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Xavier Blackman
Blackman Escapes Vote of No Confidence for Lack Quorum--- Budget Issues Still Pending
SMNN - Philipsburg: --- Commissioner Xavier Blackman narrowly escaped a motion of no confidence which was to be presented by Island Councilman Petrus Leroy De Weever had the island council meeting convened on Thursday.
The Democratic Party Faction of the island council called an island council meeting on Thursday to discuss the pending 2010 budget and labor related matters, however the meeting could not be convened because the Democratic Party did not have a quorum even though Commissioner Theo Heyliger signed in for the meeting giving them five of the eleven signatures.
A MEETING CALLED TO GET CLARITY FROM GOVERNMENT ON ITS POLICY REGARDING SUBSIDIES TO INSTITUTIONS TURNED INTO A BIG JOKE.
SMNN - Philipsburg:---The Central Committee meeting was requested by the Democratic Party to hear from the Executive Council regarding its position on (incidental) subsidies/investments. The granting of subsidies by government is regulated by the Subsidy Ordinance St. Maarten and the subsidizing of religious institutions regulated by the State Regulation (Staatsregeling).
This meeting was requested by the DP, considering the public spat between government and organizations such as the Carnival Foundation and the Heineken Regatta Organizers. In answering the Democratic Party Faction's questions on the budget, the government had also informed the Island Council that for the information requested on the subsidy to the Foundation for Government Buildings, the Island Council(!) should contact the Foundation's president, Mr. Kurt Ruan. Now imagine that.
DP writes Richards about CFT letter
PHILIPSBURG--Opposition Democratic Party (DP) wrote to Island Council Chairman Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards Monday, querying why a December 16, 2009 letter from the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT with comments on the 2010 draft budget had not been forwarded immediately to the members of the Island Council. Richards received the letter in December in his capacity as Chairman of the Executive Council, and he also received a copy as Chairman of the Island Council. DP Island Council members only became aware of the letter when it was sent to them last week by the Executive Council as part of the package of answers to questions they had posed in November and December 2009.
CFT cites shortage of information in budget
The Daily Herald - PHILIPSBURG--The Committee for Financial Supervision CFT informed Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards in December 2009 that the budget for 2010, as submitted by the Executive Council, lacked vital information and was unclear in certain instances.
Therefore, CFT could not render a positive advice on the budget and gave the Executive Council until January 14 to rectify or clarify a number of issues it identified.
The letter to the Lt. Governor dated December 16, 2009, urged the Executive Council to provide the essential information that would allow CFT to determine if the budget was realistic and feasible.
Govt, private sector hoping to bolster recruitment at Passaat
The Daily Herald - PHILIPSBURG--The Island Government, St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry and government accountants bureau SOAB have teamed up to help bolster recruitment efforts and to attract back home St. Maarten students and young professionals in the Netherlands.
All partners will participate in this year’s Passaat Recruitment Drive (PRD) to be held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, May 15-16.
SXMJobs.com meet with Commissioner Blackman
SMNN - PHILIPSBURG - On Tuesday, January 5, 2009, Commissioner Xavier Blackman met with the creators of the recruitment website: www.sxmjobs.com to discuss a working relationship, especially in light of St. Maarten becoming a country within the Kingdom.
Benson Pompier, a web designer and information technology professional, with the idea of his son Charlon Pompier and a school mate Jodi Djojodimedjo—both of whom attend the Hogeschool Rotterdam—developed the website to assist government and businesses in recruiting personnel for jobs.
Xavier: 2010 budget not first to be presented late
The Daily Herald - PHILIPSBURG--While there has been much alarm about the 2010 budget not being presented until January, Finance Commissioner Xavier Blackman has stated that this is not the first budget to be presented in the year it is applicable to.
Both on the Central and Island Government levels, budgets have been late and “life went on” because there are provisions for financial continuity, Blackman said at a press conference Wednesday.
Commissioner Blackman gives update on portfolios
PHILIPSBURG - From the Claude Wathey Legislative Hall, Commissioner Xavier Blackman held a press conference to update the public and the media on his portfolios. The main topics were the Budget 2010 and Personnel matters. Commissioner Blackman began his presentation stating that the task of this executive council was related to executing. This is what the Executive Council has been doing, with the support of the civil service core.[More....]
2010 Island Budget submitted to CFT on time
SXM Island Times - PHILIPSBURG - A new budgetary procedure for the island of St. Maarten is now being developed. This was announced by the Commissioner of finance Xavier Blackman on Saturday afternoon.
The commissioner was at the time addressing the financial status of the Island Territory when he also confirmed that a balanced 2010 budget was submitted on time, to the CFT. The new date that was set for the budget to be submitted, was the 18th of November.
Frans Out Run Samuel by one Vote ---Candidates Ready for Parliamentary Elections.
SMNN - Dutch Quarter: --- The National Alliance has elected a new board, while most of the members on the board has changed party leader William Marlin remained unchallenged. Marlin told reporters that the post for vice president was a close call and that commissioner Frans Richardson out run Senator Rudolph Samuel by one vote to secure the seat of vice president. Marlin said this shows that there is democracy and most importantly that the supporters of National Alliance embraced all their candidates. The three candidates that postulated for the vice president seat were Senator George Pantophlet 37 votes, Frans Richardson (39) and Rudolph Samuel (39) due to the run off a second round of election had to be held between Samuel and Richardson.
