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Usp: Invisible Savings From 12.5% Cuts Do Nothing For Socioeconomic Hardships

President of the board of the United St. Maarten Party (USP) Cecil Nicholas

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — President of the board of the United St Read more

Usp: Clarification To Be Sought On Proportional Representation

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The board of the United St. Maarten Party Party (USP) will seek further clarification into what it deems as a serious constitutional issue after both of its MPs, Claudius Buncamper and Akeem Arrindell, declared themselves as independent members of Parliament, leaving the party with no representation in Parliament.

The board recently met with Dr Read more

Gordon-Carty: Being Black Is Not An Impediment For Employment

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Companies should make qualifications, skills and experience the basis for their job recruitment, placement, training and advancement of their staff at all levels and not discriminate via race. So says leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party Pamela Gordon-Carty in reaction to a vacancy ad that circulated on social media on Monday seeking a waitress who must be white.

The US leader, who is also a former Minister of VSA who established the Pamela Policy, called on the current Minister of VSA to look into this matter.

The Pamela Policy was introduced mainly to try to eradicate this type of behavior on the labor market which is hidden yet existing on country St Read more

Pamela Gordon Carty Usp Leader: Mp ArrindellS Departure Lacked Integrity

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party Pamela Gordon-Carty on Sunday said while she was not surprised by the declaration by MP Akeem Arrindell as an independent member of Parliament, she would have preferred that the MP used a more integer manner of walking away from the party regardless of the reason that has been expressed.

The US board had already earlier in the weekend stated that Arrindells excuse to Parliament and the public was void of the truth Read more

Usp Not Surprised By Mp Arrindell, Deficit In Electoral Structure Persists

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The board of the United St. Maarten (US) party on Saturday said the announcement by MP Akeem Arrindell that he was breaking from the US was a plan months in the making by the MP, and once again highlights the deficits in the countrys electoral structure.

The party board said it is unfortunate that MPs do not have the same conviction to the truth as they have in their attempt to present a sympathetic picture to the public Read more

Us Party Board Wishes Mp Buncamper Well

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The US party on Thursday wished MP Claudius Buncamper well in all his future endeavors after he broke from the party and declared himself an independent MP. The party board concurred with Buncamper that the split was amicable although the reasons outlined by the MP for the split lacked context and compels a response.

First and foremost, the party said it is proud of its position on independence for St Read more

Mp Buncamper Declares As Independent

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Member of Parliament Claudius Buncamper on Thursday declared himself as an Independent Member of Parliament, effectively breaking his representation of the United St. Maarten (US) party in Parliament Read more

Us Board Calls For Retraction Of Laws That Cut Workers Income And Benefits

It is forced suffering by a country upon its citizens

The board of the United St. Maarten (US) party has called for the complete retraction of the three laws that regulate cuts to income and benefits, stressing that government have failed in its basic obligations towards its people and are embarrassingly unable to motivate or defend the reason for the laws other than blaming the Netherlands.

The only thing we know for sure is that our people are suffering and times are getting harder Read more

Us Board: Court Ruling Will Stifle Middle Class, Further Dutch Plans

~ Says Alliance now facilitator of hardships ~

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The United St. Maarten (US) party expressed disappointment with the verdict of the Constitutional Court to uphold the three ordinances in connection with income and benefit cuts, despite the existence of laws that protect workers rights.

The party board is of the opinion that the court used convenient excuses and considerations to arrive at the underlying reason for its verdict: that it upheld the laws because St Read more

United St. Maarten (Us) Board Calls On Mp Brison To Resign Immediately

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The board of the United St. Maarten (US) party has called on Chairperson of Parliament MP Rolando Brison to resign immediately as President of Parliament and not further shame and embarrass the country. The board also called on all factions in Parliament to show the people of St. Maarten that their highest body stands for integrity and end the soap opera antics of MP Brison and the consequences which St Read more

Usp: Effective Governing Is Not Possible With Divisions In Coalition

PHIIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The board of the United St. Maarten (US) party on Tuesday questioned how the National Alliance (NA) led coalition government can govern effectively when issues that should be dealt with in coalition meetings are being resolved on the floor of Parliament through motions against sitting Ministers Read more

Buncamper Wants Explanation Why Only One Bank Selected For Food Program

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Faction Leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party MP Claudius Buncamper on Monday questioned why only the swipe machines of one bank on St. Maarten was chosen for the food voucher program.

The MP stated that it was brought to his attention that food retailers who wanted to participate in the program could not do so because they did not have a swipe machine from the bank chosen to work with the program.

Buncamper said while he has no issue with the bank in question which has been a good corporate citizen on St Read more

Frans, Usp Extends Condolences On Max PhelipaS Passing

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Former Member of Parliament Frans Richardson on behalf of the entire US party, expressed heartfelt condolences to the family of Maximiliaan Max Phelipa on Wednesday.

Phelipa passed away at the age of 68 on Tuesday morning, August 17. A former police officer and local artist Phelipa was also widely viewed as a confidant to many, never seeking public acclaim for those he advised or supported in various ways.
Richardson said Phelipas passing is a great loss for St Read more

Former Minister Gordon-Carty Presents Copy Of Her Book To Usp Leader Frans Richardson

St. Peters, Sint Maarten — Former USP Minister of VSA Pamela Gordon Carty presented a copy of her book, 2021 Financial Economic Social & Spatial Recovery Plan Part 1 to the Leader of the United St. Maarten Party (USP) at a ceremony held at her office in St. Peters on Saturday August 14th, 2021.

In attendance was USP Faction Leader MP Buncamper, President of the party Agnes Brooks Mardenborough, Union Leaders Claire Elshot and Raymond Jessurun, Veteran Politician and Political Advisor to many Julian Rollocks, outspoken Political Commentator Edwin James and other invited guest.

The former Minister was the driving force behind the Pamela Policy passed in the National Gazette on February 5th, 2020 Read more

Land Or Property Tax For Who All Exactly?

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — July 29 th 2021 Member of Parliament Claudius Buncamper is questioning who the suggested property tax will apply to. This quarry comes at the heels of the presentation in Parliament by CFT which stated that Property Tax should be implemented in St. Maarten. I was somewhat surprised at the hard stances several MPs have already taken regarding the land tax or property tax issue Read more

Corporate Governance For Whom Exactly

Open letter to Government

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — July 26 th 2021 – Its with much dismay that I read about the events that are surrounding the most recent dismissal of the Managing Director of the PJIAH and the 2 board members of the PJIAH. In a simple term I would say its disgraceful. Disgraceful because government professes to be transparent, integer and honest, but makes these decisions for which the motive is questionable for more reason than one.

Lets start with the first reason, was the process in accordance with CORPORATE GOVERNANCE regulations, or is this a means to an end? Were Corporate Governance rules not established to prevent political victimization of members of supervisory boards and managing boards when governments change? Is this an unwritten or unannounced condition to funding? Or is there something else that fails the test of transparency?
I can guarantee that this episode is far from over.

I call on the dismissed board members to take this to court including the Managing director of PJIAH and to also file a formal complaint at the Integrity Chamber, after all sine this chamber was born under forcefully conditions, and we are now also paying for, we might as well have them look into this latest questionable move of the Jacobs Cabinet Read more

Mp Buncamper Requests Committee Meeting To Address The Situation At Nipa

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — On Friday, Member of Parliament (MP) Claudius Toontje Buncamper, faction leader of the United St. Maarten Party (USP) in parliament submitted a letter to the chairlady of the Committee of Education, Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports (ECYS) in parliament MP Angelique Romou, requesting that a meeting of the committee be convened and that the board of the National Institute for Professional Advancement (NIPA) be invited to attend said meeting.

In his letter to MP Romou, MP Buncamper stated that he believes that it is prudent to hear from the NIPA board and management on how they see their position in the field of education Read more

Mp Buncamper Meets With W. Nisbeth Road Vendors.

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — On Friday morning, Member of Parliament (MP) Claudius Buncamper, faction leader of the United St. Maarten Party (USP) in parliament, together with his faction staff Fernando Clark met with a number of vendors operating on the Ring Road side of the Walter Nisbeth Road.

During the meeting the vendors informed the MP that last April they were invited to a meeting with SG Miguel De Weever and Valya Pantophlet during which they were informed that they will be relocated to the festival Village on the tentative date of July 1st, after which they will no longer be permitted to operate from their present locations.

The vendors, who currently pay a yearly fee of Naf 1.200,= for their vending license, were granted permission to operate and conduct their business on several parcels of land on the Ring Road, which have been granted to individuals or entities Read more

Mp Buncamper Questions Minister Of Finance On Taxes Levied On Pension Income.

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Pensioners being taxed on their pension income is a great concern to MP Claudius Toontje Buncamper, leader of the United St. Maarten Party (USP) faction in parliament, who on Monday sent a letter to the minister of Finance, Ardwel Irion, regarding the levying of income taxes on pension.

In his letter to the minister MP Buncamper mentioned that pensioners are dissatisfied with wage/income tax being levied to their already low pension income, especially in these challenging times when the pension might be their only source of income Read more

Usp MpS Get Presentation On Ats.

PHILIPISBURG, Sint Maarten — Members of Parliament (MPs) of the United St. Maarten Party (USP) Akeem Arrindell and Claudius Toontje Buncamper and theirsupport staff met with the Audit Team Sint Maarten (ATS) on Tuesday, February 24, 2020 to gather some more information of theworks the ATS is presently carrying out and is capable of carrying out.

During the meeting a presentation was given on the purpose, the functions and the intentions of the Audit Team Sint Maarten, which was established on the Island by the Social & Health Insurances (SZV) in January 2016with the aim of replacing the SBAB

(Stichting Belasting Accountant Bureau) in order to save on travel and accommodation costs and to attract and retain St Read more

Emmanuel: Govt. Willfully Stalling By Postponing Coho Meeting Again

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — With a second postponement of the Central Committee meeting to discuss the Caribbean Organization for Reform and Development (COHO), Independent Member Of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel has questioned why government is now clearly stalling and keeping information from the people of St. Maarten. The meeting was requested weeks ago by Emmanuel along with MPs Claudius Buncamper and Akeem Arrindell of the USP faction.

The meeting has now been postponed twice with no explanation provided by government Read more

Mp Buncamper Questions Minister Of Ecyas On Nipa & Usm

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — On Wednesday Member of Parliament (MP) Claudius Buncamper leader of the United St. Maarten Party (USP) faction in parliament forwardeda letter to the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, the honorable Rudolphe Samuel, enquiring about the possibilities ofscholarships being granted for students to attend courses at NIPA and USM.

In his letter to the minister MP Buncamper stated that NIPA recently began offering associates classes for their new nursing program, and the University of St Read more

Christmas Message From Mp. Akeem Arrindell (Usp Faction)

This Years Christmas celebrations will be different.

People all around the world are preparing for Christmas 2020, and St. Maarten/St. Martin is no exception. The shopping, cleaning, fixing up and other preparations have begun. Foods, drinks, sweets and gifts are being prepared for that wonderful day that so many of us look forward to.

However, Christmas 2020 looks like its going to be different like none of us could imagined. This years Christmas celebrations clearly indicates that we are much more vulnerable than we thought we were Read more

2020 Christmas Address From Mp Buncamper

Fellow citizens of St. Maarten, as the Christmas holidays draw near, I am certain that many of you, like myself, may be in full preparations for the season. The Christmas season is a time that we all look forward to. But this years merriments may be somewhat dampened due to the COVID 19 global pandemic as we are confined to some restricted social policies and to many also economic hardship.

During this past year we have been through some trying times like we have never seen before, and we have not yet seen the end of it Read more