SXMElections.com

>Airport:--- Dignitaries from both sides of the island including Anguilla attended the opening ceremony of the renovated departure lounge at the Princess Juliana International Airport on Wednesday evening. Special Projects Coordinator Robert Brown gave an outline to the large gathering how management of PJIAE decided to upgrade the airport beginning with the departure lounge Read more

>PHILIPSBURG: --- The USP board will be holding a board meeting on Tuesday to determine whether or not they will continue to support the current coalition or if they will leave and go back to the opposition benches.
SMN News understands that Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson informed the Council of Ministers and members of the coalition on Friday during the coalition meeting of the letter he received from Member of Parliament Frans Richardson also on Friday who asked him to resign effective immediately.
According to information SMN News received it appears as though several members of the coalition will not be voting for the motion if MP Frans Richardson brings it to the floor of Parliament Read more

Does USP know something?

Everyone may think of United St. Maarten Party (USP) leader Frans Richardson what they want. Elected into Parliament on the slate of National Alliance (NA) in 2010, he left the party and kept his seat.

Together with the other independent parliamentarians Romain Laville and Patrick Illidge who had broken with respectively United People's (UP) party and NA, he orchestrated the so-called "Carnival coup" of 2012 to bring about a change in government that lasted one year.

Richardson then established USP, which earned two seats in its first election of September 2014 Read more

St. Maarten might be looking at new elections at the Expense of the People – Is there a stand off?

style="text-align: center;">St. Maarten has a Constitution that must be respected.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The current coalition government have a real problem on their hands to solve, now that MP Frans Richardson has asked the Minister of Justice by way of letter to resign effective immediately.
Political pundits says that MP Frans Richardson is getting ahead of himself and that he needs to know that St Read more

Justice Minister asked to resign by US Party

PHILIPSBURG--United St. Maarten Party (USP) has requested that Justice Minister Dennis Richardson resign. The request was presented in a letter to the minister delivered on Friday afternoon.

Minister Richardson did not confirm to The Daily Herald whether he had received the letter. He said he was “not commenting” on internal coalition or political parties’ matters.

Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs has indicated already that should the Justice Minister be faced with any vote of no confidence in Parliament the entire cabinet also would resign Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The leader of the United Saint Maarten Party (USP) Frans Richardson hand delivered a letter to Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson on Friday when he met with him at his office around 1pm.
SMN News understands that the USP leader made clear that as a coalition partner he got that Ministry and since he formed part of the coalition he is not informed on how the Justice Ministry functions.
After the meeting with the Minister of Justice MP Frans Richardson showed up at the Government Administration Building where members of the coalition met.
Attending that meeting which lasted over three hours were the leader of the UPP Theodore Heyliger, MP Franklin Meyers, MP Silvio Master, MP Maurice Lake, MP Leona Marlin, MP Cornelius de Weever, and MP Johan Janchi Leonard.
Also in attendance was Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson and the other members of the Council of Ministers.
When the meeting ended all Members of Parliament left stating that nothing happened and that the coalition meeting was called to discuss the budget Read more

Editorial - Lesser of two evils

Members of the Permanent Committee for Kingdom Affairs and Inter-Parliamentary Relations are scheduled to meet this morning. Topics include a debriefing on the recent Inter-Parliamentary Kingdom Consultation IPKO in The Hague. Although not on the agenda, the protocol regarding an Integrity Chamber for St. Maarten signed around the same time between Justice Minister Dennis Richardson and Dutch Kingdom Relations Minister Ronald Plasterk is likely to come up. After all, several legislators have voiced their disapproval over this perceived “bypassing of Parliament” in no uncertain terms.

In one case it actually concerns governing partner USP, which was given precisely the Justice portfolio when joining the UP-led coalition in January Read more

Parliament still have the right to either accept, reject or make changes to the Integrity Chamber Protocol. Signed Protocol Eliminates Higher Supervision – Minister Dennis Richardson.

style="text-align: center;">Should a motion of no confidence be brought against Minister of Justice then it’s a motion of no confidence against the Council of Ministers--- PM Gumbs.

PHILIPSBURG: --- At a press conference held by Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs and Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson on Sunday on the protocol Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson signed two Saturday’s ago in the Netherlands on behalf of the Prime Minster Marcel Gumbs, both Ministers said that the Parliament of St Read more

No decision by USP to remove minister

PHILIPSBURG--United St. Maarten Party (USP) has not made a decision to remove Justice Minister Dennis Richardson from his post.

Instead, party leader Member of Parliament (MP) Frans Richardson is set to meet the Justice Minister next week to discuss the agreement signed by the Minister with the Dutch Kingdom Government on the establishment of the Integrity Chamber for St Read more

style="text-align: center;">Party remains steadfast on their decision to remove Minister of Justice from Office

PHILIPSBURG:--- The members of the USP board headed by MP Frans Richardson have decided that the party leader MP Frans Richardson will meet with the Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson early next week as SMN News reported earlier Read more

EXCLUSIVE: Politicians wanted Justice Minister to Rent Certain Buildings in St. Johns (UPDATED)

style="text-align: center;">Minister of Justice took seven months to respond to proposal that was submitted to his Ministry.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Indebt investigation as to really why certain politicians wants to get rid of the current Minister of Justice showed that certain politicians wanted the Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson to rent some buildings that are being constructed in St. Johns area.
SMN News learnt that the politicians that were behind the Minister of Justice to rent these buildings that presently being constructed were to house the MOT, National Archives, a Police Sub-station and the Landsrecherche.

Further research showed that the developer was supposed to construct a building on a parcel of land that belonged to Claudette Labega on L.B Scot Road which is located opposite the De Weever’s property Read more

EXCLUSIVE: Removal of Justice Minister Dennis Richardson will bring possible Shake up in Government

style="text-align: center;">Will Council of Ministers be getting a motion of non-confidence?

PHILIPSBURG:--- The removal of Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson by Member of Parliament Frans Richardson will bring about a possible shake up in the five member Government. SMN News has been reliably informed that Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs already indicated to several persons that should Minister Richardson be removed from office he will tender his resignation Read more

EXCLUSIVE: Politicians wanted Justice Minister to Rent Certain Buildings in St. Johns

style="text-align: center;">All got negative advice, rent increased by 40% -- thus Minister of Justice must go

PHILIPSBURG:--- Indebt investigation as to really why certain politicians namely, MP Frans Richardson wants to remove Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson showed that certain politicians wanted the Minister of Justice to rent some buildings that are being constructed in St Read more

USP to discuss possible removal of minister today

PHILIPSBURG--The possible removal of Justice Minister Dennis Richardson by the United St. Maarten Party (USP) will be discussed in a special meeting of the party’s board and advisors in the Parliament Building today, Thursday, at 6:30pm.

USP has been in control of the Justice portfolio since earlier this year, but is yet to place its own minister Read more

At least two donors exceeded donations

PHILIPSBURG--At least two donors to political parties have exceeded the legally stipulated financial donations to political parties.

Electoral Council Chairman Bert Hofman told The Daily Herald excess donations were made on at least three occasions.

Hofman declined to give the political parties that received the excess donations and the names of the donors. He explained that the parties and donors have not yet been officially informed by the council. That notification will be sent out this week.

In any calendar year based on Article 41 of National Ordinance on the Registration and Financing of Political Parties, donations made to the same political party by a person, company or institution shall not exceed a total sum or value of NAf Read more

Usp Submits Some Documents To Electoral Council Monday, Penalties Now Being Studied

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The political party headed by MP the Honorable Frans Richardson, the USP has submitted some of the documents requested by the electoral council of St. Maarten.

Chairman Attorney Bert Hoffman told o Read more

USP submits report to Electoral Council

~ Fine still to be paid ~

PHILIPSBURG--The United St. Maarten Party (USP) submitted its overdue annual report and financial statements to the Electoral Council on Monday, bringing to a possible end the council's imposed NAf. 1,000 daily penalty for non-compliance.

Party President Cecil Nicholas told The Daily Herald the documents were submitted to the council's office, but the fine incurred so far of NAf Read more

MPs have not yet received harbour security answers

PHILIPSBURG—Members of Parliament (MPs) have not yet received the "sensitive answers" about the St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies' security contract, despite the receipt of these by Parliament's Secretariat since May 26. The delay in the dissemination is due to "administrative reasons," according to Democratic Party (DP) leader MP Sarah Wescot-Williams.

Speaking at a DP press conference in Parliament House on Monday, Wescot-Williams said she is patiently awaiting the answers to see if they satisfy her burning questions Read more

High scoring games mark start of School Water polo

CAY HILL--The annual Primary School Water  polo Competition kicked off with six games at Raoul Illidge Sports Complex pool Monday.
   In the first game, Hillside Christian School crushed Sister Magda 11-5 with Riley netting seven goals.
  Frans Richardson fired in three goals as Learning Unlimited blasted past Seven Day Adventist 8-3.
  In game three Dr Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United St. Maarten Party (USP) Frans Richardson confirmed to SMN News that his party submitted their documents to the Electoral Council on Monday. Leader of the United St. Maarten  Party (USP) told SMN News that his documents were delayed because the accountant that were handling the accounting did not complete the accounting in order for the party to submit its information to the Electoral Council on time Read more

Electoral Council Fines Frans Richardson’S Usp

St. Maarten – The Electoral Council has fined Frans Richardson’s United St. Maarten party (USp) for failing to submit financial reports. The fine is 1,000 guilders for each day the violation continues, with a maximum of 30,000 guilders.

“Despite numerous reminders before and after the deadline for registered political parties to submit their annual reports before April 1, the United St Read more

Electoral Council imposes daily penalty of NAf. 1,000 on USP

~ Several parties to return excess donations ~

PHILIPSBURG--The United St. Maarten Party (USP), led by Member of Parliament Frans Richardson, has already incurred NAf 2,000 in penalties as of Sunday from the Electoral Council for failing to submit its annual report and financial statements.

The party failed to comply with the National Ordinance on the registration and financing of political parties despite numerous reminders from the council before and after the deadline of April 1, for registered political parties to submit their annual reports.

“Therefore, USP has not complied with one of the most important legal obligations of political parties stipulated in the National Ordinance on Registration and Finances of Political Parties,” said the Electoral Council in a statement Sunday night.

On May 19, the Electoral Council sent a letter to USP leader MP Richardson and its board informing them that the council was considering issuing an order under penalty as is stipulated in Article 44 of the National Ordinance.

USP was granted the opportunity to respond to the Council’s impending order no later than Wednesday, May 27, as well as the opportunity to submit its annual report no later than Friday, May 29 Read more

style="text-align: center;">Several parties to return excess donations to donors.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Despite numerous reminders before and after the deadline for registered political parties to submit their annual reports before April 1, 2015 the United St. Maarten Party (USP) failed to submit its annual report and financial statements. Therefore, USP has not complied with one of the most important legal obligations of political parties stipulated in the National Ordinance on Registration and Finances of Political Parties.
On May 19, 2015, the Electoral Council sent a letter to USP leader, Frans Richardson and its board informing them that the Electoral Council was considering to issue an order under penalty as is stipulated in Article 44 of the aforementioned National Ordinance Read more

St. Maarten Parliament annoyed over protocol

THE HAGUE--The days of St. Maarten’s Justice Minister Dennis Richardson may very well be numbered now that he has signed a protocol with the Dutch Government to establish an independent Integrity Chamber for St. Maarten and to strengthen the island’s law enforcement sector. Members of the St. Maarten Parliament are not accepting that Parliament is being sidetracked in the protocol.

The protocol Minister Richardson and Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk signed on Saturday states that the St Read more