SXMElections.com

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Council of Ministers approved the long lease that is to be granted to Rainforest Adventure on March 18th 2015.
According to documents SMN News obtained showed that an advice prepared by Domain Affairs which was signed off by the head of VROMI Louis Brown on March 9th 2015 and booked in at the Department of General Affairs under Div Read more

Heated Debate by Members of Parliament as to how they will deal with the Petition sent to Parliament regarding the Simpson Bay Development.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Chairlady of the petitions committee of Parliament MP Leona Marlin-Romeo opened a pandora box on Thursday when she asked the Members of Parliament to establish how they will handle petitions sent to Parliament. While the debate on how the committee will handle petitions, the three residents of Simson Bay were sitting in Parliament to be heard Read more

Central Committee Meeting reconvened for Friday about Draft National Ordinance to Establish Integrity Chamber

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Central Committee of Parliament will meet in public session on April 10. The Minister of General Affairs Hon. Marcel Gumbs will be present for the House session.

The public Central Committee meeting is was adjourned on April 8 is now being reconvened for Friday at 9.00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.

The three point agenda is: the draft National Ordinance for the establishment of a Integrity Chamber; second agenda point is approval of the travel schedule for the year 2015 in connection with Committee and Board of Directors meetings of the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino); and the third agenda point is approval of the composition of the delegation and provisions for General Assembly of Parlatino from May 15-16.
Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary session will be carried live on St Read more

Central Committee Meeting Reconvened For Friday About Draft National Ordinance To Establish Integrity Chamber

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The Central Committee of Parliament will meet in public session on April 10. The Minister of General Affairs Hon. Marcel Gumbs will be present for the House session.

The public Central Committee meeting is was adjourned on April 8 is now being reconvened for Friday at 9.00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.

The three point agenda is: the draft National Ordinance for the establishment of a Integrity Chamber; second agenda point is approval of the travel schedule for the year 2015 in connection with Committee and Board of Directors meetings of the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino); and the third agenda point is approval of the composition of the delegation and provisions for General Assembly of Parlatino from May 15-16.

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary session will be carried live on St Read more

Main Voting Bureau Chairman Jason Rogers Addresses Parliaments Concerns With Possible Electoral Discrepancies

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Main Voting Bureau and the Civil Registry Department concerning alleged discrepancies during and in preparation of the August 29th parliamentary elections last year, was the focus of a parliamentary meeting on Wednesday.

The meeting was at request of Members of Parliament Leona Marlin-Romeo, Read more

Integrity Chamber In The Best Interest Of St. Maarten Say's Pm Gumbs

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Central Committee of Parliament handling the National Draft Ordinance for the establishment of a Integrity Chamber, which started on Wednesday and adjourned, will be continuing on Friday at 9 am.

However, during the meeting on Wednesday, Prime Minister with the responsibility for General Affairs, the Honorable Marcel Gumbs made clear that the law as is being proposed is not in the interest of Holland, but rather for that of the people of St Read more

Motion calls for corruption probe St. Maarten, Curaçao

THE HAGUE--The Dutch Government has no objections to a motion of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament calling for an investigation of the flow of money between criminal organisations and the governments of Curaçao and St. Maarten.

In fact, Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk suggested expanding the motion of Members of Parliament (MPs) Ronald van Raak of the Socialist Party (SP) and André Bosman of the liberal democratic VVD party to include drug smuggling and trafficking in women in the investigation.

Van Raak and Bosman requested the Dutch Government to facilitate an investigation into the (illegal) flow of money between the underworld and upperworld in Curaçao and St Read more

Jamaica says ‘We’re ready’ to President Barack Obama

KINGSTON, Jamaica--Roads were paved, beautification of the main thoroughfares completed, security heightened and even stalls demolished as Jamaicans eagerly anticipated Wednesday's arrival of Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States.

Police also suggested that some persons might want to remain indoors as restrictions on vehicular traffic would be enforced in areas that may be used by the president's entourage.

According to the police, some of the areas to be affected temporarily include sections of the business district of New Kingston and roads in the vicinity of the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), where Obama will meet with regional leaders for their summit today, Thursday.

Head of the Police Border and Security Branch, Deputy Commission of Police James Golding told reporters that business owners would be advised of closure of their businesses as the second United States president ever to visit Jamaica continued his visit.

Information Minister Sandrea Falconer said due to security concerns, the details could not be revealed immediately.

"What we will be doing is contacting the business owners on Knutsford Boulevard, in addition to all the mass media announcements that we will make and they can make that determination as to how they will treat it," she said.

Head of the Traffic Division, Senior Superintendent Calvin Allen said members of the public who wished to watch the presidential motorcade could do so from sidewalks and other pedestrian areas, except in instances where there are restrictions such as police barricades and service vehicles.

National Security Minister Peter Bunting added that given the nature and size of the operation, more resources have been brought in from across the island to boost security in the Corporate Area.

However, in the midst of all the activities, the government has been criticised for tearing down the stalls of vendors located on the outskirts of National Heroes Park, one of the venues to be visited by the US President.

On Monday, the food vendors – known for selling boiled crab, roasted and boiled corn, roasted yam and saltfish – demonstrated to protest the removal of their stalls by the Kingston and St Read more

Acha Symposium

First Anniversary of ACHA

Acha will be holding another interesting and informative program at Philipsburg Jubilee Library this evening, April 9, at 7:00-9:00.

The program includes the singing of the St. Maarten song by Ifelola Badejo before the welcome introduction to ACHA where Drs. Okama Ekpe Brook will speak about positively reconnecting the Caribbean with Africa and the vision of ACHA.

There will be a summary of activities and upcoming events throughout the year as well as a poem by Julie Alcin Read more

MPs share concerns on integrity chamber, but open to discussion

~ Expect more answers on Friday ~

PHILIPSBURG--"Looking forward to further discussion" was the point Members of Parliament (MPs) reached on Wednesday night after hearing answers to shared main points of concern given by Justice Minister Dennis Richardson during a public meeting of the Central Committee of Parliament on the draft National Ordinance for the establishment of an Integrity Chamber for St. Maarten.

Although many individual questions had been posed, paired with statements of concern about what the Ordinance will mean for St Read more

St. Maarten Quarter master plan approved by Ministers

POINTE BLANCHE--The Master Plan for St. Maarten Quarter, a US $120 million mixed-use waterfront development project by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL), officially received approval by the Council of Ministers (COM) on March 26, which RCCL Vice President of Commercial Development John Tercek described as the last step needed before the project can "go full steam" ahead.

Tercek was notified officially by a letter signed by Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs on behalf of COM, although government previously had expressed satisfaction after a well-received presentation in early March.

During the presentation, the group urged swift approval so that the project could be announced at the global Seatrade Cruise Shipping Conference in Miami in the week of March 17, amongst international industry players and travel and trade media.

The project still was announced at Seatrade in the presence of Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Claret Connor.

Prime Minister Gumbs called the proposed project something that, in COM's opinion, would enhance the tourism product "tremendously."

According to the presentation, the next steps entail commencing detailed design and attaining relevant permits Read more

Voting Bureau petitioned court twice to allow inmates to vote

~ Says it's up to MPs to amend laws ~

PHILIPSBURG--The Central Voting Bureau petitioned the court twice prior to the August 29, 2014, parliamentary election to legally allow inmates who were registered to vote in another district to cast their ballot at the polling station at the prison and to allow a prison official to vouch for the identity of inmates who did not have identification cards.

The issues at the polling station at the prison were amongst several electoral concerns broached during a meeting of the Central Committee of Parliament on Wednesday.

Central Voting Bureau Chairman Jason Rogers told Members of Parliament (MPs) that it was up to them to change the legislation to rectify this issue in future elections.

Rogers said "a number" of inmates initially had not been allowed to vote because, although they were in possession of their voting cards, they were assigned to vote in another district Read more

Minister TEATT Connor briefed about process to catalog country’s Intangible Cultural Heritage

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Claret Connor along with members of his Cabinet and representatives from the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau, were informed recently about the Sint Maarten National Consultation on Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The Minister received a presentation from UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Secretary General for Sint Maarten Marcellia Henry.

The Sint Maarten National Commission for UNESCO vision is to contribute to the building of peace, sustainable development, and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information.
The Commission has undertaken to catalog St Read more

Prime Minister says draft law to Establish Integrity Chamber is not to please the Dutch Government.

style="text-align: center;">Parliament voted on a motion for Government to establish the recommendations in Integrity Reports --- PM

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs made clear to Parliament on Wednesday that the draft ordinance to establish the integrity chamber on St. Maarten is not to please the Dutch Government. Prime Minister Gumbs reminded the members of parliament that the parliament of St Read more

Marijuana, Subject Of Panel Discussion Next Saturday

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Marijuana will be the focus of a panel discussion organized by the Freedom Freighters Musical and Cultural Foundation.

The event, which will have as panelists among others, Dr. Ruth, Dr. Don Johnson of the USA and Jay Haviser is scheduled to be held at the Belair Community Center on Saturday, April 18th and will start at 7 pm.

According to the organ Read more

Mp Lake As Minister Gave Advise To Soab On Smhdf Confirms Pm Gumbs In Parliament

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The House of Parliament met in a public plenary session on Tuesday afternoon.

This session was the continuation of the initial meeting that was held on December 22nd of last year.

The meeting was at the request of the National Alliance, the Democratic Party and the USP, and dealt with among others, the request to the Governments Accountants Bureau SOAB to carry out a forensic investigation into the operations of the St Read more

Minister Teatt Connor Briefed About Process To Catalog Country's Intangible Cultural Heritage

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Claret Connor along with members of his Cabinet and representatives from the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau, were informed recently about the Sint Maarten National Consultation on Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The Minister received a presentation from UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Secretary General for Sint Maarten Marcellia Henry.

The Sint Maarten National Commission for UNESCO vision is to contribute to the building of peace, sustainable development, and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information.

The Commission has undertaken to catalog St Read more

Dollarization – still a discussion point

Dear Editor,

The fact that there is still a discussion on the dollarization issue is somewhat strange to me and not because I think it would the worst thing that can happen to us in St. Maarten, but because of the total lack of actual benefits proposed by those supporting dollarization.

The symposium on dollarization organised by the Council on Advice at the University of St. Martin only confirms what I have believed all along, that dollarization is not a valid option for St. Maarten Read more

Editorial - Missing in action

The Asjes cabinet in Curaçao has decided to stop payment to 16 so-called “ghost civil servants.” Five of them were convicted of crimes and are currently in prison, while the other 11 are at home without a valid reason.

At the moment a total of 81 government employees there don’t show up for work. That also includes 11 suffering from chronic illnesses, three with addiction problems, two with labour conflicts, 33 who have been denied entry pending an investigation, seven subjected to disciplinary measures and five who were suspended.  

Tackling this issue isn’t easy, because there could be many factors involved such as the relationship with superiors, and government must be careful not to violate the rights of its personnel Read more

Lions Club lobby Parliament to hike drinking age from 16 to 18

~ To correct discrepancy in laws ~

PHILIPSBURG--The Lions Club, on Tuesday, called for an increase in the legal drinking age from 16 to 18, to correct a discrepancy in the laws and to curb drinking amongst youngsters.

The call was made during a meeting of Parliament's Permanent Committee of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs of Parliament and was supported by all Members of Parliament (MPs) present.

Melinda Hoeve of the Lions' Youth, Health, and Education (YHE) committee spoke of a discrepancy in the Penal Code and in the Licence Ordinance ("Vergunningslandsverordening"), as it relates to the sale of and serving of alcoholic beverages to minors.

While article 475 of the Penal Code prohibits the sale and serving of alcoholic beverages to minors under age 18 with a maximum prison sentence of six months or a NAf Read more

style="text-align: center;">MP Christopher Emmanuel wants to know how would the change be implemented, says KPSM understaffed.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Members of the Lions Club presented the project they launch late last year to curb under-age drinking on St. Maarten. The members of the Lions Club called on Members of Parliament to amend the legislation to increase drinking age from 16 to 18 Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---  Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo said on Monday since December 2014, the airports of Jamaica has introduced kiosks to better accommodate and manage the flow of passengers entering the country.

Independent Member of Parliament Leona Marlin-Romeo (on a private visit to Jamaica) met with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency Jennifer MacDonald and the IT team to discuss the advanced technology Jamaica immigration is using to not only better manage the flow of passengers but to also identify persons that has been placed on a watch list Read more

style="text-align: center;">Several Financial Statements still not available Corporate Governance Council Rejects candidates proposed by government.

PHILIPSBURG: --- Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs informed Parliament on Tuesday that the government of St. Maarten is currently working on taking the supervisory board of the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF) to court in order to obtain two audit reports Read more

Up Mp Lake Addresses Social Media Political Rumours In The House Of Parliament On Tuesday

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Maurice Lake addressed on Tuesday in the House of Parliament social media rumours that he was involved in a plot to throw down government and send home the Cabinet of Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs.

"It's good to be back in the House of the People Read more