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Budget amendment meet called off again due to lack of quorum

PHILIPSBURG--The public plenary session of Parliament on amendments to the 2014 budget was cancelled for the second time on Friday, as only four Members of Parliament (MPs) showed up and signed in for the meeting.

The meeting was first called off on Wednesday, due to the lack of a quorum when seven MPs were signed in, though United People's (UP) party MPs and Independent MP Dr. Lloyd Richardson had been in the building.

Present at Friday's session were National Alliance (NA) MPs Hyacinth Richardson and George Pantophlet, Democratic Party (DP) MP Roy Marlin and United People's (UP) party MP Gracita Arrindell Read more

Governor appoints Marcel Gumbs and Joe Richardson as informateurs.

>HARBOUR VIEW:--- After the consultations of Thursday September 25th, 2014, His Excellency Governor Eugene B. Holiday met again with the leader of the United People's Party, Mr. Theodore E. Heyliger on Friday to discuss the process to come to the formation of a new government. Considering the consultations, the results of the August 29, 2014 elections, the developments of the past 4 weeks and the coalition agreement signed by the 7 members of the UP and Mr Read more

style="text-align: center;">Audi Commences Construction of New Dealership in Cole Bay, St. Maarten

What: Ground breaking with St. Maarten Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams; Audi Latin America Vice President, Diego Ramos; Audi Latin America Sales Manager Gerardo Castillo-Flores, Tariq Amjad, Reza Amjad and Imran McSood Amjad from Caribbean Auto.Date: Thursday, September 25 at 9:00 a.m.Audi kicks off construction of new 2,690 square-foot dealership

ST Read more

Second time Budget meeting could not be held --- UPP MPs not present.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Roy Marlin spoke out on Friday on the budget meeting that had to be postponed for the second time due to a lack of quorum. MP Marlin said that the chairlady of Parliament has not being following the rules of order. He said that the meeting is supposed to be called within 48 hours (2x24 hours).
Marlin said that St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- My fellow St. Maarteners, with all of the rumors and innuendo circulating, I want to inform you formally on a decision that I have made and some of the reasoning behind it. On Tuesday afternoon, I informed Honorable Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams that I will be taking up my seat in Parliament instead of serving as Minister and serve the people of St Read more

Political Statement Minister Cornelius De Weever

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - My fellow St. Maarteners, with all of the rumors and innuendo circulating, I want to inform you formally on a decision that I have made and some of the reasoning behind it.

On Tuesday afternoon, I informed Honorable Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams that I will be taking up my seat in Parliament instead of serving as Minister and serve the people of St Read more

Governor Appoints Marcel Gumbs And Joe Richardson As Informateurs

HARBOUR VIEW, Sint Maarten – After the consultations of Thursday September 25th, 2014, His Excellency Governor Eugene B. Holiday met again with the leader of the United People's Party, Mr. Theodore E. Heyliger on Friday to discuss the process to come to the formation of a new government.

Considering the consultations, the results of the August 29, 2014 elections, the developments of the past 4 weeks and the coalition agreement signed by the 7 members of the UP and Mr Read more

As Part Of Succesful Fun Miles Millionaire Campaign, Fun Miles Presents Bumper Sticker Prize-Fest

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Fun Miles cardholders can now instantly win 500 Fun Miles, just for being seen with a Fun Miles Millionaire bumper sticker.

This is the latest exciting development in the popular Fun Miles Millionaire campaign, which enables cardholders to win the stupefying

amount of one million Fun Miles.

The bumper stickers are available for free from the Fun Miles office in Welgelegen Road in Cay Hill, or from the Fun Miles promotion team that is currently roaming our island.

Cardholders simply need to apply the sticker to their vehicle in a clearly visible way Read more

Editorial - Majority rule

A lot of frustration is being expressed by voters about the meanwhile-confirmed latest political twist that will see a UP-led government take office after all. Many uttered disbelief as to how something like this was even possible, let alone allowed to take place.

Some reason that especially as DP candidate and caretaker minister Cornelius de Weever had failed to earn a Parliament seat outright in terms of preferential votes, he should not be able to "jump ship" and torpedo the seemingly-incoming NA/DP/US Party coalition of which his party was to be part Read more

First Russian woman lifts off to International Space Station

ALMATY-- A Russian rocket blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday, taking to orbit a U.S.-Russian trio including the first Russian woman to serve on the $100 billion space outpost.

The Soyuz rocket lifted off from a vast steppe into a black sky at 0225 a.m. (2025 GMT on Thursday) to take Russian Alexander Samokutyaev, his compatriot Elena Serova and U.S. astronaut Barry Wilmore into orbit.

"Everything in order on board, we feel well," a live television broadcast by U.S Read more

No quorum for budget amendment meeting

~ UP, Dr. Richardson, Illidge, De Weever absent ~

PHILIPSBURG--The public plenary session of Parliament on amendments to the 2014 budget was cancelled on Wednesday due to the lack of a quorum, as only seven Members of Parliament (MPs) were signed in.

Parliament Press Secretary Roddy Heyliger said in a press release last night that the session had been rescheduled to Friday at 10:00am.

At least eight MPs are needed for the meeting to proceed Read more

De Weever prefers serving as MP, no longer wants to stay a minister

PHILIPSBURG--Incumbent Health Minister Cornelius de Weever has informed Democratic Party (DP) leader Sarah Wescot-Williams that he wants to serve as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the new government and no longer will be continuing as Minister of Health, Labour and Social Affairs as was originally the case.

De Weever was elected to Parliament on the DP slate in the August 29 election Read more

Holiday starts new consultations after end of ‘Marlin’ formation

PHILIPSBURG--Governor Eugene Holiday started new formation talks on Thursday after United People's (UP) party leader Theodore Heyliger submitted a signed "coalition agreement" for the governing period 2014-2018.

The agreement was signed by UP's seven elected Members of Parliament (MPs) and Democratic Party (DP) MP-elect Cornelius de Weever.

Holiday said in a press release that in view of these developments, National Alliance (NA) leader William Marlin had informed him that the majority in Parliament necessary for the formation of the planned NA/DP/US Party coalition government no longer existed Read more

New coalition said imminent

PHILIPSBURG--Widespread but unconfirmed reports on Wednesday indicated that a new coalition government with a one-seat majority is in the making between the United People's (UP) party with its seven seats and Democratic Party (DP) candidate and incumbent Health Minister Cornelius de Weever.

It could not be ascertained whether De Weever has severed ties with DP, as up to early yesterday Wescot-Williams said she had not been informed of such, although he had indicated that he no longer wanted a ministerial post and would retain his parliamentary seat (see related story).

According to reports, De Weever has agreed to form a coalition with UP Read more

Audi and Caribbean Auto break ground for $500,000 showroom

COLE BAY--Audi Latin America and Caribbean Auto broke ground for the construction of a US $500,000 new Audi dealership in St. Maarten on Thursday.

The dealership will be located at 153 Union Road Cole Bay, near Caribbean Auto. The centre will be Audi's St. Maarten/St. Martin dealership in the Caribbean region and will help strengthen its relationship with current and future four-ring customers.

"It's wonderful having a global company like Audi bring its quality-engineered vehicles to the island Read more

Minister Lake Commends SHTA on Level of Discussion and Approach to Issues.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (Ministry of VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake, says he would like to commend the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA) for its high level of discussion at its recent Annual General Meeting.

"We have to lift the bar, and the SHTA is one organization in our community that is doing that Read more

>HARBOUR VIEW:--- On Thursday September 25, 2014, His Excellency Governor Eugene B. Holiday met with the leader of the United People's Party, Mr. Theodore E. Heyliger. During the meeting Mr. Theodore E. Heyliger presented the Governor a coalition agreement for the period 2014-2018 for the governing of Sint Maarten. This agreement has been signed by the seven elected members to Parliament of the UPP and elected member to Parliament Mr Read more

SHTA – Engaged Learning Key in Tourism & Community Development.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- With a view towards World Tourism Day, the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA), the largest private business representative on the island, during its Annual General Meeting last Thursday addressed the theme of this year's World Tourism Day, Tourism & Community Development. Both speakers of the night addressed the need to improve and utilize our talent, our human capital, and our communities; focusing on the ability of tourism to empower people and provide them with skills to achieve change in their local communities.

President of the SHTA, Mrs Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- With the current developments concerning the formation of a new government where incumbent Minister of Health and Labor also Member of Parliament (elect) Cornelius de Weever has led on the people of St. Maarten including his party leader and the leaders of the National Alliance and the United St. Maarten Party the question that comes to mind is "who really is making big mistakes"?
MP de Weever made everyone on St Read more

Minister Lake Commends Shta On Level Of Discussion And Approach To Issues

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (Ministry of VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake, says he would like to commend the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA) for its high level of discussion at its recent Annual General Meeting.

"We have to lift the bar, and the SHTA is one organization in our community that is doing that.

They also approach issues on a professional constructive level, and this is the type of approach that needs to be continued.

"Public-private partnership is the way to move our country forward Read more

Governor Starts New Consultations After End Of Marlin Formation

HARBOUR VIEW, Sint Maarten – On Thursday September 25, 2014, His Excellency Governor Eugene B. Holiday met with the leader of the United People's Party, Mr. Theodore E. Heyliger.

During the meeting Mr. Theodore E. Heyliger presented the Governor a coalition agreement for the period 2014-2018 for the governing of Sint Maarten.

This agreement has been signed by the seven elected members to Parliament of the UPP and elected member to Parliament Mr Read more

Shta – Engaged Learning Key In Tourism & Community Development

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – With a view towards World Tourism Day, the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA), the largest private business representative on the island, during its Annual General Meeting last Thursday addressed the theme of this year's World Tourism Day, Tourism & Community Development.

Both speakers of the night addressed the need to improve and utilize our talent, our human capital, and our communities; focusing on the ability of tourism to empower people and provide them with skills to achieve change in their local communities.

President of the SHTA, Mrs Read more

Rumors Run Amok In Local Politics: Coalition May Fall Apart With De Weever’S Departure

Finance Minister Martin Hassink confers with National Alliance leader William Marlin while (from left) Frans Richardson and Romain Laville look on Read more

Formateur Gets More Time To Complete His  Mission  

St. Maarten – Yesterday Governor drs. Eugène Holiday, received an update on the formation process from formateur William Marlin. Based on the evaluation of the information presented to the governor in regard to the governing program and the time required to complete the ongoing screening of the candidate ministers, the formateur was g Read more