St. Maarten Private Eye

Mr. Fleming has been an inspiration for Saint Martin for all these years. How ironic the statement about several people not paying taxes and above that the French side does not have Road Taxes ( Of which I think they should) and the Dutch side has horrific taxes and the roads are still crap compared to the French side, so I guess one has to ask "Where has all the money gone" I am sure we can all give a good guess and the guess is probably accurate!

Sorry to above comment.
The roads on the French side that we on the Dutch side used to speak of in glorifying terms is not what they used to be.
The are in pretty bad shape all over.
The infrastructure as well needs a boost as most probably French SXM has been feeling the loss of tourism income due to the low dollar, high euro which makes the boutiques and restaurants very expensive for the average American tourist.
So I do not agree that the roads on the French side are much better, I will say that when the French build new roads they do a better job than our Dutch contractors Windward Roads and Koop combined. WR & Koop delivers a half assed quality road most of the time.
I am wondering now though, who will be building the French side roads now that the French State is saying that it will fall under the Collectivite? will this be Semsamar?
I urge the new Collectivite and the French SXMners to watch and monitor any corruption that will be starting to take place as this new collectivite will open doors for many to do as they please, if you do not watch out for personal interests and agendas your home island will start to look like Dutch SXM.

mechanicman

Actually have you noticed that there have not been any bicycle races on the french side lately when there should be at this time of the year. reason is that they are no longer permitting bicycle racing on french side due to road condition and safety of the riders.

I believe we all know of the VAT tax that was added to gasolene that had to be turned over for the fixing of roads. Fleming needs to tell the people the truth

The following is the Results of last night election:
Union Pour Le Progres 2829 (40%)
Rassamblement, Responsabilite, Resussite 2237 (32%)
Reussir Saint Martin 767 (10%)
Alliance Pour Le Collectivite Outré Mer de Saint Martin 635 (8%)
Alliance Democratique Pour Saint Martin 544 (8%).

COM will be run by a territorial council— which has a president— an executive council, and an advisory economic, social, and cultural council. The territorial council replaces the current municipal council. In St. Martin, there will be 23 members, with 19 in St. Barth. They will be elected with a two- tiered process in which the two lists that come out ahead in a primary will be the two candidates in the run off. Their term is five years. The territorial council takes over the role of the former municipal council as well as certain regional and departmental issues. Certain laws can be adapted to the particular needs of the COM. This idea of adaptability does not apply in certain areas such as penal law, monetary and banking law, business law, assurance law, and social laws. The COM will benefit from a transfer of competence from the federal government in terms of local taxes, work permits for foreigners, and tourism.
The President of the territorial council has the powers of a mayor, as well as the president of a regional and departmental council. In contrast to a mayor, whose job finishes at the end of his term or if he resigns, the president of the territorial council can be removed by the vote of at least one-third of the members of the council.
The executive council also represents the opposition and is composed of seven members elected from within the territorial council: the president, four vice-presidents, and two council members.
The economic, social, and cultural council, which offers participation to non-political figures on the island, acts in an advisory capacity. They must be consulted on all economic, social, cultural, and budgetary actions.

The list at the head was to obtain the quarter of the registered voters (3 880 votes) and 50% of votes cast, to pass to the 1st Turn. A second ballot is thus organized on next 8 July. The three lists having obtained + 10 % reach to the second turn. The two other lists obtaining + 5% of the votes can be combined with those which exceeded 10 %. Fence of the dépot lists Tuesday to 6 p.m., they will be drawn up according to possible but not very probable alliances. With 600 votes of delay, on L-C Fleming it is disappointment on the side of the list Richardson - Arnell - Mussington which was thought easily majority. For Jean-Luc Hamlet first assistant of the Mayor, more than ever it is "To Be gold not to Be". Saddest, it is of course the abstention. I hoped for 60% voters, just small a 46,4% riquiqui. 7 195 voters, whereas they were 7 680 (60%) with the last local elections in 2oo1 (with less registered voters). In addition to the brevity of the election campaign, in the people it is not the fever citizen. The effects of the economic stagnation of the French part, weakened credibility and confidence with respect to the politis. Admittedly, there are deaths whose names are always lying on the electoral roll and of the citizens who do not live any more on the island and it would be necessary to make de-dusting of this list of the registered voters. One will add there the foreigners amenable to the West-Indian EEC and our brothers and sisters having residence permit ten years. The true local democracy it is that! In France, UMP and the PS titillated the voting rights from abroad to the local elections. Let us be the first French community to cross the course. It will be an excellent blow of pub in the Hexagon for our destination "Friendly Island". What is convincing, it is the existence of the challenge henceforth launched to the members of the Territorial Council: to sow seeds to set up of the participative democracy and more bonds of confidence between the elected population and citizens. In short a new management is essential. The man of the Castle carries out his personal objectives, in the line of his father, his uncle and his Fleming grandfather, plus two aïeux Beauperthuis on the side of his mother. A mandate with the head of the country which will be added to the 54 years of the line of the Castle. For St Barthelemy, only one ballot A suffices to elect the List Bruno Magras. The outgoing team is taken back with a final discharge of 2 400 votes (72 %). Registered 4759 Voters 3361 (70,6%)

The first French President of the new Collectivity is Louis Constant Fleming/Union Pour Le Progres winning sixteen seats in the Executive Council. Alain Richardson/Rassemblement, Responsabilite, Reussite won six seats and Jean Luc Hamlet/Resusir Saint Martin won one seat.

MARIGOT—The Members of the executive council now have to work full time as the workload is jam-packed. The president will be receiving a little more than € 5000 as his gross salary of which 13% of it must be paid for taxes. The four executive vice presidents will be getting €2,600 and have to pay the same percentage of taxes. The two executive council members Jean Luc Hamlet and Alain Richardson will get close to € 2.100. The four vice presidents would have to relieve themselves of jobs to work for full time.

The New Council who took office just over two weeks ago released their portfolios at Wednesday's first Territorial Council meeting.
President of the New Collectivity Louis Constant-Fleming will be responsible for the following:

Administration
Financial Affairs
Judicial Affairs
Human Resources
Population Services
Urban Affairs

First vice-president Marthe-Ogoundélé-Tessi is responsible for the following:

Employment
Educational Training
Professional Training
Teaching
Culture
Youth and Sports
School Transport

Daniel Gibbs, the second vice-president, will be responsible for:

Economic Development
Tourism
Agriculture and Fishing
Transport (including Harbor and Airports)
New Technologies

Third vice-president Claire Guinon-Firmin will be responsible for:

Social Affairs attached to children and family
Health affairs pertaining to senior citizens and the handicapped
Social issues connected to lodging, juvenile delinquency, and discrimination

While fourth vice-president Pierre Aliotti is in charge of:

Public Works
Roads
Construction of schools and public buildings
Environment
Technical Services.

SMN News resource