SXMElections.com

Government Saves Millions Of Naf On Water Purchase.

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — “The amount of water that has to be purchased under the current ‘take or pay’ clauses of the purchasing agreements have resulted in substantial financial losses for the country. Seven Seas Water was approached to see if Sint Maarten could get some relief from the minimum take or pay clause and their response was both immediate and positive.” – Emil Lee, Minister VSA.

Emil Lee as the Minister of VSA, who is responsible for the supply of safe drinking water, began an investigation into the financial situation of the government’s position as owner of the public water supply as part of the post-Irma assessments Read more

New General Hospital Will Come With International Quality Standards.

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten —  With the financing agreements for the new general hospital signed on Friday February 23rd, it is important for the general public to understand how health care will be improved. Although the new hospital is critical for the country, the agreement by all parties to work towards JCI or Joint Commission International Accreditation is also an important milestone accomplishment.

Acquiring the financing for the new hospital was one of the many phases outlined in the business plan that was developed by the Tripartite members; Ministry of VSA, SMMC and SZV Read more

Ministry Of Vsa Offers Persons Impacted By Irma With Temporary Housing Alternative 

 

Minister Lee inspects Temporary Emergency Housing with Dr. J Foundation

PHilipsburg, Sint Maarten –  Last week, the Minister of Public Health, Emil Lee announced the commencement of an Emergency Transitional Housing Program to be managed in by the Dr. J. Foundation. Minister Lee recently took a tour of the facility together with Dr Read more

Jacobs: El Manifiesto De Na Está Orientado A Solucionar Necesidades De La Comunidad

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten.- La líder de la Alianza Nacional (NA) Silveria Jacobs, dijo que el manifiesto del partido es un documento integral orientado a la solución de muchas preocupaciones de la población. Manifestó que su enfoque va desde la recuperación y reconstrucción de St. Maarten en todas las áreas; que incluye techo, programa de reparación de viviendas, el desarrollo de los recursos humanos del país, la creación de empleos, la reactivación y el crecimiento del sector turístico y la economía, entre muchas otras áreas.

Jacobs dijo que está orgullosa de que el manifiesto del NA contenga algo para beneficiar a casi todos, al tiempo que dio una breve visión del manifiesto en un comunicado de prensa publicado el viernes.

El NA había realizado una gira de escucha durante las últimas semanas y había escuchado las preocupaciones de la población Read more

Carty Stepping Down From Szv December 31St, 2018

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — With several systemically vital assigned tasks nearing completion and the SZV 3.0. strategic plan in full execution phase, the Director of SZV Glen Carty sees that his priority task as turnaround specialist is nearing completion. In consultation with Minister Lee, Carty will step down as Director on December 31st, 2018. Carty was appointed by the Governor by National decree on August 1st, 2016, after successfully completing the required Category A screening of the National Security of Sint Maarten.

“Glen’s contributions to the Country and SZV have been tremendous and greatly appreciated.  Both Glen and I agreed that with the hospital entering another phase of its development and the progress made on SZV’s strategic plan, it makes sense to begin the recruitment process for a new General Director.  I have asked that Glen stay on until the end of the year to allow for a proper and transparent transition.” – Emil Lee, Minister VSA

Minister of Public Health, Emil Lee will discuss the recruitment procedures for the new Director of SZV with the Supervisory Board of SZV and support the recruitment process to be carried out by the Supervisory Board Read more

Government Saves Millions Of Naf On Water Purchase.

PHILIPSBURG:--- “The amount of water that has to be purchased under the current ‘take or pay’ clauses of the purchasing agreements have resulted in substantial financial losses for the country. Seven Seas Water was approached to see if Sint Maarten could get some relief from the minimum take or pay clause and their response was both immediate and positive.” – Emil Lee, Minister VSA.
Emil Lee as the Minister of VSA, who is responsible for the supply of safe drinking water, began an investigation into the financial situation of the government’s position as owner of the public water supply as part of the post-Irma assessments Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- With the financing agreements for the new general hospital signed on Friday, February 23rd, it is important for the general public to understand how health care will be improved. Although the new hospital is critical for the country, the agreement by all parties to work towards JCI or Joint Commission International Accreditation is also an important milestone accomplishment.
Acquiring the financing for the new hospital was one of the many phases outlined in the business plan that was developed by the Tripartite members; Ministry of VSA, SMMC and SZV Read more

Ministry Of Vsa Offers Persons Impacted By Irma With Temporary Housing Alternative

Minister Lee inspects Temporary Emergency Housing with Dr. J Foundation

PHILIPSBURG:--- Last week, the Minister of Public Health, Emil Lee announced the commencement of an Emergency Transitional Housing Program to be managed in by the Dr. J. Foundation. Minister Lee recently took a tour of the facility together with Dr. Judith Arndell to inspect the progress of the renovations currently taking place Read more

Unesco Donates $50,000 To Public Schools

PHILIPSBURG –  UNESCO has approved $50,000 for the purchasing of learning materials for Public Education that were damaged by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria.

The learning materials that are being referred to are: textbooks, workbooks, and physical education materials. The learning materials are from the different subject areas from the national curriculum such as: English and Dutch language arts, science, and physical education.

The reasons why the texts books are needed was that the damaged books and materials were in used for over a 12-year period Read more

Emil Lee Plans To Hold Ground Breaking For New General Hospital Despite The Lack Of Finances.

~ Says he will not heed the advice given by SZV Supervisory Board since it's all about votes ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Interim Minister of VSA Emil Lee is hell-bent on fooling the populace of St. Maarten in order to garner enough votes on Monday for his re-election. Lee plans to hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the New General Hospital on Friday despite not having the finances in place.
According to information provided to SMN News and the advice given by the Supervisory board of SZV to the Minister in 2017 Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- It is being rumored that the Sint Maarten Christian Party (SMCP) is an off-shoot of the DP, a satellite of the NA and that it is financed by the UPP Read more

William: Draft Law Short Term Contracts Watered Down To Primarily Benefit Businesses

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Former Prime Minister William Marlin says the draft national ordinance to amend the civil code to stem the abuse of short term labor contracts has been watered down to such an extent that the original intention of the law is no longer visible.

The current draft on the table, he adds, primarily benefits businesses and seems to make a mockery of the system Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Former Prime Minister William Marlin says the draft national ordinance to amend the civil code to stem the abuse of short-term labor contracts has been watered down to such an extent that the original intention of the law is no longer visible.

The current draft on the table, he adds, primarily benefits businesses and seems to make a mockery of the system Read more

Sint Maarten Christian Party Is The Only Party That Published Manifesto In Timely Manner

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten —  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 make their manifestos public in a timely manner.

In order for the public to make well-informed decision, the political program of a party should be published around the date of postulation. To date only one party, the Sint Maarten Christian Party, has presented their manifesto for the 2018 elections to the public.

According to the articles of association of the respective political parties the publication dates of their manifestos are:

–          US Party: latest February 1, 2018

–          NA: around January 5, 2018

–          SDM: latest January 5, 2018

–          SMCP: latest January 27, 2018 Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Former Prime Minister William Marlin on Thursday attempted to clear the air on what he says are outright lies being planted in the community by members of the United Democrats to gain political mileage in the run-up to snap parliamentary elections.

Marlin made clear that his intention is to simply correct the lies being peddled by the party to gain sympathy from the electorate.

Members of the party have been using issues such as the container at the border, the 2017 St Read more

Breaking News: Mp Brownbill’S Attempt To Evade Prosecution Fails

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Member of Parliament Chanel Brownbill has made an attempt to prevent that he would be dragged into court for tax fraud, but a ruling from the Common Court of Justice of December 20 of last year, published on January 15, shows that the case can continue. Brownbill – currently a candidate on the United Democrats Party (UDP) list – will have to appear in court on February 7. 

Brownbill’s attorney Safira Ibrahim told the court in a closed-door hearing in December that her client has filed a tax return in the meantime and that the prosecutor ought to await  a decision from the tax inspectorate before it can prosecute.

The prosecution accuses Brownbill of keeping an amount of $1,261,078 in turnover off the books of his company Country Construction by not reporting it and by not filing a return for his income Read more

Marinka Gumbs: The Way I See It….

As I ponder over the latest campaign rhetoric, coming out of the USP camp, I wonder about the use of some words and terms by the USP’s political leader. I want to give the author and the presenter of the latest USP release the benefit of the doubt, because surely had both these persons given any serious thought to the use of the word MANIPULATION, as an accusation directed to members of the United Democrats, the USP would have refrained from the word manipulation. Imagine, accusing others of manipulation and this coming from the one who is best known to have orchestrated the “Carnival Coupe” Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party MP Frans Richardson on Friday said the leader of the United Democrats (UD) MP Sarah Wescott-Williams continues to insult the people by persisting with manipulative ways to sow confusion in the country.

Richardson also wondered when Wescot-Williams was appointed as a Minister since she feels free to speak for the Council of Ministers and more specifically the Prime Minister Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Monday, January 15th, 2018, His Excellency the Governor, drs. Eugene B. Holiday, administered the oath of office to Ms. Jorien Wuite as Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport (ECYS).

Wuite, a senior civil servant and former Secretary General of the Ministry of ECYS, is the daughter of two educators and granddaughter of well-known butcher and farmer “Alec the Butcher” from Middle Region Read more

Jorien Wuite New Minister Of Education, Culture, Youth And Sport

PHILIPSBURG — On Monday, January 15th, 2018, His Excellency the Governor, drs. Eugene B. Holiday, administered the oath of office to Ms. Jorien Wuite as Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport (ECYS).

Wuite, a senior civil servant and former Secretary General of the Ministry of ECYS, is the daughter of two educators and granddaughter of well-known butcher and farmer “Alec the Butcher” from Middle Region Read more

Four Parties Participate In Endorsement Of The List On Monday 

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – The endorsement of the list of candidates took place – as per article 23 of the Electoral Ordinance – today, January 8th 2018 as of 9am thru 4pm.

Of the six political parties that submitted a list of candidates, only four were required to be endorsed. The National Alliance and the United St. Maarten Party were exempted from this requirement, as they received one or more seats during the previous Parliamentary election Read more

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The endorsement of the list of candidates took place - as per article 23 of the Electoral Ordinance – today, January 8th 20, 8 as of 9am thru 4pm.
Of the six political parties that submitted a list of candidates, only four were required to be endorsed. The National Alliance and the United St. Maarten Party were exempted from this requirement, as they received one or more seats during the previous Parliamentary election Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The leaders of six political parties submitted their lists to the Electoral Council on Friday paving the way for them to contest the upcoming Parliamentary Elections slated for February 26, 2018. They are SDM, SMCP, PPA, USP, NA and the UD.
The United People's Party and Democratic Party joined forces hoping to garner enough votes for a majority in Parliament Read more

PHILIPSBURG – The United Democrats (UD) on Friday presented a full slate of 23 candidates for the February 26 polls.  The party is being led by Member of Parliament Theo Heyliger followed by in the number two position Member of Parliament Sarah Read more