SXMElections.com

I Will Not Pay Lip Service To Agriculture, Says Grisha

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten We have treated agriculture like a bastard child, said Grisha Heyliger-Marten, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications. In her inaugural address last Friday, the minister said, The COVID-19 pandemic showed us how vulnerable we are when we depend almost exclusively on imported food to feed ourselves. I am announcing now that agriculture will receive the attention it deserves Read more

Grisha To Have Quick Scan Of Teatt, Says Economy Far From Its Best Shape

GREAT BAY Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT), Grisha Heyliger-Marten, has signaled that she will have a quick scan done to give a more realistic picture of what our current (economic) situation actually is.

In her inaugural address Friday, May 3, 2024, the new TEATT minister, the 12th since 2010, said, it does not take a rocket scientist to see that our economy is far from its best shape.

True, we have faced some unprecedented challenges in the last decade, including the incredible devastation caused by Hurricane Irma in 2017 and the global shutdown brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 Read more

Grisha Hears Market Vendors Concerns Over New Marketplace

GREAT BAY Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication, Grisha Heyliger-Marten, met Friday, May 10, 2024, with market vendors to hear their concerns about the proposed new marketplace.

The market project had already been awarded to J&J Construction for a total of Nafl 1.2 million, however many of the market vendors were not satisfied with the design.

During the meeting, the vendors highlighted the lack of storage facility for their wares, as well as the need for better lighting, bathrooms, and security Read more

Teatt Minister Heyliger-Marten Meet With James And James Construction

GREAT BAY Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication, Grisha Heyliger-Marten, met this week with representatives of James and James Construction, the company which won the bid to design and build the new Marketplace here.

The meeting was for the Minister to find out the current state of affairs of the project Read more

Matter Of Concern

An urgent request for a closed-door Central Committee meeting to discuss the latest developments at the TelEm Group was submitted to Parliament on Thursday by Democratic Party (DP) MP Grisha Heyliger-Marten, Party for Progress Read more

Grisha Concerned About Non-Payment Of Some Local Sub-Contractors At Pjia

PHILIPSBURG--Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Grisha Heyliger-Marten has expressed concerns about information she received concerning the reconstruction process at Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA).

Heyliger-Marten said she has been informed that certain contractors conducting work at PJIA are awaiting payments totalling US $300,000.

Information reaching my office alleges that the reconstruction process of one of our national gateways is marred by gross non-performance, mismanagement, and negligence, Heyliger-Marten stated in a press release issued on Monday.

Heyliger-Marten said she has been informed that Ballast Nedam, being the main contractor, has assigned Sustainable Development Consulting BV (SDC BV) as the main contractor to remove the debris from the demolition process Read more

Parliament Approves 2023 Budget Amendment, 2 Motions

PHILIPSBURG--Parliament on Thursday unanimously approved the 2023 budget amendment as well as passed two motions tabled by United Peoples (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Rolando Brison.

  Only eight of the 15 MPs were present for Thursdays public meeting of Parliament in which the budget amendment was voted upon. Present were United Peoples (UP) party MPs Brison and Sidharth Cookie Bijlani, Party for Progress (PFP) MP Melissa Gumbs, National Alliance (NA) MPs George Pantophlet, Angelique Romou, Hyacinth Richardson and William Marlin and independent MP Ludmila de Weever Read more

Grisha Attends 2Nd Trade And Investment Forum In Guyana

MP Grisha Heyliger-Marten and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley.

PHILIPSBURG--Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Grisha Heyliger-Marten attended the Second Read more

Airport Reconstruction Is Still On Track, Lambriex Says, Showing July Exec Report

PHILIPSBURG--It has been ten months, Member of Parliament (MP) Grisha Heyliger-Marten said about the adjourned and rescheduled parliamentary discussion of the general reconstruction of Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA).

Read more

Grisha Says Mingo Needs To Go, Will Propose Parliamentary Inquiry On Pjia

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — On Thursday afternoon, Member of Parliament Grisha Heyliger-Marten called for a Parliamentary inquiry into the developments at PJIA starting in 2019.

With the latest reports of PJIAs Commercial Department Manager leaving after only three months on the job and Government continuing to look the other way, I think its high time for Parliament to fully and thoroughly investigate what has been happening at PJIA since the current CEO took over at the helm of the company, according to Heyliger-Marten.

The latest resignation within the management of PJIA confirms the pattern of mismanagement, incompetence, and maintaining a working environment of favoritism, toxicity, and fear that we have witnessed during the last few years Read more

Mp Heyliger-Marten Government Seems Asleep At The Wheel, While The Outside World Moves On

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Sunday afternoon, MP Grisha Heyliger-Marten again questioned if the Government of St. Maarten is aware of the developments on an international level, and if it is capable of representing the paramount interest of the people St. Maarten.

As a people, we continue to face major challenges. These range from our legal system being based on the Dutch language to concerns about food security, and inequality and injustice when it comes to our (financial) relationship with Holland, the so-called democratic deficit, Heyliger-Marten said.

Since the beginning of my tenure, I have maintained that all these problems lead back to one main issue, and that is the fact that the constitutional structure of the Kingdom is not in compliance with international law.

A few months ago, Dr Read more

Mp Grisha Heyliger-Marten Reminds Ministers Of Growing Backlog Of Responses

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — During a joint press briefing with her colleague MP Sarah-Wescot Williams on July 18th, MP Grisha Heyliger-Marten, expressed her concerns about numerous pending meetings and the lack of timely responses from letters to Government within the legal timeframes set out in the Rules of Order of Parliament.

Just last week alone, my office sent out reminders to three individual Ministers, Heyliger-Marten stated in a press release issued on Tuesday afternoon.

According to Heyliger-Marten, the Hon Read more

Mp Grisha: CadasterS Funds Being Depleted By Creating Top-Heavy Management Board

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — While waiting for the Managing Director of the Foundation Cadastre & Land Registry to be invited to Parliament to elucidate on the foundations financial situation, MP. Grisha Heyliger-Marten will send a letter to the Minister of Finance, Hon. Ardwell Irion urgently requesting him to asks the Supervisory Board of the foundation to put the recruitment of a full-time CFO and COO on hold.

During a question hour regarding developments at the Foundation Cadastre & Land Registry held earlier this year, the Minister informed Parliament that it could make use of article 14, sub 2 of the Articles of Incorporation of the Foundation to get access to the Foundations administration and receive all requested information regarding its financial policies/management, according to Heyliger-Marten in a press statement released on Thursday afternoon.

The MP stated that she made use of said articles by means of a letter to the President of Parliament dated April 3rd, 2023 Read more

Grisha Concerned About 'Toxic' Working Environment At Pjia

MP Grisha Heyliger-Marten.

 ~ Govt. playing Russian roulette with peoples livelihoods ~

PHILIPSBURG--Independent member of Parliament (MP) Grisha Heyliger-MartenRead more

Respected Dr. Soomer To Address Parliament On Development Justice

Dr. June Soomer.

PHILIPSBURG--Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Grisha Heyliger-Marten said that she looks forward to the presentation to Parliament by Dr. June Soomer during a meeting of Parliaments Permanent Committee for Constitutional Affairs and Decolonisation (CCAD) scheduled for 2:00pm today, June 13. Read more

Grisha Concerned Presidium, Com Not Carrying Out Duties Adequately

MP Grisha Heyliger-Marten

PHILIPSBURG--Independent Members of Parliament (MP) Grisha Heyliger-Marten has expressed concern about both the Presidium of Parl Read more

No Meeting To Approve Ipko Delegation Due To No Quorum

MP Ludmila de Wever, standing, about to sign in for the meeting, which could not be held due to no quorum, on Thursday morning.

 PHILIPSBURG--Thursdays scheduled meeting of Parliament to approve the composition of the delegation to participate in the Inter-Parliamentary Kingdom Consultations IPKO and Tripartite, did not take place due to a lack of quorum.

IPKO Is scheduled to be held in The Hague, Netherlands from May 31 to June 5.

Chairperson of Parliament Sidharth Cookie Bijlani opened a gathering of Parliament, and told MPs present that the meeting was not able to start as there had been no quorum Read more

Mp Heyliger-Marten: Establishment Of Petits Comits Show Commitment Of Parliament

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — In a press release issued on Tuesday afternoon, MP Grisha Heyliger-Marten expressed her satisfaction with the establishment of two petits comits during separate public meetings of Parliaments Permanent Committee for Constitutional Affairs and Decolonization (CCAD).

During the continuation of CCAD meeting # 2 on Tuesday morning, a petit comit was established consisting of MPs Duncan, Heyliger-Marten, Roumou and Gumbs Read more

Grisha Suggests Independent Vetting Of Kingdom Laws Before Kingdom Conf.

Independent MP Grisha Heyliger-Marten.

PHILIPSBURG--In a comprehensive and detailed letter to Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs on Monday, independent Member of Parliament Read more

Brison, Board Rep Warned To Not Enter Up Party In Next Election

Independent MP Grisha Heyliger-Marten.

PHILIPSBURG--United Peoples (UP) party leader Rolando Brison and a representative of the board have been given fair w Read more

Mps Want The Diamond Estate Ruins Rebuilt At Offenders Expense, Rubble On Monument List

MPs preparing to vote on the motion during Thursdays meeting.

~ Pass motion to this effect ~

PHILIPSBURG--Taking legal action against the persons who demolished the Diamond Estate ruins, rebuilding the historical site at the offenders expense and having government expedite efforts for the area and the remaining rubble to be placed on the protected monument list were among the actions Members of Parliament (MPs) want to see executed in a motion passed on Thursday.

  The motion, which was tabled by United Peoples (UP) party MP Rolando Brison, was passed by 10 MPs voting in favour and none against Read more

Grisha: Again, Ipko Has Proven Our Main Focus Should Be Amending The Kingdom Charter

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — In a press statement released on Monday March 6, 2023, evening, Member of Parliament, Grisha Heyliger-Marten elaborated on her statements made during the IPKO which took place in Curaao last week.

During her opening remarks at the IPKO, Heyliger-Marten expressed her discontent and impatience with the fact that, as she participated in her fourth IPKO, the discussion about changing the Kingdom Charter seems to be avoided.

Despite the fact that all governments within the Kingdom continue to complain about its structure and deficient articles, nobody seems to want to address the problems, Heyliger-Marten stated during her address.

We keep beating around the bush IPKO after IPKO, without making any changes for the betterment of the lives of our people Read more

Kingdom Does Not Work, State Some Of St. Maarten Delegation

MPs Grisha Heyliger-Marten (centre), Christophe Emmanuel (right) and Solange Duncan (left) at the IPKO in Curaao.

THE HAGUE--The agenda topic democratic deficit resulted in a somewhat emotional debate during the Inter-Parliamentary Consultation of the Kingdom IPKO in Curaao on Wednesday, with some members of the St. Maarten Read more

Pfp Submits Draft Lb-Ham To Prime Minister

MP Peterson: Parliament changing Election Ordinance would be rats minding the cheese

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten Via a letter penned by Member of Parliament Melissa Gumbs, the Party for Progress faction in Parliament submitted a draft LB-HAM (national decree containing general measures) to Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs on Thursday, 23 February 2023, prior to leaving for the IPKO session Read more