SXMElections.com

No automatic granting of island’s preference

THE HAGUE--The wish of a government within the Dutch Kingdom to appoint a representative of its choice in the Council of State for the Kingdom (Raad van State voor het Koninkrijk) isn’t automatically honoured.

Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk stated this on Thursday in a letter to the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament in response to written questions submitted by Members of the Second Chamber Wassila Hachchi of the Democratic Party D66 and Madeleine van Toorenburg of the Christian Democratic Party CDA.

Hachchi and Van Toorenburg sought clarification from the minister following a publication in the Dutch regional PZC newspaper of July 17 this year Read more

SER advisor in Court to have his suspension lifted

PHILIPSBURG--Senior policy advisor of the Social Economic Council SER Arjen Alberts has filed a petition with the Civil Service Court against Minister of General Affairs Sarah Wescot-Williams.

In the petition, which was filed Wednesday, Alberts seeks the annulment of his suspension from his job as per April 29, and payment of study and travel expenses.

Alberts has been senior advisor with the SER since February 1, 2012, and drafts SER advice to the Government of St Read more

Up-Candidate Suspect In Money-Laundering Investigation: Prosecution Gets Three Months For Buncamper-Molanus Probe

St. Maarten – United People’s party candidate number 21, Maria Buncamper-Molanus remains the subject of a criminal investigation. The Judge of instruction decided yesterday that the prosecutor’s office has to complete the investigation into suspicions of money laundering within three months Read more

Up Mp Leonard Writes Prime Minister Seeking Answers About Winair Possibly Owing Us$1.4 Million To A Guadeloupe Company

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Via the President of Parliament, United People's (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Janchie Leonard has written a letter to the Prime Minister Hon. Sarah Wescot-Williams in her capacity as shareholder representative with respect to Windward Islands Airways (Winair).

"According to Article 69 of the Rules of Order of the House of Parliament, I am using my write as MP to seek answers regarding a number of issues at Winair.

I read in the media where Winair executed some new routes using a larger aircraft in one case, an ATR type in a wet lease format including crew from a French company in Guadeloupe.

"The new route which was from Sint Maarten to the Dominican Republic then on to Curacao and returning to Sint Maarten via the Dominican Republic Read more

"Woman 2 Woman, Phenomenal Women" To Hold Political Debate At Usm

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The University of St. Martin (USM) and the "Woman 2 Woman, Phenomenal Women" program have partnered to present the first 'Phenomenal Women Political Debate' on Wednesday August 20th, 2014 at the USM Lecture Hall, from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.

This exclusive event will consist of ten female debate panelists, two from each political party contesting St. Maarten's 2014 Parliamentary Elections.

The candidates chosen by their respective political parties and confirmed to participate are:
• Richelda Rodriquez Emmanuel and Mulrose Toulon (Democratic Party)
• Silveria Jacobs and Dorothy Richardson (National Alliance)
• Regina Janga and Marie-Lou Conner (One St Read more

Two Usp Candidates Tag Team To Protect Natural Resources, Heritage And Culture

GREAT BAY, St. Maarten - United St. Maarten Party (USp) candidates; Rueben J. Thompson (#4) and Leona Marlin-Romeo (#2) have combined forces to champion the cause of protecting, preserving and properly managing Sint Maarten's Natural and Cultural Resources that form part of our Heritage.

Thompson; who is an environmentalist, comes with a wealth of experience in the field of conservation Read more

National Alliance Holds First Public Meeting In Sucker Garden Saturday To Address Key Issues Important For The People

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The National Alliance will kick off the first of its scheduled public meeting at the Miguel Richardson property at the entrance to The Keys in Sucker Garden tomorrow, Saturday, August 9th, from 7:30pm.

This will be the first of four meetings the National Alliance will hold in the run up to the Parliamentary elections on Friday, 29th of August, 2014.

Leader of the National Alliance NA Member of Parliament William Marlin and Deputy Leader Silveria Jacobs encourage the public and supporters to come out and listen to the party's candidates address the issues of importance to the people of St Read more

Minister Of Justice Visits Joint Emergency Dispatch Center

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - On Wednesday August 6th the Honorable Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson visited the facilities which is presently in its stages of completion and will be used as a joint emergency center for all emergency services on the Dutch side of the island.

This dispatch center is a project that has been financed by USONA and will be an ultra modern state of the art facility.

There is only one other joint dispatch center like this one in the Netherlands which dispatch center has proven to be very effective and successful Read more

Dp Presents Party Platform On Labor And Human Resources

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - On Thursday the Democratic Party of St. Maarten presented its Party Platform on Labor and Human Resources vision as part of the DP Party Platform.

The vision highlights the party's commitment to ensuring social dialogue and commitment in ensuring that the country's labor force and human resources continues to grow; "The DP will continue its approach of social dialogue on matters related to labor, allowing workers and employers to contribute to the process.

There is a general consensus on more flexibility in the labor market; the need for adaptation of the dismissal law; control on compliance; and unemployment benefits Read more

Dp Preparing For Public Meeting, Number 5 Candidate Say's They Are Focused On Getting It Right

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Democratic Party will be holding their first public meeting.

The party is one of the six political parties preparing for the August 29th parliamentary election.

The meeting is set to be held on Friday at the de Weever Estate in Dutch Quarter, and will commence at 7 pm.

Speaking to our news department, former Commissioner and president of the Democratic Party, the number 5 candidate of the party, Mike Ferrier told us that they are focused on among other areas, how to improve the economy of the country.

He is also inviting the public at large to the meeting on Friday Read more

Parliament Discuss Pension Matters Wednesday, Concerns Highlighted

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Central Committee of Parliament met on Wednesday.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the draft National Ordinance to change the National Ordinance General Pension Insurance and National Ordinance General Widows Insurance related to the increase in the pensionable amount and the pension age.

Whilst speaking on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, Independent Member of Parliament and leader of the United St. Maarten People Party, the Honorable Read more

Reaction to letter of Mr. Sneek

Dear Editor,

The letter by Mr. Koos Sneek in your edition of Thursday, August 7, begs a reply. Mr. Sneek should stop his lying. He says "when in 2010 the island had opted for the status of public entity" The island never opted for that status. So that is a lie.

His lies go on and on, but they are just political rhetoric, because of the upcoming elections. Not worth pointing out. But this one above is a deliberate misconstruction of the truth. That says something about how to trust everything else Mr Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The University of St. Martin (USM) and the "Woman 2 Woman, Phenomenal Women" program have partnered to present the first 'Phenomenal Women Political Debate' on Wednesday August 20th, 2014 at the USM Lecture Hall, from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. This exclusive event will consist of ten female debate panelists, two from each political party contesting St. Maarten's 2014 Parliamentary Elections. The candidates chosen by their respective political parties and confirmed to participate are:

 Richelda Rodriquez Emmanuel and Mulrose Toulon (Democratic Party) Silveria Jacobs and Dorothy Richardson (National Alliance) Regina Janga and Marie-Lou Conner (One St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday August 6th the Honorable Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson was given a guided tour of the ongoing project of the construction of a police training center, being carried out by the police department. Present during this tour was the Chief Commissioner of Police Peter de Witte, the Acting Chief of Police Commissioner Carl John and the police advisor Klaas Groen. The tour was at the facilities of the former B.B.W.- building on the Sucker Garden road. This building which is presently being rebuilt will be used as a police training center Read more

style="text-align: center;">To address key issues important for the people

PHILIPSBURG:--- The National Alliance will kick off the first of its scheduled public meeting at the Miguel Richardson property at the entrance to The Keys in Sucker Garden tomorrow, Saturday, August 9th, from 7:30pm.

This will be the first of four meetings the National Alliance will hold in the run up to the Parliamentary elections on Friday, 29th of August, 2014.

Leader of the National Alliance NA Member of Parliament William Marlin and Deputy Leader Silveria Jacobs encourage the public and supporters to come out and listen to the party's candidates address the issues of importance to the people of St Read more

Laser 101 to Host Debate on Issues Affecting St. Maarten – Economy and Tourism main topics.

style="text-align: center;">Tune in Saturday August 16th from 7pm to 8:30pm

PHILIPSBURG:--- As we are nearing election day, August 29th, we at Philipsburg broadcasting network, as a corporate citizen of St. Maarten,
feel that is our responsibility to our listeners to assist them in providing as much information as possible regarding the position of the different political parties on the issues regarding business and the St. Maarten economy. At the end of the day it is the private sector that is the motor that drives our country, the friendly island.

Presently all parties are campaigning and indicating, if elected, what they will do to improve our country Read more

style="text-align: center;">Champions change from 'cessantia' system to modern system of unemployment insurance and pension benefits. Advocates upward mobility of own population and transparent and efficient Foreign Labor Policy

PHIILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday the Democratic Party of St. Maarten presented its Party Platform on Labor and Human Resources vision as part of the DP Party Platform Read more

Parliamentarians irked at De Weever’s ‘condescending’ remarks in meeting

~ De Weever will offer 'no apologies' for telling truth ~

PHILIPSBURG--Several Members of Parliament (MPs) condemned on Wednesday the manner in which Minister of Health, Labour and Social Affairs VSA Cornelius de Weever addressed Parliament during the Central Committee meeting, with some MPs saying the minister had been "condescending," "disrespectful" and 'sarcastic."

De Weever responded by saying he had "sat quietly" and "took it all" from MPs in his three years going to Parliament to answer questions, while watching some MPs put on a "grand performance." De Weever said he would not sit and allow anyone to "play politics" with the work his ministry had done Read more

Dennis: Freedom interference claims ‘horribly exaggerated’

PHILIPSBURG--"Horribly exaggerated and absurd" was how Justice Minister Dennis Richardson described claims from the United People's (UP) party that his campaign guidelines for the August 29 Parliamentary Elections were interfering with freedom of expression and were in conflict with, among others, the Constitution.

Richardson, speaking at the Council of Ministers' Press Briefing on Wednesday, did not specifically name UP, but that party has been the only party that has come out publicly to voice its disagreement with the minister's guidelines.

He said, "How does securing the safe navigation of the limited number of roundabouts that we have constitute such a breach, while one can clearly see that the island is completely pasted in signs and billboards of political parties without any interference from the minister or the police? I don't subscribe to that point of view."

Richardson said he followed "the tradition" of granting for the campaign "a general dispensation of rules and regulations" that by law would have to be followed by those engaging in political campaigns with some conditions attached to ensure that aspects that are in play, such as traffic safety, public order are, or can be adequately taken into consideration Read more

Authorities have till Nov. 6 to make decision on Buncamper-Molanus

PHILIPSBURG--The Prosecutor's Office has been given until November 6 to indicate whether or not it will pursue a case against former Minister Maria Buncamper-Molanus for the sale of the economic rights for a piece of government long-lease land, that was granted to a company owned by her and her husband.

Buncamper-Molanus resigned in December 2011, when it was made public that she had sold the economic rights and she was faced with a motion of no-confidence in Parliament Read more

Police Force welcomes four-legged colleagues

PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten Police Force recently welcomed its two latest recruits, who are expected to have a big impact on drug- and firearm-related crime. They are sniffer dogs Rasja and Astorie, who, together with their handlers Igmar Woodley and Rickets Moesliken, recently graduated from their dog handling course in Aruba.

Woodley and Moesliken, who joined the force in 2009 and 2010 respectively, were patrol officers before becoming dog handlers. When they became aware the force had openings for dog handlers, they applied and were selected for the new posts.

Last month, they flew to Aruba to meet their canine partners and both dogs and their handlers had to complete a challenging training course at the Justice Training Centre Read more

Trans-Border agreement to be signed on August 18

PHILIPSBURG--The draft operational programme for the European Development Fund Trans-Border Project will be made final on August 18, when representatives of the Dutch and French sides' governments sign the agreement.

Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams said the draft programme, which outlines the plans for the building of a Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Social Affairs Cornelius de Weever had huge green eraser which he said certain politicians have to use to erase their past mistakes. The Minister was referring to the press release sent by the Minister of VROMI Maurice Lake who stated that he provided shelter for the victims of the St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson confirmed to SMN News that the Minister of Justice and Security of the Netherlands have been delaying and or refusing to grant St. Maarten necessary assistance for the Landsrecherche (National Detectives) that is lacking in manpower to investigate cases that have been pending for years. When asked if he is satisfied with the functioning of the Prosecutor's Office and the Attorney General of St. Maarten that have cases as long as four years to investigate and prosecute and to date nothing has happened Read more