back and once in the hip.

The officer returned fire and shot one of the suspects, police said.

However, the other suspect fled the area on foot.

The officer and suspect were taken to hospital by ambulance.

Sources said the officer underwent emergency surgery and is listed in serious, but stable condition Read more

Jorien Wuite Calls On Sint Maarten’S “Orange Collars”

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Drs. Jorien Wuite, # 3 candidate on the DP slate, Secretary General within the Government by profession, publicly calls on Sint Maarten's creative industries to unite their voice.

"On Monday Sept 12th at 7pm I would like to officially invite the "orange collars", such as musicians, film & documentary producers, writers, dancers, graphic designers, painters, photographers, concert promoters & event planners, architects, fashion designers, chef’s & foodies etc,  to a meeting at the John Larmonie Center Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Tzu Chi Continues Rice Relief, 611 Bags Of Rice Given To 605 Families

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation continued its massive “love rice” relief distribution programme in August donating 611 bags of rice to 605 families around the island in that month.

The foundation estimates that the number of family members that will benefit from last month’s relief is almost doubled at 1,735. Each bag of rice weighs 10 kilograms. August rice distribution brings the total amount of rice Tzu Chi has distributed since the programme started just over two months ago to1,141 bags of rice to 1,084 families.

  The relief effort in August was possible thanks to the participation of the foundation’s committed volunteers who set aside time to visit families in the various districts to make the distribution Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- More skeletons are being found at GEBE that involves the internal auditor Sharine Daniel whose contract might be terminated after a hearing is held with her and the Supervisory Board of Directors.
According to information provided to SMN News GEBE received a huge invoice from BDO an auditing firm whose contract was terminated as of January 1st, 2015 by the former board of Supervisory Directors.
SMN News learnt that the former board terminated BDO because they felt the internal auditing department had sufficient staff and they were paying the main internal auditor NAF18,000.00 plus providing the person with a vehicle and other benefits and in their view the company did not need to pay an external auditor.
However, the temporary management of GEBE received an invoice from BDO and are digging to see who rehired the company.
A source within the company said that the former Temporary Manager Andrew Zaggers is the one who re-hired BDO to assist Sharine Daniel without informing the SBOD.
Besides that SMN News learnt that members of the Democratic Party are putting severe pressure on the Chairman of the SBOD Roy Marlin to pull back the decision the board took to terminate Daniel for breach of trust after she took the company to court for an NAF.2.000.00 salary cut she endured when her contract was renewed on January 13th, 2016.
According to sources with the company, the politicians that are supporting Daniel and her wrong doings refused to accept or even admit that Daniel abused the company and the government-owned company lost trust in her when she signed her working contract and shortly after took the company to court to contest the salary cut.
SMN News further learnt that while the SBOD took a unanimous decision last week to terminate Daniel, some of the board members are now back peddling and trying to lay the blame on one or two board members.
Another hot topic at GEBE that is being questioned is who is the Wartsila agent on St Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Union Keeps Justice Minister In The Dark And Meets With Prime Minister Instead

PHILIPSBURG--Prison Guards at the Pointe Blanche prison continued their industrial action and marched to the Government Administration Building to meet with Prime Minister William Marlin.

---

Candidates in this article:

Calypso Registration Deadline Closes On Today (Friday, September 9Th, 2016).

PHILIPSBURG:--- RAW Promotions Foundation, the organization in charge of organizing the 2017 NAGICO Calypso competition, hereby informs all calypsonians that today the deadline to register for the 2017 NAGICO calypso competition is today at 5.00 pm. Registration forms can be obtained from the foundation's resident, Mr Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- Soualiga Corporate Toastmasters Club on Wednesday, September 7th, 2016 in the evening had a session with the new political candidates on the different party lists for the upcoming election. The University of Sint Maarten was the venue for this event. The parties contesting the upcoming election had the opportunity to send a candidate on their list that will participate for the very first time in the election process. The following parties were represented: Help Our People Excel, HOPE in the person of Mercedes van der Waals-Wyatt: United Sint Maarten Party, the US in the person of Early Charlemagne; Democratic Party Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- It is election time again. September 26th is just around the corner. The question is, ARE YOU READY?
Youth 2 Xtreme (Y2X), the youth wing of Victorious Living Foundation, has the tools you need to be ready for the upcoming election. Y2X presents Election Series 2016 on their weekly radio program, FRESH, on Youth Radio 92.5 FM. During this election series, candidates from various political parties have the opportunity to debate on important topics, such as education and health as well as to prove to you, the people of Sint Maarten that they are the right choice for this year’s election.
Recent guests for this election series included: Chasen Williams of the Democratic Party (DP), Pastor Wycliffe Smith and Claude Peterson of the St Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Refused to meet with Prime Minister William Marlin.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The office of the Windward Island Civil Servant Union (WICSU) PSU was packed to its capacity on Thursday morning when all prison guards and prison workers abandoned their posts at the Pointe Blanche Prison to meet with their unions, namely, the ABVO, NAPB, and the WICSU to discuss their grievances.
Even though a large number of prison guards reported sick and is on lengthy sick leave, most of them managed to attend the meeting that was called by the union to address the concerns of the prison workers.
While the prison guards and their union representatives did not speak to the media as they claim they were in a meeting, they also refused to even welcome Prime Minister William Marlin who left his office and went to the WICSU office to gather information and probably find solutions to the crisis but one of the prison workers that was dressed full uniform and some others asked the Prime Minister who invited him to the meeting, in response Prime Minister William Marlin said he was not invited but felt it was necessary for him to reach out to the unions and their members Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Marlin: Govt. Will Be Blamed If Protest Scares Off Chinese

PHILIPSBURG--Should protest against the Pearl of China project in Belair beachfront scare off Chinese investors, who are ready to pump millions of dollars into the development, it’s the current Government that will have to shoulder the blame for allowing such “a big project to get away,” said Prime Minister William Marlin on Wednesday.

Marlin was reacting to the negative backlash the announcement of the 326-room hotel with showroom and 450 apartments targeting Chinese investors has received from the public.

“Interesting would be that if the announcement comes that because of the protest that others are planning to engaging on, that these people say you know what Antigua is not too far from St Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Collection of ambulance fees dramatically improved by Ministry VSA

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor Emil Lee said that the investments in the ambulance Department are a critical part of the Country’s Emergency Response team.
The Minister mentioned this during Wednesday's council of Minister's press briefing where he announced that on September 6, the ambulance Department, commissioned their 1st of 3 new ambulances.
Minister Lee said that the other two ambulances are currently being manufactured and outfitted, and are expected to arrive within a few months.
The Minister informed that 7 hydraulic stretchers were ordered of which the first arrived Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister William Marlin did not mingle with words when addressed the media on Wednesday at the Council of Minster's press briefing and to also bring clarity on the project that will be constructed in Belair by Chinese investors.
Marlin said certain reporters that attended the Town Hall event last week Thursday at USM to cover it as an assignment used their time to post negative statements about the announcement of the project on Facebook Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Frans: Kirindongo Has His Full Support, Urges Thorough Investigation

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Member of Parliament (MP) and Leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party Frans Richardson has called on Minister of Justice Edson Kirindongo to initiate a complete and thorough investigation at the Pointe Blanche Prison. He assured the Minister that he has his full confidence in getting the job done.

Richardson said he also expects the Minister, along with the hard working men and women law enforcement, to carry on with the task of bringing criminals to justice Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Mp Leona Marlin-Romeo Provides Some Of The Issues That Has Her Attention

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Through this means it gives me great pleasure to address the people of Sint Maarten as the number 6 candidate on the United People’s Party list.  Over the past years I have grasped the understanding of the philosophy and ideology that are so much so geared towards the improvement of living standard and prosperity of you the sons and daughters of this beautiful island, called St. Maarten.

We are faced once again with a very critical juncture in the development process of our island Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Priest Dismisses Heyliger’S Statement As “Cheap And Transparent Political Ploy”.

PHILIPBURG---A call for the resignation of the justice Minister by MP Theo Heyliger has been dismissed as “nothing but a cheap and transparent political stunt” by leader of the One St. Maarten People Party Lenny Priest. In a press statement that appeared in the local media on Tuesday, MP Heyliger issued the call for Justice Minister Edson Kirindongo to tender his resignation in the wake of the shooting death of an inmate at the Point Blanche Prison and the other killing that took place.
“It really irks me that the persons who have been elected and charged with the responsibility for taking care of the people business choose instead to play politics and not bring important issues to Parliament where the people business is handled,” OSPP leader Lenny Priest said Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Frans Says Kirindongo Has His Full Support, Urges Thorough Investigation

Press Release Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Member of Parliament and Leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party Frans Richardson has called on Minister of Justice Edson Kirindongo to initiate a complete and thorough investigation at the Point Blanche Prison and assured the Minister that he has his fullest confidence to get the Read more

---

Candidates in this article: