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Holiday says MPs play critical role to foster good governance

~ MPs sworn in ~

HARBOUR VIEW--The fifteen Members of Parliament (MPs) elected during the August 29 Parliamentary Elections took their oaths to serve in the presence of Governor Eugene Holiday on Friday.

Sworn in were United People's (UP) party MPs Theo Heyliger, Franklin Meyers, Silvio Matser, Tamara Leonard, Maurice Lake, Lloyd Richardson and Johan "Janchi Leonard; Democratic Party (DP) MPs Sarah Wescot-Williams and Cornelius de Weever; United St Read more

15 New Mps Take The Oath Friday

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The swearing in ceremony of the 15 parliamentarians to govern the country for the period 2014/2018 took place on Friday morning.

The ceremony was held at the Governor's office at Harbor View. Taking the oath were members of the National Alliance William Marlin, Silveria Jacobs, George Pantophlet and Christopher Emanuel, the United People Party, Theo Heyliger, Dr Read more

Sarah, Leona join UP/De Weever to form broad-based government

PHILIPSBURG--Outgoing Prime Minister and Democratic Party (DP) leader Sarah Wescot-Williams and United St. Maarten Party Member of Parliament (MP)-elect Leona Marlin-Romeo have joined the United People's (UP) party/De Weever coalition to form a broad-based government for 2014-2018.

The two new coalition members signed on to the existing UP/De Weever governing accord as "addendum two and three" on Thursday, paving the way for a majority of 10 seats in Parliament.

The news of, in particular, Marlin-Romeo joining the coalition comes after much speculation about this possibility taking place even after she publicly had denied any such intentions Read more

Coup d'état by the Dutch Second Chamber

Dear Editor,

Noticeably was that one day after the Parliamentary Election that was held on August 29, that some members of the Second Dutch Chamber were already happy to know that a three-party government was formed and was very quick to let the world know of their preference.

It makes me wonder if they were involved in the Parliamentary election from the start.

Quick to notice also was the fact that after such three-party government formation was mentioned and known there was no accusation and witch-hunt for the leader of the United People's (UP) party Read more

style="text-align: center;">Rumors are unfounded --- Leona Marlin Romeo

PHILIPSBURG:--- SMN News received information from certain members of the United Peoples Party (UPP) who said that they will be getting the support of Member of Parliament (elect) Leona Marlin whom they said promised them that she will declare herself independent after being sworn in as a Member of Parliament and she would then support the UPP/de Weever coalition.
When contacted by SMN News on Thursday MP Leona Marlin (elect) said that she has no intention of leaving the political party she was elected on Read more

Thompson Concerned About Economic And Environmental Sustainability

St. Maarten –Rueben Thompson of the United St. Maarten party expressed his concerns for St. Maarten’s future environmental and economic sustainability under the governance of current Minister of Vromi Maurice Lake and the newly-formed UP coalition, which will constitute the new government, saying, “We’re slaughtering the goose that lays the golden egg.”

“I’m very concerned about the plans for the protection of our natural and cultural heritage Read more

Parliament Takes Vorst Estate Purchase Out Of 2014 Budget

St. Maarten – The Parliament approved a motion to take a $5.5 million provision for the purchase of the Vorst Estate out of an amendment to the 2014 budget with 7 votes to 6. This blocks the purchase of the land, for which Vromi-Minister Maurice Lake signed an agreement in February of this year, but it does not absolve the country of liability towards the Vorst-family, because the Court in First Instance has already ruled that the purchase-agreement Lake signed is a valid one.

The meeting to handle the budget amendment has a long history Read more

Vorst land purchase to be omitted from 2014 budget amendment

~ Roy's amendment to budget amendment passed ~

PHILIPSBURG--An amendment to remove the purchase of the Vorst Estate property from a budget amendment tabled by Finance Minister Martin Hassink was passed during a public plenary session of parliament on Monday.

It was the third time the meeting had been convened to handle this and other issues. The first two meetings were cancelled due to lack of quorum. The motion, which was tabled by Democratic Party (DP) Member of Parliament (MP) Roy Marlin, was passed by seven of MPs voting in favour of the amendment and six voting against it.

Supporting the motion were author Roy Marlin, National Alliance (NA) MPs William Marlin, Hyacinth Richardson, George Pantophlet and Louie Laveist and Independent MPs Frans Richardson and Romain Laville Read more

Ex-Formateur William Marlin: “Matter Of Time Before We See Another Shift”

St. Maarten – “It is a matter of time before you will see another shift,” former formateur William Marlin said at a press conference yesterday in answer to a question from this newspaper about political instability. “There is not a problem with the system, but there are too many who approach this like, I have my seat and I am going to peddle it to the highest bidder Read more

Bewilderment In Dp About Appointment Informateurs

St. Maarten – Democratic Party leader Sarah Wescot-Williams used air quotes yesterday afternoon to express her bewilderment about Governor Holiday’s decision to appoint two informateurs on  Thursday, after UP-leader Theo Heyliger’s presentation of a coalition-agreement signed by eight elected members of the new parliament.

When the DP, together with the National Alliance and the United St Read more

Mp William Marlin Gives Thoughts On Coalition Of Three

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Former Formatuer, Member of Parliament and leader of the National Alliance, the Honorable William Marlin held a press conference on Sunday.

The reason was to provide the media with information regarding the latest political situation on the island.

Whilst speaking at the press conference on Sunday, Mr Read more

William says too many use their parliamentary seats for leverage

~ 'Just a matter of time before another shifting' ~

PHILIPSBURG--"The sad reality" of politics in St. Maarten is that too many persons "peddle off" their parliamentary seats "to the highest bidder" and use their seat for leverage, former formateur William Marlin said on Sunday.

Marlin said he was not specifically referring to the trading of seats for financial gain, but the use of one's seat for opportunity, though he said he has heard about offers being made.

Marlin was at the time speaking at a press conference Sunday called to address the events leading up to the National Alliance/Democratic Party/ United St Read more

style="text-align: center;">Work Group worked hard in preparing a Governing Program

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the National Alliance William Marlin who was appointed formateur by Governor Eugene Holiday to form the next government for 2014 - 2018 finally cleared the air on Sunday at a press conference. Marlin was appointed by the Governor shortly after the August 29th, 2014 Parliamentary Elections when the National Alliance, Democratic Party and the United St Read more

Mps Prefer Trip To Panama To Parliament Meeting

St. Maarten – It was to be expected, but it still was a sight for sore eyes when the rescheduled meeting of Parliament yesterday morning to handle an amendment to the 2014 budget did not get a quorum. Only MPs Hyacinth Richardson and George Pantophlet (National Alliance), Roy Marlin (DP) and Parliament President Gracita Arrindell (UP) were present Read more

Dp Leader Tells Press Minister De Weever Still To Inform Dp Party About Departure

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - In light of the ongoing political situation on the island, the Democratic Party of St. Maarten held a press conference on Sunday.

During the press conference which was held at the Holland House Hotel, Prime Minister and leader of the Democratic Party, the Honorable Sarah W Williams informed members of the media that an agreement between the number 2 candidate on the slate of the party, Minister of Health, Social Affairs and Labor, the Honorable Cornelius de Weever and the United People Party of Member of Parliament, the Honorable Theo Heyliger has been signed.

However, to date, Mr Read more

Mp William Marlin Makes Public Governing Accord

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The governing accord which was worked out by a workgroup of the National Alliance, Democrat Party and the United St. Maarten (US) Party and with the assistance of Bearing Point, was made public on Sunday afternoon.

The highly anticipated document was released during a press conference on Sunday afternoon which was called for by the leader of the National Alliance MP William Marlin.

The governing document which was put together by the workgroup of the three political parties is entitled "Open and Stable Government, The governing program 2014 – 2018".

The National Alliance Leader MP William Marlin stated that the National Alliance, the Democratic Party and the United St Read more

Budget amendment meet called off again due to lack of quorum

PHILIPSBURG--The public plenary session of Parliament on amendments to the 2014 budget was cancelled for the second time on Friday, as only four Members of Parliament (MPs) showed up and signed in for the meeting.

The meeting was first called off on Wednesday, due to the lack of a quorum when seven MPs were signed in, though United People's (UP) party MPs and Independent MP Dr. Lloyd Richardson had been in the building.

Present at Friday's session were National Alliance (NA) MPs Hyacinth Richardson and George Pantophlet, Democratic Party (DP) MP Roy Marlin and United People's (UP) party MP Gracita Arrindell Read more

No quorum for budget amendment meeting

~ UP, Dr. Richardson, Illidge, De Weever absent ~

PHILIPSBURG--The public plenary session of Parliament on amendments to the 2014 budget was cancelled on Wednesday due to the lack of a quorum, as only seven Members of Parliament (MPs) were signed in.

Parliament Press Secretary Roddy Heyliger said in a press release last night that the session had been rescheduled to Friday at 10:00am.

At least eight MPs are needed for the meeting to proceed Read more

New coalition said imminent

PHILIPSBURG--Widespread but unconfirmed reports on Wednesday indicated that a new coalition government with a one-seat majority is in the making between the United People's (UP) party with its seven seats and Democratic Party (DP) candidate and incumbent Health Minister Cornelius de Weever.

It could not be ascertained whether De Weever has severed ties with DP, as up to early yesterday Wescot-Williams said she had not been informed of such, although he had indicated that he no longer wanted a ministerial post and would retain his parliamentary seat (see related story).

According to reports, De Weever has agreed to form a coalition with UP Read more

Holiday starts new consultations after end of ‘Marlin’ formation

PHILIPSBURG--Governor Eugene Holiday started new formation talks on Thursday after United People's (UP) party leader Theodore Heyliger submitted a signed "coalition agreement" for the governing period 2014-2018.

The agreement was signed by UP's seven elected Members of Parliament (MPs) and Democratic Party (DP) MP-elect Cornelius de Weever.

Holiday said in a press release that in view of these developments, National Alliance (NA) leader William Marlin had informed him that the majority in Parliament necessary for the formation of the planned NA/DP/US Party coalition government no longer existed Read more

>HARBOUR VIEW:--- On Thursday September 25, 2014, His Excellency Governor Eugene B. Holiday met with the leader of the United People's Party, Mr. Theodore E. Heyliger. During the meeting Mr. Theodore E. Heyliger presented the Governor a coalition agreement for the period 2014-2018 for the governing of Sint Maarten. This agreement has been signed by the seven elected members to Parliament of the UPP and elected member to Parliament Mr Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- With the current developments concerning the formation of a new government where incumbent Minister of Health and Labor also Member of Parliament (elect) Cornelius de Weever has led on the people of St. Maarten including his party leader and the leaders of the National Alliance and the United St. Maarten Party the question that comes to mind is "who really is making big mistakes"?
MP de Weever made everyone on St Read more

Governor Starts New Consultations After End Of Marlin Formation

HARBOUR VIEW, Sint Maarten – On Thursday September 25, 2014, His Excellency Governor Eugene B. Holiday met with the leader of the United People's Party, Mr. Theodore E. Heyliger.

During the meeting Mr. Theodore E. Heyliger presented the Governor a coalition agreement for the period 2014-2018 for the governing of Sint Maarten.

This agreement has been signed by the seven elected members to Parliament of the UPP and elected member to Parliament Mr Read more

Rumors Run Amok In Local Politics: Coalition May Fall Apart With De Weever’S Departure

Finance Minister Martin Hassink confers with National Alliance leader William Marlin while (from left) Frans Richardson and Romain Laville look on Read more