SXMElections.com

Cooperation with French St. Martin seen as way forward

GREAT BAY:--- Cooperation with the French side of St. Maarten is a key component for St. Maarten, in its ongoing rebuilding and development efforts. This is a prevalent sentiment of St. Maarten following its recent attendance of high-level meetings held in Brussels.

At the invitation of the Association of the Overseas Countries and Territories of the European Union (OCTA), St. Maarten attended the 3rd Ministerial Energy Summit in Brussels, on December 6th and 7th Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

The Democratic Party has been one of the longest-serving parties in the history of St. Maarten. We have had our ups and downs, but we have been there for the people of St. Maarten, now more than ever before. Our main goal was and continues to be, "how can we make our island a better place for the people of St. Maarten".
To hear a political party, who welcomed the leader of the Democratic Party as the chairlady in one breathe and denounce her in the next, say some of the most unprofessional things is a shame to say the least Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

All is well, that ends well, one could quickly say, following the news that the government of St. Maarten finally signed the agreement with the Netherlands on the border control. However, we are not at the end of this “stand-off”, that started with Prime Minister Marlin’s blunt refusal to even discuss the preconditions set by the Dutch government to the release of reconstruction funds. A lot of valuable time has been lost.
And the government continues to spend money it does not have Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Fellow St. Martiners,

This St. Martin Day is like no other that we have celebrated since this holiday was established jointly by two St. Martin patriots in 1959, the late Dr. Hubert Petit and Dr. Claude Wathey. Their intention, as I understand it, was to bring all the people of the island together, from Great Bay to Marigot, from Middle Region to Hameau du Pont, from French Quarter to Dutch Quarter, and from Simpson Bay to Galisbay, St. Martin people from all four corners of the island, to join hands and hearts together to celebrate our St Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Recent accusations that Minister Lee is delaying the payments to truckers, heavy equipment operators and workers that are cleaning up the island after hurricane Irma, is simply not correct. The accusations are a shameful attempt to look for a scapegoat that allows them to diffuse blame as well as serving a political objective of tarnishing the reputation of Minister Lee. “I have absolutely no problem paying companies or workers that have participated in cleaning up the island Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- The board of the United St. Maarten (US) party said it is very disappointed in MP Chanel Brownbill for the decision he took despite having stood by him through everything and involved him in even more. Brownbill ran on the slate of the US party in the last Parliamentary Elections.
The board explained that all effort was made to surround MP Brownbill, a new MP, with the assistance and guidance he needs to be successful in Parliament Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

~ Members of Parliament should begin telling the truth ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of VROMI Christopher Emmanuel lashed back at Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams on Wednesday during the weekly Council of Ministers press briefing Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

MARIGOT:--- President Daniel Gibbs announced since taking office in April 2017 that the wreck of the boat El Maud in Galisbay would soon disappear. Scheduled well before Hurricane IRMA, this public contract was awarded last July to the Dutch company Koole BV for € 395,000. Work began in mid-October and is now complete.
The ship El Maud ran aground 100 meters from the shore, about 4.5 meters deep, during the passage of Hurricane Lenny, in November 1999 Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Curacao's Economy Shrinks In The First Quarter Of 2017.

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao:--- The Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten reports that the economy of Curacao during the first quarter of 2017 with an estimated 0.9% has shrunk compared to the first quarter of 2016. The economic downturn in the first quarter of 2017 was accompanied by higher inflationary pressures, mainly as due to an increase in gasoline and electricity prices. Inflation increased 0.0% in the first quarter of 2016 to 1.7% in the first quarter of 2017.

The analysis by sector in the Bank's first quarterly report of 2017 shows that the shrinkage of real Curaçao's GDP was mainly due to a decline in activities the private sector Read more

ORANJESTAD, Aruba:--- The Board of financial supervision Aruba (CAft) considers the compliance with the budgetary norms for 2017 and later years crucial in decreasing the government debt of Aruba and making the public finance sustainable. This is what Raymond Gradus indicated during his first visit to Aruba as CAft chairman. For 2017 a strict supervision is essential to comply with the projected measures to reduce the financing deficit. Considering the results of the first half year, CAft is concerned about the disappointing income and increasing expenses Read more

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao:--- During its visit to Curaçao, the Board of financial supervision Curaçao and Sint Maarten (Cft) indicated that the implementation of the 2017 budget was under great pressure. Revenue enhancing and tax mitigation measures are necessary to prevent a budget deficit in 2017. Challenges are related to lagging tax revenues en social funds premiums and the control of expenses. In addition, the stimulation of the economy is an important challenge.

Probable positive closing of 2016 budget
The year 2016 appears to have closed with a positive result on the ordinary service, on account of incidental windfalls Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister The Honorable William Marlin of Sint Maarten releases the following briefing on the infrastructure, along with words of thanks. Please note that all was current at press time and is subject to change as work and talks progress.

ROADS
Main roads are cleared and work continues on inner roads to the districts.

ELECTRICITY / WATER
Several districts have received electricity and water thus far Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

MARIGOT:--- The president of the Collectivité of Saint-Martin, Mr. Daniel Gibbs, wishes to make a statement about the situation on the island since the passage of Hurricane IRMA, on September 6th, 2017.
Phase 1 of the post-hurricane organization consisted in managing, on the one hand, the urgency in terms of taking care of the wounded, sick or distressed, but also the tourists by organizing the evacuation from the island Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Exclusive: An Assessment On Healthcare On St. Maarten.

SZV funds being drained; Bricks and Blocks will not improve the Quality of Care on St. Maarten.

PHILIPSBURG:--- In this article SMN News will go into details to highlight the current status on quality of Healthcare on St. Maarten and what the Minister of Public Health Emil Lee has done thus far to change the gloom and doom facing the people of St Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

ARUBA:--- Twelve years after Natalee Holloway's disappearance on a graduation trip to Aruba, her father is hoping a recent discovery will yield a major break in the case of what happened to his daughter.

Dave Holloway and private investigator T.J. Ward announced on TODAY Wednesday that an 18-month investigation has led them to discover human remains that are being DNA tested to confirm if they are Natalee's.

"When we determined these remains were human, I was shocked,'' Holloway told Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Democratic Party would like to extend a warm welcome home to those who spent the summer abroad and extends best wishes to all students, teachers, staff of learning institutions islandwide, and surely to parents too, for the new academic year.
We believe that parents play an important, perhaps the most important role in this equation. We do so with genuine appreciation and respect for all that parents must sacrifice and do to ensure their children's success, sometimes working two, even three jobs to pay school fees, books, uniforms and more; not to mention after-school care and activity costs, which increase if the child engages in some sport or form of art (sports gear, musical instruments etc.).
Of the expressions of God’s steadfast and abiding love here on earth, that of a parent is surely one of them Read more

THE HAGUE:--- On Monday, July 31st, 2017, Minister Doran-York addressed the 34 Sint Maarten students after their in The Netherlands.
The same as last year, the Minister saw to it that the Cabinet was well represented while forming part of the welcoming team at the Airport.
Also present from the Cabinet were Deputy Minister Hasani Ellis, Cabinet Director Irene Simmons along with other members of the Cabinet waiving the Sint Maarten's Flag as the students exited the arrival hall.
Minister Doran-York addressed the students during an introductory meeting at the Steinberger Hotel, where they were transported to, immediately after their arrival.
The Minister and her staff are looking forward towards officially welcoming the students to the Cabinet upcoming Friday, August 4th where they will be addressed by Deputy Minister Hasani Ellis.
Below is the text of the address of the Minister Plenipotentiary Henrietta Doran-York to the students on Monday.

"First of all, I would like to thank the organizing body of this event, the USC, (Unified Sint Maarten Connection) for the invitation to address you here today Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Pond Island - St. Maarten’s incumbent telecommunication provider, TelEm Group, has posted a profit for the year 2016. The actual figures have been presented to the company’s Supervisory Board of Directors and the Government shareholder in recent weeks for their consideration and review and are not being made public at this time.
The announcement was made to TelEm Group personnel in a brief internal announcement Friday, in which Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Kendall Dupersoy, and Chief Financial officer (CFO) Mrs Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Pond Island:---TelEm Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Kendall Dupersoy, is advising “caution” to an idea coming out of a recently concluded telecommunication conference in the Dominican Republic, that St. Maarten can enhance its telecommunication services to residents and visitors by offering free Wi-Fi throughout the island.

The idea was put forward by Minister of TEATT, Melissa Arrindell-Doncher during the recently ended 33rd annual Conference and Trade Exhibition of CANTO, in the Dominican Republic, and repeated in at least one online media outlet this week.

“I am all for making telecommunication services affordable for TelEm Group customers, however, I cannot see how we can benefit by offering free wi-fi “spots” to the millions of visitors who come to the island each year, who are currently paying for this service,” said Mr Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Situation At Nipa Not Conducive To Education --- No Threats Took Place In My Presence --- Andrea Gibson.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Job Coach Coordinator of NIPA Andrea Gibson said in a statement to SMN News on Monday that RN teacher Farrah Busby Richardson did not make any threats to anyone last week Tuesday while she was in her office. Gibson said she cannot say if threats were made anywhere else however, she said that the teacher and the Social Worker Ms. Peterson were in her office for a period of time and at no time either of them threatened each other. Mrs. Gibson said that from her office Busby-Richardson left the school premises.
Gibson who has been working at NIPA for the past three years said the current state of affairs at the learning institution is not conducive to education.
SMN News tried to reach the social worker Mrs Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Students cried as board tried to sabotage their examination.

PHILIPSBURG:--- An RN teacher at NIPA Farrah Busby Richardson had to face police on Tuesday whose students were taking their final examinations in order to graduate.
Police showed up at the school when they were called by the chairman of the supervisory board Antonio Aventurin to escort the teacher out of the school because she submitted her resignation letter to the school stating that her resignation goes into effect as of July 8th after her students finalize their examination on July 7th.
According to information provided to SMN News when police reached the school, they met with Aventurin and was asked why he wanted the teacher removed, after given full explanation police informed Aventurin that he has no grounds to remove the teacher from the school and they left.
The situation on Tuesday created a huge turmoil for the students that were busy taking their examinations, some even called their parents, one parent even went to NIPA screaming saying that the board of NIPA is busy ruining her child’s examination Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- In addition to boycotting the establishing of the Integrity Chamber, Parliament appears to also be boycotting the formalization of a code of conduct. Last week, the Chairlady of Parliament had to cancel the meeting of the Central Committee because there was no quorum when the second agenda point, namely a parliamentary code of conduct, was to be discussed. Isn’t it odd that there was a quorum for the first agenda point i.e. the Anti-Poverty Platform, but after a short break, only seven members of parliament remained for the continuation of this meeting! Despite the Chairlady’s request for at least one member to come back inside the meeting hall and despite the official thirty minutes wait to see if any of the MP’s outside of the meeting hall would adhere to her request, the meeting had to be called off, due to a lack of quorum Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Leadercast: A Phenomenal Success! Over 160 Registrants At Leadercast Victorious Livingsxm 2017.

BELAIR:--- “Awesome.” “Wonderful.” “Inspiring.” “Exceptional.” “Well Organized;” are a few of the words attendees at Leadercast Live 2017, used to describe their experience. Leadercast, the largest one-day global leadership conference, hosted locally by Victorious Living Foundation via live simulcast for the fifth consecutive year, attracted over 165 registrants.
The theme for Leadercast 2017 was “Powered by Purpose.” Attendees from all walks of life, ages, and ethnic backgrounds gathered at the Belair Community Centre to be empowered, enlightened and inspired Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

BONAIRE:--- In connection with the circulation of false news via various (social) media, on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2017 a press conference was held by the Triangle Bonaire on developments in the investigation into the death of Adriana Morales de Florencio. The case has been given the name Saturnus.
Lead Investigator, A. Braaf, gave an explanation on the time line from when Adriana Morales de Florencio was reported missing Read more