SXMElections.com

Parliament Takes Vorst Estate Purchase Out Of 2014 Budget

St. Maarten – The Parliament approved a motion to take a $5.5 million provision for the purchase of the Vorst Estate out of an amendment to the 2014 budget with 7 votes to 6. This blocks the purchase of the land, for which Vromi-Minister Maurice Lake signed an agreement in February of this year, but it does not absolve the country of liability towards the Vorst-family, because the Court in First Instance has already ruled that the purchase-agreement Lake signed is a valid one.

The meeting to handle the budget amendment has a long history Read more

Sarah: Counterpart policy was ‘moot point,’ unclear why Cornelius de Weever defected

~ He has not resigned from DP ~

PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) leader Sarah Wescot-Williams says the counterpart policy was a "moot point" and could not be the reason DP Member of Parliament (MP)-elect Cornelius de Weever had pulled his support from the slate on which he was elected to help United People's (UP) party form a one-seat Parliamentary majority.

Wescot-Williams told reporters at a press conference at Holland House Beach Hotel on Sunday that the policy never had been an issue, as De Weever's proposal in the Council of Ministers on August 12 to establish a counterpart policy had been approved.

De Weever indicated at the time that the policy would be introduced as a pilot programme in collaboration with social partners and said there were some businesses that were willing to work with him on the initiative Read more

Vorst land purchase to be omitted from 2014 budget amendment

~ Roy's amendment to budget amendment passed ~

PHILIPSBURG--An amendment to remove the purchase of the Vorst Estate property from a budget amendment tabled by Finance Minister Martin Hassink was passed during a public plenary session of parliament on Monday.

It was the third time the meeting had been convened to handle this and other issues. The first two meetings were cancelled due to lack of quorum. The motion, which was tabled by Democratic Party (DP) Member of Parliament (MP) Roy Marlin, was passed by seven of MPs voting in favour of the amendment and six voting against it.

Supporting the motion were author Roy Marlin, National Alliance (NA) MPs William Marlin, Hyacinth Richardson, George Pantophlet and Louie Laveist and Independent MPs Frans Richardson and Romain Laville Read more

Ex-Formateur William Marlin: “Matter Of Time Before We See Another Shift”

St. Maarten – “It is a matter of time before you will see another shift,” former formateur William Marlin said at a press conference yesterday in answer to a question from this newspaper about political instability. “There is not a problem with the system, but there are too many who approach this like, I have my seat and I am going to peddle it to the highest bidder Read more

Bewilderment In Dp About Appointment Informateurs

St. Maarten – Democratic Party leader Sarah Wescot-Williams used air quotes yesterday afternoon to express her bewilderment about Governor Holiday’s decision to appoint two informateurs on  Thursday, after UP-leader Theo Heyliger’s presentation of a coalition-agreement signed by eight elected members of the new parliament.

When the DP, together with the National Alliance and the United St Read more

Mp William Marlin Gives Thoughts On Coalition Of Three

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Former Formatuer, Member of Parliament and leader of the National Alliance, the Honorable William Marlin held a press conference on Sunday.

The reason was to provide the media with information regarding the latest political situation on the island.

Whilst speaking at the press conference on Sunday, Mr Read more

Editorial - Wait and see

Governor Eugene Holiday's decision to appoint two "informateurs" – Joe Richardson and Marcel Gumbs – (see Saturday paper) is interesting. He obviously had to do something when it became clear that "formateur" William Marlin (NA) no longer could deliver a majority in Parliament after DP's MP-elect Cornelius de Weever signed an agreement with the seven UP fraction members-elect and thus torpedoed the envisioned NA/DP/UP Party coalition.

The governor, based on the document presented to him by UP leader Theo Heyliger, could have named the latter "formateur" instead, but stopped short of doing so Read more

William says too many use their parliamentary seats for leverage

~ 'Just a matter of time before another shifting' ~

PHILIPSBURG--"The sad reality" of politics in St. Maarten is that too many persons "peddle off" their parliamentary seats "to the highest bidder" and use their seat for leverage, former formateur William Marlin said on Sunday.

Marlin said he was not specifically referring to the trading of seats for financial gain, but the use of one's seat for opportunity, though he said he has heard about offers being made.

Marlin was at the time speaking at a press conference Sunday called to address the events leading up to the National Alliance/Democratic Party/ United St Read more

style="text-align: center;">Work Group worked hard in preparing a Governing Program

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the National Alliance William Marlin who was appointed formateur by Governor Eugene Holiday to form the next government for 2014 - 2018 finally cleared the air on Sunday at a press conference. Marlin was appointed by the Governor shortly after the August 29th, 2014 Parliamentary Elections when the National Alliance, Democratic Party and the United St Read more

Mps Prefer Trip To Panama To Parliament Meeting

St. Maarten – It was to be expected, but it still was a sight for sore eyes when the rescheduled meeting of Parliament yesterday morning to handle an amendment to the 2014 budget did not get a quorum. Only MPs Hyacinth Richardson and George Pantophlet (National Alliance), Roy Marlin (DP) and Parliament President Gracita Arrindell (UP) were present Read more

Dp Leader Tells Press Minister De Weever Still To Inform Dp Party About Departure

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - In light of the ongoing political situation on the island, the Democratic Party of St. Maarten held a press conference on Sunday.

During the press conference which was held at the Holland House Hotel, Prime Minister and leader of the Democratic Party, the Honorable Sarah W Williams informed members of the media that an agreement between the number 2 candidate on the slate of the party, Minister of Health, Social Affairs and Labor, the Honorable Cornelius de Weever and the United People Party of Member of Parliament, the Honorable Theo Heyliger has been signed.

However, to date, Mr Read more

Mp William Marlin Makes Public Governing Accord

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The governing accord which was worked out by a workgroup of the National Alliance, Democrat Party and the United St. Maarten (US) Party and with the assistance of Bearing Point, was made public on Sunday afternoon.

The highly anticipated document was released during a press conference on Sunday afternoon which was called for by the leader of the National Alliance MP William Marlin.

The governing document which was put together by the workgroup of the three political parties is entitled "Open and Stable Government, The governing program 2014 – 2018".

The National Alliance Leader MP William Marlin stated that the National Alliance, the Democratic Party and the United St Read more

Budget amendment meet called off again due to lack of quorum

PHILIPSBURG--The public plenary session of Parliament on amendments to the 2014 budget was cancelled for the second time on Friday, as only four Members of Parliament (MPs) showed up and signed in for the meeting.

The meeting was first called off on Wednesday, due to the lack of a quorum when seven MPs were signed in, though United People's (UP) party MPs and Independent MP Dr. Lloyd Richardson had been in the building.

Present at Friday's session were National Alliance (NA) MPs Hyacinth Richardson and George Pantophlet, Democratic Party (DP) MP Roy Marlin and United People's (UP) party MP Gracita Arrindell Read more

Editorial - Majority rule

A lot of frustration is being expressed by voters about the meanwhile-confirmed latest political twist that will see a UP-led government take office after all. Many uttered disbelief as to how something like this was even possible, let alone allowed to take place.

Some reason that especially as DP candidate and caretaker minister Cornelius de Weever had failed to earn a Parliament seat outright in terms of preferential votes, he should not be able to "jump ship" and torpedo the seemingly-incoming NA/DP/US Party coalition of which his party was to be part Read more

No quorum for budget amendment meeting

~ UP, Dr. Richardson, Illidge, De Weever absent ~

PHILIPSBURG--The public plenary session of Parliament on amendments to the 2014 budget was cancelled on Wednesday due to the lack of a quorum, as only seven Members of Parliament (MPs) were signed in.

Parliament Press Secretary Roddy Heyliger said in a press release last night that the session had been rescheduled to Friday at 10:00am.

At least eight MPs are needed for the meeting to proceed Read more

Holiday starts new consultations after end of ‘Marlin’ formation

PHILIPSBURG--Governor Eugene Holiday started new formation talks on Thursday after United People's (UP) party leader Theodore Heyliger submitted a signed "coalition agreement" for the governing period 2014-2018.

The agreement was signed by UP's seven elected Members of Parliament (MPs) and Democratic Party (DP) MP-elect Cornelius de Weever.

Holiday said in a press release that in view of these developments, National Alliance (NA) leader William Marlin had informed him that the majority in Parliament necessary for the formation of the planned NA/DP/US Party coalition government no longer existed Read more

Rumors Run Amok In Local Politics: Coalition May Fall Apart With De Weever’S Departure

Finance Minister Martin Hassink confers with National Alliance leader William Marlin while (from left) Frans Richardson and Romain Laville look on Read more

Formateur Gets More Time To Complete His  Mission  

St. Maarten – Yesterday Governor drs. Eugène Holiday, received an update on the formation process from formateur William Marlin. Based on the evaluation of the information presented to the governor in regard to the governing program and the time required to complete the ongoing screening of the candidate ministers, the formateur was g Read more

Editorial - Better now than later

It seems the formation of a new government might not go as smoothly as expected after all. Although “formateur” William Marlin (NA) presented Governor Eugene Holiday with his report and the incoming NA/DP/US coalition’s governing programme yesterday, DP leader Sarah Wescot-Williams confirmed that her party’s number two vote-getter Cornelius de Weever had indicated meanwhile that he preferred to occupy his seat in Parliament rather than remain Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs as intended.

This creates a problem, because DP quickly will have to choose another nominee to become one of its two cabinet members, while the names of all seven candidate ministers already had been submitted Read more

>HARBOUR VIEW:--- On September 24, 2014, His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday, received an update on the formation process from, with formateur William Marlin. Based on the evaluation of the information presented to the Governor in regard to the governing program and the time required to complete the ongoing screening of the candidate ministers, the formateur was granted an extension until Friday October 3, 2014 to finalize his formation report.
After completion of the formation report a date will be established for the appointment and swearing-in of the new cabinet.

From the Cabinet of the Governor of St Read more

Governor Holiday Grants Formateur Extension Until Friday October 3, 2014

HARBOUR VIEW, Sint Maarten – On September 24, 2014, His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday, received an update on the formation process from, with formateur William Marlin.

Based on the evaluation of the information presented to the Governor in regard to the governing program and the time required to compl Read more

Pastor Smith urges incoming coalition govt, ‘make it work’

~ Governing programme finalised ~

CAY HILL--The incoming coalition partners have completed the governing programme and will be presenting it to formateur William Marlin today, Wednesday. Marlin is expected to report to Governor Eugene Holiday on the formation of the new government on the deadline today.

St. Maarten United Ministerial Foundation (SMUMF) President Pastor Wycliffe Smith, who met with the coalition leaders and their representatives as they finalised the document at Bearing Point yesterday, urged the coalition to "make it work."

He said a coalition of three was much more challenging than a coalition of two, noting that in this case the margin was thin as there was just a one-seat majority Read more

Governor To Be Notified Of New Coalition Agreement This Week

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Reliable sources have confirmed there is a new agreement consisting of eight (8) MPs-Elect to form a new coalition to govern the country for the next four years.

According to our sources the agreement has been signed between the UP party (7 seats) and Minister Cornelius de Weever (1 seat).

This new situation explains the trouble that the NA, US and DP coalition agreement experienced on Wednesday.

The contents of the report submitted to the Governor by formateur MP William Marlin on Wednesday afternoon is not known.

However in a press release on Wednesday evening the Governor stated that formateur William Marlin updated him on the formation process and that based on the evaluation of the information, the formateur was granted an extension until Friday October 3, 2014 to finalize his formation report.

In the meantime the leader of the UP party MP Theo Heyliger is expected to contact the Governor as soon as Thursday.

At that point he is expected to inform the Governor that he has the support of eight (8) MPs Elect to form the new government of St Read more

style="text-align: center;">Self Interest Rules on St. Maarten

PHILIPSBURG:--- The people of St. Maarten is facing yet another problem with the formation of a government they voted for. While three of the political parties that received the majority votes when combined were busy forming a broad based government which had to be finalized on Wednesday September 24th, 2014, Minister Cornelius de Weever has decided that he will put his own interest and the interest of his families first instead of the people of St Read more