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Mp Lake: Taking The Issues Affecting The People In 2016 To Another Level

ST. PETERS, St. Maarten - “I would like to wish the people of St. Maarten a Happy New Year.  I have to say 2015 was a good learning experience for St. Maarten. St. Maarten is at a crossroad, so the decisions we make today will affect the next generation of tomorrow. 

“That's why I am looking to 2016 to take the issues affecting our local people to another level in an open and transparent manner to better serve the people of St. Maarten. I know it's going to be a short challenging year with a lot of manmade obstacles to keep me back from achieving for the people, but that won't keep a good man down,” Member of Parliament Maurice Lake said."Once I give it my best for 2016, and work along with the people, I believe the LORD will do the rest for his people. I am a firm believer in my principles of Philippians Chapter 4:13, ‘I can do all things with Christ which strengthen me.’ I have set some goals and I can't wait to execute them in the general interest of the people.“I am not going to get in the old way of politics with tic for tac, planning against each other, or predicting like some of our leaders that I would never be elected again, but I am going to focus on the issues and come with a plan of action in an open and transparent manner. Last election, some of our leaders within taught the same that my team was all rookies and I wasn't going to get elected. I would like the people to judge me on the upcoming election in September 2016 based on my work, performance and accomplishments for the people.“It's high time we stop saying or working behind the scenes in self-interest and start being open with the people’s business and focus on providing a stable economy and putting our people first and creating work for them. Parliament and Government needs to start putting our people first, and focus and communicate better with our local people and bring priority projects, quick wins or laws that are going to empower our people for the betterment of the island.“The Coalition of Eight main focus should be reform, balancing the draft Budget 2016, stimulating the Economy, creating jobs and developing a plan of action for the Crime situation.“As an Independent MP, my main focus would be in 2016 on passing the amended initiative law to make the processing or application fee for residence permits non-refundable; recognizing the University of St Read more

Mp Lake Wants Update On Emilio Wilson Estate

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake has sent a letter to Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Angel Meyers, via the President of Parliament seeking an update about plans for Emilio Wilson Estate. 
 â€œThe Estate is of invaluable natural, cultural, historical and social significance Read more

Mp Lake Says Gebe Must Play Vital Role In Renewable Energy For St. Maarten

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Independent Member of Parliament Maurice Lake says he foresees GEBE playing a vital role in renewable energy in St. Maarten. â€œBased on the Coalition of Eight’s Governing Program, we will be continuing with where the Steering Committee within Government left off with the Waste to Energy Plant discussions and review the latest draft agreement,” he said. Government is continuous and the previous Government should never have attempted changing plans which was in the best interest of the people.  Based on the upcoming Shareholder’s meeting on December 15th, GEBE Management and Supervisory Board will inform the Council of Ministers about its current state of affairs.  The Minister of VROMI, who is Shareholder representative of GEBE, needs to put as an agenda point the historical and current status of renewable energy.  We need to work towards the future by starting investments into renewable energy and alternative sources of energy through LPG/ LNG, also by promoting solar energy to the community in addition to having the necessary policies in place, pointed out Lake.
 
“Those who have invested in solar energy production in our community should be commended for taking the initiative on their own.  All stakeholders, GEBE and Government, need to put in place what is necessary for local solar energy producers to receive back what they contribute on a daily basis based on their solar energy investment and contribution to the electricity grid.  GEBE needs to adjust their meters to accommodate solar energy to residential homes Read more

Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Member of Parliament Maurice Lake commends the Marlin Cabinet for looking into projects that during the last minute before the swearing in of the new Cabinet, were signed off by the former Minister VROMI without a plan being in place. â€œThe new Minister of VROMI will also pay attention to these matters. As a representative of the people and a former Minister of VROMI, I was very amazed by the outgoing Minister of VROMI list of accomplishments in his thank you letter to the people since being Minister of TEATT and Minister of VROMI Read more

Mp Lake Calls For Constitutional And Electoral Reform Before Elections

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - MP Maurice Lake calls all political leaders to show political maturity and raise the bar to address the amendment to the Constitution.

I have listen keenly to the caretaker PM and the Minister of Justice and I have to say for two senior officials I have lost great respect for them for playing politics and making mockery of our Constitution.  

The caretaker Minister of Justice should know better as being part of the constitutional process for Country St Read more

Mp Lake Says People Relieved With Gumbs Cabinet’S Resignation

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake says he welcomes the resignation of the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet and the making of the way for the new cabinet to be installed.
“It is good they have finally tendered their resignations on Wednesday and will stop embarrassing themselves by not following the rules and making mockery of our Constitution Read more

Usm And Partners Discuss Development

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - On the 20th May 2015 the Board of the University of St. Maarten Foundation (BUSMF), assisted by its management team, discussed the developments of the University of St. Martin (USM) with the parliamentary committee of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport Affairs.

During that meeting, which was chaired by the Honorable Member of Parliament, Ms. Silveria Jacobs, the Honorable Minister of Education, Mrs Read more

Mp Heyliger Raises Eyebrow At New Lake And Marlin Relationship

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Leader of the UP Party, MP the Honorable Theo Heyliger Monday broke his silence on the latest political developments plaguing the island and those before that also led to governmental turmoil.

The political leader who broke his silence on the Billy D Radio Program addressed many subjects, from the realities of being a Minister to trying to comply with the unrealistic demands of his members who have tasted power Read more

Emergency Meeting Of The Parliament Called For 6Pm Thursday

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Eight members of Parliament signed a letter Thursday which calls for an Emergency meeting of Parliament to handle a few appointment matters.

The main agenda point for the meeting is the appointment of a Chairperson, a First Deputy Chairperson and a Second Deputy.

The letter which was addressed to all members of Parliament also states that in view of recent developments during meetings of Parliament including the Central Committee which was held on Wednes Read more

Parliament Seeks Legal Councel On Voting In Of A New President And Vice President Of Parliament

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - A meeting which was called for by members of Parliament of the Democratic Party, the National Alliance and the United St. Maarten Party along with Member of Parliament, the Honorable Maurice Lake to appoint the chair person as well as a vice chairperson of Parliament on Tuesday morning abruptly ended Read more

Parliament Gives Council Of Ministers Vote Of No-Confidence Wednesday

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The parliament of St. Maarten gave the Marcel Gumbs cabinet a motion of no-confidence on Wednesday afternoon.

The motion was read by the leader of the DP Sarah Wescot-Williams Read more

It’S All About Negotiations Mp Heyliger

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - During the tenure of former Minister William Marlin of the National Alliance, the Waste to Energy plant would have cost the people of St. Maarten a total of ZERO investment.

The terms of reference was designed as such that the WTE supplier would be granted a concession for 20 to 25 years where GEBE would buy the Energy generated by the WTE plant.

So you see MP Heyliger, you are not correct Read more

Mp Lake Commends Usm Management And Board On Reaching Milestone With First Accredited Program. Wants Governments Recognition

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – University of St. Martin (USM) announced on Friday that it received accreditation of its Hospitality and Tourism Management programme by Business and Technology Education Council in the United Kingdom (BTEC).

BTEC accredited degrees are recognized in the US and in Europe. This is the first programme under the USM to be accredited.

USM also received "recognition" from American Hotel and Lodging Association, and that USM will be the third institution in the Caribbean to offer courses from American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute, especially in the North Eastern Caribbean where personnel from American hotels can come to upgrade their skills.

“It's high time that our Government recognize USM in writing based on our Government Program Read more

Education Minister To Hold Meeting With Nipa Board Wednesday, Mp Lake Issues Advice

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Minister of Education the Honorable Rita Bourn Gumbs is now preparing for a meeting with the board of NIPA on Wednesday.

The Minister told Parliament on Monday that based on this she cannot divulge all of the critical information on the options available to the Ministry to deal with the problems at the educational institution and the recent dismissal of its Director.

Meanwhile, former Minister of VROMI MP Maurice Lake told Parliament on Monday that one of the possible solutions to the NIPA problem is to review the articles of incorporation of the Foundation.

He noted that Government has to know where their powers are noting that government will always have the responsibility.

The MP listed a number of examples Read more

Up Mp Lake Says Start Of New Parliamentary Year Is Opportunity To Move Country Forward By Executing Priority Projects

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – United People’s (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake says with the new parliamentary year is about to start next month and he would like to see the country moving forward with the execution of priority projects, adding that this is an opportunity.

“First, I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends of one of my childhood friend, the late Robert Boasman of Tangerine Road, St Read more

Up Mp Lake Would Like To See Stakeholders For Waste To Energy Plant Project Getting Together To Move Project Forward

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – United People’s (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake sent a letter to the Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, and also publicly made a statement on July 13th, 2015 requesting an update on the Solid Waste Ordinance and the progress of the long awaited Waste to Energy Plant to address the â€˜growing garbage mountain.’

“As the former Minister of VROMI, my ministry and the Steering Committee was very much involved with the final stage the bidding process which was won by a company to build the plant Read more

Up Mp Lake Says Community Councils Have A Role To Play In The Districts Regarding Hurricane Season Pre-Planning

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – United People’s (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake would like to see the different Community Councils play a more active role by advising the residents and helping the senior citizens protect their homes during the Hurricane season.

“As the co-founder of the St Read more

Up Mp Lake Still Concerned About Kadaster, Wants Answers

PHILIPSBURG – United People’s (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake has sent a letter through Parliament to the Minister of Finance and the Acting Minister of VROMI concerning the recent developments at Kadaster and advising the Minister of Finance to set a time frame to the Board of Kadaster to provide Parliament with the management reports and financial reports and the answers to the Ombudsman recommendations.

“As a representative of the people, I am very surprised that the Netherlands who has Integrity high on their list would allow the Kadaster Director Clemens Roos to finish his contract on the island before sitting out his sentence.  This is a breach of integrity at its best I think Read more

Mp Lake Supports Chamber Of Commerce Initiative

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – United People's (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake MP Lake supports the Chamber of Commerce statement that the community won't be safe if labour issues are left unaddressed.

"As a community spirited person and always in contact with the people and young people, I fully agree with the Chamber of Commerce statement that the country cannot have a healthy and safe community if education, health, poverty, immigration and labour issues, such as unemployment and abuse of the labour laws are not addressed.

"The only way we can address these issues is together as stakeholders and come up with an immediate, short term and long term plan of action that will benefit everyone the business and the community Read more

Up Mp Lake Commends Act. Minister Of Vromi Gumbs And Gebe For Quick Action In St. Peters Community

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – United People's (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake wrote a letter to the Acting Minister of the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Marcel Gumbs, addressing the concerns of residents of Marigot Hill regarding the placement of a NV GEBE street light at Soursop Road #42.

"In that specific area at night it's very dark and is well-known for car stripping by criminal elements Read more

Up Mp Lake Says Government Not Getting Away From Its Responsibility On Public Schools

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – United People's (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake said on Thursday that Government is not getting away from its responsibility by getting the private sector more involved in the maintenance of public schools.

MP Lake pointed out that some people in the community are interpreting the "Adopt-A-School" plan in the "Ready to Work for You" 2014-2015 Governing Programme of the UP-led coalition the wrong way.

"It's nothing new Read more

Mp Lake Commends Corporate Partners For Coming To The Aid Of St. Peters Resident

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – United People's (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake is coordinating assistance in the area of social and health for St. Peters resident Vincent Gumbs.

Gumbs lives in a one bedroom section of his home with his son Read more

Up Mp Lake Says Too Much Gossip Destabilizing Country, Not Enough On Building The Nation

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – United People's (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake said on Wednesday that Government, its workers and civil society are constantly being distracted while investors become weary with the unfounded rumours about the fall of the current government.

UP MP Lake has strongly dismissed gossip that he plans to break with the current UP-led coalition and form a new one with MPs from the opposition and others from the current coalition.

"I want to make it abundantly clear, as I told my good friend Billie Dee from SOS Radio Station on Wednesday morning; no one speaks on behalf of Maurice Lake other than Maurice Lake Read more

Mp Lake Calls On Government To Foster Public-Private Partnership

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – United People's (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake is calling on Government to come up with creative financing ideas and to foster stronger more meaningful public-private partnerships. Such partnerships will increase the development of the economy and improve services for the entire country.

"The private sector has been the driving force for years as an essential pillar of the economy and to the economic achievements of our country Read more