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PHILIPSBURG:--- In light of the current ongoing fires at the Philipsburg landfill, the United St. Maarten (US) party is once again pointing out that the constant instability of government has effectively stalled any progress at the landfill.

Party leader Frans Richardson explained that every time government falls for whatever so-call reasons, efforts that underway stopped and the reset button is hit by every new incoming government with its own ideas.

“When will there be a start, so this reoccurring problem can stop? Only when we stop playing politics with people’s lives and get serious about governing Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party MP Frans Richardson on Monday questioned what the role of the Post Office will be in distributing voting cards for the February 26 Parliamentary election.
Richardson was reacting to information from the Prime Minister and Civil Registry that voting cards would be distributed via the community centers in the various districts, with several voting districts grouped together Read more

Marinka Gumbs: The Way I See It….

As I ponder over the latest campaign rhetoric, coming out of the USP camp, I wonder about the use of some words and terms by the USP’s political leader. I want to give the author and the presenter of the latest USP release the benefit of the doubt, because surely had both these persons given any serious thought to the use of the word MANIPULATION, as an accusation directed to members of the United Democrats, the USP would have refrained from the word manipulation. Imagine, accusing others of manipulation and this coming from the one who is best known to have orchestrated the “Carnival Coupe” Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party MP Frans Richardson on Friday said the leader of the United Democrats (UD) MP Sarah Wescott-Williams continues to insult the people by persisting with manipulative ways to sow confusion in the country.

Richardson also wondered when Wescot-Williams was appointed as a Minister since she feels free to speak for the Council of Ministers and more specifically the Prime Minister Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The United St. Maarten (US) party will host the first of many town hall meetings for the 2018 campaign on Tuesday, January 23. The meeting will be held at the Rupert Maynard Community Center in St. Peters from 6:30pm to 8:00pm.

Leader of the US MP Frans Richardson said although the party is still very young, but going into its third campaign, the principle of going to the people remains the same Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party MP Frans Richardson describes the list of the party as “one in which the people of St. Maarten can see themselves reflected” and one that is ready and capable to govern.
Speaking over the weekend, Richardson lauded the fact that once again the USP has given capable young professionals the opportunity to seek higher office to continue serving St Read more

~ A waste of time and focus on country ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party MP Frans Richardson on Thursday asked the people of St. Maarten to remember who manipulated the country into the chaos and instability that it is currently in, with a DP/UP/Brownbill coalition unable to form a government Read more

Response To Usp

The Democratic Party has been one of the longest serving parties in the history of St. Maarten.  We have had our ups and downs, but we have been there for the people of St. Maarten, now more than ever before. Our main goal was and continues to be, “how can we make our island a better place for the people of St. Maarten”.

To hear a political party, who welcomed the leader of the Democratic Party as the chairlady in one breathe and denounce her in the next, say some of the most unprofessional things is a shame to say the least.  This berating article from the USP board comes as no surprise, because the same lowdown type of message was previously shared in the NA/USP/DP coalition WhatsApp chat.

Yes, the “testicular fortitude” message from the hand of a TEATT cabinet staffer, singling out 2 leaders of the coalition and calling the other (female) leader “spineless” Read more

The Democratic Party has been one of the longest-serving parties in the history of St. Maarten. We have had our ups and downs, but we have been there for the people of St. Maarten, now more than ever before. Our main goal was and continues to be, "how can we make our island a better place for the people of St. Maarten".
To hear a political party, who welcomed the leader of the Democratic Party as the chairlady in one breathe and denounce her in the next, say some of the most unprofessional things is a shame to say the least Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party MP Frans Richardson on Sunday said that anyone rejoicing over the unprecedented moves by the Dutch government to oust Prime Minister William Marlin is condoning a dangerous, self-defeating precedent that will be used again against St Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Frans Richardson on Friday lauded the management of GEBE for the diligent work currently being executed and for their professionalism under pressure-filled circumstances following hurricanes Irma and Maria. The MP also praised GEBE’s personnel for going above and beyond in putting St. Maarten I position for a quicker recovery.

Richardson said the government and people of St Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party MP Frans Richardson on Friday said that his party will not utilize the customary roadside billboards in the run-up to the January Parliamentary elections.

Richardson said that he believes the work put in by the USP in 9 months in office and the clear message that the party will have for the people of St Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister William Marlin tendered the resignation of his cabinet to Governor Eugene Holiday on Thursday afternoon following the motion of no confidence against himself and the other ministers.
Marlin also presented a draft National Decree to the Governor to dissolve Parliament. Once signed, the Parliament of Sint Maarten will be dissolved on January 31, 2018 Read more

~ Lee makes position available ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The new majority of the Parliament of St. Maarten voted in favor on a motion of non-confidence against six Ministers, namely Prime Minister William Marlin, Ministers Silveria Jacobs, Rafael Boasman, Christopher Emmanuel, Mellissa Arrindell-Doncher and Richard Gibson Sr., while no motion was brought against DP appointed Minister Emil Lee who it was said made his position available.
The now opposition voted against the motion of non-confidence brought against the six Ministers Read more

Frans Urges Public Not To Fall For The Pretentious Games Of The Dp

~ Says DP manipulated young MP ~

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party is imploring the people of St. Maarten not to fall for the “pretentious saintly act” being put on display by the leader of the Democratic Party MP Sarah Wescot-Williams Read more

~ Says DP manipulated young MP ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party is imploring the people of St. Maarten not to fall for the “pretentious saintly act” being put on display by the leader of the Democratic Party MP Sarah Wescot-Williams Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party MP Frans Richardson on Wednesday said the Minister of VSA Emil Lee should be held fully accountable for his failure to properly organize the relief effort following hurricane Irma.
Richardson said he cannot understand how the media have not attached accountability where it should go instead of letting Lee throw civil servants from his Ministry under the bus as the failures Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The board of the United St. Maarten (US) party said it is very disappointed in MP Chanel Brownbill for the decision he took despite having stood by him through everything and involved him in even more. Brownbill ran on the slate of the US party in the last Parliamentary Elections.
The board explained that all effort was made to surround MP Brownbill, a new MP, with the assistance and guidance he needs to be successful in Parliament Read more

~ Ship jumping places instability on country, talks should be held for National Government ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister William Marlin said on Wednesday that the Democratic Party was in discussions with other political parties months ago because the DP was hell-bent on breaking the government through ship jumping Read more

Frans: Shta Should Guard Its Tone In Addressing Its Government Partner

~ Govt. will not be irresponsible in talks with Dutch ~

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party MP Frans Richardson believes the St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) should guard its tone and refrain from levying insults towards Parliament and the government of St. Maarten. Richardson’s US party holds the political responsibility for the Ministry of Tourism and Economic Affairs and that of Justice.

He said St Read more

~ Govt. will not be irresponsible in talks with Dutch ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party MP Frans Richardson believes the St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) should guard its tone and refrain from levying insults towards Parliament and the government of St. Maarten. Richardson’s US party holds the political responsibility for the Ministry of Tourism and Economic Affairs and that of Justice.

He said St Read more

It is important to evaluate our representatives in Parliament on an annual basis and not wait until election time. Therefore, SMCP is developing a parliamentary report card that will indicate how well or how poorly our MPs are doing in the following six areas: attendance, participation, representation, supervision, legislation, and interaction. In the first letter to the editor on this topic, we covered the reason for and the nature of the report card and presented an extensive description of the first benchmark attendance Read more

A Report Card For Members Of Parliament

At the end of every school year, students are evaluated and promoted or not promoted based on their performance during the year. Conversely, at the end of a parliamentary year, Members of Parliament are not evaluated yet they continue in parliament without anyone questioning their achievements, their performance or their competency to function as a parliamentarian.

I have observed that in several countries around the world, political and interest groups are developing report cards for parliamentarians Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- At the end of every school year, students are evaluated and promoted or not promoted based on their performance during the year. Conversely, at the end of a parliamentary year, Members of Parliament are not evaluated yet they continue in Parliament without anyone questioning their achievements, their performance or their competency to function as a parliamentarian.

I have observed that in several countries around the world, political and interest groups are developing report cards for parliamentarians Read more