ONE ST. MAARTEN PEOPLE PARTY MANIFESTO 2016-2020 "SECURE YOUR FUTURE" - PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS
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ONE ST. MAARTEN PEOPLE PARTY
MANIFESTO 2016-2020
“SECURE YOUR FUTURE”
PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Fellow Citizens, island in the past few
years, issues of a lack
I am of transparency in gov-
honored to address you ernment and govern-
as the president of the ment owned companies
One St. Maarten People with no one being held
Party; a party to which accountable. You the
I entrust my future and people of St. Maarten
my family’s future and are our most important
St. Maarten’s future. resource and we want to
Thank you for this op- work for you, we want
portunity to be able to to bring St. Maarten
serve this party and the back to the days when
people of St. Maarten. it was the envy of the
We have been listening entire Caribbean; to the
to the people and we days when no one could
know we have our work label us as a banana re-
cut out for us. The task public; we want to work
ahead is gigantic but to- with you to help you
gether we will make St. achieve your dreams
Maarten a better place of home ownership, of
for all. There have been running a successful
OSPP PRESIDENT LLOYD BEATON so many issues with business on your island
integrity plaguing this
through hard work and tic increase in crime it able to meet their finan- party who looks after
dedication and we want coincides directly with cial obligations through your problems for the
to make St. Maarten safe a drop in people’s stan- providing them equal election 2016, we want
for our children. My fel- dard of living. The OSPP opportunities, will play a to be the party who al-
low citizens we have all will work for you and significant role in reduc- ways work with you and
noted the drastic spike with you to provide op- ing the crime rate. We empower you to solve
in crime that has become portunities not just to also believe in making your own problems with
the norm on our island a select few but to all. the punishment fit the a helping hand from us.
throughout the years: We believe in providing crime and we will take We believe that if you
murders, rapes, burglary, every opportunity to do steps to institute tougher give a man a fish he will
aggravated bodily harm better, in getting every- penalties for particularly eat for that day but if you
and the like. We know one including our youth, heinous crimes.Most of teach him to fish he will
the answer to this is not involved in what is tak- all we promise to lead eat as much as he wants.
to build more jail cells. ing place on their island by example for how can Let us be that party who
We know that in order and thus instill a sense we ask you to respect the works with you and for
to address these ills we of pride and a sense of laws of the land if we the you to secure your fu-
must first address the belonging to the com- leaders don’t? An OSPP ture.
socio-economic factor munity. If you feel part lead administration will
because although no of something you are mean an end to class jus- One St. Maarten People
one seems to be taking less likely to attack it. We tice; the same rules and Party
note, it is a well-known anticipate that this ap- penalties will be applied
Lloyd Beaton
fact that when a coun- proach coupled with en- to all across the board.
try experiences a dras- suring that persons are We don’t want to be the President
MESSAGE FROM THE OSPP LEADER
People of St. Maarten I choose to lead this par-
ty into the election of
In this 2016 election the 2016 because I believe
One St. Maarten People deeply that we cannot
Party will continue the solve the challenges of
long march of those who our time unless we solve
came before us, a march them together and work
for a more just, more jointly towards a better
equal, more free, more future for our children
caring and more pros- and our grandchildren.
perous St. Maarten.
You the people of St.
A St. Maarten in which Maarten are a part of me
class justice and nepo- and I of you. We love this
tism are not rampant, country and I will always
but instead a St. Maarten be with you. Through my
where everybody is equal unyielding faith in the
and rewarded based on decency and generosity
their merits and not as a of the St. Maarten peo-
political favor. ple I know we
can work as one and lift Increase economic activ- All citizens should be er we can move beyond
those dark clouds of an ity to provide jobs year able to live comfortable some of our old wounds,
alleged lack of transpar- round and that off sea- in the St. Maarten that and that in fact we have
ency and lack of integrity son will be something of we envision over the no choice if we are to
with which St. Maarten the past. next four years and be- continue on the path of a
has been tarred because yond, a very ambitious better St. Maarten.
of the actions of some We will make agriculture plan but attainable with
of our leaders. The OSPP a fundamental part of your help.
hopes to capture suffi- our 2016 – 2020 agen-
cient seats in parliament da and all other agendas There are many issues Respectfully yours,
to be in the government thereafter. Our social affecting our community
Leader of the
to govern for the next programs will be next to today, many people here
four years and by so do- none from introducing live below One St. Maarten People
ing make positive chang- an Unemployment Bene- Party (OSPP)
fit Plan; General Pension the poverty line and this
es in the lives of our peo-
and Health Insurance should not happen in an Leonard F. Priest,
ple and their standard of
plans for all. Education island like St. Maarten.
living.
will be free. It is time that the efforts B.Sc. M.Sc. MBA
I don’t expect it to be an and the monies of the
easy task but with your- The minimum wage and people are returned to
support we can make it old age pension will in- the people as the right-
happen. Our vision is to crease to Naf 1800.00 a ful beneficiaries. I have
allow the people of this month and the eradica- a firm conviction - a con-
island nation to partici- tion of poverty will take viction rooted in my faith
pate for the first time in center stage over the in God and my faith in
the economic and social next couple of years. the St. Maarten people
growth of this country. - that working togeth-
ECONOMIC STIMULATION
Economic Summit.
An Economic Summit will
be organized within the first
year to determine where the
country is at now economical-
ly and where we want to be
in the years to come. Tour-
ism will continue to be our
main source of income. We
will be focusing on opening
many other markets to fill
the void experienced during
the off season. These markets
will include tapping into and sisters. Expanded and including hotel, car rental, provide this island nation
South American countries affordable air lift will be restaurants and various ex- with all year round visitors.
such as Brazil, Columbia attracted to ensure con- cursions. The off season months
and others. St. Maarten tinued service from South should be something of the
Tourism Authority will be America. Our Small Ho- South American market: past.
empowered to, in collabo- tel Association will play a
ration with the French side very important role in the Air lift out of the various Music Festival.
and other stakeholders to marketing to attract those South American markets
promote the island as one guests to their properties. at affordable prices during Every island in the Carib-
people, two countries, one our off season will be or- bean enjoys a musical fes-
destination. Cruise Tourism. ganized. We will increase tival. It is our goal to en-
the marketing budget for courage private promoters
Caribbean Tourism. A conversion program will that area by at least one to organize such a festival
be established to entice and a half million Unit- and the government of St.
More emphasis will be our cruise passengers to ed States Dollars (Nafls Maarten will make a sub-
placed on promoting the come back to St. Maarten 2,700,000.00) the first year stantial contribution to this
country as a safe and eco- during the summer months with increment increases event. We will encourage
nomical shoppers paradise of the following year to en- of at least 15% every year organizing a gospel festival.
for our Caribbean brothers joy a discounted package thereafter. Our aim is to
Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Hortica and Fishery
We will revive the Department motivate land owners to invest in
of Agriculture & Fishery with ad- agricultural developments. We will
equate funding to assist those in- also offer scholarships in the field
terested in setting up back yard of agriculture, fishery and animal
gardens and those who want to husbandry. We will organize work-
venture into commercial aspects of shops and seminars at the NIPA to
production. We intend to encour- better prepare those that are inter-
age many private land owners to ested in this field.
enter into partnerships with per-
sons interested in agriculture, aqua- We will make it mandatory for agri-
culture and hydroponics . An agri- culture classes be introduced in our
culture station will be established secondary schools. We support
to provide persons with technical the aggressive establishments of
assistance and to provide them fishery on St. Maarten by first pro-
with seeds and other material to be tecting our territorial and inland
successful. We will establish a cen- waters. We will work on cleaning
tral market place in the Philipsburg our ponds and research the possi-
area where farmers, fishermen and bility of establishing them as breed-
butchers can sell their produce. Tax ing grounds for fish and shrimps.
incentives would be introduced to
SMALL BUSINESS
This program will allow requirements are met.
potential entrepre-
neurs to borrow from We will introduce legis-
our lending institutions lation to provide these
utilizing small businesses with a
tax holiday.
the funds from the
loan guarantee pro- We will also work
gram as collateral for closely with the Small
the loans. Business Development
Foundation to train
The services of some those potential entre-
of our retired entrepre- preneurs.
neurs will be used to
work as mentors and In order for them to
trainers of these per- qualify for the loan
sons. guarantee program
they must have gone
Many retired entrepre- through a certain
neurs from different amount of training at
countries also offer the SBDF unless they
their services in this can prove that they
area. Some of them have aquired at least
only require free ac- an associates degree in
commodation and business.
transportation.
We will create light
The issuing of licens- industries such as a
es or permits will be soap factory, a sewing
These businesses are the back We will allocate million of
issued once reviewed factory and much more
bone of every economy and guilders annually on the
within a two weeks as part of our efforts to
we will encourage and sup- budget for a loan guarantee
period providing all stimulate the economy.
port these establishments. program.
TRANSPORTATION
Members will be appointed to ty of bus and taxi permit hold-
the Transportation Committee ers being able to incorporate
post haste to regulate public their permits.
transportation.
This would allow them to em-
Public transportation will be ploy drivers to service their
reorganized setting routes for client’s 24/7and there would
the buses to provide better be no need for help drivers.
service to users in the vari-
ous districts throughout the It is also our intention to host
island, such as Sucker Garden semi-annual meetings with
and Middle Region. the various transportation
organizations with the aim of
A bus terminal will be con- hearing from these service
structed in the Philipsburg providers their ideas for im-
area to alleviate the traffic provements to our system as
congestion that we are en- well as their grieviances. This
countering now. time will also be used as an
opportunity to evaluate the
We will look into the possibili- effectiveness of introduced
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
TELEM N.V the order of the day, more emphasis the government. Bureau Telecom-
should be placed on repairing and munication will continue to inspect
We will find the best strategic installing the land based lines. With- and control the telecommunication
partner to merge with Telem NV in short after taking office the search industry.
thus creating more possibilities for for a CEO will take place. Telem N.V.
growth. This merger will never be owns a building 100% on Pond Island UTS
at the cost of job reductions but to that to the best of our knowledge it
the contrary it will be towards jobs is underutilized. We will engage the
creation and gaining a larger share government in renting some of those We will negotiate with the govern-
of the market. Much focus must spaces that are empty to generate ment of Curacao for our shares in
be placed on land based lines. Even income for Telem N.V. but at the UTS to be transfered to the govern-
though mobile phones have become same time reduce the rental cost to ment of St. Maarten.
ENVIRONMENT
We will develop in conjunction with vironment by completing a corpo- further threat to our environment.
social and corporate partners eco- rate-wide inventory of their green- We will periodically clean our Fresh
logically sustainable business growth house gas emissions based on a and salt water ponds as part of pro-
by involving the top management quality management system, setting tecting the environment.
of companies and seeking voluntary aggressive reduction goals, and an-
commitments towards reducing the nually reporting their progress. It is
specific consumption of energy, wa- our aim to preserve our environment
ter and other natural resources and for generations to come to enjoy it.
promote ecologically sustainable
growth in these companies. We will maintain a good working re-
lationship with all the environmental
Participating companies will commit Foundations and our inspectors will
to reduce their impact on the en- continue to monitor and control any
FINANCE AND TAXES
Proper accountability ment will be a priority.
with balance budgets The role of the CFT will
would continue to be continue to be one of
our norms in order for high importance never-
St. Maarten to have a theless we will continue
strong financial house. to evaluate the function-
Our aim is also to in- ing of this committee
crease the compliance according to the agree-
rate to at least 30% by ment signed with the
comparing the data base Dutch government. This
of the Inspectorate of role within short must
Taxes with the Chamber be carried out by an in-
of Commerce as well as dependent (Financial
that of NV GEBE. Oversight Committee)
Invest in a modern tax body to be appointed
administration that in- by the parliament of St.
cludes the purchasing of Maarten. Our plans are
a modern tax program to cut spending to en-
and equipment. sure fiscal discipline and
Employing qualified we have identified sever-
staff and the training of al areas that will be tack-
those already in employ- led immediately.
Parliament will be en- carried out in order to as our currency to be able determine which social
couraged to establish a determine how best to to better determine our programs or projects to
ways and means com- proceed with the change monetary policy. This is execute based on their
mittee to supervise and from direct to indirect our currency and it is a set of requirements and
scrutinize revenue and taxes. We will maintain way of our people restor- rules for awarding con-
expenditure to secure the Central Bank of Cu- ing confidence into some- tracts. Citizens of this na-
the integrity of the years racao and St. Maarten. It thing that is theirs. We tion will have the oppor-
budget. We support in- is our aim for the Central will continue to generate tunity to purchase shares
direct taxes which will Bank of Curacao and St. foreign exchange income from the government
allow the tax payers to Maarten to employ many utilizing our own curren- owned companies in or-
have more money in persons from St. Maarten cy. All products will be der to raise capital for fu-
their pockets and they with Degrees in Finance priced in guilders only. ture expansion plans. We
will determine how it and Economics to better A dividend policy will will provide legislation to
will be spent. No lon- prepare us to manage the be established for all the stimulate our economy,
ger will the government Central Bank and have government own com- generate more income,
decide on how the hard an input in determining panies. Dividend from cut expenses and provide
earned tax payers’ guil- the monetary policy of these companies will be much needed financial
ders are spent. However, the two countries. We paid to the government relief to our people.
an in depth study will be will maintain the guilder and the government will
Convention center
We will encourage and This center would be mar- organize conventions, also play an effective role
facilitate the construction keted to encourage large trade shows and special in business tourism within
of a convention center international companies events in St. Maarten. A the region during the off-
through private initiative. throughout the world to convention center would season.
EDUCATION
Education is a life time in- comprehend documents in
vestment and it will be free. Dutch and to prepare those
Our government will ensure who are interested in applying
that primary and secondary for the Dutch nationality.
schools are free of charge. It
will be mandatory that all pri- Compulsory Education.
mary schools have a breakfast
program. A child that is hun- We strongly support compul-
gry cannot learn and will al- sory education but it should
way lag behind the others. All never be at the expense of the
the stakeholders must play a state. We can’t continue to ed-
vital role in raising our educa- ucate the entire region at the
tional bars; parents, teachers expense of our tax payers. We
and most of all the students. must enforce strict border con-
Our students and their par- trols.
ents must continue to have
choices when determining the
Scholarship policy.
direction they want to study This policy will be based on
as it pertains to the language the needs of St. Maarten. But
of instructions. Milton Peters our job doesn’t stop at the is-
College must be maintained suance of the scholarship, we
to provide a sound base in uti- must be able to keep track
lizing Dutch as the language of our students at the USM
of instruction. We will offer and those students studying
all citizens free courses in the abroad. This policy will also in-
Dutch Language to better pre- dicate the needs of the
pare our people to read and
government of St. Maarten. leaving primary schools at at the NIPA. The funds to diplomas. They can’t find
For our students studying the age of twelve years find finance this free education suitable employment and
abroad, especially those in themselves amongst stu- will come from the savings neither can they obtain a
the Netherlands, we will dents at the age of 18 and derived from installing so- scholarship. We will work
approach the various mu- 20 years. This is not condu- lar panels on all the schools hard on establishing a lev-
nicipalities to allow our cive to the learning of these based on an investment el 3 and 4 at the NIPA that
students to gain the neces- children. We are therefore from NV GEBE and other they can continue their
sary experience. proponents of the establish- government owned compa- studies and become pro-
ment of Middle Schools for nies. fessionals. All the schools
Once they have acquired
the education and the ex- students between the ages Under the watch of the and community centers
perience they are prepared of twelve to fourteen. OSPP a rate equivalent or will be equipped with state
to return to St. Maarten and lower than the residential of the art computers and
take up positions now held These schools will allow our rate will be charged to our internet service for those
by expatriates and those go- young students to gradu- schools for electricity and who can’t afford it at home.
ing on pension. The issuing ally move from elementa- water consumption. We will privatize public
of work permits will also tie ry to middle school and at These savings from the in- schools to make sure that
into our scholarship policy the age of 13 to 14 move to stallation of the solar pan- these schools are operating
and must go hand in hand. High School. We will re- els and a reduced rate will optimal. This privatization
Our students will also have ceive better results at the be used to offset the loss of entails the establishment of
the opportunities to study end of the high school and income generated from the a school board but that all
in the region by attending the peer pressure that the school fees. Many of our teachers will remain civil
some of the top universities young students leaving pri- students attending some servants with all rights and
in the Caribbean. mary schools will diminish. of the schools are gradu- privileges bestowed unto
Primary and secondary ed- ating at the age of sixteen them by law. All elementa-
Middle School. ucation will be free on St. but their diplomas are not ry students will be equipped
Maarten including tuition recognized as High School with a lab top.
Many of our young students
SPORTS
Young athletes making use of the local sports facilities.
We will facilitate the es- sports and in the Olympics We will establish the St. vate partnership.
tablishment of sporting in the very near future. We Maarten National Sports
clubs within the various must upgrade our Lotto. The income gener- The construction of a race
communities to develop ated from this lotto will be track is very attractive as it
our young talent. sporting facilities and to used towards the devel- would boost our tourism
utilize all of them 100% opment of sports, youth product. However, an in
Sport Tourism will be vig- with proper management, programs and the upkeep depth study would have
orously pursued to attract programs and equipment. of the various sports facili- to be carried out to deter-
major sporting clubs to We will install air con- ties. We mine the impact it would
train and give clinics to ditions in the L.B. Scot have on our environment
our youngsters. Our aim Sports Auditorium and support the construction and the noise level that
is to have our youngsters the Melford Hazel Sports of a major cricket field would be tolerable by our
participate in professional Complex. through a public and pri- residents.
CULTURE
In order for a people to go tition and shows. Proper Carnival. ers at reasonable rates. A
forward they must know documentation and re- new board will be elected
where they came from. We search will be established We will continue to fund to include business people
will place strong emphasis to better determine our carnival and emphasize the to have this center operate
in our cultural heritage. We culture and to promote it importance of growing our like a business and fully uti-
pledge to upgrade the vari- amongst our residents and children carnival and lize as it must be self-suffi-
ous community centers for tourist alike. It is important cient.
the performing of the arts to start identifying our lo- calypso by involving our
that will allow our young cal heroes and making our primary schools and pro- Exchange Programs
people to perform in their people aware of who they viding financial assistance
communities in front their are and what they stand that will be derived from We will focus on exchange
families and friends. for. the St. Maarten Sports lot- programs in culture and
to. sports with many coun-
After reaching a certain lev- We would attempt to tries within the region. Not
el they will have meets at identify our most talented Festival Village. all activities must be com-
the upgraded Philipsburg young people for the per- petitive in our cultural and
We will organize various sports programs.
Community Center to de- forming of the arts. Our
activities at this venue and
termine our best perform- aim is to preserve the little
to make sure that it is avail-
ers who may represent us that we have left of our cul-
able to the many promot-
in International compe- ture.
LABOUR
Unemployment Regis- Welfare and Education De- General Pension Plan. larly for the students at the
tration partments. All welfare re- trade school to allow them
cipients must be registered Every employee in the pri- to gain the necessary expe-
All unemployed at the labour department. vate sector must be part of rience while perfecting the
persons would be required Work permits will be issued a General Pension Plan. Old skills they will need to be
to register but would not and it will be stated on the age pension shall also be successful in these fields.
have to submit a police permit that in the event a increased to One Thousand
record to the Labour De- Dutch National becomes Eight Hundred Guilders We will encourage the var-
partment. Business work- available that permit will (Nafls 1,800.00) to guar- ious businesses to visit the
ing programs will be estab- not be renewed. We will antee our seniors a better schools and work with the
lished to provide our young introduce a program pre- living. Tax legislation will teachers to identify stu-
graduates from secondary senting a law that was ap- be introduce to prevent in- dents in their field who
schools with immediate proved in the parliament come tax being applied to they believe may prove
employment in particular of the former Netherlands the income received from to be a good apprentice
in the construction field. in 1989, commonly re- old age pension. An Un- based on the trade and
We must generate our fu- ferred to as the Lei di Bi on employment Fund will be skills needed. These types
ture carpenters, masons, This will provide business- established to provide as- of programs create em-
plumbers and electricians es with an incentive in the sistance for three months ployment while helping
for the future. form of a tax credit for all to those workers who lost set our young people on
young people employed their jobs and are seeking a path to financial indepen-
Work Permits. for one year or more be- employment. dence and productivity.
tween the ages of 18 – 29
We will cut back the time years of age. We will sub- School and Government
that it takes to issue work mit legislation to increase partnership
permits to one month. the living (minimum) wage
Work permits would only within our first 100 days We will encourage part-
be issued after taking up in office to One Thousand nership projects between
contact with the Social Eight Hundred Guilders. the schools and the private
and public sectors, particu-HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELFARE
HEALTH
The New Hospital tourist alike. This will cre- surance that will cover all to talk about certain be-
ate jobs and opportuni- citizens that are not cov- haviors that you noticed
We support the construc- ties for our people. There ered by another health that are not normal and to
tion of a new Medical Cen- must be a better working insurance. We will submit contact the Mental Health
ter including state of the relationship with the St. legislation for materni- Foundation to monitor the
art machines and equip- Maarten Medical Center ty leave to become three situation.
ment. We will also provide and the Louie Fleming Hos- (3) months after the birth
the staff of the Medical pital on the Northern side for the stabilization of the It is better to have the sit-
Center with proper training of the island. working mothers. Paternity uation monitor by experts
to meet the health needs legislation will also be sub- than to allow it to reach a
of our people. We support Our Medical Center to be mitted for fathers to spend point of no return. In most
bringing more specialists built must include a wing two weeks with their new- cases if these persons are
to the new Medical Cen- for specialists visiting our born and the mother. helped at an early stage
ter. This would eliminate us island. The services to be and take whatever medi-
having to fly many of our provided by the specialists Mental Health. cation that is prescribed to
patients to Columbia, San- to our residents must be at them, they can live a very
to Domingo or elsewhere. the prices of the SZV and There must be a better co- normal life.
not the medical tourism operation between the St.
It will result in better prices. Our residents will Maarten Medical Center, We support the construc-
health care for our patients be able to benefit from The Turning Point Founda- tion of a modern facility
here in St. Maarten with having these specailists on tion and the Mental and the use of the exist-
the families and friends; this island without having ing facility for persons who
plus it would be a major to pay the same rate as the Health Foundation to bet- suffer from some type of
savings to the coffers of the persons who will be visit- ter serve the clients. Our mental illness but who can
government. ing the island for the pur- population will be better live a normal life in a guid-
pose of seeing these same served with a blitzkrieg ed living facility.
Medical Tourism specialists. Legislation will campaign by the Mental
be established for the SZV Health Foundation to make
Medical Tourism will be them aware of some of the
Cards to cover 100% cost
pursued to provide good symptoms and indications
for dental and eye glasses.
health care to our resi- of mental illnesses.
dents, people from the Establishment of a man-
neighboring islands and datory General Health In- There is nothing wrong
SOCIAL WELFARE
We will speed up the pro- their pension; providing councils and where they ing centers to make uni-
cess for welfare applica- them with relief from NV are dormant or non-exis- forms here on St. Maarten
tions. We will introduce a GEBE, that their health tence we will encourage for our schools and civil
program from Welfare to plan is excellent; provide to create these councils. servants as well as private
Workfare. Those welfare them with affordable The school facilities will be companies.
recipients will be trained housing and used where there aren’t
to find employment. We community centers. These centers will be
will also increase the wel- exempt them from taxes subsidized for a period of
fare per month during the on their pension income. The various community two years and then they
training process to the centers will be up must be self-sufficient with
maximum of the minimum Community Development. proper budgets, admin-
wage. graded and used for the istration and functioning
We will focus on the de- performance of the arts. programs beneficial to the
We must improve the Liv- velopment of the commu- These same centers will be communities.
ing conditions of our se- nities by working together used to offer courses and
nior citizens by increasing with the community will be used to set up sew-JUSTICE
Police take over the lead of man- Our Border Control and facility and a holding cen-
aging our police, immigra- Immigration will follow up ter for illegals has our im-
We will continue to pursue tion and customs. very swiftly on persons en- mediate attention.
the upgrading of our police tering the island on vaca-
force by first making sure A greater portion of the tion but over staying. These We will continue to
that each of our officer’s RST must come from within individual pictures and oth- strengthen the coast guard,
legal status in the force our local police force. er pertinent information the customs and our feder-
is regulated as regards will be broadcasted via the al detectives. We will mod-
earned promotions and re- We will focus on preventive local and social media. ernize our present laws and
munerations. We will also measures such as making enforce them also.
strive to ensure that these sure all areas are well lit. We will continue to hold
officers are paid rightfully There will be more officers border control with our We will introduce legisla-
for a job well done. on the streets and less in counter part of French St. tion for a “Citizen Initiative
the stations. They will be Maarten. We will initiate Law” allowing our citizens
We will identify those offi- patrolling all the districts closer working relationship to submit proposals to par-
cers within our force with including the drive ways with our neighboring police liament that must be put
the necessary education and not only the main road. forces. We will establish on an agenda within thirty
and make it possible for policies to take the guns days for debate. We will
them to be able to travel Immigration: of the streets and our cus- also introduce legislation
to the police academy in tom officers together will forbidding the establish-
the Netherlands to receive All of our waters will be ment of gangs.
immigration will conduct
more training. control and better coop-
vigorous control for drugs,
eration must exist with
weapons and any illegal
Upon their return on suc- the justice officials on the
substance on all ships and
cessfully completing the Northern side.
boats entering St. Maarten,
course, they will be as- including the mega yachts.
signed the earned rank and There must be a better
their salaries adjusted ac- working relationship with
The physical upgrading of
cordingly. We must prepare the Dutch consulate in the
our prison is a must and
for a younger generation to countries where visas are
the construction of a youth
issued.HOUSING
Building Inspection and
Domain Land
We will continue to investi-
gate government land that is
in the possession of several
persons but not being used
and has exceeded the six
months period to build..We
will strengthen our inspec-
torate department and insist
that they continue to carry
out inspections as required
by law and the follow up of
the same These inspections
will take place before the
construction begins and
while it is ongoing. We shall
also work towards a reduc-
tion of the time to acquire
a building permit to thirty
Domain land over the Bank days.
HOUSING land Over the Bank recent- assist land owners with We will build 100 afford-
ly acquired by Country St. succession proper ty to able two and three bed-
House rent and mortgage Maarten will be transfer to sort out and divide their rooms homes for sale over
takes up approximately the St. Maarten Housing inheritance. Our young a four year period. We
40% of the salary of a Development Founda- professional first time will also build low income
family and is part of the tion to build low income land or home buyers will apartments for rent for all
high cost of living on St. houses. We will establish be exempted from the 4% including our seniors. We
Maarten. We are commit- controls of homes that are transfer tax, an incentive will sell or transfer owner-
ted to purchase land in or- built without permits and to encourage them to in- ship of the 200 emergency
der to build social homes do not meet our building vest in purchasing a prop- homes to the tenants oc-
for rent and for sale at codes. Funds will be allo- erty based on legislation cupying them for a mini-
affordable prices. The cated on the budgets to that we will submit. mal amount of Fls 1.00.
ENERGY
NV GEBE has a monopoly and installation of a waste NV GEBE at a reasonable ment with the NIPA and
and is owned 100% by the to energy plant in the Cay price but not for a high St. Maarten Vocational
government of St. Maarten Bay area. We will negoti- price that will be passed Schools for the students
de facto by the people of ate with the landowners on to the consumers. The to do job training and with
St. Maarten. Therefore it in the vicinity of NV GEBE land generated after the the possibility to acquire
should not be the mission to purchase their lands in clean up by the dump we full time employment
of NV GEBE to generate order to create a properly will use it to create a light upon completion of their
excessive profits on the managed landfill area in industrial park. studies. The loan guaran-
backs of their clients, the Cay Bay. tee program will also kick
owners of the company. Many small businesses in at this park.
A solar park will also be will be created in the area
NV GEBE rates will be re- established in the vicinity of refrigeration, recycling, Eco-commerce.
duced. We will establish of NV GEBE and the energy auto and mechanic shop,
an energy policy that will generated from this park block plant, carpenter The further development
take into account solar will be sold to NV GEBE. shop etc. etc. These busi- of “clean technologies”
energy and windmills. We The energy generated by nesses would have to es- such as wind and solar
support the construction this plant will be sold to tablish a working arrange- power.ALWAYS FIGHTING TO SECURE YOUR FUTURE
ALWAYS FIGHTING TO SECURE YOUR FUTURE
ALWAYS FIGHTING TO SECURE YOUR FUTURE
February 28, 2016
The Parliament of St. Maarten
Wilhelmina Street
Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Attention: Mrs. Sarah Wescott-Williams
President of Parliament
Dear Mrs. Sarah Wescott-Williams,
We are hereby submitting to you copies of some draft motions that we consider of utmost importance to be de-
bated during the handling of the 2016 Budget of St. Maarten, commencing of Monday, February 29, 2016.
We do hope that even if not in their present forms, your office will table these issues on the floor of the Parlia-
ment of St. Maarten as they are very important for the further development of our people.
In those motions we have addressed issues such as:
Pensionable income generated in St. Maarten or in the former Netherlands Antilles being exempted from having
to pay income tax.
The establishment of a General Pension Plan for all workers.
NV GEBE to charge the school boards a residential rate or lower for utility services and for the company to invest
in the installation of solar panels on all the schools. These savings to be pass on to the parents of our students
hereby reducing the school fees. Education should be free.
The setting up of the St. Maarten Sports Lottery to further enchance sports on the island.
Revenue generating measures such as: Import tax on alcohol and tobacco; temporary drivers license fee; gar-
bage tax and an environmental tax.
Increasing the minimum wage and old age pension to a living wage of Nafls. 1,800.00 a month without any fur-
ther studies.
Many of our people are having a hard time making ends meet and if those issues mentioned in the draft mo-
tions are carried they would certainly take them a far way in the near future.
We want to thank you in advance and we look forward to a very constructive debate of the 2016 budget of St.
Maarten.
Yours truly,
One St. Maarten People Party
Lenny F. Priest
Leader of the OSPPALWAYS FIGHTING TO SECURE YOUR FUTURE
July 25, 2016
Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning,
Environment and Infrastructure
The Government Administration Building
Clem Labega Square
Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Attention: Mr. Angel Meyers
Minister of Vromi
Dear Minister Mr. Angel Meyers,
In a previous letter we informed you about the importance of moving the present dump from the middle of
Philipsburg and establishing a proper manage landfill in another area. We have suggested establishing this land fill
in the area of Cay Bay in the vicinity of NV GEBE. We have also identified three parcels of land totaling 10101m2 in
close proximity of our utility company that can be used for this land fill. One of those parcels of land is already in
possession of NV GEBE and the other two parcels the government would have to negotiate with the land owners.
The government can also use a portion of the land acquired Over the Bank/Vineyard to swap with the land owners
in Cay Bay if they want to maintain land in their name for their children and grandchildren and are not necessarily
interested in money
It is of utmost important that we deal with the situation of the dump post haste. This site is a bomb waiting to
explore at any time and no one can predict when, including having no preventative measures and escape plan in
place. If and when this happens, can anyone imagine what this will mean for the people in the area? What emergen-
cy strategies are in place? How will this be handled? This would be a major catastrophe in the history of St. Maarten
that would be beyond our imagination. The impact of it and the after effect we would not be able to measure. This
matter is one of St. Maarten most serious issue and requires the government attention now more than ever.
From media report we have learnt that dating back to May 2016 you visited a Renewable Energy Facility in West
Palm Beach and a Waste to Energy Plant in New York. And that It is also the intention of the government to construct
the Waste to energy plant on Pond Island and that all indications are on the same dump site. The report also men-
tioned that the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the New York Company was in the works. Can you
inform the general public how far have you reached in finalizing the memorandum of understanding with the New
York Company as you have indicated it would take three years before the plant is up and running? What are your
immediate plans for the dump at this moment? In case of an explosion what remedies are in place? Do you have any
ideas what kinds of contaminants are we to be exposed to? What exit and evacuation plans are in place for the com-
munity especially those people living in the area?ALWAYS FIGHTING TO SECURE YOUR FUTURE What will happen to the waste that’s buried all those years since it would remain a hazard? Where will this new fa- cility be built? Do you agree that a new temporary location has to be identified, set up properly and manage to facili- tate the waste to energy plant when it is built? As mentioned before we have identified three parcels of land in Cay Bay in close proximity of NV GEBE and that the landfill should be moved to that area to be properly managed and to meet all international environmental rules and regulations. We also recommend that the Waste to Energy Plant should be built in that area also which makes it much easier for the electricity produced by the plant to be transferred to the grid of NV GEBE. It is also understood that the emission produced by the Waste to Energy Plant will be less than the emission that is coming from NV GEBE at the moment and would therefore cause no harm to the residents of Cay Bay. The much needed solar park must also be built in that area to be able to better feed the electricity generated into the grid of NV GEBE. The OSPP is also recommending to educate the communities in Philipsburg on actual conditions of the dump, in- troduce an escape plan and to host town hall meetings outlining the various solutions that are being tabled. By the government indicating in press releases that an MOU is being considered and not informing the people what will happen in the interim is equally or more irresponsible on their side. The residents and land owners of Cay Bay must also be informed and educated as to what to expect in their community and not to feel that the government is mov- ing a bomb to be exploded in Philipsburg to their area. We can’t wait for a disaster to happen and then to act. The government has a responsibility to act now and to consider the proposed landfill in Cay Bay and or start negotiating with Verde Environment SXM on the Northern side of the island to come to a temporary solution to use their facility while we construct a properly managed landfill. The OSPP has visited this landfill on the Northern side of the island and it could be a temporary solution to our garbage problem. We hope to have informed you and we look forward to some temporary and permanent decisions to reduce the possibility of a major catastrophe hitting St. Maarten in the area of the dump in the heart of our capital, Philipsburg. Yours truly, One St. Maarten People Party Lenny F. Priest Leader cc: Council of Ministers Parliament of St. Maarten
OPEN LETTER TO ST. MAARTEN’S VOTERS Good day fellow voters, As we go to the poles on September 26th let us remember that the power to move St. Maarten towards rev- olutionary change is in the hands of we the voters and we must remember that together we can reject the status quo and fight for the greater good like our lives depend on it— because they do. Here’s the bottom line: Democracy doesn’t need silence and fear. It needs voices and values, and a moral compass. We must all be that moral compass. The clock is ticking – This is the time to stand up with the cour- age of our convictions, while we still can. The outside world will not fix this for us because we are the ones we’ve been waiting for and the time is now for all of us to put country before self and realize that we are St. Maarten. St. Maarten is not just the sea, land and air, it is the people of the island that form St. Maarten. You are St. Maarten, Your children are St. Maarten and I am St. Maarten, We are St. Maarten. At this historic moment, when voters have began to reject the incumbent parties campaigns with record high levels of dislike and mistrust, I ask that you put your faith in the One St. Maarten People Party as we build with you an historic grassroots movement and a political vehicle to carry it forward. We invite you to partner with the OSPP on September 26th by voting for this party—You will be voting for a party not poisoned by corporate money, and voting for the policy solutions we urgently need. Don’t doubt for a minute your ability to transform this election. As voters our greatest impact comes from choosing who we believe will be the best leader for our country. We must set aside our personal biases. If we do otherwise, we are no different from the lobbyists who are focused on their personal narrow agenda rather than a Big Agenda for the country. As you select your candidates to represent you in Parliament I would like you take a step back and evaluate candidates from the perspective of hiring someone for a job, someone you believe will be the best steward for the organization. Prepare the report cards of those who are currently in Parlia- ment, particularly those that have been there for some time and ask yourself “Did he/she fight to secure my future?” “Am I better off now than before?” The OSPP vows to always be honest with you and we will endeavor in every way to be worthy of your loyalty. we promise above all else to live in truth with you and to communicate fully and fearlessly. With our body and soul we will work and fight for you and with our hearts we will keep you with us. On September 26th, exercise your hard fought for democratic right to vote and vote for integrity, financial stability and reliability; vote for Parliamentarians you can trust and depend on. Vote OSPP. We vow to never stop fighting for you. Sincerely OSPP Candidates. Leonard “Lenny” Priest OSPP#1 ……………………………………….. Leroy Vlaun OSPP #2 ……………………………………….. Elton Jones OSPP #3 ……………………………………….. Pablo Hanson OSPP #4 ……………………………………….. Denissen Philips OSPP #5 ………………………………………... Rudolph Rogers OSPP #6 ……………………………………….. Maurits Joslyn Richardson OSPP #7 ………………………………………..
TOGETHER WE WILL MAKE ST. MAARTEN SHINE AGAIN
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