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PHILIPSBURG:--- A meeting that could have brought some answers to many lingering questions was obstructed again by NA members of parliament. I dutifully followed the rules and vacated the chair’s seat to speak on the topic, only to see the same old games being played. This would have been the right place for ministers to clarify and respond to concerns that exist in the community.
I expected the Minister of VROMI, who continues to rant on radio programs about the Simpsonbay Lagoon to provide proof of his allegations; I expected information regarding the border control agreement, to allay fears that this agreement would infringe upon the open borders between the 2 sides of the island;
I expected the answers to how the government was dealing with the finances of government, knowing that we have a serious budget deficit, and the 50 million guilders budgeted for extra coast because of hurricane Irma; as well as answers on the roof repair program and food voucher program.
I wanted to know what government plans are for the homeless persons still in shelters at the Festival Village and the Little League ballpark.
I want(ed) to know what new labor policies are being devised, given the “new realities” of our labor market.
I want(ed) to know the truth about pledges from (government-owned) companies.
I wanted government’s take on the election resolution and the fact that the 3 months period, stipulated in the constitution, has not been observed.
I wanted to know about insurance, adjusters, and payouts in general, and for government and government companies in particular.
“Some argue that there is much happening and there is some truth to that Read more

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PANAMA CITY, Panama:--- Managing Director of the Sint Maarten Nature Foundation Tadzio Bervoets this week attended the United Nations Environment Program/ Caribbean Environment Program’s meeting on Ecosystem-Based Management in Panama City, Panama. The United Nations’ Caribbean Environment Program (CEP) and Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) to the Cartagena Convention, have been aiming to promote and integrate the principles of ecosystem-based management approach throughout the insular Caribbean Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Presenting the candidates to the public via the media gives the people the opportunity to become acquainted with their prospective parliamentarian prior to the upcoming elections. In this article the Leader of the Sint Maarten Christian Party (SMCP), Wycliffe Smith, takes pleasure in introducing Richard A Read more

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Continuation Central Committee Meeting Of Parliament About Discussion With Usm Board On The Motives For The Closure Of Usm On Tuesday Morning.

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The House of Parliament will sit in a Central Committee meeting on Tuesday, December 5, 2017. USM Board members will be present for the first agenda point.
The continuation of the urgent Central Committee meeting which was adjourned on November 28, 2017 is scheduled for 10.00 hrs in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda points are:

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Minister Jacobs Hosts Attitude Of Gratitude Thanksgiving & Tree Lighting Ceremony

Philipsburg – Today Dec 3rd, the Government of St. Maarten in collaboration with the St. Maarten United Ministerial Foundation (SMUMF), Christian Council (CC) successfully hosted and celebrated the annual Thanksgiving Service and Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony heralding the end of the Hurricane Season 2017. His Excellency Governor E.B. Holiday and Mrs. Holiday, Chairlady of Parliament S. Wescott-Williams, Honorable Prime Minister R Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Today Dec 3rd, the Government of St. Maarten in collaboration with the St. Maarten United Ministerial Foundation (SMUMF), Christian Council (CC) successfully hosted and celebrated the annual Thanksgiving Service and Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony heralding the end of the Hurricane Season 2017. His Excellency Governor E.B. Holiday and Mrs. Holiday, Chairlady of Parliament S. Wescott-Williams, Honorable Prime Minister R Read more

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POND ISLAND:--- TelCell’s Breakthrough Youth Talent Show finals, held for the first time at the Harbour Facility, Saturday, is being hailed the biggest and best to date by show organizers and an emotion-packed audience.
Once again the performance brought the audience to its feet and some to tears, with all youngsters performing to a very high professional level - leaving the panel of judges with a lot of work to do to select the winning acts.

At the end of the night and into the early hours of Sunday morning the organizers announced this year’s TelCell Breakthrough Youth Talent Search winners in their respective categories as:

TelCell Breakthrough 2017 Winners
Sinatra Bauld – vocals; Shakim York – Rapping; Temaia Dennis - Spoken Word; Manukiell Edwards - Dance (Urban); Jeremiah David- dance (technique); Tyler Percival – Instruments.

This year second place finalists were also named:
Quon Gordon – Singing; Niky Jean Charles aka (Dice) – Rapping;
Timothy da Silva - Dance (Urban); Ingemar Arndell- Dance (technique);
Gershwin Busby – Instruments.

Individual Awards:
Most developed artist - Stefanas Waakzaam; Best team spirit - Roan Soriano;
Telcell SMS campaign - Temaia Denis; Most Creative Performance - Tyler Percival; Best Promoter - Jason Brice.
Producer’s Pick - Tyler Percival
The winning acts will be the toast of TelCell for the next year with the TelCell Breakthrough winners already booked to assist the company with promotional spots along with promotion of their own performing schedules.
The winners will soon be featured on posters throughout the island delivering their own personal messages to their peers in schools and in the St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- As a board, we wanted the people of St. Maarten to know that we are EXTREMELY proud of our leader Prime Minister William Marlin. We realize that some people have been trying to discredit him as a politician and a person. We know the real man, the man devoted to family and friends and loyal to St. Maarten. We also felt the need to remind ourselves of some of his many accomplishments.

Many politicians can claim to have vision or a record of accomplishments but upon scrutiny, their claims are easily discarded Read more

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Response To Usp

The Democratic Party has been one of the longest serving parties in the history of St. Maarten.  We have had our ups and downs, but we have been there for the people of St. Maarten, now more than ever before. Our main goal was and continues to be, “how can we make our island a better place for the people of St. Maarten”.

To hear a political party, who welcomed the leader of the Democratic Party as the chairlady in one breathe and denounce her in the next, say some of the most unprofessional things is a shame to say the least.  This berating article from the USP board comes as no surprise, because the same lowdown type of message was previously shared in the NA/USP/DP coalition WhatsApp chat.

Yes, the “testicular fortitude” message from the hand of a TEATT cabinet staffer, singling out 2 leaders of the coalition and calling the other (female) leader “spineless” Read more

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Six Caribbean Territories And States Eliminate Mother-To-Child Transmission Of Hiv And Syphilis.

The World Health Organization has validated Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, and Saint Kitts and Nevis as achieving dual elimination

ST. KITTS & NEVIS/GENEVA:--- Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Montserrat and Saint Kitts and Nevis were today certified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as having eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.

“This elimination is the result of our strong political commitment to public health and of making the health of mothers, children, and families a regional priority,” said Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of St Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Philipsburg Jubilee Library (PJL) will be hosting her annual Christmas Market on Thursday, December 21st, from 10 am to 8pm at the library’s parking lot.

The Library’s annual Christmas Market festivities will be hosting crafters from all over St. Maarten, displaying their arts and creative works. Individually decorated stands will offer handcrafted goods where shoppers can find one of a kind gifts and decorations.

This year is promised, just the same as previous years, to be a spectacular community event.
In order to make this event a success we would like to invite all interested persons to come out and register to be part of this wonderful annual tradition.

Persons who would like to display or sell their arts and crafts, baskets, liqueurs, and cakes should register by December 12th, 2017 Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Former Prime Minister William Marlin who is presently off island said on Friday morning that he had never given permission to Minister Lee to put the MR-4 number plate on his private vehicle.
Marlin said he needed to make a public statement about this as he has been receiving messages asking if he did, as seemingly Minister Lee has been making statements that Marlin had given him permission to do so.
Marlin said that when it was discussed in a COM meeting at the Cabinet of the Governor he could recall telling the Minister that it was actually illegal and that if he was to get in an accident it would pose a problem Read more

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Minister Jacobs Presents Proposal To Usm To Provide Financial Injection To Prevent Closure

~ Minister Jacobs; Awaits decision of the Board ~

PHILIPSBURG — On Tuesday November 28th, the Council of Ministers (CoM) gave the go ahead to the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, to meet with the University of St. Martin Foundation (USMF) to propose a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to grant incidental subsidy (amounting to NAF. 690K- 920K over three/four months) in the interest of preventing the closure of the USM as well as preparing for the continuity of the institution in a transparent, accountable, efficient and effective manner Read more

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Awaits decision of the Board

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Tuesday, November 28th, the Council of Ministers (CoM) gave the go ahead to the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, to meet with the University of St. Martin Foundation (USMF) to propose a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to grant incidental subsidy (amounting to NAF. 690K- 920K over three/four months) in the interest of preventing the closure of the USM as well as preparing for the continuity of the institution in a transparent, accountable, efficient and effective manner Read more

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Connecting sustainable businesses, investments, innovation, between the Netherlands, Dutch Caribbean, and Latin America.

GREAT BAY:--- St. Maarten joined countries of the kingdom for a two-part trade mission in the Netherlands, this week. The event looked at ways to achieve sustainable business between the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Latin America and the Caribbean region and to explore what opportunities entrepreneurs have on all sides.

The theme for the event was ‘Connecting sustainable businesses, investments, innovation, between the Netherlands, Dutch Caribbean, and Latin America’ Read more

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The Democratic Party has been one of the longest-serving parties in the history of St. Maarten. We have had our ups and downs, but we have been there for the people of St. Maarten, now more than ever before. Our main goal was and continues to be, "how can we make our island a better place for the people of St. Maarten".
To hear a political party, who welcomed the leader of the Democratic Party as the chairlady in one breathe and denounce her in the next, say some of the most unprofessional things is a shame to say the least Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Nearly three months after the passing of hurricane IRMA the people of St. Maarten is still grappling to get their lives back in order.
One of the main things that have to happen without further delay is the repairing of the roofs and especially those of our senior citizens.
Government on a bi-weekly basis is also providing food vouchers to the value of NAfls 150 to those in need to facilitate the purchase of food products.
Many persons have been to the government building in order to report that they are in need of such help, and how to receive the help they are looking for.
There are many out there in the community who do not know how to apply for help from the government or who to talk to or where to go.
Persons are questioning if they qualify or not for aid, they want to know what the criteria are to which someone would have to comply.
I am calling on the Minister of VSA-Social Welfare and Labor Read more

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Cruise Ship Call Schedule For December. Two Ships In Port On Christmas Day.

PORT ST. MAARTEN:--- Port St. Maarten would like to present the December month cruise ship call schedule as information for the community and for business establishment planning purposes. There will be two ships in port on Christmas day December 25.
Cruise ships will be in port on the following days: December 4, 5, 8, 17, 19, 25, 26, 27, 29, and 31. This is the latest cruise ship call information that the port has at this point in time as cruise lines continue to update their itineraries.
Royal Caribbean International (RCI) Grandeur of the Seas will be the first RCI cruise ship to rediscover the marquee destination on December 17.
The RCI ships and dates are as follows: Independence of the Seas, December 25 and 29; Jewel of the Seas, December 26; Freedom of the Seas, December 27; and Adventure of the Seas, December 31.
Port St Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- St. Maarten henceforth has its first successful entrée of its documentary heritage in the Memory of the World Register for Latin America and the Caribbean. The Memory of the World Programme (MoW) is a UNESCO initiative, created in 1992, aimed at preserving the documentary heritage of the world – housed in libraries, archives, and museums – as a symbol of the collective memory of humanity. It calls for the preservation of valuable archival holdings, library collections, and private individual collections Read more

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~Tax and other related issues~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Information reaching SMN News states that three of the eight candidate Ministers whose names were submitted for screening have failed the process.
SMN News learned those that failed are Franklin Meyers who was supposed to fill the vacant position of Prime Minister. It is understood that Meyers failed because of taxes for both him and his spouse, also a complaint was filed against Meyers by an RST agent who accused him of using violence during a house search at his brother’s residence.
The candidate for the Ministry of Justice Leona Marlin also failed the screening process due to the 2014 ship-jumping and nepotism related to the St Read more

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Central Committee Meeting Of Parliament About Discussion With Usm Board On The Motives For The Closure Of Usm On Tuesday Morning.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a Central Committee meeting on Tuesday, November 28, 2017.
The urgent Central Committee meeting is scheduled for 10.00 hrs in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. USM Board members will be present for this meeting.

The agenda point is:

Discussion with USM Board members to discuss their feedback on the motives for the closure of this esteemed establishment (IS/142/2017-2018 dated November 22, 2017)

(This meeting was requested by MP T.E Read more

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Vromi Did As They Should In The Salvaging Of The Wreckages In The Lagoon.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry has been working diligently with the processing of salvaging permits. Thus far 90 salvaging permits have been given between the two companies Aquatic Solutions NV and Seacure Marine Construction.

VROMI understands the severity of the state of the Simpson Bay lagoon but also needs to make sure that companies working have the proper documentation in place.

There was some confusion post hurricanes Irma and Maria pertaining to salvaging wrecks and the barge “Titan” that was brought by Marine Management & Consulting.

Chairlady Sarah Wescot Williams brought the barge to the attention of the coalition members as well as the council of Ministers and questioned why the barge was not being operated at the time Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- A recently published story whereby Minister Lee was accused of using government fuel bonds to purchase fuel for personal use and misusing government number plate by a blog website is mistaken. “Sadly instead of investing time and energy into rebuilding the country, it appears that efforts will continue to be wasted blaming others and continued attempts at character assassination. I believe this is a sad attempt to discredit, delay or interfere with the screening process for a candidate minister Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party MP Frans Richardson on Sunday said that anyone rejoicing over the unprecedented moves by the Dutch government to oust Prime Minister William Marlin is condoning a dangerous, self-defeating precedent that will be used again against St Read more

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