SXMElections.com

Y2x Crew: This Week Is All About Girl Power

CONCORDIA РRecent guests on Fresh with the Y2X Crew, Member of Parliament (MP) Cornelius de Weever, Ren̩ Violenus of the National Alliance (NA), Joslyn Richardson of One St Read more

Stop Playacting At Being Mp’S

I read with interest statements from UP Party MP Franklin Meyers that St. Maarten’s citizens have not benefited from the political changes since 10-10-10 and this statement raised my eyebrows. The people did not benefit because every proposal that was submitted by the OSPP to help the people– make them business owners in their country, help them become home owners, put our young people to work, etc Read more

Esté Preparado Para Las Elecciones De Este Año: Sintonice Fresco Con La Tripulación Y2x

Traducido por Máximo Castro

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten.- Es tiempo de elecciones otra vez. El 26 de septiembre está a la vuelta de la esquina. La pregunta es, “¿estás listo (a)?”

Youth 2 Xtreme (Y2X), el ala juvenil de Victorious Living Foundation, tiene las herramientas que necesitas para estar listo para las próximas elecciones. Y2X presenta: Elecciones de 2016 en su programa de radio semanal, FRESCO, a través de Youth Radio 92.5FM.

Durante esta serie de programas sobre las elecciones, los candidatos de diversos partidos políticos tienen la oportunidad de debatir sobre temas importantes, como la educación y la salud, así como demostrar al pueblo de San Martín que ellos son la elección correcta para las elecciones de este año.

Los invitados recientes para esta serie de elecciones incluyen a: Chasen Williams del Partido Democrático (DP); Pastor Wycliffe Smith y Claude Peterson, del Partido Cristiano St Read more

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

Toastmasters Invite Political Parties To Table Topics-A-Thon

PHILIPSBURG – The Soualiga Corporate Toastmasters Club (SCTMC) is inviting all toastmasters and the community of St. Maarten to its Table Topics-a-Thon on Wednesday, September 7.

All political parties were invited to participate by submitting the name of a candidate who is contesting the elections for the first time. This program provides a great opportunity for toastmasters and the wider community to get to know these candidates.

The Table Topics-a-Thon will be held at the University of St Read more

Von Panel Discussion With Party Leaders

PHILIPSBURG – JCI LIVE Soualiga known as a global leadership organization is once again holding its Voice of the Nation (VoN) Panel Discussion.

This time the topic will be on Environmental Sustainability. All 9 registered political parties’ leaders have been invited to participate in this Assembly to be held on Saturday, September 3, from 7:00pm at the University of St. Martin (USM).

The parties are: NA, DP, USP, UPP, SDM, SMCP, PPA, HOPE AND OSPP Read more

On Central Bank Alleged Irregularities: Priest Urges Cooler Heads To Prevail

PHILIPSBURG – Amidst news that the Director of the Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten is under investigation and may face criminal charges over irregularities at the Central Bank and allegations of funds from Ennia Insurances being invested, leaving policy holders uncovered, leader of the One St. Maarten People’s Party (OSPP) Lenny Priest urged for cooler heads to prevail.

He reiterated his earlier call that the Parliament of St Read more

Priest Challenge Students To “Act Responsibly”

PHILIPSBURG—As St. Maarten students and teachers go back to school today, students are being challenged to “act responsibly” and remember they are ambassadors of their country everyday even when at home. This challenge was issued by leader of the One St. Maarten People Party Lenny Priest who also urges parents to remember that despite the moans and groans they may encounter from their children in getting them ready and from themselves as they deal with the road congestion that is part and parcel of the school run, that it is their civic duty as parents to educate their children.

“School is the place where children and indeed adults build their confidence, learn the value of teamwork and where knowledge is imparted that will set students on the trajectory of their lives Read more

Smcp – Sdm – Ppa And Ospp Obtain More Than 146 Endorsement Signatures

~ HOPE Party did not reach the 146 signature on Tuesday ~

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – On Monday August 8th, the representatives to the Central Voting Bureau of nine (9) political parties have submitted the list of candidates of their respective political parties.

As per article 23, paragraph 1 Electoral Ordinance, the lists would need to be endorsed on Tuesday, August 9th 2016, between 09.00hrs and 16.00hrs with an amount of signatures equal to 1% of the valid votes casted during the last Parliamentary Election Read more

Nine Political Parties Postulate For September Elections

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – On Monday, August 8th postulation day, nine (9) political parties postulated to contest the September 26th parliamentary election.

The parties are the

United People’s Party (UP) 23, Helping our People Excel (HOPE) 3, St. Maarten Christian Party (SMCP) 9, One St Read more

Priest Calls On Minister Meyers To Provide Answers On Dump

PHILIPSBURG – Recommendations that the intended Waste-to-Energy plant be built in the Cay Bay area to allow easier transfer of the electricity produced by the plant to the grid of NV GEBE, that the communities in Philipsburg be educated on actual conditions of the dump and that an escape plan be introduced in the event of a disaster, have been put forward to VROMI Minister Angel Meyers by the One St. Maarten People Party (OSPP).

The OSPP also proposed town hall meetings outlining the various solutions that are being tabled.

Leader of the OSPP Lenny Priest said he learnt from media reports that date back to May 2016, Minister Meyers visited a Renewable Energy Facility in West Palm Beach and a Waste-to-Energy Plant in New York, with the intention of constructing a Waste-to-Energy plant.

Unconfirmed reports have given the site for this proposed plant as Pond Island Read more

Local Agriculturist: “Incorporate Agriculture And Culture In Tourism”

PHILIPSBURG – With news that St. Maarten’s record of tourist arrivals for this year is anticipated to be significantly less than last year, a suggestion has been put forward that St. Maarten diversify its tourism product to incorporate more cultural and natural attractions like organized hikes and a botanical garden, and to “piggy back” locally made art off the backs of other products to make them more attractive to visitors as souvenirs.

This suggestion was made by One St Read more

“Back And Forth Bickering Between Na And Upp Over Gebe, But No Solution In Sight!”

PHILIPSBURG – It is the people of St. Maarten who are continuing to suffer while the heated debate over who is most responsible for the current GEBE woes continues between the National Alliance (NA) and the United Peoples Party (UPP), noted leader of the One St. Maarten People Party (OSPP) Lenny Priest, who opined that workable solutions are what the country needs and not “high school antics from elected officials.”

Priest was reacting to recent media statements on the situation at GEBE from the board of NA who alleged “it seems every time that government or government-owned companies needs to make a significant purchase some family or friend is involved in some way or the other,” and to statements by the UPP alleging that it was the NA who stopped the purchase of the engine needed by GEBE.

“This constant back and forth between the largest political parties over what has happened at GEBE under their tenure with accusations of nepotism and the like levied against each other is in no way a solution to the problem Read more

Ospp Congratulates I Can And Carl John

PHILIPSBURG – Congratulations were extended to the I Can Foundation on the occasion of their 20 year anniversary by the One St. Maarten People Party (OSPP) and to Police Chief Carl John on being officially inaugurated.

“We congratulate the I Can Foundation and particularly president and founder Cassandra Gibbs. She is a clear example of putting others before self, putting country before self Read more

Ospp: Use Acquired Land From Over The Bank To Build Affordable Homes

PHILIPSBURG – Two parcels of recently acquired government land in the area of the Vineyard building are being proposed by the One St. Maarten People’s Party (OSPP) as ideal for constructing affordable homes for “Our people.”

On February 5, 2015 two parcels of land were acquired by Country St. Maarten in the area locally known as Over the Bank/Vineyard. These parcels of land are further described in Certificate of Admeasurements SXM UPQ 290/1984 in the amount of 30,205 m2 and Certificate of Admeasurements SXM UPQ 162/2014 in the amount of 80,500 m2.

Leader of the OSPP Lenny Priest expressed concerns that these parcels may go the path of land before, which ended up owned by members of government or given to persons who are already in possession of government land Read more

Ospp Welcomes New Parties To The Political Arena

PHILIPSBURG – News that there are currently 13 political parties registered on island is being welcomed by the One St. Maarten People Party (OSPP), whose leader Lenny Priest opined this suggests the people of St. Maarten are disillusioned with the political parties currently forming the government.

“We have noted with interest that there is now twice the number of political parties registered on island and that 10 parties will contest the September 26 election Read more

Ospp Condemns Bastille Day Attacks

PHILIPSBURG-— As St. Maarten joins the rest of the world in mourning the deaths of the approximated 84 persons who died and the 202 injured during the Bastille Day celebrations in Nice France on Thursday, leader of the One St. Maarten People’s Party—OSPP—Lenny Priest extends condolences to the families of the victims and to the people of France, especially St. Martin.

“I and the OSPP condemn this inhumane and wicked act against fellow human beings Read more

Priest Calls Marlin’S Statement Unprofessional And Disrespectful

PHILIPSBURG – Statements from GEBE’S top superior to the effect that clients should wait until problems are resolved, as opposed to contacting the company for details, have been classed as disrespectful and unprofessional by leader of the One St. Maarten People Party (OSPP) Lenny Priest.

An article in the Thursday, July 14, issue of The Daily Herald quoted Chairman of the supervisory board of GEBE Roy Marlin as saying, “There is no need for GEBE to come out and say, we’re having problems because the people see it and feel it,” in response to a question regarding why the company does not inform the public of what the situation is as it occurs Read more

Priest Condemns Tourist Murder

 ~ Suggests tougher punishment as deterrent ~

Lenny Priest, Leader of One St. Maarten People Party

PHILIPSBURG – The murder of Belgium tourist Wendy Mountulet is being condemned by the One St. Maarten People Party (OSPP), who offered condolences to the family of the 22-year-old.

Party Leader Lenny Priest noted that in this critical time when Caribbean tourism is already under the microscope, the island cannot afford to be tarred with the same brush as countries like the Bahamas, where according to a recent report in the Nassau Guardian, “an executive with Carnival Cruise Line reportedly warned a Bahamas tourism official that Carnival is so worried about crime in Nassau, it’s considering issuing crime warnings to the passengers it brings there.”

Priest stressed that the OSPP advocates protection for all people and believes in equality and justice for all, but opined that more must be done to safeguard the island’s tourism product, beginning with joint task forces from both sides of the island working to solve crimes against tourists and imposing maximum penalties to offenders as a deterrent against such behavior.

“We also support more social programs and opportunities for those who feel they have been left behind,” he added, explaining that this is also important in regard to deterring criminal behavior.

The OSPP leader pointed out that some Caribbean islands are already under the microscope and cited a recent article in the Saint Lucia Times, in which the president of the Saint Lucia Venders Association publicly accused the Minister of Tourism of ignoring the island nation’s crime problem.

The association’s president noted that crime in Saint Lucia has gotten so bad that cruise lines might consider dropping that popular Caribbean port stop from their itineraries, as Norwegian Cruise Line did in the 2010-2012 season because of reported crimes against passengers.

According to Priest, St Read more

“Gebe Is A Rudderless Ship”

PHILIPSBURG – The current issues being experienced with GEBE’S much criticized load shedding are because the company is now “a rudderless ship,” according to leader of the One St. Maarten People Party (OSPP) Lenny Priest, who opined that government needs to step in and tackle these issues head on in the interest of the populace.

Electricity consumers on Dutch St. Maarten have been blighted with power outages over the past few days, which are reportedly part of scheduled load shedding to accommodate repair of equipment Read more

Ambassador Valkenburg’S Plan To Champion Agriculture Is Welcome News To Ospp

PHILIPSBURG – News that the new Dutch Ambassador to Cuba Alexandra Valkenburg plans to champion the interest of St. Maarten is being welcomed by the One St. Maarten People Party (OSPP), who while launching their candidate Maurits Joslyn Richardson last week, stressed the importance agriculture must play in the further development of St Read more

Educator And Musician Leroy Vlaun Will Run With Ospp

PHILIPSBURG – Musician and educator Leroy W. Vlaun, has joined the political arena and is set to contest the September 2016 elections on the One St. Maarten People Party (OSPP) slate, according to an announcement from Party leader Lenny F. Priest.

This latest OSPP candidate is no stranger to many on the island since he has been a music educator at the MAC elementary School for the past 30 years and at the St Read more

The Optimal Functioning Of Cadaster Not A Priority Of This Na Government

The general public of St. Maarten has been complaining about the long delays that exist now at the office of land measurements and registration of mortgages. The Cadaster Office at one point was a department of the Central Government of the former Netherlands Antilles and became a foundation. The Cadaster became an operation that you could depend on as certificate of admeasurements and other services were flowing smoothly.

Over the last year we are seeing these services of this prestigious foundation deteriorate to the point where the general public is suffering Read more

Up And Na, Shadowboxing About Education On The Move!

Every budget over the last ten years and beyond shows that education consumes the greatest part of it. But instead of things getting better, our education product is lagging far behind. We have been reading about so many problems within our public educational system that it makes us hold our head and bawl.

All indications are that our private schools are being better managed. We are therefore, somewhat surprised that after so many years of talking about it, no decision has been made to date to privatize public education.

Our largest secondary school, if media reports are correct, is planning to establish an English curriculum because we are not having sufficient students stream into the Dutch system at that school Read more