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>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister Plenipotentiary Hon. Josianne Fleming-Artsen recently met with the board of St. Maarten Student Support Services (S4) to get an update with respect to S4 activities for 2015.

Minister Fleming-Artsen at the same time introduced herself to the board who was represented by Rinaldo Hassell, President, Genevieve Mourillon, Secretary, Gino Rombley, Treasurer, as the new minister plenipotentiary who took the oath of office on December 19, 2014 in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Hon Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- United People's (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Maurice Lake, this past weekend commenced with his district observation visits in his capacity as MP to see where and how he can assist Sint Maarten communities.

MP Lake said he started his back to basics district visits 2015 with his home district of St Read more

style="text-align: center;">Plans of Approach for Integrity reports, Approval of Integrity Chamber Ordinance, nomination of "Kwartiermaker"

PHILIPSBURG:--- Government on Monday, January 26th submitted to Parliament the plan of approach to implement the recommendations of the three integrity reports as instructed by Parliament in a motion that was unanimously passed by Parliament on October 22, 2014. The plan addresses the General Audit Chamber Report, the Wit-Samson "Doing Things Right" and the PwC report on Integrity.

The Council of Ministers also informed Parliament on Monday that it has approved a draft ordinance to establish an Integrity Chamber for Sint Maarten as well as nominated a so called "Kwartiermaker" by resolution (landsbesluit) who will be charged with preparing the implementation of the aforementioned ordinance Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams told reporters on Monday afternoon at a press conference that she is of the opinion that the deal with Rainforest Adventure to develop the Emilio Wilson Park is a done deal. "I believe this government has placed their stamp of approval on the project. This is my opinion because there is a lot not said when questions are being posed to Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs regarding this project, however, the people of St Read more

2015 Draft Budget is not the budget for current Coalition Government --- "This is a matter of procedures to avoid instruction."

style="text-align: left;">PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Franklin Meyers and the leader of the United Peoples Party (UPP) Theodore Heyliger made clear in their presentation to Parliament on Thursday that the draft 2015 budget is not a budget that would reflect the Governing Program of the current coalition government.
MP Meyers called on Members of Parliament to come together despite their political differences and secure St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Anne Marie Pieterz-Powell, the British Vice Consul for the Dutch and French Caribbean paid courtesy visits to Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs and Minister of Economic Affairs Claret Connor on Tuesday, January 20 Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Parliament of St. Maarten on Wednesday granted Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs time to host his informal "Meet & Greet" event at Parliament house, where he stressed to MP's present that civility should be observed despite parties having their roles to play as part of St. Maarten's constitutional democracy.

The Prime Minister was welcomed by the President of Parliament Dr Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Saba Commissioners Chris Johnson and Bruce Zagers paid a courtesy visit to the Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Marcel Gumbs last week to congratulate the Prime Minister as well as discuss a number of pressing matters in the relationship between the countries.

One of the key issues discussed was the method of transportation of fish and lobster from Saba to St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk could not say whether or not he could convince the Kingdom Council of Ministers not to impose higher supervision on St. Maarten as planned. The Kingdom Council was supposed to discuss this matter last Friday but withdrew the agenda point to give Minister Plasterk the opportunity to further discuss the concerns of the Kingdom on his working visit here on St. Maarten. At a joint press conference held on Monday afternoon Minister Plasterk and Prime Minister of St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Marcel Gumbs welcomed Dutch Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk to St. Maarten on Sunday afternoon. Minister Plasterk is on a working visit to St. Maarten, Saba and Statia from January 18 until January 21. On Monday morning he will meet in a formal session with Prime Minister Gumbs Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs has submitted to the Council of Advice the written declarations and notifications (assets/holdings, secondary positions/interests) of the new Ministers as well as those of the Ministers of the former cabinet in accordance with the National Ordinance Promotion of the Integrity of Ministers (Landsverordening Integriteitbevordering Ministers).

The declarations were submitted on Friday, January 16, three days before the legally stipulated deadline of 30 from when the Ministers were sworn in and accepted the appointment as a minister and within 30 days of the date on which the former Ministers ceases to be a Minister Read more

PM Gumbs responds to Wescot-Williams on Dutch Secret Service.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister the Hon. Marcel Gumbs has responded, via official letter, to the questions by Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams as submitted to the Chairman of Parliament via letter dated January 13, 2015 Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister, The Hon. Marcel Gumbs, officially introduced himself and members of the Council of Ministers to members of the Supervisory Board of Directors and Management of the Sint Maarten Telecommunication Holding Company N.V. (SMTHC) for the company's Annual General Shareholder's meeting in the A.C. Wathey Legislative Hall, Thursday.
In attendance along with the Prime Minister were, Minister of Education, Sport and Culture, the Hon Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Leader of the government coalition, MP Theo Heyliger is expecting the people of St. Maarten to believe that he has no and will not get any previous knowledge of the budget which has been sent to the Governor and is well on its way to Parliament. Really?
This revelation by MP Heyliger comes after repeated calls by his Minister of Finance for a dividend policy to level the playing field for all government-owned companies.
And it comes after severe criticism from the CFT and from several integrity reports about the contribution of government-owned companies to the country's coffers.
Not only that, but most of these organizations have also criticized the involvement of politicians(!) in these companies' policies and programs Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- On December 16th, 2014 I sent the minister of VROMI via the chairman of Parliament, 5 questions regarding the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation, due to the public uproar regarding this institution, the allegations, the threats etc.
My questions were straightforward. I did not ask for books, I did not ask for financials or incorporation articles.
The Prime Minister, Honorable Marcel Gumbs subsequently dutifully presented himself to Parliament, also acting as minister of VROMI and boasted of this record, having done so within 72 hours of his installation.
Again I repeated the same basic questions, most of which could be answered with a yes or no Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- President Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson on Wednesday morning met with Prime Minister Hon. Marcel Gumbs to discuss a number of matters.
Richardson and Gumbs have decided to meet on a quarterly basis to keep each other abreast on matters of mutual interests.
President Richardson was informed that the national 2015 budget has been forwarded to His Excellency Governor Eugene Holiday who will send it to Parliament within short Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the Democratic Party and Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams has sent a letter to Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs asking for an explanation on the screening of Ministers that were installed on December 19th, 2014 Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The 2015 National Budget has been submitted to his Excellency the Governor of St. Maarten Eugene Holiday on Wednesday, January 14 to be sent on the Parliament. The Submitted version includes the supplementary report on the remarks from the Council of Advice.
Prime Minister the Honorable Marcel Gumbs is cognizant of the importance of a national budget for St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The National Alliance said on Wednesday afternoon that Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs is clearly not in control of his cabinet, at the least, not as far as how to deal with Parliament.
During his first visit to Parliament the honorable Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs said that one thing he had learnt during his term as a State Secretary in the Government of the Netherlands Antilles was, that when a Minister or State Secretary is called to Parliament, you drop everything and appear before Parliament.
He said that because of this experience he had made sure to be in Parliament, even though he had just been sworn in a few days before.
Either the Prime Minister has not been able to convince certain Ministers or he had not yet discussed this with them.
The faction of the National Alliance said that a Central Committee meeting had been convened with Minister of Finance Martin Hassink on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd quarterly reports Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister of St. Maarten Marcel Gumbs and Prime Minister of Curacao Ivar Asjes both dubbed the latter's visit as important in establishing a basis for continued good relations between the two countries.

PM Asjes continued his working trip to St. Maarten on Monday by meeting with Governor Eugene Holiday, President of Parliament Dr Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Besides devoting most of his time on extremely pressing matters such as budget 2015, Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Hon. Marcel Gumbs has still been scheduling time to meet with departments under the General Affairs Ministry for which he is responsible.
The Prime Minister is taking his "stability, civility, tranquility, prosperity" message to the public servants as well, stressing that service is what they provide and it should be practiced with the utmost professionalism Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister of St. Maarten Hon. Marcel Gumbs on Sunday welcomed Prime Minister of Curacao Hon. Ivar Asjes to St. Maarten for his official working visit. Prime Minister Gumbs met Prime Minister Asjes as he arrived at the Princess Juliana International Airport.

PM Asjes official working visit to St. Maarten is from from January 11 to 13 where he will be discussing issues of mutual interests Read more

PM Gumbs pushes to have Ms. Lalie’s statue repaired.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister the Honorable Marcel Gumbs has made sure that one of St. Maarten's national figures and a local heroine is remembered with respect. The statue of Lalie Duzanson on the Dutch Quarter/Belvedere round about was damaged during the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo and has ever since been leaning backwards.

Prime Minister Gumbs recently got in contact with sculptor Michael Maghiro with a simple yet deliberately strong message: Ms Read more

Minister Fleming-Artsen attends New Year’s reception at the Governor of the Residence in The Hague.

style="text-align: left;">PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister Plenipotentiary Hon. Josianne Fleming-Artsen attended the New Year's reception at the Governor of the Residence, Lieutenant General dr. J.A.J. Leytens and Mrs. Dr. M.G.W. den Boer in The Hague, the Netherlands on Monday, January 5th, 2015.

The Governor of the Residence is mainly responsible for the military ceremonials in The Hague.

Minister Fleming-Artsen stated that it was a great moment to network and to meet and share information about Sint Maarten at the event where a variety of key business and political personalities were in attendance.

"It is my intention to improve the image of Sint Maarten in The Hague and throughout the Netherlands," Minister Hon Read more