Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
PHILIPSBURG:--- Yesterday, December 23, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs updated Parliament in writing on the postponed decision of the Kingdom Council of Ministers meeting (RMR) regarding liquidity support for the first quarter of 2022. The postponement was confirmed upon request of the governments of St. Maarten, Aruba, and Curaao in instructions to their respective Plenipotentiary Ministers, after the review of the cover letter containing the proposed decision points drafted by the State Secretary Read more
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Claudius Toontje Buncamper fired off a letter to the minister of general affairs, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs in which he pointed out that, in his opinion, the process to hire a new department head of VDSM (Vieiligheids Dienst St. Maarten or National Security Services of St Read more
PHILIPSBURG:--- St. Maarten requests postponement of the Kingdom Council of Ministers (RMR) decision that was scheduled to be taken today, to approve the deviation for the budgetary norms of article 15 of the Rijkswet Financieel Toezicht (Rft). The Netherlands made the granting of the deviation conditional on St. Maartens political approval of the Note of Amendment to the Consensus Kingdom Law COHO, in an effort to force consensus. Additionally, the State Secretary included excerpts of the said amendment as decision points for the RMR, thereby circumventing the Parliaments of the Kingdom from debating this aspect of the law Read more
~MP Buncamper is concerned about PJIA COOs dismissal.~
PHILIPSBURG:--- During Mondays Central Committee meeting of parliament, Independent member of Parliament, Claudius Toontje Buncamper fired off a number of questions to the minister of general affairs, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs.MP Buncamper claimed that he understands that Aruba will be phasing out the 12.5% deduction from civil servants income by 6.25% in 2022 followed by another 6.25% in 2023, and asked the prime minister if she can indicate to parliament when St Read more
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Sunday, December 12, the Voluntary Korps of St. Maarten (VKS) held its graduation ceremony at the Sundial School where 18 of its new members were sworn in as VKS Soldiers after intense 9-month training. The ceremony began with the entire VKS membership marching through Philipsburg and ending at the Sundial School to witness the 11th groups installation. The Honorable Prime Minister Silveria E. Jacobs, Minister of Justice Anna E. Richardson, Acting Commander of the VKS, Captain Alain Richardson, VKS Chef Bureau Opleidingen Sergeant Major Alfred Leito, former VKS Commanders Mr Read more
~ Ministry working on ensuring funds are available for salary adjustments. ~
PHILIPSBURG:--- The function book for justice work will be finalized and signing is expected to take place before the year ends. So said Minister of Justice Anna Richardson. The Minister said that the function book is now being reviewed by the final phase before the signing takes place Read more
~ One rule was used for all Caribbean Countries.~
PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs said the cuts imposed on civil servants and workers at government-owned companies remained unfair. The Prime Minister was responding to questions regarding the stance taken by the St. Maarten Telecommunication Union (SMUC) and TELEM Group of Companies.Jacobs said that a meeting with the Windward Islands Chamber of Labor Unions has been scheduled to discuss the way forward Read more
PHILIPSBURG:--- During Fridays meeting regarding the management of government-owned buildings under the management of SOG (Stichting Overheids Gebouwen) independent Member of Parliament MP Claudius Toontje Buncamper posed several questions to the minister of general affairs, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs, regarding the conditions and lack of repairs of several government-owned buildings.MP Buncampers first focus was on the festival village, where between 8 to 12 booths that were damaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 are still not repaired Read more
~ Says there are no demands at the State services from protestors.~
PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs said on Wednesday that she has been in constant contact with the State Services at the Prefecture of Saint Martin regarding the riot-like events on the French side on Tuesday. Jacobs said that based on the information she received from her counterparts are that the Collectif is not part of the ongoing protest that began early Tuesday morning and Tuesday night at various locations on the French side Read more