SXMElections.com

Port, Airport Execs Discuss Infrastructure, Homeporting

From left: PJIAH managing director Dexter Doncher, PJIAH advisor Fernando Williams, Port St. Maarten representative Alexander Gumbs, PJIAE COO Michel Hyman, Port St. Maarten representative Roger Lawrence, and PJIAE advisor Elton Jones.

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Candidates in this article:

Brilliant move by Heyliger & Marlin

Dear Editor,

There was a call by the leaders of the largest political parties in Parliament for independence. As could be expected, very little was carried on the subject in the local press, but be that as it may for us as a budding nation we have finally garnered enough courage to say we stand ready to do it for ourselves. However, this is but a small step, we would hope that all factions in Parliament would come together and approve a referendum in the coming year, where the people can give their blessings to the desire to make use of our right to self-determination, and put an end to the many colonial dictates insults and disrespect.

People choose for varying political systems depending on how they see their own development and their ability to govern themselves rather than be governed by anyone else Read more

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Candidates in this article:

Status Quo

Dear Editor,

Another political year comes to an end in Great Bay, and the biggest losers are our people. We would hope that during the meeting closing off the parliamentary year, the fraction leaders can point to something however insignificant they have done to improve the lives of our people. We know for instance that they have not yet dealt with the abuse of the short- term contract. We know that unemployment is out of control and among the youth the word employ does not exist.

We already are aware of Transparency International’s report that states, among other things, that too many high positions in our public sector are headed by outsiders Read more

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Candidates in this article:

Your own conclusions

Dear Editor,

It has been a trying week – two major storms have passed us by without any damage or significant losses. Our Prime Minister, in taking charge made all the right moves in closing the country down avoiding possible loss of life in flooding and blowing projectiles. Even though some think the actions were unwarranted it still is better to err on the side of caution than to do nothing and wish you did.

The other decision taken by the PM was to declare or put a stop to our ministers meeting with Dutch civil servants Read more

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Candidates in this article:

Between a rock & a hard place

Dear Editor,

Once again we are blowing our own horn claiming to have reached a win-win agreement for the establishment of the dispute arrangement. As most people know, including the Dutch, we are easy to please and after all the grand-standing only want to be able to go back home and white wash a sell out as an achievement.

The euphoria experienced today seems a lot like what we saw after the signing of their now infamous “ Separate Status just like Aruba” only for the ugly truth to be shown later that it was nothing but a vehicle set up to let the Dutch easily impose what they wish on our people and country Read more

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Candidates in this article:

Education, St. Maarten’s primary emergency

Dear Editor,

Allow me to first of all inform you that I am not an educator nor do I pretend to have all the answers. I will try as much as possible to steer clear of the clichés and any semblance of personal attacks, however, should some feathers be ruffled so be it.

We have all heard or read in the wisdom of our forefathers the adage "those who fail to prepare, prepare to fail." This seems almost prophetic looking at the St. Maarten experience in the building of a nation. The narrative and the actions coming from the halls of power in Philipsburg are ambiguous and sometimes wilfully puzzling.

Government in justifying its lack of a policy on immigration declares that we don't have or haven't created what we need to move our economy forward Read more

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Candidates in this article:

Candlelight Memorial

A large gathering reflected on this year’s theme “Supporting the future” at the annual St. Maarten AIDS Foundation and Helping Ourselves in a Positive Environment HOPE International Candlelight Memorial at Carl’s Unique Inn on Sunday. The event was attended by several government officials, including Health Minister Rita Bourne-Gumbs and Member of Parliament Cornelius de Weever, donors, well-wishers and supporters from all walks of life Read more

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Candidates in this article:

Find it soon!

Dear Editor,

In a democracy, elections are the main catalyst for change or status quo in most conservative societies. It seems extremely difficult to accurately describe the stagnation here in what we like to call "country St. Maarten". Not so long ago, a few months short of a year, everyone was euphoric during the elections, while predicting a victory for their colour/party. And as elections go in St. Maarten, the last one was no different with the candidates doing their utmost to convince the voters, and of course, the unintended character assassinations Read more

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Candidates in this article:

St. Maarten Soccer Association elects Singh as new president

COLEBAY- Sudesh ‘Johnny’ Singh was elected president of the St. Maarten Soccer Association Saturday.  Three candidates postulated for the position including Singh, president Nicky Owen and vice-president Elton Jones.
   Singh won with seven out of the nine votes cast. Singh has a long history of being involved in football as a player, referee and coach on the island and was president of the local Futsal Association.
  Elected to the board were Noris Richards of FC Veendam, Danaë Daal of Oualichi Women’s Soccer Association,  Dwain Wright and Natasha Wright of Flames United Sports Club, Stanley York of FC Superstars and  Orien Allen of C&D Connections.
  Concacaf representative Marco Leal and members of the St Read more

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Candidates in this article:

How the country running?

Dear Editor,

As we walk through the streets of our country, we encounter diverse groups with varied interests. Some are defending one position or the other from bits and pieces they picked up from our on again mostly off again parliamentary meetings, and depending on their colour they take their arguments to the hilt. While this might seem quite interesting as it portends to promote democracy and most importantly our God-given freedom of speech, and right to be part of any legal body established here Read more

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Candidates in this article:

Independence referendum possible in less than 4 years

PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten could possibly see a referendum on independence before the current Parliamentary term ends in 2018. At least this is the hope of staunch independence advocates such as activists Jose Lake Jr., Leo Friday Sr., Elton Jones and Drs. Rhoda Arrindell.

This hope was expressed by representatives of Independence for St Read more

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Candidates in this article:

Integrity’s power grab

Dear Editor,

For many years now, the various governments in The Hague have had concerns and misgivings about the administration in Philipsburg, at least for as long as I can remember. In the nineties, we were placed under Higher Supervision with the collaboration of the then central government, and the same issues we had then are prevalent today. They even promised to implement a counterpart system, so that when they leave, our people could take over the running of the apparatus properly and smoothly Read more

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Candidates in this article:

Connected and interdependent

Dear Editor,

This community is wrought with issues that need addressing in a no-nonsense manner to truly give relief to our people and stop the continuous slide of large parts of the society to sub poverty line. This government has got to come to grips with a crazy and ill-advised adherence to a policy adapted from the Dutch that simply makes no sense, and if it makes no sense it can't be right.

I am of course referring to the so-called arms length policy with government-owned companies or NVs Read more

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Candidates in this article:

Who has whose back?

Dear Editor,

Franklin Meyers wants the Dutch government to “pass legislation to help feed my people of St. Maarten and to alleviate my people from poverty.” Mr. Meyers has been part of the governing party of St. Maarten many times, first with DP and then with UPP, now HE'S BACK with UPP and I have a simple question to ask him Read more

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Candidates in this article:

It’s just us!

Dear Editor,

After hearing the many varying opinions on our stance against continuous meddling and intervention by the Dutch in our affairs without any legal basis, I wondered and asked why the silence in Philipsburg is so deafening. And the thought came to me then of the prayers of our forefathers, especially their cry for divine intervention in times like these.

It was rather ironic that our country was hit by a hurricane and we heard no enquiries or queries from the Dutch on the damages or state of affairs on the island Read more

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Candidates in this article:

Marchers call for ‘respect’ and end to Dutch ‘insult’

PHILIPSBURG--"We didn't vote for Bosman or Van Raak" and "Enough is enough. This is our country" were some of the messages on the placards carried by an estimated 200 marchers who took to the street Sunday afternoon to express their discontent with the Kingdom Council of Ministers' instruction to Governor Eugene Holiday to carry out what has been deemed an invasive, boundless screening into the lives of minister candidates.

The march started off from the ring road with the sizable group heading down W.J.A Read more

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Candidates in this article:

New committee wants UN support, says Dutch meddling is colonisation

~ Invites public to protest ~

PHILIPSBURG--Introducing themselves as a group of concerned citizens who have been listening closely to what is being said in the Netherlands about St. Maarten, "Citizens United for True Democracy" called a press conference Monday morning to assert that something needs to be done about the "meddling" of the Dutch in St. Maarten's internal affairs, especially as it relates to the outcome of the recent PricewaterhouseCoopers report.

Committee members Etienne "Tochie" Meyers, Elton Jones and Edwin Gumbs are calling on the public to join a march at 1:00pm on Monday, October 13, at the Windward Islands Federation of Labour (WIFOL) Building, along Walter Nisbeth Road and ending at the Government Administration Building, to "move the people to give a clear message to the Dutch that the days of colonialism and 'massa' are over."

There, a manifestation will be held that will include various speakers who will talk about colonisation and the relationship between the Netherlands and its former colonies.

The group also claimed that over the weekend they had been in touch with persons at the United Nations who work on the Decolonisation Committee, including one of its leaders, as well as representatives of the independent states of the eastern Caribbean.

Jones said Curacao had been having the same complaints about the Netherlands' "constant meddling" that are set to be heard by the committee today, Tuesday, October 7 Read more

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Candidates in this article:

Holier than thou

Dear Editor,

The country is abuzz about yet another attempt to form a government after the first parliamentary election since the elimination of the failed Netherlands Antilles. It would appear that the Red, White and Blue effort turned out to be dead on arrival and people are left to speculate as to what exactly transpired. As is more often than not the case, the rumour mongering is again rife about money and promises of pies in the sky.

It would seem that whenever the green party has an opportunity to form the government, the haters come out with one fantasy or another Read more

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