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Government remains unresponsive to questions from the members of Parliament and from the public at large.

>PHILIPSBURG:---- Given this fact, I have now turned to the Chair of the Parliament for his intervention. Make no mistake, the Chairperson of Parliament was appointed to serve in that position as part of the political agreements between those parties and factions that support the government. That is an acceptable practice.

However, once in that position, the chairperson represents the entire parliament and should in my opinion act as a bridge between Parliament and the Government. The Chairperson of parliament should also guide and provide leadership to Parliament.

I have therefore turned to MP Dr Read more

Mp Wescot-Williams Seeking Response From Government To Questions Asked

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Government remains unresponsive to questions from the members of Parliament and from the public at large.

Given this fact, I have now turned to the Chair of the Parliament for his intervention. Make no mistake, the Chairperson of Parliament was appointed to serve in that position as part of the political agreements between those parties and factions that support the government. That is an acceptable practice.

However, once in that position, the chairperson represents the entire parliament and should in my opinion act as a bridge between Parliament and the Government Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---  A delegation from Sint Maarten's Parliament is currently in Aruba attending the Health Care Conference Aruba (HCCA) which is being held from June 1-3 at the Renaissance Convention Center.

President of Parliament Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson, Vice President MP Hon. Cornelius de Weever, MP Hon Read more

Mps Representing Sint Maarten At Health Care Conference Aruba

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – A delegation from Sint Maarten's Parliament is currently in Aruba attending the Health Care Conference Aruba (HCCA) which is being held from June 1-3 at the Renaissance Convention Center.

President of Parliament Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson, Vice President MP Hon. Cornelius de Weever, MP Hon Read more

MPs have not yet received harbour security answers

PHILIPSBURG—Members of Parliament (MPs) have not yet received the "sensitive answers" about the St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies' security contract, despite the receipt of these by Parliament's Secretariat since May 26. The delay in the dissemination is due to "administrative reasons," according to Democratic Party (DP) leader MP Sarah Wescot-Williams.

Speaking at a DP press conference in Parliament House on Monday, Wescot-Williams said she is patiently awaiting the answers to see if they satisfy her burning questions Read more

Sarah questions Govt on integrity protocol

THE HAGUE--"Does the government consider the maintenance of law and the other judicial parts in the document part of the Integrity Chamber? If not, why are those agreements part and parcel of the protocol regarding an Integrity Chamber?" was one of several questioned posed by Democratic Party (DP) leader Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams in a letter to the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet via Chairman of Parliament Dr Read more

Dp Leader Questions Integrity Chamber Protocol

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - More questions are being asked about the details of the Integrity Chamber agreement which was signed in The Hague last Saturday.

The agreement was signed between St. Maarten's Minister of Justice, the Honorable Dennis Richardson and the Dutch Government.

Many members of Parliament have expressed their disapproval about the manner in which the agreement was signed and the impact it will have on the authority of the island's highest legislative body, the Parliament of St Read more

‘Sensitive’ answers on harbour security contract now submitted

PHILIPSBURG--Written answers to “sensitive” questions posed by Parliament concerning the hefty rise in fees paid by St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies (SHGC) to Checkmate security company were submitted to Parliament on Tuesday, May 26, some days past the deadline of Thursday, May 21.

MPs will review the answers during the coming days and any form of follow-up is yet to be determined, pending the review. Although the answers had been submitted, Members of Parliament had not yet received them in hand by Wednesday, and six MPs being busy with meetings in the Netherlands at the moment probably will cause some more delay.

Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) and shareholder representative for the harbour Claret Connor said during a meeting of the Central Committee of Parliament on the matter on Thursday, May 7, that due to the sensitivity of information he would provide specific answers to Parliament in writing within two weeks.

The long-awaited meeting on May 7, which already had been a postponement, ultimately proved fruitless and left MPs and Chairman Lloyd Richardson annoyed at its ineffectiveness Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- On Friday, May 22nd 2015, the Ombudsman, Dr. Nilda Arduin left for Curacao to attend the 8th Caribbean Ombudsman Membership Conference.
The theme of the conference is "Human rights –the measuring rod for Good Governance."
Renown speakers will be will be making presentations on the topic. Dr. Arduin will be speaking on "Human Rights an Intrinsic element of Good Administration"; other speakers will be addressing other areas of human rights in relation to the role of the Ombudsman.
Another topic that will be presented is "Corporate Governance and State-Owned Enterprises".
A highlight of the conference is a two day Anti-Corruption Training sponsored by the International Ombudsman Institute (I.O.I.).
"Following the very successful anti-corruption training program conducted by the International anti-corruption Academy (IACA) at its seat in Austria in 2013, the I.O.I Read more

Sarah queries hold-up of labour law changes

PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) leader Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams has enquired about the status of the draft law to amend the Civil Code and other ordinances to better regulate labour agreements.

She has written to Parliament Chairman Dr Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---  "The country is now moving into the second half of 2015 within the next five weeks, and I am hoping that within that period of time we will have the two ministerial positions filled by competent persons in order to continue moving forward.

"We got to start putting the right people in the right positions. Don't tell me we can't find persons out of the 23 candidates of the United People's party to fill one or both of these two positions. Why can't MP Dr. Lloyd Richardson be the minister of health or other persons within the coalition, fill one or both of these ministerial positions?

"We need to raise the bar and start working in the best interest of this country Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Representatives from the Parliament of Sint Maarten led by President Dr. Lloyd Richardson, recently returned from Panama after attending five-days of parliamentary sessions at the Parliament of Latin America (Parlatino).

The parliamentary delegation comprised of the President Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson, Members of Parliament (MPs) Hon Read more

George wants info about civil servants

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament George Pantophlet has written to Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs in his capacity as General Affairs Minister enquiring about a number of topics related to civil servants.

Pantophlet wants a list of the vacancies filled in the ministries during the past two years, the names of the people who have taken up those posts and whether they are on government contract or in permanent employment.

In the letter sent to Gumbs via Parliament Chairman Dr Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- Member of Parliament George Pantophlet has dispatched two letters to the Chairman of Parliament where he posed several questions regarding civil servants and other persons that currently working for the government of St. Maarten and those that have left. MP Pantophlet wants to know how many Ministries were filled in the last two years and by whom Read more

Ministers to face MPs this week about missing info

PHILIPSBURG--Ministers of the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet are to be called before Parliament's Permanent Committee for Kingdom Affairs and Inter-Parliamentary Relations to provide information the committee has requested for several months.

The committee became displeased two weeks ago with the sluggish pace of government's response and issued a 48-hour deadline for all information to be submitted Read more

Parliamentary Committee For Kingdom Affairs And Inter Parliamentary Relations Preparing For Holland Talks

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Parliamentary committee for Kingdom affairs and inter parliamentary relations meet on Monday morning.

During their meeting the committee which is chaired by MP Sarah Wescot-Williams handled matters pertaining to the upcoming Tri Partite and IPKO meeting which are scheduled to take place in Holland from May 25th to the 29th.

Chairlady Wescot-Williams also confirmed during the meeting that the tentative agenda for the meeting has been received.

There is however one area of urgency and that is with relevant and important information that is needed from government.

MP's the Honorable Cornelius de Weever and Leona Romeo Marlin is adamant that government not only come to parliament to provide the vital information needed in order to prepare for the Tri Partite and IPKO meeting but also that they come with the information and not just tell parliament where they can find it.

President of Parliament Dr Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---  President of Parliament Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson, Vice President and Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Leona Marlin-Romeo, and Vice President MP Hon. Cornelius de Weever, who form the Presidium of Parliament, met with Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon Read more

Meeting on Checkmate contract proves fruitless

Various Members of Parliament speak with Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication Claret Connor and his support staff.

 

~ ‘Sensitive answers’ to be given in two weeks ~

 PHILIPSBURG--The meeting of the Central Committee of Parliament, which had been called by National Alliance (NA) Members of Parliament (MPs) seeking answers about a hefty rise in pay in a security contract signed between St Read more

Hollande declares Court of First Instance will open January 2016

MARIGOT--President of the French Republic François Hollande made a number of sweeping announcements in his speech to the population of St. Martin at the end of his whirlwind visit to St. Martin last night. Among them were assurances that the social benefit (RSA) would be reformed to be more adaptable for St. Martin with help given to pay off the Collectivité's debt.

He also said a Court of First Instance and a rehabilitation centre for the youth (foyer educatif) would be established, and the number of Gendarmes in the territory would increase this July.

Hollande appeared to be decisive and up to speed on the issues plaguing St Read more

>Airport:--- French President Francois Hollande landed on St. Maarten (Princess Juliana International Airport) at 4:30pm on Friday afternoon instead of the scheduled 4.00pm hour. The French President came off an Air France aircraft and was greeted by the Governor of St. Maarten Eugene Holiday, President of Parliament Lloyd Richardson, Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs and Director of PJAIE Regina Labega Read more

Unprecedented security in place for President François Hollande

MARIGOT--Practically the entire law enforcement detachment of the French side will be on duty for President François Hollande's very brief official visit today, the first for a French President since Jacque Chirac's visit in 2000.

According to reports, 198 Gendarmes will be assuring security assisted by the Territorial Police and officers from Police aux Frontières (PAF). The President will also no doubt have his own security detail close to him.

The Presidential plane is due to touch down at Princess Juliana International Airport at 3:30pm where President Hollande will be welcomed by Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, Governor Eugene Holiday and Chairman of Parliament Dr Read more

style="text-align: center;">MOU with the Dominican Republic in the pipeline, Visa Requirements for Colombians lifted.

PHILIPSBURG: --- The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom Bert Koenders and his delegation made his first working visit to the countries within the Kingdom namely Curacao, St. Maarten and Aruba.
During the meetings held in Curacao in which Prime Minister of St. Maarten Marcel Gumbs was part of some key decisions were taken, one being the visa requirements for Columbians travelling to Curacao and St Read more

Public invited to ceremony today

PHILIPSBURG--The public is invited by government to attend the Remembrance Day ceremony on Captain Hodge Wharf today, Monday, at 9:00am. Governor Eugene Holiday, Parliament President Dr. Lloyd Richardson and Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs are slated to lay wreaths in remembrance of those who fought and died in World War II.

Government will again remember all those – civilians and soldiers – who have been killed or murdered in the Kingdom of the Netherlands or anywhere else in the world in war or during peace-keeping operations since the outbreak of the World War II.

The Kingdom of the Netherlands marks Remembrance Day on May 4 Read more

WWII victims to be remembered May 4

CYRUS WATHEY SQUARE--Those who fought and gave their lives in World War II (WWII) so we may live free will be remembered in a solemn ceremony on Captain Hodge Wharf on Monday, May 4, starting at 9:00am. The wreath-laying ceremony is open to the public.

Slated to attend the observance are Governor Eugene Holiday, Parliament Chairman Dr. Lloyd Richardson and other Members of Parliament, Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs and other ministers.

An honour guard comprising uniformed officials from various parts of the justice chain will be inspected at the wharf by Governor Holiday, Dr Read more