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Pfp, Duncan Request Meeting To Continue Process To Adopt ParliamentS Code Of Conduct

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Party for Progress (PFP) Members of Parliament (MPs) Melissa Gumbs and Raeyhon Peterson and independent MP Solange Duncan have requested a Central Committee meeting of Parliament to continue the process to adopt a Code of Conduct that MPs will be required to adhere.

There is a draft Code of Conduct already on the table Read more

Member Of Parliament Of The Pfp Faction Melissa D. Gumbs Speaks Out !

Please permit me some space to address the general public. You see, theres bound to be the usual political rhetoric about what the opposition did on Monday, 7 November 2022, in not granting quorum for the CC meeting about the unity flag, so let me be ahead of the circus.

The coalition showed up in full force to remove a President of Parliament who was actually acting in an unbiased manner: scheduling meetings requested by both coalition and opposition members of Parliament. Note that there are meetings on the docket since 2021 that have not been called, as outlined by the dismissed President of Parliament, MP Grisha Marten.

Some members of this new coalition, of which we have yet to see formal proof, only show up when called by one person to do so, and they vote as they are told to vote, too Read more

Ser Sint Maarten Presents 2021 Annual Report To Prime Minister S. Jacobs

PHILIPSBURG The Social Economic Council of Sint Maarten (SER) presented its 2021 Annual Report to the Honorable Prime Minister, Silveria E. Jacobs on Wednesday, September 28. SER Chairman Damien Richardson and Acting Secretary-General/Senior Policy Advisor, Sharon Arnell presented the report to Jacobs. The 2021 Annual report provides the history of the advisory body dating back to May 2011, as well as an overview of the activities, achievements, and financial information.

On May 1st, 2021, the SER celebrated its 10-year anniversary Read more

Pfp: Walkouts Becoming The Norm To Keep Accountability In The Dark

PHILIPSBURG Members of Parliament (MPs) Rolando Brison of United Peoples Party (UP) and Hyacinth Richardson of National Alliance (NA) walked out of Wednesdays parliament meeting because Party for Progress (PFP) MP Raeyhon Peterson introduced an additional agenda point to discuss the parliaments confidence in Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) Egbert J Read more

Pfp: Vromi Minister Is Playing Stalling Tactics To Avoid Accountability

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Party for Progress (PFP) Members of Parliament (MPs) Melissa Gumbs and Raeyhon Peterson are not surprised by the deliberate stalling tactics played by the Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) Egbert J Read more

Gumbs, Peterson: President Of Parliament Does Not Speak For Pfp

~ Letter to Prime Minister is a masterclass in being tactless ~

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — Party for Progress (PFP) Members of Parliament (MPs) Melissa Gumbs and Raeyhon Peterson on Wednesday, April 28, 2022, distanced themselves and their faction from the statements made by President of Parliament Grisha Heyliger-Marten in a recent letter to Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs.

Gumbs expressed her frustration with the continued misuse of the position of the President of Parliament, adding that letters sent by the President of Parliament give the impression that the words and sentiments are on behalf of the entire Sint Maarten Parliament.
The President of Parliament is trying to shield herself by acting as if she is only sending the letter in her capacity as a lone MP, Gumbs commented, However, much like when former President of Parliament Brison blundered in his letter to the Central Bank, this is again an instance of not recognizing that, when you are the President of Parliament, your words reflect and often give the impression of being representative of the entire Parliament.

Moreover, in parts of Heyliger-Martens letter, the wording itself gives the impression of a unified Parliament standing behind its President Read more

Pfp Wants Answers About Failed Dutch Quarter Sewage Project

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — A.Th. Illidge Road – the main road in Dutch Quarter – has been in a deplorable state for many years, and the infamous Dutch Quarter Sewage Project has not made the situation any better.

This is the reason why Party for Progress (PFP) Members of Parliament (MPs) Melissa Gumbs and Raeyhon Peterson sent a letter to Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) Egbert J Read more

Pfp: GovtS Current Media Policy Sets Dangerous Dictator-Like Precedent Of Press Censorship

Faction Requests Committee General Affairs Meeting to Discuss

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Party for Progress (PFP) Members of Parliament (MPs) Melissa Gumbs and Raeyhon Peterson took aim at the recently published Media Accreditation Policy 2022, calling the policy as contradictory, inflammatory, and improperly thought-out Read more

Pfp, Pantophlet & Wescot-Williams Request Urgent Cc On Cybersecurity

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Party for Progress (PFP) Members of Parliament (MPs) Melissa Gumbs and Raeyhon Peterson – along with MPs George Pantophlet of National Alliance (NA) and Sarah Wescot-Williams of United Democrats (UD) – have requested an urgent central committee meeting of Parliament, following last weeks cybersecurity attack at government-owned company N.V Read more

Gumbs Questions Teatt Minister About Incomplete Port Supervisory Board

PHILIPSBURG The supervisory board of the Sint Maarten Harbor Group of Companies has been incomplete for almost 18 months, operating with three members shy of the minimally required five, according to the companys statutes.

This concerning state of affairs prompted Party for Progress (PFP) Member of Parliament (MP) Melissa Gumbs on Tuesday to send written questions to Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Roger Lawrence.

In September 2020, The Daily Herald newspaper advertised two vacancies for the supervisory board Read more

Closure Of Meeting Hampered Discussion Of Motion On Long-Lease Land, Says Pfp

~MPs to request public meeting~

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten —While creating a draft policy on long-lease land is commendable, Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) Egbert J. Doran did not comply with the motion submitted by the Party for Progress (PFP) and passed by Parliament in October 2021. The follow-up meeting to discuss the resolutions that the motion brought forward was abruptly closed before it could truly start.

This is why several MPs – including PFP’s Melissa Gumbs and Raeyhon Peterson – have requested a public meeting of Parliament to discuss the motions resolutions, especially in light of last weeks verdict of the Court of First Instance, which ordered the VROMI Minister to cease from issuing long-lease rights in Vineyard Heights Read more

Was The Meeting Held To Debate The Budget Illegal?

Member of Parliament George Pantophlet is asking the question as to why it is being said that passing the Budget without the approval of the Kingdom Council of Ministers is illegal. Pantophlet is not negating the fact that every Member of Parliament has to vote his/her conscience. “We all took an oath to do so. The meeting in which the Budget was discussed happened in accordance with article 34.2 of the rules of order which states: “As soon as the attendance list is signed by at least half plus one, the President opens the meeting Read more

The Opposition Factions Emmanuel, Pfp And Ud Called A Press Conference Today

In a somewhat unprecedented move, 3 opposition factions have called a joint press conference for Thursday, January 27that 2 pm.

It has been stated that these factions are totally upset by the arrogance of the government of Sint Maarten and its supporting factions in parliament. This is a new level of disregard for the minority in parliament.

While the factions of Emmanuel, UD and PFP have voiced their discontent throughout the budgetary proceedings, their arguments fell on deaf ears and all kind of childish arguments continue to be thrown at the MPs who question this modus operandi of the coalition.

It is beyond comprehension that not only was there no consideration for the arguments brought forward by the opposition members, but the warnings against passing the budget at this juncture from the legal sector were also callously brushed aside.

The advice by the Council of Advice from December 2021 had the same observation Read more

Pfp: Passing Of 2022 Budget Marks A Low Point In Modern Sint Maarten History

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Despite having independent legal advice demonstrating that the countrys draft 2022 budget is in contravention of Sint Maartens Constitution, a majority of Members of Parliament (MPs) on Monday night still passed the draft legislation.

Party for Progress (PFP) MPs Melissa Gumbs and Raeyhon Peterson were among the four (4) MPs who voted against the draft legislation.

The legal advice – which was discussed by MPs during Mondays public meeting of Parliament – was compiled and signed by former Secretary-General of Parliament Nancy Joubert, LL.M, on January 7, 2022 Read more

Government, Majority Of Mps Show Blatant Disregard For Sint Maarten Constitution, Says Pfp

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The eight Members of Parliament (MPs) who voted against a proposal to suspend voting on the countrys 2022 budget until after the next Kingdom Council of Ministers meeting have shown their blatant disregard for the Sint Maarten Constitution. This is what Party for Progress (PFP) MPs Melissa Gumbs and Raeyhon Peterson had to say following Fridays public meeting of Parliament.

The proposal in question was brought forward by MP Gumbs on Friday afternoon during Parliaments handling of the countrys draft 2022 budget Read more

Pfp: Coalition Obsession With Pre-Clearance Is Disrespect For Airport Workers

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten Party for Progress (PFP) Member of Parliament (MP) Melissa Gumbs took aim at what she calls a constant push for United States (US) pre-clearance to be established Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA).

US pre-clearance allows US-bound passengers to clear customs before their flight Read more

Pfp Poses Questions About Vromi Tender Policy

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten Although on the surface the recently published Tender Procurement Policy for the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI), published on 23 December 2021 in the Landscourant National Gazette, could be seen as a step in the right direction, the measure actually contravenes the countrys National Accountability Ordinance, thus making it illegal.

This grave concern motivated Party for Progress (PFP) Members of Parliament (MPs) Melissa Gumbs and Raeyhon Peterson to submit official questions to VROMI Minister Egbert J Read more

Pfp Against Efforts To Silence Mps, Rush Through The 2022 National Budget

~ Faction proposes to extend debates into Parliament recess ~

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten With only one week left before Parliament goes on recess, Party for Progress (PFP) Members of Parliament (MPs) Melissa Gumbs and Raeyhon Peterson are spearheading a proposal for MPs to continue working well into the holiday season.

The late submission of the countrys 2022 budget is the reason for the proposal Read more