Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
Peridot Foundation Honours Alisha J. Brookes For Iwd
From left: Excellence Learning Academy Foundation Director Alisha Brookes and Peridot Foundation President Gracita Arrindell.
PHILIPSBURG--Peridot Foundation recognised Alisha J. Brookes for her work in special needs education at its International Womens Day 2022 celebration on Friday, March 12.
Gracita Calls For Establishment Of School For Autistic Children
Gracita Arrindell
~ Says schools to be deep-cleaned ~
PHILIPSBURG--Peoples Progressive Party (PPA) leader Gracita Arrindell has issued a call for the e Read more
PHILIPSBURG--Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA) leader Gracita Arrindell on Sunday expressed hope that the incoming Members of Parliament (MPs) and new Council of Ministers continue working on pending core issues including much-needed electoral reform that doesnt tolerate any more delays.
She said in a press release on Sunday that most importantly, we need political stability, and continuity in government.
PPA was not successful in its bid to obtain a seat in the new Parliament during last Thursdays snap parliamentary elections.
Arrindell congratulated the parties that obtained seats in Parliament Read more
Ppa Hopes New Parliament, Ministers Address Core Issues
Clad in her partys colours, Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA) leader Gracita Arrindell (right) was out early to cast her ballot in todays Parliamentary election. She encourages all eligible voters to come out and exercise their democratic right to vote.
PPA leader Gracita Arrindell.
PHILIPSBURG--In this third instalment of The Daily Herald (TDH) publishing the responses of various political parties contesting the snap election on Thursday, January 9, Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA) party leader Gracita Arrindell gives her partys plans if elected to St Read more
A United States Air Force Boeing C-17 military transport aircraft caused a stir in and around Princess Juliana International Airport on Sunday, after its pilots did at least three touch-and-go landings. These were said to be part of a training exercise, similar to one’s carried out in the past. (Photo courtesy Gracita Arrindell)
Gracita Calls On St. Maarten People To Continue Supporting Hurricane Relief For Haiti
PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten (October 24, 2016)—“The loss of human life and the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew in southwestern Haiti on October 4 are no longer among the hot news of the day. But we can still help to relieve the hardships that the storm piled on the people of our fellow Caribbean country,†said drs. Gracita Arrindell, leader of the People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA).
Arrindell, who personally responded to calls earlier this month from relief organizers to contribute hurricane relief goods for Haiti, said that she has faith in the St Read more
It’S Election Day
By Alita Singh
PHILIPSBURG--The fate of the country of St. Maarten, just two weeks shy of its sixth birthday, and its 59,800 plus residents from more than 115 countries lies in the hands of 22,302 people. Those voters, privileged by birth or naturalisation with the Dutch nationality, head to the polls today, Election Day, to cast their ballots for one of the 125 candidates across the slates of nine political parties.
The number of eligible voters may change this morning when the Court of First Instance hands down its decisions on several petitions filed by people with Dutch nationality who registered in the Civil Registry after the Voters Register was closed on June 11 Read more
Ppa Plans Real Estate Tax And Flat Income Tax Levy
PHILIPSBURG--A 2.5 per cent “real estate†tax and the levying of a flat ten per cent income tax are proposed by People’s Progressive Party (PPA), headed by former Member of Parliament (MP) Gracita Arrindell, in its manifesto themed “Strong, Safe and Secure St Read more
Ppa Presents ‘Clear Vision’ For September 26 Election
SUCKER GARDEN--People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA) held its first party congress Saturday, at the Lion’s Community Centre in Sucker Garden. In her congressional speech, party leader Gracita Arrindell rallied supporters behind the PPA’s goals in the run-up to the September 26 parliamentary election.
PPA joined forces with the United People’s (UP) party in the 2014 election, but will be contesting the upcoming election on its own Read more
Gracita Leaves Up Due To Lack Of Leadership
~ To contest election under PPA ~
PHILIPSBURG--People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA) party leader Gracita Arrindell says she resigned from United People’s (UP) party in 2015 due to the party’s lack of leadership, its failure to live up to its commitments and its turning its back on the people Read more
Integrity chamber law now to be handled on Monday
PHILIPSBURG--Parliament will continue its handling of the draft national ordinance to establish an Integrity Chamber on Monday starting at 10:00am. The Central Committee meeting resumed on Friday morning after its suspension on Wednesday evening, but was suspended again after coalition Members of Parliament (MPs) requested time to compare the draft law with the version suggested by the Dutch Government.
MP Tamara Leonard (United People's (UP) party) made the request for time to review the two versions to Parliament Chairman Dr Read more
Caravanserai timeshare owners informed their rights annulled
~ Clients in disbelief, want Government to take action ~
SIMPSON BAY--Timeshare owners at Caravanserai Beach Resort are up in arms after being informed recently by the property's new owners Alegria Real Estate BV that all timeshare rights granted by the previous owners are being annulled and that instead the company will offer hotel units against payment.
The news, seemingly the only contact that has been made by Alegria so far, is causing considerable concern amongst timeshare owners who are overwhelmed with questions Read more
Vorst land purchase to be omitted from 2014 budget amendment
~ Roy's amendment to budget amendment passed ~
PHILIPSBURG--An amendment to remove the purchase of the Vorst Estate property from a budget amendment tabled by Finance Minister Martin Hassink was passed during a public plenary session of parliament on Monday.
It was the third time the meeting had been convened to handle this and other issues. The first two meetings were cancelled due to lack of quorum. The motion, which was tabled by Democratic Party (DP) Member of Parliament (MP) Roy Marlin, was passed by seven of MPs voting in favour of the amendment and six voting against it.
Supporting the motion were author Roy Marlin, National Alliance (NA) MPs William Marlin, Hyacinth Richardson, George Pantophlet and Louie Laveist and Independent MPs Frans Richardson and Romain Laville Read more
Budget amendment meet called off again due to lack of quorum
PHILIPSBURG--The public plenary session of Parliament on amendments to the 2014 budget was cancelled for the second time on Friday, as only four Members of Parliament (MPs) showed up and signed in for the meeting.
The meeting was first called off on Wednesday, due to the lack of a quorum when seven MPs were signed in, though United People's (UP) party MPs and Independent MP Dr. Lloyd Richardson had been in the building.
Present at Friday's session were National Alliance (NA) MPs Hyacinth Richardson and George Pantophlet, Democratic Party (DP) MP Roy Marlin and United People's (UP) party MP Gracita Arrindell Read more
No quorum for budget amendment meeting
~ UP, Dr. Richardson, Illidge, De Weever absent ~
PHILIPSBURG--The public plenary session of Parliament on amendments to the 2014 budget was cancelled on Wednesday due to the lack of a quorum, as only seven Members of Parliament (MPs) were signed in.
Parliament Press Secretary Roddy Heyliger said in a press release last night that the session had been rescheduled to Friday at 10:00am.
At least eight MPs are needed for the meeting to proceed Read more
MPs concerned about TelEm-Digicel accord
PHILIPSBURG--Members of Parliament (MPs) have expressed concern about the signing of a financial information sharing contract between the St. Maarten Telephone Group of Companies TelEm and regional telecom company Digicel.
Democratic Party (DP), National Alliance (NA) and Independent MPs Frans Richardson and Patrick Illidge expressed concerns during a meeting of the Central Committee of Parliament on Friday, to handle amendments to the 2014 budget.
Neither United People's (UP) party MPs nor independent MP Dr Read more
Motion passed to restrict outgoing ministers’ actions
PHILIPSBURG--A motion calling on Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams to inform individual ministers of the Wescot-Williams III Cabinet "to not make any long-term policy, financial and/or decisions of such a nature as granting lands in long lease, bus and taxi licences, concessions, hiring and placement of personnel in crucial functions" was adopted by a majority of Members of Parliament (MPs) in the closing meeting of the 2013-2014 parliamentary year on Monday.
The motion was presented by MP Roy Marlin (Democratic Party (DP)) and also signed by six other MPs.
The motion further called on the ministers to refrain from making any decision on the waste-to-energy concession or any other decision "that may obstruct or encumber the incoming government from functioning adequately during the next governing term."
The motion also requested the prime minister to inform the individual ministers who are shareholder's representatives of government-owned companies "to instruct management and boards of these companies to refrain from entering into long-term agreements and sign contracts that may negatively affect or bind these companies for a long term."
The motion was presented by MP Roy Marlin after he requested an addition to an agenda of the plenary session of Parliament Read more
Parliamentary year closes on Monday
PHILIPSBURG--Parliamentary year 2013-2014 will close on Monday with a plenary meeting of Parliament starting at 10:00am in Parliament House. The meeting will be one of the last to be chaired by outgoing President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell (United People's party).
The new Parliamentary year 2014-2015 will be opened by Arrindell in a solemn ceremony on Tuesday Read more
Holiday starts consultation on formation of new gov’t today
HARBOUR VIEW--Governor Eugene Holiday will start consultations for the formation of a new government as of today, Monday, September 1. The consultations will be held with Vice Chairperson of the Advisory Council; Ombudsman Nilda Arduin-Lynch; outgoing President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell and the leaders of the four political parties that obtained seats in the elections: United People’s (UP) party leader Theo Heyliger, National Alliance (NA) leader William Marlin; Democratic Party (DP) leader Sarah Wescot-Williams and United St Read more
UP seeks full mandate, no coalition on Friday
PHILIPSBURG--A full mandate for the United People's (UP) party, not a coalition government, in Friday's Parliamentary Elections was collective message of the party's 23 candidates to supporters at the final public meeting of the campaign held on the ring road Wednesday night.
UP leader Theo Heyliger told the gathering that from the start of the campaign all the other political parties had focused their attack on UP Read more
St. Maarten restates objections to Rutte
THE HAGUE/PHILIPSBURG--The Government of St. Maarten has informed the Kingdom Council of Ministers that it will adopt many of the recommendations by the Wit-Samson Integrity Committee, but not without reiterating its objections to the way The Hague imposed an integrity audit via the governor of St. Maarten and the "continued blurring of norms on the Kingdom level."
In the letter dated August 21, 2014, St. Maarten Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams and Justice Minister Dennis Richardson informed Chairman of the Kingdom Council of Ministers, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the position of the St Read more
MPs agree to motion on dispute committee
PHILIPSBURG--The tripartite meeting of Members of the Parliaments (MPs) of St. Maarten, Aruba and Curaçao to discuss a uniform stance on the installation of the kingdom dispute committee had a bit of a rocky start in St. Maarten Monday afternoon, but by early night the delegations had a draft motion worded the way they desired.
The motion and other related statements from the meeting are set to be signed at Parliament House this morning. More information about the content will be made public at that time Read more