SXMElections.com

Plenipotentiary Minister Arrindell Opens Job Fair

Plenipotentiary Minister Gracita Arrindell delivering the opening address on November 28.

 THE HAGUE--Minister Plenipotentiary Gracita Arrindell on Thursday last opened the Working in the Caribbean 2024 job fair aimed at showcasing St Read more

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Charville: Collectivit Facing Dire Consequences Of Air Antilles Deal

Territorial Councillor for the Generation Hope faction Opposition, Jules Charville.

MARIGOT--Opposition Councillor in the Territorial Council Jules Charville claims the Collectivit is risking bankruptcy if it continues paying the cost of keeping Air Antilles afloat with no significant revenue Read more

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Press Statement By Minfin Marinka Gumbs Vital Updates On The Ennia Saga

Esteemed citizens of St. Maarten, today it is imperative that I provide you with an update on this Ennia Saga. Since my last appearance in Parliament, I have continued to carefully investigate the outline agreement and also explore alternative solutions. My intention was to go to parliament again this week to provide answers to the questions posed; however, due to an error in the date provided by Parliament, which led to a misunderstanding, the meeting will be rescheduled. However aside from answering the questions it is vital that I provide you the residents of Sint Maarten and specifically the Sint Maarten ennia policy holders with an update.

My main focus remains on two groups: the Sint Maarten policyholders and country Sint Maarten Read more

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Emmanuel: We Must Be Tired Of Seeing People Live Like This

~ Outlines vision for St. Maarten’s future ~

MP Christophe Emmanuel, leader of the Opportunity Wealth Party (NOW), made a compelling statement on Wednesday, addressing the pressing needs of the people of St. Maarten and highlighting his partys unwavering commitment to wealth creation and economic prosperity.

“Any politician with a heart must be tired of seeing their people live stagnant lives in their own country,” MP Emmanuel stated Read more

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Wilson Warns Gebe Against Water Disconnections In Households With Children And Seniors

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten Gromyko Wilson, an advocate for social justice and a candidate (#16) on the Nation Opportunity and Wealth (NOW) warns the current GEBE management and the government of Sint Maarten against disconnection of water in households with children and seniors.

Wilson highlights the recent court verdict in the Netherlands as jurisprudence in handling these cases going forward on Sint Maarten.

In the verdict of March 19th, 2024, the Judge ruled that water disconnections due to default in payment is illegal based on the Human rights Organizations Defense for Children when minors are part of the households in question.

Wilson goes further to plead for the application of this verdict to not only households with minors but also senior citizens Read more

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Grisha Advocates Return To Previous System Of GovernmentTo Reduce Political Instability

GREAT BAY, St. Maarten Electoral reform should not only address the topic of integrity and so-called ship-jumping; it should first and foremost focus on what appears to be the main cause of political instability on all islands of the former Netherlands Antilles since 10-10-10. This is the opinion expressed recently by Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication, Grisha Heyliger-Marten.

According to the minister, the main cause of political instability is the switch to a dualistic system of Government.

Before 10-10-10, with one or two exceptions, (coalition) Governments on the islands of the former Netherlands Antilles always lasted a full term of four years Read more

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High Court Backs Same-Sex Marriage

Celebrating the outcome.

THE HAGUE--Same-sex couples are now permitted to marry immediately in Aruba and Curaao, as decided by the High Court in the Netherlands on Friday. It affirmed an earlier ruling by the Joint Court of Justice for the Dutch Caribbean.

The latter determined on December 6, 2022, that marriages between people of the same sex must be permitted in Aruba and Curaao. Both governments turned to the High Court, which has now rejected their appeals.

The case was brought by Fundacion Orguyo Aruba and Human Rights Caribbean (HRC) in Curaao Read more

A Message From Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina On Hurricane BerylS Impact

Philipsburg — “Hurricane Beryl has tested our resilience in the Caribbean region, but in the face of this adversity, our unity and strength shine through,” declared Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina.

He added, “You are not just enduring this storm; you are standing together, stronger than ever.”

“I urge everyone to extend a helping hand to those in distress and I wholeheartedly applaud our local community initiatives to support those affected,” emphasized Prime Minister Mercelina Read more

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Junior Ranger Program For Nature Kicks Off At Nature Foundation

The Nature Foundation Sint Maarten is thrilled to announce the successful launch of its newest iteration of a Junior Ranger Program, which commenced last Saturday, June 22 with great enthusiasm and participation from the selected rangers. This program, part of the CORENA project, aims to engage young nature enthusiasts and foster a deeper appreciation for the environment.

The inaugural event took place at Mullet Bay, where the seven selected junior rangers, all 12 years old, gathered to embark on their first adventure Read more

Marie Genevieve De Weever School To Host Celebration Of 39Th Flag Day Anniversary

Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School pupils and teachers during the celebration of Flag Day 2023 in Cay Hill.

PHILIPSBURG--The people and government of St. Maarten are gearing up to celebrate the 39th anniversary of Flag Day on Thursday, June 13, at the grounds of Marie Genevieve de Weever School in Hope Estate.

The annual cel Read more

Grisha Welcomes Frontier Airlines From San Juan, Puerto Rico To Sxm

GREAT BAY Hon. Grisha Heyliger-Marten, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication (TEATT), welcomed Frontier Airlines from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Princess Juliana Intl. Airport on its maiden flight 244 Monday afternoon.

This flight marks a new frontier for us in our efforts to expand our airlift and connectivity, the minister said in her welcoming address.

The San Juan route, she continued, was once the gateway especially to the US for us Read more

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Mind-Boggling !!!

Dear Editor,

The article dated May 15th, 2024 from Saint Martin News Network titled Acting head of Landsrecherche removed from position pending investigation is mindboggling to say the least. That the position officially does not exist and that Ms. Lucy Gachette did not suffer any losses in terms of benefits or salaries, is one thing. But the mere fact that the Minister of Justice stated that there will be an in-depth investigation into matters threatening the countrys security, is a matter of serious concern.

Although questions were posed to the Minister, he correctly declined to provide more information then that the information had been classified and that those who needed to know, were officially notified Read more

PHILIPSBURGIn a letter to Prime minister Luc Mercelina, the Central Voting Bureau has announced a proposed postponement of Election Day to August 19, 2024, citing significant legal and practical concerns. The Bureau has suggested a revised timeline to ensure a fair, free, and transparent electoral process.

The revised election timeline, as proposed by the Central Voting Bureau:

Voter Registry Closure: Monday, June 3, 2024

Deadline for Registration of Political Parties: Monday, June 17, 2024

Postulation Day: Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Election Day: Monday, August 19, 2024

Assembly of New Parliament: Friday, September 20, 2024

On May 21, 2024, a National Decree was signed calling for new elections under Article 59 of the Constitution, which mandates a three-month timeframe Read more

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Sam Ready For Snap Elections, Will Push To Ensure Place On Ballot

SUCKER GARDEN, St. Maarten – The Soualiga Action Movement (SAM) has been observing the slow-paced development, the discontent in the community and the deterioration of the island’s standing at home and in the wider world.

SAM’s team together with leader veteran politician and former minister/MP Franklin Meyers has been putting in the groundwork and preparing for a future election.

“The time came earlier than any of us, including the sitting government, could have anticipated Read more

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Jansen-Webster: Permanent Damage Caused In Vromi Over Last Four Years

Deputy VROMI Minister Veronica Jansen-Webster.

~ VROMI completely without leadership ~

PHILIPSBURG--At a press conference on Tuesday acting Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Veronica Jansen-Webster painted a grim picture of the situation encountered when the new government took office.

She said the conditions under which the ministry was managed over the last four years have left permanent damage in the organisation and on civil servants Read more

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To All The Mothers Of St. Maarten, We Thank God For You.

Thank God for that one Sunday in May where we get the opportunity to pour extra love and adoration upon you. We are given the opportunity to remind you that you’ve been the architect of our dreams and the backbone of our families. You’ve laughed with us in joy, and wiped away our tears in sorrow, you’ve been the comforting embrace we seek.

The Caribbean mother has always been a figure of immense power and beauty and a fierce protector. You have shown us that wisdom doesn’t always come from books, but often from the lived experience Read more

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New Minister Of Finance Marinka Gumbs Addresses Nation With Vision Of Unity, Progress

~ First female Minister of Finance ~

In a humbling address to the nation, newly appointed Minister of Finance Marinka Gumbs, the first woman to hold the position, stood before her fellow St. Maarteners to express profound gratitude and outline a vision for the future of the island’s economy and society.

The Minister began by acknowledging the divine grace that has allowed her to take on this pivotal role Read more

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Brug Says An Approved 2024 Budget Is Good For Sint Maarten!

In a media statement released on Tuesday afternoon, Richinel Brug expressed his appreciation to the Parliament of Sint Maarten for passing the 2024 budget. Brug, who is set to replace the leader of the URSM in Parliament once he swears in as Prime Minister, called this accomplishment significant in light of the current political situation.

Brug acknowledged the peculiar circumstances under which the outgoing Counsel of Ministers presented and defended the budget for the incoming Government, while assuming their roles as opposition members.

Brug highlighted the significance of this budget approval, noting that it not only guarantees the continuation of projects initiated before 2024 but also ensures the availability of funds to initiate the process of paying justice workers.

It is crucial to recognize that receiving a signed decree, without appealing the content, is just the first step in a long process Read more

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My2cents: The Justice Ministry Is Busy Crumbling And Nobody Is Seeing It !!!

By means of this letter I would like to address all the Justice workers, but especially those that are holding a position within the different Justice workers unions.

I have been following the saga of the justice workers for a while with keen attention to the following process regarding the function book and this Justice Minister, Anna Elaine Richardson, that claims to it the right way.

I dont want to delve into the past as to how many persons were appointed or held the function of SG and were rid off under this Justice Minister Read more

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Huhcf Adult Literacy Graduation 2024

In a heartwarming ceremony filled with pride, determination, and celebration, the Hearts United Holistic Care Foundation marked the successful completion of its Adult Literacy Program for the second time. On March 7th, 2024, amidst cheers and applause, 19 students donned blue graduation gowns and silver stoles, symbolizing their achievement and dedication to self-improvement. The event, held at the John Larmonie Center in Philipsburg, was a testament to the transformative power of education and the unwavering commitment of both students and educators.

The journey of these remarkable individuals began in June 2022, when they embarked on a path to literacy and empowerment Read more

Project Announced To Extend Potable Water Production Plant

From left: EEASM Director General Sebastien Gallego, SAUR Antilles Director Nicolas Touzet, President Louis Mussington, EEASM President Raphal Sanchez, and SAUR St. Martin Director Mlissa Nicolas at the press conference. (Robert Luckock photo)

MARIGOT--Water Authority tablissement des Eaux et de lAssainissement de Saint-Martin (EEASM) held a press conference at its headquarters in Hope Estate on Friday to announce an extension to the present drinking water production plant in Galisbay that will be built and commissioned in 2027 to significantly improve capacity.

With a provisional budget of 21 million euros, the aim is to increase daily production from 8,000m3 to around 14,000m3, explained Collectivit president Louis Mussington in his preamble Read more

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Telem Ceo Advises Staff To Read The Full Audit Report That Was Leaked.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Chief Executive Officer of TELEM Group of Companies Kendall Dupersoy penned a letter to his staff on Wednesday requesting that they read the full audit report that was leaked to all social media platforms.

Below is the memo sent to the staff of TELEM.

Click here to read the Audit Report done by SOAB.

Dear Team,

I hope this message finds you well Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---  Orco Bank Sint Maarten reaffirms its commitment to the local community with its second annual donation drive, gifting 25 shoe box presents to 25 specially selected students of the esteemed Asha Stevens Primary School.
In a bid to spread holiday cheer and foster a sense of joyous giving, Orco Bank Sint Maarten proudly extended its support to the Asha Stevens Primary School for the second consecutive year 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

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