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Answers Will Have To Wait Until Mid-January: Parliament Wants Clarity About Housing Foundation

St. Maarten – Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs answered the call to appear in Parliament as the acting minister of public housing within 72 hours after he was sworn in on Friday. Members of Parliament appreciated that, even though Gumbs sent them on their way with a flea in their ear, after listening to questions about the chaos of the St. Maarten Housing Development foundation for more than two hours.

The minister brought to mind the words he spoke on Friday in the constituting meeting where his team officially took over the reins: “The country needs tranquility, stability, civility and prosperity.”

Furthermore, Gumbs noted: “Integrity has been a buzz word this year Read more

Parliament in recess until January 1st. Meetings resume in the week of January 12

>PHILIPSBURG:---  President of Parliament, Hon. Lloyd Richardson, MD informed Members of Parliament that the House as of December 22 is in Christmas holiday recess until January 1st.

Parliamentary sessions are to resume in the weeks of January 12 and January 26.

A parliamentary delegation will be traveling to Aruba for the Ki Read more

Parliament In Recess Until January 1St. Meetings Resume In The Week Of January 12

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – President of Parliament, Hon. Lloyd Richardson, MD informed Members of Parliament that the House as of December 22 is in Christmas holiday recess until January 1st.

Parliamentary sessions are to resume in the weeks of January 12 and January 26.

A parliamentary delegation will be traveling to Ar Read more

President Of Parliament Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson Christmas Message

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – President of Parliament, Hon. Lloyd Richardson, MD released the following Christmas Message for the nation.

Fellow St. Maarteners, citizens and residents. On behalf of the members of Parliament of St. Maarten and my family I would like to extend our warmest greetings to you during this festive season.

We've been blessed during this year to have been spared serious natural disasters Read more

MPs to get answers about housing foundation in Jan.

PHILIPSBURG--Members of Parliament (MPs) will have to wait until mid-January for answers about the suspension of St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF) Director Henry Lynch and two other members of the management team. Prime Minister/Ad Interim Housing Minister Marcel Gumbs said he required time to gather the facts about the investigation ordered by the foundation's supervisory board and the other actions leading to the suspensions.

Gumbs, who had only been in office for a mere 72 hours, was before Parliament on Monday in an urgent plenary session requested by opposition MPs Sarah Wescot-Williams (Democratic Party), Frans Richardson (United St Read more

We need a reduction in the fuel clause now

Dear Editor,

Please allow me some space in your newspaper to share OSPP’s written request, on December 19, 2014, to President of Parliament Dr. Lloyd Richardson, that a meeting be called with NV GEBE to discuss a reduction of the fuel clause in our energy bills. The fact that a new government was sworn in Friday and a new minister will assume the responsibility of energy is no excuse to delay a reduction in the fuel clause.

The cost of living on St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The cost of living on St. Maarten is amongst one of the highest within the region and the cost of energy is one of the main proponents of that cost. A reduction of the cost of energy will result in food prices as well as many other prices on the island to drop, and thus providing the consumers a much needed relief. Every political party and all the candidates during the last campaign have promised the people some type of relief. Today, we have a golden opportunity to make good use on at least one of those promises and that should be by reducing the fuel clause on our energy bills Read more

Ospp Leader Sends Letter To President Of Parliament Seeking Meeting To Discuss Gebe Fuel Clause

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – The cost of living on St. Maarten is amongst one of the highest within the region and the cost of energy is one of the main proponents of that cost.

A reduction of the cost of energy will result in food prices as well as many other prices on the island to drop, and thus providing the consumers a much needed relief.

Every political party and all the candidates during the last campaign have promised the people some type of relief. Today, we have a golden opportunity to make good use on at least one of those promises and that should be by reducing the fuel clause on our energy bills Read more

MPs will propose review of Dutch nationality rescinding

PHILIPSBURG--The rescinding of the Dutch nationality of a number of people in the Dutch Caribbean due to administrative errors, and the subsequent statelessness of those persons as well as their children and in some instances grandchildren, is an issue Members of Parliament (MPs) want on the table for the Inter-Parliamentary Affairs Contact Meeting IPOK in Aruba January 6-9.

Parliament's Permanent Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Affairs and Kingdom Relations met in Parliament House on Thursday afternoon to review the draft agenda and preparations for the meeting of members of the Parliaments of the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and St Read more

Leona calls for meeting about Housing Foundation suspensions

PHILIPSBURG--Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo wants to get to the bottom of the issues at St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation that led to the supervisory board suspending with pay three members of the management team, including Foundation Director Henry Lynch.

Marlin-Romeo called on fellow MPs on Wednesday to help her convene a meeting of parliament with the three suspended members Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- President of Parliament, Hon. Lloyd Richardson, MD attended the 60th anniversary ceremony of the Kingdom Charter which was celebrated on Kingdom Day, December 15th.
At the ceremony on Monday, President Richardson met several Sint Maarten students who are studying in the Netherlands.
Queen Juliana signed the Kingdom Charter 60-years ago on December 15th Read more

President Richardson Attends Kingdom Day Celebration In The Netherlands

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – President of Parliament, Hon. Lloyd Richardson, MD attended the 60th anniversary ceremony of the Kingdom Charter which was celebrated on Kingdom Day, December 15th.

At the ceremony on Monday, President Richardson met several Sint Maarten students who are studying in the Netherlands.

Queen Juliana signed the Kingdom Charter 60-years ago on December 15th Read more

Mp Wescot-Williams Seeking To Make Public Official Information On Smhdf Saga

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Member of Parliament and Leader of the Democratic Party, the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams Monday sent a letter to the President of Parliament the Honorable Dr. Lloyd Richardson seeking answers to a number of questions surrounding developments at the St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- On Saturday, December 6, 2014 the Latin American Parliament, Parlatino, celebrated its 50th Anniversary in a Commemorative General Assembly in Panama. A delegation comprising of Members of Parliament of Sint Maarten headed by the President of Parliament, Hon. Lloyd Richardson, MD attended this gathering.

The gathering started with the raising of the Parlatino flag, singing of the Parlatino anthem, paying homage to the founders and former Presidents of Parlatino, speeches from dignitaries followed by the presentation of gifts from the member countries to Parlatino amongst others.

The Hon Read more

Sint Maarten Represented At Parlatino 50Th Anniversary Celebration

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – On Saturday, December 6, 2014 the Latin American Parliament, Parlatino, celebrated its 50th Anniversary in a Commemorative General Assembly in Panama.

A delegation comprising of Members of Parliament of Sint Maarten headed by the President of Parliament, Hon. Lloyd Richardson, MD attended this gathering.

The gathering started with the raising of the Parlatino flag, singing of the Parlatino anthem, paying homage to the founders and former Presidents of Parlatino, speeches from dignitaries followed by the presentation of gifts from the member countries to Parlatino amongst others.

The Hon Read more

Lloyd Richardson Elected Chairman Of Parliament

St. Maarten – Parliament elected Dr. Lloyd Richardson of the faction of the United People’s party yesterday morning as the successor of Sarah Wescot-Williams as its chairman Read more

Prominent Podiatrist Zenia Duncan Dies

St. Maarten -Prominent podiatrist and health advocate Zenia Duncan passed away Sunday morning after a brief but courageous battle with leukemia. Leukemia is a group of cancers that usually begins in the bone marrow and results in high numbers of abnormal white blood cells.

Duncan had always been a proponent of healthy living and devoted her resources and time to disseminating nutritional information and diabetes awareness.

Her clinic at the Heritage House on Front Street, Barefeet Chiropody, was a successful practice that offered foot care, surgery, examinations and treatment especially to the elderly and diabetic community on St Read more

Parliament Bloopers continue, Country’s constitution not respected --- MP Lloyd Richardson voted on his own appointment as Chairman of Parliament.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The bloopers in the Parliament of St. Maarten continue as the MPs that are elected fail read and comply with the country's constitution. This is the second time a Member of Parliament violated article 53 of the country's constitution.
On Monday MP Lloyd Richardson voted in favor of his own appointment where he was appointed the chairman of Parliament Read more

Mp Dr. Lloyd Richardson Voted In As President Of Parliament

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Members of Parliament in a Central Committee meeting on Monday morning, Member of Parliament of the United People's Party, the Honorable Lloyd Richardson was voted to the position as President of Parliament.

He is now replacing leader of the Democratic Party, Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams who resigned from the post on Thursday November 13th.

During the voting on Monday, Dr Read more

style="text-align: center;">UPP candidates fuming because they got no Ministerial Positions

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United Peoples Party (UPP) and formateur Theodore Heyliger has shuffled the deck of cards again as he tries to form the next government Read more

Upnext Bake Sale A Sold-Out Affair For Less Fortunate Kids

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - UPNext, the youth movement within the United People party (UP), held a successful fundraising bake sale on Saturday to fund the group's "CheerUp" Christmas program in support of the children homes of St. Maarten and the children housed there.

Dubbed a "BakeUP" and stationed at the Afoo Supermarket in Philipsburg, the youngsters managed to sell all goodies that were up for sale and raised close to $1,000.

The event started at 9:00am and by 1:00pm everything was sold out.

On the bale sale were popular items such as black cake, carrot cake, several tarts, brownies, cookies and much more.

The UPNext teens didn't just stay at the venue, they put goodies on trays and walked through Backstreet and Frontstreet selling baked items to local and visitors alike.

Members of the community who didn't purchase anything simply made financial contributions to the cause for which the teens from UPNext showed their appreciation with loud applause and shouts of thank you.

Minister of Youth Affairs Patricia Lourens also passed by to support the cause while leader of the UP Theo Heyliger provided breakfast for the hard working teens.

President of UPNext Kinisha Kalla thanks everyone for their overwhelming support and reminded that a second bake sale will be held next Saturday, November 22 at the same venue from 9:00am until everything is sold.

This week group will elaborate more on the Christmas CheerUp program and its plans to bring some joy into the lives of the less fortunate children at some of the Children's homes.

UPNext is guided by the members of the PR & Marketing Committee of the UP, Grisha Marten-Heyliger, Alston Lourens and Mike Granger.

The group also thanked the Afoo Group of Companies, Peter J Read more

Sarah tenders her resignation

Parliament Chairwoman Sarah Wescot-Williams caucuses with Parliament Presidium members MPs Cornelius de Weever and Leona Marlin-Romeo on whether she should continue chairing Thursday’s session of Parliament after she submitted her resignation as Parliament head (Rajesh Chintaman photo) Read more

Top 10 ship-jumpers

Dear Editor,

Top 10 ship-jumpers, since inception of Country Sint Maarten in 2010

1. Romain Laville;

2. Cornelius de Weever;

3. Sarah Wescot-Williams;

4 Read more

Chairlady of Parliament Wescot Williams Resigns from Parliament effective immediately --- MP Lloyd Richardson heading to become an Independent Member of Parliament.

style="text-align: center;"> Is there still a Government in Place? Where does MP Leona Marlin stand?

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams read her letter of resignation from the position as chairlady of Parliament which she said is effective immediately Read more