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William Marlin
Separate Church and State!
It's been a while since I felt like blogging, Flipper's email asking me to write something for the site a couple days ago was on my mind but honestly, I'm just too fed up with it all. But then, today reading the Daily Herald's (nice new site by the way DH!) story about Frans and George saying they don't think SXM should have separation of Church and State I no longer had any choice.
I've covered religion and SXM's religious nuts a few times over the years, one my first blogs here was titled Gay Gay Gay Gay Gay, I was sick and tired of reading religious clap trap and homophobic hate speech in our papers, and about 3 weeks later the two CBS gay guys got whacked over the head with a tire iron in Maho. Links to some of my other blogs can be found on one I wrote last year titled 'State and Church Separation?'
Before I get stuck in to this lovely meaty morsel laid before me, let me just state as I have done in the past that it is not my intention to offend those with religious beliefs. However, I reserve the right to have and hold to my own non religious beliefs and that means it's probably impossible not to offend those with them when speaking my mind. You have been warned.
Church and State need to be kept separate
SXM Island Times - PHILIPSBURG - The SHTA believes that the Executive Council has set a dangerous premise by stating that the State and Church are not separate. Furthermore, Government has opened the door for every denomination (Catholic, Hindu, Jewish etc) to seek similar funding for their establishments.
The SHTA tried contacting Commissioner Frans Richardson and Lt. Governor Richards to get some insight into this decision, but they were both unavailable.
No church, state separation Frans and Hyacinth declare
PHILIPSBURG--There will be no separation of church and state in St. Maarten, said Commissioners Frans Richardson and Hyacinth Richardson, both of the National Alliance, on Saturday. Their remarks, which are considered controversial, were made during the ground-breaking ceremony Saturday for the construction of a Methodist chapel in Belvedere – a project the National Alliance/Heyliger Island Government plans to fund to the tune of some NAf. 500,000 that is already attracting much controversy in the community.[More....]
DH Editorial - Two wrongs
The Daily Herald - During the groundbreaking for the controversial project in which the Island Territory will build a chapel for the local Methodist community at Belvedere, not only were recent media reports on the issue characterised as "vilifying," but members of the Executive Council went as far as to say there would be no separation of church and state in St. Maarten. While the commissioners involved perhaps are not fully conscious of the historical meaning of this concept in terms of exchanging theocracies for democracies, their statements are nothing more than an emotional attempt to defend a decision that simply cannot pass the test of good governance.
William recommits to educating every child
CAY HILL--“Children should not suffer because of decisions their parents make,” Leader of Government and Education Commissioner William Marlin said in reaffirming government’s commitment to continue with the introduction of compulsory education. “Government has decided that we will tackle the problem once and for all,” Marlin told participants in a compulsory education summit held at the Belair Community Centre on Wednesday.[More....]
Island Government signs off on 9M guilders worth of contracts with USONA
SXM Island Times - PHILIPSBURG - Leader of Government Commissioner William Marlin, fresh back from formation talks in Curacao, Wednesday signed contracts with USONA for financing totaling, 9 million guilders.
The contracts were signed in the presence of finance Commissioner Xavier Blackman, Director of USONA Reginaldo Doran, other governmental officials as well as heads of departments that the financing will cover.
Political leaders face off(Audio Inside)
SXM Island Times - PHILIPSBURG - The AVS live political debate, held Sunday evening at the Philipsburg Cultural Center on the Backstreet, gave the political leaders the opportunity to give an account of their contributions to the island in a number of areas including constitutional affairs, crime and finance.
The political leaders contesting the 2010 parliamentary election is the National Alliance (NA), the Democratic Party (DP) and the People's Progressive Alliance (PPA)
William Marlin: ‘These senseless killings must stop’ Leader of Government expresses condolence to family and friends of slain Dutch Quarter Afoo Supermarket manager
SMNN - Leader of Government, Commissioner William Marlin has expressed deep sadness at the senseless murder of the manager of the Dutch Quarter Afoo Supermarket, Eric Yuan Sam, two days before the New Year, and one day after celebrating his 48th birthday.
Marlin also uncorked government's plans to combat rising crime in the community saying that several St. Maarteners are being trained to bolster the police force and that the new Police Force being designed for Country St. Maarten will be a modern operation "that is information-driven, and pro-active instead of reacting to calls that come into the station.
Political Candidates Forum, Jan. 18
PHILIPSBURG - JS Consulting Services/Political Analyst, Julio Romney, and the University of St. Martin (USM) Political Science class of 2009 ‐ 2010 are teaming‐up to hold a Political Candidates Forum, Monday, January 18, 2010, beginning at seven o’clock in the evening, in the Cultural Center, Back Street, Phillipsburg. The leaders of all three political parties contesting the 2010 Parliamentary elections – Gracita Arindell, William Marlin and Sarah Wescott‐Williams have been invited to participate in this Forum. [More....]
William Blasts Roy in Westin Affair ---Says Former Commissioner of Tourism is being Hypocritical ---Auction Postponed.
SMNN -
Philipsburg: ---- The island receivers would hold off its planned auction on Friday at the Westin Resort for the unpaid room tax dating back from 2004 to 2009 confirmed head of the Island Receivers Sherry Hazel. Hazel said she was informed early Friday morning that the lawyers managed to come to an agreement. She said Westin would put the monies owed to the island recievers in an escrow account pending the outcome of a court case which should be called within the next two weeks . "We would put off the auction until that court case is heard". In the meantime, Leader of Government William Marlin is furious at the statements made by former commissioner of finance and tourism Roy Marlin on the Westin affair. Marlin said the current executive council the National Alliance/Heyliger and Laveist government has nothing to do with the letter of comfort given to Westin on March 11, 2005. [More....]
