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Editorial - Better understanding

It appears the incoming UP/DP/Marlin-Romeo coalition plans to fight tooth and nail the instruction by the Kingdom Council of Ministers regarding the screening of nominees to become minister. Today's Parliament meeting probably will lead to some type of action in that sense.

It will be interesting to see what position the prospective opposition fractions take in this matter Read more

Editorial - For a change

The Kingdom Council of Ministers has given Governor Eugene Holiday an instruction not to install any new cabinet members until there are sufficient guarantees regarding their integrity. This is to be determined by applying a more stringent screening, for which the Dutch Government will appoint a team of experts to assist the governor.

The highly unusual and unprecedented move has to do with a 2010 vote-buying case involving the UP party and developments since this year's elections held at the end of August Read more

Friendly or Fantasy Island?

Dear Editor,

Some people may call St. Maarten the Friendly Island while others will call it the Fantasy Island but giving the recent political turmoil and political confusion I choose to reserve the right of giving it the appropriate name at the end of this article but not until I express my views on this topic.

Let us for a moment first view the phrases expressed by some of our political leaders and then the phases they allow our island to go through in order to have a better understanding on what island we are living on.

Our good "Samaritan" or leader of government Sarah Wescot-Williams struck the nail on its head when she boldly chose her political phrase Read more

Plasterk: Genuine guarantees of government integrity needed

THE HAGUE--The Kingdom Council of Ministers approved a proposal of Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk on Friday to give the governor of St. Maarten an instruction to refrain from signing the decrees to appoint the members of St. Maarten's next government until it has been proven, through an additional, more stringent screening, that the members of the Cabinet are persons of complete integrity. This is what Plasterk told the media in an interview after Friday's meeting.

St Read more

Sarah: Gov’t will resist instruction to Holiday

~ Says move 'absurd' ~

PHILIPSBURG--Caretaker Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams has condemned the move by the Dutch Government to issue instructions to Governor Eugene Holiday to thoroughly screen incoming ministers from the United People's (UP) party-led coalition.

In an invited comment on Friday Wescot-Williams said government "will resist" this latest move by the Dutch government Read more

Kingdom govt orders tougher screening St. Maarten ministers

By Suzanne Koelega

THE HAGUE--The Kingdom government has ordered a more stringent screening of St. Maarten's incoming Council of Ministers. The Kingdom Council of Ministers decided on Friday to give St. Maarten Governor Eugene Holiday an instruction to hold off on the appointment of the ministers and prime minister until it is absolutely certain that they are in the clear.

The Dutch government will appoint a team of experts to assist the governor with the screening, announced Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk after the meeting Read more

Ferrier resigns from DP, against Sarah supporting UP coalition

~ Richelda feels deceived, doesn't support Sarah ~

PHILIPSBURG--Former President of the Democratic Party (DP) and candidate in the August 29 parliamentary election Michael Ferrier has tendered his resignation from DP over the move by party leader Sarah Wescot-Williams to join the United People's (UP) party-led coalition.

DP candidate Richelda Rodriguez-Emmanuel in an email responding to Ferrier's resignation said she still couldn't "get over the feeling of anger, deception, disappointment and disbelief" to put in any form of communication Read more

Second Chamber backs St. Maarten instruction

~ A very necessary move, says majority ~

THE HAGUE--The liberal democratic VVD party, the Labour Party PvdA and Socialist Party (SP) representing a majority in the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament fully support the decision of the Kingdom Council of Ministers last week Friday to order a more thorough screening of St. Maarten's candidate ministers.

The instruction that the Kingdom government gave to St. Maarten Governor Eugene Holiday to hold off on the signing of the appointment of the members of the new Council of Ministers until an additional integrity screening has been completed with the assistance of Dutch experts, was "highly necessary," said Members of the Second Chamber André Bosman (VVD) and Ronald van Raak (PvdA).

Member of the Second Chamber Roelof van Laar said that during the handling of the draft 2015 Kingdom Relations budget on October 1, he already called for an in-depth investigation of the indications of vote-buying in St Read more

Van Miltenburg, Sarah meet at SXM Airport

PHILIPSBURG--President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams met with President of the Dutch Second Chamber of Parliament Anouchka van Miltenburg at SXM Airport on Friday. Van Miltenburg was on her way to Saba for the start of a tour of the six islands.

Accompanying the Dutch Second Chamber of Parliament President is Secretary General J.E Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- President of Parliament Hon. Sarah Wescot-Williams on Friday met the President of the Dutch Second Chamber of Parliament Hon. Anouchka van Miltenburg at the SXM Airport VIP room.

On Sunday the President of the First Chamber of the Dutch Parliament along with support staff will be arriving in transit to the island of St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Former President of the Democratic Party Michael Ferrier submitted his resignation to the Leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams Read more

President Of Dutch Second Chamber Of Parliament Meets With President Wescot-Williams

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – President of Parliament Hon. Sarah Wescot-Williams on Friday met the President of the Dutch Second Chamber of Parliament Hon. Anouchka van Miltenburg at the SXM Airport VIP room.

On Sunday the President of the First Chamber of the Dutch Parliament along with support staff will be arriving in transit to the island of St Read more

After 55 Years Of Support, Mike Ferrier Opts To Resign From Dp Party St. Maarten

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Former DP stalwart Micheal Ferrier in a letter dated October 17th 2014 and sent to the board of the party, their 15 candidates who ran in this years Parliamentary election and to key supporters, announced his decision to resign.

This decision comes after 55 years of support for the party and more recently, his diligent support for its leader MP Sarah Wescot-Williams.

The reason given for his decision is that he believes that the leader with her decision to join the UP/de Weever coalition government has taken the party along a different path than it had collectively chosen prior to the elections on August 29th 2014.

He stated in his letter that he understands the reasoning behind the need to be in government in the interest of the people of St Read more

Three Up Mps Requests Urgent Parliament Meeting On Screening Instruction

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - United People's (UP) party Members of Parliament Franklin Meyers, Silvio Matser and Tamara Leonard have requested an urgent meeting of Parliament to respond to the recent instruction by the Kingdom Council of Ministers for Governor Eugene Holiday to execute a thorough screening of all minister candidates of the new coalition government.

The request for the parliament meeting was submitted on Friday to President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams Read more

Efforts To Increase Tax Compliance Fail

Audit Chamber report Optimizing Tax Revenue

St. Maarten – All efforts to increase tax compliance and tax revenue during the past three years have failed. This appears from the performance audit Optimizing Tax Revenue the General Audit Chamber published last week.

The Finance Minister in the first Wescot-Williams cabinet, Hiro Shigemoto, stated in the 2011 budget “that improvement of the functioning of the organization for assessment and collection together with the introduction of a simplified system should lead, in the coming years, to an additional 20 million guilders in tax revenue Read more

Editorial - Sooner rather than later

That just about anything is possible in local politics was proven again over these last few days, as DP leader Sarah Wescot-Williams and US Party number two candidate Leona Marlin-Romeo signed up for the incoming UP/De Weever coalition Read more

Holiday says MPs play critical role to foster good governance

~ MPs sworn in ~

HARBOUR VIEW--The fifteen Members of Parliament (MPs) elected during the August 29 Parliamentary Elections took their oaths to serve in the presence of Governor Eugene Holiday on Friday.

Sworn in were United People's (UP) party MPs Theo Heyliger, Franklin Meyers, Silvio Matser, Tamara Leonard, Maurice Lake, Lloyd Richardson and Johan "Janchi Leonard; Democratic Party (DP) MPs Sarah Wescot-Williams and Cornelius de Weever; United St Read more

Van Raak to seek clarity on St. Maarten developments

THE HAGUE--Appalled by the latest political developments in St. Maarten, Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Ronald van Raak of the Socialist Party (SP) will be seeking a statement from the Dutch government that "St. Maarten is about to get a government that possibly has been bought."

Van Raak announced on Friday that he plans to ask Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk for a written explanation during Wednesday's procedural meeting of the Second Chamber's Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations Read more

Sarah elected as the new President of Parliament

~ Marlin-Romeo VP, De Weever second VP ~

PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) leader Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams was elected President of Parliament during a plenary session on Friday.

United St Read more

style="text-align: center;">Leona Marlin Romeo eats her own vomit --- DP swore they will not Join UPP

PHILIPSBURG:--- Formateur Honarable Member of Parliament (MP) Theodore Heyliger during his deliberations with political factions as well as with individual MPs who have been elected to Parliament based on the August 29, 2014 parliamentary elections, as of Thursday, October 9th, the United People's (UP) party/Cornelius de Weever coalition, has received the support of two additional MPs leading to a broad-base government for the country of 10-seats in the House of Parliament.
Formateur Theodore Heyliger met with the Leader of the Democratic Party (DP) Hon Read more

Positive Foundation Continues Breast Cancer Awareness Activities

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Positive Foundation and its partners continue their Breast Cancer Awareness activities with free clinical screenings at doctor's clinics and a number of special events throughout this month.

So far over 150 women have received free clinical breast examinations provided by the Family Medical Practice, St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) and Zamora Perez Clinic.

Dr. Grace Spencer will also offer free clinical screenings today at her clinic on Oleander Road #139, Saunders, from 9:00am to 12:00pm.

Free clinical screenings for women will be offered at Union Road Clinic on Union Road, Cole Bay, on Wednesday, October 15, from 10:00am to 4:00pm.

Simpson Bay Medical Clinic will offer free clinical screening on Friday, October 17, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm.

During the free clinical breast examination screening on Saturday, October 18 at the Dutch Quarter Medical Clinic, students from AUC will be providing instructions for breast self-examinations from 9 am - 1 pm.

Elektralyets Foundation in collaboration with Positive Foundation also present their annual Pink Phit Phabulous Walk-a-thon Read more

Dp Leader Elected President Of Parliament, Leona Romeo Marlin Elected Vice President Friday

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - On Friday afternoon the first meeting of the new Parliament of St. Maarten was convened.

The meeting was chaired by senior member of the highest legislative body, MP the Honorable Dr. Lloyd Richardson.

During the first meeting of the new parliament of St. Maarten Friday afternoon, DP leader the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams was elected as the President of Parliament whilst MP the Honorable Leona Romeo Marlin was elected as the Vice President of Parliament.

All of the new MPs pledged to carry out their work in Parliament, in the best interest of St Read more

Sarah, Leona join UP/De Weever to form broad-based government

PHILIPSBURG--Outgoing Prime Minister and Democratic Party (DP) leader Sarah Wescot-Williams and United St. Maarten Party Member of Parliament (MP)-elect Leona Marlin-Romeo have joined the United People's (UP) party/De Weever coalition to form a broad-based government for 2014-2018.

The two new coalition members signed on to the existing UP/De Weever governing accord as "addendum two and three" on Thursday, paving the way for a majority of 10 seats in Parliament.

The news of, in particular, Marlin-Romeo joining the coalition comes after much speculation about this possibility taking place even after she publicly had denied any such intentions Read more

>CAY HILL:--- The Open House at the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) on Saturday, October 4, 2014 reached remarkable numbers specifically to the women public.
One of the key objectives in the Open House was to raise Breast Cancer Awareness. Attendees at the Open House included Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams, Minister of Health Mr Read more