SXMElections.com

Usp President Cecil Nicholas Officially Announces His Candidacy

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The USP established in 2014 has been a contender in every election since it was established, winning 2 seats in every election held since, with 3 seats being the highest awarded to the party in the 2016 election campaign.

Nicholas a founder and first president of the US Party first ran in 2016 at the bottom of the list as candidate number 19. In this upcoming election, he is running as the number 2 candidate behind his new leader Mrs Read more

We Can Change Tomorrow, By Investing Today In The Safety Of Women & Girls

Mrs. Tomaro Pilgrim

Peridot Foundation states: We are truly excited to welcome Mrs. Tomaro Pilgrim our guest speaker and her spouse Mr. Osrick Pelgrim to our shores.

Together with Ms. Zoya Hyman, psychologist, this years domestic violence awareness program will be a must event to attend. United Nations theme for 2023: UNITE! INVEST TO PREVENT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN & GIRLS is a call for action

Our program will be held at the Los SanFernandos event hall, located at the airport boulevard road#29 in Simpsonbay next to the Republic bank Read more

Pfp: Upholding Electoral Integrity And Fair Play In Sint Maarten Elections Is Critical

PHILIPSBURG – The Party for Progress (PFP) raised serious concerns about the continued disregard for the election and campaign guidelines issued by the Minister of Justice on Sint Maarten. This issue not only questions the integrity of the electoral process but also poses safety risks.

People have reached out to us, including candidates on other parties, regarding the placement of billboards and flags too close to or even in the roundabouts, PFP Deputy Leader Marvio Cooks states Read more

Sarah: The Outcome Of The Dutch Election Not Necessarily All Doom And Gloom.

Over the weekend, the DP leader shared her thoughts on the results of the election in the Netherlands.

The results of the November 22nd Dutch election are in and many words have been used to describe the unexpected outcome. Political pundits are hard at work, analyzing the political shifts that seemed to have occurred in the last weeks leading up to the election, the MP stated.

In the Caribbean part of the Dutch Kingdom and in many European countries, the election outcome, which has put Wilders and his PVV on the center stage, has generated much anxiety.

WILDERS and the PVV are not exactly friends of any of us, MP Wescot opined.

For years, Wilders has been a hard right-wing politician, who now finds himself in a position to do what he has constantly accused his opponents of not doing and he has been propelled into a position to uphold his views and execute his agenda Read more

Mp Wescot-Williams, Focus Should Be On What Is Coming After.

THE APOLOGY FROM THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT ON ITS SLAVERY PAST.

The apology has been issued and with as much remorse as you could get in a situation like this, also with the acknowledgement by Prime Minister Rutte that he personally had it wrong all along, was MP Sarah Wescot-Williams reaction, after being present at the ceremony at USM on Monday, December 19th.

Having been present at the location on St Read more

National Alliance Failed Education; 21.2% College Rate Is Poor

Dear Editor,

I write this letter with deep concerns about the state of our country’s education sector, particularly in light of recent revelations about the low percentage of adults who have completed tertiary education. The statistics from the 2022 population census, presented by the Department of Statistics STAT, are alarming. Only 21.2% of adults in St. Maarten have completed tertiary education, while 54% have finished secondary school. This raises questions about the effectiveness of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports, especially considering its substantial allocation in the national budget.

It is disheartening to note that our tax dollars, which contribute significantly to the education budget, are not yielding a satisfactory return on investment Read more

Public Order And Domain At Risk Of Not Being Respected

Philipsburg – President, Party Leader and member of Parliament of the Party for Progress Melissa Gumbs and PFP Vice President Marvio Cooks expressed concern over the fact that it appeared poster frames were being erected around various spots on the island on Friday, 17 November 2023 Read more

Strong Correlation Between Homelessness, Poverty And Mental Illness

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — There is a strong correlation between homelessness, poverty and mental illness. For years, government has stated that it would create a country-wide plan of action for the prevention and treatment of mental health disorders.

This is just what we need for when we look around our beautiful island, so many people are walking the streets with hopelessness in their eyes, hoping for hope again. We need to stop the quick fixes and temporary remedies, and examine the role of society in preventing and responding to mental health problems beyond the health system.

To protect people’s mental health, we need a country plan that focuses on prevention in schools, and the lingering social issues that plague our communities leading up to intellectually disabled people.

We see homelessness, poverty and mentally disabled people highlighted right now in our communities Read more

Nv Gebe Clarifies Financial Management Position, Counters Misleading Allegations

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — In response to recent comments made by MP Christophe Emmanuel regarding the financial management of NV GEBE, the management would like to take this opportunity to issue a comprehensive statement that aims to clarify the facts and defend the integrity of our company.

The allegations of financial mismanagement by NV GEBE are based on selective and misleading information. NV GEBE has carefully planned its finances and sought professional advice to ensure that the company recovers from a severe cyber-attack.

Upon current managements assumption of leadership, it met with a company that had diminished financial reserves, primarily due to a significant loss of income Read more

Fabio Doralice Advocates For Special Need Policy & Vision On Sint Maarten

Philipsburg, As we approach the close of the year, there is an urgent plea for updates on the progress of the Special Needs Policy for Sint Maarten.

In a parliamentary meeting on February 13th, the Minister of ECYS expressed an active commitment to developing a special needs policy. However, as we near the end of November, the community, parents, and educators are eager to understand the strides made thus far and if there are concrete plans in place.

While I commend the Minister of VSA for unveiling the “Improving Mental Health Services” project, it is crucial not to overlook the equally vital aspect of special needs education.

As we reach the midpoint of the 2023-2024 school term, transparency is needed regarding expectations for the 2024-2025 school year Read more

Bonaire Island Governor To Visiting Tweede Kamer Candidate: Voter Turn-Out Needs To Go Up.

Kralendijk Bonaire —Acting Island Governor of Bonaire, Nolly Oleana, hopes to increase voter participation in the upcoming Second Chamber elections from 23% (in 2021) to 40% this time. He said this to locally campaigning candidate Walter Hellebrand from the BBB party. Voters of the Dutch Caribbean islands should let their voices be heard on 22 November in the elections for the parliament of the kingdom. Every island has special issues but voices through votes must be propelled in the direction of the Hague Read more

A Worrisome Justice Apparatus

Dear Editor,

In the Daily Herald of Thursday, August 12th, 2021 an elaborated article was dedicated to the Carbon Grove Estates in Cole Bay. The article with title Developer of Carbon Grove ordered to deliver apartments, mentioned two separate summary proceedings, whereby the Court of First Instance ordered Melbon Enterprises to deliver the rights to three apartments in Carbon Grove Estates in Cole Bay. The Judge describes the case as all time low, it reads. The Court stated that Carbons course of action resembles a so-called Ponzi scheme.

According to different media houses, on Wednesday, November 8th, 2023 searches were conducted at four locations connected to a suspect in a fraud and money laundering case named Koruna Read more

The Na/Upp CoalitionS Love-Hate Relationship With The Integrity Chamber Of St. Maarten.

They have to make up their mind what it is.

MP Wescot over the weekend issued a statement regarding the meeting of parliament to approve the change to the Integrity Chamber law. In her view, the uneasy relationship in the NA/UPP coalition was again manifested during the meeting of parliament, which was convened to finalize the proposal by government to increase the age of the members of the integrity chamber.

This draft proposal of law was already handled by the central committee of parliament and the government had provided written answers to the few questions posed Read more

United Sint Maarten Party: Sint Maarten Day MessageOne People One Nation One Destiny

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — As we celebrate our unique qualities on this 64th St. Martin day, and in honor of the motivation of Dr. Claude Wathey and Dr. Hubert Petit, we implore our people to not only celebrate their strength and resilience, but in-vision a St. Martin that we can all be proud of. It is our responsibility to further create a history that our children and ancestors can be proud of.

For it is the blood and sweat of those same ancestors from which our freedoms and privileges are derived Read more

Ursm Says Process Of Nation Building Is A Priority

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — The process of Nation building, the knowledge of the history of St. Martin has to become a priority. It is time that we St. Martiners get our historical facts crystalized in our school curriculum.

On a day like St. Martin day, November 11, we celebrate and acknowledge the North and South as a United People of Sint Martin.

Although the physical borders of this Island and two administrations, the One People concept is pre-existent. Our common Culture, language, values and heritage that are inherent to us, are those factors that constantly break down all barriers between North and South to make us one.

It is at the end of the day the preexistent concept of one Island, one people, one destiny that make us One St Read more

What Separates A Democracy From A Dictatorship?

Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs failed to get SER up and running as prescribed by law.

It is very unfortunate that our Minister of General Affairs, the Honorable Prime Minister
Jacobs, deemed it necessary to create such a burden on the employers and employees
associations to nominate people to the SER. However, after the nomination of members
to the SER by these organizations, there is still no clear indication on when the
appointments will take place.

In the past, the SER has been instrumental in giving advice to the government of St.
Maarten by keeping them in check with the positive and negative advice Read more

Sint Maarten Community Fights Back Gebe

PHILIPSBURG, SINT MAARTEN — After receiving numerous verbal and social media complaints about the harsh collection method of GEBE and taking into account that there is no active Consumers League in Sint Maarten, Mr. Gromyko Wilson approached a local independent consultancy firm, (Prudential Tax Services), specialized in International Corporate Standards Auditing with the petition to prepare a community pilot case against the collection policies and procedures of GEBE.

This is the first time a Community legal claim will be filed against a Federal Institution in a matter related to their collection method in the Dutch Kingdom.

It is no secret that GEBE was victim to cyber hacking and an administrative chaos manifested itself thereafter Read more

Us-Party Unprecedented Means Of Communication By Chris Is Deceitful

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The board of the US-Party in an invited comment expressed disappointment in an article released by the leader of the start-up political party NOW, but was not surprised.

President of the US Party board, Mr. Cecil Nicholas said, He was not surprised by the misleading content, and underlying tone of hypocrisy and deceitfulness that motivated the article.

The leader of the NOW party publicly reminded that, He has always stood by the USP and was supportive of the party joining any governing coalition he was a part of.

Chris further stated, When he was a member of the National Alliance, he did not sign the governing accord between the National Alliance and United People Party strictly out of principle and a sense of loyalty to the USP.

Nicholas, questioned Chris definition of the words, principle and loyalty Read more

Sjamira Roseburg: Urgent Reassessment Needed By Ministry Of Justice

~ Sint Maarten’s Safety Threatened by Hasty Police Cell Transfer Decision ~ PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — As the attorney of the inmates association in Sint Maarten and as an candidate on the URSM slate, I am deeply concerned about the recent decision by the Ministry of Justice to transfer the detention center at Philipsburg Police Station back to the police, effective November 11, 2023 Read more

Cibc Firstcaribbean Has Announced That It Is Rebranding To Cibc

Re-brand to be completed during the banks new financial year

Bridgetown, Barbados —As it enters a new financial year, FirstCaribbean International Bank Limited has announced that the leading Caribbean bank is re-branding its business to adopt the name of its parent, CIBC. Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Mark St. Hill, made the announcement to his staff this morning.

St. Hill noted that the adoption of the CIBC brand is a show of confidence of the banks parent bank, and a sign of its commitment to the Caribbean region Read more

Dr. Emiko Bird-Lake Will Be The New Acting Governor Of Sint Maarten

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs, Silveria Jacobs, on behalf of the Council of Ministers, is pleased to congratulate Dr. Emiko Bird-Lake on the approval of her nomination as Acting Governor of Sint Maarten. In her function as Acting Governor Dr. Bird Lake will replace His Excellency Ajamu Baly, in his duty as Governor of Sint Maarten, in the event he is unable to perform them. Born on Sint Maarten, Dr Read more

Prosecutor: Mcb Waives Naf 25 Million In Deemed Proceeds From Old Swipe Case

Willemstad, Curaao – The Prosecutors Office OM announced today that it has agreed with Maduro & Curiels Bank N.V. (MCB) that MCB will waive the proceeds of so-called dollar swiping by its clients. It concerns 25 million Antillean Guilders over the period 2007-2015 in Curaao. The prosecutor will not prosecute MCB for its role in ‘dollar swiping’ by its clients.

The Breton investigation took place under the direction of the OM . It was conducted by the Special Police Taskforce RST with support from the Dutch Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service FIOD and the Netherlands Police.

The Breton investigation concerned whether MCB took sufficient measures more than a decade ago to prevent illegal dollar swiping by its clients Read more

Parliamentarians Deem Tripartite Meeting A Success

SINT MAARTEN, PHILIPSBURG On October 24, 2023, the Parliament of Sint Maarten hosted colleague Parliamentarians from the countries of Aruba and Curaao for Tripartite discussions.

The objective of the Tripartite meeting is to prepare for the Interparliamentary Kingdom Consultation as well as to discuss topics of mutual interest. During the Tripartite meeting of February 2023, the delegations agreed to meet more often which would entail three in-person meetings and one virtual meeting per year Read more

A Hurricane Watch Is In Effect For St. Maarten

TROPICAL STORM TAMMY APPROACHINGTHE LEEWARDS

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ST. MAARTEN

A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ST. MAARTEN

At 11pm the center of tropical storm Tammy was located near latitude 13.8 North, longitude 57.1 West or about 495 miles southeast of St. Maarten.

The system is moving toward the west-northwest near 10 mph (172 km/h). A gradual turn to the northwest with a reduction in speed is forecast on Friday, and this motion should continue through Saturday Read more