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Voting Under Pressure

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten In what is being viewed as an urgent push to get St. Maarten to pass the Penal Procedure Code, reports have begun to circulate of undue pressure being levied on parliamentarians to urgently pass the ordinance. The idea that Sint Maarten faces the possibility of being blacklisted allegedly has some members of Parliament advocating skipping the debate and proceeding to approve the concept ordinance Penal Procedure Code.

They just want to vote it into law, because it is said that this will save Sint Maarten from being black listed, Member of Parliament of the National Alliance, the Honorable drs Read more

~ MP Rolando Brison elected Chair of Parliament, Vice-Chair MP William Marlin, 2nd Vice-Chair Rodolphe Samuel.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Of the 15 Members of Parliament that cast their votes to elect the chairman of parliament, 12 voted in favor of MP Rolando Brison, while one voted for Grisha Heyliger Marten and one blank Read more

~Demands were being made for VROMI and USP was his preference. ~

PHILIPSBURG: --- A coalition agreement has been signed with five members of the National Alliance and the United Peoples Party (NA/UP) Saturday afternoon. Those that signed on behalf of the National Alliance are Silveria Jacobs, Ardwell Irion, William Marlin, Rodolphe Samuel, and Egbert Jurendy Doran.
SMN News learned that MP Christopher Emmanuel did not sign the agreement as his preference is to work with the United St Read more

Mp Drs Rodolphe Samuel Visit Nipa

CAY HILL, Sint Maarten — As a result of the passing of Hurricane Irma many areas on the island were severely damaged.

Besides the enormous damage to homes and school buildings many of our hotel properties have also sustained serious damage forcing their closure in order to repair and rebuild.

Knowing that it would be impossible for all the workers in the Hospitality trade to find work elsewhere the Government devised a plan / solution to remedy this negative situation.

The previous Minister of Finance – former Minister Richard E Read more

Marlin gets astounding support from party supporters.

PHILIPSBURG: --- The National Alliance board introduced seven new candidates that will be contesting the snap election called on February 26th, 2018. The NA held its congress Wednesday evening, two days ahead of Postulation Day. The new candidates are: Solange Lyudmila Duncan-York, Anna Rabess-Richardson (former USP candidate), Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Nearly three months after the passing of hurricane IRMA the people of St. Maarten is still grappling to get their lives back in order.
One of the main things that have to happen without further delay is the repairing of the roofs and especially those of our senior citizens.
Government on a bi-weekly basis is also providing food vouchers to the value of NAfls 150 to those in need to facilitate the purchase of food products.
Many persons have been to the government building in order to report that they are in need of such help, and how to receive the help they are looking for.
There are many out there in the community who do not know how to apply for help from the government or who to talk to or where to go.
Persons are questioning if they qualify or not for aid, they want to know what the criteria are to which someone would have to comply.
I am calling on the Minister of VSA-Social Welfare and Labor Read more

Port St. Maarten Welcomes Dutch Navy’S Largest Vessel Hnlms Karel Doorman

PORT ST. MAARTEN – A number of officials namely Prime Minister William Marlin, the Vice President of Parliament Rodolphe Samuel, Minister of Tourism & Economic Affairs Mellissa Doncher-Arrindell, Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure Management (Ministry VROMI) Christopher Emmanuel, Member of Parliament Theodore Heyliger, along with Port St Read more

PORT ST. MAARTEN:--- A number of officials namely Prime Minister William Marlin, the Vice President of Parliament Rodolphe Samuel, Minister of Tourism & Economic Affairs Mellissa Doncher-Arrindell, Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure Management (Ministry VROMI) Christopher Emmanuel, Member of Parliament Theodore Heyliger, along with Port 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

PHILIPSBURG:--- 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

PHILIPSBURG:--- 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

“I am proud to be a Guyanese but I chose St. Maarten as my home”

PHILIPSBURG:--- About 1,500 persons witnessed the grand opening of Motorworld state of the art showroom which officially opened on Friday, May 26th, 2017 (On Guyana’s 51st Independence.”)
Among those that attend the grand and spectacular ceremony were dignitaries from both sides of the island, Prime Minister William Marlin, Governor Eugene Holiday,  President of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams President of the Collectivity of St Read more

Is Parliament Serious About Independence?

Last week Wednesday, the Central Committee of Parliament, once again, invited the Independence for St. Martin Foundation (ISMF) to give a presentation regarding holding a referendum to determine whether the people of Sint Maarten desire to become independent or not. This is the fourth time that the ISMF was in parliament presenting its case. The first presentation was held in March 2016. Hereafter, the Central Committee reconvened, in September 2016, to give the ISMF the opportunity to answer questions that the MPs had posed in the first round in March 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

GREAT BAY:--- 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

Un Asiento Vacío En El Parlamento

Traducido por Máximo Castro

Desde hace varias semanas, un escaño en el parlamento ha quedado obviamente vacío. Cuando la Presidenta del Parlamento, al comienzo de las reuniones públicas o de las reuniones del Comité Central, pregunta si hay notificaciones, ni un parlamentario, ni siquiera el líder de la facción del USP informa sobre la ausencia del diputado Silvio Matser.

En mi opinión, sólo una enfermedad puede justificar la ausencia continua de un miembro del parlamento Read more

Parliament calls Chief Prosecutor Ton Maan and Minister of Justice Rafael Boasman.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Justice Rafael Boasman and Chief Prosecutor Ton Maan are now in the hot seat as the Public Prosecutor’s Office intends to play judge and jury with the formation of the Assets Recovery Team.
Even though former Minister of Justice Edison Kirindongo got the Council of Ministers to approve the implementation of the team, the same factions that formed that government, when the Council of Ministers signed off on the advice of the Prosecutor's Office, have teamed up with the United Peoples Party to call for an urgent meeting of Parliament, whereby current Minister of Justice Rafael Boasman and the Chief Prosecutor of St Read more

The Empty Seat In Parliament

For several weeks now, one seat in parliament has remained obviously empty. When, the President of Parliament, at the beginning of public meetings or of Central Committee meetings, asks if there are any notifications, not one parliamentarian, not even the USP faction leader reports on the absence of MP Silvio Matser.

In my opinion, only sickness can justify the continuous absence of a member of parliament Read more

Civil Servants Of The Secretariat Of Parliament Take Oath Or Pledge Of Office

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – On Friday, March 3, 2017 the civil servants of the secretariat of Parliament took an oath or pledge of office before the President of Parliament, MP Sarah Wescot Williams, during Parliament’s first ever oath and pledge ceremony for its staff members. Also in attendance for this occasion were Vice President MP drs Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---- On Friday, March 3, 2017, the civil servants of the secretariat of Parliament took an oath or pledge of office before the President of Parliament, MP Sarah Wescot Williams, during Parliament’s first ever oath and pledge ceremony for its staff members. Also in attendance for this occasion were Vice President MP drs 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

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

Mp Frans Richardson Sounds The Alarm: Social Media Messages: Kill The Prime Minister

St. Maarten News – Messages on social media suggest killing the prime minister, members of parliament and their corrupted friends, MP Frans Richardson said during a meeting of parliament about vote buying. While Richardson considered there threats far more important than the issue of vote buying, no other MP even reacted to his statement.

“I am going to protect myself and my family,” Richardson said Read more