Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
Sarah elected new Parliament Chair in spite of De Weever’s cancellation
PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) leader Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams is again at the helm of Parliament. She was elected Parliament Chairwoman by the new National Alliance (NA)-led coalition in an extraordinary meeting of Parliament on Thursday evening Read more
Government has ‘autonomous right’ to dissolve Parliament
~ Governor wrote in 2013 letter ~
PHILIPSBURG--“The right to dissolve Parliament by national decree is a constitutional and autonomous right of the Government,†wrote Governor Eugene Holiday in a letter dated May 16, 2013, to then-Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams when she tried to stopped the then-National Alliance (NA)-led Council of Ministers from invoking Article 59 of the Constitution.
The letter came to light this week as political tension intensified between the newest NA-led coalition with a majority in Parliament and the UP/De Weever/Marlin-Romeo-supported Council of Ministers, after the crumbling of the United People’s (UP) party-led coalition.
The current Marcel Gumbs Cabinet has held tight to the view that it is its right to dissolve Parliament in the face of the shifted majority in Parliament Read more
Protest against Ministers draws only a small crowd
PHILIPSBURG--The angry sentiments expressed on radio and in some quarters of the community against the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet for not resigning in the face of the September 30 motion of no confidence passed by the new National Alliance (NA)-led coalition did not translate into a large turnout for the protest in front of the Government Administration Building on Wednesday morning.
Some people on the scene are planning to return to the site again today, Thursday, for similar action Read more
Protest against ministers draws only small crowd
PHILIPSBURG--The angry sentiments expressed on radio and in some quarters of the community against the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet for not resigning in the face of the September 30 motion of no confidence passed by the new National Alliance (NA)-led coalition did not translate into a big turnout for the protest in front of the Government Administration Building on Wednesday morning Read more
New coalition says De Weever acted illegally, calls for urgent meeting
PHILIPSBURG--Second Vice-Chairman of Parliament Cornelius de Weever performed an “illegal act†when he chaired Tuesday’s plenary session of Parliament and closed it swiftly without giving Members of Parliament (MPs) the possibility to react, say representatives of the new coalition in Parliament.
After De Weever closed the session they submitted a request for an urgent meeting of Parliament to talk about his “illegal act†as well as “the consequences for the functioning of Parliament and for the representation of the people of St Read more
New coalition wants ministers to resign before talks on stability
PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs’ invitation to faction leaders in Parliament to meet separately with him today, Wednesday, in an attempt to get “support for solutions for stability in government†has been rebuffed by members of the new coalition in Parliament.
In response to Gumbs’ invitation to meet, faction leaders Members of Parliament (MPs) William Marlin (National Alliance), Sarah Wescot-Williams (Democratic Party), Frans Richardson (United St Read more
Supporters of new coalition plan peaceful protest Wed.
~ If govt. doesn’t resign by today ~
PHILIPSBURG--If the ministers in the Gumbs cabinet fail to make their positions available by today, Tuesday, supporters of the new majority coalition in Parliament plan to take to the streets in a peaceful protest tomorrow, Wednesday, to send a strong message to Government that they “cannot hold the country hostage any longer.â€
The Daily Herald understands that the supporters of the new majority have given the Gumbs cabinet up to today to demit office, as a motion of no confidence against them was passed almost two weeks ago, on Wednesday, September 30 Read more
Dennis says decision is being prepared on political situation
PHILIPSBURG--Deputy Prime Minister Dennis Richardson said on Tuesday that a decision is being prepared on the current political situation.
Richardson was acting in that capacity yesterday as Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs was ill at home. Richardson declined to divulge details of the decision being prepared, but he said Gumbs was “very clear†on his position about not resigning and about wanting new elections to be held.
Richardson said also that the Council of Ministers had received a second advice on the matter, but he declined to say from whom the advice had been received and what the conclusions of the advice were Read more
Holiday: ‘No basis not to form new govt. based on new majority’
HARBOUR VIEW--A new Government can be formed in St. Maarten based on the new majority in Parliament.
This is the position of Governor Eugene Holiday, conveyed in a press release on Monday, after having concluded his consultations with parties on the recent political developments.
Holiday said that, having reviewed the correspondence received and following completion of the consultations regarding the current political developments, he had informed parties that “there is no basis not to form a new Government based on the new majority in Parliament.â€
Holiday said members of the Gumbs cabinet had not yet made their positions available Read more
William to meet Governor today
PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) leader Member of Parliament (MP) William Marlin will be meeting with Governor Eugene Holiday today, Monday, on the formation of the new majority coalition in Parliament.
The meeting is on request of Governor Holiday Read more
Sarah confirms she will assume Chairmanship of Parliament
PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) leader Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams confirmed on Friday that she will be assuming the position of the new Chairperson of Parliament.
DP forms part of the new eight-seat-majority coalition in Parliament Read more
New majority in Parliament to focus on ‘needs of residents’
~ Portfolios divided, NA gets PM ~
HARBOUR VIEW--The new eight-seat-majority coalition in Parliament formed on Wednesday plans to focus on the needs of residents and is prepared to make safety and security “a top priority†and to give the people of St. Maarten “an open Government that gives account on all levels.â€
The new majority comprises former United People’s (UP) party Members of Parliament (MPs) Silvio Matser and Maurice Lake; National Alliance (NA) MPs William Marlin, Silveria Jacobs, Christophe Emmanuel and George Pantophlet; Democratic Party (DP) MP Sarah Wescot-Williams; and United St Read more