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Theo Heyliger Confirms He Is The Next Prime Minister Of St. Maarten

St. Maarten – United People’s party leader Theo Heyliger confirmed in the Oral Gibbes Live TV-program on Monday that he will be the country’s next Prime Minister. While others on the UP-list may also take up a post in the new cabinet, Heyliger’s move makes it certain that the controversial candidate Maria Buncamper-Molanus will become a Member of Parliament.

If, as is to be expected, Franklin Meyers becomes the new minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs, Jules James will return to parliament for a second 4-year term.

“I made a promise to the population of St Read more

Monday Protest-March Against Dutch Interference – Citizens For True Democracy Turn On Bosman, Van Raak

The Citizens for True Democracy. From left: Etienne Meyers, Elton Jones and Edwin Gumbs, for the occasion dressed in tee shirts with a bloody message. Photo Today / Hilbert Haar

St. Maarten – Etienne “Toochie” Meyers, Elton Jones and Edwin Gumbs are the driving forces behind Citizens for True Democracy – an activist movement that organizes on Monday a protests march against what is perceived as unacceptable interference in St Read more

St. Maarten Governor Asks Theo Heyliger To Form New Government

MP Theo Heyliger. Photo today / Leo Brown

St. Maarten – Governor Drs. Eugène Holiday has asked United People’s party leader Theo Heyliger to form a new government as formateur.

Last Friday the governor received the final report of the informateurs Joe Richardson and Marcel Gumbs, plus the governing accord 2014-2018 signed by the 7 members of the UP and Cornelius de Weever who will take up their seats in Parliament on Friday.

The 8 MPs-elect agreed in the governing accord that they will form a government that will among others give priority to the approval of the 2015 budget and to the decision making regarding the different reports on integrity of the public administration as well as to the execution thereof Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- "Over the past two weeks much has been said about the PWC Integrity report locally and across the ocean. Unfortunately some are attempting to paint a picture of an unwilling St. Maarten, unwilling to address reported and alleged integrity issues highlighted in the report, a St. Maarten comfortable with the status quo. The volume on the noise has been increased, but it is important that we filter through this and focus.
"I thought it was important to point out that contrary to the opinion of some, you cannot wave a magic wand and address every reported issue overnight Read more

style="text-align: center;">Rumors are unfounded --- Leona Marlin Romeo

PHILIPSBURG:--- SMN News received information from certain members of the United Peoples Party (UPP) who said that they will be getting the support of Member of Parliament (elect) Leona Marlin whom they said promised them that she will declare herself independent after being sworn in as a Member of Parliament and she would then support the UPP/de Weever coalition.
When contacted by SMN News on Thursday MP Leona Marlin (elect) said that she has no intention of leaving the political party she was elected on Read more

Dutch Send Supervisor Integrity And Reinforcements To The Island

Debate about Kingdom Relations-budget in The Hague

THE HAGUE  – Assistance for the Public Prosecutor’s Office to fight white collar criminality,  border control under the supervision of the Netherlands and the appointment of a Supervisor Integrity. These are the three pillars of an action plan Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk announced yesterday in the debate about the budget for Kingdom Relations in the Second Chamber in The Hague.

Plasterk said during the debate that the situation in St Read more

Up Party Says It Will Not Accept Any Dutch Interference

St. Maarten – The board of the United Peoples Party (UP) strongly believes “that the recent rhetoric of the Liberal Democratic VVD party and Socialist Party (SP) in the Netherlands is exactly that, rhetoric, but nonetheless infringes on the fundamentals of St. Maarten’s parliamentary democracy,” the party stated in a press release.

“The people have clearly spoken and the support our party and its leadership serves testimony to the confidence the people of St Read more

Up Calls On The Nation To Take Part In Breast Cancer Awareness Activities For The Month Of October

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – The board of the United People's Party (UP) is calling on the Sint Maarten community to take part in various Breast Cancer Awareness activities that will be held for the month of October.

Countries around the world hold activities to help increase attention and support for the awareness, early detection and treatment as well as palliative care of this disease.

A Breast Cancer Awareness march organized by community based organizations is planned on Friday, October 3rd starting at the Festival Village in Philipsburg at 4.30pm Read more

Reaction To Pwc Integrity Report: Dutch Want Criminal Investigation (Into The Government Of St. Maarten)

THE HAGUE – Justice has to initiate a large-scale criminal investigation into the “utterly corrupt” government of Sint Maarten. “The Second Chamber demands this, now that the controversial politician Theo Heyliger is grabbing the absolute power on the island,” the Telegraaf reported yesterday.

A majority of VVD, Socialist Party, CDA and PVV wants action according to the newspaper, after it appears from an investigation by consultant PricewaterhouseCoopers that the complete government apparatus is rife with cronyism Read more

Parliament Takes Vorst Estate Purchase Out Of 2014 Budget

St. Maarten – The Parliament approved a motion to take a $5.5 million provision for the purchase of the Vorst Estate out of an amendment to the 2014 budget with 7 votes to 6. This blocks the purchase of the land, for which Vromi-Minister Maurice Lake signed an agreement in February of this year, but it does not absolve the country of liability towards the Vorst-family, because the Court in First Instance has already ruled that the purchase-agreement Lake signed is a valid one.

The meeting to handle the budget amendment has a long history Read more

Ex-Formateur William Marlin: “Matter Of Time Before We See Another Shift”

St. Maarten – “It is a matter of time before you will see another shift,” former formateur William Marlin said at a press conference yesterday in answer to a question from this newspaper about political instability. “There is not a problem with the system, but there are too many who approach this like, I have my seat and I am going to peddle it to the highest bidder Read more

Mp William Marlin Gives Thoughts On Coalition Of Three

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Former Formatuer, Member of Parliament and leader of the National Alliance, the Honorable William Marlin held a press conference on Sunday.

The reason was to provide the media with information regarding the latest political situation on the island.

Whilst speaking at the press conference on Sunday, Mr Read more

style="text-align: center;">Work Group worked hard in preparing a Governing Program

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the National Alliance William Marlin who was appointed formateur by Governor Eugene Holiday to form the next government for 2014 - 2018 finally cleared the air on Sunday at a press conference. Marlin was appointed by the Governor shortly after the August 29th, 2014 Parliamentary Elections when the National Alliance, Democratic Party and the United St Read more

Governor Appoints Marcel Gumbs And Joe Richardson As Informateurs

St. Maarten – Marcel Gumbs and Joe Richardson have been offered and have accepted an assignment to become the informateurs of the new government of St. Maarten that is expected to be formed as a result of an agreement between Cornilus de Weever and the UP party Read more

Statement Minister De Weever: “Let My Work Determine My Contribution To Our Country”

St. Maarten – A “political statement” of 867 words Minister of Public Health, Social Affairs and Labor Cornelius de Weever issued last night makes clear that the counterpart policy was the breaking point that drove him to the decision to take up a seat in Parliament instead of continuing as a minister. The statement does not contain a single reference to his support for the coalition with the United People’s party.

De Weever states that he told Democratic Party leader Sarah Wescot-Williams on Tuesday that he would take up his seat in Parliament 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

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

>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

>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

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

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

No Quorum for Budget Debate --- UPP, De Weever, Illidge Absconded.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The budget debate that was scheduled for Wednesday September 24th, 2014 to amend the 2014 budget could not take place due to a lack of quorum. Members of Parliament from the United Peoples Party, Member of Parliament Petrus Leroy de Weever and Member of Parliament Patrick Illidge did not show up to the meeting.
While the UPP and DP are in government it is clear that the United Peoples Party will not attend the meetings to amend the budget until they know who will be in government and if things will go their way Read more

Ronald Plasterk: “Buying Votes Undermines St. Maarten’S Democratic Character”

THE HAGUE – Socialist Party parliamentarian Ronald van Raak received predictable answers from Minister Ronald Plasterk to his questions about the election fraud trial in St. Maarten. “It is not up to the minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations to comment on court rulings,” the minister wrote, though he also noted that buying and selling votes undermines St. Maarten’s democratic character.

Van Raak posed questions to Plasterk on August 27, two days before the parliamentary elections in St Read more

>GUANA BAY:--- On Tuesday September 9th, 2014, the police were called to the residence of leader of the United Peoples Party Theo Heyliger where unknown persons took several items from the MP's home Read more