SXMElections.com

Sarah Calls On Ottley To Amend The Current Sickness Insurance Law Of The Szv To Include Vendors, Taxi And Bus Drivers And Sole Proprietors.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The call was made during a recent public meeting of parliament requested by members of parliament Wescot-Williams, Heyliger-Marten, and Emmanuel in the presence of Minister Ottley, who was asked about the national health insurance that was touted to be introduced on January 1, 2024.

It is during that meeting we learned that the national health insurance will not go into effect per January 1, 2024, as previously announced by the minister, but most other questions regarding the implementation of the general health insurance were not answered Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---  The SXM Padel Club proudly concludes the successful inaugural visit of Padel professional, influencer, and founder of The Padel School, Sandy Farquharson. The week-long event saw Sandy engaging in a series of group clinics and private lessons, leaving a lasting impact on the local Padel community.
During the dynamic week, Sandy Farquharson delivered over 30 engaging sessions, attracting more than 100 players of varying skill levels - from beginners to advanced. The event served as an opportunity for players to enhance their Padel skills while immersing themselves in the energetic atmosphere of the sport.
With the backdrop of the picturesque St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament and Leader of the United People's UP Party MP Rolando Brison says he echoes the sentiment of so many who are tired of the continuous grandstanding by MP Sarah Wescot-Williams, who has been in government for so long and was part of creating so many of the problems we have today; Questioning things Parliament's motion regarding Mullet Bay, which she ran away from voting on, the progress of the new General Hospital, electoral reforms and many other issues her failures in leadership helped create today Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---   Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor (VSA), the Honorable Omar Ottley, has dispelled the politically motivated contrast attempted by some who recently criticized the pace of constructing the new General Hospital in Sint Maarten as "the politricks of misinformation in an election year." Minister Ottley stated, While I share the same sentiments as the general public concerning the pace  of the new hospital, the issues with the hospital started way before my political journey.

Minister Ottley, said on Sunday, "As elections draw closer, it will become increasingly difficult to distinguish between genuine concerns and fraudulent misrepresentations of the truth by those who seek to manipulate the public's perception of reality."

In 2019, members of parliament passed a vote of no confidence firing the then Minister of VSA Emil Lee, with one of the main points of the motion being his inability to start construction for the new general hospital, two and a half years after the contract was signed Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday, March 4, 2020, the St. Maarten Chinese Community Foundation donated
140 individual boxes of assorted foodstuff to several community Foundations on Sint Maarten who provide assistance to vulnerable persons. These Foundations routinely provide food packages to assist those in our community who need this assistance.

As a proud member of the Sint Maarten community, the St. Maarten Chinese Community Foundation wanted to give back in the best way possible. We love Sint Maarten and because this is our home, we want to help out however we can Read more

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Government Saves Millions Of Naf On Water Purchase.

PHILIPSBURG:--- “The amount of water that has to be purchased under the current ‘take or pay’ clauses of the purchasing agreements have resulted in substantial financial losses for the country. Seven Seas Water was approached to see if Sint Maarten could get some relief from the minimum take or pay clause and their response was both immediate and positive.” – Emil Lee, Minister VSA.
Emil Lee as the Minister of VSA, who is responsible for the supply of safe drinking water, began an investigation into the financial situation of the government’s position as owner of the public water supply as part of the post-Irma assessments Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- With the financing agreements for the new general hospital signed on Friday, February 23rd, it is important for the general public to understand how health care will be improved. Although the new hospital is critical for the country, the agreement by all parties to work towards JCI or Joint Commission International Accreditation is also an important milestone accomplishment.
Acquiring the financing for the new hospital was one of the many phases outlined in the business plan that was developed by the Tripartite members; Ministry of VSA, SMMC and SZV Read more

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Ministry Of Vsa Offers Persons Impacted By Irma With Temporary Housing Alternative

Minister Lee inspects Temporary Emergency Housing with Dr. J Foundation

PHILIPSBURG:--- Last week, the Minister of Public Health, Emil Lee announced the commencement of an Emergency Transitional Housing Program to be managed in by the Dr. J. Foundation. Minister Lee recently took a tour of the facility together with Dr. Judith Arndell to inspect the progress of the renovations currently taking place Read more

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Emil Lee Plans To Hold Ground Breaking For New General Hospital Despite The Lack Of Finances.

~ Says he will not heed the advice given by SZV Supervisory Board since it's all about votes ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Interim Minister of VSA Emil Lee is hell-bent on fooling the populace of St. Maarten in order to garner enough votes on Monday for his re-election. Lee plans to hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the New General Hospital on Friday despite not having the finances in place.
According to information provided to SMN News and the advice given by the Supervisory board of SZV to the Minister in 2017 Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Former Prime Minister William Marlin says the draft national ordinance to amend the civil code to stem the abuse of short-term labor contracts has been watered down to such an extent that the original intention of the law is no longer visible.

The current draft on the table, he adds, primarily benefits businesses and seems to make a mockery of the system Read more

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~Relatives claim that Dr. Luc Mercelina declared their relative as a vegetable prematurely.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Relatives of Ramon Gumbs are at their wits ends now that the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) management has decided that their disabled relative can no longer be housed at the country’s hospital.
Larissa Brooks, sister of Ramon Gumbs said that her brother was stabbed multiple times while incarcerated at the Pointe Blanche prison Read more

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CAY HILL:--- The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, & Labor (VSA) received boxes from the United Family Reproductive Association (UNFPA). The UNFPA donated the items as a sign of relief to St. Maarten in the form of Emergency Reproductive Health Kits (ERH Kits). This UNFPA relief is an initiative to cushion the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

The received ERH-kits are Kit 2: Clean Delivery for use By Birth Attendants can treat 10.000 women for 3 months; ERHKit5: Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections to diagnose and treat STIs for 3 months for 10.000 people; ERH-Kit6A Clinical Delivery Assistance- Reusable Equipment for 3 months to treat 30.000 women; ERH-K6B: Clinical Delivery Assistance – Drug & Disposable Equipment for 3 months for 30.000 women and Kit 9: Structure of Tears (Cervical & Vaginal) and Vaginal Examination to provide care to 30.000 women for 3 months.
The pre-identified target groups or vulnerable groups for the UNFPA relief project are: Category 1= No insurance; Category 2= Unemployed/low income with no insurance; Category 3= Profession CSW not employed, no insurance; Category 4= Below 18 years of age.

On Thursday, January 24 the Ministry Public Health Social Development & Labor with the assistance of the Honorable Minister Lee, handed over the following: ERH-Kits: Kit 2; Kit 6A; Kit 6B and Kit 9 slated as UNFPA relief to the St Read more

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GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- As a follow-up to a unanimous decision of the newly installed incoming Council of Ministers (COM), a delegation consisting of Minister of Finance, Michael Ferrier, Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Emil Lee, Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure, Miklos Giterson and Deputy Minister Plenipotentiary Hasani Ellis, were given a tour of the Sint Maarten Airport Terminal Building (ATB) in the afternoon of Monday, January 15, the same day the Council was sworn in.

Prior to his departure to Curaçao for his first ‘Justitieel Overleg (JVO)’, Minister of Justice Cornelius de Weever, also visited the airport building.

Management and board of SXM Airport were present and conducted both tours for the delegation, as well as for Minister de Weever.

It was pointed out to the representatives of the airport that the public’s perception of Sint Maarten’s ATB is that after four and a half months post-hurricane Irma, the main portal of Sint Maarten’s economy is still in shambles and that seemingly very little has been done to repair the destruction.

While according to the airport officials present, improvements are being made, amongst which having a baggage handling system that is now about 80% functional, the conditions of the ATB appear to have been allowed to deteriorate daily, according to the visiting ministers.

Practically the entire roof continues to leak unabated even today, resulting in mold throughout the entire facility Read more

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HARBOUR VIEW:--- On January 12, 2018, His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday, received the updated final report from formateur S. Wescot-Williams.
The formateur has accepted the commission to form an interim new government supported by a majority in Parliament comprised of the UP-fraction, the DP-fraction, and Member of Parliament C.E Read more

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Correction: Prosecutor Confirms Lee Under Investigation.

PHILIPSBURG:--- In the article titled, “Prosecution confirms Lee under investigation”, published on January 9, 2018, it stated that Honorable Minister of VROMI, Christophe Emmanuel, filed a complaint against his colleague, Minister Lee, with the Prosecutor’s Office in early December. This is false information.

Prior to the above mentioned article, the Daily Herald published on December 19, 2017, that during the radio program “Online with Fernando Clark”, Minister Emmanuel announced that he filed a complaint with the Prosecutor’s Office against Minister Lee for misuse of his Government-issued fuel bonds for his business and placing his Government-owned vehicle license plate on his personal vehicle post Hurricane Irma Read more

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Exclusive: Minister Of Vsa Approved Naf. 25,000.00 As Remuneration For Szv Director.

Carty and Felicie made payments without the approval of Board of Directors.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of VSA Emil Lee approved NAF. 25,000.00 as remuneration for the Director of SZV Glen Carty which was recently paid to Carty without the approval of the Board of Directors of SZV.
Information reaching SMN News states that Glen Carty and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Elton Felicie signed off on the payment which was made last week to Carty while the members of the board of directors sat back and allowed the management team to continue draining the accounts of SZV Read more

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Exclusive: Emil Lee, Leona Marlin, And Claret Conner Failed Screening.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of VSA Emil Lee has failed the screening process due to the complaint filed by Minister Christopher Emmanuel. Emmanuel filed a complaint against Lee after SMN News released photographs showing that Lee had removed the government license plate from his vehicle and placed it on his personal vehicle Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- A recently published story whereby Minister Lee was accused of using government fuel bonds to purchase fuel for personal use and misusing government number plate by a blog website is mistaken. “Sadly instead of investing time and energy into rebuilding the country, it appears that efforts will continue to be wasted blaming others and continued attempts at character assassination. I believe this is a sad attempt to discredit, delay or interfere with the screening process for a candidate minister Read more

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~ Man of Integrity and Transparency fleeced government to keep his hotel open ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of VSA Emil Lee who refused to take responsibility for not providing assistance to the people of St. Maarten after the passing of hurricane Irma has to explain the people of St. Maarten how it was possible for him to take off the MR.4 license plate from government vehicle and place it on his private pick-up truck that he used along with government bonds to purchase diesel at the Bush Road Gas station on September 12th, 2017.
Minister Lee was caught at the gas station where he filled two large drums almost every day with government bonds and he took the much-needed fuel to his Princess Heights hotel to run his generator.
Diesel was supposed to be used for government operations and for the vehicles that were busy providing emergency operations as well as cleaning up the debris left behind by Irma.
SMN News managed to secure photographs with the Minister in his pick-up truck that had a large black drum that was filled twice the morning of September 12th, 2017.
Persons who witnessed the Minister use government bonds for the purchase of the diesel once confronted the Minister since they believe that the Minister was abusing government while the country was devastated by hurricane Irma.
Several Ministers and other civil servants openly stated that Minister Lee did not even check in on the civil servants that work in his Ministry and had the responsibility to provide social assistance and aid Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The UP/DP/Brownbill government submitted the following names of persons who have to undergo the necessary screening in order for them to fill the positions as Prime Minister and Ministers in the interim.
According to well-placed sources, the following names of p Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- “As a minister that believes in being accountable to the people and based on recent accusations by the Prime Minister, I am in the process of requesting that SOAB, Government’s Accounting Bureau, perform an audit of the receipt and distribution of relief goods by Government and in particular the Ministry of VSA,” stated Minister Lee.
“I am truly disheartened. It is so sad that in a time when the people need help and hope, politicians would fabricate stories for political gain Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Recent accusations that Minister Lee is delaying the payments to truckers, heavy equipment operators and workers that are cleaning up the island after hurricane Irma, is simply not correct. The accusations are a shameful attempt to look for a scapegoat that allows them to diffuse blame as well as serving a political objective of tarnishing the reputation of Minister Lee. “I have absolutely no problem paying companies or workers that have participated in cleaning up the island Read more

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~ Lee makes position available ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The new majority of the Parliament of St. Maarten voted in favor on a motion of non-confidence against six Ministers, namely Prime Minister William Marlin, Ministers Silveria Jacobs, Rafael Boasman, Christopher Emmanuel, Mellissa Arrindell-Doncher and Richard Gibson Sr., while no motion was brought against DP appointed Minister Emil Lee who it was said made his position available.
The now opposition voted against the motion of non-confidence brought against the six Ministers Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister William Marlin made a very serious accusation that Minister Lee is deliberately withholding the delivery of relief goods from the people in an attempt to make the government and Prime Minister look bad in order to justify a change in government. Minister Lee stated, “It is really sad that the Prime Minister would sink so low to try and blame the entire Ministry of VSA with an out and out lie Read more

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