SXMElections.com

Government Saves Millions Of Naf On Water Purchase.

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — “The amount of water that has to be purchased under the current ‘take or pay’ clauses of the purchasing agreements have resulted in substantial financial losses for the country. Seven Seas Water was approached to see if Sint Maarten could get some relief from the minimum take or pay clause and their response was both immediate and positive.” – Emil Lee, Minister VSA.

Emil Lee as the Minister of VSA, who is responsible for the supply of safe drinking water, began an investigation into the financial situation of the government’s position as owner of the public water supply as part of the post-Irma assessments Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

New General Hospital Will Come With International Quality Standards.

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten —  With the financing agreements for the new general hospital signed on Friday February 23rd, it is important for the general public to understand how health care will be improved. Although the new hospital is critical for the country, the agreement by all parties to work towards JCI or Joint Commission International Accreditation is also an important milestone accomplishment.

Acquiring the financing for the new hospital was one of the many phases outlined in the business plan that was developed by the Tripartite members; Ministry of VSA, SMMC and SZV Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Ministry Of Vsa Offers Persons Impacted By Irma With Temporary Housing Alternative 

 

Minister Lee inspects Temporary Emergency Housing with Dr. J Foundation

PHilipsburg, Sint Maarten –  Last week, the Minister of Public Health, Emil Lee announced the commencement of an Emergency Transitional Housing Program to be managed in by the Dr. J. Foundation. Minister Lee recently took a tour of the facility together with Dr Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Carty Stepping Down From Szv December 31St, 2018

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — With several systemically vital assigned tasks nearing completion and the SZV 3.0. strategic plan in full execution phase, the Director of SZV Glen Carty sees that his priority task as turnaround specialist is nearing completion. In consultation with Minister Lee, Carty will step down as Director on December 31st, 2018. Carty was appointed by the Governor by National decree on August 1st, 2016, after successfully completing the required Category A screening of the National Security of Sint Maarten.

“Glen’s contributions to the Country and SZV have been tremendous and greatly appreciated.  Both Glen and I agreed that with the hospital entering another phase of its development and the progress made on SZV’s strategic plan, it makes sense to begin the recruitment process for a new General Director.  I have asked that Glen stay on until the end of the year to allow for a proper and transparent transition.” – Emil Lee, Minister VSA

Minister of Public Health, Emil Lee will discuss the recruitment procedures for the new Director of SZV with the Supervisory Board of SZV and support the recruitment process to be carried out by the Supervisory Board Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Government Saves Millions Of Naf On Water Purchase.

PHILIPSBURG:--- “The amount of water that has to be purchased under the current ‘take or pay’ clauses of the purchasing agreements have resulted in substantial financial losses for the country. Seven Seas Water was approached to see if Sint Maarten could get some relief from the minimum take or pay clause and their response was both immediate and positive.” – Emil Lee, Minister VSA.
Emil Lee as the Minister of VSA, who is responsible for the supply of safe drinking water, began an investigation into the financial situation of the government’s position as owner of the public water supply as part of the post-Irma assessments Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- With the financing agreements for the new general hospital signed on Friday, February 23rd, it is important for the general public to understand how health care will be improved. Although the new hospital is critical for the country, the agreement by all parties to work towards JCI or Joint Commission International Accreditation is also an important milestone accomplishment.
Acquiring the financing for the new hospital was one of the many phases outlined in the business plan that was developed by the Tripartite members; Ministry of VSA, SMMC and SZV Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Ministry Of Vsa Offers Persons Impacted By Irma With Temporary Housing Alternative

Minister Lee inspects Temporary Emergency Housing with Dr. J Foundation

PHILIPSBURG:--- Last week, the Minister of Public Health, Emil Lee announced the commencement of an Emergency Transitional Housing Program to be managed in by the Dr. J. Foundation. Minister Lee recently took a tour of the facility together with Dr. Judith Arndell to inspect the progress of the renovations currently taking place Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

~ SMMC to repay loans ~

CAY HILL--A “facility agreement” amongst several parties committing to provide financing loans to fund the construction of a new general hospital for St. Maarten was signed between St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) and the financing partners on Friday.

The project is expected to cost NAf. 145 million. According to the agreement, Social and Health Insurances SZV will provide NAf. 39 million of this cost, General Pension Fund Administrator APS will provide NAf Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG--Health Minister Emil Lee said on Wednesday that efforts are being made to have the loan documents for the construction of the new hospital signed this Friday.

---

Candidates in this article:

Emil Lee Plans To Hold Ground Breaking For New General Hospital Despite The Lack Of Finances.

~ Says he will not heed the advice given by SZV Supervisory Board since it's all about votes ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Interim Minister of VSA Emil Lee is hell-bent on fooling the populace of St. Maarten in order to garner enough votes on Monday for his re-election. Lee plans to hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the New General Hospital on Friday despite not having the finances in place.
According to information provided to SMN News and the advice given by the Supervisory board of SZV to the Minister in 2017 Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Ministerio De Vsa Recibe Nuevos Vehículos Para Continuar Sus Inspecciones Con Mas Efectividad

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – El Ministerio de VSA recibió 14 vehículos nuevos como parte de la ayuda de emergencia ofrecida por los Países Bajos a St. Maarten luego del paso de los huracanes Irma y María. Siete de estos vehículos fueron entregados al Ministerio el viernes 16 de febrero.

Como resultado del paso de los mencionados huracanes, las operaciones diarias del Ministerio se vieron muy afectadas y, en algunos casos, se estancaron debido a la falta de vehículos, ya que casi todos estos sufrieron daños graves.

La solicitud de vehículos fue hecha directamente por el Ministerio a los Países Bajos amparados en la ayuda de emergencia de crisis ofrecida por es país Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Ministry Of Vsa Receives New Vehicles And Continues Inspections With Full Force

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Ministry of VSA received 14 new vehicles as part of the Emergency aid of the Netherlands offered to St. Maarten post hurricane Irma and Maria. Seven of those vehicles were handed over to Ministry on Friday February 16th.

As a result of the hurricanes, the Ministry’s daily operations were heavily affected, and in some cases put to a standstill by the lack of vehicles as almost all of its vehicles were severely damaged. The request for vehicles was a direct request of the Ministry to the Netherlands as part of the crisis emergency aid offered by the Netherlands Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

The Role Of The Minister In Labor Disputes

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — With the economy of St. Maarten being faced with the Post-Irma effects, the Ministry of VSA is very cognizant of the amount of labor disputes on the rise. The community has been calling on the Minister of Labor to take action, however it is important for the community to understand that the role of the Minister/Ministry is to provide advisory support to employers and employees on their rights and the labor laws, mediation services for conflict resolution outside of court, and legal assistance to help those that do not have the financial means to obtain a lawyer if they feel their rights have been abused.

“We take labor relations very seriously, these are going to be difficult times but if we do it together we can come through as a country Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Vsa To Distribute Water Survival Kits Donated By Rotary

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — The Department of Labor and Social Affairs will coordinate the distribution of seventy (70) water survival kits and four (4) aqua boxes that were donated by the international and regional Rotary Clubs to St. Maarten. The donation offers an alternative for water to displaced families or those without access to clean water.

The water survival kits and aqua water filters will be distributed to families most in need according to the Basic Necessities program database managed by the Department of Labor and Social Affairs Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Vsa To Distribute Water Survival Kits Donated By Rotary

SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND) - The Department of Labor and Social Affairs will coordinate the distribution of seventy (70) water survival kits and four (4) aqua boxes that were donated by the international and regional Rotary Clubs to St. Maarten. The donation offers an alternative for water to displaced families or those without access to clean water.

The water survival kits and aqua water filters will be distributed to families most in need according to the Basic Necessities program database managed by the Department of Labor and Social Affairs Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

William: Draft Law Short Term Contracts Watered Down To Primarily Benefit Businesses

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Former Prime Minister William Marlin says the draft national ordinance to amend the civil code to stem the abuse of short term labor contracts has been watered down to such an extent that the original intention of the law is no longer visible.

The current draft on the table, he adds, primarily benefits businesses and seems to make a mockery of the system Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- Former Prime Minister William Marlin says the draft national ordinance to amend the civil code to stem the abuse of short-term labor contracts has been watered down to such an extent that the original intention of the law is no longer visible.

The current draft on the table, he adds, primarily benefits businesses and seems to make a mockery of the system Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

~Relatives claim that Dr. Luc Mercelina declared their relative as a vegetable prematurely.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Relatives of Ramon Gumbs are at their wits ends now that the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) management has decided that their disabled relative can no longer be housed at the country’s hospital.
Larissa Brooks, sister of Ramon Gumbs said that her brother was stabbed multiple times while incarcerated at the Pointe Blanche prison Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

CAY HILL:--- The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, & Labor (VSA) received boxes from the United Family Reproductive Association (UNFPA). The UNFPA donated the items as a sign of relief to St. Maarten in the form of Emergency Reproductive Health Kits (ERH Kits). This UNFPA relief is an initiative to cushion the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

The received ERH-kits are Kit 2: Clean Delivery for use By Birth Attendants can treat 10.000 women for 3 months; ERHKit5: Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections to diagnose and treat STIs for 3 months for 10.000 people; ERH-Kit6A Clinical Delivery Assistance- Reusable Equipment for 3 months to treat 30.000 women; ERH-K6B: Clinical Delivery Assistance – Drug & Disposable Equipment for 3 months for 30.000 women and Kit 9: Structure of Tears (Cervical & Vaginal) and Vaginal Examination to provide care to 30.000 women for 3 months.
The pre-identified target groups or vulnerable groups for the UNFPA relief project are: Category 1= No insurance; Category 2= Unemployed/low income with no insurance; Category 3= Profession CSW not employed, no insurance; Category 4= Below 18 years of age.

On Thursday, January 24 the Ministry Public Health Social Development & Labor with the assistance of the Honorable Minister Lee, handed over the following: ERH-Kits: Kit 2; Kit 6A; Kit 6B and Kit 9 slated as UNFPA relief to the St Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

La Parlamentaria Leonard Solicita Reunión Urgente Al Parlamento Para Abordar El Tema De Trabajadores Extranjeros

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – La parlamentaria (MP) Tamara Leonard del Partido del Pueblo Unido (UP), con la asistencia de otros parlamentarios solicitará una reunión urgente del Parlamento con el Ministro de Salud Pública, Desarrollo Social y Trabajo, Emil Lee Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- As a follow-up to a unanimous decision of the newly installed incoming Council of Ministers (COM), a delegation consisting of Minister of Finance, Michael Ferrier, Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Emil Lee, Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure, Miklos Giterson and Deputy Minister Plenipotentiary Hasani Ellis, were given a tour of the Sint Maarten Airport Terminal Building (ATB) in the afternoon of Monday, January 15, the same day the Council was sworn in.

Prior to his departure to Curaçao for his first ‘Justitieel Overleg (JVO)’, Minister of Justice Cornelius de Weever, also visited the airport building.

Management and board of SXM Airport were present and conducted both tours for the delegation, as well as for Minister de Weever.

It was pointed out to the representatives of the airport that the public’s perception of Sint Maarten’s ATB is that after four and a half months post-hurricane Irma, the main portal of Sint Maarten’s economy is still in shambles and that seemingly very little has been done to repair the destruction.

While according to the airport officials present, improvements are being made, amongst which having a baggage handling system that is now about 80% functional, the conditions of the ATB appear to have been allowed to deteriorate daily, according to the visiting ministers.

Practically the entire roof continues to leak unabated even today, resulting in mold throughout the entire facility Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

HARBOUR VIEW:--- On January 12, 2018, His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday, received the updated final report from formateur S. Wescot-Williams.
The formateur has accepted the commission to form an interim new government supported by a majority in Parliament comprised of the UP-fraction, the DP-fraction, and Member of Parliament C.E Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Correction: Prosecutor Confirms Lee Under Investigation

Philipsburg – In the article titled, “Prosecution confirms Lee under investigation”, published on January 9, 2018, it stated that Honorable Minister of VROMI, Christophe Emmanuel, filed a complaint against his colleague, Minister Lee, with the Prosecutor’s Office in early December 2017. This is false information.

Prior to the above mentioned article, the Daily Herald published on December 19, 2017, that during the radio program “Online with Fernando Clark”, Minister Emmanuel announced that he filed a complaint with the Prosecutor’s Office against Minister Lee for misuse of his Government-issued fuel bonds for his business and placing his Government owned vehicle license plate on his personal vehicle post Hurricane Irma Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Correction: Prosecutor Confirms Lee Under Investigation.

PHILIPSBURG:--- In the article titled, “Prosecution confirms Lee under investigation”, published on January 9, 2018, it stated that Honorable Minister of VROMI, Christophe Emmanuel, filed a complaint against his colleague, Minister Lee, with the Prosecutor’s Office in early December. This is false information.

Prior to the above mentioned article, the Daily Herald published on December 19, 2017, that during the radio program “Online with Fernando Clark”, Minister Emmanuel announced that he filed a complaint with the Prosecutor’s Office against Minister Lee for misuse of his Government-issued fuel bonds for his business and placing his Government-owned vehicle license plate on his personal vehicle post Hurricane Irma Read more

---

Candidates in this article: