SXMElections.com

National Alliance Congress 2016: Marlin And Jacobs Returned As Party Leader And Deputy

St. Maarten News —Members of the National Alliance has returned William Marlin and Silveria Jacobs as the leader and deputy leader respectfully with a unanimous vote at the party congress Sunday Read more

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Usp Introduces Four New Candidates

St. Maarten News —The United St. Maarten Party (USP) has added four more candidates to the party to contest the upcoming elections that are slated for September 26, 2016 and was introduced to the public at the party headquarters on Friday. The new candidates, some of whom have worked for government for a number of years, felt that the time is now for them to play their part and serve the people of the island.

Party leader Frans Richardson said that the USP “is not only about putting people on the list but also guiding them in the way that the Parliament of St Read more

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“Memory, Identity, And Immortality In The Caribbean”

By Michela A. Calderaro

St. Maarten News —Caribbean literature has been gaining stature and critical attention beyond its territorial boundaries, not only in countries where people speak the Caribbean languages but also in such countries as my Italy.

In Italy the study of Caribbean literature, culture and history is part of university curricula, and more and more high school teachers are introducing their students to this rich and colorful world. This is happening, in part, because today the Caribbean is the most dynamic literary environment, where a lot is happening, where literary festivals are organized one after another and, mainly, where a new use of language is taking form, or, better, where language happens.

And when one talks about language, Lasana Sekou’s name comes to mind at once with shimmering colors Read more

Usp Leader Laments Bureaucratic Tax System

St. Maarten News  – We’ve been talking about the simplification of the tax system for too long and bureaucracy is killing us,” says Leader of the United St. Maarten Party (USP) Frans Richardson, adding that it is time to stop talking and tackle the tax structure which puts St Read more

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Sarah Wescot: New Hospital On Gov’T’S Agenda

St. Maarten News —The construction of a new hospital is one of several projects in the pipeline for the current government, according to President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams. At press conference yesterday, Mrs. Wescot-Williams explained that there will be an announcement of the names of the companies who have won the bid for the new hospital Read more

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Up Mp Franklin Meyers Blasts Gov’T On Gebe

St. Maarten News—United People’s Party (UP) member of Parliament Franklin Meyers blasted the government for what he terms a mismanagement of power company GEBE in light of the latest string of power outages on the island. “This is unbelievable! The mismanagement of GEBE goes beyond party politics Read more

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Ppa Introduces New Candidate Anique Liu

St. Maarten News —People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA) leader Gracita Arrindell announced on Sunday that Anique Liu will be contesting the September 26 parliamentary elections. “We are pleased to have Anique join the P.P.A Read more

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Nature Foundation Starts Tagging Endangered Shark Species On St. Maarten

St. Maarten News —The St. Maarten Nature Foundation initiated their shark tagging program as part of the DCNA Save Our Sharks project funded by the Dutch National Postcode Lottery. According to the Nature Foundation in a press release, this research is aimed to better understand the life characteristics of sharks in St Maarten waters including population structure, abundance and migration. 

Jillian Morris and Duncan Brake from Sharks4kids assisted the Nature Foundation with building gear, catching, handling and tagging the sharks Read more

Male And Female Patients Placed In The Same Ward At St. Maarten Hospital

St. Maarten News —It has become quite obvious that the St. Maarten Medical Center is in dire need of space for patients since they are currently placing male and female patients in the same ward. When the institution was contacted, they informed this newspaper that they need to get the questions submitted to them on this issue in writing before they can give a comment on the issue.

The former United People’s Party leader Theo Heyliger had said in his campaign during the last elections that he would have had the new hospital built urgently Read more

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Financial Consultant: More Can Be Done To Help St. Maarten’S Youth

St. Maarten News—A financial consultant who has been visiting St. Maarten for several years, is concerned with the lack of opportunities for young people here. Albert White is a domestic and international business strategist in Maryland, USA and has been visiting St. Maarten for several years. He suggested that the people of the island, particularly young people are not benefiting from the economic growth and many of them are leaving St. Maarten as a result. “You can see the young people leaving the island and going elsewhere and not staying here,” White told Today.

He said he has friends who live in the US who are from St Read more

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Mp Marlin-Romeo: No Political Games With Pensions

St. Maarten News — Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin Romeo said political games must not be played on issues such as the nation’s pension fund.

According the MP, after attending the recently held 5th Henderson Insurance Conference, one of the messages that was clear to her was a need for an urgent national dialog where all stakeholders including both government and parliament congregate to analyze, discuss and set a clear strategic plan for the sustainability of the pension system on Sint Maarten.

She pointed out that whether the decision is to follow the Aruba model of passing a law where it is mandatory to contribute to the pension system or to create a new solution, an urgent plan is needed and unpopular decisions need to be made in order for Sint Maarten to be able to sustain the current pension system, considering the aging population.

“If this is not done collectively then Sint Maarten will be facing the same dilemma as Curacao Read more

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Tzu Chi Volunteers Visit Seniors At St. Martin Home

A Tzu Chi volunteer interacting with a client.

St. Maarten News —St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation volunteers continued to spread cheer to St. Martin’s Home clients during their most recent visit on Sunday, June 26. The Foundation said in a press release that 12 volunteers, including four new ones, visited the home to pamper and give loving care to the seniors.

Tzu Chi held a meeting two days before the visit to introduce the new volunteers to the foundation and to have a brief training with them on the foundation’s approach during its monthly visits Read more

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Philip Van Delden Returns To Ppa’S Slate

St. Maarten News – The People’s Progressive Alliance has announced that former candidate Philip Van Delden has returned to the PPA slate ahead of the September 2016 elections. In a statement from the party, Van Delden said he is a down to earth person.

“Now the question is who Philip is? I am the son of this soil, another down to earth person who grew up with the people of St Read more

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Ospp Launches Maurits Joslyn Richardson As Electoral Candidate

Leader of the One St. Maarten Peoples Party with new candidate Joslyn Richardson, at Richardson’s South Reward organic farm. A labourer waters the plants in the background.

St. Maarten News —Maurits Joslyn Richardson is being put forward as an electoral candidate to contest the September 26th election on the One St. Maarten People’s Party ticket Read more

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Up Elects New Board Members For 2016-2018

St. Maarten News —The United People’s Party (UP) Congress elected a new board for the party board period 2016-2018 on June 25 at the Belair Community Center.

The persons who have been appointed to the board positions are: President Silvia Meyers-Olivacee; Vice President Tatiana Arrindell; Treasurer Earl Wyatt; Assistance Treasurer Armand Meda; Secretary General Kenneth Serrant; Secretary Gina Illidge; and Assistant Secretary Solange Apon.

“We had a very good turnout at the party congress and everybody in attendance was upbeat and ready for the September 2016 parliamentary polls.  I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Leader of the UP Party Member of Parliament Theodore Heyliger to thank all members and new members who came out to this very important congress,” UP President Silvia Meyers-Olivacee said on Sunday.

“The UP Party Board has a lot of planning and preparations to carry out in the coming weeks with parliamentary elections a little over three months away.  Thanks once again for everybody’s support,” The UP Party in a press release said it will continue to be the visionary party, placing special emphasis on the social and economic development of the country.

“The objective is to ensure that all people in our society feel a part of our community where there are ample opportunities to sustain our families and live comfortably and happily Read more

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Dp Condemns ‘Racial Antics’ In Parliament

St. Maarten News – Leader of the Democratic Party (DP) Sarah Wescot-Williams has condoned racial comments in parliament and is calling for leaders of political parties to speak out. “Call it whatever you want, but I cringe every time I hear Members of Parliament (MPs), who think it’s the popular thing to do, in parliament express the kind of exclusionary language we are hearing from these MPs more and more,” Wescot-Williams said in a press statement issued Sunday Read more

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Agriculturists Calling For Government Support

St. Maarten News —Although there is a huge threat by the invasive monkeys, the green iguanas and African snails which have been destroying crops on the island, there is still an initiative to have proper facilities such as an agricultural station on the island. This became clear when representatives of the sector gathered at the WIFOL building last Thursday evening.

Although the attendance of the meeting was very low, there were lively discussions on how to cope with the interference of the monkeys and green iguanas on how the deal with what is being considered as “pests” who invade the local farming grounds of the island Read more

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Ppa Convention On July 9

St. Maarten News – The Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA) will hold its first party Convention on Saturday July 9 at the Lions Community Center in Sucker garden from 3 to 7 p.m.

“we are extending a warm welcome to all candidates, their families, friends, supporters, well wishers and citizens who desire to see and help bring about much needed positive change to St. Maarten,” party leader Gracita Arrindell said in a press statement Read more

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New Politicians Complete Good Governance Course

Party leaders Wycliffe Smith and Mercedes van der Waals-Wyatt show their certificates. Photo contributed

St. Maarten News – Party leaders, Mercedes “Elektra” van der Waals-Wyatt of Hope and Wycliffe Smith of Sint Maarten Christian Party, were part of the first graduating class of Scell’s good governance course offered by the University of St Read more

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Kingdom Government Shoots Reform Proposals Down

St. Maarten News – The kingdom government has serious objections to the proposed anti-ship jumping measures the Marlin cabinet has in mind. If the government does not address these objections, Minister Ronald Plasterk (Kingdom Relations) writes in a letter for Minister Plenipotentiary Henrietta Doran-York, “You will have to reckon with the possibility that the changes to the State regulation will meet with objections from the kingdom government.”

In gentle terms, the kingdom government has shot down the proposal before it has reached the parliament Read more

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Arrindell Announces Rules For Cross-Border Bus Services

St. Maarten News – The Dutch and the French side have come together to regulate trans-border bus transportation, Minister Ingrid Arrindell (Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication) said at Wednesday’s press briefing. A meeting with Vice President of the Collectivité Guillaume Arnell was inspired by the large influx of Dutch busses on the –Marigot-Philipsburg route.

Minister Arrindell said that many of the Dutch-side bus drivers are not allowed to work on the French side because they do not have the required D-license that is required for driving a bus and they do not have French nationality.

Currently the Dutch bus drivers outnumber the French ones; Arrindell and Arnell agreed to limit the number of Dutch bus drivers allowed to work on the French side to 30 Read more

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Franklin Meyers (Up): “Coalition Left Mp Lake Totally Out In The Cold”

St. Maarten News – Member of Parliament Maurice Lake and his appointed Vromi-Minister Angel Meyers were left totally out in the cold yesterday afternoon when the majority of Lake’s coalition members failed to show up for a parliament meeting to pass a law brought by the MP’s minister, United People’s party deputy leader MP Franklin Meyers said in a press statement.

“This is a very clear case of actions speak louder than words and the action in this case is a resounding vote of no confidence in MP Lake’s minister and a total lack of support for the MP himself Read more

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Dozens Complete Active Parenting Program

The parents with their certificates. Photo contributed

At Asha Stevens Hillside Christian school

St. Maarten News – 42 parents (32 mothers and 10 fathers) received last week Monday certificates for completing the active parenting program which is held annually for parents of students who are new to the Hillside Christian Schools Read more

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Reform Measures Could Go To Parliament Next Week

St. Maarten News – Parliament President Sarah Wescot-Williams expects to receive the draft legislation to adjust the political system this week or next week Monday the latest. If the draft arrives on time, parliament has a slot open to handle it next week, the last week of meetings before the summer recess.

The government’s proposal intends to take the angle out of ship jumping, by taking away the right from ship jumping parliamentarians to form a majority with the opposition Read more

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