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Lake Joins Forces With Frans' Usp

PHILIPSBURG--Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake announced on Sunday his candidacy with the United St. Maarten Party (USP) for the September 26 Parliamentary Elections.

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Mp Lake To Run With Usp In Upcoming Parliamentary Elections

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - MP the Honorable Maurice Lake Sunday confirmed that he will run in the next Parliamentary elections with the USP Party which is headed by MP the Honorable Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Maurice Lake has put all rumors to rest at a press conference on Sunday when he joined the leader and members of the United People’s Party (USP) and announced that he will be contesting the September 26th elections on the USP slate Read more

Mp Lake Calls For Action Regarding Waste Haulers, And Landfill Management

As a Member of Parliament (MP), I have a responsibility towards the people of St. Maarten who I represent. And this responsibility also includes passing on my observations to the Government that I support with the result of action being taken to remedy situations in the general interest of the people.

I have been observing the transition phase of the five waste haulers where it concerns picking up the garbage for the past weeks. I also have been walking around in the different districts, talking to the residents, communicating with some waste haulers about the garbage situation, and listening to the different radio/television programs, and especially taking note of the residents’ comments and concerns.

I also have heard of the comments on Facebook and have taken note of these as well, about the garbage situation Read more

Lake Says Government Has To ‘Straighten Out’ Garbage Issue

PHILIPSBURG--Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake said on Sunday, that government must “straighten out” the garbage system to provide residents with “good service.”

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PHILIPSBURG:--- “As a Member of Parliament (MP), I have a responsibility towards the people of St. Maarten who I represent. And this responsibility also includes passing on my observations to the Government that I support with the result of action being taken to remedy situations in the general interest of the people.
“I have been observing the transition phase of the five waste haulers where it concerns picking up the garbage for the past weeks. I also have been walking around in the different districts, talking to the residents, communicating with some waste haulers about the garbage situation, and listening to the different radio/ television programs, and especially taking note of the resident’s comments and concerns.
“I also have heard of the comments on Facebook and have taken note of these as well, about the garbage situation Read more

Remembering What We Share In Common: A Past In The Making.

PHILIPSBURG:--- What past do St. Martiners (Sint Maarteners & Saint Martinoise) long for, when they talk about the good old days? St. Martiners have been described as those Born Here and those Born to be Here. This non- ethnic and non-racial definition, brilliantly introduced by the honourable governor of the island, Drs. Eugene Holiday, is meant to be both accommodating and normative. St Martiners are those who put the island first. They are patriots, persons who love the island. Dr. Louis Jeffry who can trace back his ancestry to the time of slavery, and Father Charles, the island’s revered Catholic priest, who was born on Saint Lucia, equally qualify.

I found this definition rather inclusive until I spoke to my long-time friend, Ruford Serrant, who I dare say was one of the first St Read more

St. Maarten Garbage Collectors Want Money From Shopkeepers

Uncollected garbage on Front Street. Photo Today / Hilbert Haar

St. Maarten News – The messy situation with garbage collection got uglier yesterday after reports that All Waste in Place, the company responsible for collecting garbage in Philipsburg, has approached shopkeepers to sign individual contracts. Without these contracts, garbage will not be collected downtown.

Several shopkeepers have flat out refused to sign any contract with the garbage collector. Others, like real estate agent Leroy de Weever, disposed of their store garbage under their own steam Read more

Mps Pepper Ministers With Questions In Budget Debate

Independent MP Leona Marlin-Romeo (standing) speaks in the budget debate on Monday.

 PHILIPSBURG--The 2016 draft budget was tabled in Parliament by Finance Minister Richard Gibson on Monday morning in Parliament House. Members of Parliament (MPs), who had up to 90 minutes to speak, peppered the Council of Ministers with a barrage of questions spanning from the budget and Government policies to general topics of interest.

  The seven Ministers, who all made presentations about the working of their Ministries on Monday, will be back in Parliament today, Tuesday, starting at 2:00pm to deliver answers to the questions from MPs Read more

Lake Urges Meyers To Update Gebe Workers On Developments At Company

PHILIPSBURG--Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake urged Minister Angel Meyers on Sunday, to hold a general meeting to update workers of utilities company GEBE about the developments at the company.

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Lake Calls On Meyers To Inform Gebe Workers About Current Developments Asap

Member of Parliament Hon. Maurice Lake

PHILIPSBURG – Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake said Minister in charge of GEBE Angel Meyers should call a general assembly of all GEBE workers at Belair Community Center to update them about developments at the company, as soon as possible.

Lake stated that the workers and the public had a right to up to date information about their company Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---  Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake says Minister in charge of GEBE Angel Meyers to call a general assembly of all GEBE workers at Belair Community Center to update them about the developments at the company.
Lake says workers and the public have a right to up to date information about their company Read more

ST. PETERS --“We need to step up to the plate now and start practicing what we preach in our national energy policy. We are two steps behind because of the constant changes in Government and GEBE’s sense of direction and leadership,” said independent Member of Parliament Maurice Lake in a press statement on Sunday.

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Mp Lake Calls For Energy Policy To Be Put Into Action

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — “We need to step up to the plate now and start practicing what we preach in our National Energy Policy. We are two steps behind because of the constant changes in Government and GEBE’s sense of direction and leadership,” said independent Member of Parliament Maurice Lake.

“One of my priorities of supporting this Coalition of Eight is finalizing the Waste-to-Energy Project to address the huge landfill situation, and recycling of garbage Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---- “We need to step up to the plate now and start practicing what we preach in our National Energy Policy. We are two steps behind because of the constant changes in Government and GEBE's sense of direction and leadership,” says independent Member of Parliament Maurice Lake.
“One of my priorities of supporting this Coalition of Eight is finalizing the Waste-to-Energy Project to address the huge landfill situation, and recycling of garbage Read more

‘Shotgun Budget’ Tabled In Parliament By Gibson

Finance Minister Richard Gibson (right) with MP Maurice Lake. 

PHILIPSBURG--Parliament is faced with a “shotgun budget” as the draft 2016 budget was described by Finance Minister Richard Gibson Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- As a Member of Parliament, I would like to commend the Minister of Education for the tough measures taken against NIPA Board for not cooperating with Government and submitting their audited financial reports. I have been very critical in Parliament in the previous public meetings that if the NIPA Board did not cooperate the only way to get their attention would be to put their subsidy on hold and have SOAB audit them, until Government makes the necessary changes in its policy for subsidized institutions Read more

Nature Foundation Puts Warning Buoy On Object Causing Injuries To Swimmers On Simpson Bay Beach

SIMPSONBAY, Sint Maarten — Nature Foundation divers placed a white marker Buoy with information warning swimmers away from an area on Simpson Bay beach close to Karakter beach bar.

Many swimmers were injured, some seriously, when they cut themselves on an underwater object right in the surf zone as they were bathing in the area. The Nature Foundation was contacted by Member of Parliament the Honorable Maurice Lake as well as the owners of Karakter Beach Bar and residents of Simpson Bay regarding the incident.

“We dove the area in order to see exactly what it was that was causing cuts, some quite deep, to swimmers in the area Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Nature Foundation divers placed a white marker Buoy with information warning swimmers away from an area on Simpson Bay beach close to Karakter beach bar. Many swimmers were injured, some seriously, when they cut themselves on an underwater object right in the surf zone as they were bathing in the area. The Nature Foundation was contacted by Member of Parliament the Honorable Maurice Lake as well as the owners of Karakter Beach Bar and residents of Simpson Bay regarding the incident Read more

Nv Gebe Presents Led Energy Saving Light Bulbs To Seniors

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — NV GEBE on Thursday presented LED (Light Emitting Diodes) energy saving light bulbs to five senior citizens at its Pondfill office.  Also present was Home Away from Home President Patsy Flanders. Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake, was also scheduled to be present for the presentation, however, he had to be present at the House of Parliament for a meeting.  MP Lake has been a staunch supporter of the senior citizen relief program that NV GEBE initiated.

LED bulbs are one of today’s most energy-efficient and rapidly-developing technologies.  They use only 20-25 of the energy and last up to 25 times longer than the traditional incandescent bulbs.  NV GEBE will be giving out 800 LED energy saving light bulbs to 160 senior citizens who received a voucher that was given out at its December 20th event that took place at the Dr Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- NV GEBE on Thursday presented LED (Light Emitting Diodes) energy saving light bulbs to five senior citizens at its Pondfill office. Also present was Home Away from Home President Patsy Flanders. Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake, was also scheduled to be present for the presentation, however, he had to be present at the House of Parliament for a meeting Read more

ST. PETERS:--- Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake says former civil servants and those who have worked for government-owned companies, need to be recognized continuously for their contribution to the development of the civil service corps and the companies that they worked for over the years.
“It has always been the case that we recognize the person when they have passed away Read more

PORT ST. MAARTEN – Members of Parliament (MPs) attending this week’s Inter-parliamentary Kingdom Consultation (IPKO) had the opportunity on Thursday afternoon to visit the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facility.

After visiting the Seven Seas Water Desalination Plant, the delegation of MPs from the Netherlands, Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten gathered at the Cruise Terminal Building which overlooks the cruise piers and Great Bay where Port St. Maarten Chief Executive Officer Mark Mingo gave a brief overview of port operations.

In port was the Celebrity Silhouette and Allure of the Seas as well as two giga-yachts.  This provided an opportunity to see cruise operations underway where thousands of passengers and crew were moving around either heading back to the ship or patronizing one of the gift stores at the port or making use of the internet Wi-Fi services.

Mingo explained about the distribution network that is in place in order to get passengers from one point to the next which includes walking to Philipsburg, taxi service, tour busses, and water-taxi.

The delegation which also included MPs Hon Read more

Mp Lake: Taking The Issues Affecting The People In 2016 To Another Level

ST. PETERS, St. Maarten - “I would like to wish the people of St. Maarten a Happy New Year.  I have to say 2015 was a good learning experience for St. Maarten. St. Maarten is at a crossroad, so the decisions we make today will affect the next generation of tomorrow. 

“That's why I am looking to 2016 to take the issues affecting our local people to another level in an open and transparent manner to better serve the people of St. Maarten. I know it's going to be a short challenging year with a lot of manmade obstacles to keep me back from achieving for the people, but that won't keep a good man down,” Member of Parliament Maurice Lake said."Once I give it my best for 2016, and work along with the people, I believe the LORD will do the rest for his people. I am a firm believer in my principles of Philippians Chapter 4:13, ‘I can do all things with Christ which strengthen me.’ I have set some goals and I can't wait to execute them in the general interest of the people.“I am not going to get in the old way of politics with tic for tac, planning against each other, or predicting like some of our leaders that I would never be elected again, but I am going to focus on the issues and come with a plan of action in an open and transparent manner. Last election, some of our leaders within taught the same that my team was all rookies and I wasn't going to get elected. I would like the people to judge me on the upcoming election in September 2016 based on my work, performance and accomplishments for the people.“It's high time we stop saying or working behind the scenes in self-interest and start being open with the people’s business and focus on providing a stable economy and putting our people first and creating work for them. Parliament and Government needs to start putting our people first, and focus and communicate better with our local people and bring priority projects, quick wins or laws that are going to empower our people for the betterment of the island.“The Coalition of Eight main focus should be reform, balancing the draft Budget 2016, stimulating the Economy, creating jobs and developing a plan of action for the Crime situation.“As an Independent MP, my main focus would be in 2016 on passing the amended initiative law to make the processing or application fee for residence permits non-refundable; recognizing the University of St Read more