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PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel questions Minister Emile Lee (VSA) regarding collective dismissal at the Maho Group of companies.

“On June 12th, I was contacted by a group of fifteen concerned employees of the Maho group. During a meeting with them, I was informed by the employees that on June 9th, 2016, they received a combined termination & new contract document Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel raises concerns over quality of service provided by SZV to pensioners and other clients.

“Over the past several months, I have received several visits and calls from AOV pensioners regarding the inconsistent payment dates of their monthly pension. The inconsistency in the date pensioners receive their monthly AOV pension has been a concern of pensioners for some time now.”

In addition to pensioners other SZV clients have approached the Member of Parliament regarding the diminishing quality of customer service provided by SZV, especially communication and follow-up as it pertains to medical referrals overseas.

Member of parliament Emmanuel through the chairlady of parliament has submitted a formal request to the Management of SZV, requesting that the concerns of the pensioners and clients be addressed and provide clarification regarding the following:

• Is there a set date for pensioners to receive their AOV pension payments
• Is SZV’s liquidity position a cause for the inconsistency of the payment date of pensions
• Are their policies and procedures in place to ensure excellent quality of service
• Is there an awareness campaign informing clients, how to officially submit complaints to
SZV regarding inadequate service

MP Emmanuel noted, “I am perplexed at the fact that SZV, is to date unable to ensure that our pensioners are able to receive their pension consistently on a fixed date and that I continue to receive many complaints about the service clients receive from SZV Read more

PHILIPSBURG: Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel said in a press release that he has serious concerns regarding the current pricing of Petroleum products on the island relating to LPG, fuel and low sulfur diesel.

The Member of Parliament believes the people of St. Maarten have a right to know accurate and concise calculations relating to these products Read more

Black History Month Lecture: “Your Son Does Not Need Drugs, He Needs His Daddy”

Dr. Umar Johnson (center, autographing book) surrounded by guests at the Black History Month Lecture. Photo CLF

MARIGOT/GREAT BAY – “When you give a five-year-old, an eight-year-old, or a ten-year-old psychiatric medication, you are interfering with the brain’s natural growth process,” said US clinical psychologist Dr. Umar Johnson at the 25th annual Black History Celebration Lecture.

Dr. Johnson delivered the lecture, organized by Conscious Lyrics Foundation (CLF), “to an audience of over 600 people, at the University of St Read more

Dr. Johnson Warns Against Misdiagnosis Of Boys In St. Martin

MARIGOT/GREAT BAY (February 28, 2016)—“When you give a five-year-old, an eight-year-old, or a ten-year-old psychiatric medication, you are interfering with the brain natural growth process,” said US clinical psychologist Dr. Umar Johnson at the 25th annual Black History Celebration Lecture.

Dr. Johnson delivered the anniversary lecture, which was organized by Conscious Lyrics Foundation (CLF), “to an audience of over 600 people, at the University of St. Martin,” said Shujah Reiph, CLF president.

Dr Read more

SIMPSON BAY:--- Clinical psychologist Dr. Umar Johnson arrived here at SXM Airport on Wednesday afternoon from the USA. Dr. Johnson, who is also a Pan Africanist activist is scheduled to speak with high school students at the LB Scot Sports Auditorium on Thursday, from 9 am to 11 am. He will also appear on various radio and television programs before delivering the keynote address at the 25th annual Black History Celebration Lecture at the University of St. Martin, on Saturday, February 20, at 8 pm Read more

Government About To Collect 13 Million From Casino Sector

Parliamentarians happy with withdrawal increased road tax

St. Maarten – By providing the receiver’s office with a mandate, the government is able to collect 13 million in tax arrears from the casino-sector, Finance Minister Richard Gibson said yesterday afternoon during a meeting of the Central Committee where he, as announced on Wednesday, withdrew the draft law to increase the road tax in 2016.

In a brief introduction, the minister told parliament that he would like to make some changes to the draft the previous government had submitted Read more

Protest against Ministers draws only a small crowd

PHILIPSBURG--The angry sentiments expressed on radio and in some quarters of the community against the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet for not resigning in the face of the September 30 motion of no confidence passed by the new National Alliance (NA)-led coalition did not translate into a large turnout for the protest in front of the Government Administration Building on Wednesday morning.

Some people on the scene are planning to return to the site again today, Thursday, for similar action Read more

style="text-align: center;">Uninsured Police Officers called to protect Ousted Council of Ministers

PHILIPSBURG:--- Heavy equipment’s were used early Wednesday morning to block the entrance of the Government Administration Building. The drivers of three heavy equipment arrived in the area of the Government Administration Building shortly before 5am where they parked their vehicles blocking the entrance towards the Government Administration Building and left.
Around 6:30 am the night watch- commander Officer Gomes along with some police officers walked towards the Government Administration and began questioning bystanders and the security guards as to who parked the heavy equipment’s that were blocking the streets Read more

>PHILIPSBURG: --- Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel has issued a strong call on the leader of the United Peoples Party Theodore Heyliger whom he said should practice what he preached in 2013 when the National Alliance led government wanted to call for new elections Read more

Garbage Meeting Fizzles: Many Questions, No Answers And No Solutions

St. Maarten – At the end of a long meeting, finally there were some fireworks when opposition MP asked Vromi-Minister Claret Connor to answer one question: “Is there a contract with a company to build the waste-to-energy plant and how does this jive with your visit to a project in Miami?”

Minister Connor, who had just said that he would be able to inform the parliament on Monday when he would be able to answer the more than one hundred questions MPs had asked, did not bite Read more

Members of Parliament wanted more speaking time in Zebec/Harbor debate.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Members of Parliament were called to vote on Monday when a member of the opposition asked for speakers time to be extended and a member of the coalition opposed the extension. MP Frans Richardson who supports the government voted in favor of the extension citing that he believes that Members of Parliament should be given extra time if they need when debating certain topics Read more

It’s time to move on

Dear Editor,

If government officials cannot address the public in a sober and civil manner, then they need to reconsider their position and move on. It is totally unacceptable for representatives of the people to express themselves in ways that are substandard to effective leadership. This pattern of behaviour seems to be a developing trend - a style that exposes their state of mind – a mind that is overruled by frustration, which has lead them to the point where they are unable to guide their thoughts.

Politicians, who are called to lead, would be cognizant of their choice of words and actions Read more

Disaster waiting to happen at Landfill --- MP’s express outrage at the current situation regarding Waste to Energy Plant and statements made by Prime Minister.

style="text-align: center;">MP Meyers and MP Marlin engaged in verbal war during live meeting of Parliament

PHILIPSBURG:--- Several Members of Parliament expressed outrage on Friday morning in Parliament while posing several questions regarding the dumpsite in the middle of Philipsburg. Recently Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel posted a video on Facebook on the current situation at the Landfill Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Members of Parliament from the National Alliance Faction and Democratic Party dispatched a letter to the Chairman of Parliament requesting an urgent meeting to debate the statements made by Attorney General of St. Maarten Guus Schram on September 11th 2015.
The le Read more

Minister of Education could not make full discloser to Parliament on NIPA saga due to meeting she has scheduled with NIPA board.

style="text-align: center;">Ministry is at its last straw --- Wednesday meeting Government will give NIPA Board ultimatum, situation gotten worst.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Education Rita Bourne Gumbs told Members of Parliament on Monday afternoon that her hands are tied while her lips have to remain sealed until Wednesday since she has a meeting scheduled with the board members of NIPA. The National Alliance Faction of Parliament called the Minister of Education to Parliament in an urgent meeting to get further information on what is happening at NIPA.
Minister Bourne Gumbs told Parliament that it is not ethical for her to divulge information to the public prior to sharing the Ministry’s decision on how they intend to move forward with NIPA Read more

Faction leaders outline their achievement and failures during parliamentary year 2014 -2015.

>PHILIPSBURG:---- Faction leader of the United Peoples Party Franklin Meyers in his remarks during the closing of parliamentary year 2014-2015 said that the moment the UPP and MP De Weever formed the coalition that formed the current government they got all sorts of pressure from the Dutch Government (Kingdom Partners) which includes an instruction Read more

Dutch Government wants to impose instruction on St. Maarten when it comes to establishing an Integrity Chamber --- Kingdom Council of State now has to decide.

style="text-align: center;">Ten MPs voted in favor of draft law to establish Integrity Chamber --- DP Faction Leader spearheaded the drafting and finalizing of law

PHILIPSBURG:--- St. Maarten has to brace itself for a possible instruction in order to establish an integrity chamber on St. Maarten. Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson submitted the document to the Parliament of St. Maarten on Monday where the Dutch Government want Kingdom Council of State to grant them permission to impose a Kingdom measure on St Read more

MP’s claim that Police Officers want Minister of Justice out of Office.

>PHILIPSBURG: --- At least two Members of Parliament namely Leona Marlin Romeo and Christopher Emmanuel advised the Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson to go and speak with the regular police officers in order for him to know how they feel about him Read more

Foreigner and Board Member of Kadastre Office wants to take up Director’s position.

style="text-align: center;">MP Emmanuel says St. Maartener’s must hold key positions --- Calling for the Acting Head to be appointed as Director.

PHILIPSBURG:--- MP Christopher Emmanuel is calling on the Minister of VROMI and the two board members of the Kadastre office to appoint the acting head Marcia Peterson- Richardson as Director of the Kadastre office.
MP Emmanuel said its time that St Read more

Parliament to co-sign letter on shelving of dispute regulation

PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten Parliament will be a co-signer along with the legislatures of Curaçao and Aruba on a letter to the First and Second Chambers of the Dutch Parliament, seeking that body’s position on the Dutch Government in effect shelving the establishment of a dispute regulation, and a related body for the kingdom.

The letter, drafted by the Curaçao Parliament, came after last month’s Kingdom Conference -a meeting of the countries of the kingdom- saw the Dutch Government putting up a road block on the issue Read more

style="text-align: center;">Haitian Lives Matters --- St. Maarten may soon be flooded with these people that are being deported from the Dominican Republic to Haiti.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel has issued an open call to the Governor of St. Maarten whom he said met recently with the President of the Dominican Republic Read more

Gebe Street Light Monitoring Project Attracts The Attention Of Mp Christopher Emmanuel

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - MP the Honorable Christopher Emmanuel is concerned about developments at GEBE as he believes that there is a monitoring of the streetlights on the island by a foreign company.

He is concerned about the cost to the company GEBE and as a result, the people of St. Maarten.

He is calling on the GE Read more

$68K figure for GEBE payment ‘never received’

PHILIPSBURG--Alfred Harley says he and his company SXM Services Provider are being dragged through the mud in connection with the ongoing problems at utilities company GEBE.

Harley is particularly angry about the allegations that have been repeated in media outlets, in Parliament and in court that the company was receiving hefty payments approved by GEBE Chief Operations Officer (COO) and Managing Director Romelio Maduro, against the wishes and to an extent against the knowledge of GEBE's Supervisory Board.

One figure being cited is US $68,000, which seems to be the total amount the company needs to be paid, but has received in full Read more