SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY, (DCOMM) – The Collective Prevention Services (CPS), would like to inform the general public that the office at the Vineyard Building Office Park in Philipsburg will be closed on Monday, April 29.

The closure is related to a public holiday that has been given to civil servants.

CPS will resume regular office hour services on Thursday, May 2^nd.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - In the wake of the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the formation of the new government in St. Maarten, the Honorable demissionair Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), and Member of Parliament for the United People’s Party, Omar Ottley says, "Formateur Dr Luc Mercelina should be more forthcoming about the results of the screening process in the interest of transparency to the electorate.”

As St. Maarten finds itself embroiled in a political saga during carnival, the fate of ministerial candidates hangs in the balance. The public, ministerial candidates and their families are now gripped by uncertainty as the screening process for potential ministers unfolds amid allegations of lack of transparency and political manoeuvring. A major concern is the prolonged delay in announcing the screening process results, with no information forthcoming from the Formateur, leaving many candidates in limbo. At the heart of the controversy lies the screening law, a fourteen-year-old statute designed to ensure ministerial candidates meet the requirements for holding office.

However, without clear-cut criteria outlined in the law, there have been accusations of the process being manipulated to exclude certain candidates from assuming ministerial roles. Dr Luc Mercelina, the appointed Candidate Prime Minister tasked with forming the government, has come under fire for the perceived lack of transparency and communication surrounding the screening process.

Speaking on behalf of the United People's Party, Ottley has called for swift action to resolve the impasse and avoid further delays in government formation. "Enough is enough," declares Ottley.

"The people of St. Maarten deserve a government that works for their interests, not one shrouded in secrecy and uncertainty. It's time for the Formateur to stop playing games and clarify which candidates will be sworn in."

The situation has reached a boiling point as conflicting reports emerge regarding the status of ministerial candidates. While newspaper articles hint at a full slate of seven ministers being sworn in, press releases from coalition parties hint at potential issues with certain candidates failing background checks.

As the clock ticks down to the swearing-in ceremony, tensions run high. The public and even the President of Parliament remain uncertain about the swearing-in date of Thursday this week as she, too, has yet to be informed.

Ottley's impassioned plea for transparency resonates with many, who fear that the prolonged uncertainty may undermine the stability and effectiveness of the new government.

Amid the turmoil, Ottley remains steadfast in his commitment to upholding the democratic principles upon which St. Maarten's governance is built.

"We cannot afford to let political gamesmanship overshadow the will of the people," he asserts. "Either candidates are sworn in, or they're not. It's time for decisive action." As St. Maarten braces for the next chapter in its political saga, the nation's eyes remain fixed on the screening process's outcome. It hopes for a resolution that will pave the way for a government that truly serves the interests of its citizens.

Ottley reflected on his struggles with the screening process, where he was kept from being a minister for 14 months until he challenged the outcome and was vindicated of any wrongdoing and allowed to serve as a minister, where he earned the title of "Minister of Everything" based on his work ethics.

After 14-years of this challenge, as an MP I am hopeful that something will finally be done to make the process clear. Ottley expressed his shared sentiments for candidate ministers, such as MP Christophe Emmanuel, Raeyhon Peterson and others, who should not have to sit on "pins and needles" waiting to learn if they will be allowed to serve their Country.

He said that as Ministers, the present government had not been allowed to work for over three months because the demissionair status of the Ministers sitting means that the Country has had slow to little progress for over three months. A further delay will weaken the island's economy.

Even the civil service has expressed their concerns of uncertainty about what policy priorities to continue to invest time in knowing the current position of Dr. Luc Mercelina on certain subjects. For example, the draft law SAAHA also known as Ottley Cares which will not only allow for sole proprietors, bus drivers, taxi drivers, etc to enter SZV.

SINT MAARTEN (COMMENTARY – By Michael J. Ferrier) - On Sunday I was buying some ribs while waiting for the children’s Carnival Parade when an acquaintance there for the same reason asked me “How the country running?

“I answered that I heard we should have a new Government by Friday April 26th. The acquaintance asked, including Raeyhon, Chris and Lyndon? I said Yes! He answered: You sure? I replied: Pretty sure! Then in the Herald of Monday April 22nd, I read that we can expect the new Government to be sworn in on Thursday April 25th!
So we should be good!!

Michael J. Ferrier

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - A low-threshold subsidy scheme for social initiatives. Free of charge name change for descendants of enslaved people in both the European and Caribbean Netherlands.

Extra attention to combating discrimination and racism. Investing in cultural heritage. And increasing knowledge about the impact of the slavery past. These are some of the concrete follow-up steps taken by the government since the Government's apology for the slavery past.

The implementation of the space after 'the comma', is made through a careful process with great active involvement of descendants. This can be read in the progress letter on the slavery past program that the government sent to Parliament today. 

Subsidy scheme based on dialogue

In order to actively involve descendants and other stakeholders in all phases of the process, meetings have been held in the past six months on Sint Maarten and in The Hague, among other places.

During dialogue sessions in the European Netherlands, 270 descendants were interviewed throughout the country and online, about commemorating the slavery past and on their ideas for social initiatives. The results of the dialogue sessions have been compiled in a final report.

The results of the dialogue sessions were also included in the drafting of the draft subsidy scheme for social initiatives for the European Netherlands. This scheme must be easily accessible to grassroots organizations, so that they do not get bogged down in complicated application processes.

The survey strongly showed that people think it is important that money should be spend on social initiatives that offer solutions to structural inequality. A one-off budget of €100 million has been made available for the subsidy scheme. The amount is divided into three parts: €33.3 million for the European Netherlands, €33.3 million for the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, and €33.3 million for Suriname.

The consultation on this subsidy scheme for both the European Dutch and Caribbean parts of the Kingdom has been completed. The first applications can be submitted this autumn.

Name change, investigation into the impact of slavery past and combating discrimination

The government is making an additional €100 million available for other measures aimed at raising awareness and recognition, knowledge, and impact, and coming to terms with the slavery past. These resources are also geographically equally distributed between the three areas.

€14.9 million will be set aside for the temporary scheme that will allow descendants to have their surnames changed free of charge as of July 1st, 2024. The aim is that this will also be possible for descendants living on Bonaire, Saba, and St. Eustatius as of January 1, 2025.

On 19 December 2022, the government announced that it would step up its efforts to combat discrimination and racism. €1.7 million will be made available to intensify broad public communication on combating discrimination and racism.

It also increases the findability and visibility of anti-discrimination services. Based on available data, knowledge and research, an attempt is being made to gain a better understanding of how the impact of the slavery past leads to discrimination and racism in today's society.

The government is making €3.8 million available for this research. In addition, through the Slavery History Learning Network, municipalities are helped to give substance to the impact of the slavery past in their own local context. This involves €1.1 million.

In addition, there will be a multi-year research program into the complex impact of the slavery past in the present (€1.7 million).

The National Slavery Museum, which is to be established, will receive €3 million for a knowledge center, to strengthen its kingdom-wide and international knowledge and network function and to enable digital access to the museum.

An additional €4.5 million is available for investing in the preservation and further development of museums, archives and the protection of cultural heritage.

The effects of slavery also have effects on the (mental) health and well-being of descendants. This is evident from conversations with descendants. The government is making €1.7 million available for interventions to counteract adverse health effects. Pupils in primary and secondary education are already learning about the history of slavery and this will also get a place in the new curriculum.

In addition, the government is initiating actions to bring the slavery past back more strongly in primary and secondary education (€0.8 million). For the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom, so-called ‘recovery agendas’ are being drawn up by the islands.

These will be based on priorities per country and the commitments already made by the Dutch government. Examples of these commitments include the rehabilitation of Tula, digital access to archives and updating teaching methods for education.

Suriname intends to set up a platform in which a number of representatives from the most involved groups will have a seat, in order to conduct a targeted dialogue about the use of the available funds.

Commemorative Year and Commemoration Committee

In the Commemorative Year (which runs from 1 July 2023 to 1 July 2024), 200 projects have already been supported in the European Netherlands and the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. This includes visual arts projects, heritage, performing arts and literature, but also podcasts, dialogues, safe space sessions, workshops, commemorations and celebrations.

There is still € 1.6 million left for projects from the Cultural Participation Fund. Initiators can still submit applications for this. The fund has appointed scouts to support initiators in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom in submitting project applications.

The Slavery Remembrance Year ends on July 1st, 2024, but the commemoration and attention for the slavery past will remain. In the coming period, the government will continue the dialogue with NiNsee and other organizations involved in commemoration in the Kingdom and Suriname in order to establish a Dutch Slavery Remembrance Committee.

The government has made € 8 million a year available for this. The government’s aim is to be able to present the terms of reference to the Committee and the Chair before July 1st, 2024. The Committee will be operational at the latest by autumn.