SXMElections.com

UP biggest, but NA, US, DP sign accord

PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten will have yet another coalition government after Friday's elections. National Alliance (four seats), United St. Maarten Party (two seats) and Democratic Party (two seats) signed a declaration of willingness before dawn today to work together to form a new government.

DP leader Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams told The Daily Herald about the declaration shortly after the signing took place at the DP election headquarters at Bute Hotel.

The short declaration states that the parties are willing to work together Read more

style="text-align: center;">Preliminary Results UPP – 7 Seats, NA – 4 seats, USp – 2 seats, DP – 2 seats --- NA, USp and DP signed working document

PHILIPSBURG:--- The United Peoples Party got a resounding amount of votes from the voting population on Friday Read more

St. Maarten Prepares For New Government

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Talks towards the formation of a new government for St. Maarten has already begun.

Seemingly there is some interest between the National Alliance party of MP William Marlin (four seats), the Democratic Party of PM Sarah Wescot-Williams (two seats) and the US party of MP Frans Richardson (two seats).

www.sxmislandtime.com learnt that an accord was signed at the Bute Hotel between the NA, DP and US political parties at five (5am) Saturday.

If this combination of political parties decide to form the next government, then the UP party of MP Theo Heyliger who got seven (7) seats in Friday's election would be left to occupy the opposition benches in the new Parliament of St Read more

St. Maarten Waste to Energy Plant

Dear Editor,

It has come to my attention that in his bid to win re-election Theo Heyliger has promised to deliver a waste to energy plant to Country St.Maarten. In the ad is an artist's rendering showing what the plant will look like when built. All in all, a pretty effective ad for something St.Maarten has needed for a long time.

Now I do understand the business of politics and that come election time, all politicians will remind voters that it was them or their political party that "brought home the bacon" Read more

Theo announces finalisation of National Energy Policy

PHILIPSBURG--Member of Parliament and leader of the United People's (UP) party Theo Heyliger announced on Wednesday the completion of the National Energy Policy for St. Maarten. The policy contains a list of measures and procedures necessary to mitigate the impact of energy usage on the environment while offering consumers lower tariffs for energy use.

"This represents building a new energy future for St Read more

Prosecution Appeals Class Justice Ruling

St. Maarten – The prosecution filed an appeal yesterday against the ruling in the 2010 election fraud case (the so-called Masbangu investigation). On Monday, the court declared the prosecution inadmissible in the prosecution of three suspects who are accused of selling their vote to the United People’s party and one suspect who gave these suspects money on behalf of the UP. The court ruled that the decisions the prosecutor’s office made in this investigation –excluding the UP and its party leader Theo Heyliger from the investigation – have “the semblance of class justice.”

The court declared the prosecution inadmissible because it violated the principle of equality and the ban on arbitrariness.

“The Public Prosecutor’s Office agrees with the vision of the court that the role of the UP has not been sufficiently investigated, but it has provided an explanation for this during the trial Read more

Investigation At Prosecutor’S Office

St. Maarten – Justice Minister Dennis Richardson will consult with the chairman of the Law Enforcement Council– former Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards – about a possible investigation into the practice of class justice within the Public Prosecutor’s Office in St. Maarten.

The initiative follows on the heels of the court ruling in the Masbangu-case that revolves around selling and buying of votes before the 2010 elections. The Court in First Instance declared the prosecution inadmissible in this case and remarked in its ruling that, by not investigating the role of the United People’s party and its leader Theo Heyliger, the prosecutor’s office had called upon itself ‘the semblance of class justice.”

“I cannot allow that observation to stand without proper investigation,” Minister Richardson said at yesterday’s Council of Ministers press briefing 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

Masbangu Verdict is an Indictment for the Prosecutor’s Office --- Class Justice is a Crime.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The verdict rendered on Monday by Judge Luijks is indeed an indictment against the Prosecutor's Office. SMN News mentioned in several articles that the prosecutors that come to St. Maarten don't come here to work, instead they are here to enjoy the sea and sun and also become friendly with local politicians in order to layer their own pockets. How is it possible that when these prosecutors come to St. Maarten they refuse to go back to Holland? How is it they are able to build huge houses here and purchase beach front properties? The allegations that they have been seizing boats and other assets from suspects and selling them after business hours should be investigated by the pertinent authorities Read more

style="text-align: center;">Theo should substantiate claim that it won't cost much

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the National Alliance (NA) William Marlin says dollarization will have serious financial consequences for St. Maarten as the costs to take this route are extremely exorbitant.
Marlin said UP Theo Heyliger's claims during Sunday's debate that it won't cost much is erroneous and intended to sugar coat the real figures and the tremendous loss of seigniorage for the country.
For St Read more

NA: Dollarization could sink country

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) leader Member of Parliament William Marlin says dollarization will have serious financial consequences for St. Maarten, as the expenses to take this route are extremely exorbitant. He called on United People's (UP) party leader MP Theo Heyliger to substantiate his claim that the switch from the Netherlands Antilles guilder to the US dollar would not cost the country much.

Marlin, whose party is not in favour of dollarizing the economy, said such a move comes with "tremendous loss of seigniorage" for the country.

To dollarize, the country would have to purchase stocks of currency equivalent to the value of the total stock of guilders in circulation Read more

Van Raak, Bosman shocked by ruling in vote-buying case

THE HAGUE--Members of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament André Bosman of the liberal democratic VVD party and Ronald van Raak of the Socialist Party (SP) said on Tuesday that they were shocked by the decision of the Court in St. Maarten's vote-buying case.

The Court of First Instance on Monday declared inadmissible the Prosecutor's Office's cases against five persons who were allegedly involved in the selling and buying of votes on behalf of the United People's (UP) party in the September 2010 election.

"I am truly shocked by the Court's decision," Van Raak told The Daily Herald in a reaction Read more

Party Leaders Avoid Laser 101 Debate: Rhoda Arrindell (Up): “Stupid Grievances Downed First Wescot-Williams Cabinet”

St. Maarten – Party leaders declined to take part in what would have been the last political debate before the elections on Friday yesterday. Radio station Laser 101 had invited UP-leader Theo Heyliger, DP-leader Sarah Wescot-Williams, NA-leader William Marlin and USp-leader Frans Richardson Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Lawyers and the three living suspects that were involved in the Masbangu investigation namely Carolina, James and Roy Heyliger escaped slightly on Monday when Judge C.T. M Luijks deemed the entire case inadmissible because he felt that the main suspect Theodore Heyliger was not charged and taken before him. Judge Luijks said based on what he has seen the Masbangu case created what can be considered as "class justice" and the Landsrecherche along with the Prosecutor's Office are holding their hands over Theo Heyliger's head Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- After listening to the last political debate on Sunday night which was organized by AVS News one wonders who really is running the country at this present moment. The two political parties namely the UP and DP tried their utmost best to convince the people that they are the ones most capable of running the country for another four years, yet they did not admit they are the ones in charge right now at least until October 10th, 2014.
SMN News has been bringing you a review of the past four years to remind voters of some of the things that transpired when the three coalitions ran the affairs of the people this great nation.
Early 2011 shortly after the UP/ DP government took office, the biggest scandal that broke and had the country in uproar was when Member of Parliament Jules James who is working for Simpson Bay Resorts Management Company (SBRMC) laid off close to 200 workers that have been working for Pelican Resorts for years Read more

Vote buying proven, but election fraud case dismissed

~ Judge accuses Prosecutor of 'class justice' ~

PHILIPSBURG--The Court of First Instance on Monday declared inadmissible the Prosecutor's Office's cases against five persons allegedly involved in selling and buying votes on behalf of United People's (UP) party in the September 2010 election.

The Judge held it against the Prosecutor's Office that it had decided to prosecute only five suspects, but had failed to investigate the roles of UP and its leadership in the scheme.

According to the Court, the Prosecutor's Office had been in default Read more

Party leaders delve into critical matters

BELAIR--Dollarisation, integrity, boosting the economy, and immigration were among the topics the leaders of the six political parties delved into during the third and final Arts Video Studios televised political debate in Belair Community Centre on Sunday ahead of Friday's Parliamentary Elections.

The first question posed to party leaders by moderator Paul De Windt, publisher of The Daily Herald, was the parties' stance on dollarisation of the country.

Social Reform Party (SRP) leader businessman Jacinto Mock, to whom the question was posed, said the country was not ready to make the US dollar its currency; this could only happen when St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Democratic Party faction in Parliament continues to express its concerns regarding the so called Vorst land deal. While the judge in the court of first instance has ruled against the government in this particular case the Democratic Party faction in Parliament considers the behavior of the UP minister Maurice Lake irresponsible Read more

2nd Laser 101 Political Debate to be aired on Monday from 7 - 9pm.

>MADAME ESTATE:--- The 2nd and last Political Discussion that will be hosted on Laser 101, will be aired live on Monday, August 25th from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. The leaders of the political parties that have representation in the present parliament have been invited to attend.

In first instance, Frans Richardson from the United St.Maarten Party, Sarah Wescot-Williams from the Democratic Party, and William Marlin from the National Alliance have all three confirmed their attendance by email to management of Philipsburg Broadcasting Read more

Political Discussion On Laser 101

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The 2nd and last Political Discussion that will be hosted on Laser 101, will be aired live on Monday, August 25th from 7:00 to 9:00 PM.

The leaders of the political parties that have representation in the present parliament have been invited to attend.

In first instance, Frans Richardson from the United St.Maarten Party, Sarah Wescot-Williams from the Democratic Party, and William Marlin from the National Alliance have all three confirmed their attendance by email to management of Philipsburg Broadcasting.

Theo Heyliger of the United People's Party sent an email indicating that he could not confirm his attendance due to his agenda.

Eventually William Marlin informed Philipsburg Broadcasting officials that there was a double booking as he has to attend an interview on a TV program on the same day and time, thus making it impossible for him to attend.

The National Alliance will therefore be sending Silveria Jacobs, and the United People's Party will be sending Frankie Meyers to represent the leader of the UP.

As the two candidates that will be attending this formal discussion are veteran members of their respective parties, the vision and sentiments of their leaders, and their party should be well represented.

The topics will be of a general nature, however integrity, will be the main driver.

The program will be retransmitted on radio stations on St.Martin, St.Barths and Saba Read more

Judge to decide Tuesday on Bada Bing witnesses

PHILIPSBURG--Judge Koos van de Ven decided on Thursday to adjourn the preliminary hearing in the so-called "Orca" trial until next week Tuesday, to consider requests of the defence for additional investigations and the hearing of witnesses.

It is not yet known when the actual court case will be heard, but in any case not before mid-January 2015; most likely in March or April 2015.

In the trial, Member of Parliament (MP) Patrick Illidge (48) will be charged with accepting bribes from Bada Bing and Lunteren N.V Read more

Like Four Years Ago – The Results Next Friday Could Be Different: Today Newspaper Poll Gives Up Majority Of Votes

St. Maarten – The votes are in, and boy, did Chippie-users grab the opportunity to make their political preference known. Today’s partner in this project, telecom provider UTS received no less than 1,269 text messages from Chippie-users who responded to the poll.

While the pie charts show the results from different angles, it is important to read this figures in their correct context. For this, we will also use the results of an identical poll Today organized using the Chippie-network in 2010.

The raw numbers look like this: United People’s party 452 votes (55 percent), Democratic Party 143 votes (17 percent), National Alliance 119 votes (14 percent), United St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Members of the Democratic Party announced loud and clear on Tuesday at a press conference that they have not signed any pre-election agreement with the United Peoples Party. The DP leader Sarah Wescot Williams distanced herself and her party from the banner that is being circulated via the social media Read more

EWE owners question when amendment will be handled

CUL DE SAC--The owners of Industry and Golden Rock Plantations, commonly called Emilio Wilson Estate (EWE), want to know from Parliament, in particular the United People's (UP) party, when the amendments to the 2014 budget that includes the funds to purchase a significant portion of EWE will be handled by Parliament.

Owners met with the Council of Ministers on July 10 and agreed they would still consider the payback of US $1.5 million to government from the sale price for community projects, if the budget amendment were passed through Parliament by today, August 15.

The amendment originally was scheduled for handling on June 30, but the meeting of the Central Committee of Parliament never took place due to lack of a quorum Read more