SXMElections.com

Is the Dutch government guilty by association?

Dear Editor,

Now that the dust has blown over, we finally have a government even though the people didn't vote for them. The Kingdom Council of Ministers indirectly appoints a cabinet for St. Maarten, first time in the history of the kingdom, with the blessing of the leader of the UP, Mr. Theodore Heyliger.

The leader of the UP, MP Theodore Heyliger succumb to the pressure of the Dutch government by first withdrawing his name as a candidate for Prime Minister of St Read more

We need a reduction in the fuel clause now

Dear Editor,

Please allow me some space in your newspaper to share OSPP’s written request, on December 19, 2014, to President of Parliament Dr. Lloyd Richardson, that a meeting be called with NV GEBE to discuss a reduction of the fuel clause in our energy bills. The fact that a new government was sworn in Friday and a new minister will assume the responsibility of energy is no excuse to delay a reduction in the fuel clause.

The cost of living on St Read more

OSPP instruction to Mr. Heyliger

Dear Editor,

It is the first time in the history of St. Maarten that it has taken such a long time to form a government. Nevertheless, we are at a point where the country is in serious need of a government that will work in the interest of the people. The campaigns are over and now it is time to work for the people.

Since the instruction was given to the Governor of St. Maarten on October 17, 2014, the Parliament of St. Maarten has met on numerous occasions to debate this issue. During this debate many statements were made by many Members of Parliament, but the statement that stood out was the one made by the leader of the UP Party, Mr Read more

‘Janchi’ re-elected, in spite of tie with Buncamper-Molanus

PHILIPSBURG--Incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) Johan "Janchi" Leonard (United People's (UP) party) can be considered the big winner after the validation of the votes from the August 29 Parliamentary Elections by the Central Voting Bureau on Wednesday. Leonard was short two votes to be re-elected to Parliament. He received those votes when the bureau reviewed ballots deemed invalid by the polling station on election night.

Leonard (UP #7) is an MP-elect for UP, in spite of the tie with former Minister Maria Buncamper-Molanus (UP #21), because of his placement on the party's list of candidates Read more

Editorial - No-brainer

Several votes registered as invalid in Friday’s election were declared valid on closer examination Wednesday. It directly impacted the final outcome, as Johan “Janchi” Leonard ended up with two more votes and tied Maria Buncamper with 204 votes, but because he was higher on the UP list (#7), he now will go to Parliament instead of her, as she was #21.

Candidates of all parties except OSPP had requested recounts during the Main Voting Bureau’s public meeting, to verify the results, but it was decided to review only the invalid votes Read more

UP biggest, but NA, US, DP sign accord

PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten will have yet another coalition government after Friday's elections. National Alliance (four seats), United St. Maarten Party (two seats) and Democratic Party (two seats) signed a declaration of willingness before dawn today to work together to form a new government.

DP leader Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams told The Daily Herald about the declaration shortly after the signing took place at the DP election headquarters at Bute Hotel.

The short declaration states that the parties are willing to work together Read more

Party leaders delve into critical matters

BELAIR--Dollarisation, integrity, boosting the economy, and immigration were among the topics the leaders of the six political parties delved into during the third and final Arts Video Studios televised political debate in Belair Community Centre on Sunday ahead of Friday's Parliamentary Elections.

The first question posed to party leaders by moderator Paul De Windt, publisher of The Daily Herald, was the parties' stance on dollarisation of the country.

Social Reform Party (SRP) leader businessman Jacinto Mock, to whom the question was posed, said the country was not ready to make the US dollar its currency; this could only happen when St Read more

Medical centre outlines expansion plan details

CAY HILL--St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) has provided Health Minister Cornelius de Weever with details of its expansion plan. The expansion plan is based on the NAf. 30-35 million government has allocated in its budget for the institution, SMMC Board of Directors Chairman Kees Klarenbeek said in a letter to De Weever dated August 13.

The plan contains four phases Read more

Number two candidates debate country matters

BELAIR--Coalition, government's essential duty to the people, reducing the country's debts, immigration and other topics were dealt with by the number two candidates on the slates of five parties contesting the August 29 Parliamentary Elections at the second Arts Video Studio (AVS) political debate in Belair Community Centre on Sunday evening.

Participating in the debate were Leona Marlin-Romeo (United St Read more

OSPP town hall meet curtailed by no power

COLE BAY--The first town hall meeting of One St. Maarten People's Party (OSPP) had to be cancelled last evening due to a power failure at the Salvation Army Headquarters in Cole Bay. It was the only building in Cole Bay out of power. The meeting was due to start at 7:00pm, but candidates and supporters were left standing in the dark. A technician from utilities company GEBE arrived around 8:30pm to try to remedy the issue. By then, the party leader, former Commissioner Lenny Priest, decided to call it a night. OSPP will continue with its town hall meeting today, Friday, in Rupert Maynard Youth Community Centre in St Read more

OSPP 2nd meeting cancelled due to centre’s unpaid electricity bill

ST. PETERS--It appears that lightning has struck twice for One St. Maarten People's Party (OSPP). The party had to cancel the second planned town hall meeting of its campaign for parliament on Friday night. The meeting was due to take place in Rupert I. Maynard Youth Committee Centre in St. Peters, but there was no electricity; a similar circumstance to what occurred on Thursday at the Salvation Army Headquarters in Cole Bay where the party was slated to hold its first town hall meeting. Party leader former Commissioner Lenny Priest was not pleased with having to cancel a second meeting. The electricity was off at the centre, because the foundation that runs it did not pay the electricity bill. The OSPP leader said it was "unacceptable" utilities company GEBE, owned 100 per cent by government, would disconnect a community centre "for one outstanding invoice or some other matter." He agreed that the foundation, like any other institution, must have its finances in order to avoid embarrassing situations, but pointed out that OSPP is aware of many large businesses that owe GEBE "huge amount of money and they are still connected." Priest had publicly asked Shareholder Representative for GEBE Minister Maurice Lake, who hails from St Read more