SXMElections.com

>PHILIPSBURG:---- In order to have a good functioning parliament, there must be a good functioning organizational secretariat of the Parliament of Sint Maarten, which is a department within Parliament that provides legal, administrative, and logistic support to the Members of Parliament (MPs) as a whole.
Back in June 2015, the Central Committee of Parliament discussed the “Function Book” of the Parliament Secretariat, and agreed to the content. A Plenary session of the House was held on August 6 and in that session the “Function Book” for the secretariat was approved.
Effective September 1st, 2015, the “Function Book” is being used to guide the daily running of the secretariat of the House of Parliament, and the previous document from October 10, 2010 is no longer in use.
Prior to Sint Maarten becoming a country in 2010, a number of organizational resolutions for different sectors within Government were established based on the Organizational Ordinance Island Territory Sint Maarten.
As of October 10, 2010, the legal basis was turned into a National Ordinance and sectors became ministries Read more

Observatory Certifies Eighty Interviewers

From left: Fenna Arnell, Joy Arnell, Ramona Connor, Minister Rafael Boasman, Rosette Gumbs-Lake, Dr. Louis Jeffry, and Valerie Giterson-Pantophlet Read more

Upnext Shares Info Via Facebook

St. Maarten – UPNext, the youth arm of the United People party (UP) will launch its latest initiative today on Facebook. The group of young people has chosen to share vital information with their peers as well as the general social media community on three days of the week, each day with its own name Read more

Rotary Donates Big To Third Digikidz School

From left to right: Jeffery Sochrin, José Sommers, and Danny Ramchandani. Photo contributed

St. Maarten – After a recent car raffle the Rotary Club St. Maarten has pledged $15,000 towards the DigiKidz Project of the Foresee Foundation. The money will be used to equip a classroom at Helmich Snijders Christian School with technology devices and contribute in the installation of a full wireless network infrastructure with Wifi in all classrooms and offices.

Teachers will be trained in the use of Skoolcontrol, the school’s new management platform, and the use of the Promethean digital boards.

Danny Ramchandani, past president of the Rotary said that he was impressed by the project and likes the fact that the effect of these donations can be seen physically in the school Read more

Late delay as Pacific trade talks near landmark deal

ATLANTA--A dozen Pacific nations closed in on a sweeping free-trade pact on Sunday in Atlanta but failed to finalize terms on the fifth day of round-the-clock talks, dashing hopes raised by an earlier breakthrough on protections for new biotech drugs.
  U.S. officials, who are hosting the meeting, delayed a planned joint news conference until early Monday. That pushed a resolution of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks beyond the deadline set by Japan's economy minister Akira Amari Read more

Editorial - Wishful thinking

The question whether to allow the NA/DP/USP/Matser/Lake majority that passed a motion of no confidence against the Gumbs cabinet to form a new government, or to dissolve Parliament and call snap elections as the Council of Ministers has decided, was the “talk of the town” over the weekend Read more

Sarah: Refusing to resign is breach of country’s constitutional legal system

~ Govt. asked for Van Rijn’s opinion after the fact ~

PHILIPSBURG--The refusal of the Gumbs cabinet members to tender their resignations after no longer enjoying the support of the country’s highest legislative body is a breach of St. Maarten’s constitutional legal system.

This was the firm statement from Democratic Party (DP) leader Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams on Sunday in reaction to statements by Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs that he and the rest of the minister would not resign Read more

Gumbs vows not to resign

PHILIPSBURG--Feeling strengthened by the opinion of constitutional law expert Professor Arjen van Rijn and convinced that the St. Maarten Constitution must be upheld, St. Maarten Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs has decided not to resign, and neither will the rest of the Council of Ministers.

“As Prime Minister I have the responsibility to protect the Constitution and to carry it out the way it was written Read more

Expert says, no objection to dissolving Parliament

PHILIPSBURG--The Council of Minister is within its rights to dissolve Parliament and to call for new elections, Professor Arjen van Rijn of University of Curaçao stated in his advice to Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, which was sent Friday.

Prime Minister Gumbs called for the advice after three Members of Parliament (MPs) withdrew their support for his cabinet and voted for a motion of no confidence on Wednesday together with the opposition Read more

William to meet Governor today

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) leader Member of Parliament (MP) William Marlin will be meeting with Governor Eugene Holiday today, Monday, on the formation of the new majority coalition in Parliament.

  The meeting is on request of Governor Holiday Read more

St. Maarten hosts event on innovation in the EU’s Overseas Countries and Territories.

>Brussels:---- Anguilla and the Falklands are geographically apart but their representatives are among 15 from the European Union’s Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) gathering in Sint Maarten 5-7 October to brainstorm the same challenge: diversifying economies with innovation. Prime Minister of St Maarten, Marcel F.A. Gumbs, will open the event along with Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications Ernest Sams.
The three-day workshop is part of the European Union- funded project, ‘Territorial Strategies for Innovation’ (April 2014-April 2018) Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- After recent successful car raffle fundraiser event, Rotary Club St. Maarten has pledged US$ 15,000 towards the DigiKidz Project of Foresee Foundation. The amount will be used to equip a classroom at Helmich Snijders Christian School with technology devices and contribute in the installation of a full wireless network infrastructure with WIFI in all classrooms and offices.
In addition to that teachers will be trained in the use of Skoolcontrol, the school’s new management platform, and the use of the Promethean digital boards.
Mr Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo treated the country’s senior citizens so they could attend an event for International Day of the Older Persons which was recognized and celebrated globally on October 1st.

Senior citizens on Dutch Sint Maarten were able to be transported to a celebration through the giving back to the community program of Independent MP Leona Marlin-Romeo.

The sponsorship of a coaster bus was given after Meals on Wheels founder Mary Bryson indicated the areas that needed assistance in order for them to make this event a success.

MP Marlin-Romeo attended the event and thanked the elderly for their contribution to Sint Maarten/St Read more

Governor will not sign Resolution to call new elections --- What type of stand-off do we have now? (UPDATED)

style="text-align: center;">Several Candidates selected to be screened for Ministerial Posts.

PHILIPSBURG:--- According to information provided to SMN News the Governor of St. Maarten drs. Eugene Holiday convoked Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs to his office on Friday where he informed him that he will not be signing the resolution for new elections since there is a majority in Parliament Read more

Upnext To Share Motivational, Fitness, Educational Information Via Facebook

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - UPNext, the youth arm of the United People party (UP) will launch its latest initiative today on Facebook.

The group of young people has chosen to share vital information with their peers as well as the general social media community on three days of the week, each day with its own name Read more

Mp Leona Marlin-Romeo Contributes To Seniors Celebrating International Day Of Older Persons

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo treated the country’s senior citizens so they could attend an event for International Day of the Older Persons which was recognized and celebrated globally on October 1st.

Senior citizens on Dutch Sint Maarten were able to be transported to a celebration through the giving back to the community program of Independent MP Leona Marlin-Romeo.

The sponsorship of a coaster bus was given after Meals on Wheels founder Mary Bryson indicated the areas that needed assistance in order for them to make this event a success.

MP Marlin-Romeo attended the event and thanked the elderly for their contribution to Sint Maarten/St Read more

St. Maarten Hosts Event On Innovation In The Eu’S Overseas Countries And Territories

Brussels - Anguilla and the Falklands are geographically apart but their representatives are among 15 from the European Union’s Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) gathering in Sint Maarten 5-7 October to brainstorm the same challenge: diversifying economies with innovation.

Prime Minister of St Maarten, Marcel F.A. Gumbs, will open the event along with Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications Ernest Sams.

The three-day workshop is part of the European Union- funded project, ‘Territorial Strategies for Innovation’ (April 2014-April 2018) Read more

Kraft Foods Group Voluntarily Recalls Select Code Dates And Manufacturing Codes Of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Boxed Dinners Due To Possible Metal Pieces

NORTHFIELD, Ill – Kraft Foods Group is voluntarily recalling approximately 242,000 cases of select code dates and manufacturing codes of the Original flavor of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner – due to the possibility that some boxes may contain small pieces of metal.

The recalled product is limited to the 7.25-oz. size of the Original flavor of boxed dinner with the "Best When Used By" dates of September 18, 2015 through October 11, 2015, with the code "C2" directly below the date on each individual box Read more

Rotary St. Maarten Makes Large Donation To Helmich Snijders 3Rd Digikidz School

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - After recent successful car raffle fundraiser event, Rotary Club St. Maarten has pledged US$ 15,000 towards the DigiKidz Project of Foresee Foundation.

The amount will be used to equip a classroom at Helmich Snijders Christian School with technology devices and contribute in the installation of a full wireless network infrastructure with WIFI in all classrooms and offices.

In addition to that teachers will be trained in the use of Skoolcontrol, the school’s new management platform, and the use of the Promethean digital boards.

Mr Read more

Statia’s appeal against higher supervision heard

ST. EUSTATIUS--The appeal filed by the Executive Council against the decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations to impose higher supervision on St. Eustatius was heard Friday.

An advisory board of the Dutch government met with Commissioners Reginald Zaandam (United People’s Coalition, UPC) and Astrid McKenzie-Tatem (Progressive Labour Party, PLP) and ministry representatives in the conference room at Old Gin House.

Dutch Government Representative Gilbert Isabella and Hyden Gittens and Manus Twisk of Committee for Financial Supervision (CFT) were also called to be heard Read more

Hurricane batters Bahamas, fate of cargo ship unknown

NASSAU, Bahamas--The fate of more than 30 crew aboard a cargo ship missing off the Bahamas in heavy seas whipped up by Hurricane Joaquin was unknown on Friday as the storm battered the island chain for a second day.

News the vessel had lost contact with shore came as forecasters shifted the likely track of the potentially catastrophic storm further away from the U.S. East Coast, but there were still warnings about the possibility of severe flooding in the Carolinas from unrelated heavy rains.

Late Friday afternoon, the U.S Read more

We can’t leave people on islands in the hands of big criminals

Dear Editor,

It isn’t really a festive celebration, the anniversary of the new countries Curaçao and St. Maarten, which became autonomous countries within the Kingdom on October 10, 2010. Poverty has increased enormously, as well as the crime rate. The world of organised crime seems to have taken over the government by buying votes and bribing politicians. In a very short period, the governments of Curaçao and St. Maarten have fallen and nobody exactly knows why.

Last April, all political parties in the Dutch parliament voted in favour of a motion tabled by my VVD-colleague André Bosman and me calling for an investigation into the relationship between the criminal underworld and the legitimate society. That investigation mainly focuses on the relationship between politics and the (illegal) gambling industry where a lot of money is being laundered, possibly with involvement of Dutch companies Read more

Sarah: Elections will not solve ship-jumping issue

~ Cabinet should resign immediately ~

PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) leader Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams said on Friday that calling early elections will not solve the issue of Members of Parliament (MPs) switching their support from one party to another Read more

Sarah confirms she will assume Chairmanship of Parliament

PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) leader Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams confirmed on Friday that she will be assuming the position of the new Chairperson of Parliament.

DP forms part of the new eight-seat-majority coalition in Parliament Read more