SXMElections.com

PM: Integrity Commission and Monitoring Committee to be Established.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams gave an update on the release of the Integrity Report and the reaction of Government on the content of the report. The PM also explained what the next steps with respects to the integrity investigations will be and the consequences it will have for all parties involved, including the establishment of a so-called integrity commission within Government; "It is important to state that this report is the report that has been compiled by the commission that has been established by the Government of St Read more

Dp Wants Risk Assessment By Central Bank – Harbor’S Legal Team Calls Zebec N.V.’S $100M Claim “Frivolous”

 St. Maarten - The Harbor Group of Companies says that the $100 million claim from Zebec NV against it is “wholly without merit” but the Democratic Party said in a press release that it is “seriously concerned” about the matter. Zebec claims damages from the harbor over the Harbor Village project that it was going to develop. The project stalled, according to Zebec, because Harbor CEO Mark Mingo kept throwing up obstacles.

The Harbor stated in a press release this weekend that it would “vigorously” defend itself against the claim in court Read more

St. Maarten Government Reaction To Wit-Report Still Missing

St. Maarten – Up to yesterday, the government still had not released its reaction to Doing the Right Things Right, the report from the Wit Committee about Integrity in Public Administration. The report’s publication together with the government’s reaction was originally scheduled for Friday, August 15. Prime Minister Wescot-Williams however, informed the committee that the reaction was not ratified yet in the Council of Ministers and that this would take place last week Tuesday Read more

Laser 101 to host 2nd political debate today

MADAME ESTATE--Laser 101 will host its second political discussion today, Monday, with representatives of four political parties contesting the Parliamentary Elections on Friday.

The discussion will be live on Philipsburg Broadcasting Network's radio station Laser 101.1FM from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.

The discussion was originally to feature the leaders of four of the six political parties in the elections. However, two party leaders could not attend due to conflicting schedules.

"We planned the discussion late so it is understandable that not everyone could make it," said Glenn Carty of the radio network Read more

Party leaders delve into critical matters

BELAIR--Dollarisation, integrity, boosting the economy, and immigration were among the topics the leaders of the six political parties delved into during the third and final Arts Video Studios televised political debate in Belair Community Centre on Sunday ahead of Friday's Parliamentary Elections.

The first question posed to party leaders by moderator Paul De Windt, publisher of The Daily Herald, was the parties' stance on dollarisation of the country.

Social Reform Party (SRP) leader businessman Jacinto Mock, to whom the question was posed, said the country was not ready to make the US dollar its currency; this could only happen when St Read more

2nd Laser 101 Political Debate to be aired on Monday from 7 - 9pm.

>MADAME ESTATE:--- The 2nd and last Political Discussion that will be hosted on Laser 101, will be aired live on Monday, August 25th from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. The leaders of the political parties that have representation in the present parliament have been invited to attend.

In first instance, Frans Richardson from the United St.Maarten Party, Sarah Wescot-Williams from the Democratic Party, and William Marlin from the National Alliance have all three confirmed their attendance by email to management of Philipsburg Broadcasting Read more

Prime Minister Wescot-Williams Gives Update on Vorst Property Deal.

style="text-align: center;">Raises Questions As to How Far an Individual Minister Can Commit Government

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams on her radio program One on One with the Prime Minister gave an update on the developments as they relate to the Vorst property case. The PM stated that with the Court Verdict and that there is some concern with regards to the implications this will have for the country; "The Vorst case has culminated into a verdict that has been made known Read more

Political Discussion On Laser 101

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The 2nd and last Political Discussion that will be hosted on Laser 101, will be aired live on Monday, August 25th from 7:00 to 9:00 PM.

The leaders of the political parties that have representation in the present parliament have been invited to attend.

In first instance, Frans Richardson from the United St.Maarten Party, Sarah Wescot-Williams from the Democratic Party, and William Marlin from the National Alliance have all three confirmed their attendance by email to management of Philipsburg Broadcasting.

Theo Heyliger of the United People's Party sent an email indicating that he could not confirm his attendance due to his agenda.

Eventually William Marlin informed Philipsburg Broadcasting officials that there was a double booking as he has to attend an interview on a TV program on the same day and time, thus making it impossible for him to attend.

The National Alliance will therefore be sending Silveria Jacobs, and the United People's Party will be sending Frankie Meyers to represent the leader of the UP.

As the two candidates that will be attending this formal discussion are veteran members of their respective parties, the vision and sentiments of their leaders, and their party should be well represented.

The topics will be of a general nature, however integrity, will be the main driver.

The program will be retransmitted on radio stations on St.Martin, St.Barths and Saba Read more

Prime Minister Wescot-Williams Gives Update On Vorst Property Deal, Raises Questions As To How Far An Individual Minister Can Commit Government

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams on her radio program One on One with the Prime Minister gave an update on the developments as they relate to the Vorst property case.

The PM stated that with the Court Verdict and that there is some concern with regards to the implications this will have for the country; "The Vorst case has culminated into a verdict that has been made known.

The issue here is that at some point the colleague Ministers were made aware of an agreement signed by the Minister of Vromi with the Vorst Family for the purchase of a property in Cay Hill Read more

Pm: Integrity Commission And Monitoring Comity To Be Established

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams gave an update on the release of the Integrity Report and the reaction of Government on the content of the report.

The PM also explained what the next steps with respects to the integrity investigations will be and the consequences it will have for all parties involved, including the establishment of a so-called integrity commission within Government; "It is important to state that this report is the report that has been compiled by the commission that has been established by the Government of St Read more

Pantophlet resigns as PSS board chairman

PHILIPSBURG--Vice Chairman Stuart Johnson has been appointed Interim Head of the Supervisory Board at Postal Services St. Maarten N.V. (PSS), after Chairman of the Board Hubert Pantophlet officially resigned from his position Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams told members of the media on Wednesday during the Council of Ministers weekly press briefing that the Government of St. Maarten (both her and the Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson) would like to thank the person or persons who leaked the Integrity Report given by Judge Bob Wit and his team Read more

Ministers agree with most of integrity recommendations

PHILIPSBURG--Government "embraces" the recommendations of the Wit-Samson Report on Integrity in Government to "99.9 percent," says Justice Minister Dennis Richardson. "In general, I can say we have embraced that report nearly in its entirety. There are a few issues that need further study," he said.

The Council of Ministers has formulated its response to the forty recommendations from the Wit-Samson Committee and is expected to publish this soon.

Richardson said Government is satisfied that the report found "no connection" between government and the "underworld," which was one of the concerns and motivations for the Kingdom Government to instruct Governor Eugene Holiday to conduct a similar integrity investigation into the workings of government.

One of the most important recommendations is the establishment of an integrity chamber Read more

Doing The Right Things Right: Wit-Committee Presents 40 Integrity-Recommendations

St. Maarten – Doing the right things right, the final report from the Committee Integer Public Administration chaired by Justice Bob Wit, was leaked to the media yesterday morning from the email-address integritysxm@gmail.com. The leaked version, an 80-page report containing forty recommendations for improving integrity in the government and the civil service, does not contain the comments from the government to the findings.

In March of last year, this newspaper received two press statements from the interim faction leader of the United People’s party, Sylvia Meyers-Olivacce Read more

style="text-align: center;">"Come out to hear the real issues"

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Democratic Party of St. Maarten is inviting the residents of Sucker Garden, Middle Region, the At. Th. Illidge Road, Guana Bay and surrounding areas to come out to its public meeting this Friday, August 22nd starting at seven pm at the Miguel Arrindell property in Sucker Garden. The Board, membership and candidates invite the public to come out to listen to the red thread and hear what the DP plans for its vision bringing St Read more

>BELAIR:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams congratulated the members of the Indian Community on St. Maarten at the Indian Merchant's Association's event celebrating the India Independence Day at the Belair Community Center Monday. During her address to the crowd the PM highlighted the Indian Community's commitment to contributing to the society of St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Members of the Democratic Party announced loud and clear on Tuesday at a press conference that they have not signed any pre-election agreement with the United Peoples Party. The DP leader Sarah Wescot Williams distanced herself and her party from the banner that is being circulated via the social media Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister of St. Maarten Sarah Wescot Williams, the founding member of the St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) Richelda Emanuel and Director of SMDF Keith Franca signed a funding agreement on Tuesday.
Wescot Williams said the SMDF was established in 2013 when AMFO was shutting down leaving several NGOs in the air Read more

style="text-align: center;">Written by: Denicio Richardson

PHILIPSBURG:--- Having been in courts already three (3) times to defend myself on the matter surrounding my settlement package as the former Director for Postal Services St. Maarten NV (PSS) Office, both Government and PSS are taking me back to courts for a fourth time. To date I have been able to win all the preceding cases, with favorable rulings in the first two cases outright, and with the third case, a silent victory, as it was dropped at the eleventh hour prior to the deadline for submitting pleadings, as both Government and PSS realized they could not win and did not have a case to make or defend in the appellate court against my person Read more

Editorial - True commitment

The report of the Public Administration Integrity Committee titled "Doing the right things right" is quite an eye-opener. It lists no less than 40 recommendations, including the establishment of a permanent Integrity Chamber as a new High Council of State.

The latter alone indicates that there are issues in this regard that require dealing with on structural basis. It's also important to note that this is the Wescot-Williams cabinet inquiry launched via national decree and not the one ordered by the Kingdom Government through the Governor of St Read more

Government, development fund sign management agreement

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister (PM) Sarah Wescot-Williams and St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) Interim Director Keith Franca signed a Fund Management Agreement Tuesday, August 19, between the St. Maarten government and the SMDF. The agreement formalises their working relationship and outlines their respective responsibilities.

The SMDF was established in May 2012 to ensure the continuity of funding available to local non-governmental organisations (NGOs), as Dutch financing organisation AMFO was in the process of withdrawing.

"Many NGOs in St Read more

Indian Ambassador To Venezuela Visits: Indian Merchants Association Snubs Parliament

St. Maarten – In what appears to be a political move, the Indian Merchants Association (IMA) snubbed the Governor and Members of Parliament, including President Gracita Arrindell, on the first visit of the Indian Ambassador to Venezuela, Smita Purushottam, by not inviting them to an event tonight at the Belair Community Center. According to sources, the only member of the St Read more

Public Urged To Attend Dp Public Meeting This Friday At The Miguel Arrindell Property In Sucker Garden Starting At Seven Pm

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Democratic Party of St. Maarten is inviting the residents of Sucker Garden, Middle Region, the At. Th. Illidge Road, Guana Bay and surrounding areas to come out to its public meeting this Friday, August 22nd starting at seven pm at the Miguel Arrindell property in Sucker Garden.

The Board, membership and candidates invite the public to come out to listen to the red thread and hear what the DP plans for its vision bringing St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams received a courtesy visit from commander Hans Lodder at her Cabinet on Thursday. The Prime Minister was updated on the change in command and the operational aspect of the Dutch Navy's presence in the Caribbean. Commander Hans Lodder has received the command of the Dutch Navy in the Caribbean, replacing Brigadier General Dick Swijgman Read more