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Process To Identify Candidate Ministers Still Ongoing

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Formateur the Honorable MP Theo Heyliger on Tuesday made clear that the task given to him by the Governor of St. Maarten is still ongoing and he has not finalized the names of candidate Ministers to present to the Governor.

MP Heyliger's statement was in reaction to speculative media reports published Read more

Editorial - For a better position

It appears the decision to appoint someone else than UP leader Theodore Heyliger as prime minister has been taken (see related article). The by-far-biggest vote-getter during the end of August elections apparently will remain in Parliament despite earlier intentions to lead his first cabinet.

This development obviously is related to Governor Eugene Holiday being ordered by the Kingdom Council of Ministers to hold off on installing any candidate-ministers until a more stringent screening process determined and executed by officials from the Netherlands is completed Read more

Marcel Gumbs tipped to be prime minister

PHILIPSBURG--It appears United People's (UP) party leader Member of Parliament Theo Heyliger will stick to his seat in Parliament instead of opting to become prime minister of the new UP/Democratic Party/Marlin-Romeo coalition.

Veteran politician Marcel Gumbs has been tipped as a possible candidate for prime minister Read more

Priest Instructs Heyliger: Man Up To Your Position; Take A Delegation To Holland And Present St. Maarten’S Case

St. Maarten—An instruction to form a delegation consisting of the leaders of the political parties in Parliament and visit the First and Second Chambers and present St. Maarten’s case, has been issued to leader of the UPP Theo Heyliger by leader of the One St Read more

Churches call for day of fasting on Sunday

~ Suggest business cabinet ~

PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten United Ministerial Foundation has called for Sunday, November 9, to be a day of pray and fasting to help bring the country out of its impasse with the Dutch Government about the instruction for additional screening for minister candidates. This measure was taken due to "serious concerns" about the integrity of the government, said the foundation.

The instruction has caused the appointment of ministers and the prime minister to come to a halt.

"This situation is not good at all for St Read more

style="text-align: center;">OSPP ISSUES INSTRUCTION TO THE LEADER OF THE UPP, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT MR. Theodore Heyliger TO FORM A DELEGATION OF THE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT TO VISIT THE FIRST AND SECOND CHAMBERS IN THE NETHERLANDS TO PRESENT THEIR CASE TO THEM Read more

Chin Cactus Road Residents Implore Minister Lake To Fix Road

St. Maarten – In a petition signed by some 20 plus persons, residents of Chin Cactus Road in the Sucker Garden area voiced their discontent with the dilapidated condition of the road, which has been in a state of disrepair for some years now, imploring Minister of Vromi Maurice Lake and Department Head of Infrastructure Management Claudius Buncamper to fulfill their promise and pave the road Read more

Residents want road repaired ‘as promised’

SUCKER GARDEN--Residents of Chin Cactus Drive are expressing frustration over its continued deplorable state and calling on Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure VROMI Maurice Lake to honour a promise they say he made during a public meeting in the midst of the election campaign and give the matter immediate attention.

A letter signed by some 22 residents, as well as a copy of a 2012 letter issued by VROMI, tells of official complaints filed as far back as 2008 and VROMI's continued stated intentions to address the issue.

The residents' letter says that most recently, in a public meeting in Sucker Garden in August "during the election campaign, the Minister of Public Works announced that the paving of Chin Cactus Drive will begin the very next day Read more

Civil servant on trial for drunk, dangerous driving

PHILIPSBURG--Civil servant K.R. (46), who is accused of driving under the influence, reckless driving and causing an accident while under a driving ban, will learn his fate on Wednesday, November 19.

The incidents allegedly had taken place during and after a three-car accident on W.T.A. Nisbeth Road near Kam's Foodworld during the evening hours of March 28.

The head of the New Projects, Development and Planning Department confessed he had consumed three glasses of wine during the reception at the opening of the new artificial grass outfield at St Read more

Council of Ministers wants screening conducted by St. Maarten rules only

PHILIPSBURG--The Council of Ministers wants the screening of minister candidates to be carried out only based on the country's existing laws and not in conjunction with the additional screening being demanded by the Kingdom Government. When the names are submitted to Governor Eugene Holiday, it will be up to him to decide how to proceed with the screening.

The incumbent Council of Ministers decided the names of minister candidates should be submitted to Holiday and their security and integrity screenings should take place "within the confines and limits of the laws of St Read more

Editorial - Interim compromise?

The current deadlock over the instruction by the Netherlands to Governor Eugene Holiday on the screening of candidate ministers will have to be broken sooner or later. The high tourism season is approaching fast and the 2015 budget must be approved on time to meet the needs of the population adequately.

Without agreeing to the measure, it might be useful to entertain a possible temporary compromise, pending a resolution of the current constitutional dispute. Seeking an opinion from the Council of State on the issue could well be part of such a scenario, because regardless of procedural limitations this esteemed body ought not reasonably to refrain from giving such if requested certainly by a majority of the kingdom partners, in this case with the help of Curaçao and Aruba.

In the meantime, the incoming UP/DP/Marlin-Romeo coalition that enjoys a two-thirds majority in Parliament would do well to at least consider appointing an interim cabinet of persons who are practically guaranteed to pass even the far-reaching integrity investigation now imposed by The Hague Read more

style="text-align: center;">All Members of the Democratic Party did not support her decision but respected it as Leader of DP

PHILIPSBURG:--- Almost three weeks after signing an agreement with formateur Theodore Heyliger, leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams finally broke her silence on Monday at a press conference held at the House of Parliament Read more

Other Parties Stay Away From Protest Against Kingdom And Plasterk – Green March Against Instruction

St. Maarten– Between 300 and 400 people took part in the march People United for True Democracy organized yesterday afternoon in protest against the instruction from the Kingdom Council of Ministers to Governor Holiday for a stricter screening of candidate ministers – a handsome turnout with one flaw: only supporters of the United People’s party showed up.

UP party leader Theo Heyliger was there, as were his faction leader Franklin Meyers, MP Tamara Leonard and MP Lloyd Richardson Read more

Lake: “Dutch Instruction Is Part Of The Hidden Agenda To Take Over St. Maarten”

St. Maarten —The Dutch instruction to Governor Holiday is being interpreted by Vromi minister Maurice Lake as part of a hidden agenda to take over St. Maarten.

Lake, who was a successful candidate on the UP list in the last election noted that the country already has screening laws for candidates proposed to become a member of the Council of Ministers.

“This whole thing is not about that anybody is afraid of being screened.  We have nothing to hide.  Those who have served within the past four years as Ministers, going back to 2010, 2012 and 2013 and still do so today have passed the screening process to become a minister Read more

Sarah: DP fraction of two MPs intact

PHILIPBSURG--The Democratic Party (DP) fraction comprises two Members of Parliament (MPs): Sarah Wescot-Williams and Cornelius de Weever, with De Weever serving as the party's fraction leader in Parliament Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- On Sunday October 26th, 2014 a peaceful march that was organized by People United for True Democracy took place. This march started at approximately 2:00pm and lasted until 5:00pm. The march was attended by approximately two hundred persons and ended in front of the Government Administration Building on the Clem Labega Square. The Community Police Officer/Inspector Felix Richards used this opportunity at the end of the march to approach the onlookers and the participants attending the march, including prominent politicians such as Franklin Meyers, Dr Read more

style="text-align: center;">All Members of the Democratic Party did not support her decision but respected it as Leader of DP

PHILIPSBURG:--- Almost three weeks after signing an agreement with formateur Theodore Heyliger, leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams finally broke her silence on Monday at a press conference held at the House of Parliament Read more

Cpo Takes "Stop, Drop & Go" Projects To The Streets

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - On Sunday October 26th a peaceful march that was organized People United for True Democracy took place.

This march started at approximately 02.00 p.m. and lasted until 05.00 p.m.

The march was attended by approximately two hundred persons and ended in front on the Government Administration building on the Clem Labega Square.

The Community Police Officer/ Inspector Felix Richards used this opportunity and the end of the march to approach the onlookers and the participants attending the march, including prominent politicians such as, Franklin Meyers, Dr Read more

Editorial - What then?

An estimated 200 people showed up for Sunday's demonstration against the intervention by the Kingdom Council of Ministers in the process to form a local government. The crowd may not have seemed that large in absolute numbers, but for St. Maarten, where people rarely take to streets to protest anything, it was significant.

Some who disagree with the participants might argue that they were mostly UP sympathisers, as the instruction from the Netherlands to Governor Eugene Holiday obviously is aimed at that party and its leader Theo Heyliger, to prevent him from becoming prime minister Read more

Marchers call for ‘respect’ and end to Dutch ‘insult’

PHILIPSBURG--"We didn't vote for Bosman or Van Raak" and "Enough is enough. This is our country" were some of the messages on the placards carried by an estimated 200 marchers who took to the street Sunday afternoon to express their discontent with the Kingdom Council of Ministers' instruction to Governor Eugene Holiday to carry out what has been deemed an invasive, boundless screening into the lives of minister candidates.

The march started off from the ring road with the sizable group heading down W.J.A Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Hon. Maurice Lake of the United People's (UP) Party says the country already has screening laws for candidates proposed to become a member of the Council of Ministers.

"This whole thing is not about that anybody is afraid of being screened Read more

style="text-align: center;">St. Maarten and its people will continue to fight for their rights

PHILIPSBURG:--- Organizers of the Peoples United for True Democracy (PUTD) began gathering on the Pondfill just after 1pm on Sunday as they prepared for the march they organized to protest against the instruction the Kingdom Council of Ministers gave to Governor Holiday on September 17th, 2014. The Kingdom Council instructed the Governor of St. Maarten not to sign any Landsbesluit to appoint Ministers that are appointed by the current coalition government.

The march which was scheduled to take off from the vicinity of the WIFOL building on the Pondfill on Sunday afternoon left the location close to 3pm as buses were circling in the various districts to pick up people who wanted to participate in the march deemed as protecting the country and its people's democratic rights.
Despite the delay and several publications in the newspapers, radios, and the social media just about 100 persons attended the march, included were several members from the UP party including its leader Theodore Heyliger, MP Lloyd Richardson and MP Franklyn Meyers, children and even some workers from the brothels on the island were among those that marched down the Pondfill road to the Government Administration Building.
As the marchers marched they chanted they wanted freedom, justice and respect Read more

Mp Lake Said Country Already Has Screening And Integrity Laws. Dutch Instruction Is Part Of The Hidden Agenda To Take Over Sint Maarten

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Member of Parliament Hon. Maurice Lake of the United People's (UP) Party says the country already has screening laws for candidates proposed to become a member of the Council of Ministers.

"This whole thing is not about that anybody is afraid of being screened Read more

Committee For Action Plan On Integrity Reports: Parliament Calls On Governor Not To Execute Instruction

St. Maarten – The Parliament passed a motion yesterday that calls on governor Drs. Eugène Holiday “not to yield to the measure of instruction formulated by the Dutch government” and to instruct the government to establish a committee that will “study, evaluate and recommend” an action plan based on the findings of three integrity reports that are currently on the table.

With this motion, the Parliament sent a message to The Hague that it will not stand for interference in its internal affairs Read more