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Governor Holiday Grants Formateur Extension Until Friday October 3, 2014

HARBOUR VIEW, Sint Maarten – On September 24, 2014, His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday, received an update on the formation process from, with formateur William Marlin.

Based on the evaluation of the information presented to the Governor in regard to the governing program and the time required to compl Read more

Pastor Smith urges incoming coalition govt, ‘make it work’

~ Governing programme finalised ~

CAY HILL--The incoming coalition partners have completed the governing programme and will be presenting it to formateur William Marlin today, Wednesday. Marlin is expected to report to Governor Eugene Holiday on the formation of the new government on the deadline today.

St. Maarten United Ministerial Foundation (SMUMF) President Pastor Wycliffe Smith, who met with the coalition leaders and their representatives as they finalised the document at Bearing Point yesterday, urged the coalition to "make it work."

He said a coalition of three was much more challenging than a coalition of two, noting that in this case the margin was thin as there was just a one-seat majority Read more

Governor To Be Notified Of New Coalition Agreement This Week

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Reliable sources have confirmed there is a new agreement consisting of eight (8) MPs-Elect to form a new coalition to govern the country for the next four years.

According to our sources the agreement has been signed between the UP party (7 seats) and Minister Cornelius de Weever (1 seat).

This new situation explains the trouble that the NA, US and DP coalition agreement experienced on Wednesday.

The contents of the report submitted to the Governor by formateur MP William Marlin on Wednesday afternoon is not known.

However in a press release on Wednesday evening the Governor stated that formateur William Marlin updated him on the formation process and that based on the evaluation of the information, the formateur was granted an extension until Friday October 3, 2014 to finalize his formation report.

In the meantime the leader of the UP party MP Theo Heyliger is expected to contact the Governor as soon as Thursday.

At that point he is expected to inform the Governor that he has the support of eight (8) MPs Elect to form the new government of St Read more

style="text-align: center;">Self Interest Rules on St. Maarten

PHILIPSBURG:--- The people of St. Maarten is facing yet another problem with the formation of a government they voted for. While three of the political parties that received the majority votes when combined were busy forming a broad based government which had to be finalized on Wednesday September 24th, 2014, Minister Cornelius de Weever has decided that he will put his own interest and the interest of his families first instead of the people of St Read more

style="text-align: center;">"Agree to disagree agreeably" - Pastor Wycliffe Smith

CAY HILL:--- Several Pastors from various churches came together on Tuesday afternoon and prayed for the three leaders of the three political parties that came together to form the coalition government for 2014-2018. The short but powerful prayer service took place at Bearing Point in Cay Hill where several persons including nine persons appointed by the three political parties have been working on the Governing Program for the next four years.
Pastor Wycliffe Smith the main organizer of the event said that the churches have been praying throughout the election period, on Election Day and even up to today as the political parties worked on forming the new government they have been praying Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The members of the workgroup and the three political party leaders that came together hours after the 2014 Parliamentary Election to form a broad based government were at Bearing Point in Cay Hill finalizing the draft Governing Program which will be submitted to the Governor of St. Maarten by the formateur William Marlin, the leader of the National Alliance on Wednesday September 24th, 2014.
The three political parties that came together early in the morning of August 30th, 2014 are the United  St Read more

Vorst Land Deal Will Not Have Support Of Na Leader

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Member of Parliament and leader of the National Alliance, the Honorable William Marlin made clear last week, that his faction will not support the purchase of the Vorst family to the tune of 5.5 million guilders, as has been agreed upon by outgoing Minister responsibility for VROMI, Maurice Lake.

The leader of the National Alliance reaffirmed his decision during the Central Committee meeting last week handling the amendments to the 2014 budget.

The amendments to the budget also include the purchase of the property Read more

Editorial - Solid enough

The names mentioned in today's paper as the reported candidates for the various positions of the incoming NA/DP/US-party coalition inspire confidence. The screening process will have to determine whether they all qualify in the end, but for now the apparent nominees certainly sound adequate.

It was already clear that NA leader William Marlin would be the next Prime Minister in charge of General Affairs, while the party's number three candidate and top vote-getter Silveria Jacobs had been a "shoo-in" to again become Minister of Education, Culture and Sports.

Whom NA would make its Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Development and the Environment VROMI was not known, but Rodolphe Samuel with his experience as President of Parliament certainly had been among the frontrunners for the job on the party's election list Read more

Kingdom Relations Committee swiftly deals with hefty agenda

PHILIPSBURG--Parliament's Permanent Committee for Kingdom Affairs and Inter-Parliamentary Relations, chaired by outgoing Member of Parliament (MP) Roy Marlin Democratic Party (DP), swiftly dealt with a twelve-point agenda covering several kingdom treaties, motions and other business on Tuesday morning, in Parliament House.

Marlin outlined the agenda and suggested the points that needed the committee simply to take note of and the ones that needed to be left for the incoming committee and its new chairman to handle.

A list of treaties in the preparatory phase and Country St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The workgroup established by the three political parties that came together to form the next government is busy working on the Governing Accord for the period 2014 to 2018. Assisting the members of the workgroup are two consultants from Bearing Point who are giving invaluable assistance to the work group. They are Ms. Shadira Fransisca and Ms Sharon Lieuw-Sjong. SMN News learned that the aim of the new government is to have a completed governing program prior to October 10th 2014 when the new government will be sworn in.
Moments after the 2014 Parliamentary Election results were announced the National Alliance, Democratic Party and United St Read more

style="text-align: center;">Candidate ministers identified, governing program being finalized

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament (MP) William Marlin expects to complete his tasks of forming a new government that will work in the best interest of the people of St Read more

Resignation of cabinet Wescot-Williams III.

>HARBOUR VIEW:--- Prime-Minister Wescot-Williams submitted a letter dated September 9, 2014 to His Excellency, the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday, making the portfolios of the Ministers and the Minister Plenipotentiary available and tendering the resignation of her entire Cabinet. This resignation takes place in the light of the Parliamentary elections of Friday August 29th and the current formation of a new cabinet by formateur Mr Read more

Prime minister tenders resignation of Cabinet

HARBOUR VIEW--Prime Minister Wescot-Williams has tendered the resignation of the entire Wescot-Williams III Cabinet to Governor Eugene Holiday. The governor, according to a statement from his Cabinet, has informed the prime minister that he will consider her request.

The governor also reiterated his call to the ministers and the minister plenipotentiary in The Hague to continue their duties in the interest of St Read more

Resignation Of Cabinet Wescot-Williams Iii

HARBOUR VIEW, Sint Maarten – Prime-Minister Wescot-Williams submitted a letter dated September 9, 2014 to His Excellency, the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday, making the portfolios of the Ministers and the Minister Plenipotentiary available and tendering the resignation of her entire Cabinet.

This resignation takes place in the light of the Parliamentary elections of Friday August 29th and the current formation of a new cabinet by formateur Mr 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

Motion passed to restrict outgoing ministers’ actions

PHILIPSBURG--A motion calling on Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams to inform individual ministers of the Wescot-Williams III Cabinet "to not make any long-term policy, financial and/or decisions of such a nature as granting lands in long lease, bus and taxi licences, concessions, hiring and placement of personnel in crucial functions" was adopted by a majority of Members of Parliament (MPs) in the closing meeting of the 2013-2014 parliamentary year on Monday.

The motion was presented by MP Roy Marlin (Democratic Party (DP)) and also signed by six other MPs.

The motion further called on the ministers to refrain from making any decision on the waste-to-energy concession or any other decision "that may obstruct or encumber the incoming government from functioning adequately during the next governing term."

The motion also requested the prime minister to inform the individual ministers who are shareholder's representatives of government-owned companies "to instruct management and boards of these companies to refrain from entering into long-term agreements and sign contracts that may negatively affect or bind these companies for a long term."

The motion was presented by MP Roy Marlin after he requested an addition to an agenda of the plenary session of Parliament Read more

Gracita Arrindell Closes Parliamentary Year

St. Maarten – Parliament President Gracita Arrindell closed off the parliamentary year 2013-2014 yesterday morning in a meeting MPs used to express countless thank you’s and also to express their respect for each other. Highlight of the meeting was an initiative by the departing MP Roy Marlin, who tabled a motion that asks the prime minister to “inform” the ministers of her cabinet not to enter into any long-term commitments during their last weeks in office Read more

New Mps Officially Formalized By Central Voting Bureau, Names Of Mps To Be Published

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten -The results of the 2014 Parliamentary election which was held on August 29th, have been formalized.

In adherence with the Electoral Law, the results will now have to be published in the National Gazette and the elected members of Parliament officially informed.

The elected MPs will also have to advise the Central Voting Bureau if they will accept the position of member of Parliament for St. Maarten.

This was announced on Monday afternoon during a public meeting of the Central Voting Bureau which is chaired by Attorney Jason Rogers.

Fifteen (15) members of Parliament were elected on Friday August 29th from four political parties Read more

Parliamentary Year Concludes On Monday With Traditional Speeches

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The parliamentary year for 2013-2014 ended on Monday during a session of the House of Assembly.

The session was carried out by the chairlady of parliament of the United People's Party, the Honorable Gracita Arrindell.

During the parliamentary meeting, parliamentarians took some time to reflect on the last four years, while they took the opportunity to say farewell to their colleagues.

One of those MPs looking back at the four years served was out going Independent Member of Parliament, the Honorable Romain Laville who can now be heard via PodCast.

Leader of the United St Read more

style="text-align: center;">Guarantees that she will stand with the leader of the USp and manage the affairs of the people of St. Maarten.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The two candidates that were elected on the United St. Maarten Peoples Party (USp) slate namely its leader Frans Richardson and the number two candidate Leona Romeo Marlin called an urgent press conference on Friday to clear the air on whether or not Romeo Marlin will jump ship to join UPP Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Information reaching SMN News states that the USp number 2 candidate Leona Marlin Romeo is threatening her party to go independent and join the United Peoples Party to form the next government. According to our sources, Leona Marlin wants to appoint her campaign manager Henry Lynch as a Minister.
It is further understood that during the negotiations with the Democratic Party and the National Alliance Marlin Romeo and her party leader Frans Richardson they accepted the Ministry of TEATT and Finance because Marlin was supposed to appoint Lynch as Minister of Finance Read more

‘Janchi’ re-elected, in spite of tie with Buncamper-Molanus

PHILIPSBURG--Incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) Johan "Janchi" Leonard (United People's (UP) party) can be considered the big winner after the validation of the votes from the August 29 Parliamentary Elections by the Central Voting Bureau on Wednesday. Leonard was short two votes to be re-elected to Parliament. He received those votes when the bureau reviewed ballots deemed invalid by the polling station on election night.

Leonard (UP #7) is an MP-elect for UP, in spite of the tie with former Minister Maria Buncamper-Molanus (UP #21), because of his placement on the party's list of candidates Read more

Governor requests Marlin to form govt

HARBOUR VIEW--Governor Eugene Holiday has requested that National Alliance (NA) leader incumbent Member of Parliament William Marlin form a new government for the country as "formateur." The Governor, based on the results of two days of consultations, met with Marlin Tuesday to make his request Read more

>HARBOUR VIEW:--- On September 2, 2014, His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday, requested Mr. William Marlin, to form a new government as formateur.
The Governor, based on the results of two days of consultations, met with Mr. William Marlin today Read more