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William Passes Mantle To His Son Cloyd Ohndhae Marlin

NA MP William Marlin, Cloyd Ohndhae Marlin and Terry Peterson.

~ Ohndhae to vie for Parliamentary seat, endorsed by Laveist ~

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament (MP) William Marlin, whose political career spans almost 50 years, on Sunday passed the mantle to his son Cloyd Ohndhae Marlin with a promise to passionately support his impending bid for a seat in the countrys legislature.

  William shared his full confidence in his sons leadership qualities and capabilities to direct a successful campaign to resounding victory and St Read more

El Departamento De La Juventud Organiza La 4. Conferencia De Mesa Redonda Sobre La Juventud En Colaboracin Con Unicef De Los Pases Bajos

-Participacin significativa de los jvenes en el centro del escenario

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – El Departamento de la Juventud, en colaboracin con UNICEF Holanda, organizar la 4 Conferencia de Mesa Redonda de la Juventud el prximo 3 de marzo. Este evento se llevar a cabo virtualmente como medida de precaucin debido a la actual pandemia de COVID 19 y ser la primera de otras actividades de RTC que se llevarn a cabo durante este ao.

Sin embargo, a pesar del desafo que representa la pandemia, el departamento prev la participacin de aproximadamente 250 estudiantes de las diversas escuelas secundarias y de educacin superior, instituciones en la isla, as como otras organizaciones relacionadas con la juventud Read more

Department Of Youth Hosts 4Th Youth Round Table Conference In Collaboration With Unicef The Netherlands.

~Meaningful Youth Participation to take center stage~

 PHILIPSBURG:--- The Department of Youth, in collaboration with UNICEF the Netherlands, will host the 4th Youth Round Table Conference on March 3rd upcoming. This event will be held virtually as a precautionary measure due to the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic and will be the first of other RTC activities that will take place during this year.

However, despite the challenge posed by the pandemic, the department anticipates the participation of approximately 250 students from the various high schools and tertiary education institutions on the island as well as other youth-related organizations Read more

A National Priority And Children Remains Our National Pride

Ready, Set, Protect!
Children Rights- A National Priority and Children Remains Our National Pride
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport celebrates the 32nd anniversary since the ratification of the International Day for the Rights of the Child. The United Nations Convention, which was signed by 179 countries on November 20th, 1989, marks the significant recognition that youth all over the world should have rights and that their voices too must be heard.

Through ratification of said Convention, by the Netherlands in 1989, the Government of St Read more

Ready, Set, Protect! Children Rights- A National Priority And Children Remains Our National Pride

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport celebrates the 32nd anniversary since the ratification of the International Day for the Rights of the Child. The United Nations Convention, which was signed by 179 countries on November 20th, 1989, marks the significant recognition that youth all over the world should have rights and that their voices too must be heard.

Through ratification of said Convention, by the Netherlands in 1989, the Government of St. Maarten was led to structure policy, legislation, and programs in addition to establishing institutions that endeavored to safeguard the rights of children on the island.
However, while much was being done on an international level to formalize and advance the Rights of the Child globally, St Read more

Gracita : St Maarten Day To Be Celebrated With More Pride And With Less Prejudice .

PHILIPSBURG:_-- Gracita Arrindell reflects with nostalgia on past Sint Maarten Day celebrations: its really amazing to see how many things have changed on Sint Maarten in a relatively short span of time. Not too long ago preparations to commemorate Sint Maarten Day started almost immediately after the day of festivities. For example, schools were actively involved by government in putting together and being part of the program events Read more

Ready, Set, Protect! : Reflection Of Children Rights Development On St. Maarten

Philipsburg The importance of recognizing Childrens Rights on St. Maarten began as early as 1978. The now deceased Mrs. Mavis Salomon Brooks and Dr. Linda Banks first started the initiative by writing and producing a song about children rights for a song festival. Ever since, many individuals in our community volunteered their personal time in promoting the development and empowerment of children through various activities. Radio programs, uniformed groups and performing arts were among the undertakings by loyal persons.

On November 20th, 1989, the United Nations ratified the United Nation Convention for the Rights of the Child, with 140 countries including the Kingdom of the Netherlands adding their signature to this convention.

Consequently, all islands within the Kingdom adopted this treaty and started the work of drafting, establishing and implementing policy and programs in the interest of Childrens Rights.

The first official policy initiative for St Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---The importance of recognizing Childrens Rights in St. Maarten began as early as 1978. The now-deceased Mrs. Mavis Salomon Brooks and Dr. Linda Banks first started the initiative by writing and producing a song about children's rights for a song festival. Ever since many individuals in our community volunteered their personal time in promoting the development and empowerment of children through various activities. Radio programs, uniformed groups, and performing arts were among the undertakings by loyal persons.

On November 20th, 1989, the United Nations ratified the United Nations Convention for the Rights of the Child, with 140 countries including the Kingdom of the Netherlands adding their signature to this convention.

Consequently, all islands within the Kingdom adopted this treaty and started the work of drafting, establishing, and implementing policy and programs in the interest of Childrens Rights.

The first official policy initiative for St Read more

Ready, Set, Protect!-Reflection Of Children Rights Development On St. Maarten

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten The importance of recognizing Childrens Rights on St.Maarten began as early as 1978. The now deceased Mrs. Mavis Salomon Brooks and Dr. Linda Banks first started the initiative by writing and producing a song about children rights for a song festival. Ever since, many individuals in our community volunteered their personal time in promoting the development and empowerment of children through various activities. Radio programs, uniformed groups and performing arts were among the undertakings by loyal persons.

On November 20th, 1989, the United Nations ratified the United Nation Convention for the Rights of the Child, with 140 countries including the Kingdom of the Netherlands adding their signature to this convention.

Consequently, all islands within the Kingdom adopted this treaty and started the work of drafting, establishing and implementing policy and programs in the interest of Childrens Rights. 

The first official policy initiative for St Read more

National Alliance Wants 10 Seats For Stable Govt.

SUCKER GARDEN–The white party, National Alliance (NA), presented 23 candidates to its supporters at the new party headquarters in Sucker Garden on Sunday afternoon. The party will present its list on Monday, led by veteran politician and sitting Prime Minister William Marlin.

  The inclusion of younger candidates shows the party’s vision for the future, according to Marlin, who presented the candidates Read more

Opinion: Politician Tears Of The Crocodile Variety

To see former Prime Minister Gerrit Schotte close to tears at the end of his trial in Curacao seems completely out of character. But there it is: even the outwardly toughest nut will crack sooner or later.

Schotte’s tears are of course of the crocodile variety. To say at the end of proceedings where he has steadfastly refused to answer any question something like, “Punish me, but not my wife,” is coming a bit late in the day.

Why did Schotte not won up to what he has been accused off? After all, his “punish me” remark is the clearest indication so far that Schotte is at least guilty of something Read more

Opinion: One-Way Ticket

So this is how things work in Dutch politics: a minister (Ivo Opstelten) gives the parliament incorrect information and after some toing and froing he steps down. His State Secretary Fred Teeven, who was up to his eyeballs in the deal about which Opstelten gave incorrect information, also left office.

Did these politicians commit a crime? Is there an irrevocable criminal conviction?

No. None of that.

And what was it all about? An issue that played fifteen years ago, when Teeven was a public prosecutor Read more

Heyliger: NA’s call for Matser’s resignation ‘truly hypocritical’

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) elected members were "busy" last week trying to persuade United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament Silvio Matser "to leave UP in their attempt to cause problems in the UP-led coalition, says UP Leader MP Theo Heyliger Read more

NA call for MP Matser’s ‘immediate’ resignation

PHILIPSBURG--The "immediate resignation" of United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Silvio Matser has been called for by the National Alliance (NA) Board.

The call, issued Tuesday, comes a week after the Court of First Instance sentenced the first-term MP to 24 months, 18 of which were suspended, on three years' probation and 240 hours of community service, for tax evasion Read more

Arnia Now Has A Wide Range Of Symbolic Items

St. Maarten – Ten years ago when St Maarten’s day was celebrated, the Management of Arnia’s Bookstore only had two symbolic items on sale, now as November 11 approaches, they have 57 items available.

“According to visitors to the island, this is the only store that has so many national flags on sale,” said Henry Janvier, the proprietor of the small business establishment.

“We started then with the table cloth flag and then eventually the small flag that was flown on cars,” he pointed out Read more

Up-Leader Theo Heyliger About Instruction: “Witch Hunt With Me As Primary Target”

St. Maarten – United People’s party leader Theo Heyliger released another statement to the media yesterday, announcing that the Dutch government will be held liable for the damages its “unconstitutional intrusion” is causing St Read more

Parliament Takes Vorst Estate Purchase Out Of 2014 Budget

St. Maarten – The Parliament approved a motion to take a $5.5 million provision for the purchase of the Vorst Estate out of an amendment to the 2014 budget with 7 votes to 6. This blocks the purchase of the land, for which Vromi-Minister Maurice Lake signed an agreement in February of this year, but it does not absolve the country of liability towards the Vorst-family, because the Court in First Instance has already ruled that the purchase-agreement Lake signed is a valid one.

The meeting to handle the budget amendment has a long history Read more

Vorst land purchase to be omitted from 2014 budget amendment

~ Roy's amendment to budget amendment passed ~

PHILIPSBURG--An amendment to remove the purchase of the Vorst Estate property from a budget amendment tabled by Finance Minister Martin Hassink was passed during a public plenary session of parliament on Monday.

It was the third time the meeting had been convened to handle this and other issues. The first two meetings were cancelled due to lack of quorum. The motion, which was tabled by Democratic Party (DP) Member of Parliament (MP) Roy Marlin, was passed by seven of MPs voting in favour of the amendment and six voting against it.

Supporting the motion were author Roy Marlin, National Alliance (NA) MPs William Marlin, Hyacinth Richardson, George Pantophlet and Louie Laveist and Independent MPs Frans Richardson and Romain Laville Read more

Mps Prefer Trip To Panama To Parliament Meeting

St. Maarten – It was to be expected, but it still was a sight for sore eyes when the rescheduled meeting of Parliament yesterday morning to handle an amendment to the 2014 budget did not get a quorum. Only MPs Hyacinth Richardson and George Pantophlet (National Alliance), Roy Marlin (DP) and Parliament President Gracita Arrindell (UP) were present Read more

Budget amendment meet called off again due to lack of quorum

PHILIPSBURG--The public plenary session of Parliament on amendments to the 2014 budget was cancelled for the second time on Friday, as only four Members of Parliament (MPs) showed up and signed in for the meeting.

The meeting was first called off on Wednesday, due to the lack of a quorum when seven MPs were signed in, though United People's (UP) party MPs and Independent MP Dr. Lloyd Richardson had been in the building.

Present at Friday's session were National Alliance (NA) MPs Hyacinth Richardson and George Pantophlet, Democratic Party (DP) MP Roy Marlin and United People's (UP) party MP Gracita Arrindell Read more

No quorum for budget amendment meeting

~ UP, Dr. Richardson, Illidge, De Weever absent ~

PHILIPSBURG--The public plenary session of Parliament on amendments to the 2014 budget was cancelled on Wednesday due to the lack of a quorum, as only seven Members of Parliament (MPs) were signed in.

Parliament Press Secretary Roddy Heyliger said in a press release last night that the session had been rescheduled to Friday at 10:00am.

At least eight MPs are needed for the meeting to proceed Read more

Rumors Run Amok In Local Politics: Coalition May Fall Apart With De Weever’S Departure

Finance Minister Martin Hassink confers with National Alliance leader William Marlin while (from left) Frans Richardson and Romain Laville look on Read more

Departing Politicians Become A Burden For The Treasury

Political pensions could cost country St. Maarten $4 million

St. Maarten – The change of government could cost the country over the next two years more than $4 million if all departing ministers and not re-elected members of parliament claim the political pension they are entitled to by law. To put this number in perspective: on a national budget of 440 million guilders (about $245 million), it represents 1.6 percent of total expenditures.

Four ministers (Patricia Lourens, Martin Hassink, Dennis and Ted Richardson) are not expected to return in the new cabinet Read more

MPs close off fourth year of Parliament

PHILIPSBURG--The 2013-2014 parliamentary year closed on Monday with several Members of Parliament (MPs) taking the opportunity to give a farewell speech outlining their accomplishments, hopes for the new parliamentary year and for the incoming government.

Based on the Constitution, the parliamentary year must close before the second Tuesday in September – the official opening of the new parliamentary year. The opening will take place today, Tuesday, at Parliament House, with Governor Eugene Holiday delivering the traditional governor's speech containing government's plans for the coming year.

At Monday's session, outgoing independent MP Romain Laville said being an MP has been "one of the greatest experiences" he has had in life Read more