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PHILIPSBURG:--- On the 8th of September 2020, we had a historic opening of the parliamentary year we are closing today. Tomorrow the opening ritual will take place again like is customary throughout the Kingdom of the Netherlands. There is one big difference though, the opening of the parliamentary year in the Netherlands with the Crown Speech is followed by the presentation of the budget of the Kingdom government, one of the many abnormalities our constitutional system engenders. Our budget is as with so many things to reach this parliamenton its way.
According to our constitution, the governor will tomorrow present the governments statement, in other words, His Excellency the Governor will be presenting to the parliament and the people, the National Alliance/United People Party plans for the coming parliamentary year.
While during last years presentation by the governor, the emphasis of that presentation was understandably on the Corona pandemic that had engulfed us by then, slowly but surely we come face to face with the reality that there is no way forward by going back to pre-covid Read more

Scdf Presents Carnival Covid Safety Plan To Minister Ottley

From left: Treasurer of SCDF Mike Granger, Minister of VSA Omar Ottley with a copy of the SCDFs COVID Safety plan, President of SCDF Alson Lourens and Vice President of SCDF Paula Gordon.

PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) presented the foundations COVID-19 Safety Plan for Carnival 2022 to Minister of Publi Read more

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Legalise Strip Clubs, Says Mp Buncamper

A local strip club

PHILIPSBURG--Instead of constantly using the cry of human smuggling of women working in strip clubs, bring the law or we should initiate the law to legalise such, United St. Maarten Party (US Party) MP Claudius Toontje Buncamper said on Monday.

Chris Calls Govt. Worst In CountryS History, Brison Says One-Man Faction Did Nothing

Chairperson of Parliament Rolando Brison and Secretary General Garrick Richardson.

PHILIPSBURG--While independent Member of Parliament (MP) Christophe Emmanuel has given the government of St. Maarten a failing grade for its performance, saying it is the worst government in the history of St. Maarten, backed by a bad Parliament, Cha Read more

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Mp Emmanuel: Making Light Of Accountability Shows President Of ParliamentS Immaturity

Everything I predicted came true

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Monday said the fact that President of Parliament Rolando Brison continues to poke fun at the notion of accountability not only reflects his immaturity, but the low level of respect he has for the people of St Read more

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Emmanuel: Making Light Of Accountability Shows President Of ParliamentS Immaturity

Everything I predicted came true

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Monday said the fact that President of Parliament RolandoBrisoncontinues to poke fun at the notion of accountability not only reflects his immaturity, but the low level of respect he has for the people of St. Maarten. In his mind, he and the government he supports is accountable to no one, Emmanuel said.

MP Emmanuel on Monday called the current government the worst government in the history of St Read more

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Pond Island:---Telecommunication provider, TelEm Group, proudly announces the launch of TelTV+ - a brand-new IPTV High-Definition television service for the St. Maarten community.

Featuring 150 channels and a host of power-packed features for all tele-viewing tastes, TelTV+ is designed to be affordable and will be catering to all age groups and a diverse St. Maarten community.

 TelEm Group has been working diligently for the past year to first select, purchase, develop and test its new IPTV system in order to revolutionize television viewing in St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) on Monday presented the foundations COVID19 Safety Plan for Carnival 2022 to Minister of Public Health Omar Ottley.
The plan builds on the SCDFs existing safety plan which would have been put in place if Carnival 2021 was held earlier this year. The foundation has expanded the Coronavirus protocols keeping in mind governments initiatives and the availability of a vaccine.
The plan covers every aspect of Carnival and will be divulged to the public in a short time once the Minister and his team have had time to peruse the plan Read more

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Everything I predicted came true

Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Monday said the fact that President of Parliament Rolando Brison continues to poke fun at the notion of accountability not only reflects his immaturity but the low level of respect he has for the people of St. Maarten. In his mind, he and the government he supports is accountable to no one, Emmanuel said.
MP Emmanuel on Monday called the current government the worst government in the history of St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Dr. Luc Mercelina has submitted a resignation letter to the board and leader of the United Peoples Party on Monday.
The letter which was sent to SMN News reads By means of this letter I would like to tender my resignation as of immediately as a member of the UP Party Read more

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Cerd Admits To Having Racial Discrimination In The Kingdom, Makes Recommendation For Changes Across The Board.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Committee of the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in its August 25th report admitted to several forms of discrimination within the Kingdom and its overseas countries.
Standing out in the report is the discrimination displayed against the Dutch Caribbean Countries for liquidity support during the COVID 19 pandemic. The report that is posted under this article states that the committee is concerned by a report that economic support provided to the Dutch Kingdom.
Members of Parliament namely the United Peoples Party Faction leader Grisha Marten Heyliger came under severe criticism when they sent a petition to the United Nations for Racial Discrimination highlighting the countries predicament.
Heyliger Marten and her team have been vindicated by the CERD who said that the countries in the Caribbean were linked to conditionalities prior to receiving liquidity support.

Caribbean countries in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic were linked to conditionalities and were thus less favorable than that provided to the European Netherlands, providing less assistance to alleviate the negative economic impact of the pandemic on the ethnic minorities in the Dutch Caribbean countries Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Faction leader for the United Peoples Party Grisha Marten Heyliger in her closing remarks on Monday at the closing of the parliamentary year said that a foundation is a key requirement for any development to be successful.
The Foundational element of building a nation has to include the vision of their people.
That vision can form part of the developmental framework for what St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---  The chair of parliament Roland Brison did not mince words on Monday when he called out the laziest Member of Parliament during the closing of the parliamentary year.

The UPP MP and chair of parliament said when listening to the positions stated by members of parliament, he looked around the hall and understand the concerns, because for most of the faction leaders, the level of representation, and more importantly, the level of work they put in, is very clear and commendable from his viewpoint as chairman.

Brison said however he does feel the need to give his observations of how the factions of parliament and its members are functioning, and how he believes they should be going forward.

First the good:

For at least 5 of the 6 factions in parliament he observed that every single one of them has presented amendments, motions, has chaired meetings in their respective committees across opposition/coalition lines, and other real initiatives things that are today being upheld by the government Read more

~ Marlin promised change in the new parliamentary year.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Faction leaders in the parliament of St. Maarten did not spare government in their closing remarks. Government was described as the worst in past years while having a bad parliament. Independent Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel said that this government placed their people on death row while depending on the Ombudsman to grant them clemency Read more

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New Building Codes And Environmental Norms Presented To Build Back Better

Final reports on Building Codes and Technical Norms were handed to Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and Finance Minister Ardwell Irion on behalf of VROMI Minister Egbert Doran together Read more

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A Message To Minister Of Finance Mr. Ardwell Irion

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Victim Support St. Maarten Foundation Established As Part Of Ministry Of Justice

From left: VSS Secretary Isaac Harold Richardson, VSS Treasurer Roxanne Howell, Notary Faride Tjon Ajong, Minister of Justice Anna Richardson, VSS President Cassandra Richardson and Candidate Notary Keshia Richards.

PHILIPSBURG--I am elated for the establishment of the much-needed Victim Support St. Maarten Foundation, said Minister of Justice Anna Richardson, under whose leadership the support for victims of crimes is coming to fruition Read more

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Taxi Drivers Proudly Clean Up Harold Jack Lookout Point

Taxi drivers were out in force Saturday morning to clean up the immediate area around the Harold Jack Lookout Point.

COLE BAY--A group of taxi drivers representing the Dutch St. Maarten Taxi Association, Airport Taxi Association and Downtown Taxi Association rolled up their sleeves Saturday, to clean up Harold Jack Lookout Point on Cole Bay Hill Read more

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PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- Members of Association of Dutch Municipalities VNG-International handed over final reports of Building Codes and Technical Norms to Prime Minister Hon. Silveria Jacobs and Minister Hon. Ardwell Irion, on behalf of the Minister of VROMI Hon Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs received SOS: Season of Storms here on Wednesday from the books author, Fabian Adekunle Badejo, said his publisher House of Nehesi (HNP).
The new poetry collection, presented to Prime Minister Jacobs on International Literacy Day, opens with a live wire of experiences borne of hurricanes Irma and Maria Read more

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Mp Buncamper Wants Answers On Water Contract, Says Fuel Clause Up 38 Per Cent

MP Claudius Toontje Buncamper.

PHILIPSBURG--United St. Maarten Party (US Party) Member of Parliament (MP) Claudius Toontje Buncamper sent a letter to Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, Se Read more

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Employers, Employees Violating Quarantine

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA Omar Ottley warns persons who are breaking quarantine measures, including employers who are demanding that employees break quarantine.

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Irion Taking Steps To Plug Szv Bleeding

PHILIPSBURG--Finance Minister Ardwell Irion is taking steps to correct some situations that were left unaddressed by previous governments.

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PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday, September 8th, Member of Parliament and leader of the USP (United St. Maarten Party) faction in parliament, MP Claudius Buncamper sent a letter to Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and the Council of Ministers (COM), regarding the GEBE water management contract and the fuel clause Read more

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