SXMElections.com

Approx. 50% Of Candidates Did Not Submit Donation Registration

~All UPP candidates complied~

PHILIPSBURG – With only three days left for candidates to submit donation registrations, more than half of the candidates have not yet submitted their donation registration to the Electoral Council.

Last Friday, October 21, the Electoral Council requested the representatives of the political parties to urge all candidates, who contested the 2016 parliamentary elections to submit their donation registrations to the Electoral Council no later than Wednesday, October 26, in order to ensure compliance with the National Ordinance on Registration and Finances of Political Parties.

To date, the United People’s Party (UPP) is the only party which submitted donation registrations of all candidates Read more

Smcp Calls On Coalition To Present Governing Program To Parliament

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten -– The September 26 votes were counted, recounted and validated by the Main Voting Bureau on Tuesday October 11th 2016. The Sint Maarten Christian Party thanks the 848 voters who cast their votes based on the principles, norms and values that the party stands for.

These votes were definitely not bought but came from persons who genuinely believed in the stand that the party has taken to seek to govern Sint Maarten based on the Christian principles of honesty, integrity, transparency, accountability and compassion Read more

Heyliger: Pray For Those In Haiti And Elsewhere In The Caribbean

PHILIPSBURG – The devastation of Haiti by Hurricane Matthew, with the death toll now at 108, has become a major cause for concern for the United People’s Party (UP).

In a press statement issued Thursday, October 6, UP Party leader Theo Heyliger said, “The Haitian community on St Read more

Marlin Hopes To Have Governing Program Finalized By Oct. 27

PHILIPSBURG – A governing program should be in place by October 27, before the swearing in of cabinet and the parliament by October 31, according to Prime Minister William Marlin.

The Prime Minister, speaking in Wednesday’s, October 5, Council of Ministers Press briefing also hopes that all documents would have been submitted for the screening of candidates to the Governor.

“There is also other documentation that every candidate Minister has to submit as part of the screening, which is a CV, bank accounts, they have to declare whatever assets they have in excess of 20,000 guilders so it takes a while to accumulate the information and to actually evaluate the information,” Marlin said.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister disclosed that the two political parties that have committed to form the government: the United People’s Party (UP) and the National Alliance (NA), have exchanged manifestos and hope to form a governing program by October 27.

“The process is being worked on to come to a governing program and just like it was with the formation of red, white and blue, we hope like in 2014 to have a fully worked out detailed program by the 27th so that too can be submitted along with the report of the formateur with the completion of my task as the formateur Read more

Governor Holiday Requests William Marlin To Form Government

HARBOUR VIEW – On October 3, the Governor Eugene B. Holiday, requested William Marlin, to form a new government as formateur.

The Governor, considering the results of the September 26, elections, held consultations between September 27 and 30, with the leaders of the political parties that obtained seats in Parliament, (the United Peoples Party UP, the National Alliance NA, the United St Read more

Parties, Candidates Raise Issue With 200M Rule

PHILIPSBURG – Some parties and candidates have an issue with the supposed change of rule that allowed political parties and candidates to visit the polling station to campaign on Election Day.

Prime Minister William Marlin raised alarm about some political parties not adhering to the rules of polling day, which prohibit candidates or supporters to approach a polling station within 200m to campaign.

Speaking just after casting his ballot at the Milton Peters College (MPC), the Prime Minister suggested that the UP Party had persons at all the polling stations, even at the door.

“Congregating at the poll is actually not allowed even though my understanding is that particularly the UP Party has had several of their supporters in Middle Region even in front of the door of the polling station Read more

Voting Is Showing Politicians Their ‘Report Card,’ Says Residents

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Voters in today’s election say they are deciding to hold their leaders accountable by going to the polls. More than 20,000 people could cast the vote in Monday’s parliamentary election, the second in two years.

For resident Jefferson George, voting today meant exercising his right and guaranteeing himself a say in how the island is run.

“Now that I vote I can have a say, I can complain. If I didn’t vote, I would just have to accept what they give,” George told 721news.com.

He was among the trickle of voters trooping into the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex in Cay Hill after 1:00pm Read more

Theo: Be Safe And Adhere To Rule Of Law

PHILIPSBURG – Leader of the United People’s (UP) Party and Member of Parliament (MP) Theodore Heyliger said, “Today marks a new starting point for Country St. Maarten, and a chance to alleviate the burden of instability and economic disaster we face.”

He also encouraged voters of the community and supporters of the UP Party to go out and vote early Read more

Helipad/Hospital Made Smaller, Put On Ground And Poses Major Risks

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten —New information brought to light on the present coalition government’s proposed design of the new medical centre has raised safety, regulatory and liability issues and in particular increases possible negative outcomes for emergency patients which Member of Parliament Dr Cornelius de Weever says must be brought to the public. He said In addition to the normal provisioning for patient handling and care considerations should be paramount to the hospital’s design.

With the dialysis center already been excluded from the design, this increases concerns as to whether the coalition government sought to cut corners in its bid to produce a hospital ahead of election to sway voter confidence their way Read more

Toastmasters Table Topic-A-Thon With New Political Candidates

PHILIPSBURG – Soualiga Corporate Toastmasters Club on Wednesday, September 7, in the evening held a session with the new political candidates on the different party lists for the upcoming election.

The University of St. Martin (USM) was the venue for this event. The parties contesting the upcoming election had the opportunity to send a candidate on their list that will participate for the very first time in the election process.

The following parties were represented: Help Our People Excel (HOPE) Mercedes van der Waals-Wyatt; United St Read more

Be Prepared For This Year’S Election: Tune Into Fresh With The Y2x Crew

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — It is election time again. September 26 is just around the corner. The question is, “are you ready?”

Youth 2 Xtreme (Y2X), the youth wing of Victorious Living Foundation, has the tools you need to be ready for the upcoming election. Y2X presents: Election Series 2016 on their weekly radio program, FRESH, on Youth Radio 92.5FM.

During this election series, candidates from various political parties have the opportunity to debate on important topics, such as education and health as well as to prove to you, the people of St Read more

Mp Leona Marlin-Romeo Provides Some Of The Issues That Has Her Attention

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Through this means it gives me great pleasure to address the people of Sint Maarten as the number 6 candidate on the United People’s Party list.  Over the past years I have grasped the understanding of the philosophy and ideology that are so much so geared towards the improvement of living standard and prosperity of you the sons and daughters of this beautiful island, called St. Maarten.

We are faced once again with a very critical juncture in the development process of our island Read more

Toastmasters Invite Political Parties To Table Topics-A-Thon

PHILIPSBURG – The Soualiga Corporate Toastmasters Club (SCTMC) is inviting all toastmasters and the community of St. Maarten to its Table Topics-a-Thon on Wednesday, September 7.

All political parties were invited to participate by submitting the name of a candidate who is contesting the elections for the first time. This program provides a great opportunity for toastmasters and the wider community to get to know these candidates.

The Table Topics-a-Thon will be held at the University of St Read more

Mp Leona Marlin-Romeo Calls For Increased Levels Of Border Control

PHILIPSBURG—Honourable Independent Member of Parliament MP Leona Marlin-Romeo has expressed serious concerns over the level of security and effectiveness of present controls at borders for Country St. Maarten.

MP Marlin-Romeo said “As a small island we have to be cognizant of our capacity and who is in our Country.” This must be approached structurally and should include further education for law enforcement agents on border control Read more

Heyliger And Meyers Has 72 Hours To Publicly Retract Their False Statements Or Consider Legal Action

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — In a press release issued late Wednesday (August 25) night by Robelto & Sons NV the director Mr. Flanders broke his silence by saying;

In the week of August 15 both the leader and the deputy leader  of the United People’s Party went in the media and boldly made the statement that Robelto & Sons BV has collected or at least has billed government for a total amount of 19 times 148,500.00 guilders or 2.82 Million Guilders.

This statement is a blatant lie and we will not accept these types of statements from persons whose goal it is to fool the people of St Read more

Up Party Postpones Public Meeting Due To Inclement Weather. Dutch Quarter Public Meeting Set For Saturday

SUCKER GARDEN — The United People’s Party (UP Party), has postponed the public meeting at its first scheduled venue in Sucker Garden until further notice and is inviting the general public to its Saturday August 27th public meeting in Dutch Quarter on the Plantz Property adjacent Mc Donald’s.

The public meeting will begin at 7:00pm and ending at 11:00pm. The general public is invited to come out and get updates from the 23 energetic candidates for the UP Party, who are eager to tell its supporters the many plans they have been busy working on for the future of Country St Read more

On Central Bank Alleged Irregularities: Priest Urges Cooler Heads To Prevail

PHILIPSBURG – Amidst news that the Director of the Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten is under investigation and may face criminal charges over irregularities at the Central Bank and allegations of funds from Ennia Insurances being invested, leaving policy holders uncovered, leader of the One St. Maarten People’s Party (OSPP) Lenny Priest urged for cooler heads to prevail.

He reiterated his earlier call that the Parliament of St Read more

Upp Launch ‘Up Party Sxm’ App For Apple & Android Smartphones

PHILIPSBURG—The United People’s Party UPP made political history on St. Maarten today, Monday launching its “powerful interactive APP, named UP Party SXM.” It is by far one of the most aggressive marketing strategy for a political campaign to date for this or any election on St. Maarten or the Caribbean region.

UP Party app named “UP Party SXM” shows a photo of the party’s 23 candidates along with eight of the services you can access once you download the app.

Before the app was officially launched, buzz news about its imminent arrival on the election scene as an innovative use of technology had already started to boost voter interest in the UP Party, as many rushed to their App stores to download before the launch date.

The free app, now offers easy access to the party’s political platform rather than having to surf through dozens of websites before getting the correct information and updates Read more

Up Show Unity At Team Building Event

PHILIPSBURG – As part of the United People’s (UP) Party’s groundwork to deliver a stable government to the people of St. Maarten, after more than five years of instability, 23 UP candidates contesting the September 26 Parliamentary elections held a team building session in Simpson Bay, Sunday, August 14.

The party issued a press release following the event, stating that the team building event was a huge success. It was a “common purpose” exercise geared towards improved productivity, motivation and establishing a closer bond, especially with the new members of the UP family.

Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo said after Sunday’s event “today was one of the best political team activity I ever had.” She encouraged her colleague candidates on the UP slate to continue this momentum Read more

Record-Breaking 19 Dump Fires For The Year So Far

PHILIPSBURG – In a reaction to accusations made by the contractor who manages the dump, hinting that the UP party is responsible for creating fires there, Member of Parliament (MP) Frankie Meyers stated: “It is unbelievable that when a National Alliance supporter/former candidate wins the bid for a multi-million dollar contract and manages to mess it up, the contractor still finds ways to accuse the UP party of setting the dump ablaze Read more

Nine Political Parties Postulate For September Elections

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – On Monday, August 8th postulation day, nine (9) political parties postulated to contest the September 26th parliamentary election.

The parties are the

United People’s Party (UP) 23, Helping our People Excel (HOPE) 3, St. Maarten Christian Party (SMCP) 9, One St Read more

What Would Claude Have Said About Sint Maarten Today?

United People’s Party (UP) Leader and Member of Parliament (MP) Theodore Heyliger on the occasion of the birthday of his grandfather Dr. A. C. “Claude” Wathey’s wreath laying ceremony asked the question what his grandfather would say about Sint Maarten today if he was around.

The ceremony took place at the statue of Dr Read more

“Back And Forth Bickering Between Na And Upp Over Gebe, But No Solution In Sight!”

PHILIPSBURG – It is the people of St. Maarten who are continuing to suffer while the heated debate over who is most responsible for the current GEBE woes continues between the National Alliance (NA) and the United Peoples Party (UPP), noted leader of the One St. Maarten People Party (OSPP) Lenny Priest, who opined that workable solutions are what the country needs and not “high school antics from elected officials.”

Priest was reacting to recent media statements on the situation at GEBE from the board of NA who alleged “it seems every time that government or government-owned companies needs to make a significant purchase some family or friend is involved in some way or the other,” and to statements by the UPP alleging that it was the NA who stopped the purchase of the engine needed by GEBE.

“This constant back and forth between the largest political parties over what has happened at GEBE under their tenure with accusations of nepotism and the like levied against each other is in no way a solution to the problem Read more

Gracita Arrindell Leads Ppa In Elections

~ Has orange become  the new green? ~

Source: Today Newspaper

GREAT BAY – “Lack of leadership, not sticking to commitments and turning their back on the people of St. Maarten,” said Gracita Arrindell yesterday about her reasons for leaving the United People’s Party and returning to the revived People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA) as its leader for the September 26 parliamentary elections Read more