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PHILIPSBURG:---  The chair of parliament Roland Brison did not mince words on Monday when he called out the laziest Member of Parliament during the closing of the parliamentary year.

The UPP MP and chair of parliament said when listening to the positions stated by members of parliament, he looked around the hall and understand the concerns, because for most of the faction leaders, the level of representation, and more importantly, the level of work they put in, is very clear and commendable from his viewpoint as chairman.

Brison said however he does feel the need to give his observations of how the factions of parliament and its members are functioning, and how he believes they should be going forward.

First the good:

For at least 5 of the 6 factions in parliament he observed that every single one of them has presented amendments, motions, has chaired meetings in their respective committees across opposition/coalition lines, and other real initiatives things that are today being upheld by the government Read more

Broker: Real Estate Tax For Non-Residents Can Damage St. MaartenS Reputation

PHILIPSBURG--Introducing a real estate tax on non-residents, who purchase property in the country can severely damage St. Maartens reputation as a trustworthy destination to invest in, says real estate broker Arun Jagtiani, of Island Real Estate.

  Jagtiani was at the time responding to part of a presentation made by Finance Minister Ardwell Irion in Parliament on Monday regarding tax reform for the country Read more

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Exclusive: Attorney At Law Safira Ibrahim Resigns From Nv Gebe Board Of Directors.

~ SBOD is now a minority board with two members.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Attorney at Law Safira Ibrahim submitted her resignation from the board of directors of NV GEBE. Ibrahim was contemplating on whether or not to resign since last week, it was expected that she was going to submit her resignation prior to the court hearing on Friday, however, SMN News has been reliably informed that the resignation letter was submitted on Monday.
Currently, the SBOD of NV GEBE consists of two members namely the chairlady Nina Diaz and Conrad Richardson, the two members attended the court hearing on Friday where the plead notes of the plaintiff were not presented to the court but was leaked by WhatsApp over the weekend, including the resignation letter of former board member Kenneth Serrant.  The articles of incorporation of the Government-owned company clearing state that the SBOD must have at least 3 members or a maximum of 7 members.
The Shareholder heard the SBOD on Friday after the court procedures Read more

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Gumbs Reflects On Opportunities For Collaboration Coming Out Of Ipko

From left: MP Gwendell Mercelina Jr. (Partido Nashonal di Pueblo, Curaao), MP Melissa Gumbs (Party for Progress, St. Maarten) and MP Miguel Mansur (ACCION21, Aruba).

 ~ Disappointed some local MPs did not attend ~

PHILIPSBURG--Taking an opposing stance to several St Read more

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Mp Gumbs Reflects On Opportunities For Kingdom-Wide Collaboration Coming Out Of Ipko

PHILIPSBURG Taking an opposing stance to several Sint Maarten Members of Parliament (MPs), Party for Progress (PFP) MP Melissa Gumbs came out of the recently held the Kingdom Inter-Parliamentary Consultations (IPKO) reflecting on the opportunities for cooperation and collaboration between the countries in the Dutch Kingdom. 

There was a willingness to think differently and the focus on working together was present and pervasive Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Sunday said members of government need to stop with unbecoming behavior, be transparent with the public, follow its established protocols and stop trying to deflect with empty, evasive press releases. CPS protocols are in place to protect people. Leaders in this country should avoid undermining them with irresponsible actions, the MP said.
The MP was referring to Minister of VSA Omar Ottleys response to reports that he and the President of Parliament Rolando Brison attended a gathering at Lotus Night Club after the stipulated 11 pm closing time on Friday last Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of VSA, the Honorable Omar Ottley denies rumors of him giving a popular nightclub the permission to stay open until 2:00 AM.
It is disheartening that certain political figures are quick to spread misleading rumors with zero facts.

The Minister signed a Ministerial Regulation containing COVID guidelines and protocols, with 11:00 PM business closures being one of them.

"I am not annoyed with the person in the voice note that has been circulating, but I am very disappointed with the public figures that know how to access the facts and choose not to.

The Minister went on to state that obtaining factual information is as simple as asking the Inspectorate of VSA/TEATT and KPSM if any approval was given to allow the nightclub in question, to operate until 2:00 AM.

Naturally, their answer will be No! Minister Ottley went on to state that it is not a secret that the hours for enjoying nightlife were scaled back to 11:00 PM; however, the nightlife is not prohibited Read more

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Minister Ottley: No Permission Given For 2:00 Am Closure

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Minister of VSA, the Honorable Omar Ottley denies rumors of him giving a popular night club the permission to stay open until 2:00 AM.
It is disheartening that certain political figures are quick to spread misleading rumors with zero facts.

The Minister signed a Ministerial Regulation containing COVID guidelines and protocols, with 11:00 PM business closures being one of them.“I am not annoyed with the person in the voice note that has been circulating, but I am very disappointed with the public figures that knows how to access the facts and choose not to.

The Minister went on to state that obtaining factual information is as simple as asking the Inspectorate of VSA/TEATT and KPSM if any approval was given to allow the night club in
question, to operate until 2:00 AM.

Naturally, their answer will be No! Minister Ottley went on to state that it is not a secret that the hours for enjoying night life was scaled back to 11:00 PM; however nightlife is not
prohibited Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Omar Ottley met with St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) Director, Ms. Makhicia Brooks to gain insight into the application process, as well as the approval criteria and grounds for denial of applications, especially those related to the seniors.

The Minister took note of the complaints coming in from seniors claiming they were being denied assistance and he shared these concerns with Ms Read more

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Bigger Than Me Indeed!

Mr. Editor,

There are many political opponents who are frustrated with the fact that I continue to hold this government accountable through means available to all of us. It has come to the point where they, their soldiers and future candidates publicly display their frustration by stating I always have an article ready to go. I dont know if to take that as a compliment, but I can inform Mr. Cloyd Marlin that I am always ready because his government is always predictable and predictably bad, including his Letter to the Editor Read more

Mp Heyliger-Marten Says: The CftS Suggestion To Impose Land Tax Is Anti Local People

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The community of St. Maarten paused this weekend to celebrate the 95th birthday of its longest leader Dr. Albert Claudius Wathey a.k.a. the Ole Man, who is still today considered the father of modern-day St. Maarten.

In a press release issued on Sunday, Member of Parliament and Faction Leader for the United Peoples Party the honorable Grisha Heyliger-Marten remembered Dr Read more

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CftS Suggestion To Impose Land Tax Is Anti-Local People

PHILIPSBURG--Member of Parliament and United Peoples Party faction leader Grisha Heyliger-Marten commemorated the late Dr. Albert Claudius Wathey on July 24 for his contribution to the growth and development of the people and nation. She also reflected on a recent suggestion by the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT, to impose a tax that Wathey fought against at the Central Government level for years to prevent it from imposing it on St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Omar Ottley would like to reiterate to the public that the Collective Food Assistance Program coordinated by the St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) is still open and actively accepting new registrations.

Persons who were previously beneficiaries of the Red Cross version of the program received a WhatsApp or SMS text message to re-register their households under the new program being coordinated by SMDF and implemented by K1 Britannia, Freegan Food Foundation, and COME Center Read more

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Collective Food Program St. Maarten Update

PHILIPSBURG, Sint MaartenThe Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Omar Ottley would like to reiterate to the public that theCollective Food Assistance Program coordinated by the St. Maarten Development Fund(SMDF)isstillopen and actively accepting new registrations.

Persons who were previously beneficiaries of the Red Cross version of the program received a WhatsApp or SMS text message to re-register their households under the new program being coordinated by SMDF and implemented by K1 Britannia, Freegan Food Foundation, and COME Center. Persons who were receiving assistance from any of the three organizations are also able and encouraged to re-register.

If you are having difficulty re-registering your household; appointments can be made to visit the Help Desks in Dutch Quarter or Cole Bay by sending a WhatsApp message to 721-554-3219.

Persons interested in registering for the first time can visit foodprogram.sx or send a WhatsApp message to 721-554-3219 for further assistance.

The Whatsapp number services the languages of English, Spanish and Creole.

The post Collective Food Program – St Read more

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~ Political talks begin with USP, and incoming UP MP.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Council of Ministers officially suspended the Managing Director of the Princess Juliana International Holding Company Dexter Doncher. Doncher was informed of the suspension by letter late Wednesday night after the Council of Ministers held an emergency meeting and voted. Dexter Doncher was given a warning letter two days prior to the three months suspension.

The Council of Ministers wanted to fire Doncher who followed the instructions of the government to officially dismiss the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Princess Juliana International Airport, Brian Mingo on April 7th Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---Independent MP Christophe Emmanuel said that it is his opinion that the board of SMMC outright lied to the Minister of VSA Omar Ottley when it stated that the Australian national it brought in to run SMMC was here on an evaluation only. The board knew full well what its intentions were until the plan got exposed, the MP said.
MP Emmanuel highlighted last week that the board was going to appoint Grant Muddle, an Australian, as Director of the St Read more

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~ Questions entire vacancy timeline ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Tuesday revealed that the newly appointed Australian Director of the St. Maarten Medical Center Dr. Grant Muddle had what he called a messy history at his previous hospital tenure and called for the reversal of the decision to appoint him post-haste.

If this is the same person, reverse the decision not only on those grounds but for the simple fact that this nonsense of appointing people from half way across the world over our own qualified people must stop, MP Emmanuel said Read more

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Mp Emmanuel: Pm Betrays St. Maarteners Once Again

~ Says Alliance clearly not for its voters ~

Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Friday said it is unbelievable that the Prime Minister of St. Maarten, an educator by profession, would openly label government as an equal opportunity employer when discussing qualified St. Maarteners getting first preference over non-St. Maarteners with employment. This is the ultimate betrayal of our people and everyone who voted for the National Alliance and who anticipated being prioritized by that party, the MP said.

The MP was reacting to Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs explanation about what is happening at the Fire Department with the hiring of a Dutchman as Head of Repression Read more

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~ Says Alliance clearly not for its voters ~

PHILIPSBURG;--- Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Friday said it is unbelievable that the Prime Minister of St. Maarten, an educator by profession, would openly label government as an equal opportunity employer when discussing qualified St. Maarteners getting first preference over non-St. Maarteners with employment. This is the ultimate betrayal of our people and everyone who voted for the National Alliance and who anticipated being prioritized by that party, the MP said.
The MP was reacting to Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs explanation about what is happening at the Fire Department with the hiring of a Dutchman as Head of Repression Read more

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Samuel Must Explain Public Education Appointment, Says Mp Emmanuel

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Tuesday called on Minister of EducationRodolphSamuel to explain his reason behind relievingthe local acting Secretary General of the Department of Public Educationof her position and replacing herwith a non-St. Maartennational in government service.

The MP stressed that he has nothing against the person appointed and does not want his concerns misconstrued as anti-immigrant, but called the situation yet another example of this government treating St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Tuesday called on Minister of Education Rodolph Samuel to explain his reason behind relieving the local acting Secretary-General of the Department of Public Education of her position and replacing her with a non-St. Maarten national in government service.
The MP stressed that he has nothing against the person appointed and does not want his concerns misconstrued as anti-immigrant, but called the situation yet another example of this government treating St Read more

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Sint Maarten And The Netherlands Meet Over Liquidity Support

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten On Monday, March 29, 2021, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and her support staff were invited to a meeting arranged by the Dutch representatives office with State Secretary Knops. The meeting was amicable, however, State Secretary Knops still needed more reassurance from the Parliament of Sint Maarten concerning support for the trajectory of the Kingdom Consensus Law COHO and the country package agreements finalized in December 2020.

Prime Minister Jacobs stated, During the meeting, State Secretary Knops agreed that the Government of Sint Maarten has lived up to the agreements Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- On Monday, March 29, 2021, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and her support staff were invited to a meeting arranged by the Dutch representatives office with State Secretary Knops. The meeting was amicable, however, State Secretary Knops still needed more reassurance from the Parliament of Sint Maarten concerning support for the trajectory of the Kingdom Consensus Law COHO and the country package agreements finalized in December 2020 Read more

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Sint Maarten And The Netherlands Meet Over Liquidity Support

Philipsburg On Monday, March 29, 2021, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and her support staff were invited to a meeting arranged by the Dutch representatives office with State Secretary Knops. The meeting was amicable, however, State Secretary Knops still needed more reassurance from the Parliament of Sint Maarten concerning support for the trajectory of the Kingdom Consensus Law COHO and the country package agreements finalized in December 2020.

Prime Minister Jacobs stated, During the meeting, State Secretary Knops agreed that the Government of Sint Maarten has lived up to the agreements Read more

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