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PHILIPSBURG:---  Mr. William Obispo became the happy winner of the annual Maduro Travel New Years Raffle. Mr. Obispo won a Travel Gift Bag with certificates for an all-inclusive getaway for two persons. Partners in the Dominican Republic, Air Century (roundtrip flight tax-only), Colonial Tours (roundtrip transfer airport-hotel) and Barcel Bvaro Grand Resort (3 nights all-inclusive stay at Adults Only) contributed to the Travel Gift Bag.
General Manager Mr. Sjaoel Richardson stated: First of all: congratulations to Mr Read more

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Pm Presents Legislative Changes To Parliament On Cost-Cutting Measures

Silveria Jacobs

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs presented the legislative changes to three national ordinances for implementation of the cost-cutting measures per Read more

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Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs Clarifies Misconstrued Headline Published By The Daily Herald

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday, January 21st, an article was published in The Daily Heralds newspaper erroneously stating that Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs announced COVID-19 vaccines would only be available to registered residents during Wednesdays Council of Minister's weekly press briefing. Residents are persons residing on the island and is not limited to persons with citizenship. All residents regardless of their status will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine Read more

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Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs Presents Legislative Amendments To Parliament On Cost Cutting Measures

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten – Today, Prime MinisterSilveriaJacobs attended a closed-doorworkingmeetingof the Committee of General AffairsofParliament. During the meeting,she presented the legislative changes to three national ordinances for implementation of the cost cutting measuresper the conditions for receiving the 2ndtranche ofliquidity support from thegovernmentof the Netherlands.To meet these conditions St. Maarten drafted the following threeamendingNational Ordinancesin order forthe cost cutting measures to be enforceable.

Temporary National Ordinance to amend the employment conditions of political authorities. This draft National Ordinance will temporarily reduce the employment conditions of political authorities by 25% per July 1, 2020.

Temporary National Ordinance COVID-19 cuts employment conditions for civil servants.

This draft National Ordinance will temporarily reduce personnel cost by adjusting the terms of employment of public servants by12.5% per July 1, 2020.

Temporary National Ordinance on the standardization of top incomes and adjustment of employment conditions at (semi) public sector entities.

This draft National Ordinance will standardize top incomes and reduce the employment conditions by 12.5% per July 1, 2020,within the (semi) public sector to meet the conditions set by the Dutch Government. 

During the meeting, there was a misunderstanding concerning what documents were confidential and what could be shared openly with the members of Parliament pertaining to the country package agreements concluded in December 2020 Read more

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Pmia 19Th Annual Lionel Bernard Scott Lecture Series Program On Thursday, January 28Th, 2021

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – PMIA Board and members are once more geared up to offer the community of St. Maarten another high-quality educational lecture on LB Scotts birthday. This is usually a forum where local citizens from all walks of life come together to listen and participate in annual lectures at the PMIA Hall. However, due to COVID-19 the program will be held virtually this year.

Annually the program features local experts in their field who share their knowledge and experience on educational, socio-economic, and political issues in honor of the memory of the late Lionel Bernard Scott.

Past speakers included local professional such as , His Excellency Governor Drs Eugene Holiday, Lawyer Richard Gibson Sr  former Lieutenant governor Dennis Richardson, the late political leader Vance James Jr, the late Educator Camille Baly, NAGICO business owner Mr Read more

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Ministry Of Vsa Receives Covid-19 Vaccine Freezers

Minister of VSA Richard Panneflek.

PHILIPSBURG--Freezers intended to store the coronavirus COVID-19 Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have arrived on St. Maarten in preparation of the vaccination programme scheduled to roll out mid-February.

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Emmanuel Says Govt Owes Public More Info On Carnival

PHILIPSBURG, Sint maarten – Independent Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel is of the opinion that government owes the people a better explanation about why itgreen lightedCarnival 2021. The MP said he is aware of the clause that the event could be called off if the situation warrants it, but to just announce such a large event in a pandemic without proper explanation is unacceptable, he said.

The MP made sure to point out that he does not hold the decision against the SCDF Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Independent Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel is of the opinion that government owes the people a better explanation about why it green-lighted Carnival 2021. The MP said he is aware of the clause that the event could be called off if the situation warrants it, but to just announce such a large event in a pandemic without proper explanation is unacceptable, he said.

The MP made sure to point out that he does not hold the decision against the SCDF Read more

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Social And Political Dialogue On Country Package Missing

Philipsburg, St. Maarten, 20 January 2021   Not only has the agreement for the country package  been signed, but the Government has also announced the organization that it has put in place to guide St. Maarten’s part in the agreement. What will follow now is the so-called implementation plans, although items in the country package are already being worked on. Case in point,  we  see from a meeting of the four Ministers of Justice that it has been concluded that matters raised in the country package will be executed.  So it is not as if everything is on hold until there are implementation plans.  It is therefore paramount that the officially signed documents between the Dutch and St Read more

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Mp Emmanuel, Usp Faction Call For Meeting On Coho

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten – Independent MP Christopher Emmanuel, supported by the MPs representing the USP Faction in Parliament Claudius Buncamper and Akeem Arrindell, has forwarded a letter to the Chairperson of Parliament requesting a Central Committee meeting to discuss the Caribbean Body for Reform & Development (COHO), the law supporting this entity and the country packages.

The letter reads as follows: 

On Tuesday, December 21, 2020, the Prime Minister Of St Read more

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~Government still monitoring the planning for carnival 2021~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs made clear on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers press briefing that there will be no jouvert jump up or any other jump up for carnival 2021. The Prime Minister said that a lot of focus was placed on the calendar of events that were presented to the government by the St Read more

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Pfp Requests Vaccination Plan Update From Ministry Of Vsa

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten Party for Progress membersof Parliament Melissa Gumbsand Raeyhon Petersonsubmitted critical questions regarding Country St Read more

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The Parliament Of Sint Maarten Missed The Opportunity To Tell The WorldWhere It Stood On The Constitutional Future Of This Country.

Philipsburg, St. Maarten,During the opening session of therecently concludedIPKO meetings held on January 6thand 7th,St. Maarten wasunable to articulateaposition on the decolonization trajectorythat a majorityof Parliament has decided toundertake and so, opines United Democrats (UD) Member of Parliament, Wescot-Williams, the Parliament of Sint Maarten has missed the opportunity to tell the world where it stood on the constitutional future of this country.

Thiswas not surprising because this articulation and defendingthe stanceon decolonization has not been forthcoming on St Read more

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Mp Emmanuel: Chairman Of ParliamentSetting Dangerous Precedent

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Sewing seditious behavior and interfering with civil servants executing directives is a dangerous precedent to set, says Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel in response to a circulating video of Chairman of Parliament Rolando Brison confronting economic inspectors at a nightlife establishment.

In the video, Brison is recorded chiding and questioning the inspectors for trying to close the establishment, questioning their authority and legal basis Read more

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Sarah: GovT. Needs To Make It Clear Where It Stands On Decolonisation Issue

Sarah Wescot-Williams

PHILIPSBURG--United Democrats (UD) Member of Parliament (MP) Read more

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Enforcement Of Ministerial Decree Concerning School Fights.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) has taken note of videos of school fights being circulated on social media since the commencement of the school year. Based on this disturbing trend of misconduct and abuse, the police force would again like to inform the public, especially students, parents, and guardians, of a ministerial decree issued by Honorable Minister of Justice Ms. Anna Richardson on November 16th2020.
With the issuance of this ministerial decree, the Honorable Minister of Justice has given directives to the Police Force of Sint Maarten to repressively act against misconduct by students and the community at large Read more

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Enforcement Of Ministerial Decree Concerning School Fights

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) has taken note ofvideos ofschool fights being circulated on social media since the commencement of the school year. Based on this disturbing trend of misconduct and abuse, the police force would again like to inform the public, especially students, parents and guardians,of a ministerial decree issued by Honorable Minister of Justice Ms. Anna Richardson on November 16th2020.

With the issuance of this ministerial decree, the Honorable Minister of Justice has given directives to the Police Force of Sint Maarten to repressively act against misconduct by students and the community at large. 

The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) will like to emphasize that the infractions taken up in the decree will be thoroughly enforced in the districtsand areas mentioned in the ministerial decree. Some of the infractions mentioned in the decree are:                                       That there should be NO loitering by children or adults in the school districts.  Fighting and any other types of criminal activities will NOT be tolerated. This includes assault, assault with a weapon, possession of illegal weapons, possession of illicit substances, group fights, threatening, and disorderly conduct that disturbs the peace, among others.

Over the past years, we have strengthened our efforts to prevent misconduct and abuse while working with partners in our response to this type of behavior by putting the victims first. 

Based on the fact that fights and related criminal activities are becoming more violent with a high frequency, a rising number of teenagers are actually being arrested for their in/out of school misbehavior and are being brought to court for their role(s) in criminal activity. 

The top priorities of the police force are to provide victims with assistance, ensure swift and victim-centered investigations and establish safe and accessible reporting channels Read more

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Apc Bank Gets Banking Licence

Oswin Oz Eleonora.

PHILIPSBURG--Following an extensive preparatory process, APC Bank recently obtained a commercial banking license from the Central Bank of Curaao and St Maarten (CBCS). With this license, APC Bank established by General Pension FundRead more

De Weever: Teatt Ministry Will Not Condone Intimidation Of Controllers

TEATT Minister Ludmila de Weever.

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Ludmila de Weever made it clear on Sunday tha Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- During the opening session of the recently concluded IPKO meetings held on January 6th and 7th, St. Maarten was unable to articulate a position on the decolonization trajectory that a majority of Parliament has decided to undertake and so, opines United Democrats (UD) Member of Parliament, Wescot-Williams, the Parliament of Sint Maarten has missed the opportunity to tell the world where it stood on the constitutional future of this country.

This was not surprising because this articulation and defending the stance on decolonization has not been forthcoming on St Read more

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Carnival Should Not Go Ahead

As a former President of the St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation I stand in support of St. Martin of Tours Parish Priest Father Adam in asking our Government to CANCEL all plans and REFUSE issuing the necessary permits for CARNIVAL 2021.

And just in case there were thoughts of it, do the same for the HEINEKEN REGATTA. Hopefully the Collectivit will also deny permits for Carnival on the French side of the island. NONE of these events where NO ONE can truly control crowds getting in each others faces, must take place this year to prevent more havoc on our health system and by extension on our really screwed up economy!

As much as I personally LOVE the annual event, the idea to organize St Read more

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The Parliament Of Sint Maarten Missed The Opportunity To Tell The World Where It Stood On The Constitutional Future Of This Country

Philipsburg, St. Maarten, 18 January 2021  During the opening session of the recently concluded IPKO meetings held on January 6th and 7th, St. Maarten was unable to articulate a position on the decolonization trajectory  that a majority of Parliament has decided to undertake and so,  opines United Democrats (UD) Member of Parliament, Wescot-Williams, the Parliament of Sint Maarten has missed the opportunity to tell the world where it stood on the constitutional future of this country.

This was not surprising because this articulation and defending the stance on decolonization has not been forthcoming on St Read more

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Brison Says He Will Not Be Stopped From Asking The Proper Questions

A screenshot of MP Brison on the scene.

~ Emmanuel: Brison setting dangerous precedent ~

PHILIPSBURG--Chairperson of Parliament Rolando Brison says he will not be stopped from asking the proper questions when he sees injustice taking place on the island.

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Willemstad:--- After an extensive preparatory process, APC Bank recently obtained a commercial banking license from the Central Bank of Curaao and Sint Maarten. With this license, APC Bank can now focus on the necessary preparatory work to start operating in Curaao and Sint Maarten.

APC Bank was founded in April 2020 and bought the shares of PSB in May. APC Bank plans to purchase the shares of CHB as well Read more