SXMElections.com

Sarah: Hassink has ‘no choice’

~But to release BTP report~

PHILIPSBURG--The recent call by Bureau Telecommunication and Post (BTP) to government to make publicly available the Government Accountants Bureau SOAB report, appraisal reports and advice on the bureau to put an end to fraud allegations has left Finance Minister Martin Hassink "no choice" but to explain to Parliament the hierarchical structure of BTP, said Democratic Party (DP) Leader Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams in a statement Sunday.

"I eagerly await the Finance Minister's reaction to this sudden outburst by BTP," Wescot-Williams said.

BTP said in a press statement on Friday that neither its present supervisory board nor management "ever took a decision to purchase a building Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Parliament has been asked in an indirect way to give the Government of St. Maarten some time to get its feet wet, but events in rapid succession are demanding Parliament's attention, and government is called to respond with equal urgency.
How else can one explain the sudden outburst by the Bureau Telecommunication and Post (BTP) in the press of Saturday, January 17th?
To understand the anomaly of this and put this matter in perspective, we need to understand the organization of the institution BTP.
This institution is created by law to execute a public task Read more

Sarah still awaits answers about housing foundation

PHILIPSBURG--It has been a month and Democratic Party (DP) Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams is still waiting on answers from government, in particular Public Housing Minister Marcel Gumbs, to her questions about whether St Read more

DP to continue with draft timeshare laws

PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) will "pick up" the two draft initiative laws on the establishment of a timeshare authority and the regulation of the sector submitted to Parliament in its first sitting by former DP Member of Parliament Leroy de Weever.

DP leader MP Sarah Wescot-Williams informed Parliament Chairman Dr Read more

Sarah questions Dutch Secret Service role in cabinet screening

PHILIPSBURG--The exact role the Dutch Secret Service played in the screening of minister candidates for the Gumbs Cabinet is questioned by Democratic Party (DP) Leader Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams in a letter sent this week to Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs.

She seeks answers to the Dutch Secret Service's role in the screening, whether theirs was a one-time involvement, or will this continue for subsequent cabinets and how the service's role is "formalized nationally."

Her request to the prime minister for answers "has nothing to do" with the persons who were subjected to the screening process, but are directed to "the process" used to screen them.

Dutch Minister for Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations Roland Plasterk was quoted by the media as saying that ministers sworn-in on December 19, 2014, were "subjected with the assistance of employees of the Dutch secret service to an extra-severe screening."

Wescot-Williams framed her questions to the prime minister based on Plasterk's statement and St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the Democratic Party and Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams has sent a letter to Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs asking for an explanation on the screening of Ministers that were installed on December 19th, 2014 Read more

Dp Faction To Give Attention To Draft Timeshare Ordinances

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Leader of the Democratic Party MP Sarah Wescot-Williams Wednesday confirmed that on Wednesday she informed the chairman of Parliament of her faction's intention to pick up the draft timeshare initiative laws and continue with the process.

According to MP Wescot-Williams, as is the case with initiative laws, the initiators are responsible for the process.

It is also customary that a faction can continue the process, started by one or more of its members, no longer in Parliament, as is the case with these drafts.

I also informed Minister Conner of my intentions and suggested that we meet to plan the way forward with these drafts.

I did so to avoid any overlapping and or doubling of efforts Read more

Mp Wescot-Williams Seeks Information Of Closure Of Screening Process For Ministers

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The leader of the Democratic Party, MP the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams Wednesday expressed concern with what she believes is the none transparent manner in which the screening process conducted by the Governor of St Read more

NA call for MP Matser’s ‘immediate’ resignation

PHILIPSBURG--The "immediate resignation" of United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Silvio Matser has been called for by the National Alliance (NA) Board.

The call, issued Tuesday, comes a week after the Court of First Instance sentenced the first-term MP to 24 months, 18 of which were suspended, on three years' probation and 240 hours of community service, for tax evasion Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Board of the National Alliance calls for the immediate resignation of United People's Party Member of Parliament Mr. Silvio Matser. The National Alliance Board is of the opinion, that in light of the verdict that has been handed down to MP Matser by the Court on Wednesday January 7th, 2015, to 2 years for 'tax evasion', that the honorable thing to do would be to step down and relinquish his seat to the people of Sint Maarten.

Sint Maarten has faced extensive challenges in maintaining integrity in its Governance and considering that being elected to Parliament, the highest body in our governmental structure; it would be yet another gross injustice and ill representation of the people of Sint Maarten to have a convicted Member of Parliament continue to retain his seat in light of such a sentence.
This cannot be the state of 'readiness' that the United People's Party chanted to the people of Sint Maarten throughout the election period.

The board of the National Alliance believes that it is critical for the people of Sint Maarten to be reminded, that within 3 weeks after the Elections of 2014, the National Alliance, Democratic Party & the United St Read more

Board Of The National Alliance Requesting The Immediate Resignation Of Mp Silvio Matser

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Board of the National Alliance calls for the immediate resignation of United People's Party Member of Parliament Mr. Silvio Matser.

The National Alliance Board is of the opinion, that in light of the verdict that has been handed down to MP Matser by the Court on Wednesday January 7th, 2015, to 2 years for 'tax evasion', that the honorable thing to do would be to step down and relinquish his seat to the people of Sint Maarten.

Sint Maarten has faced extensive challenges in maintaining integrity in its Governance and considering that being elected to Parliament, the highest body in our governmental structure; it would be yet another gross injustice and ill representation of the people of Sint Maarten to have a convicted Member of Parliament continue to retain his seat in light of such a sentence Read more

Dp:  “A Dark Day For All Of Us” (Charlie Hebdo)

St. Maarten – The Democratic Party is the first political party to react to the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack in Paris. In a brief statement, party-leader Sarah Wescot-Williams offers its condolences as well as sympathy to our country’s French neighbors.

“The Democratic Party of St Read more

>How blessed we are! For the 10th consecutive year, we are enjoying the freedom and leadership committed to conjointly observing a National Day of Prayer. I am proud to have been part of the Executive Council that in 2005 instituted this day and I thank the different denominations for upholding the tradition unwaveringly.
This we do, respecting the constitutionally enshrined right of freedom of religion of all, but also respecting the premise and preamble of the same constitution, our unified belief in the Almighty.

I truly believe that a government should have its ears to the ground and respect the individual freedoms of all, but ultimately it should be the norms and values that the majority of us hold dear that should set the tone.
The National Day of Prayer in addition to its religious connotation, is also an opportunity for reflection and for resolution.
Consciously, this day is held at the beginning of the year, giving ourselves another opportunity for resolve and recovery, and the will to stay the course.
Neither as a member of Parliament nor as a citizen, it is to me to judge any-one else, but rather to provide guidance and to stand up for the values we hold dear as a community Read more

Sarah: January 7 ‘dark day for all’

PHILIPSBURG--January seven was “a dark day for all of us,” said Democratic Party (DP) Leader Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams in a condolence message to the family of the victims of the tragic shooting at the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, the French Republic and all of Europe impacted by the events on Wednesday.

“In a very special way, we empathize with our French St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Democratic Party of St. Maarten expresses its heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the Charlie Hebdo tragedy in France, to the French Republic and all its citizens in Europe and abroad, and in a very special way, we empathize with our French St. Martin brothers and sisters.
It's a dark day for all of us. As the tragedy continues to unfold in France in view of the whole world, we on our island are sadly reminded of the volatile times we live in Read more

Democratic Party Of St. Maarten Speaks On Terrorist Attack In France

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Democratic Party of St. Maarten expresses its heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the Charlie Hebdo tragedy in France, to the French Republic and all its citizens in Europe and abroad, and in a very special way, we empathize with our French St. Martin brothers and sisters.

It's a dark day for all of us. As the tragedy continues to Read more

Five go on trial in Buncamper case

PHILIPSBURG--Former Minister Maria Buncamper-Molanus (47), her husband Claudius Buncamper (51), notary F.E.G. (70) and two other suspects I.A.H. (46) and T.O.W. (68) all were charged with involvement with fraud, forgery of documents and participation in a criminal organisation on Wednesday. This marked the start of the long-awaited trial concerning a criminal investigation into a transaction with a piece of land that had been given on long lease.

All five suspects appeared in Court for a pro forma/pre-trial hearing in this case, during which the hearing of witnesses was discussed.

Buncamper-Molanus ran on the United People's (UP) party slate for the August 29, 2014, parliamentary election, but is a former Democratic Party (DP) minister of public health, social development and labour.

The case against the Buncampers came to light in December 2010, when it was revealed that they had sold the economic rights to a plot of land on long lease to a company named Eco Green NV, against payment of US $3 million.

Buncamper-Molanus had obtained the rights of long lease on the government property against annual payment of approximately US $10,000 in April 2008, while she was a member of the then-Executive Council.

Three days after Eco Green was established, with figurehead T.O.W Read more

New Year’S Message Sarah Wescot-Williams: Focus On Climate Change And Flexible Labor Market

St. Maarten – A flexible labor market is one of the priorities the opposition Democratic Party has in the crosshairs for 2015, party-leader Sarah Wescot-Williams wrote in a belated New Year’s message. Climate change, ageing and electoral, financial and fiscal reform are other issues the party intends to champion.

“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us” (Hal Borland, American author and journalist) Read more

Ipko Parties Agree On Need To Meet More Often

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Inter-parliamentary Kingdom Consultation involving the parliaments of Aruba, Curacao and St. Maarten is well under way in Aruba.

During their first session on Monday, the law makers expressed the need to meet on a more regular basis to discuss issues of importance for the three countries.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Member of Parliament and leader of the Democratic Party of St Read more

Integrity committee one of main priorities for DP

PHILIPSBURG--Electoral, financial and tax reform, and having an integrity committee of Parliament are amongst the priorities the Democratic Party (DP) will champion this year.

In the party's New Year message issued on Sunday, DP Leader Sarah Wescot-Williams said the vision of the party is for Parliament to become more in tune with the realities of what is taking place in the community Read more

Ferrier wants PM to explain how counterpart policy will be applied

~ 'It will stifle economic growth' ~

PHILIPSBURG--Businessman Michael Ferrier is looking forward to an explanation from Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs on how the counterpart policy will be applied in St Read more

style="text-align: center;">"Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us". (Hal Borland, American author and journalist)

This, in the opinion of the Democratic Party (DP) of St. Maarten is an apt description of where we find ourselves today as a political party.
Determined to carry on, but with much wisdom and humbleness from our experiences, especially those of the year just behind us.
The past year however, was also the closure of a unique and unforgettable chapter Read more

Democratic Party Of St. Maarten New Years Message

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - "Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us". (Hal Borland, American author and journalist)

This, in the opinion of the Democratic Party (DP) of St. Maarten is an apt description of where we find ourselves today as a political party.

Determined to carry on, but with much wisdom and humbleness from our experiences, especially those of the year just behind us.

The past year however, was also the closure of a unique and unforgettable chapter Read more

Option Nr.3 has lost!

Dear Editor,

The Daily Herald of Friday Jan 2nd quoted an undisclosed source stating that a number of people on Statia have suspicions about the role of the Post Office with regard to the distribution of the voting cards for last referendum.

The claim is that the majority of Post Office staff are DP party members and the DP was openly against this referendum. This statement insinuates that because of their perceived political affiliation the Post Office workers will-fully have obstructed the referendum Read more