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Emergency Meeting Of The Parliament Called For 6Pm Thursday

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Eight members of Parliament signed a letter Thursday which calls for an Emergency meeting of Parliament to handle a few appointment matters.

The main agenda point for the meeting is the appointment of a Chairperson, a First Deputy Chairperson and a Second Deputy.

The letter which was addressed to all members of Parliament also states that in view of recent developments during meetings of Parliament including the Central Committee which was held on Wednes Read more

Pm Gumbs Invites Faction Leaders

St. Maarten – Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, announced on Tuesday that he has extended an invitation to all parliamentary faction leaders for today at the Government Administration Building.

The agenda point for the meeting is seeking support for solutions for stability in government.

The first meeting between the Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, along with his advisors from his Cabinet is slated for 9.00 a.m.  Subsequent thereto, meetings will continue with the faction leaders throughout the day.

As indicated in his first meeting with the Parliament of Sint Maarten, the Prime Minister stressed the need for stability, civility and tranquility in the country.  Prime Minister Gumbs has requested the various faction leaders to meet in order to discuss solutions for stability in government. 

Invitations from Prime Minister Gumbs to faction leaders were issued on Tuesday, October 13.

The members of the Council of Ministers decided on Tuesday to explore this avenue in seeking a solution to the current impasse that would be in the long-term interests of the country and its people.

“This approach being offered brings parliament and government together to work in the interests of the people Read more

Marlin-Romeo resigns as Vice-Chair of Parliament

PHILIPSBURG--Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo has notified current Chairman of Parliament Dr. Lloyd Richardson and Secretaries-General (SGs) that effective immediately, the position she held as Vice-Chairperson is being made available.

Marlin-Romeo “duly notes that there is a new majority in Parliament and therefore, the appointment of the new chairmanship must transpire,” a press release said Read more

New coalition says De Weever acted illegally, calls for urgent meeting

PHILIPSBURG--Second Vice-Chairman of Parliament Cornelius de Weever performed an “illegal act” when he chaired Tuesday’s plenary session of Parliament and closed it swiftly without giving Members of Parliament (MPs) the possibility to react, say representatives of the new coalition in Parliament.

After De Weever closed the session they submitted a request for an urgent meeting of Parliament to talk about his “illegal act” as well as “the consequences for the functioning of Parliament and for the representation of the people of St Read more

President of Parliament Dr. Lloyd Richardson makes position available

President of Parliament Dr. Lloyd Richardson makes position available  

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – On Monday, 12th October, President of Parliament Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson, made his position to Parliament by informing the Secretariat of the House of Parliament Read more

New coalition wants ministers to resign before talks on stability

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs’ invitation to faction leaders in Parliament to meet separately with him today, Wednesday, in an attempt to get “support for solutions for stability in government” has been rebuffed by members of the new coalition in Parliament.

In response to Gumbs’ invitation to meet, faction leaders Members of Parliament (MPs) William Marlin (National Alliance), Sarah Wescot-Williams (Democratic Party), Frans Richardson (United St Read more

Nobel winner: World must carry out UN slavery pledge

NEW DELHI--The new U.N. global development pact may have been a significant step towards ending human trafficking and slavery, but governments must now follow through on their pledge, Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi said on Tuesday.
  Although slavery is illegal everywhere, almost 36 million people are enslaved worldwide - trafficked to brothels, forced into manual labour or victims of debt bondage, the Walk Free Foundation estimates. Last month, the 193 U.N. member states made ending modern-day slavery one of the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which will shape development and poverty eradication efforts for the next 15 years.
  Satyarthi, an Indian whose charity Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Save the Childhood Movement) is credited with rescuing more than 80,000 enslaved children, welcomed adoption of the SDGs but said governments now had a responsibility to allocate adequate budgets and design suitable policies.
  "Freedom has always been considered a matter of human rights, but for the first time it has been acknowledged that without freedom there can be no development Read more

Tourism public relations firm’s contract in limbo

PHILIPSBURG--A tourism public relations (PR) company employed by St. Maarten Tourist Bureau has been caught in technical limbo during the ongoing political uncertainty.

However, despite the unwelcome news, its President Richard Kahn said it was still “actively representing the tourism interests of St. Maarten” and doing its “best to promote the destination.” This is despite also being owed money.

Kahn Travel Communications, or KTCpr, has not had its contract officially signed by Government and was told last week not to spend any money on behalf of the destination Read more

Eight is more than seven

Dear Editor

I read the PM's “weighing in on the political turmoil” and would like to comment.

In 2013, the United People’s (UP) party wanted to come into government and (rightfully so) proclaimed eight parliamentary seats to be more than seven. The battle between proponents of Article 33-2 and Article 59 ensued. Article 59 was invoked by the National Alliance (NA) led Wescot II cabinet, but lost Read more

Parliament wants blueprint for Dispute Regulation by year end

THE HAGUE--The Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament wants the Dutch Government to achieve a blueprint for the Dispute Regulation (“geschillenregeling”) for the Kingdom together with the Dutch Caribbean countries before the end of 2015.

A majority of the Parliament supported the motion of Member of Parliament Roelof van Laar of the Labour Party PvdA urging the Dutch Government to continue efforts to solve the deadlock to establish a Dispute Regulation before the end of this year.

The motion, submitted during the handling of the draft 2016 Kingdom Relations budget last Thursday, called on government to use the May 2015 agreement of the Inter-Parliamentary Consultation for the Kingdom IPKO as a guideline Read more

Editorial - Deadlocked for now

Anybody expecting that the Parliament session on Tuesday to elect a new President and two Vice-Presidents might lead to some breakthrough in the current constitutional impasse between the new majority and the Gumbs cabinet was disappointed. Although both President Dr. Lloyd Richardson and First Vice-President Leona Marlin-Romeo had publicly made their positions available, they were not present and Second Vice-President Cornelius de Weever, part of the same former UP-led coalition, closed the proceedings as soon as they had begun, saying he needed legal clarification due to the Council of Ministers having passed a national decree to dissolve the legislature and hold snap elections.

The incoming NA/DP/UPS/Matser/Lake coalition did not appreciate this and called for an urgent new meeting about De Weever’s “illegal act” and its impact on the country’s democratic representation Read more

PRESS RELEASE Council of Ministers invites Parliamentary Faction Leaders for a Meeting

PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release: Tuesday, October 13, 2015/N163

Council of Ministers invites Parliamentary Faction Leaders for a Meeting on Finding Solutions for Stability in Government

PHILIPSBURG – Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, announced on Tuesday that he has extended an invitation to all parliamentary faction leaders for Wednesday, October 14th at the Government Administration Building Read more

Sams, Connor have no plans to resign

Ernest Sams and Claret Connor

PHILIPSBURG--Tourism and Economic Affairs Minister Ernest Sams says there’s “no truth whatsoever” to the rampant talk in the community on Tuesday about his supposed plan to resign from his post. 

  His colleague Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Claret Connor has also batted down similar talk saying: “I respect this office and I will not get into any public debate” on “public melee.”

  The country, he continued, is “already dealing with the impasse” between Parliament and the

  Connor, who has been a minister since December 2014, added, “I was born and raised in Philipsburg Read more

De Weever seeks legal advice, suspends Parliament meeting

PHILIPSBURG--Second Deputy Parliament Chairman Cornelius de Weever took charge of one of the shortest Parliament meetings in the country's history on Tuesday and effectively thwarted the new coalition's move to appoint a new chairperson and two deputy chairpersons of Parliament.
  The meeting for which nine Members of Parliament (MPs) signed in, lasted approximately a minute and nine seconds Read more

>PHIILIPSBURG:--- The faction leaders of Parliament namely leader of the National Alliance William Marlin, leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams, leader of the USP Frans Richardson and Independent Members Silvio Matser and Maurice Lake dispatched a letter to the Prime Minister of St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, announced on Tuesday that he has extended an invitation to all parliamentary faction leaders for Wednesday, October 14th at the Government Administration Building.
The agenda point for the meeting is seeking support for solutions for stability in Government.
The first meeting between the Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, along with his advisors from his Cabinet is slated for 9.00am Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Members of Parliament that makes up the new coalition has submitted another request to parliament to call an urgent meeting to deal with what they describe as the illegal act by Member of Parliament Cornelius de Weever. Shortly after the meeting of Parliament was closed by MP Cornelius de Weever on Tuesday morning, the three political leaders namely William Marlin, Sarah Wescot Williams and Frans Richardson spoke to members of the media that were present in parliament Read more

style="text-align: center;">Vice chairperson De Weever used article 37 of the rules of order to close meeting due to the resolution submitted to Governor to dissolve Parliament.

PHILIPSBURG:---The meeting called on Tuesday to appoint a new chairperson and vice chairpersons was close abruptly by the second vice chairperson Cornelius de Weever who chaired the meeting Tuesday morning Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- On Monday, 12th October, President of Parliament Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson, made his position to Parliament by informing the Secretariat of the House of Parliament.

“Given the present and still ongoing political developments, I hereby inform you that I have made the seat of President of the Parliament of Sint Maarten available to whomsoever the Parliament sees fit to assume said post.

“I would also like to thank the members of the Presidium for their untiring cooperation, the secretariat for their unrelenting support, the employees and other related staff for the manner in which they all performed their duties during this period of transition.

“The seat of President of Parliament was not an aspiration of mine, nonetheless my willingness to serve where my country's need of me was the greatest has been and continues to be my passion.

“That being said, I would like to take this moment in our country's history to say to all primarily responsible, that our people, our collective reputation, our country's stability and future are riding perilously on the outcome of these talks Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- Vice President of Parliament Hon. Cornelius de Weever on Tuesday morning during a plenary session of the House of Parliament, closed the meeting based on Article 37 of the Rules of Order in order to seek legal advice regarding the Council of Ministers decision to dissolve Parliament and hold new elections.
The plenary session was related to the appointment of the President and two Vice Presidents of Parliament.

This meeting of the House was initially requested by the National Alliance Faction Members of Parliament (MPs) W.V Read more

Parliament Seeks Legal Councel On Voting In Of A New President And Vice President Of Parliament

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - A meeting which was called for by members of Parliament of the Democratic Party, the National Alliance and the United St. Maarten Party along with Member of Parliament, the Honorable Maurice Lake to appoint the chair person as well as a vice chairperson of Parliament on Tuesday morning abruptly ended Read more

Council Of Ministers Invites Parliamentary Faction Leaders For A Meeting On Finding Solutions For Stability In Government, Factions Reply

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, announced on Tuesday that he has extended an invitation to all parliamentary faction leaders for Wednesday, October 14th at the Government Administration Building.

The agenda point for the meeting is seeking support for solutions for stability in Government.

The first meeting between the Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, along with his advisors from his Cabinet is slated for 9.00am.  Subsequent thereto, meetings will continue with the faction leaders throughout the day.

As indicated in his first meeting with the Parliament of Sint Maarten, the Prime Minister stressed the need for stability, civility and tranquillity in the country.  Prime Minister Gumbs has requested the various faction leaders to meet in order to discuss solutions for stability in Government. 

Invitations from Prime Minister Gumbs to faction leaders were issued on Tuesday, October 13.

The members of the Council of Ministers decided on Tuesday to explore this avenue in seeking a solution to the current impasse that would be in the long-term interests of the country and its people.

“This approach being offered brings Parliament and Government together to work in the interests of the people Read more

President Of Parliament Dr. Lloyd Richardson Makes Position Available

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – On Monday, 12th October, President of Parliament Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson, made his position to Parliament by informing the Secretariat of the House of Parliament.  

“Given the present and still ongoing political developments, I hereby inform you that I have made the seat of President of the Parliament of Sint Maarten available to whomsoever the Parliament sees fit to assume said post.

“I would also like to thank the members of the Presidium for their untiring cooperation, the secretariat for their unrelenting support, the employees and other related staff for the manner in which they all performed their duties during this period of transition.

“The seat of President of Parliament was not an aspiration of mine, nonetheless my willingness to serve where my country's need of me was the greatest has been and continues to be my passion Read more

No Class Justice At St. Maarten’S Prosecutor’S Office

St. Maarten – The Public Prosecutor’s Office in St. Maarten does not deal with high officials differently than with other citizens. That is the main conclusion of the Law Enforcement Council following the investigation concerning possible class justice by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in St. Maarten. The reason for the investigation was the ruling of the Court of First Instance in the so-called “Masbangu” case, in which the court ruled that the prosecutor’s office, had created the semblance of class justice Read more