SXM Airport: Demand for ultra-luxury air service in our region The Dangers of Selling Your Vote

Grand rising people of Sint Maarten.

My name is Joseph Peterson, I’m a candidate on the URSM party list.

I am here to talk to you about The Dangers of Selling Your Vote.

candidate to win the election.

arguments are not convincing enough, the court will withhold permission. The national ordinance says however nothing about investigating wrongdoing by a politician. That does not require permission from the court. The prosecutor’s office has pointed out that this rule only comes into play when the case is ready to go to court and when there is an intention to issue a summons against the suspect. The expression that there is no smoke without fire comes to mind. In this case, there must be a lot of smoke (otherwise there would not be an investigation, let alone an arrest), making me think that the fire cannot be far away.

A crypto currency promoter called Marc posted a Youtube video this past weekend in which he refers to Brison’s support for crypto, saying that his arrest, justified or not, makes the digital currency look bad.

In the past, Brison has requested that his MP-salary be paid in crypto. Finance Minister Ardwell Irion told StMaartenNews.com that he did indeed receive the request, but that it was never executed.

What do politicians do when they are caught with their grubby hands in the cookie jar? In many jurisdictions, those politicians would step down in a hurry, usually mumbling something about protecting the integrity of their party, or the reputation of the parliament, combined with a request to respect their privacy.

That is not the tradition in St. Maarten or on any other island of the former Netherlands Antilles. The reason is simple: money.

Parliamentarians in St. Maarten receive an abnormal high remuneration for their work. Without the membership of the parliament, most of them have nothing. They could end up selling soup to survive and we have to admit: that is not an attractive perspective.

Brison, still leader of the UP, will simply go through the motions, maybe admit that he made (again) a mistake, laughing all the way to the bank. This does not make St. Maarten look good. It does not make the parliament look good. And it certainly does not make the UP, up to now known as the United People’s party - look any good. Maybe they ought to change their name for the next elections to United Perpetrators.

Press Release from the Public Prosecutor’s Office

17 March 2023

Member of Parliament arrested for bribery

On Friday, March 17, 2023, the Criminal Investigation Team RST arrested a Member of Parliament of Sint Maarten. In addition, searches were conducted by the Chief Judicial Magistrate RC at the suspect’s residence and his workplace at the Parliament Building in Sint Maarten.

The arrest and the house searches took place in connection with a criminal investigation called “Lissa- bon” where the suspicion is that the Member of Parliament took bribes and abused his position. The investigation is ongoing and further arrests or searches are not ruled out.

The “Lissabon” investigation is being conducted by RST under the direction of the Central Team of the Attorney General’s Office of Curaçao, St. Maarten, Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba.

The Central Team focuses on a specialized approach to combat corruption and subversive crimes.

[END PRESS RELEASE]

Press Release from the Public Prosecutor’s Office18 March 2023

Member of Parliament released, remains suspect On 18 March 2023, the Member of Parliament of Sint Maarten, arrested on 17 March, has been released from custody. He remains a suspect in the ongoing a criminal investigation called “Lissabon”. The MP is suspected taking bribes and abusing his position.

The investigation is ongoing and further arrests or searches are not ruled out.

The “Lissabon” investigation is being conducted by RST under the direction of the Central Team of the Attorney General’s Office of Curaçao, St. Maarten, Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba.

The Central Team focuses on a specialized approach to combat corruption and subversive crimes.

SIMPSON BAY -- The ultra-luxury carrier Qatar Airways performed a “Spectacular landing” at the Princess Juliana International Airport on Friday, February 17, 2023. The long-haul carrier served a direct chartered private flight and is known to have the longest range of the A340-family.

The state-owned flag carrier airline of Qatar is Qatar Airways. The Airbus A340-500 is also a four-engine widebody airliner with a maximum capacity of 375 passengers.

Director of Operations, Emile Levons – “The airline travels to over 150 destinations throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania, using a fleet of more than 200 aircraft. Qatar Airways is produced by the European manufacturer, Airbus S.A.S. headquartered at the Qatar Airways Tower in Doha.”

Chief Executive Officer of PJIAE N.V., Brian Mingo, “The private jets have increased to nearly 10,000 in 2022, showing signs that it is up from 7,000 annually. The direct flight from Qatar Airways presents the demand for ultra-luxury flights in our region. This is a niche market that the Management of the Princess Juliana International Airport is looking into with the necessary insights from our commercial team and stakeholders. Our award-winning airport provides service to twenty (20) commercial carriers and serves our private flight service through two (2) fixedbased operators, ExecuJet, and Arrindell Aviation by Signature.”

About Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways is the national airline of the State of Qatar. Based in Doha, the airline’s trendsetting on-board product focuses on comfort, fine cuisine, and the latest in-flight audio & video entertainment. The award-winning air service has a modern aircraft fleet averaging around five (5) years of age. Qatar Airways serves more than 150 key business and leisure destinations worldwide, with a fleet of over 200 aircraft. The airline flies to Australia, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America, and South America.

About Princess Juliana International Airport

Princess Juliana International Airport is one of the busiest airport in the Northeast Caribbean. It is the most important airport hub for Saba, St Eustatius, St Barths, Anguilla, Dominica, Nevis, and Tortola. The airport is one of the largest employers on the island. It has 277 workers and 1700 workers within the entire airport community. The reconstruction works of the airport have started in September 2021. The new Departure Hall will be officially opened in 2023. The terminal building will be opened in 2024. Contractor Ballast Nedam International Projects (BNIP) is working with local people and companies which is essential for socio-economic recovery of Sint Maarten.

Historic Timeline

Princess Juliana Airport was officially opened by Princess Juliana in 1944. In 2006, her Majesty Queen Beatrix inaugurated the new terminal building. In 2017, the airport was hit by Hurricane Irma (Cat 5) In January 2020, Princess Juliana International Airport signed the World Bank/EIB loan to reconstruct the terminal. In July 2021, Ballast Nedam International Project signed the contract to start the reconstruction.

You are a loyal follower of your political party, however you need to ask yourself the question: are you better off now, then how you were before you voted for them, if you are not satisfied with your situation right now, then it’s time for you to make a change.

I have lived practically my entire life on Sint Maarten. I’ve seen all the different political parties come and go.

Every election is the same thing, those that is in power now try to fool the people by doing small things like fixing the roads, and other small things, which makes me to wonder what happened to the years that they are in power, and why they don’t follow through on their commitment to the people that voted them in to Parliament.

Why aren’t they helping the people, and why do they wait until it comes close to a new election year to start doing small things, to fool the people to vote them back in Parliament.

I’m here now to tell those people of Sint Maarten that believe that your vote doesn’t make a difference, I totally understand where you’re coming from. There are some political parties hoping that you stay at home because they have their followers, and if you continue to believe that your vote doesn’t make a difference, then they have a chance to win, and get right back in Government. I know your hurting and struggling right now. Some of you are working two or even three jobs to make ends meet, and you really want to make a difference.

In this upcoming election, you’re willing to come out to vote, and right now you don’t know which political party will have the integrity and strength to make the difference that this Country really needs right now.

Unified Resilient Sint Maarten Movement (URSM), our name says it, we are Unified and Resilient. We strongly believe in the principle of democracy rule of Law and inclusion, while upholding and honoring our citizens values as the fundamental rights, freedoms, conscious conviction for all.

URSM will lead with a clear vision and approach that is anchored in dignity, integrity, equality, peace and respect, contributing to the betterment of the people and Sint Maarten. Now, to our topic of the article The Dangers of Vote Buying. There are different political parties running for this new election, and every one of the candidates of course have their favorite followers.

Some have rich followers, and some have regular followers; of course, there are those that are going to try to buy your vote. It might not be the politician themselves, but one of those rich followers are willing to buy your vote for the candidate that they are supporting, because they want their

The integrity of the politician that their followers are buying votes for, is questionable. If those politicians do not reach out to their followers, and letting them know that it is wrong to buy votes, then that politician has no morals, no Character, and no integrity, and definitely does not deserve to be in parliament. Those citizens that are willing to sell their vote need to think about their future, because the funds or items that you are going to get for your vote, will only last for that day or month or so. What happens to you for the rest of the four years, when that politician is going to be in parliament. Do you believe that the politician you voted for is going to help you. They might not be the politician that bought your vote, it’s probably one of their rich followers that wanted them to win the election, so be careful to whom you are selling your vote too. Quite frankly, your vote is valued more than what they might want to pay you.

You have the power this election to make a difference, I urge you to come out and vote, do your research and vote for the right party the one that is going to help the people of this Country.

The URSM is a new party, and our Leader Dr. Luc Mercelina has been preparing his candidates for this election, and we do believe that we have a team of candidates, that are ready to lead our people and bring our country back on its feet, and make Sint Maarten once again, the Jewel of the Caribbean.

If you want a serious Government who will “HELP YOU” and Not “HURT YOU” … you must vote URSM

Follow me on my Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/ ursmjgp