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PHILIPSBURG:--- Are government and parliament waiting until the next election comes around or until the next ship jumper presents him or herself in parliament to start working on electoral reform again? Any electoral change involving the constitution requires the input and blessing from the Kingdom government which includes the governments of the Netherlands, Aruba, and Curacao. On the other hand, according to our constitution, amendments to election-related ordinances such the Election Ordinance, the National Ordinance Registration and Finances of Political Parties only require “a majority of at least two-thirds of the votes cast by the serving members” (art Read more

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Cupecoy:--- Graduates of the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC) gathered in St. Maarten on Saturday, May 27 to attend the school’s 2017 Commencement Ceremony. The event honored attendees’ academic accomplishments and signaled the start of graduates’ professional careers as MD-credentialed physicians.

Golden Jackson, PhD, Assistant Dean for Service Learning and Community Affairs at AUC, presided over the ceremony, which included a performances by the Generation New Status Drum Corps and gospel singer Angie Pantophlet, invocations and benedictions by Father Yohanes Bally, and addresses by Heidi Chumley, MD, Executive Dean and Chief Academic Officer of AUC and Dhaval Desai, MD, Director of Hospital Medicine at Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta and 2008 graduate of AUC.

Attendees gave a warm welcome to the Honorable Silveria Jacobs, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports, who attended the morning graduation ceremony Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---  Upcoming Friday, June 1st, Sergio Sno (Author) will be presenting “Tips for Our Youth” to the youth of Sint. Maarten and the general public at the Philipsburg Jubilee Library from 7 pm to 9 pm. This is the very first book written by the author Sergio Sno. However, according to him, it will not be his last. This book was born from his experiences as he worked with young people in his native country Suriname and also here on Sint Maarten. After losing his mother at the age of thirteen, Sergio had to fend for himself Read more

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Jetblue Named Top 20 Place To Work In Forbes’ ‘America’S Best Employers Of 2017’ List For Third Consecutive Year.

-- JetBlue Named No. 1 Company to Work for In Transportation and Logistics --
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE) -- JetBlue (NASDAQ:JBLU) today announced it has earned a top spot among Forbes’ “America’s Best Employers of 2017.” The airline landed at No. 12 of 500 companies nationally and for the third year, was named the best company to work for (No. 1) in the category of transportation and logistics.
The annual Forbes ranking honors employers based on an independent survey asking how likely employees would be to recommend their employer—and other employers in their respective industries—to someone else.
JetBlue has long been recognized for its award-winning product and customer service Read more

Damage From Lightning Strikes Keeps Telem Group Technicians Busy All Day Monday.

Pond Island:--- TelEm Group technicians were busy in the field Monday dealing with a spate of reports of equipment damage caused by lightning strikes and flash floods.
The area hardest hit was Belvedere, where a TelEm Group sub-station was struck by lightning leaving the customers in the area with mobile voice and data service and also without fixed voice and Internet service.
According to Chief Technical Officer (CTO) Mr. Eldert Louisa, customers in the Dutch Quarter, Sucker Garden, Middle Region and Defiance areas also had their telecommunication services interrupted Monday morning as a result of the damage to the Belvedere sub-station which also serves these areas.
Mr Read more

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“Dominate The Runway” Brings Caribbean Emerging Designers To St. Maarten.

Foundation INFOBIZZ hosts project to better support creative entrepreneurs in the fashion industry

Great Bay:---- Eight emerging fashion designers from Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT’s) will be in St. Maarten from June 4 – 9, 2017 for a weeklong training called Dominate the Runway, which culminates with a fashion show. Inspired by Project Runway and led by Cristal Le Grand, the project manager, Dominate The Runway seeks to equip emerging designers to dominate in business and in fashion by providing experiential learning in both areas Read more

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“I am proud to be a Guyanese but I chose St. Maarten as my home”

PHILIPSBURG:--- About 1,500 persons witnessed the grand opening of Motorworld state of the art showroom which officially opened on Friday, May 26th, 2017 (On Guyana’s 51st Independence.”)
Among those that attend the grand and spectacular ceremony were dignitaries from both sides of the island, Prime Minister William Marlin, Governor Eugene Holiday,  President of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams President of the Collectivity of St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The tenants living in the Belvedere area under deplorable conditions got another surprise earlier this week when they received a letter from the foundation informing them that they are not allowed to have pets. But management of the SMHDF along with the Supervisory Board is yet to tell the tenants and homeowners when their homes will be repaired. At least four homeowners who bought their homes from SMHDF got homes with defects, yet these homes pass the inspection that was conducted by the department of VROMI.
SMN News learned that just recently SMHDF sold two other homes and at least one of the homeowners already reported that the walls of his new home is cracking just like the others.
Besides the lack of maintenance the Supervisory Board members are at war among themselves simply because at least one of them who ran for office on the UPP slate wanted his campaign manager to get the job as the technical manager for SMHDF Read more

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Registration For Home Repair Program For The Elderly & Disabled Closing Soon.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister Emil Lee is proud to announce the launch of the ministry’s pilot Home Repair project for the Elderly and Disabled. “During my first tenure, it became very clear that there is a need in our community for a program that assists our elderly and disabled who are financially disadvantaged and cannot afford to make basic repairs to their homes in order to make their homes livable and dignified Read more

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The time to come clean now says Minister Gibson Sr.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Finance Richard Gibson Sr. announced on Wednesday that his Ministry is busy preparing a legislation which will soon be presented to the Council of Ministers. This legislation is aimed at getting residents to fully disclose their income taxes. The Minister said each year the country have been struggling to balance its budget simply because government does not have enough funds to cover its expenses Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of VSA Emil Lee said in response to question posed by SMN News on how his ministry intends to combat mosquitos that are now plaguing residents after a few days of rainfall and if fogging will take place anytime soon. SMN News proceeded to ask the Minister of he will continue the use of the UV traps. Minister Lee said that while the residents would like to see trucks spraying chemicals throughout the island he along with CPS has taken another route Read more

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Division Public Education Hosts Motivational Day For Cycle Ii Year 4 Students.

BELVEDERE:--- The Division of Public Education (DPE) within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sport is hosting a Motivational Day for the Public Schools’ cycle II year 4 students on Tuesday, May 23rd and today, Wednesday, May 24th. The theme for this years’ Motivational Day is “Being Dependable helps you get the results you want.” A motivational day is a two-part event and also consists of a Career Fair Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Health Emil Lee refused to divulge the findings of the baseline study he paid a Dutch consultant to conduct a so-called baseline study at SMMC, the Inspectorate and the Department of Health. While Minister Lee confirmed he received the report from the consultant that was paid Euros 14,000.00 for a one week job. SMN News asked the Minister to release the conclusion of the report since he has been supporting SMMC who have not been complying with the rules laid down for them by the Inspectorate after the audit was conducted in 2012.
The stance of the Minister even led him to issue a gag order to the Inspectorate, which had to be withdrawn because the Inspectorate appealed the decision of the Minister Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Saint Maarten Martial Arts Federation (SMMAF) proudly presented its first annual spring competition on Saturday, May 20th at MPC Gym in St. Peters. SMMAF is a new sports foundation founded by Marco London with the objective of unifying combat martial arts on St. Maarten. The event was unique in that two very different combat martial art forms were on display- Muay Thai Kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Competitors ages 4-22 years hailed from Marco London's Sityodtong Foundation, SXM BJJ/Renzo Gracie St Read more

GREAT BAY:--- We often say that the youth are the future. Well, the future is now.” This statement by Dennisio Duzong, 27, of the Independence for St. Martin Foundation (ISMF) sums up one of the main reasons the foundation is requesting Parliament to convene a new constitutional referendum.
Making the case for ISMF in its presentation before the Central Committee of Parliament on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, Duzong received high praise from members of parliament one of whom said the future is in good hands.
“Unless we are willing to take full responsibility for ourselves and the choices we make, we have no control over our lives Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Charlotte Brookson Academy of the Performance Arts (CBA) proudly announces its students Faith Peterson, Kiara Vanterpool, Lian Borsje, Ray Angel Boasman and Jeremiah David, who will be forming part of the National Institute of Arts (NIA) delegation to compete in Champagne, France, from May 25-28, 2017. The total delegation of students traveling to France is eight of which five are the CBA students. Th students had first competed in the prestigious Regionaux Confederation National De Danse held for the first time in St Read more

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USM, Pond Island:---- There are two matters all St Martiners agree on. The first is the importance of education as a way for the every Peter, Paul, Pablo, Ping, Maria, Melissa, and Mahati to become a lawyer, doctor, nurse, carpenter, electrician, or scientist. The second is that education on this island is in need of improvement. It is important however to recognize that part of fixing any situation is thoroughly understanding how one got into that situation and how seemingly easy solutions might be costly in the long run.

Given this state of affairs, the University of St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI) would like to welcome Mr. Benjamin Ortega as a new member on COCI’s Board of Directors.

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GREAT BAY:---The Independence for St. Martin Foundation (ISMF) has expressed solidarity with the people and government of St. Eustatius in the ongoing conflict with the government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Speaking on behalf of ISMF during the latter’s presentation to the Central Committee of Parliament on Wednesday, May 18, 2017, secretary of the foundation Dr. Rhoda Arrindell said, “we of the ISMF have taken note of the increasing tension between the government of St Read more

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GREAT BAY:---- Following its presentation to parliament on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, the Independence for St. Martin Foundation (ISMF) said it is encouraged by the response of the legislative body to its call for a constitutional referendum. “Parliament is the only authority that can convene a referendum and even though, as President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams pointed out, a new constitutional status is not specifically mentioned in the constitution as one of the reasons for a referendum, it is now for Parliament to do the right thing and allow the people of St Read more

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Life expectancy of participants looked at

PHILIPSBURG:--- Actual pension reforms in St. Maarten are one step closer to being implemented, following the signing of an agreement between the general pension fund administrator, APS, and St. Maarten’s Finance Minister, Richard Gibson Sr.
The agreement was signed on Friday last, at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, as a major highlight of the APS 2017 pension seminar, held at the same venue.
Signing on behalf of APS were APS board officials, Mr Read more

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Road Closures And Traffic Diversions.

PHILIPSBURG:--- In connection with the up NAGICO to NAGICO cycling race which is scheduled to start on Friday, May 19th and end on Sunday, May 21st, 2017 the police department is announcing the following road closures and traffic diversions.
Friday, May 19th the”Cause Way Bridge Time Trial”.
At 05.00 p.m Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Central Committee of Parliament will be meeting this week to discuss several issues. One such issue is the verdict pertaining to the Integrity Chamber. Isn’t it ironic, that the Central Committee has only now decided to meet to discuss the verdict handed down by the Constitutional Court in July 2016, detailing its reasons for rescinding the Integrity Chamber law? In January 2017, the parliamentarians listened to a passionate presentation by the Honorable Minister of General Affairs against the appointment of a Dutch quartermaster who, by the way, was one of the conditions in the Integrity Chamber protocol, agreed upon by the Government of Sint Maarten Read more

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Mother’S Day Donation To New Moms At Smmc.

CAY HILL:--- In observance of Mother’s Day, on Monday, May 15th, 2017, the Strictly Business Foundation donated several gifts to mothers at the Obstetrics and Gynecology ward (OB/GYN) at the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC).

Representatives of the foundation, Julian Rollocks Jr., Bryan Barry and Melvin Austrie, visited the hospital to donate the gifts as part of the foundation's efforts to give back to their community.

Their thoughtful gesture particularly focused on mothers who gave birth on Mother’s Day at the hospital Read more

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