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Mp Pantophlet Addresses Changes To Casino Policy

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Ted Richardson announced on Wednesday that he has annulled changes made to the Casino Policy where four additional casinos would have been allowed to operate in the country.

The annulment means that the Casino Policy that has governed the sector in the past years remains as is – status quo.

"In light of the multiple misinterpretations and misconception of the entire issue surrounding the amendment of the Casino Policy, intended to primarily increase Government income, I have taken the decision to permanently annul the entire process and keep the state of the industry as is.

"Any other review of the present Casino Policy will be left to the discretion of the next Minister of TEATT and to the upcoming Council of Ministers.

"The intention from the onset was timed to be in accordance with the Gaming Control Board, that has been signed and on its way to the different departments and advisory institutions for review and ratification.

"It must be clearly noted though that the intended amendment, that is now annulled, was never officially published, as it never went to the Council of Ministers for approval nor to the Cabinet of the Governor for approval and signature," Minister Hon Read more

George wants report on gov’t-owned companies

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament George Pantophlet wants government to ensure government-owned companies comply with their responsibilities to the shareholders – the people of St. Maarten. To that end he wants a report from government on whether companies are paying their concession fees.

"Looking at the challenging financial times and the balancing of the 2015 Budget it is only prudent that all avenues with regard to securing revenues are exhausted," Pantophlet said in a press statement issued on Monday.

Pantophlet wants an update on what government is doing to collect the concession fees from Princess Juliana International Airport SXM which, to date has not paid any concession fee.

St Read more

USM honours faculty and staff at 25th anniversary celebration

~ Special award for Danny's parents, Smith ~

PHILIPSBURG--University of St. Martin (USM) honoured a long list of staffers and faculty for their efforts in moulding students over the years during its 25th anniversary celebrations on Friday evening.

A special award was presented to Vice President of USM Foundation and the institution's first Director Pastor Wycliffe Smith, as well as to the parents of Treasurer of USM Foundation Danny Ramchandani, for allowing their only son to come to St Read more

DP moves to ‘expel’ De Weever from ranks

PHILIPSBURG--The Democratic Party (DP) has moved to expel Member of Parliament (MP) Cornelius de Weever from its ranks. The party has given De Weever until 5:00pm today, Friday, to appeal his expulsion if he so wishes.

De Weever, who is off-island, has not responded to requests for a comment on what he intends to do in the face of his pending expulsion.

De Weever was informed of his pending expulsion from St Read more

style="text-align: center;">UPP candidates fuming because they got no Ministerial Positions

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United Peoples Party (UPP) and formateur Theodore Heyliger has shuffled the deck of cards again as he tries to form the next government Read more

Pantophlet wants updates on short-term contract changes

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament (MP) George Pantophlet is calling on Ministers to give a long-overdue update on the amendment to the Civil Code to end the abuse of short-term labour contracts, the establishment of the Casino Gaming Board, the Dividend Policy and the Consumer Protection Agency.

Pantophlet said in a press statement Monday that they had had enough time to present to Parliament the changes or legislation for establishment of the various entities.

NA submitted draft amendments to Book VII of the Civil Code to correct the abuse of short-term labour contracts some 42 months ago.

Caretaker Labour Minister Cornelius de Weever has made "several changes" still in draft form to the relevant parts of the Civil Code and presented them to the Council of Ministers Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- Member of Parliament George Pantophlet said he has given the respective Ministers responsible for the following enough time to present them to Parliament. He is referring to the Initiative Law on the Amendment of Book 7 of the Civil Code to deal with the abuse of the short term contract which was started by the faction of the National Alliance some 42 months ago Read more

The St. Maarten Parliamentary Election Of August 29, 2014 Julio R. Romney

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The parliamentary election in St. Maarten on 29th of August marked a turbulent beginning to the new constituent state's political history.

The substantial loss of electorate support for the more seasoned (political) party leaders to second tier/ number two party members, the failure of only but two contesting candidates to receive the necessary electoral quota to secure a seat in parliament outright.

The eleventh hour of the appointed formateur to realize the formation of a prospective coalition government, with the subsequent appointment of two informateurs to facilitate a renewed attempt to garner political parties that are willing to come together and form a new prospective coalition government are but a few of the unanticipated consequences of the election.

Added to these and more startling was the Royal Decree issued (October 21, 2014) by the de facto Head of State i.e., the Kingdom Government/ the Kingdom Council of Ministers instructing the Governor of St Read more

André Bosman Fails To React – De Weever Takes Legal Action

St. Maarten – Member of Parliament Cornelius de Weever will take legal action against VVD-MP André Bosman who did not react to a summons to retract “erroneous, slanderous and defaming statements” before the deadline of last Monday at 5 p.m. On September 30, four different newspapers quoted Bosman as saying, “Heyliger simply paid De Weever.”

The remark refers to De Weever’s decision to withdraw his support for a coalition of the National Alliance and the United St Read more

Notary’S Rottweilers Kill Neighbor’S Dog

St. Maarten – Three Rottweilers killed a dog in Cul de Sac yesterday morning to the despair of its owner, Paula Diasz. The distraught owner posted a picture of her dog on Facebook: “Our Freddie, the loveliest sweetest dog ever, has been attacked this morning by three of our neighbor’s Rottweiler dogs. This is the third attack with two fatal endings.” Diasz wrote.

She identified the owners as notary Steeman and his wife Say Steeman-Yau, whom she described as “a politician with mottos like “stop animal cruelty” and “quiet neighborhood.”

Steeman-Yau was a candidate for the National Alliance in the elections last August, winning just 16 votes.

“They could not care less because they do not lock up their vicious, murderous dogs and therefore terrorize the neighborhood already for years,” Diasz wrote Read more

BIP law approved by Parliament Thursday

PHILIPSBURG--The first formal step in the establishment of the Bureau Intellectual Property (BIP) was cemented Thursday when Parliament approved the law regulating the bureau. All eleven Members of Parliament (MPs) present for the plenary session of Parliament individually voted to adopt the legislation.

The establishment of the bureau has been pending in the form of the draft legislation since the final days of the Netherlands Antilles Parliament. The draft was taken over by the St. Maarten Parliament upon the attainment of country-within-the-Dutch-Kingdom on October 10, 2010.

The meeting to approve this piece of legislation was before Parliament twice before, but the sessions had to be cancelled due to no quorum Read more

style="text-align: center;">Curacao Policy Advisor to be Appointed Minister of VSA by MP Lloyd Richardson

PHILIPSBURG:--- Two months and days after the August 29th Parliamentary Elections there is still no Government on St. Maarten and while the Governor of St. Maarten has extended the formation period for the UPP/De Weever/Marlin coalition to appoint a Ministerial cabinet Read more

No quorum stalls meeting on Intellectual Property Bureau

PHILIPSBURG--Only six Members of Parliament (MPs) were signed in for the plenary session of Parliament to formalise the Intellectual Property Bureau on Wednesday afternoon, two short of the quorum of eight MPs needed for the meeting to start.

The meeting now will have to be reconvened by Chairwoman of Parliament MP Sarah Wescot-Williams within four days (four times 24 hours) as stipulated by Parliament's Rules of Order Read more

Youth Parliament wants more of a role in decision-making

PHILIPSBURG--The Youth Parliament wants a more active role in the decision-making process of the country.

A delegation of the Youth Parliament, headed by Dwayne Griffith, presented a motion requesting the possibility to make recommendations on the findings of the various integrity reports to the Parliament of St. Maarten on Tuesday afternoon in a Central Committee meeting in Parliament House.

The "emergency" meeting during which the motion was presented to the Parliament was requested by the Youth Members of Parliament (YMPs) Read more

Frans, William see discussion on integrity report as waste of time

PHILIPSBURG--Discussions in a Central Committee meeting of Parliament about the integrity reports from the Wit-Samson Committee and PricewaterhouseCoopers PwC was deemed a waste of time at this transition period between governments by United St. Maarten Member of Parliament (MP) Frans Richardson and National Alliance (NA) MP William Marlin.

The reports were referred for handling in a Central Committee meeting in the final meeting of the 2013-2014 Parliamentary year on October 9.

The discussions with Deputy Prime Minister/Justice Minister Dennis Richardson on Wednesday centred mostly on whether the reports should be before Parliament now or be handled when the new Council of Ministers is in place Read more

Mp Emmanuel Faces Lawsuit Over Bribery Allegations

St. Maarten – Rookie parliamentarian Christopher Emmanuel will be taken to court in summary proceedings for insulting and slandering E.T.M., attorney Cor Merx confirmed to this newspaper yesterday.

Last week Monday, Emmanuel stated in parliament that in 2010, he had been offered $80,000, but he did not say for what. In the 2010 campaign, Emmanuel was the number 14 candidate for the National Alliance Read more

St. Maarten Citizens even Politicians not cooperating with Investigators.

style="text-align: center;">Too many leaks and alignment with possible suspects and politicians.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Some departments of the justice chain on St. Maarten are now trying to investigate cases that surfaced days ago while they have several cases of alleged corruption lying on their desks taking dust. Even a judge accused the prosecution of "class justice" something the local population on St. Maarten have been crying out loud for years. The Landsrecherche that has been established on St Read more

Other Parties Stay Away From Protest Against Kingdom And Plasterk – Green March Against Instruction

St. Maarten– Between 300 and 400 people took part in the march People United for True Democracy organized yesterday afternoon in protest against the instruction from the Kingdom Council of Ministers to Governor Holiday for a stricter screening of candidate ministers – a handsome turnout with one flaw: only supporters of the United People’s party showed up.

UP party leader Theo Heyliger was there, as were his faction leader Franklin Meyers, MP Tamara Leonard and MP Lloyd Richardson Read more

Emmanuel ‘asked’ to make statement

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel said he was asked last week by "authorities" if he wanted to make a formal statement about being offered money to switch political parties.

He said on St. Maarten Radio Network's radio programme "The People's Voice" on Monday that he told the authorities he stood by his statements in Parliament a week ago Read more

What democracy?

Dear Editor,

What democracy was the march on Sunday held for? Was it for the democracy that this island never experienced? Those of us who have lived on this island for the last 5½ decades know that this island was never governed in a democratic manner. This island was ruled during the last 5½ decades, with the exception of a few years after 1979, by a clan. The members of this clan are of the firm belief that only the clan should run this island.

To achieve their goal, this clan has used and is still using unconventional methods Read more

Marchers call for ‘respect’ and end to Dutch ‘insult’

PHILIPSBURG--"We didn't vote for Bosman or Van Raak" and "Enough is enough. This is our country" were some of the messages on the placards carried by an estimated 200 marchers who took to the street Sunday afternoon to express their discontent with the Kingdom Council of Ministers' instruction to Governor Eugene Holiday to carry out what has been deemed an invasive, boundless screening into the lives of minister candidates.

The march started off from the ring road with the sizable group heading down W.J.A Read more

Committee For Action Plan On Integrity Reports: Parliament Calls On Governor Not To Execute Instruction

St. Maarten – The Parliament passed a motion yesterday that calls on governor Drs. Eugène Holiday “not to yield to the measure of instruction formulated by the Dutch government” and to instruct the government to establish a committee that will “study, evaluate and recommend” an action plan based on the findings of three integrity reports that are currently on the table.

With this motion, the Parliament sent a message to The Hague that it will not stand for interference in its internal affairs Read more

Heyliger: I never discussed money or moving for money with any MP

PHILIPSBURG--"No sitting MP in here or none of the ones that were just put out have I ever met with to discuss anything about money and about moving for money in government," United People's (UP) party leader Member of Parliament Theo Heyliger stated in Parliament on Wednesday afternoon.

Heyliger's name has been bandied in the community for some time now as having paid MPs to break with their political parties to join as coalition partners in an UP-led government.

He said he wanted to answer all of the talk about the exchange of money Read more

MPs unanimously reject instruction

~ Motion to be sent to UN Decolonisation Committee ~

PHILIPSBURG--Members of Parliament (MPs) unanimously adopted on Wednesday a motion rejecting the instruction handed down by the Kingdom Council of Ministers to Governor Eugene Holiday for the execution of a boundless and limitless investigation into the backgrounds of candidate ministers, their families, friends, business associates and others.

Parliament is not in agreement with the instruction from the Kingdom Council, because the screening of candidate ministers is "not flawed Read more