SXMElections.com

Ministers agree with most of integrity recommendations

PHILIPSBURG--Government "embraces" the recommendations of the Wit-Samson Report on Integrity in Government to "99.9 percent," says Justice Minister Dennis Richardson. "In general, I can say we have embraced that report nearly in its entirety. There are a few issues that need further study," he said.

The Council of Ministers has formulated its response to the forty recommendations from the Wit-Samson Committee and is expected to publish this soon.

Richardson said Government is satisfied that the report found "no connection" between government and the "underworld," which was one of the concerns and motivations for the Kingdom Government to instruct Governor Eugene Holiday to conduct a similar integrity investigation into the workings of government.

One of the most important recommendations is the establishment of an integrity chamber Read more

Doing The Right Things Right: Wit-Committee Presents 40 Integrity-Recommendations

St. Maarten – Doing the right things right, the final report from the Committee Integer Public Administration chaired by Justice Bob Wit, was leaked to the media yesterday morning from the email-address integritysxm@gmail.com. The leaked version, an 80-page report containing forty recommendations for improving integrity in the government and the civil service, does not contain the comments from the government to the findings.

In March of last year, this newspaper received two press statements from the interim faction leader of the United People’s party, Sylvia Meyers-Olivacce Read more

Aruba, Curacao And St. Maarten Take A Stand: “No Government Can Be The Judge Of Its Own Actions”

St. Maarten – The Presidents of the Parliaments of Aruba, Curacao and St. Maarten and their respective committees for Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations adopted two resolutions during their meeting on Monday. Yesterday they presented the resolutions during a press conference at the parliament building in Philipsburg.

One resolution urges the governments of the three countries to approach the Council of State for an advice about the instruction the Kingdom Council of Ministers gave in September of last year to Governor Drs 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

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister of St. Maarten Sarah Wescot Williams, the founding member of the St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) Richelda Emanuel and Director of SMDF Keith Franca signed a funding agreement on Tuesday.
Wescot Williams said the SMDF was established in 2013 when AMFO was shutting down leaving several NGOs in the air Read more

style="text-align: center;">Written by: Denicio Richardson

PHILIPSBURG:--- Having been in courts already three (3) times to defend myself on the matter surrounding my settlement package as the former Director for Postal Services St. Maarten NV (PSS) Office, both Government and PSS are taking me back to courts for a fourth time. To date I have been able to win all the preceding cases, with favorable rulings in the first two cases outright, and with the third case, a silent victory, as it was dropped at the eleventh hour prior to the deadline for submitting pleadings, as both Government and PSS realized they could not win and did not have a case to make or defend in the appellate court against my person Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Electoral Council would like to remind all political parties contesting the upcoming parliamentary elections that in accordance with the National Ordinance on Registration and Finances of Political Parties they are required to timely make their manifestos public. The Electoral Council is of the opinion that all manifestos should be available for the public, with less than two weeks remaining for the Elections of 2014.
The Electoral Council has thus far received the mani Read more

style="text-align: center;">"Come out to hear the real issues"

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Democratic Party of St. Maarten is inviting the residents of Sucker Garden, Middle Region, the At. Th. Illidge Road, Guana Bay and surrounding areas to come out to its public meeting this Friday, August 22nd starting at seven pm at the Miguel Arrindell property in Sucker Garden. The Board, membership and candidates invite the public to come out to listen to the red thread and hear what the DP plans for its vision bringing St Read more

>BELAIR:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams congratulated the members of the Indian Community on St. Maarten at the Indian Merchant's Association's event celebrating the India Independence Day at the Belair Community Center Monday. During her address to the crowd the PM highlighted the Indian Community's commitment to contributing to the society of St Read more

ECB in policy limbo, boxed in by its own plans

FRANKFURT--The European Central Bank is in a policy no man's land, bombarded by news of a stagnating euro zone economy but hesitant to move forward with new stimulus until measures it loaded in June have ignited.

After the ECB cut interest rates in June and promised banks cheap long-term loans starting in September, about all that is left is printing money to buy bonds - so-called quantitative easing (QE). But there are tricky practical and political barriers in the ECB's way: it is boxed in by its own plans, and still faces strong opposition from economic power Germany to any such monetary leniency.

Already deployed by other major central banks, QE could be used to pump money into the euro zone economy with a view to stimulating growth and staving off deflation, which has already gripped some countries in the bloc's south Read more

Editorial - True commitment

The report of the Public Administration Integrity Committee titled "Doing the right things right" is quite an eye-opener. It lists no less than 40 recommendations, including the establishment of a permanent Integrity Chamber as a new High Council of State.

The latter alone indicates that there are issues in this regard that require dealing with on structural basis. It's also important to note that this is the Wescot-Williams cabinet inquiry launched via national decree and not the one ordered by the Kingdom Government through the Governor of St Read more

Workgroup to iron out details of Kingdom dispute committee

PHILIPSBURG--A workgroup will be established by the Parliaments of Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten to outline how they envision the establishment and functioning of an independent Kingdom dispute committee/institution to which the countries in the kingdom can seek advice on kingdom laws or instructions they perceive as an infringement on their autonomy.

The dispute committee is at present likened to a Constitutional Court. The workgroup will outline how the committee will be formulated, how members will be appointed and how it will be funded Read more

Government, development fund sign management agreement

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister (PM) Sarah Wescot-Williams and St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) Interim Director Keith Franca signed a Fund Management Agreement Tuesday, August 19, between the St. Maarten government and the SMDF. The agreement formalises their working relationship and outlines their respective responsibilities.

The SMDF was established in May 2012 to ensure the continuity of funding available to local non-governmental organisations (NGOs), as Dutch financing organisation AMFO was in the process of withdrawing.

"Many NGOs in St Read more

Indian Ambassador To Venezuela Visits: Indian Merchants Association Snubs Parliament

St. Maarten – In what appears to be a political move, the Indian Merchants Association (IMA) snubbed the Governor and Members of Parliament, including President Gracita Arrindell, on the first visit of the Indian Ambassador to Venezuela, Smita Purushottam, by not inviting them to an event tonight at the Belair Community Center. According to sources, the only member of the St Read more

Lively Political Debate On Laser 101: Connor (Up) Estimates Gray Economy To Be 50 Percent

St. Maarten – “The government has a debt of 500 million guilders to the Netherlands, and 200 million to creditors. The 2015 budget is expected to be around 465 million. Unemployment is 11.5 percent. It is your first day in office. What will you do?”

This is how moderator Glen Carty started the political debate on radio station Laser 101 on Saturday evening with participants Emil Lee (number 4-candidate Democratic Party), George Pantophlet (number 2-candidate National Alliance), Claret Connor (number 10-candidate United People’s Party) and Harlec Doran (number 6-candidate United Sint Maarten Party).

The lively debate outshone earlier debates on AVS and the political mixer at the St Read more

South Reward Community Council General Meeting A Success, Minister To Look Into Community Center With Playground

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The general meeting for the South Reward Community Council held last week August 13th, 2014 was a great success.

This meeting had nothing to do with Politics that night. It was about the community and the concerns of the residences.

The attendee's of the meeting were Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake, S Read more

President Henson Happy About Possibilitys For Country Coming Out Of Operational Programme For European Cooperation

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - To the tune of 10 million Euros, on Monday morning, the government of St. Maarten and the Collectivite signed a letter of Intent Operational Programme for European Cooperation Territories.

The programme is geared specifically towards joint projects such as, the Waste Water Management, Disaster Management and Environment protection for the two sides of the island.

For the signing of the LOI, the French side was represented by the Prefet Philip Chopin and the President Madame Aline Hanson, while the Dutch side was represented by the Prime Minister, the Honorable Sarah W Williams.

Whilst speaking at the signing ceremony on Monday, the President of the Collectivite, Madame Aline Henson stated that she was happy that they have taken a decisive step towards the designing of a wholesome St Read more

Tripartite Parliamentary Meeting Concludes On St. Maarten

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Tripartite meeting between Members of Parliament of Aruba, Curacao and St. Maarten ended here on Tuesday Morning.

The urgently convene meeting between the parties was to discuss some issues of importance for the three countries.

These include among others, the recent decision of the Kingdom Council of Ministers to give an instruction to the Governor of St. Maarten to investigate integrity related issues within the public administration, and the instruction given to the Governor of Aruba to with hold his signature to the draft budget of 2014 of that country.

The meeting was at the request of the Parliament of Aruba Read more

Public Urged To Attend Dp Public Meeting This Friday At The Miguel Arrindell Property In Sucker Garden Starting At Seven Pm

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Democratic Party of St. Maarten is inviting the residents of Sucker Garden, Middle Region, the At. Th. Illidge Road, Guana Bay and surrounding areas to come out to its public meeting this Friday, August 22nd starting at seven pm at the Miguel Arrindell property in Sucker Garden.

The Board, membership and candidates invite the public to come out to listen to the red thread and hear what the DP plans for its vision bringing St Read more

President Arrindell Receives Courtesy Call From Indian Ambassador

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – President of Parliament Hon. Gracita Arrindell on Monday received a courtesy call from Indian Ambassador Smita Purushottam at the House of Parliament.

Ambassador Purushottam's visit is of a courtesy nature to meet the Governor, President of Parliament and Prime Minister as well as to meet with Indian nationals.

President Arrindell stated on Tuesday that the Ambassador is stationed in Venezuela.

"The Ambassador's visit was to acquaint herself with the institutions of the country Read more

>PHILIPSBURG/MARIGOT:--- Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams, President Aline Hanson and Prefet Delegue Phillipe Chopin signed an operational agreement on the European Funding tha Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- President of Parliament Hon. Gracita Arrindell had the honour of meeting Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese in France Cardinal Archbishop Philippe Barbarin. The Cardinal was accompanied by Bishop of Basse Terre & Pointe a Pitre in Guadeloupe Jean-Yves Riocreux.

President Arrindell was invited to form part of the welcoming delegation which included Prefet Philippe Chopin, Madame President of the Collectivite Aline Hanson as well as Father Bob Johnson.

The Cardinal and Bishop arrived last week Wednesday at Grand Case Airport from Guadeloupe.

"The Cardinal expressed his sincere gratitude for the warm welcome he received from the dignitaries from both sides of the island Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams received a courtesy visit from commander Hans Lodder at her Cabinet on Thursday. The Prime Minister was updated on the change in command and the operational aspect of the Dutch Navy's presence in the Caribbean. Commander Hans Lodder has received the command of the Dutch Navy in the Caribbean, replacing Brigadier General Dick Swijgman Read more

William: NA’s attempt to stem short term contracts obstructed.

style="text-align: center;">UP-led govt dragging feet; MPs afraid to vote on issue

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the National Alliance NA William Marlin says it appears as though the United People's Party-led parliamentary coalition is afraid to put its foot down and address the abuse of short term labor contracts once and for all.

Marlin said the National Alliance faction in Parliament had requested a meeting to debate the issue some time back, but to date the meeting was never convened to give MPs a chance to finally put the issue to a vote and bring relief to the people of St Read more