SXMElections.com

DP, CPA, OSPP still to submit donation list

~ Candidates urged to submit info by Feb. 13 ~

PHILIPSBURG--The Democratic Party (DP), Concordia Political Alliance (CPA) and One St. Maarten People Party (OSPP) have not yet submitted their donation registers for the August 29, 2014 Parliament Election to the Electoral Council Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Of the eight registered political parties only three of them submitted their donation registers before February 1st as is stipulated in the National Ordinance registration and finances of political parties. These political parties are the Citizens for Positive Change, the United People's Party and the Social Reform Party Read more

Editorial - Cost-effective

Friday's meeting of the Central Committee of Parliament on the non-payment of bills by Social and Health Insurance Fund SZV and government particularly to St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) ended soon after it started. Members agreed that a full picture of the situation in health care could not be gathered from the two ministers present alone and it was considered necessary to hear both SZV and SMMC as well.

Part of the concern that led to the National Alliance's request for such a meeting had also been addressed during the preceding debate on the 2015 budget Read more

Gov’t instructed to raise fee on money transfers

PHILIPSBURG--Increase or create an international transfer fee to be levied on money transfer services such as MoneyGram and Western Union was an instruction from Parliament to Finance Minister Martin Hassink. The motion was adopted by Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Plenary Session of Parliament dealing with the 2015 budget on Thursday evening.

Thirteen MPs voted for the motion.

MP Sarah Wescot-Williams (Democratic Party) voted against the motion, saying she could not support the piecemeal approach to changing the tax system Read more

Marlin changes his tune on leasing EWE to Rainforest

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) leader Member of Parliament William Marlin was in favour of leasing Emilio Wilson Estate to Rainforest Adventure for the creation of zip-line attraction when he was Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment an Infrastructure VROMI in July 2012.

Marlin's support for Rainforest could be seen clearly in an excerpt from the Minutes of the Council of Ministers meeting of July 5, 2012, United People's (UP) party leader Member of Parliament Theo Heyliger told Parliament Thursday in the Plenary Session on the budget Read more

Parliament adopts ‘skeleton budget’

PHILIPSBURG--Parliament passed the 2015 budget with an 11-4 vote on Thursday night with just two days to spare before the deadline set by the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT.

The budget had to be established in December 2014. Government asked CFT for more time and was given the deadline of January 31.

Voting for the budget were the 10 Members of Parliament supporting the coalition and former coalition member MP Sarah Wescot-Williams (Democratic Party (DP)) Read more

>THE CARIBBEAN:--- The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA), representing 32 National Hotel Associations across the region, has appointed hospitality and tourism industry veteran Frank J. Comito as the new CEO and Director General. He assumes the post March 9, 2015.
As CEO, Comito will work to raise CHTA's profile as the leader for the Caribbean hospitality industry and along with the CHTA Executive Committee and Board of Directors he will develop a strategic plan for the association that serves the needs of its entire membership comprised of over 600 hotels and 300 allied members Read more

Central Committee Meeting scheduled for Friday regarding Non-payment of bills by SZV and Government for health care.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Central Committee of Parliament will meet in public session on January 30 at the request of the National Alliance (NA) faction.

The Central Committee meeting is set for Friday at 10:00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda for the meeting is the non-payment of bills by the Social Health Insurance (SZV); the non-payment of premiums by Government to the SZV, and the consequences to health care in the country.

This meeting has been requested by NA Members of Parliament (MP) Hon Read more

Central Committee Meeting Scheduled For Friday Regarding Non-Payment Of Bills By Szv And Government For Health Care

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The Central Committee of Parliament will meet in public session on January 30 at the request of the National Alliance (NA) faction.

The Central Committee meeting is set for Friday at 10.00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda for the meeting is the non-payment of bills by the Social Health Insurance (SZV); the non-payment of premiums by Government to the SZV, and the consequences to health care in the country.

This meeting has been requested by NA Members of Parliament (MP) Hon Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams told reporters on Monday afternoon at a press conference that she is of the opinion that the deal with Rainforest Adventure to develop the Emilio Wilson Park is a done deal. "I believe this government has placed their stamp of approval on the project. This is my opinion because there is a lot not said when questions are being posed to Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs regarding this project, however, the people of St Read more

Mp Emmanuel Keynote Speaker At Plp Annual Party Convention On Statia Next Month

ORANJESTAD, St. Eustatius - The Progressive Labour Party on Sunday evening announced in a press release that the Party will be holding its Annual Party Convention on Thursday February 5th, 2015 under the theme: "PLP THE VOICE WE DESERVE".

The Keynote speaker for this event will be freshman member of Parliament of St. Maarten the Honourable Christopher Emmanuel of the National Alliance.

During the convention the PLP list of Candidates that will contest the March 18th, Island Council Election on St Read more

Budget heads to plenary session of Parliament

PHILIPSBURG--The Central Committee meeting of Parliament on the 2015 budget wrapped up late Friday night after a marathon session that started at 10:00am. The budget will now head to a plenary session of Parliament for final handling and voting. The meeting originally started on Thursday morning and was suspended on that night after Members of Parliament posed questions to the Council of Ministers.

The plenary session of Parliament is slated for next week.

Government needs to meet the deadline of January 31 for the establishment of the budget Read more

Silvio Matser files for appeal against tax-fraud conviction

PHILIPSBURG--United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) and local businessman Silvio Matser has filed for appeal against his tax-fraud conviction at the Court of First Instance.

Matser's lawyer, attorney-at-law Cor Merx, confirmed that his client had filed for appeal.

The Court on January 7, sentenced the first-term MP to 24 months, 18 of which were suspended, on three years' probation and 240 hours of community service Read more

Emmanuel not happy 2015 budget in Dutch

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel voiced his discontent about the 2015 draft budget being presented to Parliament in Dutch. He has "mixed feelings" about handling the budget, because he does not know the budget's content.

The majority of the country speaks English, the first-term MP said in the Central Committee meeting of Parliament dealing with the budget in Parliament House on Thursday Read more

William agrees with CFT’s lower budget assessment

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) leader Member of Parliament (MP) William Marlin says his party agrees with the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT estimate of the draft budget. CFT has tagged the budget at NAf Read more

Parliament Handles 2015 Draft Budget

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The 2015 draft budget was debated in the House of Parliament Thursday.

The draft 2015 National Budget is set at Naf.445.000.000 with investments and capital goods set at Naf.111.031.451.

Whilst speaking on the floor of parliament earlier on Thursday, Member of Parliament and leader of the National Alliance, the Honorable Read more

A total lack of moral principles

Dear Editor,

The lack of moral principles has changed our political landscape significantly, as politicians continue to gobble from the slop trough, while the rest of society is forced to watch in constant despair. After this recent episode there is nothing left to question anymore, and so our only source of consolation is education and self-reliance.

I like the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who said, "A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus, but a molder of consensus." This awesome orator and man of principle evoked the thoughts of his followers when he reminded them that, "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at a time of challenge and controversy." To conclude the wise teaching on this honourable man, he challenged them to take life in strides when he said so eloquently, "If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way." These guiding principles were his anchor, which enabled him to make such an impact throughout America and the entire world Read more

MPs emphasise need for information from govt

PHILIPSBURG--Parliament wants timely information from government when such is requested, especially on matters being handled in the Inter-Parliamentary Kingdom Consultation IPKO. This need was highlighted by United St. Maarten Party Member of Parliament (MP) Frans Richardson on Friday.

His recommendation was supported by other MPs in the debriefing meeting of Parliament's Permanent Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs and Kingdom Relations held in Parliament House Read more

Heyliger: NA’s call for Matser’s resignation ‘truly hypocritical’

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) elected members were "busy" last week trying to persuade United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament Silvio Matser "to leave UP in their attempt to cause problems in the UP-led coalition, says UP Leader MP Theo Heyliger Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The National Alliance said on Wednesday afternoon that Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs is clearly not in control of his cabinet, at the least, not as far as how to deal with Parliament.
During his first visit to Parliament the honorable Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs said that one thing he had learnt during his term as a State Secretary in the Government of the Netherlands Antilles was, that when a Minister or State Secretary is called to Parliament, you drop everything and appear before Parliament.
He said that because of this experience he had made sure to be in Parliament, even though he had just been sworn in a few days before.
Either the Prime Minister has not been able to convince certain Ministers or he had not yet discussed this with them.
The faction of the National Alliance said that a Central Committee meeting had been convened with Minister of Finance Martin Hassink on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd quarterly reports Read more

Na Calls On Finance Minister To Respect Parliament And Attend Meetings

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The National Alliance said on Wednesday afternoon that Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs is clearly not in control of his cabinet, at the least, not as far as how to deal with Parliament.

During his first visit to Parliament the honorable Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs said that one thing he had learnt during his term as a State Secretary in the Government of the Netherlands Antilles was, that when a Minister or State Secretary is called to Parliament, you drop everything and appear before Parliament.

He said that because of this experience he had made sure to be in Parliament, even though he had just been sworn in a few days before Read more

NA call for MP Matser’s ‘immediate’ resignation

PHILIPSBURG--The "immediate resignation" of United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Silvio Matser has been called for by the National Alliance (NA) Board.

The call, issued Tuesday, comes a week after the Court of First Instance sentenced the first-term MP to 24 months, 18 of which were suspended, on three years' probation and 240 hours of community service, for tax evasion Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The National Alliance has requested clarity from the Chairman of Parliament on the purpose of an informal meeting between the new Cabinet of Ministers and the Members of Parliament, termed a "meet and greet" upon the request of the Honorable Prime Minister Gumbs which was to be held on Monday January 12 at 9.30 am at Parliament and subsequently postponed.

Seeing the fact that the new cabinet is incomplete and that all current members are known to us, The National Alliance faction in Parliament would like to know the reason for this 'informal meeting' Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Board of the National Alliance calls for the immediate resignation of United People's Party Member of Parliament Mr. Silvio Matser. The National Alliance Board is of the opinion, that in light of the verdict that has been handed down to MP Matser by the Court on Wednesday January 7th, 2015, to 2 years for 'tax evasion', that the honorable thing to do would be to step down and relinquish his seat to the people of Sint Maarten.

Sint Maarten has faced extensive challenges in maintaining integrity in its Governance and considering that being elected to Parliament, the highest body in our governmental structure; it would be yet another gross injustice and ill representation of the people of Sint Maarten to have a convicted Member of Parliament continue to retain his seat in light of such a sentence.
This cannot be the state of 'readiness' that the United People's Party chanted to the people of Sint Maarten throughout the election period.

The board of the National Alliance believes that it is critical for the people of Sint Maarten to be reminded, that within 3 weeks after the Elections of 2014, the National Alliance, Democratic Party & the United St Read more