St. Martin News Network

SMN. no offense meant but I have to make a comment on your statement that: The former EXCO had promised to grant the waiver.
You have printed the letter, read what it says. It clearly states differently. Where is the letter of comfort, at least that would indicate what was stated by the previous exco back then.

I also rest my case ref. the issue of the letters they speak for themselves. I now understand why W. Marlin did not read the whole letter during his press briefing but read only what he felt would make huge waves. Also take note of who signed both letters and when most correspondence took place. Proven is that the reps for the present Exco and the Lt. Gov. did not read and or advise parties as to what was going on.

I am most definitely not a supporter of R. Marlin but I cannot stand it, when people uses other persons livelyhood for political campaigning, trying to sprinkle sand in our eyes, playing blame games and that is exactly what is happening here. That is why I commented on this. It is sickening. I am done with this topic. W. Marlin has once again fallen flat on his face. He has to stop wasting so much time trying to discredit DP and start proving himself as a politician and Leader of our Government. He is a strong and intelligent person, he should use those traits to try and win elections, it just might work.

Thank you SMN, you somehow always get us detailed info. keep up the great job.

@ big fish.
You are doing the same as NA.

Stop worrying about who is posting the comments. concentrate on your own opinions and post them.

To not stupid,

I am not doing the same as NA because I am not supporting any party. My comments are base on facts and the truth.
R. Marlin is way from intelligent and competent because he don't have a clue what the law is all about. So, therefore he and others that don't know the law should take classes via UNA to upgrade themselves. By the way, the most politicians on this island is all about SHOW and BLA BLA!

Roy Marlin should hide his head in a bucket because he is a disgrace to this island.

Politics on sxm is nothing but TRASH that s it Im not longer voting all trash !

The Letter of Comfort can be found on SXM PE at the link below, (hope you will allow it Bibi. It says;

"It is the intention of the Executive Council to revise the Island Ordinance regulating Room Tax in such a manner that a waiver of room taxes can be granted for brand name resort developments for a period of no more than 5 years, provided that the collective revenues are invested in marketing of the resort, training programs for staff, innovation and maintenance of tourism infrastructure. We estimate that the revision of the ordinance will be completed by mid 2005."

I'm going to say a few more things about this on PE, but I'd like to enlighten some here as to the actual wording and contents of the L of C. Clearly from the wording I quote above, the Exco stated it's intention to actually do this 'revision' and that they expected it to be done within a few months.

You know what we call Roy over on PE? King Midas with a difference, what he touches doesn't turn to gold, but something quite opposite.

http://sxmprivateeye.com/node/6418

The termilogy continuity is definitely not in William Marlin his dictionary. Sad to see the incompetence of island politics. St Maarten is the laughing stock. It does not matter who did what it is St Maarten that promised something. Please haal the kleppen af. For your info herewith I translate the word CONTINUITY: noun

Definition:

1. unchanging quality: the fact of staying the same, of being consistent throughout, or of not stopping or being interrupted
measures to ensure continuity of supply
the stability and continuity of traditional rural life


2. consistent whole: something that remains consistent or uninterrupted throughout
This program has benefited from two important continuities, in staffing and leadership.
stressed the continuities with the past

No matter how DP try to get out of this one, they cannot.
They caused the mess just because of greediness. William Marlin has all rights to let the people know exactly what took place. It may seem as if Wiliiam Marlin is speaking a lot about what the DP did or did not do, but if he does not do that, People will be blaming all the mess that is taking place right now on the present Government. So William, while you are Governing this Country (and doing a damn goo job), do not let anybody convince you that you should stop speaking about what the DP did or neglected to do. I for sure am one that is glad for sure that we understand the truth of all the confusion that really took place in Government before the National Alliance's Government took office. And now I know that no matter what pretty smile Sarah comes with (a false smile which by the way fades away even while you are still looking at her), and even her sweet talk is not going to help her of her party this election. It is over for them. Accept it DP and go home.

it is ironic that the same politition is again involed in a letter of ..... something if mr. Marlin was playing politics he would not have interven to stop the auction but again the word continuty does not include closing you eyes and do things that are wrong or should i say continue doing thinggs that are wrong westin stated that theyheld up there part of the "DEAL" they should let us know what deal they are talking about. Future country st.maarten cannot afford to have leaders that make deals that hurt the economy and exsistance of st. Maarten if it was a small local man the recievers would have sold off the removeable goods including the shirt off the back of the small man. thank god that the leaders change .how many other letttersof something are floating out there . the former dp gov never felt that the would not be wheeling and dealing forever. was any of or small hotels given a tax free vacation of ncourse not they may not be able to hold up their end of the Deeeeal i guess so unfair thank you NA for exposing another wrong doing william you are right DO NOT LET YOUR GOVERNMENT TAKE THE BLAME FOR THOSE LETTER WRITERS . we will be supporting the party for a better st.maarten

who do we hold accoutable for allowing BIG Bussinesses to break the law . THE DEALERS THAT FEEL THAT GOVERNMENT IS THE POCKET BOOK. thanks NA for shedding the light. Mr Roy Msarlin tell the people what you recieved from westin in return for a unlimited tax free vacation shame on you and your gov. for abusing your power again reminds me of your letter of intent a couple years ago . i hope the people see where the light house rays reaches in the pockets of the adealers

ST MAARTEN IDIOT'S STILL LOOK LIKE THEY DON'T BELIEVE POLITICS IS A GAME WERE BOTH SIDE HAVE THEIR PEOPLE BACKING THEM UP TRYING TO GET SET UP.NON OF THEM DON'T REALLY CARE A DAM ABOUT NOBODY BESIDES THEIR BEST FRIENDS . IT'S ALL ABOUT GETTING RICH.STOP BEING EASY TO FOOL MOST OF THESE PEOPLE IS MORE DUMB THAN YOU ON PAPER SO WHY LEAVE A MOUTH FOOL US.ST MAARTEN SMART PEOPLE EVEN DON'T WANT TO HEAR NOTHING ANY MORE FROM THESE CARTOOOOONS HEARD ENOUGH

st maarten island time is just like fox news every thing about d.p blow up big .any thing about n/a can't even post a comment or may be because nagico may be sponsor stop being bias and do your job right. talk now

@ L OF C, thank you for the info. I read the letter.

I am now wondering if I am actually extremely stupid because I find the letter to be very well put together and does not bind Government to anything. Even with reference to the disputed room tax, I cannot see where any Court ruling would be in favor of W.I. Resort. The letter further outlined several points which would secure jobs and contracts for local persons and businesses.
The letter was based on inquiries from W.I. Resort with regards to THEIR "intentions" to build on the former property of Dawn beach hotel. They made their requests and the (previous) EXCO replied accordingly.
So please, can someone, who feel they are supremely intelligent, curb my stupidity and tell me where all the wrongdoings of the (previous EXCO) lies. They simply could not get the ordinance on the R.Tax amended. It is also clear that W.I. Resort, in no way, could owe any room tax as of 2004 since they did not even commence building the Resort at that time, let alone was renting any units. They opened late 2006 with official opening in Jan. 2007.

Last but certainly not least. Did R. Marlin, on his own, send this letter or was is approved by the EXCO with both comm. T. Heyliger and I.C. member Loui Laveist being part of the EXCO? It is also evident that the L.O.C. was signed by both the Isl. Secr. and the Lt. Gov. So where is the malicious intent of this letter.

Pass the ordinance or once and for all, make it clear to W.I. Resort that it will not be done. Stop the nonsense. I want a Government, not a bunch of finger pointers. Lord I beg of you, give us at least, one real, honest and sincere politician. (That last sentence is not meant as a joke at all, I am tired of this mess).

The DP commissioners are trying to make it look like the NA wrote the letter in January informing Westin that they were obliged to pay the room tax, mind you, the DP were still in office in January 2009. You can fool people some of the time but not all the time, so many of the DP's wheeling and dealing's are coming to light . The Democratic Party is deceiving the people with statements blaming everyone but themselves and skillfully attempting to twist remarks and blaming civil servants and the NA. The former DP commissioners have lost credibility in the financial world and have humiliated all of us again and again. Roy Marlin stop humiliating yourself, this is getting painful to watch.

It's funny how the letter to MGM consultants is to Sarah's son in law. Between Sarah and Roy I don't know who more corrupt. They've destroyed the DP and blamed others for doing it. They played everyone well but they'll be played in the end.

For all those that didn't know it was Silvio Matser and Honde Marlin (william's son) who together own ENERGIZER have had big building contracts in WESTIN. William and Roy have been in business from day one on this project. The same as William and Theo have been in the harbor. The in between is ENERGIZER. Check it out Bibi and write about that if you truly want to do justify reporting.

just like wage tax / room tax is a liability that the a third party collects which MUST be passed on to Government. Westin is a middle man. The tax is paid by the guest, why should Westin keep this money. Other wise exempt the guest from paying this tax. IN addition exemt all from paying wage tax as well. Come one, who did what does not matter. Westin cannot be exempted from room tax.