SXMElections.com

Traffic Safety Concerns At Oranje Primary School Demand Immediate Action, Says Witu

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten The Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) is deeply concerned about the ongoing traffic safety issues that the staff and students of Oranje Primary School face daily. The school has been grappling with these challenges for many years, and President Stuart Johnson has issued a pressing call for immediate action to ensure the safety of all students and staff. Johnson said, Every day, students and staff must navigate a precarious situation as they board school buses at the crossroads of C.A Read more

Sunday Chat Podcast September 23, 2023 @ 11:00Am

The post SUNDAY CHAT PODCAST September 23, 2023 @ 11:00am appeared first on 721news.com | Sint Maarten News | SXM News.

Read more

Ennia Case Teaches: Structural Problems Require Structural Solutions

WILLEMSTAD (Source:Curacao Chronicle) – The issues surrounding Ennia, which concern both Curaao and the Netherlands, have sparked discussions and considerations about potential solutions and their consequences. According to econometricians Servaas Houben and Ronald Ketellapper, the main problem lies in the inadequate provisions and low capital buffers of Ennia Leven, resulting in the acute danger of pensions for approximately 30,000 residents of Curaao shrinking to twenty percent if the troubled insurer is not assisted with a substantial capital injection Read more

Mp De Weever: 554 Days With No Resolution To Gebe Crisis

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Independent member of Parliament Ludmila de Weever issued a media statement on the status of NV GEBE, St. Maartens sole electricity provider. De Weever, who has spoken passionately about the situation at GEBE since the March 2022 cyberattack, didnt mince words when she said that GEBE is a matter of national security Read more

Stop The Patchwork! Address The Root Cause Or The Issue Will Continue To Arise

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Oliver Williams, USP Candidate # 7 said in a press released: There must be reform of the roads in St. Maarten! Too long have we watched as mediocre work is done and then not too long after, the same roads are back to their previous condition. All over, you see potholes, warped asphalt, water running in the roads, debris in the road and much more.

The last update to our infrastructure was the construction of the Causeway in 2013 (which was a decade ago) Read more

World Bank Delegation Impressed With R4cr

Philipsburg – A World Bank mission, led by Mr. Alex Kamurase visited Sint Maarten from September 11 to 15, 2023 to assess the progress of the Resources for Community Resilience program (R4CR). The delegation also included Ms. Natalia Bavio, Financial Consultant and Ms. Chanelle Fingal, Social Development Consultant. Their primary objectives were to evaluate the overall progress, operational implementation and compliance of the R4CR program with the World Banks standards in the key areas of financial management, procurement, social and environmental safeguards.

During their visit, the World Bank team engaged with various other stakeholders, including the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) and R4CR’s Project Technical Committee Read more

Small Businesses To Benefit From Access To Financing For 3 More Years.

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten Based on the success of the Enterprise Support Project and the evident need for further assistance to entrepreneurs in the local market, the National Recovery Project Bureau (NRPB) is pleased to announce that the project has been extended until June 2028. This extension will provide local businesses with more time to apply for grant funding, thereby fostering further growth and development in the sector.

With this extension, businesses can now apply for grants and low-interest loans until June 30, 2025 Read more

Sunday Chat September 17, 2023 Live @ 11:00Am

SUNDAY CHAT

The post Sunday Chat September 17, 2023 — LIVE @ 11:00am appeared first on 721news.com | Sint Maarten News | SXM News.

Read more

Reunification Of Citizens With Lost And Recovered Documents

The Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM) is starting with a new initiative aimed at facilitating the return of lost personal effects and official documentation to their rightful owners. These items encompass essential documents such as identification cards, bank cards, travel documents, number plates, and other personal records.

In recent weeks, the KPSM made a list of all these lost items, ranging from identification cards to indispensable travel documents. These items have been voluntarily brought to the police station by concerned individuals and conscientious residents Read more

Four Year Sentence Handed Down For Cooler Fete Shooting

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten The Court of First Instance in Sint Maarten has handed down an unconditional sentence of four year in youth detention in a case of attempted manslaughter and illegal firearms possession. The verdict delivered on Wednesday, pertains to a shooting that transpired near the Festival Village after the 2022 Cooler Fete event.

That incident left one person severely injured and the presence of a second person at the time in the shooting led to the two counts of attempted manslaughter and two counts of illegal firearm possession.

Convicted is JJR, who owing to his age at the time of the shooting, received a sentence in accordance with juvenile criminal law.

The court also sentenced JJR to pay NAf Read more

Integrity Chamber Releases 2022 Annual Report

The Integrity Chamber presented its 2022 Annual Report to the Honourable Prime Minister, Ms. Silveria Jacobs, on August 25, 2023. The report provides a summary of the activities of the Integrity Chamber and information on the history, structure, and statistics of the organization.

The Integrity Chamber spent its third operational year laying the groundwork for a government and society built on integrity Read more

Court Issues Interlocutory JudgmentAnsaryS Liability Upheld

Willemstad/Philipsburg – The Centrale Bank van Curaao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) has taken note of the Common Court of Justices decision today on the appeal in the case of Ennia v. Ansary et al.

In todays interlocutory judgment, the Court upheld the liability of Ansary and others. The Court found Ennia’s claims to be admissible, entitling Ennia to damages amounting to at least NAf 250 million (USD 117 million, USD 11 million and NAf 25.8 million).

In order to address the remaining claims, the Court has determined that an investigation by an independent expert is necessary, while both parties will be required to provide additional information.

In particular, the investigation will focus on determining Mullet Bays fair value during the relevant years Read more

Emmanuel: Ansary Stole From Ennia,Not The People Of St. Maarten

~ Chides Ministers for infantile public behaviour ~

Independent MP and leader of the NOW party Christophe Emmanuel on Sunday said he is in disbelief over the behavior of the government of St. Maarten while the Dutch government tries to impose a loan on the people of St. Maarten to cover the criminal actions of Husang Ansary and his co-conspirators. What is the priority of the government? It is unbelievable the infantile behavior we are witnessing from Ministers while the house is burning around us, MP Emmanuel said.

The MP said while the Prime Minister is gansta-rapping on social media and the Minister of Finance is making paper-plane videos in a fishing hat, the Dutch is forcing St Read more

Mp Wescot-Williams Shares Her Thoughts At The Closing Of The Parliamentary Year 2023-2024.

MP Wescot: On Monday, September 11, we close the 2022-2023 parliamentary year and as customary, Members of Parliament are given the opportunity to reflect on the past 12 months and provide some thoughts for the coming year. On Tuesday, Governor Ajamu Baly will present the Governments Statement for the coming year.

In MP Wescots view, this presentation comes at a peculiar time, with elections scheduled for January 2024; no budget for 2024 and the usual behavior of the ministers towards parliament.

Of course the absence of an amended 2023 budget and the tardiness in submitting the 2024 draft budget do not faze this government one bit.

Nevertheless our constitution prescribes this presentation Read more

Witu: The Future Classroom And The Urgent Need For Responsible Ai Integration

Philipsburg The landscape of education is undergoing a transformation powered by advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI). As we step into an era of unparalleled technological progress, it is crucial to recognize the potential of AI in shaping the future classroom. However, concerns loom large over the responsible implementation of AI in education, highlighting the need for a balanced and thoughtful approach to ensure optimal learning outcomes for all, remarked Stuart Johnson President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union on Tuesday. Johnson, added, With AI’s capabilities to personalize learning experiences, provide instant feedback, and adapt to individual student needs, educators around the world need to explore innovative ways to harness its potential Read more

Investments In Mental Health Sector Will Improve Access And Service Delivery

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten Sint Maartens healthcare sector will receive a significant investment in the coming years through the Improving Mental Health Services Project with a goal to sustainably improve the entire mental healthcare chain. The project will seek to improve access and quality in service delivery and contribute to the construction of a new mental health facility geared towards future demand.

Recognizing the urgent need for more effective and accessible mental healthcare, Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA) Omar Ottley is pleased that this project is well on its way to successful implementation.

Mental health is a critical aspect of our overall well-being, and it is imperative that the national mental health system is robust and adequately resourced to meet the growing demand for mental health services Read more

Szv And Ats Offer Businesses Compliance Support And Training During Controls

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten Social & Health Insurances SZV and Audit Team Sint Maarten (ATS) will be conducting routine compliance controls by the business community. The objective of the controls is to ensure that employers are adhering to their SZV obligations in accordance with the stipulated laws, such as the registration of their company and all their employees at SZV and the payment of the monthly premiums.

During the controls, employers who identify to struggle with compliance measures and need additional assistance will have the opportunity to schedule 1-on-1 support sessions with an ATS team member Read more

Why Is Gebe Not Switching Over To Prepaid Electricity?

St. Maarten – Sucker Garden

For approximately one year, I ,URSM Candidate Julian Rollocks Jr., have introduced and discussed the proposal of GEBE offering prepaid electricity service to the general public of St. Maarten Read more

Sunday Chat September 10, 2023 @ 11:00Am

Sunday Chat September 10, 2023

The post SUNDAY CHAT September 10, 2023 @ 11:00am appeared first on 721news.com | Sint Maarten News | SXM News.

Read more

Witu Is Concerned About The Proposed National Health Insurance For St. Maarten

Philipsburg The President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU), Stuart Johnson, has voiced serious concerns about the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) in St. Maarten. Mr. Johnson’s concerns highlight issues related to public awareness, the quality of healthcare services, access to preventative care, medication policies, and the impact on the vulnerable in our country.

One of the primary concerns raised by Mr Read more

Wilson Has Questions Regarding National Health Insurance

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten On Sunday, August 20, the United Sint Maarten Party (USP) candidate Gromyko Wilson, sounded the alarm on the intention of Government to pass the National Health Insurance (NHI) law by January 1, 2024. Wilson warned that this law may not be in the interest of the community.

Government is pushing to get the opinion of different stakeholders in the community, like the Windward Islands Chamber of Labour Unions (WICLU) and SER Read more

Sunday Chat September 03, 2023

The post SUNDAY CHAT September 03, 2023 appeared first on 721news.com | Sint Maarten News | SXM News.

Read more

Rotary Sunset Installs 2023-2024 Board

Orient Bay, St. Martin– The members of the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset celebrated an auspicious moment as they held their 2023-2024 Board Installation Ceremony at Coco Beach Restaurant on Saturday, August 19th, 2023. Distinguished guests, such as the Past District Governor, Mr. Louis Wever, and his wife Rotarian Amanda Wever, Assistant Governor and Club member Elisia Lake and well-wishers gathered at the restaurant to share and engage in what was called a night of fellowship. The evening was filled with various special moments that made this event an unforgettable one.

Assistant Governor Elisia Lake proudly re-installed Rotarian Kimberley Duzong as the clubs President for the new Rotary year 2023-2024 Read more

Deadline Extended For Emotional Freedom Techniques Course To Sept 5Th

BE EQUIPPED TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY

Great Bay, Sint Maarten — In light of the many challenging issues that our families, individuals and communities face daily, Dr. N. Erna Mae Francis Cotton visionary of Victorious Living and the counseling program developer at the GHBU, St. Maarten Campus designed a Masters Level counseling degree program in 2015 to meet the growing socio- emotional and psychological needs in our community. The program covers topics such as effective grief counseling, suicide prevention and assessment, effective marriage counseling, and effective techniques for working with children.

Francis-Cotton, who also co-developed the Grief Counseling curriculum for the University of West Indies BSC in Social Work program, recognizes the significance of providing practical and evidenced-based tools for counselors to effectively help their clients to heal Read more