SXMElections.com

>PHILIPSBURG:--- President of Parliament Hon. Gracita Arrindell had the honour of meeting Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese in France Cardinal Archbishop Philippe Barbarin. The Cardinal was accompanied by Bishop of Basse Terre & Pointe a Pitre in Guadeloupe Jean-Yves Riocreux.

President Arrindell was invited to form part of the welcoming delegation which included Prefet Philippe Chopin, Madame President of the Collectivite Aline Hanson as well as Father Bob Johnson.

The Cardinal and Bishop arrived last week Wednesday at Grand Case Airport from Guadeloupe.

"The Cardinal expressed his sincere gratitude for the warm welcome he received from the dignitaries from both sides of the island Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams received a courtesy visit from commander Hans Lodder at her Cabinet on Thursday. The Prime Minister was updated on the change in command and the operational aspect of the Dutch Navy's presence in the Caribbean. Commander Hans Lodder has received the command of the Dutch Navy in the Caribbean, replacing Brigadier General Dick Swijgman Read more

William: NA’s attempt to stem short term contracts obstructed.

style="text-align: center;">UP-led govt dragging feet; MPs afraid to vote on issue

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the National Alliance NA William Marlin says it appears as though the United People's Party-led parliamentary coalition is afraid to put its foot down and address the abuse of short term labor contracts once and for all.

Marlin said the National Alliance faction in Parliament had requested a meeting to debate the issue some time back, but to date the meeting was never convened to give MPs a chance to finally put the issue to a vote and bring relief to the people of St Read more

style="text-align: center;">Laser 101 Offering Leaders of Political Parties to Debate the issues.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The first political debate hosted by Glen Carty on Laser 101.1 on Saturday evening was successful. Then four candidates George Pantophlet (NA), Claret Conner (UP), Emil Lee (DP) and Havic Doran (US) managed to share their views on the current issues affecting St Read more

Prime Minister Wescot-Williams; "No member of Parliament, faction or what have you has ever thought on changing the date of elections."

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams again reiterated that the reason elections are being held in August is based on the date for the new Parliament having to be installed being the tenth of October 2010. The Prime Minister made her remarks on her weekly call-in Radio Program One on One with the Prime Minister; "I am still hearing comments that the fact that elections are being held in August is being questioned Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Presidents of Parliament of Curacao, Aruba and Sint Maarten held an urgent tri-partite session at the House of Parliament on August 18th, 2014 in Philipsburg. The members of the Permanent Committees of the three countries of the Kingdom Affairs and Inter-parliamentary Relations were present.

The Committee from Aruba suggested the agenda point which is to reach a consensus on creating the legal framework within the Kingdom for legal constitutional disputes between the countries in the Kingdom Read more

The Indian & Chinese elephant in the room

Dear Editor,

St. Maarten people are being proper. They are being kind and open. St. Maarten people are being themselves. Mr. Editor, I've been pondering this letter for quite some time. I think it's amazing how little fanfare or minor attention has been given to the fact that a man of Indian descent and woman of Chinese descent are contesting the elections on the slate of the two oldest parties, the DP and National Alliance.

Now, don't get it twisted Read more

MPs agree to motion on dispute committee

PHILIPSBURG--The tripartite meeting of Members of the Parliaments (MPs) of St. Maarten, Aruba and Curaçao to discuss a uniform stance on the installation of the kingdom dispute committee had a bit of a rocky start in St. Maarten Monday afternoon, but by early night the delegations had a draft motion worded the way they desired.

The motion and other related statements from the meeting are set to be signed at Parliament House this morning. More information about the content will be made public at that time Read more

Prime Minister Wescot-Williams Signs Letter Of Intent With French Side For Waste Water Treatment Facility Benefitting Both Sides Of The Island

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams together with the Prefet of St. Martin and St. Barths Philippe Chopin and the President of the Collectivite of St. Maarten Mrs. Aline Hanson signed the Letter of Intent (LoI) for cross border cooperation between both sides of the island at a signing ceremony on Monday.

The European Trans-border Cooperation (ETC) Operational Program is a program of cooperation between both sides of the island to work on various mutually important projects for both sides of the island.

Prime Minister Wescot-Williams stated that administrations over the years on a technical level have been making agreements on how to move various areas forward for the people of St Read more

Prime Minister Wescot-Williams Highlights Contribution Of Indian Families To Development Of Country St. Maarten At India Independence Day Celebrations

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams congratulated the members of the Indian Community on St. Maarten at the Indian Merchant's Association's event celebrating the India Independence Day at the Belair Community Center Monday.

During her address to the crowd the PM highlighted the Indian Community's commitment to contributing to the society of St Read more

Political Parties Reminded To Publish Their Manifestos

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Electoral Council would like to remind all political parties contesting the upcoming parliamentary elections that in accordance with the National Ordinance on Registration and Finances of Political Parties they are required to timely make their manifestos public.

The Electoral Council is of the opinion that all manifestos should be available for the public, with less than two weeks remaining for the Elections of 2014.

The Electoral Council has thus f Read more

Na Holds Public Meeting In Cole Bay Saturday

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The National Alliance will continue to outline how it will be putting the people of St. Maarten first at its third public meeting at the property across from Harley Davidson in Cole Bay on Saturday, August 23 at 7:00pm.

Leader of the National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament William Marlin says the party's 23 candidates will be touching on some of the areas that the party will be championing in the next governing period at the meeting.

Candidates will also continue to speak about some of the burning issues in the community.

Marlin said government needs to be placed back in the hands of the people of St Read more

Level Of Political Debate Shta Mixer Disappoints

St. Maarten - The political mixer organized by the St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) at the Sonesta Great Bay Beach Hotel began with a disappointment when the leader of the United St. Maarten party did not show up. Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams, who was expected to attend, was also absent. Five parties were represented: NA (Rodolphe Samuel), UP (Miguel De Weever), DP (Roy Marlin), SRP (Jacinto Mock) and OSPP (Lenny Priest).

Parties first got the opportunity to explain in broad strokes what they stand for Read more

Publication Integrity-Report Delayed Until Next Week

St. Maarten – The publication of the integrity-report from the Wit-Committee has been delayed until next week Friday, Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams informed this newspaper yesterday. The original publication date of the report plus the comments from the government on it were scheduled for yesterday.

“Due to unforeseen circumstances we have not yet ratified the government’s position Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The National Alliance has expressed concern about what appears to be a growing number of errors being made by notaries practicing in the country.

Leader of the NA Member of Parliament William Marlin said whether the errors were an oversight or were being done deliberately, they should not occur as they can have serious consequences.

Marlin alluded to two recent cases brought before the court which found that errors had been made by notaries in the respective sales of Caravanserai Resort and in the former Pelican Resort Read more

Minister Lake meets with South Reward Community Council.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake was invited by the South Reward Community Council (SRCC) to a recent informative meeting.

"I was very impressed with the organization and content of the meeting, and it was a pleasure as well to sit with the council and other invitees," Minister Hon Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The National Alliance will continue to outline how it will be putting the people of St. Maarten first at its third public meeting at the property across from Harley Davidson in Cole Bay on Saturday, August 23 at 7:00pm.

Leader of the National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament William Marlin says the party's 23 candidates will be touching on some of the areas that the party will be championing in the next governing period at the meeting Read more

>GREAT BAY:--- What obstacles does a child face in being taught Mathematics, Geography, Biology, and other subjects in a language that is foreign to him or her?
How is it that a Dutch technical assistant, who went to school in his country in Dutch, can function perfectly in our society, speaking and writing English fluently, and in many cases, better than someone born and bred here?
These were among the questions Dr. Rhoda Arrindell answered when she engaged a group of young (and a few not so young) St Read more

style="text-align: center;">"I have seen several Ministers sign off on various projects that fall outside of their portfolios and deciding on things without the Council of Ministers being aware of"

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Wescot-Williams; "The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams again reiterated that, as Citizens voting for the 2014 Parliamentary elections, people will be voting for Parliament and not for a Council of Ministers; "I keep trying to explain what and who people are voting for on August 29th Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- With the date of St. Maarten's parliamentary elections drawing near, several female candidates contesting the elections will be engaged in the Phenomenal Women Political Debate on August 20, 2014. This major event, presented by the University of St. Martin (USM) in collaboration with the "Woman 2 Woman, Phenomenal Women" radio program, will be held at the University of St. Martin lecture hall from 6:00-9:00 pm, and promises to be a night filled with lively discussions from the female perspective.
To ensure the objectivity of this Debate, two phenomenal women were invited to participate as moderators Read more

style="text-align: center;">Laser 101 Offering Leaders of Political Parties to Debate the issues.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The first political debate hosted by Glen Carty on Laser 101.1 on Saturday evening was successful. Then four candidates George Pantophlet (NA), Claret Conner (UP), Emil Lee (DP) and Havic Doran (US) managed to share their views on the current issues affecting St Read more

NA concerned about errors by notaries

PHILIPSBURG--The National Alliance has expressed concern about what appears to be a growing number of errors being made by notaries practising in the country.

Whether the errors were an oversight or were being done deliberately, they should not occur as they can have serious consequences National Alliance (NA) Leader Member of Parliament (MP) William Marlin said in a press release on Sunday.

Marlin alluded to two recent cases brought before the court which found that errors had been made by notaries in the respective sales of Caravanserai Resort and in the former Pelican Resort Read more

Number two candidates debate country matters

BELAIR--Coalition, government's essential duty to the people, reducing the country's debts, immigration and other topics were dealt with by the number two candidates on the slates of five parties contesting the August 29 Parliamentary Elections at the second Arts Video Studio (AVS) political debate in Belair Community Centre on Sunday evening.

Participating in the debate were Leona Marlin-Romeo (United St Read more

French prime minister slaps down call for change of course

PARIS--French Prime Minister Manuel Valls on Sunday slapped down rebels of his ruling Socialist party, branding their calls to support the low paid instead of reducing tax for business irresponsible and saying a change of course was out of the question.

The French government wants to cut the deficit and reduce the tax burden on companies by making 50 billion euros ($67 billion) of savings on public sector costs. "Yes the policy that the President of the Republic has put in place will take time to produce results," he said in an newspaper interview after last week's news that economic growth in France was zero for the second quarter in a row.

"But a change is out of the question," he told the Journal de Dimanche.

Valls criticised "those on the left who have made irresponsible propositions" and said the policy of reducing the tax burden on companies and paying for it with public sector cost savings was going to work Read more