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PHILIPSBURG:--- The leaders of six political parties submitted their lists to the Electoral Council on Friday paving the way for them to contest the upcoming Parliamentary Elections slated for February 26, 2018. They are SDM, SMCP, PPA, USP, NA and the UD.
The United People's Party and Democratic Party joined forces hoping to garner enough votes for a majority in Parliament Read more

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History Made With The Launch Of The United Democrats

PHILIPSBURG - Leaders of the United People's Party (UP) and the Democratic Party (DP) have unified under one banner and founded the United Democrats, a powerhouse political movement formed to take St. Maarten through the critical reconstruction phase the island faces in 2018.

The newly formed party, United Democrats is the historical joining of UP Honorable Member of Parliament Theodore Heyliger and DP Honorable President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams.

"If we take a look at the unaddressed realities since the passage of Hurricane Irma, of our crippled economy and our people desperately needing leadership and hope, all lead to the coming together of the United Democrats."

Leading the United Democrats will be MP Theodore Heyliger, with MP Sarah Wescot-Williams as the number two candidate.

St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Leaders of the United People's Party (UP) and the Democratic Party (DP) have unified under one banner and founded the United Democrats, a powerhouse political movement formed to take St. Maarten through the critical reconstruction phase the island faces in 2018.

The newly formed party, United Democrats is the historical joining of UP Honorable Member of Parliament Theodore Heyliger and DP Honorable President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams.

"If we take a look at the unaddressed realities since the passage of Hurricane Irma, of our crippled economy and our people desperately needing leadership and hope, all lead to the coming together of the United Democrats."

Leading the United Democrats will be MP Theodore Heyliger, with MP Sarah Wescot-Williams as the number two candidate.

St Read more

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HARBOUR VIEW:--- On December 22, 2017, the Governor of Sint Maarten, His Excellency drs. E.B. Holiday, requested the fraction leader of the Democratic Party, Mrs. Sarah Wescot-Williams, to finalize the formation of an interim government as formateur.
After Mr Read more

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~ Bringing the DP stalwarts back together ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The United Peoples Party headed by Theodore Heyliger and Democratic Party headed by Sarah Wescot Williams have decided to merge the two political parties to contest the February 2018 snap elections.
Stuart Johnson who is representing the United People’s Party submitted the credentials of the new political party “United Democratic Party (UDP) to the Electoral Council on Thursday for vetting.
SMN News has learned that the main reason the leaders of the two political parties came together was to bring the former members and stalwarts of the Democratic Party back together on one slate since the Democratic Party has been losing votes these past years while the UPP could not muster enough votes on its own to win an election outright Read more

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HARBOUR VIEW:--- On Friday, November 17, 2017, His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday, met with and received an update from formateur Mr. Franklin Meyer as a follow-up to the formation assignment of November 7, 2017.
During the meeting, the formateur updated the Governor on the progress of matters related to the formation of the interim government. The formation of the interim government is supported by a coalition consisting of the United Peoples Party, the Democratic Party and Member of Parliament C.E Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The board of the United People’s Party (UP) has condemned the call by the Prime Minister and Leader of the National Alliance, William Marlin, to call an election on January 8th, 2018.
“An election now on St Read more

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HARBOUR VIEW:--- On November 7, 2017, the Governor of Sint Maarten, His Excellency drs. E.B. Holiday, requested the fraction leader of the United Peoples Party, Mr. Franklin Meyers, to form an interim government as formateur.
The Governor held consultations between November 3 and 6, 2017 with the leaders of the political parties that hold seats in Parliament, (the United Peoples Party, the National Alliance, the United St Read more

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~ Postulation Day November 13th ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Governor of St. Maarten drs Eugene Holiday signed off the decree for elections to be held on Monday, January 8th, 2018 while postulation day will be on Monday, November 13th, 2017. The Parliament of St. Maarten will be dissolved on January 31st, 2018.
The people of St. Maarten have to go through yet another election because Member of Parliament Chanel Brownbill chose to jump ship and signed an agreement with the United Peoples Party and the Democratic Party Read more

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Parliament calls Chief Prosecutor Ton Maan and Minister of Justice Rafael Boasman.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Justice Rafael Boasman and Chief Prosecutor Ton Maan are now in the hot seat as the Public Prosecutor’s Office intends to play judge and jury with the formation of the Assets Recovery Team.
Even though former Minister of Justice Edison Kirindongo got the Council of Ministers to approve the implementation of the team, the same factions that formed that government, when the Council of Ministers signed off on the advice of the Prosecutor's Office, have teamed up with the United Peoples Party to call for an urgent meeting of Parliament, whereby current Minister of Justice Rafael Boasman and the Chief Prosecutor of St Read more

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Upp Faction Forfeits Opportunity To Represent The People

The Central Committee of Parliament made history last week when it scheduled ample time to discuss the 2016-2020 Governing Program “Solidarity for Prosperity.” As far as I can recall, this is the first time that Parliament planned so many meetings to handle a governing program. The only other topic for which so many meetings are scheduled by Parliament is the country’s budget. I am a strong believer that these two go hand in hand and we should expect to see the priorities and projects listed in the governing program also reflected in all future budgets presented.

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA), comprised of the USP, DP and NA factions, also ought to be commended for their display of unity during the opening presentation Read more

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Upp Members Of Parliament Boycotted Central Committee Meeting On Thursday.

Minister Boasman says Opposition had no questions since Governing Program well put together.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Members of Parliament representing the opposition in parliament from the United Peoples Party (UPP) boycotted the Central Committee meeting on Thursday. MP Claret Connor showed up, signed in but left before the meeting convened.
Members of Parliament from the coalition spoke out against the absenteeism stating that this is the time the opposition has to use to question government.
However, Minister Rafael Boasman was optimistic in his statements Read more

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Parliament’S Right To Question Government

One of Parliament’s roles is to supervise the functioning of government. And one of its tools to carry out this supervisory function is the right to ask questions as laid down in article 62 of the Constitution.

This entails parliamentarians submitting their queries in writing to the government via the President of Parliament. Article 63 of the Constitution mentions that a Member of Parliament may also invite the ministers to provide information. Article 62 of the Rules of Order of Parliament states that this invitation will be considered by the President of Parliament, if it is supported by at least one other member of parliament Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- One of Parliament’s roles is to supervise the functioning of government. And one of its tools to carry out this supervisory function is the right to ask questions as laid down in article 62 of the Constitution. This entails parliamentarians submitting their queries in writing to the government via the President of Parliament. Article 63 of the Constitution mentions that a Member of Parliament may also invite the ministers to provide information. Article 62 of the Rules of Order of Parliament states that this invitation will be considered by the President of Parliament if it is supported by at least one other member of parliament Read more

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Party Leader says he has no issues with the current coalition and that they are not going anywhere.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United Peoples Party (USP) Frans Richardson and members of the board expressed their sentiments on the screening process now that it has become public knowledge that their candidate for the Ministry of TEATT failed the screening process Read more

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Coalition Government seems to be in shambles --- unconfirmed reports

PHILIPSBURG:--- The USP candidate Minister Cecil Nicolas has failed the screening process SMN News understands. Reliable sources within the current coalition said that USP leader Frans Richardson was informed of the screening results on Wednesday Read more

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Motion Tabled To Aid In Avoidance Of Criminal Prosecution For Back Taxes

PHILIPSBURG--Government has been called on, via a yet-to-be voted on motion from Parliament, to initiate a public campaign to inform the population of the possibilities it has to make use of the tax facilities provided by General Ordinance on Taxes, such as the voluntary disclosure scheme (“Inkeerregeling” in Dutch) on how to avoid criminal prosecution under law.

  The motion also calls on Government to allow for a longer period to pay taxes owed and adjust its collection policy accordingly.

  Finance Minister Richard Gibson Sr Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Rumors are circulating on social media (Facebook) and throughout the community claiming that the current coalition agreement between the National Alliance (NA), the United St. Maarten People’s Party (USP) and the Democratic Party (DP) fell through and that talks are currently taking place between the United Peoples Party (UPP), United St Read more

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Upp Deputy Leader Denies Failing Screening

PHILLIPSBURG, St. Maarten -  Deputy leader of the United People’s Party, Member of Parliament Frankie Meyers has refuted reports that he failed the screening process paving the path for him to become a Minister in the next government.

As a result of the alleged failed screening of candidate Ministers of the UP, the National Alliance has shifted from the September 27th signed agreement between the political parties to form the next government, opting to work instead with the Democratic Party and the United St Read more

Sarah Queries The Holding Of Meetings

PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) leader Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams has written to new Parliament Chairman Read more

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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

PHILIPSBURG:--- 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 to 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

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