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How Independent is VDSM --- Are they allowed to leak information to the Kingdom?

Who sets criteria for screening process?

PHILIPSBURG:--- Questions are being raised by many persons especially relatives of incoming Ministers that had to go through the screening process that is done by VDSM and the Prosecutor’s Office.
Some persons that contacted SMN News stated that the Prosecutor’s Office acts swiftly when it comes to the screening of persons whose name were submitted recently to become Ministers. Actually they said that each time persons names were given for screening the process goes very quickly by the Prosecutor’s office but when it comes to VDSM they said that those persons working at VDSM seems to have their own agenda and it appears as though they are not acting independently but serves certain politicians. Besides that they said there is no set criteria for the screening process and if there is any it should be made public and the people of St. Maarten needs to know who sets these criteria’s.
Some of the most recent candidates stated that while they wanted to submit every single thing VDSM asks for they said that VDSM asks for information and or documents several times. “It’s not like they have a list of documents or requirements for candidates to submit all at once. One candidate said he received an email at midnight one night where VDSM is asking for additional documents which they could have asked for from day one.
Others said VDSM is now looking in peoples private lives, such as succession, and civil cases and they demand documents on private matters which are not criminal. Not only that they asked for these documents, they ask for it when they feel like in order to delay the screening process.
SMN News also learnt that while VDSM is supposed to report to the Prime Minister, at least one of the persons working at VDSM got very close with the former Prime Minister, while another one they accused of leaking information to the Kingdom, rather than reporting to the Prime Minister and or Prosecutor’s Office. The allegation of leaking information to the Kingdom has been rumored for quite some time now but to date no one in government ever investigated the allegations.
“Right now we have one candidate that is going through hell because VDSM chose to go into this person’s life based on what they hear on the street. Last year at least two Ministers that had huge skeletons’ in their closets passed the screening because those at VDSM are friends with certain politicians. At least one former Minister was taken to court for theft, while the same Minister had to change jobs because it is alleged that this former Minister had sticky fingers, while the other one had several areas that needed to be questioned, yet those Ministers passed the screening like a breeze. I would like to know if the screening is done based on which political party the candidates came from or based on which Member of Parliament appoints them.” If VDSM is looking into civil matters then they had to check the courts to see which candidate Minister was taken to court and for what and by whom?
Besides that the persons that spoke out against what they describe as wrong and bias, they also spoke of the criminal complaint filed against a candidate Minister. “As far as I am concerned the prosecutor’s office need to act swiftly on this matter, those that file the complaint needs to provide evidence of the accusation, they just cannot say they suspect someone, they need to provide the proof if not they should be held accountable for trying to blemish another person, while trying their best to hold up the swearing in of the new Ministers. As a citizen of this country I am calling on the Prosecutor’s office to do their jobs and not hold up this so-called investigation for the next four or five years like they did with the other cases such as the Buncampers, the Labega/Dest and other cases. I am also calling on newly sworn in Prime Minister William Marlin to look into what goes on at VDSM and have them investigated.

Growth in Both Airport Passenger Arrivals and Cruise Arrivals in Q2 2025.

Growth in Both Airport Passenger Arrivals and Cruise Arrivals in Q2 2025.

PHILIPSBURG:---   The Department of Statistics (STAT) reports continued positive developments in the tourism sector for the second qua...

Foresee Foundation Announces Board Changes and New Team Members.

Foresee Foundation Announces Board Changes and New Team Members.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Foresee Foundation is proud to announce new appointments to its Board and team as part of its continued growth and commit...

Jean-Marc August awarded the prestigious 2025 President of Parliament Award.

Jean-Marc August awarded the prestigious 2025 President of Parliament Award.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, during the reception on the occasion of the new Parliamentary Year, the Hon. President of ...

Kingdom Charter Committee 70 submits St. Maarten’s response to unsolicited advice from the Kingdom Council of State.

Kingdom Charter Committee 70 submits St. Maarten’s response to unsolicited advice from the Kingdom Council of State.

PHILIPSBURG:--- In October 2024, the Council of State of the Kingdom published an unsolicited advice entitled “Samenwerken op basis van w...

MP Omar Ottley: “Let’s Take Time to Acknowledge World Suicide Prevention Day 2025 - Changing the Narrative on Suicide”

MP Omar Ottley: “Let’s Take Time to Acknowledge World Suicide Prevention Day 2025 - Changing the Narrative on Suicide”

PHILIPSBURG:---  Today, September 10th, is recognized as World Suicide Prevention Day. Member of Parliament Omar Ottley emphasi...

KPSM carried out a Search and Arrest on Bush Road on the evening of September 09th 2025

PHILIPSBURG:--- On the evening of Tuesday, September 9, 2025, personnel of the Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM), under the leadership ...

KPSM Continues Safety Actions in Philipsburg.

KPSM Continues Safety Actions in Philipsburg.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) continues to carry out safety actions in the Philipsburg area as part of its ongo...

15 Years On: A Legacy of Stagnation and Squandered Millions.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Soon it will be fifteen years since the landmark date of October 10, 2010. It was a moment heralded as the dawn of ...

AI Dreams and First-Class Flights: Government’s Digital Fantasies Ignore Citizens’ Reality.

PHILIPSBURG: --- While St. Maarten’s leadership paints a dazzling picture of an AI-powered future, the people they govern are left to nav...

St Maarten's Construction Boom: Growth and Growing Pains.

St Maarten's Construction Boom: Growth and Growing Pains.

PHILIPSBURG: --- St. Maarten is in the midst of a construction boom of historic proportions. Cranes dot the skyline, and new buildings ar...

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Classifieds

Call for Contributors to Meal Programs.

1 MONTHS AGO  |  SMN NEWS TEAM

Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA) The Ministry of VSA in collaboration with the Ministry of ECYS kindly requests that any non-governmental organizations (NGOs), businesses, or private persons who are currently...

Local News

Call for Contributors to Meal Programs.

1 MONTHS AGO  |  SMN NEWS TEAM

Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA) The Ministry of VSA in collaboration with the Ministry of ECYS kindly requests that any non-governmental organizations (NGOs), businesses, or private persons who are currently...

New Parliamentary Year commences with speech by His Excellency and a parliamentary focus on Digitalization, AI, and Technology.

1 DAY AGO  |  SMN NEWS TEAM
New Parliamentary Year commences with speech by His Excellency and a parliamentary focus on Digitalization, AI, and Technology.

PHILIPSBURG:--- As per the Constitution of Sint Maarten, Tuesday, September 9, 2025, marked the beginning of a New Parliamentary Year 2025-2026 for the Parliament of Sint Maarten.

On this occasion, a Solemn Plenary Session was convened at...

Anticipation Builds for Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s 2025 Taste of the Caribbean.

2 DAYS AGO  |  SMN NEWS TEAM

MIAMI, Fla.:---   The countdown is on and the excitement is sizzling! The  Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association  (CHTA) has officially opened registration for  Taste of the Caribbean , the region’s most celebrated ...

The Letters

St. Maarten’s Parliamentarians have earned over Cg48 Million since 10/10/10 — Where Are the Returns?

13 MINS AGO  |  SMN NEWS TEAM

Dear Editor,

With the opening of the new Parliamentary year, Over the past 15 years, Parliamentarians in St. Maarten have collectively received over Cg48,000,000 in salary payments. That figure, staggering in its own right, demands a sobe...

Hypocrisy Ablaze: Antonio Rogers’ Convenient Criticism of Fire and Ambulance Services.

22 DAYS AGO  |  SMN NEWS TEAM

Dear Editor,

In a stunning display of political opportunism, Antonio Rogers, a former civil servant and current treasurer of the Democratic Party, has called for the suspension of the Fire Chief and Ambulance leadership, citing the need f...

Landlord-Tenant Dispute Leaves Senior Citizens Without Full Deposit.

25 DAYS AGO  |  SMN NEWS TEAM

What happens when a landlord refuses to keep his word? That is the painful question facing the Wilson family, tenants who resided in Industry Drive #18, Cul de Sac, who say they have been left without the return of their full rightful de...

French News

URBANISME Permanences mensuelles gratuites du Conseil d’Architecture d’Urbanisme et de l’Environnement (CAUE)

1 DAY AGO  |  SMN NEWS TEAM

La Collectivité de Saint-Martin a conventionné avec le Conseil d’Architecture d’Urbanisme et de l’Environnement (CAUE) de Guadeloupe, afin d’apporter une assistance technique à la population saint-martinoise, en matière d’urbanisme. Vous...

FOURRIERE ANIMALE Descriptif des chiens capturés.

1 DAY AGO  |  SMN NEWS TEAM

La Collectivité de Saint-Martin informe la population que la phase de capture des chiens errants est en cours.

 

La fourrière animale a pour mission de capturer les animaux en divagation sur le domaine public. Les propriétaires sont d...

DES NAVETTES GRATUITES VERS LA HALLE DES SPORTS

1 DAY AGO  |  SMN NEWS TEAM

La Collectivité de Saint-Martin et le Comité Territorial Olympique et Sportif (CTOS) mettent en place des navettes gratuites pour faire le trajet aller/retour au départ de Quartier d’Orléans avec plusieurs arrêts et au départ de Sandy Gr...

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