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Dp "Snap Elections Will Not Bring Stability. Electoral Reform Critical"

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The DP shares the concerns of the general public on the current political crisis that faces our nation.  Clearly the country needs to see fundamental changes. 

However, new elections will only result in a shuffling of the cast of characters in Parliament, but without changes to the electoral laws, we will only be treating the symptoms of our political instability but will fail to address the root causes of seat jumping, leveraging of parliamentary seats for personal gain, buying and selling of votes, and political cronyism.

While a certain amount of growing pains are to be expected, clearly there has been more pain than growth in the first few years of our young country.    There is a saying…”if you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got.”  The country needs real change, fundamental changes Read more

PVV moves on with expulsion law Dutch Caribbean criminals

THE HAGUE--The Party for Freedom PVV will not put aside its law proposal to set up a system of forced return of criminal persons from Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten, despite the objections of the Council of State against the 2014 law proposal.

PVV Members of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Sietse Fritsma and Machiel de Graaf, who presented the law proposal on the eve of the handling of the draft 2015 Kingdom Relations budget early October 2014, have stated that they do not agree with the observations of the Council of State that the law proposal was, among others “disproportionate and discriminatory.”

“The advice of the Council of State to reconsider the law proposal will not be followed by the initiative takers because they don’t share the doubts that the Council has regarding the proposed expulsion Read more

Prof. van den Berg in favour of dissolving

THE HAGUE--Constitutional and parliamentary law professor Dr. Joop van den Berg has come to the defence of St. Maarten Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs in the Council of Ministers’ decision to dissolve the St. Maarten Parliament. He is the third Dutch professor to do so.

Van den Berg stated in a brief letter to Gumbs on Thursday that he fully supported the advices of his colleagues, Professors Arjen van Rijn and Constantijn Kortmann, in relation to the legality of the National Decree to dissolve Parliament following the termination of the Council’s majority support in Parliament.

Van den Berg stated that he had studied Van Rijn’s and Kortmann’s advices as well as a number of relevant documents in relation to the current political crisis Read more

Plasterk says he gave no order to Governor

THE HAGUE--Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk said on Thursday that he has not ordered St. Maarten Governor Eugene Holiday to sign the National Decree to dissolve the St. Maarten Parliament and to convene new elections.

Plasterk dispelled rumours in certain media that The Hague was the reason Governor Holiday had not signed the National Decree the Council of Ministers, led by Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, had sent to him last week following a motion of no confidence adopted by a majority of Members of Parliament.

"I didn't advise the Governor not to sign Read more

Kadaster manager occupying Conservator, Director roles

~Replacements expected at month-end~

PHILIPSBURG--Kadaster Manager Marcia Peterson has again, as of October 6, been sworn in as Acting Conservator of Mortgages (“Hypotheek Bewaarder”), as well as Acting Director – both roles held by Clemens Roos who was arrested June 24 on request of the Netherlands, but returned on August 18, after the Dutch Prosecutor’s Office granted a requested postponement of his sentence.

The postponement was meant to last until the expiration of his contract with the Kadaster, to “contribute to the Kadaster’s continuity,” as his attorney put it Read more

Major UN treaty comes into force, SIDS leaders say they ‘will not be left behind’

NEW YORK, USA--September 30, 2015, is etched in the history books of the United Nations (UN), observing the announcement of the entry into force of the SIDS DOCK Treaty, and the legal recognition of this historic intergovernmental sustainable energy and climate resilience organisation established by heads of state and government of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in 2009, in order to help finance climate change adaptation through the transformation of their countries to low carbon economies.

Against the background of the ceremony of the establishment of SIDS DOCK, and uppermost in the minds of the hundreds of people who packed the 500-seat Conference Room 4 of the UN’s North Lawn Building, was the terrible devastation in the Caribbean island of Dominica, caused by Tropical Storm Ericka in August 2015, which was also an historic and unprecedented hydro-meteorological event for Dominica and SIDS.

The obvious absence of the chair of the SIDS DOCK Steering Committee Prime Minister of Dominica Roosevelt Skerrit was noted in the opening remarks by Dr Read more

US, NATO signal willingness to slow Afghan drawdown

BRUSSELS--The United States and its NATO allies signalled a willingness on Thursday to consider slowing their withdrawal from Afghanistan, days after the Taliban's brief takeover of a provincial capital stoked concern about the strength of Afghan state forces.
  U.S. Defence Secretary Ash Carter said he asked allies for flexibility as Washington reviews a withdrawal timetable currently supposed to slash the nearly 10,000 U.S Read more

David de Vries will be a 2016 Olympic Judge

COLE BAY/BRAZIL--Budget Marine partner David de Vries has just been made an Olympic Judge for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

"This will be his second time officiating at the Olympics, an excellent achievement given the stringent selection process that takes place for each Olympic event. Olympic International Judges are chosen from the best of the best International Judges from the International Sailing Federation's (ISAF) Member Nation Authorities (MNA) worldwide," Budget Marine explained.

The role of a Judge is to ensure fair competition, determine disputes between competitors, assist in areas of race management and make decisions on the fairness of competition.

Becoming a Judge involves attending ISAF seminars, passing written examinations and serving at principal fleet racing events both inside and outside one's own geographic territory, or MNA.

Becoming an International Judge is much more difficult and is based on the individual's performance judging at some of the world's top international sailing events.

David de Vries has been through this arduous process for many years Read more

>PHILIPSBURG: --- Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel has issued a strong call on the leader of the United Peoples Party Theodore Heyliger whom he said should practice what he preached in 2013 when the National Alliance led government wanted to call for new elections Read more

>MP Maurice Lake was also contacted and met with the Deputy Leader of the UPP last week ----DP has proposal ready in the event the Governor decides to call for new elections.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams admitted on Thursday when she was asked by SMN News if someone contacted her on October 1st 2015, one day after the motion of no confidence was passed in parliament against the Gumbs cabinet where the person who called her made her an offer to join the UPP party in order for them to remain in government Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Rotary Club of St. Maarten-Mid Isle will be hosting their 2nd annual ‘End Polio Now’ walkathon, on October 24. The walkathon was started last year by Ramesh Manek, who was involved in a fatal hit and run. This year, the walkathon is held to honor the memory of Ramesh Manek and the contributions he made.
Over the weekend Rotary Club of St. Maarten-Mid Isle participated in the Tropical Shipping Duathlon to create awareness for the Rotary End Polio Now cause. Peter Mazereeuw, Matthijs Mazereeuw and Veronica Jansen-Webster took part in the 5k run, cycling, and 2.5k run respectively.
The team was supported by members of Rotary Club of St Read more

Tourist who gave birth prematurely in DR faces US $280,000 bill for ‘time difference’

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic--After enduring the trauma of a premature delivery in a foreign country and all the attendant concerns about her tiny newborn baby, a British tourist now faces a potential US $280,000 medical bill.

Sharon Halls, of Ipswich in Suffolk, was 28 weeks and six days pregnant when she unexpectedly went into labour and gave birth to a daughter, Evie, in a private hospital in the Dominican Republic on September 28.

But after paying over US $13,000 for initial emergency care, Halls (36) learned that her travel insurance provider may not come up with the money.

Infinity Insurance Solutions said it had not decided whether it would cover the cost because the time difference between the Dominican Republic and the United Kingdom meant that when she gave birth she was over the 29-week mark, which was when the cover ceased to be valid.

Halls and her partner Daniel Compton (35) have now been forced to set up a GoFundMe page in a desperate bid to raise enough money to move Evie from a public hospital, which they say is dirty, according to a report in The Mirror.

The couple were attending a friend’s wedding in Punta Cana when Halls was taken to hospital with early contractions, which she later learned had been brought on by an infection.

Halls said she had been given clearance to travel by her hospital in Britain, The Mirror reported.

Writing on the fundraising site, Halls gave a compelling account of the events of September 28 and continuing.

“Little Evie was born breach before I could even lay flat,” she said.

“She was so tiny and blue, it took them a few minutes to get a response, but we then heard to our delight a little cry.”

But while Evie “looked healthy,” she could not breathe on her own.

Halls went on to describe the “substandard conditions” in the public hospital they were forced to move to.

“The sanitation and level of care is next to nothing; she was placed in dirty incubator lined up next to other sick newborn babies (15 plus in room).

“The equipment was old and even the blanket she laid on was stained and ripped Read more

Editorial - Unfortunate chapter

While Dutch Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Minister Ronald Plasterk says it’s up to St. Maarten to solve its current political, constitutional crisis (see related article), the problem could very well end up on the table of The Hague. After all, a Governor who believes a decision by Government goes against the interest of the kingdom’s guarantee function must submit it to the Crown and by extension the Kingdom Council of Ministers for annulment.

Whether this has been done already with the Gumbs cabinet’s draft national decree to dissolve Parliament and call early elections is not known, but other than signing it that seems to be the only alternative Read more

PVV’s call to sever ties leads to heated debate on Kingdom

THE HAGUE--Wednesday’s handling of the draft 2016 Kingdom Relations budget in the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament was the scene of a heated discussion on whether to sever the ties with the Dutch Caribbean countries or not.

At the centre of the discussion was Member of Parliament (MP) Sietse Fritsma of the Party for Freedom PVV who repeated his earlier calls to get rid of the United Nations (UN) regulation that former mother countries cannot unilaterally decide to get rid of a former colony Read more

French Quarter protest prompts immediate Gendarmerie patrols

MARIGOT--Extra Gendarmerie and Police patrols, both mobile and foot patrols, in the area of French Quarter where fires have been occurring for the past two months, will be implemented with immediate effect.

This was one of the measures taken at an hour-long emergency meeting between elected officials of the Collectivité, Social Services, Préfecture, Gendarmerie, Territorial Police and French Quarter District representatives during Wednesday’s protest over lack of security in the district.

District Representative Steven Patrick reported that the family of eight, evicted back in September, whose children were long suspected of causing the fires, was due to be relocated to French Cul-de-Sac Wednesday afternoon from temporary accommodation in French Quarter.

“I think by just getting this family out of the neighbourhood will calm a lot of nerves,” said Patrick.

The family that lost their house in Tuesday’s fire meanwhile are staying in a guest house organised by the Collectivité until alternative accommodation can be found.

The Vice-Prosecutor will also be reviewing the files of the suspects, mostly minors, to see if further action can be taken in terms of transferring them to special institutions or correctional facilities in Guadeloupe.

“We learnt that one of the kids admitted involvement in one of the fires, and his case comes up in November,” Patrick disclosed Read more

French Quarter residents block main road over lack of security

~ Nerves frayed after district suffers 13 fires in two months ~

MARIGOT--The main RN7 road just outside French Quarter at Angel's Insurance was blocked for nearly five hours Wednesday morning as residents demanded accountability from authorities over lack of security in the district following a series of 13 fires in the span of less than two months.

Long lines of cars built up as motorists from both directions were forced to turn around.

A phantom arsonist appears to be at work and the fact that no suspects have been positively identified as perpetrators of the crimes has left residents on tenterhooks, wondering who will be the next victim.

Tensions boiled over after a wooden house on Route de La Saline burnt down Tuesday afternoon, destroying three cars and leaving a family of six homeless Read more

William tells Dennis to ‘do the right thing,’ ‘lead by example’ and resign

~ Govt. holding country, Governor hostage ~

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) leader Member of Parliament (MP) William Marlin issued a firm call to Justice Minister Dennis Richardson on Wednesday to “do the right thing” and “uphold the constitution” by resigning, given the no-confidence motion passed against the Council of Ministers.

Marlin also accused Government of staying in office and deliberately stalling the process to buy time to make deals and further plunder Government-owned companies such as utilities company GEBE and the Harbour and to “fix deals” about issues such as the waste-to-energy plant.

He said Ministers still were travelling and squandering the country’s money while they should have made their positions available to pave the way for a new cabinet Read more

Plenary session of Parliament to appoint new President and Vice Presidents set for October 13

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The House of Parliament will meet in a plenary session on October 13 to appoint the President and two Vice Presidents.

The public Plenary Session is set for Tuesday, at 9.00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg. The agenda point is the appointment of the President and Vice Presidents of Parliament.

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

Leader of National Alliance calls on Deputy Prime Minister Dennis Richardson to uphold the Country’s Constitution and not hold the Governor of St. Maarten Hostage.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the National Alliance and Member of Parliament William Marlin made a public call to Deputy Prime Minister Dennis Richardson at a press conference he called on Wednesday afternoon. Marlin said that Minister Richardson should lead by example especially since he has held several positions in government and knows much better Read more

Plenary session of Parliament to appoint new President and Vice Presidents set for October 13.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will meet in a plenary session on October 13 to appoint the President and two Vice Presidents.

The public Plenary Session is set for Tuesday, at 9.00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda point is the appointment of the President and Vice Presidents of Parliament.

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

Some Coalition MPs afraid of new elections, wants their Ministers to resign but held back by UPP Leader.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Information reaching SMN News states that the two Members of Parliament that are supporting the UPP/ De Weever/ LRM coalition allegedly wants their Ministers to resign and does not want new elections to be called now since they know that they have lost credibility within the community and will not be re-elected if new elections is called now.
A source close to the minority coalition that is holding the island (government) hostage wants their Ministers to resign and to respect the decision given by the Governor of St Read more

Where Is Theo?

Theo Heyliger – File photo

Dear Editor,

?With all the commotion going on…where is Theo? His silence is deafening.

Is he backing the Government’s fight for new elections now? Is he ready? Curious to know.

Michael J Read more

Mp Matser Appeals Fraud Conviction This Afternoon

Parliamentarian Silvio Matser arrives at the courthouse on January 7 for his sentence hearing. File photo Today / Milton Pieters

St. Maarten – MP Silvio Matser appears in the Common Court of Justice this afternoon at 1.30 p.m Read more

Niaca Fest Honors Artists Of Three Generations

Dancers perform at the 2014 Niaca fest. Photo contributed

St. Maarten – The National Institute of arts hosts the third annual Niaca festival this Saturday at the John Larmonie Center. The highlight of the evening will be an award ceremony that honors local artists of three generations.

“The show begins at 7 p.m. It celebrates “both our traditional cultural heritage, as well as the contemporary art works created by the artists of now,” the institute writes in a press release.

The institute chose October 10 for its festival: “The transition to country status is the appropriate occasion to celebrate all things of St Read more