SXMElections.com

Charges Draw A Bleak Picture Of Sex-Business

By TODAY NEWSPAPER

GREAT BAY – The suspects in the Parrot-investigation are charged with exploitation, robbing prostitutes at the Casa Blanca brothel of their freedom and firearm possession.

From the summonses it appears that they recruited woman as barmaids, waitresses or exotic dancers and that they put them to work in prostitution through coercion, violence, threatening with violence, fraud and by misleading them.

The women had to pay $50 up to $60 a day, or $500 per week for a room they had to share with others and where they had to live and work.

Casa Blanca charged the women with $1,500 up to $3,500 for their labor contract, work permit and airfare to St Read more

Fellow St. Maarteners,
Residents of our beautiful island,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

Six years ago, St. Maarten embarked on a new constitutional journey with the attainment of the status of the autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It was a journey that started with the referendum of 2000; a journey that took a whole decade. Six years ago, we lowered the flag of the Netherlands Antilles forever and kept our own flag flying. We had arrived at 10-10-10 full of pride, full of enthusiasm and eager to meet the high expectations of our people.
Critics of that achievement may point to the fact that those expectations have not been fully met Read more

Up Party Urge Citizens To Let Democracy Reign In Wake Smcp Candidate Stoning

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten — The United People’s party has issued a call on the community to “let democracy reign in our country” following the stoning of the candidates on the St. Maarten Christian Party SMCP in Belvedere, Wednesday night.

Leader of the UP Party and Member of Parliament Theodore Heyliger said he and the rest of the UP Board and candidates were utterly shocked and disappointed to learn that such malevolent behaviour could be mated out by people on the “friendly island.”

The UP party issued a press release on Thursday in which Heyliger was quoted saying, “Since the time of my grandfather the late Dr Claude Wathey, our country has had a proud and healthy political campaign Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Unknown Culprits Attacked Smcp Candidates And Supporters With Rocks During The Public Meeting On Wednesday Night

~SMCP attacked at Belvedere public meeting -party refuses to be silenced~

BELVEDERE, Sint Maarten — The St. Maarten Christian Party condemns in the strongest possible terms the use of projectiles and missiles that were hurled at party candidates during a meeting in Belvedere on Wednesday night.

At about 9:15 pm huge rocks were flung over the perimeter fence of the Belvedere Community Centre from a dark area sending party supporters and onlookers scampering for cover Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Unknown Culprits Attacked Smcp Candidates And Supporters With Rocks During The Public Meeting On Thursday Night

~SMCP attacked at Belvedere public meeting -party refuses to be silenced~

BELVEDERE, Sint Maarten — The St. Maarten Christian Party condemns in the strongest possible terms the use of projectiles and missiles that were hurled at party candidates during a meeting in Belvedere on Thursday night.

At about 9:15 pm huge rocks were flung over the perimeter fence of the Belvedere Community Centre from a dark area sending party supporters and onlookers scampering for cover Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Minister Opposes Re-Division Of Coast Guard’S Expenses

THE HAGUE--Dutch Minister of Defence Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert advised on Wednesday against the two motions of Party for Freedom PVV in the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament to have a new division key for the expenditures of the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard.

Prime Ministers Of Barbados & Jamaica Hold Talks

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Prime Minister of Barbados, Freundel Stuart and Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness today discussed the state of bilateral relations between the two countries via telephone.

The discussions took place against the background of two recent incidents related to Jamaican travellers to Barbados and came a day after Prime Minister Stuart received the Letter of Introduction of the new non-resident High Commissioner of Jamaica to Barbados, His Excellency David Prendergast, at his Ilaro Court residence Read more

Tzu Chi Continues Rice Relief, 611 Bags Of Rice Given To 605 Families

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation continued its massive “love rice” relief distribution programme in August donating 611 bags of rice to 605 families around the island in that month.

The foundation estimates that the number of family members that will benefit from last month’s relief is almost doubled at 1,735. Each bag of rice weighs 10 kilograms. August rice distribution brings the total amount of rice Tzu Chi has distributed since the programme started just over two months ago to1,141 bags of rice to 1,084 families.

  The relief effort in August was possible thanks to the participation of the foundation’s committed volunteers who set aside time to visit families in the various districts to make the distribution Read more

Freedom Of The Seas Cancels Due To Anticipated Inclement Weather In The North Eastern Caribbean

PORT ST. MAARTEN – Port St. Maarten has been informed that the scheduled visit of Freedom of the Season on Thursday, August 25 has been cancelled due to the anticipation of inclement weather expected in the North Eastern Caribbean in the coming days.

The measure was taken out of abundance of safety by the cruise line Royal Caribbean for their passengers, crew and the vessel.

Port St Read more

Regional Media Group Urges St Vincent To Rethink Cybercrime Legislation

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The regional umbrella media group — the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM) — yesterday expressed concern about a push by St Vincent and the Grenadines to address legitimate issues associated with harmful online content through legislation.

The ACM said that such a move “tramples on important principles associated with freedom of expression and freedom of the press”.

It noted that some of its international partners, including the International Press Institute (IPI), Reporters Without Borders, and the Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD), have recently addressed in fair detail offending sections of the Cybercrime Bill of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“We endorse their positions on such matters Read more

Alexander, Usp To Distribute Constitution To Population

~ Education is Emancipation ~

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Lisa Alexander, who will be contesting the upcoming September 26 Parliamentary Elections with the United St. Maarten Party (USP), has committed herself to distributing printed copies of the Constitution of St Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Alexander, Usp To Distribute Constitution To Population

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Lisa Alexander, who will be contesting the upcoming September 26 Parliamentary Elections with the United St. Maarten Party (USP), has committed herself to distributing printed copies of the Constitution of St Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Education is Emancipation 

Lisa Alexander, who will be contesting the upcoming September 26 Parliamentary Elections with the United St. Maarten Party (USP), has committed herself to distributing printed copies of the Constitution of St Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Hanson Recaps On Collectivité Projects In Bastille Day Speech

MARIGOT--Security, rehabilitation of Marigot town centre, the waterfront development project and other improvements formed part of President Aline Hanson’s general speech during the official Bastille Day ceremony on Thursday.

  She said the beautification of Marigot included opening up the alley next to the Methodist Church on Rue de la Liberté that leads to the waterfront, renovating the square outside the Post Office and demolishing the former Gendarmerie building on Rue de la Liberté, projects that will improve the circulation of pedestrians and open up better views to the waterfront.

  On the waterfront development, she said she was convinced St Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

The Silver Lining Of A Disastrous Six Years Of Country Status!

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Today, after I washed towels, cleaned my fan, made milk pops for the kids (well, actually I fight for them also) and cooked lunch for my family, of course I started reflecting on St. Maarten and the problems facing us as a people. These thoughts are ever present in my mind.

In the past 6 years, we had 5 governments, which included various combinations of the same groups of persons, which have failed to demonstrate the moral fortitude and maturity required to run this new status.

Initially everyone, including myself, saw this as a ridiculous situation and a political nightmare, but I think we need to start to see it as a “blessing” in disguise Read more

Dp Leader Calls On St. Maarten'ers To Get The Emancipation Spirit

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - On Friday, July 1st, Emancipation Day was celebrated for the 5th consecutive year on the island with a host of activities at the Emilio Wilson Park.

During the celebration and in observation, many of the speakers spoke of the importance of the day for St. Maarten and its people, and for leader of the Democratic Party, Chairlady of Parliament, the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams, this was no exception.

In echoing this sentiment, she spoke of the need for the entire community of St Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

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

---

Candidates in this article:

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

---

Candidates in this article:

Up Membership Elects New Board Members For 2016-2018. Upbeat And Ready

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The United People’s Party (UP) Congress elected a 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 as follows: President Silvia Meyers-Olivacee; Vice President Tatiana Arrindell; Treasurer Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Is Sint Maarten Legalizing Prostitution?

On January 28, 2016, an article in The Daily Herald reported that effective immediately and due to a court ruling, which stated that the old resident and work permits issued to exotic dancers by the St. Maarten Government amounted to “conspiracy in human slavery,” according to international standards, no new permits would be issued to club owners.

The ruling basically says that the St. Maarten government for decades has been involved as a conspirator in committing crimes in the area of human slavery Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- On January 28, 2016 an article in the Daily Herald reported that effective immediately and due to a court ruling, which stated that the old resident and work permit issued to Exotic Dancers by the Sint Maarten Government amounted to “conspiracy in human slavery” according to international standards, no new permits would be issued to club owners.
The ruling basically says that the Sint Maarten government for decades has been involved as a conspirator in committing crimes in the area of human slavery Read more

Remember Emancipation,
When, Where and Why?
by His Excellency Governor E.B. Holiday
Delivered on the Occasion of the Observance of the
153rd anniversary of Emancipation Day

July 1, 2016
Emilio Wilson Estate,
Sint Maarten

My Fellow Sint Maarteners,
Good Afternoon,
And happy Emancipation Day. I say happy because today we celebrate a triumph of freedom, symbolizing an end of an unpleasant and the beginning of a new promising chapter in our history.
Since 2012, I have talked to you on various topics for Emancipation Day Read more

Fellow St. Maarteners,
Residents of our beloved island,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

Good afternoon.
As we gather here once again on these haloed grounds of the Emilio Wilson Park, with the flamboyant tree or July tree in full bloom, we should remember when this place was a plantation where, according to some accounts, One Tete Lokhay, that female freedom fighter of immortal memory, came ransacking for food to feed some of our enslaved ancestors she had helped escape into freedom.

We all know the price she had to pay for her courage and bravery: they cut off one of her breasts to deter others from following in her footsteps.

She may not have saved as many enslaved ancestors as Harriet Tubman did with the Underground Railroad, however, I'm sure like Tubman, she could have saved many more had they realized they were enslaved.

Emancipation is about freedom and freedom is the birthright of every human being Read more

Minister Silveria Jacobs Emancipation Day Address

Black National Anthem
"Lift every voice and sing Till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of Liberty; Let our rejoicing rise, High as the list'ning skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us,
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won.

Stony the road we trod, Bitter the chastening rod, Felt in the days when hope unborn had died; Yet with a steady beat, Have not our weary feet Come to the place for which our fathers died

We have come over a way that with tears has been watered, We have come treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered, Out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way; Thou who has by Thy might Led us into the light, Keep us forever in the path, we pray.

Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee, Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forgot Thee, Shadowed beneath Thy hand, may we forever stand, True to our God, true to our native land."
- James Weldon Johnson

Having learned this song as a young adult during Caribbean History, it touches my soul every time I hear it and I am reminded of the battle that was fought for freedom.
Today July 1st 2016 as we celebrate Emancipation Day for only the 5th time- I call on all people to remember the atrocities of the past, of how a people were enslaved and fought to be free, declared themselves free and today can say we have achieved what our ancestors have dreamed, prayed and fought for Read more