PHILIPSBURG — Today, part of the Mercelina cabinet was sworn in on Sint Maarten. At the beginning of the ceremony, it became clear that Governor Baly has remained adamant in his refusal to install two candidate ministers. Leading up to the swearing-in, due to a lack of transparency from Baly, there was much speculation about whether he would stick to his decision, and if so, whether the other ministers proposed by formateur Mercelina would proceed with their swearing-in. Now that they have been installed, the question arises about what will happen with the two rejected candidates, Christophe Emmanuel and Raeyhon…
Author: The Publisher
PHILIPSBURG — After every elections the same issue comes up: criticism of the screening of candidate-ministers. Whether this is justified or just sour grapes from candidates that did not make the cut remains an open question. Fact: in January 2013 then Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams stated that is is important for St. Maarten to establish its own national laws governing the screening of ministers. Eleven year down the road those laws remain a pipe dream. Time for change? Yes. Maybe. Complaints that the screening process is “obscure’ have no merit because this process is per definition confidential though in St.…
By Terrance Rey One thing has become crystal clear in the screening of ministerial candidates for the new government under the leadership of formateur Dr. Luc Mercelina (URSM), and that is that there is too much ambiguity involved in the process. Just from the conflicting press releases issued by the formateur, the governor, and the leaders of the three other parties PFP, DP, and NOW supporting this 2×4 coalition, we can deduce that there are many internal conflicts between the governor and the formateur and indirectly with the coalition partners. Are there now 9 or 7 candidates nominated for swearing-in…
Dear Editor, In the face of an increasingly devastating hurricane season and ongoing environmental degradation, the need for Sint Maarten to adopt sustainable development strategies has never been more urgent. As a resident who has witnessed the transformation of our island, the reckless pace of development has led to the destruction of our natural, cultural, and historical heritage. This approach not only compromises our resilience to climate change but also overlooks the well-being of our communities, communities very vulnerable to the impacts of a changing climate. The first step towards sustainability is to halt the overbuilding and ecological destruction currently…
PHILIPSBURG — St. Maarten structurally ignores recommendation from the Law Enforcement Council. In 2016, the Council issued six recommendation to improve the country’s policies towards prostitution. Seven years later, none of these recommendations have been executed, the Council notes in a report about human trafficking and prostitution that was published in March 2024. “The continued uncertainty in legislation and policy for prostitution complicates prostitution-related criminality and makes the position of sex workers in St. Maarten more vulnerable,” the Council wrote already in a report published in 2021. People interviewed by the Council said that progress is complicated especially in the…
PHILIPSBURG — In a stark revelation, Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure, Egbert Doran, admitted on Wednesday that the St. Maarten government lacks sufficient measures to prevent landowners from engaging in unsustainable development practices. This admission came during a Central Committee meeting of Parliament focused on the implementation status of the Nature Policy Plan 2021-2025. The Nature Policy Plan, approved in October 2021, was hailed as a comprehensive strategy to safeguard the island’s natural resources. However, Minister Doran’s acknowledgment highlights significant gaps in its implementation and enforcement. Crafted in compliance with international conventions and local legislation, the…
This week, during a spirited discussion with a friend who isn’t afraid of bold ideas, he described GEBE as a “virgin company.” Intrigued, we pondered over the analogy. Richard Branson, the iconic entrepreneur, penned an autobiographical book titled “Losing My Virginity,” chronicling his path from Virgin Records to a global empire. The analogy struck a chord because GEBE, our government-owned utility, stands at a similar crossroads. Our radical friend’s assertion about GEBE’s financial status sparked our interest. While historically the company may have had loans, its current financial state seems to be without outstanding debt, akin to a ‘virgin’ company.…
PHILIPSBURG — Former Member of Parliament Rolando Brison’s recent intervention regarding the availability of digital banking services in St. Maarten has sparked considerable debate, especially as local clients of Revolut find themselves facing renewed account blocks despite earlier assurances. In order to regain access to their accounts, clients are now required to submit identification documents and additional information for review, casting uncertainty on their continued access. Former MP Rolando Brison’s proactive motion aimed at safeguarding accessibility to digital banking services in St. Maarten. Coinciding with the approval of the 2023 national budget on December 14, 2023, Parliament unanimously supported Brison’s…
PHILIPSBURG — Former member of the Dutch parliament Jorien Wuite has been appointed as a crown-member of the Social Economic Council (SER) in the Netherlands, dossierkoninkrijksrelaties.nl reports. Minister Van Gennip (Social Affairs and Employment) nominated Wuite and the Council of Ministers gave its approval on Thursday. Crown members are independent experts who are nominated by the cabinet and appointed by the king. They do however not represent the government. Wuite (born in 1964) was from March 31, 2021, until December 6, 2023, a member of the Dutch parliament for D66. In that function she pleaded for better relationships and cooperation…
PHILIPSBURG — Members of Parliament (MPs) were informed on Wednesday about the introduction of interruptions during Public Meetings of Parliament. Chair of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams clarified at the onset of the continuation of the 2024 budget debates, stating, “Article 43 of our Rules of Order allows the president to permit interruptions, which must consist of brief remarks or questions without introduction.” “As of today, Wednesday, March 27, 2024, I will, in accordance with the Rules of Order, allow interruptions during Public Meetings of Parliament,” declared the Chair of Parliament. In practice, interruptions occur when a speaker is interrupted by…
