SXMElections.com

~UPP, PFP, and NA supports the signing of agreement and COHO

 PHILIPSBURG: --- The coalition partners that are supporting the government of St. Maarten give the Prime Minister of St. Maarten its blessings in the form of a verbal declaration to go ahead and sign the COHO law. The leader of the UPP faction was the first to give the Prime Minister the declaration State Secretary Raymond Knops wants when he demanded that she gets such prior to the December 18th meeting.

UPP supports the signing of COHO Law.

After making her position known, the UPP MP and Faction Leader Grisha Heyliger Marten gave the declaration that the State Secretary Raymond Knops is looking for, thereby Heyliger Martin then said I am sure of our Prime Minister of St Read more

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~ State Secretary did not respond to St. Maarten~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister of St. Maarten Silveria Jacobs said on Wednesday that there is still no agreement with the Dutch Government with regards the continued financial support. Jacobs said discussions are ongoing with the CFT and that St. Maartens Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion just last week sent another proposal to the CFT which would avoid the government from cutting the salaries of civil servants.
Jacobs explained that St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The plan presented by the Minister of TEATT Ludmilla de Weever to the parliament of St. Maarten last week is just the Ministers big idea says Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion. Irion made the statement at the Council of Minister's press conference on Wednesday when he was asked by SMN News if he could provide further details on the tax abolishment that was part of the plan Read more

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Mps Calls On Government To Reopen All Ports Now To Rebound Economy.

PHILIPSBURG:--- I told you so, says Member of Parliament Omar Ottley when he was pushing the government to begin rapid testing as visitors arrive on the island for the COVID-19 tests.
Ottley told the Ministers that attended the parliament meeting on Wednesday that they to reopen all business on St. Maarten so that money could circulate Read more

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Dutch Still Refuses Entertain Discussion On Cre, Knops Blackmail Continues.

PHILIPSBURG: --- Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs confirmed that the Dutch government still refuses to entertain any form of discussions on the law to establish the Caribbean Reform Entity (CRE). Jacobs said that the same goes for Curacao and Aruba. She said as soon as the Dutch government decides to reopen the discussion St. Maarten will be ready as they did send a number of changes to the law to ensure that this new entity does not trample on the autonomy of the countries Read more

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Minister Of Finance Suspends Bond, Blackmailed By State Secretary Knops.

PHILIPSBURG:---The Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion has requested the CBCS to suspend (cancel) the auction (bond). Sint Maarten is currently in discussions with the Netherlands regarding the refinancing of a loan, which is scheduled to mature on October 21st, 2020. Sint Maarten has opted to accept the proposal of the Netherlands as outlined in their letter of October 16th, 2020, which will result in the postponement of the maturity date and avoid a technical default Read more

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Minister Of Finance Suspends Bond, Blackmailed By State Secretary Knops. (Updated)

PHILIPSBURG:---The Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion has requested the CBCS to suspend (cancel) the auction (bond). Sint Maarten is currently in discussions with the Netherlands regarding the refinancing of a loan, which is scheduled to mature on October 21st, 2020. Sint Maarten has opted to accept the proposal of the Netherlands as outlined in their letter of October 16th, 2020, which will result in the postponement of the maturity date and avoid a technical default Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion said on Wednesday that the CFT made wrongful statements in their letter of October 12th regarding St. Maartens intention to float a bond for NAF 75M. Irion said that while the articles in the CFT regulation are vague, he said article 16 pertains to capital expenditures which St. Maarten is adhering to Read more

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~Kingdom Council of Ministers have to allow St. Maarten to float bonds~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The chairman of the CFT dispatched a letter to the Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion informing him that he is not allowed to float a bond with the Central Bank.
The letter sent on October 12th states that on October 9th was informed of the Ministers decision to float a bond for NAF 75M from the country to attract the domestic market.
Article 16 of Curaao and Sint Maarten Financial Supervision Act (Rft) sets out the procedure and criteria for taking out loans Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion announced on Wednesday that the government of St. Maarten submitted a request with the Central Bank to float a bond in order to get out of its financial crisis. The Minister further explained that the government of St. Maarten continues with its efforts to cut costs and increase its revenues Read more

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~All persons registered received assistance~

PHILIPSBURG:---The Governments accounting Bureau (SOAB) has returned a positive report to Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion on the St. Maarten Stimulus and Relief Program (SSRP - income and unemployment support programs for April, May, and June 2020), providing a clear indication that the programs initiated by Minister Irion are functioning and being managed properly Read more

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~Government yield huge savings with cuts in phone bills.~

PHILIPSBURG:---Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion announced on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers press briefing that discussions with the Dutch Government regarding the funding for the SSRP and the conditions that the Dutch imposed on St. Maarten.
Irion said on Tuesday a meeting was held with the CFT and the government were informed that the cuts they made are not being recognized as cuts instead they must dig deep into the salaries of civil servants as requested by the Dutch Government Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday, September 17, the Council of Ministers held a cooperation meeting with the Collectivit of Saint Martin at the Government Administration Building. Although this meeting was planned since earlier in the week, both governments are elated with the outcome of the unity march of Wednesday, September 16, that took place at the Cole Bay/Bellevue border checkpoint which led to the lifting of the border controls at the Bellevue and French Quarter checkpoints.

Present during the meeting were Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs, Ministers Egbert Doran, Anna Richardson, Ardwell Irion, Ludmila de Weever, drs Read more

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PHILIPSBURG The Minister of Finance, Ardwell Irion, would like to thank Herbal Awareness SXM for extending an invitation for an audience on Friday, September 11th, 2020. During the meeting, one of the topics discussed was the structural and responsible legalization of adult recreational use of cannabis on the island. The organization positions itself as the peoples voice for cannabis legalization, with its core attributes being transparency and community representation Read more

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Money Will Run Out In October, Talks With Dutch Government Still Ongoing.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion said on Wednesday that St. Maarten is still in discussions with the Dutch Government as he is working to secure the second tranche of liquidity support.
Irion said that even though his statements in parliament were taken out of context by some people, the money will run out by end of October if the funds are not received.
The Minister of Finance further explained that while there is a systematic government in St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---  The Project Group Function Books Ministry of Justice, established by Ministerial Decree, held its kick-off meeting on Friday, September 4th, 2020, at the Government Administration Building, with all its members and support staff in attendance. The Project Group is tasked with the finalization and legislative ratification of the function books of the Ministry of Justice and the placement of the personnel in the functions thereafter. The Project Group is comprised of a Steering Committee and a Workgroup with representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of General Affairs, and the Ministry of Finance.

Each function book comprises of three parts; firstly, the functions and their job descriptions, secondly, the valuation and assignment of scales to the functions based on the weight of the function using the FuwaSXM framework, and third, the formation plan noting FTEs (Full-Time Equivalents) per function Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- St. Maartens primary telecommunication provider, TelEm Group, is responding positively to its new role in the St. Maarten community - Virtual classroom provider.

 TelEm Group recently upgraded five public schools with an unprecedented internet connection package specially created for schools on the island, so that teachers can connect with students in remote classroom scenarios.

According to TelEm Group Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Mr. Michiel Parent, the key to the upgrades are faster upload speeds that enable students to receive instruction in real-time and also interact with their teachers.

Mr Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The government of St. Maarten has engaged SOAB to begin evaluating all government-owned companies in order for the government to have a better insight on the value of each company so that shares can be sold to raise funds to sustain the country. SMN News has learned that one such company where shares will be sold is the TELEM Group of Companies.
SMN News learned that the government of St. Maarten is looking at every possible way to raise funds that will be used to assist during the COVID-19 outbreak and any other possible disaster that the country might face.
Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion confirmed that the council of ministers have taken a decision to evaluate government-owned companies with the possibility of selling shares Read more

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St. Maarten Receives Naf.19.3M For Ssrp Support.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion announced on Wednesday during the Council of Ministers press briefing that the State Secretary has released some NAF.19.3M as SSRP support, he said the funds should arrive in St. Maartens coffers by Friday this week. The Minister explained that St. Maarten has met all conditions set forth by the Dutch Government, however, St Read more

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St. Maarten Will Get The 3Rd Tranche For Ssrp Support.

~ 12.5% salary cuts will be across board.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- St. Maartens finance Minister Ardwell Irion said on Wednesday that St. Maarten will receive the NAF23M as the third tranche for the SSRP support. Irion said that St. Maarten has met all the conditions required by the Dutch Government for SSRP support. He said just recently the CFT confirmed that St Read more

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St. Maarten Has No Plan B To Secure Funds Should The Dutch Government Pull Out.

~ Government working on diversification and phased reopening.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Government of St. Maarten has decided that they will not accept the draft law to establish a Caribbean Reform Entity on the overseas countries namely St. Maarten, Curacao, and Aruba.
Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs said on Wednesday that prior to accepting the conditions set forth by the Dutch Government the Government of St Read more

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~IMF, Central Bank, High Council, and Social Economic Council all solicited.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Finance, Ardwell Irion has sought counsel on the impact of implementing the several infamous conditions on St. Maarten. Measures were presented to St. Maarten by the Kingdom Council of Ministers (KCOM), in order to qualify for the second and third tranche of COVID-19 liquidity loans Read more

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Organizers start Islandpreneur Network based on the overwhelmingly positive feedback.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Islandpreneur Live 2020 was a success. This 3-day virtual summit attracted 650 registrants from more than 35+ countries, of which the majority were Caribbean countries. Unexpected were those who attended the summit from India, Brazil, Morocco, and Austria. A world map highlighting where registrants came from and a listing of the countries were shared on the last day of the summit.

Hosted by Ife Badejo of Produce Wealth Revolution (PWR) Agency, this summit was designed to empower Caribbean entrepreneurs to thrive in the digital world and be more resilient Read more

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~ WEBINAR for Financial literacy soon to be launched.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion announced on Wednesday that the Dutch Government has imposed additional conditions for recipients of payroll support. The Minister said that these conditions must be implemented by July 1st in order for the Dutch Government to provide the financing Read more

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