SXMElections.com

style="text-align: center;">Preliminary Results UPP – 7 Seats, NA – 4 seats, USp – 2 seats, DP – 2 seats --- NA, USp and DP signed working document

PHILIPSBURG:--- The United Peoples Party got a resounding amount of votes from the voting population on Friday Read more

Prosecution Appeals Class Justice Ruling

St. Maarten – The prosecution filed an appeal yesterday against the ruling in the 2010 election fraud case (the so-called Masbangu investigation). On Monday, the court declared the prosecution inadmissible in the prosecution of three suspects who are accused of selling their vote to the United People’s party and one suspect who gave these suspects money on behalf of the UP. The court ruled that the decisions the prosecutor’s office made in this investigation –excluding the UP and its party leader Theo Heyliger from the investigation – have “the semblance of class justice.”

The court declared the prosecution inadmissible because it violated the principle of equality and the ban on arbitrariness.

“The Public Prosecutor’s Office agrees with the vision of the court that the role of the UP has not been sufficiently investigated, but it has provided an explanation for this during the trial Read more

Investigation At Prosecutor’S Office

St. Maarten – Justice Minister Dennis Richardson will consult with the chairman of the Law Enforcement Council– former Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards – about a possible investigation into the practice of class justice within the Public Prosecutor’s Office in St. Maarten.

The initiative follows on the heels of the court ruling in the Masbangu-case that revolves around selling and buying of votes before the 2010 elections. The Court in First Instance declared the prosecution inadmissible in this case and remarked in its ruling that, by not investigating the role of the United People’s party and its leader Theo Heyliger, the prosecutor’s office had called upon itself ‘the semblance of class justice.”

“I cannot allow that observation to stand without proper investigation,” Minister Richardson said at yesterday’s Council of Ministers press briefing Read more

Up Party Inadmissible In Quest For Complete Voting Register

St. Maarten – The Court in First Instance declared the United People’s party and its president Sylvia Meyers-Olivacce inadmissible yesterday in a lawsuit that the party filed in an effort to obtain a full copy of the voters register.

The UP, represented by attorneys Peggy Ann Brandon and Brenda Brooks, filed the lawsuit against the Minister of General Affairs and the Government of St Read more

Class justice

Dear Editor,

I am writing this article with sadness in my heart. I have worked for forty years in the Justice system, and based on the position I held during my last 12 years in service, I worked very closely with the Public Prosecutor's Office.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have believed that I, during my lifetime, would hear that our local Prosecutor's Office has been accused of class justice by a resident judge in a criminal court case. This accusation is a serious matter and I believe that the Minister of Justice, posthaste, should appoint a committee of persons of knowledge and integrity to investigate what went wrong in the case of vote buying and selling, and who really took the decision not to prosecute the United People's Party and its leadership.

Those who bungle up should bear the consequences Read more

Democratic Party holds its last public meeting

SIMPSON BAY--Democratic Party (DP) supporters turned out for one last public meeting at Kim Sha Beach in Simpson Bay last night. The nineteen candidates reiterated what they stood for, what needs to change in St. Maarten and what the party has been accomplishing so far.

Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams, DP #1, reiterated her views that the party had put United People’s party leaders where they are today, which was why they could shine Read more

United People’s Party Loses Court Case Against Prime Minister Wescot-Williams and Government of St. Maarten on Voter’s Registry Issue.

style="text-align: center;">Parliament Did Not Change Electoral Laws To Make Release of Voters' Registry Possible

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Legal Case brought by Sylvia Myers-Olivacce as president of the Board of the United People's Party was thrown out of court on Tuesday. The UP Party, represented by Peggy-Ann Brandon and Brenda Brooks, took Prime Minister and the Government of Country St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The board of the United People's Party (UP) says the Judge did not throw out the case initiated by the United People's (UP) Party with respect to obtaining a copy of the voter's registry which has been common practice in the past. The Judge ruled the case inadmissible due to a semantic error where it should have been against country Sint Maarten and not the Government, and therefore it is not perceived as a loss.
The UP will resubmit the case to the Courts soonest after the correction has been made.

The UP Party presented a case with respect to the constitutional voting rights of the people.

You have cases where persons have been stricken from the voter's registry, and you have numerous cases currently in court where the individuals are fighting to have their voting rights restored so they can exercise their right to vote on Friday, August 29.

The UP Party started a case based on the Election Ordinance Read more

Masbangu Verdict is an Indictment for the Prosecutor’s Office --- Class Justice is a Crime.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The verdict rendered on Monday by Judge Luijks is indeed an indictment against the Prosecutor's Office. SMN News mentioned in several articles that the prosecutors that come to St. Maarten don't come here to work, instead they are here to enjoy the sea and sun and also become friendly with local politicians in order to layer their own pockets. How is it possible that when these prosecutors come to St. Maarten they refuse to go back to Holland? How is it they are able to build huge houses here and purchase beach front properties? The allegations that they have been seizing boats and other assets from suspects and selling them after business hours should be investigated by the pertinent authorities Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The board of the United People's Party (UP) has taken note of the Democratic Party's (DP) position on the lawsuit initiated by Zebec NV against Port St. Maarten and Chief Executive Officer Mark Mingo.

"It is very unfortunate that the DP is ready to tear down a local government –owned company which is managed by a local young professional Read more

UP: DP being judge, jury before a harbour verdict

PHILIPSBURG--The board of the United People's Party (UP) has taken note of the position of Democratic Party (DP) on the lawsuit initiated by Zebec NV against St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies and Chief Executive Officer Mark Mingo.

The board said in a press statement: "It is very unfortunate that the DP is ready to tear down a local government-owned company which is managed by a local young professional Read more

Up Says Dp Being Judge And Jury Before The Verdict Is Out On Harbour Lawsuit

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The board of the United People's Party (UP) has taken note of the Democratic Party's (DP) position on the lawsuit initiated by Zebec NV against Port St. Maarten and Chief Executive Officer Mark Mingo.

"It is very unfortunate that the DP is ready to tear down a local government –owned company which is managed by a local young professional.

The DP is at it again, the same thing they did with Postal Services St Read more

2nd Laser 101 Political Debate to be aired on Monday from 7 - 9pm.

>MADAME ESTATE:--- The 2nd and last Political Discussion that will be hosted on Laser 101, will be aired live on Monday, August 25th from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. The leaders of the political parties that have representation in the present parliament have been invited to attend.

In first instance, Frans Richardson from the United St.Maarten Party, Sarah Wescot-Williams from the Democratic Party, and William Marlin from the National Alliance have all three confirmed their attendance by email to management of Philipsburg Broadcasting Read more

UPP #22 Candidate Julian Rollocks Responds to his brother’s Allegations.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The number 22 candidate on the United Peoples Party slate Julian Rollocks provided SMN News with a copy of a cashiers' check that he had a bailiff deliver to Cimmeran Marlin's lawyer. Rollocks admitted that he went to the radio station when his brother was on air doing an interview, he said he wanted to give his side of the story Read more

Political Discussion On Laser 101

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The 2nd and last Political Discussion that will be hosted on Laser 101, will be aired live on Monday, August 25th from 7:00 to 9:00 PM.

The leaders of the political parties that have representation in the present parliament have been invited to attend.

In first instance, Frans Richardson from the United St.Maarten Party, Sarah Wescot-Williams from the Democratic Party, and William Marlin from the National Alliance have all three confirmed their attendance by email to management of Philipsburg Broadcasting.

Theo Heyliger of the United People's Party sent an email indicating that he could not confirm his attendance due to his agenda.

Eventually William Marlin informed Philipsburg Broadcasting officials that there was a double booking as he has to attend an interview on a TV program on the same day and time, thus making it impossible for him to attend.

The National Alliance will therefore be sending Silveria Jacobs, and the United People's Party will be sending Frankie Meyers to represent the leader of the UP.

As the two candidates that will be attending this formal discussion are veteran members of their respective parties, the vision and sentiments of their leaders, and their party should be well represented.

The topics will be of a general nature, however integrity, will be the main driver.

The program will be retransmitted on radio stations on St.Martin, St.Barths and Saba Read more

Like Four Years Ago – The Results Next Friday Could Be Different: Today Newspaper Poll Gives Up Majority Of Votes

St. Maarten – The votes are in, and boy, did Chippie-users grab the opportunity to make their political preference known. Today’s partner in this project, telecom provider UTS received no less than 1,269 text messages from Chippie-users who responded to the poll.

While the pie charts show the results from different angles, it is important to read this figures in their correct context. For this, we will also use the results of an identical poll Today organized using the Chippie-network in 2010.

The raw numbers look like this: United People’s party 452 votes (55 percent), Democratic Party 143 votes (17 percent), National Alliance 119 votes (14 percent), United St 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

>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:--- 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

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

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

Political Parties Reminded To Publish Their Manifestos

PHILIPSBURG, St. 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 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 f Read more

Dennis updates MPs about tackling crime

PHILIPSBURG--Justice Minister Dennis Richardson gave Members of Parliament (MPs) updates on the Police's efforts to tackle crime in the community at a Central Committee meeting of Parliament on Monday. The meeting was scheduled to take place last week, but was postponed until yesterday, due to a lack of quorum.

Richardson said the country's crime levels are at a place where other countries in the immediate surrounding will be "jealous of." The police force has been tackling preventable crimes and have been making arrests and getting breaks in large cases Read more

Romain Laville At Odds With Statement From Up Candidate

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Independent Member of Parliament, the Honorable Romain Laville, who has opted not to run for the August 29th parliamentary elections, has reacted bitterly at the statements of Read more