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>PHILIPSBURG:--- The leader of the United Saint Maarten Party (USP) Frans Richardson hand delivered a letter to Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson on Friday when he met with him at his office around 1pm.
SMN News understands that the USP leader made clear that as a coalition partner he got that Ministry and since he formed part of the coalition he is not informed on how the Justice Ministry functions.
After the meeting with the Minister of Justice MP Frans Richardson showed up at the Government Administration Building where members of the coalition met.
Attending that meeting which lasted over three hours were the leader of the UPP Theodore Heyliger, MP Franklin Meyers, MP Silvio Master, MP Maurice Lake, MP Leona Marlin, MP Cornelius de Weever, and MP Johan Janchi Leonard.
Also in attendance was Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson and the other members of the Council of Ministers.
When the meeting ended all Members of Parliament left stating that nothing happened and that the coalition meeting was called to discuss the budget Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---  United People’s (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Maurice Lake, visited grade 5 students at the Sister Magda Primary School last week Friday as a guest speaker.

Sister Magda Primary School Grade 5 students were given an educational tour of the Parliament Building Read more

>ST. PETERS:---- United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Maurice Lake who just returned from overseas after attending an anti-corruption and integrity workshop on the island of Curacao says he was not surprised by certain statements and articles published in the media, but added that readers and listeners also need to know the other side of the story as well.
"A story is not solely based on one side alone Read more

I voted for improvement yet nothing has changed

Dear Editor,

Please allow me some space in your newspaper to address the United People’s party.

UP party, as a supporter of the united people’s party, I have a request in return for all my hard work and efforts in getting votes for the current government body.

It is only fair and understandable that while some other supporters/campaigners are benefitting from their input; Erno York has only received small but appreciated donations Read more

Ombudsman Attends Anti-Corruption Training Session In Curacao

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Ombudsman of St. Maarten Dr. Nilda Lynch Arduin is currently heading a delegation to an anti-corruption training.

The session, which is being held on Curacao, is being organized by the International Anti-corruption Institute.

Attendees at the event are dealing with a wide range of topics, including the United Nations Convention of Anti-corruption.

St. Maarten is being represented at the training session by representatives from the Ministry of Justi Read more

Editorial - Same criteria

Sometimes a point made in this column can lead to misunderstanding. One hardly can be against expanding the number of cabinet members from the current five to the normal seven mentioned in the Constitution, but the fact is that it really would be worthwhile only if the persons involved prove an added value.

Moreover, no obvious objection exists to reappointing parliamentarian Maurice Lake – who apparently is very interested – as VROMI minister, especially as he has held the position before Read more

We are missing the point

Dear Editor,

I was shocked to read in the editorial of The Daily Herald on Saturday, May 23, 2015 that it will better serve St. Maarten maybe to have five ministers as a matter of cutting the expenses for the Country.

You know what, the editor may well be right in his assumption from the point of departure that they are even with the five not achieving any noteworthy improvement or should I say changes that serve this Community as a whole and his experience with the present ministers.

However, with all that said, our constitution explicitly says what constitutes an Executive Government for this Country and it also provides directives if and when we see the need to carry out any changes.

Mr Read more

Ministers of government do not make mistakes

Dear Editor,

I read an article on MP Maurice Lake and wanted to compare reports, but that was not possible. Mr. Lake stated that he had made mistakes in the past, but that people learn from their mistakes. The term that is used in this case is cliché. Ministers of government do not make mistakes. They accept to do whatever is done in the way that it is done and not in the way that it should be done Read more

Charlotte Brookson Academy to relocate from USM year end

~ LaBega saddened by MP's remarks ~

PHILIPSBURG--Charlotte Brookson Academy (CBA) of the Performance Arts will be relocating from its current home at the University of St. Martin (USM) to another location at the end of the year.

USM Dean of Academics and Interim President Dr. Francio Guadeloupe said the contract between CBA and USM ends in June and the tertiary institution has given CBA until December to find another suitable location.

CBA has been occupying classrooms at USM since it first opened its doors almost three years ago to provide education for students with a strong interest in the arts and with a strong focus on academics.

A source close to CBA said the intention was never for the school to be permanently housed at USM Read more

Mp Lake Travels To Curacao To Participate In Anti-Corruption Procurement & Integrity Training Course

MP Lake travels to Curacao to participate in Anti-Corruption Procurement & Integrity Training Course

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Maurice Lake, has travelled to Curacao to participate in a two-day Anti-Corruption Procurement & Integrity Training Course in Willemstad that starts on Wednesday.

The course is an initiative of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) in collaboration with the International Anti-Corruption Academy which is based in Austria.

The IOI has decided to make this training available to its members and opened it to members of the Caribbean Ombudsman Association (CAROA).

"I am along with my colleague Member of Parliament Emmanuel Christophe, will be representing the Parliament of Sint Maarten at this two-day course since the opportunity was provided for other entities to also partake in this very important training course.

"Our own Ombudsman approached parliament and presented this opportunity for one or more MPs to take part in the course Read more

Pure rhetoric

Dear Editor,

Please allow me some space in your newspaper to address Member of Parliament Maurice Lake.

MP Lake, with interest I read your latest releases concerning making the University of St. Maarten the key institution in forming our young St. Maarteners to be the future leaders of our nation. Also, your recent statements about moving our country forward by executing projects, which will create jobs for our people who are struggling and suffering because of lack of financial income; nothing wrong about this.

But from my point of view I classify your remarks as pure political rhetoric and I will explain you why.

During our discussions concerning the sale of the Emilio Wilson estates we discussed the transfer of the 5000 M2 setback, situated behind the Emilio Wilson Park, to the board of the Charlotte Brookson Academy to build their new facilities there Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---  "The country is now moving into the second half of 2015 within the next five weeks, and I am hoping that within that period of time we will have the two ministerial positions filled by competent persons in order to continue moving forward.

"We got to start putting the right people in the right positions. Don't tell me we can't find persons out of the 23 candidates of the United People's party to fill one or both of these two positions. Why can't MP Dr. Lloyd Richardson be the minister of health or other persons within the coalition, fill one or both of these ministerial positions?

"We need to raise the bar and start working in the best interest of this country Read more

Lake: ‘High time’ for two missing ministers

PHILIPSBURG--United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake has issued a call to his coalition partners that it is "high time" the two missing ministers be appointed to the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet "to get this country moving."

The Gumbs Cabinet, sworn in in December 2014, has had two ministers carrying double portfolios Read more

Editorial - Less is more?

Parliamentarian Maurice Lake has a point (see related story). The Gumbs cabinet has been short of two members for more than five months now.

Along with the lack of a governing programme, missing two ministers of what would normally be seven conceivably hampers the functioning of this government backed by a UP-led coalition Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Representatives from the Parliament of Sint Maarten led by President Dr. Lloyd Richardson, recently returned from Panama after attending five-days of parliamentary sessions at the Parliament of Latin America (Parlatino).

The parliamentary delegation comprised of the President Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson, Members of Parliament (MPs) Hon Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- The University of St. Martin (USM) needs to become the national university of the country.

United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Maurice Lake, who is a member of parliament's permanent Committee for Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs (CECYSA), says, if Sint Maarten is really serious about education, priority has to be given to the development of USM as a national university.

During the CECYSA session in the House of Parliament on Wednesday, MP Lake posed a number of questions with respect to developments at USM and to the Minister of Education with respect to government's position regarding a number of areas.

"USM has developed very slowly, but not fast enough Read more

USM in dire financial straits, suggests education surcharge

~ Govt to raise subsidy in 2016 ~

PHILIPSBURG--University of St. Martin (USM) outlined its dire financial situation on Wednesday, showing that the institution has been operating at an average deficit of some US $159,000 per annum over the past five years.

USM Manager of Finances and Operations Robert Budike painted the grim picture during a meeting of Parliament’s Permanent Committee on Education and Youth.

Budike suggested that an education surcharge similar to the St Read more

Mp Lake Says Usm Has To Become National University For The Country

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – The University of St. Martin (USM) needs to become the national university of the country.

United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Maurice Lake, who is a member of parliament's permanent Committee for Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs (CECYSA), says, if Sint Maarten is really serious about education, priority has to be given to the development of USM as a national university.

During the CECYSA session in the House of Parliament on Wednesday, MP Lake posed a number of questions with respect to developments at USM and to the Minister of Education with respect to government's position regarding a number of areas.

"USM has developed very slowly, but not fast enough Read more

88 kids under court mandated protection

PHILIPSBURG--There are 88 minor children under court-mandated protection as of this month, according to the Court of Guardianship.

Of those 88 children, 34 are still living at home with their parents, but will receive regular protection checkups. Seven children are with foster families and 47 are in foster homes operated by a number of foundations.

Court of Guardianship head Richelda Emmanuel told Parliament’s Justice Committee on Tuesday afternoon that Government was responsible only for the upkeep of children under court-mandated protection.

Children placed in foster homes by parents or guardians are not covered and their upkeep remains the responsibility of their parent or legal guardian as outlined in the Civil Code of the country Read more

Management of SMHDF fights suspension, seeks compensation

PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation's (SMHDF's) Finance Manager Emilio Kalmera and Executive Assistant Miurica Williams challenged their suspensions by the foundation's Supervisory Board in the Court of First Instance on Wednesday.

Managing Director Henry Lynch saw his service agreement with SMHDF end on February 4, based on a host of allegations concerning financial mismanagement and embezzlement.

Representing Kalmera and Williams, attorney Cindy Marica called her clients' suspension invalid and illegitimate, as only the Board of Directors, not the Supervisory Board, would be entitled to make such a decision.

Marica said furthermore that SMHDF had not worked diligently in dealing with the cases against her clients Read more

style="text-align: center;">New Building Expected to Create 115 jobs.

Airport:--- The Managing Director and other staff of the management team of the Princess Juliana International Airport held the ground breaking ceremony on Tuesday to commence the building of the Cargo Building. While the project is deemed as facelift for the cargo building, Managing Director of PJIAE Regina Labega said that the project is a multi-million dollar project that will create about 115 jobs which will cost the PJIAE $4.6M Read more

MPs review options for new building

PHILIPSBURG--The creation of a building team and deciding on whether to opt for government lease land or to purchase a parcel for the construction of a new Parliament Building were among the topic Members of Parliament (MPs) dealt with in a meeting of Ad Hoc Committee for the New Parliament Building on Friday morning.

The meeting, chaired by United People's (UP) party MP Franklin Meyers, was originally opened to the public, but was closed after committee members decided "due to the sensitivity" of the subject that the meeting should be closed.

Independent MP Cornelius de Weever has suggested before the closure for the committee to get a list of available land from government that is suitable for the building MPs want to have constructed.

Meyers said a list of possible locations was on hand as well as some possible options of private land for purchase.

United St Read more

Sarah: Coalition ‘suddenly lost interest’ in Integrity Chamber

PHILIPSBURG--It appears, said Democratic Party (DP) leader Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams, that the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet and by extension the governing coalition have "suddenly lost interest" in the establishment of an integrity chamber for the country.

"It is revealing that suddenly the urgency is no longer there for our own 'thing,'" the MP said.

She has drawn this conclusion from the response of Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs to her inquiry Thursday about the timeframe for the tabling of the draft national law to establish the integrity chamber in Parliament.

Gumbs, in an immediate response on Thursday to Parliament President Dr Read more

Mp Lake Commends Usm Management And Board On Mou To Promote Further Educational Opportunities

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – University of St. Martin (USM) and the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will allow students from St. Maarten/St. Martin and from other parts of the Caribbean region to obtain accredited degrees at USM on Pond Island.

United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Maurice Lake on Thursday commended USM management and board for this major development as it promotes further educational opportunities for the country's youth.

"This is a definite step in the right direction and taking our own home-grown institution of higher learning to the next level.

Working with UVI educational institution, and involving the SHTA with respective to USMs hospitality program are very good developments that will benefit the students and the community overall.

"I am a strong supporter of our University and it's about time we recognize our own Read more