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No quorum stalls meeting on Intellectual Property Bureau

PHILIPSBURG--Only six Members of Parliament (MPs) were signed in for the plenary session of Parliament to formalise the Intellectual Property Bureau on Wednesday afternoon, two short of the quorum of eight MPs needed for the meeting to start.

The meeting now will have to be reconvened by Chairwoman of Parliament MP Sarah Wescot-Williams within four days (four times 24 hours) as stipulated by Parliament's Rules of Order Read more

style="text-align: center;">PM/President of Parliament dispatched letter to the Dutch Second Chamber on Instructions given to St. Maarten's Governor

PHILIPSBURG:---- The Prime Minister and President of St. Maarten's parliament penned a four page letter to the Dutch second chamber informing them of the standpoint of St. Maarten's Council of Ministers. Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams states clearly in her letter that the Council of Ministers on St Read more

Youth Parliament wants more of a role in decision-making

PHILIPSBURG--The Youth Parliament wants a more active role in the decision-making process of the country.

A delegation of the Youth Parliament, headed by Dwayne Griffith, presented a motion requesting the possibility to make recommendations on the findings of the various integrity reports to the Parliament of St. Maarten on Tuesday afternoon in a Central Committee meeting in Parliament House.

The "emergency" meeting during which the motion was presented to the Parliament was requested by the Youth Members of Parliament (YMPs) Read more

Prominent Lawyer Allegedly Failed Screening due to Molestation Investigation.

style="text-align: center;"> Coalition dispute ongoing

PHILIPSBURG:--- Well placed sources have informed SMN News that a prominent lawyer on St. Maarten has failed the screening process to become a Minister in the UP/DP/ Marlin coalition. SMN News learnt that the candidate is allegedly under investigation for molesting a teenager. According to the information SMN News received a relative of the victim filed charges against the prominent citizen and lawyer on St. Maarten about two months ago Read more

Pm Wescot-Williams Expresses Condolences To The Family Of Crash Victims

St. Maarten – Care taker Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams yesterday expressed her condolences to the victims of the fatal Skyway Airways flight which crashed on Wednesday evening. The one confirmed deceased and one missing pilot were the only two souls on board. “I would like to express my sincerest condolences to the victims of the Skyway Airways crash Read more

style="text-align: center;">Praises Search and Recovery Efforts

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams expressed her condolences to the victims of the fatal Skyway Airways flight which crashed on Wednesday evening. The one confirmed deceased and one missing pilot were the only two souls on board: "I would like to express my sincerest condolences to the victims of the Skyway Airways crash Read more

Prime Minister Wescot-Williams Expresses Condolences To The Family Of The Victims Of The Skyway Crash, Praises Search And Recovery Efforts

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams expressed her condolences to the victims of the fatal Skyway Airways flight which crashed on Wednesday evening.

The one confirmed deceased and one missing pilot were the only two souls on board: "I would like to express my sincer Read more

Frans, William see discussion on integrity report as waste of time

PHILIPSBURG--Discussions in a Central Committee meeting of Parliament about the integrity reports from the Wit-Samson Committee and PricewaterhouseCoopers PwC was deemed a waste of time at this transition period between governments by United St. Maarten Member of Parliament (MP) Frans Richardson and National Alliance (NA) MP William Marlin.

The reports were referred for handling in a Central Committee meeting in the final meeting of the 2013-2014 Parliamentary year on October 9.

The discussions with Deputy Prime Minister/Justice Minister Dennis Richardson on Wednesday centred mostly on whether the reports should be before Parliament now or be handled when the new Council of Ministers is in place Read more

style="text-align: center;">All Members of the Democratic Party did not support her decision but respected it as Leader of DP

PHILIPSBURG:--- Almost three weeks after signing an agreement with formateur Theodore Heyliger, leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams finally broke her silence on Monday at a press conference held at the House of Parliament Read more

Other Parties Stay Away From Protest Against Kingdom And Plasterk – Green March Against Instruction

St. Maarten– Between 300 and 400 people took part in the march People United for True Democracy organized yesterday afternoon in protest against the instruction from the Kingdom Council of Ministers to Governor Holiday for a stricter screening of candidate ministers – a handsome turnout with one flaw: only supporters of the United People’s party showed up.

UP party leader Theo Heyliger was there, as were his faction leader Franklin Meyers, MP Tamara Leonard and MP Lloyd Richardson Read more

Sarah: DP fraction of two MPs intact

PHILIPBSURG--The Democratic Party (DP) fraction comprises two Members of Parliament (MPs): Sarah Wescot-Williams and Cornelius de Weever, with De Weever serving as the party's fraction leader in Parliament Read more

Parliament to meet Wednesday on Wit-Samson integrity report

PHILIPSBURG--Parliament is set to meet in a Central Committee meeting on Wednesday, starting at 10:00am, to discuss the findings and recommendations of the Wit-Samson integrity report, titled "Doing the right things right."

Chairwoman of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams said the meeting agenda also includes the handling of an invitation from the Netherlands for her as head of Parliament to attend the Kingdom Concert in December Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- While attending a recent function in benefit of the Mental Health Foundation, caretaker Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams again stressed the importance for the Mental Health Foundation; "As I have expressed in the past we have a Mental Health Foundation doing extremely good work but one that is faced with its challenges Read more

Prime Minister Wescot-Williams Attends Opening of the Oualichi Women’s Soccer Association Female High school competition.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Caretaker Prime Minister the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams attended the opening of the all-female high school competition organized by the Oualichi Women's Soccer Association on Saturday at the Raoul Illidge Sport's Complex. The Prime Minister opened the matches and wished the students much success and further encouraged the Women's Soccer association to build the sport of Women's Soccer on the island Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Caretaker Prime Minister the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams joined the Indian Community in attending the Diwali Celebrations held this past Saturday at the Belair Community Center. Diwali or Divali also known as Deepavali and the "festival of lights" is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in autumn every year. Wescot-Williams stated that it was a pleasure for her to be able to share a cultural experience with the Indian Community of St Read more

style="text-align: center;">All Members of the Democratic Party did not support her decision but respected it as Leader of DP

PHILIPSBURG:--- Almost three weeks after signing an agreement with formateur Theodore Heyliger, leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams finally broke her silence on Monday at a press conference held at the House of Parliament Read more

Prime Minister Wescot-Williams Stresses The Need To Support Mental Healthcare At Mental Health Foundation Function

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - While attending a recent function in benefit of the Mental Health Foundation, caretaker Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams again stressed the importance for the Mental Health Foundation; "As I have expressed in the past we have a Mental Health Foundation doing extremely good work but one that is faced with its challenges.

Government subsidizes the Foundation but indeed the needs of the organization are great.

"There are a lot of issues that are faced by people on a daily basis; some persons can conceal this state but others not.

More can be done on St Read more

Prime Minister Wescot-Williams Attends Diwali Celebrations

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Caretaker Prime Minister the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams joined the Indian Community in attending the Diwali Celebrations held this past Saturday at the Belair Community Center.

Diwali or Divali also known as Deepavali and the "festival of lights" is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in autumn every year.

Wescot-Williams stated that it was a pleasure for her to be able to share a cultural experience with the Indian Community of St Read more

Seniors discuss concerns, National Development

BELAIR--The St. Maarten Seniors and Pensioners Association (SMSPA) held a well-attended seminar on the "Rights of the Seniors" on Thursday, where special attention was paid to their involvement in the National Development Plan (NDP), progress in the rights of seniors since a number of international acts and plans had been passed, progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and their feedback.

In her official opening address, caretaker Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams started off with discussing overall rights as per the constitution adopted after 10-10-10 Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- On Saturday October 18, 2014, the Mental Health Foundation organized a Reception which this year focused on the Foundation's very loyal stakeholders and generous sponsors. The event was organized to honor and thank those who provide the Mental Health Foundation with continuous support and who are part of the reason why the MHF is where it is today. The Cocktail party was honored by the presence of the Prime Minister Sarah Wescott-Williams and the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Cornelius de Weever, by representatives of various stakeholders and sponsors such as SZV, Ennia, Ministry of Public Health, White and Yellow Cross Foundation, Nagico, General Practitioners, Ministry of Justice, SMMC, Samenwerkende Fondsen, Social Services, Health Inspectorate, WIEMS, SJIB, Court of Guardianship, Rotary Clubs of St Read more

Mental Health Foundation Says "Thank You" To Stakeholders And Generous Sponsors

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - On Saturday October 18, 2014, the Mental Health Foundation organized a Reception which this year focused on the Foundation's very loyal stakeholders and generous sponsors.

The event was organized to honor and thank those who provide the Mental Health Foundation with continuous support and who are part of the reason why the MHF is where it is today.

The Cocktail party was honored by the presence of the Prime Minister Sarah Wescott-Williams and the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Cornelius de Weever, by representatives of various stakeholders and sponsors such as SZV, Ennia, Ministry of Public Health, White and Yellow Cross Foundation, Nagico, General Practitioners, Ministry of Justice, SMMC, Samenwerkende Fondsen, Social Services, Health Inspectorate, WIEMS, SJIB, Court of Guardianship, Rotary Clubs of St Read more

MPs unanimously reject instruction

~ Motion to be sent to UN Decolonisation Committee ~

PHILIPSBURG--Members of Parliament (MPs) unanimously adopted on Wednesday a motion rejecting the instruction handed down by the Kingdom Council of Ministers to Governor Eugene Holiday for the execution of a boundless and limitless investigation into the backgrounds of candidate ministers, their families, friends, business associates and others.

Parliament is not in agreement with the instruction from the Kingdom Council, because the screening of candidate ministers is "not flawed Read more

Motion Passed Unanimously by Parliament on Instruction Given to Governor on Screening Procedures.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Leona Marlin Romeo withdrew the motion she submitted on Wednesday after several discussions were held (caucusing) with the members of parliament sitting on the opposition benches so that the parliament of St. Maarten could form a consensus in dealing with what they describe as a posterity issue. The motion submitted by MP Lloyd Richardson was completely amended based on article 58 Read more

Analysis: Screening Of Candidate-Ministers Seems At Odds With Constitution

St. Maarten / By Hilbert Haar – Screening? What screening? Nobody has asked this simple question yet, because everybody has been either busy and confused, or excited and angry about the humongous cloud of dust the Kingdom Council of Ministers created with its instruction to Governor Holiday for additional screening of candidate-ministers. One may well wonder which instruments the experts Minister Plasterk wants to send to St. Maarten have at their disposal to find something so wrong with one of the candidates that this will give reason to ban them from becoming a minister.

St Read more