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Mp Buncamper Declares As Independent

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Member of Parliament Claudius Buncamper on Thursday declared himself as an Independent Member of Parliament, effectively breaking his representation of the United St. Maarten (US) party in Parliament Read more

Frans Disappointed, Outraged Over Misleading Statements, Blocking Of Suspect Questioning

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Former Member of Parliament Frans Richardson on Wednesday said he is disappointed in the justice system and outraged at the misleading statements and devious tactics that are used to convict persons in a court of law and in the court of public opinion.

Richardson, who was sentenced in the Court of First Instance on Tuesday to twelve months and payment of criminal proceeds, said the verdict did not come as a complete surprise considering the same judge who convicted him in the Emerald case, presided over this Aquamarine II case Read more

Frans, Usp Extends Condolences On Max PhelipaS Passing

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Former Member of Parliament Frans Richardson on behalf of the entire US party, expressed heartfelt condolences to the family of Maximiliaan Max Phelipa on Wednesday.

Phelipa passed away at the age of 68 on Tuesday morning, August 17. A former police officer and local artist Phelipa was also widely viewed as a confidant to many, never seeking public acclaim for those he advised or supported in various ways.
Richardson said Phelipas passing is a great loss for St Read more

Former Minister Gordon-Carty Presents Copy Of Her Book To Usp Leader Frans Richardson

St. Peters, Sint Maarten — Former USP Minister of VSA Pamela Gordon Carty presented a copy of her book, 2021 Financial Economic Social & Spatial Recovery Plan Part 1 to the Leader of the United St. Maarten Party (USP) at a ceremony held at her office in St. Peters on Saturday August 14th, 2021.

In attendance was USP Faction Leader MP Buncamper, President of the party Agnes Brooks Mardenborough, Union Leaders Claire Elshot and Raymond Jessurun, Veteran Politician and Political Advisor to many Julian Rollocks, outspoken Political Commentator Edwin James and other invited guest.

The former Minister was the driving force behind the Pamela Policy passed in the National Gazette on February 5th, 2020 Read more

Attorney Sjamira Roseburg Addresses False Statements Made About Client

PHILIPSBURG Defense lawyer Sjamira Roseburg addresses false statements made in the media against client, Mr. Frans Richardson in ongoing Aquamarine case. Given the fact that the case is ongoing, we will not comment extensively on the matter in the media. However, considering the nature of the statements made in The Daily Herald of May 18 and the fact that these are false, we deem it necessary to provide clarity in a transparent manner in order to move forward. Currently, the Emerald case is in appeal and will be trialed by three judges Read more

Seven Political Leaders In The Political Debate 2020 Organized By Pjd-2 Radio & Sxm Daily News

PHILIPSBURG, ST. MAARTEN — PJD-2 Radio & SXM Daily News is hosting a Political Debate 2020 to introduce and present the parties Leaders who are contesting the upcoming Island/Parliamentary election on Sunday, January 5, 2020 which will allow them to give the general public their party’s ideologies and views on the relevant issues.

The debate will broadcast live via St. Maarten Cable TV channel 115 and via www.stmaartenmediacenter.com and facebook.

Doors open at 7pm and everyone should be seated at 7.30pm because the live broadcast will start promptly at 8pm and end at 11pm.

The debate will be at the Musical Institute Building on Backstreet next to the alley leading to A.C Read more

William: Timing Of Frans Detention Should Not Be Seen As Coincidence

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — National Alliance #23 candidate William Marlin said in a press release on Monday that the timing of the detention of United St. Maarten party leader Member of Parliament Frans Richardson is strange and seems to be intended to influence the outcome of the February 26, snap parliamentary elections.

“It should not be seen as any coincidence”, Marlin said Read more

Usp Board: Leader Maintains His Innocence, Candidates Will Push On

ST PETERS, Sint Maarten — The board of the United St. Maarten Party, in reaction to the detention of its leader MP Frans Richardson, on Wednesday said their leader maintains his innocence and expects to be fully vindicated of all chargers. The board and candidates stands behind its leader and his family and awaits with confidence the outcome of any trial before a court of law.

The timing of the arrest has however not gone unnoticed, so close before an election Read more

Update: Frans Richardson And Janhendrik Boekaar Arrested By Member Of The Tbo Team

~ Two arrests on Sint Maarten, one home seized ~

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The anti-corruption team TBO executed two searches in homes and one in a company on Sint Maarten. Two suspects were arrested. One home was seized.

Member of Parliament (MP) Frans Richardson

The arrest of F.G. R. (1968) is the result of the research “Emerald”, an investigation into fraud and corruption in the port of Sint Maarten Read more

Marinka Gumbs: The Way I See It….

As I ponder over the latest campaign rhetoric, coming out of the USP camp, I wonder about the use of some words and terms by the USP’s political leader. I want to give the author and the presenter of the latest USP release the benefit of the doubt, because surely had both these persons given any serious thought to the use of the word MANIPULATION, as an accusation directed to members of the United Democrats, the USP would have refrained from the word manipulation. Imagine, accusing others of manipulation and this coming from the one who is best known to have orchestrated the “Carnival Coupe” Read more

Response To Usp

The Democratic Party has been one of the longest serving parties in the history of St. Maarten.  We have had our ups and downs, but we have been there for the people of St. Maarten, now more than ever before. Our main goal was and continues to be, “how can we make our island a better place for the people of St. Maarten”.

To hear a political party, who welcomed the leader of the Democratic Party as the chairlady in one breathe and denounce her in the next, say some of the most unprofessional things is a shame to say the least.  This berating article from the USP board comes as no surprise, because the same lowdown type of message was previously shared in the NA/USP/DP coalition WhatsApp chat.

Yes, the “testicular fortitude” message from the hand of a TEATT cabinet staffer, singling out 2 leaders of the coalition and calling the other (female) leader “spineless” Read more

Frans Urges Public Not To Fall For The Pretentious Games Of The Dp

~ Says DP manipulated young MP ~

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party is imploring the people of St. Maarten not to fall for the “pretentious saintly act” being put on display by the leader of the Democratic Party MP Sarah Wescot-Williams Read more

Frans: Shta Should Guard Its Tone In Addressing Its Government Partner

~ Govt. will not be irresponsible in talks with Dutch ~

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party MP Frans Richardson believes the St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) should guard its tone and refrain from levying insults towards Parliament and the government of St. Maarten. Richardson’s US party holds the political responsibility for the Ministry of Tourism and Economic Affairs and that of Justice.

He said St Read more

A Report Card For Members Of Parliament

At the end of every school year, students are evaluated and promoted or not promoted based on their performance during the year. Conversely, at the end of a parliamentary year, Members of Parliament are not evaluated yet they continue in parliament without anyone questioning their achievements, their performance or their competency to function as a parliamentarian.

I have observed that in several countries around the world, political and interest groups are developing report cards for parliamentarians Read more

A Critical Look At Parliament’S Budget

Parliament needs to be transparent with its budget! During budget debates members of parliament pose numerous questions, some critical, many political, concerning government’s budgeting and spending, but no one raises questions about parliament’s budget and parliament’s spending. The reason for this is because parliament’s budget is camouflaged among the budgets of the High Councils of State. Furthermore, according to the Compatibility Ordinance and the Rules of Order of Parliament the budget of Parliament is drafted by the Secretariat of Parliament, approved by the Presidium and then sent to the Minister of Finance to be included in the national budget Read more

If The Youth Are The Future, Then The Future Is Now, Dennisio Duzong Of Independence For St. Martin Foundation Tells Parliament

GREAT BAY, St. Martin (May 23, 2017)—“We often say that the youth are the future. Well, the future is now.” This statement by Dennisio Duzong, 27, of the Independence for St. Martin Foundation (ISMF) sums up one of the main reasons the foundation is requesting Parliament to convene a new constitutional referendum.

Making the case for ISMF in its presentation before the Central Committee of Parliament on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, Duzong received high praise from members of parliament one of whom said the future is in good hands.

“Unless we are willing to take full responsibility for ourselves and the choices we make, we have no control over our lives Read more

Com Hosts Information Session For Management Teams Of Seven Government Ministries

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – On Friday, March 31, the Council of Ministers hosted an Information Session to the Secretaries General of the seven different Ministries and their Management Team, the Staff of the Ministers cabinet, and the Staff of the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers.

The main agenda points of the session were the Governing Program; integrity and the plans of the Dutch Government towards establishing an Integrity Chamber on Sint Maarten and their recent appointment of a Dutch Integrity Quartermaster and an update on the budget 2017.

The Council found it essential to inform the key leaders and advisors of the organization in person about these key matters.

While the Prime Minister, William Marlin, spoke on the issues of the Governing Program and Integrity, the Minister of Finance, Richard Gibson Sr., elaborated on the budget.

At the same time both Ministers stressed the importance of the role of each civil servant in the process of making Sint Maarten great Read more

Stability For Prosperity! Is Title Governing Program 2016-2020

PHILIPSBURG – On Thursday, March 23, Prime Minister William Marlin presented, as part of the launch of the governing program 2016-2020 “Stability for Prosperity!” a hard copy of the program to Parliament. The presentation was made to Chairlady of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams and Member of Parliament (MP) Frans Richardson, second Vice Chairman.

The governing program outlines the vision and strategy for the governing period Read more

The First 100 Days Of Parliament?

On February 7, 2017, Parliament celebrated one hundred days in office. It is customary to evaluate a government’s performance, after they have been in office for one hundred days.

Parliaments, however, are generally overlooked when it comes to such an exercise. Seeing that St. Maarten got a most “unusual” parliament after the September 2016 elections, I became interested in wanting to know how effective this parliament has been during its first one hundred days, from October 31, 2016 to February 7, 2017 Read more

Parliament Should Take The People’S Business Seriously

The entire top brass of Parliament has flown off to Curaçao, for the entire week of January 9, to attend the Tripartite meetings and the Interparliamentary Kingdom Consultations (IPKO).

While the President of Parliament, MP Sarah Wescot-Williams, and First and Second Vice Presidents, MP drs. Rudolphe Samuel and MP Frans Richardson, respectively, are off island, the Parliament of St Read more

Parliament And The Budget

Wycliffe Smith Leader of the St. Maarten Christian Party

Parliament’s website states that Parliament has two main tasks, namely to act as co-legislator and to exercise control over Government’s policies. The budget is an excellent example of co-legislation. It is drafted by the Government, but must be approved by Parliament in order for it to become a law.

On Monday, December 5, the Central Committee of Parliament, which consists of all fifteen members of Parliament, will meet to discuss the 2017 Budget of Country St Read more

Frans: Media Still Trying To Make Imaginary Connections

PHLIPSBURG – Member of Parliament (MP) Frans Richardson on Wednesday, November 30, said it is sad and unfortunate to see the media, local and foreign, still attempting to connect him to companies and affairs he has nothing to do with.

The MP was referring to reports in Dutch and local media, who in his opinion, are trying to connect him with Checkmate Security Services, and the challenges facing management of the company Read more

Frans: Llamó A La Población A No Prestar Atención A Falsos Rumores, El Us Está Comprometido Con El Proceso De Formación

Traducido por Máximo Castro

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten.- El líder del UNITED ST. MAARTEN PARTY (US), el parlamentario Frans Richardson, pidió el miércoles en la noche a la población a no llevarse de rumores mal intencionados que circulan en las redes sociales, en los que se dice que el (US), ha estado en negociaciones con otro partido, intentado con lo que calificó; “un desesperado rumor”, crear confusión en la población.

Durante el transcurso del martes, ciertas personas difundieron en las redes sociales, el rumor del que la coalición blanco, azul y rojo, se había roto, dando paso a que el partido (US), iniciara negociaciones con otro partido.  “Nosotros estamos comprometidos y seriamente ocupados con la finalización del proceso de formación del nuevo gobierno”, dijo Richardson, y agregó que rara vez reacciona a rumores, pero entendió que el pueblo merecía escuchar la verdad en este sentido.

Dijo que el partido (US) no tiene ninguna intención de hablar / negociar con ninguna otro partido y no lo ha hecho Read more

Frans: Don’T Listen To Rumor Mongers, Us Committed To Formation Process

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Leader of the UNITED ST. MAARTEN PARTY (US) party MP Frans Richardson on Wednesday evening dispelled and dismissed what he called “desperate rumor-mongering” regarding the state of the Red-White-Blue coalition.

“During the course of the day on Tuesday, certain people on social media thought it was cute or funny to start rumors, but we are committed and still seriously busy with finalizing the formation process,” Richardson said, adding that he rarely reacts to rumors, but the public deserved to hear the truth in this regard.

He said the US party has no intention whatsoever to talk/negotiate with any other party and have not done so Read more