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>PHILIPSBURG:---  On this Constitution Day, we mark five years of St. Maarten having obtained country status within the Kingdom. As we reflect on the experiences that have helped to shape the country we are today, it is important that we all acknowledge our continued role in building a St. Maarten we can be proud of, a nation that is an example to the region. Building a nation is no simple task; there are countless factors to consider. There is a path that we travel on as our little country continues to grow Read more

Local Lgbt Activists At Cwsdc 2015

PHILIPSBURG/PORT OF SPAIN – St. Maarten/St. Martin Alliance For Equality (SAFE) Foundation President, Lysanne Charles-Arrindell and Treasurer, Nadjesca Gumbs are currently in Trinidad attending the 3rd annual Caribbean Women & Sexual Diversity Conference.

The conference, which runs from October 5 – October 11, 2015, brings together lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered (LBT) women from across the region and western hemisphere for advocacy training and networking.

This year the conference covers topics such as community grassroots organizing, negative stereotypes and violence, media and advocacy, creative activism, grassroots fundraising, self-care/financial health, UN mechanisms (CEDAW/Commission on the Status of Women), LBT Sisterhood, Women’s Sexual & Mental Health, Security for Human Rights Defenders, Afro-centric Activism, Presentation Skills, LBT Women’s Movement Building/Feminism, Focus Groups on Activism Against Gender-based Violence Read more

Opinion: Something’S Brewing

We know since last night that Governor Holiday sent a letter to Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs. We do not know the content of this letter, but there is no doubt that this will come out some time today.

The past couple of days, two political parties have come out with press conferences where they made their positions clear. The National Alliance nor the Democratic Party fear elections, they say.

Do they really want elections? Not really Read more

Recolonization

High emotions filled 10-10-10-autonomy expectations. “Freedom at last, delivered from slavery, liberation from colonial oppression.” Political leader Helmin Wiels —as Moses, divinely anointed—” was leading his People to the Promised Land.” Finally after centuries of sufferings, there would be social, racial and economic justice. All secret and open meddling by The Hague in all matters of life would come to an end, once and for all, Jacob Gelt Dekker writes in his column on curacaochronicle.com

“Autonomy was not enough for many, and a loud clamoring for independence of a sovereign island people was heard Read more

In Case Governor Signs Decree To Dissolve Parliament: Dp Proposes Interim Cabinet And Elections After One Year

From left: DP treasurer Giselle York, MP Sarah Wescot-Williams and policy advisor Emil Lee. Photo today / Hilbert Haar

St. Maarten – In case Governor Holiday decides to sign the decree to dissolve parliament and elections follow on December 8, the Democratic Party proposes to annul the current motion, to let the new majority choose “a capable Council of Ministers” and to set the date for the elections one year from the appointment of this council Read more

Casino Robber Shoots His Way To Cash

The bullet proof window at Rouge et Noir on Wednesday evening, with two bullet holes. Photo Gromyko Wilson

St. Maarten – Close to 9 p.m. Wednesday evening, a lone gunman stormed into Rouge et Noir casino on Front Street and shouted “everybody down” while waving his firearm to the crowd. Masked and dressed completely in black the robber fired his weapon in the air to show that he meant business.

Patrons were enjoying their Wednesday night bingo, when the robber ordered them to get on the ground Read more

Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum Opens New Era For Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico  - The just completed successful Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) taking place in Puerto Rico has emerged as a milestone setting the tone for a new era for the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA), according the CHTA President Emil Lee.

            "The success of CHIEF is a reflection of our new vision and a validation that we have moved in the right direction," said Emil Lee as more than 250 attendees participated in three days of networking and learning best practices at El Conquistador Resort, A Waldorf Astoria Resort in Puerto Rico.  Many of the attendees were next generation employees Read more

Rotary Mid-Isle Raises Awareness And Funds With End Polio Now Walkathon

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Rotary Club of St. Maarten-Mid Isle will be hosting their 2nd annual ‘End Polio Now’ walkathon, on October 24. The walkathon was started last year by Ramesh Manek, who was involved in a fatal hit and run. This year, the walkathon is held to honor the memory of Ramesh Manek and the contributions he made.

Over the weekend Rotary Club of St. Maarten-Mid Isle participated in the Tropical Shipping Duathlon to create awareness for the Rotary End Polio Now cause. 

~End Polio Now walkathon to be held in honor of Ramesh Manek~

Peter Mazereeuw, Matthijs Mazereeuw and Veronica Jansen-Webster took part in the 5k run, cycling, and 2.5k run respectively Read more

Moving Send-Off For Late Telem Group Employee Kenneth Blijden

POND ISLAND, St. Maarten – Family and colleagues gave a moving send-off to late TelEm Group employee, Mr. Kenneth Blijden, during a memorial service at the Royal Funeral Home, Sucker Garden, Thursday.

Mr. Blijden passed away at the St. Martin’s home last week following illness and having clocked more than 30 years in the service of TelEm.

Sister, Carmen van den Akker-Blijden thanked everyone for turning out in impressive numbers to say a final farewell to her brother, who she admitted could be “difficult” at times, although everyone knew his heart was in the right place.

Among those in attendance was Prime Minister, Marcel Gumbs and Mrs Read more

Dp "Snap Elections Will Not Bring Stability. Electoral Reform Critical"

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The DP shares the concerns of the general public on the current political crisis that faces our nation.  Clearly the country needs to see fundamental changes. 

However, new elections will only result in a shuffling of the cast of characters in Parliament, but without changes to the electoral laws, we will only be treating the symptoms of our political instability but will fail to address the root causes of seat jumping, leveraging of parliamentary seats for personal gain, buying and selling of votes, and political cronyism.

While a certain amount of growing pains are to be expected, clearly there has been more pain than growth in the first few years of our young country.    There is a saying…”if you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got.”  The country needs real change, fundamental changes Read more

PVV moves on with expulsion law Dutch Caribbean criminals

THE HAGUE--The Party for Freedom PVV will not put aside its law proposal to set up a system of forced return of criminal persons from Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten, despite the objections of the Council of State against the 2014 law proposal.

PVV Members of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Sietse Fritsma and Machiel de Graaf, who presented the law proposal on the eve of the handling of the draft 2015 Kingdom Relations budget early October 2014, have stated that they do not agree with the observations of the Council of State that the law proposal was, among others “disproportionate and discriminatory.”

“The advice of the Council of State to reconsider the law proposal will not be followed by the initiative takers because they don’t share the doubts that the Council has regarding the proposed expulsion Read more

Prof. van den Berg in favour of dissolving

THE HAGUE--Constitutional and parliamentary law professor Dr. Joop van den Berg has come to the defence of St. Maarten Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs in the Council of Ministers’ decision to dissolve the St. Maarten Parliament. He is the third Dutch professor to do so.

Van den Berg stated in a brief letter to Gumbs on Thursday that he fully supported the advices of his colleagues, Professors Arjen van Rijn and Constantijn Kortmann, in relation to the legality of the National Decree to dissolve Parliament following the termination of the Council’s majority support in Parliament.

Van den Berg stated that he had studied Van Rijn’s and Kortmann’s advices as well as a number of relevant documents in relation to the current political crisis Read more

Plasterk says he gave no order to Governor

THE HAGUE--Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk said on Thursday that he has not ordered St. Maarten Governor Eugene Holiday to sign the National Decree to dissolve the St. Maarten Parliament and to convene new elections.

Plasterk dispelled rumours in certain media that The Hague was the reason Governor Holiday had not signed the National Decree the Council of Ministers, led by Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, had sent to him last week following a motion of no confidence adopted by a majority of Members of Parliament.

"I didn't advise the Governor not to sign Read more

Kadaster manager occupying Conservator, Director roles

~Replacements expected at month-end~

PHILIPSBURG--Kadaster Manager Marcia Peterson has again, as of October 6, been sworn in as Acting Conservator of Mortgages (“Hypotheek Bewaarder”), as well as Acting Director – both roles held by Clemens Roos who was arrested June 24 on request of the Netherlands, but returned on August 18, after the Dutch Prosecutor’s Office granted a requested postponement of his sentence.

The postponement was meant to last until the expiration of his contract with the Kadaster, to “contribute to the Kadaster’s continuity,” as his attorney put it Read more

Major UN treaty comes into force, SIDS leaders say they ‘will not be left behind’

NEW YORK, USA--September 30, 2015, is etched in the history books of the United Nations (UN), observing the announcement of the entry into force of the SIDS DOCK Treaty, and the legal recognition of this historic intergovernmental sustainable energy and climate resilience organisation established by heads of state and government of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in 2009, in order to help finance climate change adaptation through the transformation of their countries to low carbon economies.

Against the background of the ceremony of the establishment of SIDS DOCK, and uppermost in the minds of the hundreds of people who packed the 500-seat Conference Room 4 of the UN’s North Lawn Building, was the terrible devastation in the Caribbean island of Dominica, caused by Tropical Storm Ericka in August 2015, which was also an historic and unprecedented hydro-meteorological event for Dominica and SIDS.

The obvious absence of the chair of the SIDS DOCK Steering Committee Prime Minister of Dominica Roosevelt Skerrit was noted in the opening remarks by Dr Read more

US, NATO signal willingness to slow Afghan drawdown

BRUSSELS--The United States and its NATO allies signalled a willingness on Thursday to consider slowing their withdrawal from Afghanistan, days after the Taliban's brief takeover of a provincial capital stoked concern about the strength of Afghan state forces.
  U.S. Defence Secretary Ash Carter said he asked allies for flexibility as Washington reviews a withdrawal timetable currently supposed to slash the nearly 10,000 U.S Read more

David de Vries will be a 2016 Olympic Judge

COLE BAY/BRAZIL--Budget Marine partner David de Vries has just been made an Olympic Judge for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

"This will be his second time officiating at the Olympics, an excellent achievement given the stringent selection process that takes place for each Olympic event. Olympic International Judges are chosen from the best of the best International Judges from the International Sailing Federation's (ISAF) Member Nation Authorities (MNA) worldwide," Budget Marine explained.

The role of a Judge is to ensure fair competition, determine disputes between competitors, assist in areas of race management and make decisions on the fairness of competition.

Becoming a Judge involves attending ISAF seminars, passing written examinations and serving at principal fleet racing events both inside and outside one's own geographic territory, or MNA.

Becoming an International Judge is much more difficult and is based on the individual's performance judging at some of the world's top international sailing events.

David de Vries has been through this arduous process for many years Read more

>PHILIPSBURG: --- Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel has issued a strong call on the leader of the United Peoples Party Theodore Heyliger whom he said should practice what he preached in 2013 when the National Alliance led government wanted to call for new elections Read more

>MP Maurice Lake was also contacted and met with the Deputy Leader of the UPP last week ----DP has proposal ready in the event the Governor decides to call for new elections.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams admitted on Thursday when she was asked by SMN News if someone contacted her on October 1st 2015, one day after the motion of no confidence was passed in parliament against the Gumbs cabinet where the person who called her made her an offer to join the UPP party in order for them to remain in government Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Rotary Club of St. Maarten-Mid Isle will be hosting their 2nd annual ‘End Polio Now’ walkathon, on October 24. The walkathon was started last year by Ramesh Manek, who was involved in a fatal hit and run. This year, the walkathon is held to honor the memory of Ramesh Manek and the contributions he made.
Over the weekend Rotary Club of St. Maarten-Mid Isle participated in the Tropical Shipping Duathlon to create awareness for the Rotary End Polio Now cause. Peter Mazereeuw, Matthijs Mazereeuw and Veronica Jansen-Webster took part in the 5k run, cycling, and 2.5k run respectively.
The team was supported by members of Rotary Club of St Read more

Tourist who gave birth prematurely in DR faces US $280,000 bill for ‘time difference’

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic--After enduring the trauma of a premature delivery in a foreign country and all the attendant concerns about her tiny newborn baby, a British tourist now faces a potential US $280,000 medical bill.

Sharon Halls, of Ipswich in Suffolk, was 28 weeks and six days pregnant when she unexpectedly went into labour and gave birth to a daughter, Evie, in a private hospital in the Dominican Republic on September 28.

But after paying over US $13,000 for initial emergency care, Halls (36) learned that her travel insurance provider may not come up with the money.

Infinity Insurance Solutions said it had not decided whether it would cover the cost because the time difference between the Dominican Republic and the United Kingdom meant that when she gave birth she was over the 29-week mark, which was when the cover ceased to be valid.

Halls and her partner Daniel Compton (35) have now been forced to set up a GoFundMe page in a desperate bid to raise enough money to move Evie from a public hospital, which they say is dirty, according to a report in The Mirror.

The couple were attending a friend’s wedding in Punta Cana when Halls was taken to hospital with early contractions, which she later learned had been brought on by an infection.

Halls said she had been given clearance to travel by her hospital in Britain, The Mirror reported.

Writing on the fundraising site, Halls gave a compelling account of the events of September 28 and continuing.

“Little Evie was born breach before I could even lay flat,” she said.

“She was so tiny and blue, it took them a few minutes to get a response, but we then heard to our delight a little cry.”

But while Evie “looked healthy,” she could not breathe on her own.

Halls went on to describe the “substandard conditions” in the public hospital they were forced to move to.

“The sanitation and level of care is next to nothing; she was placed in dirty incubator lined up next to other sick newborn babies (15 plus in room).

“The equipment was old and even the blanket she laid on was stained and ripped Read more

Editorial - Unfortunate chapter

While Dutch Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Minister Ronald Plasterk says it’s up to St. Maarten to solve its current political, constitutional crisis (see related article), the problem could very well end up on the table of The Hague. After all, a Governor who believes a decision by Government goes against the interest of the kingdom’s guarantee function must submit it to the Crown and by extension the Kingdom Council of Ministers for annulment.

Whether this has been done already with the Gumbs cabinet’s draft national decree to dissolve Parliament and call early elections is not known, but other than signing it that seems to be the only alternative Read more

PVV’s call to sever ties leads to heated debate on Kingdom

THE HAGUE--Wednesday’s handling of the draft 2016 Kingdom Relations budget in the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament was the scene of a heated discussion on whether to sever the ties with the Dutch Caribbean countries or not.

At the centre of the discussion was Member of Parliament (MP) Sietse Fritsma of the Party for Freedom PVV who repeated his earlier calls to get rid of the United Nations (UN) regulation that former mother countries cannot unilaterally decide to get rid of a former colony Read more

French Quarter protest prompts immediate Gendarmerie patrols

MARIGOT--Extra Gendarmerie and Police patrols, both mobile and foot patrols, in the area of French Quarter where fires have been occurring for the past two months, will be implemented with immediate effect.

This was one of the measures taken at an hour-long emergency meeting between elected officials of the Collectivité, Social Services, Préfecture, Gendarmerie, Territorial Police and French Quarter District representatives during Wednesday’s protest over lack of security in the district.

District Representative Steven Patrick reported that the family of eight, evicted back in September, whose children were long suspected of causing the fires, was due to be relocated to French Cul-de-Sac Wednesday afternoon from temporary accommodation in French Quarter.

“I think by just getting this family out of the neighbourhood will calm a lot of nerves,” said Patrick.

The family that lost their house in Tuesday’s fire meanwhile are staying in a guest house organised by the Collectivité until alternative accommodation can be found.

The Vice-Prosecutor will also be reviewing the files of the suspects, mostly minors, to see if further action can be taken in terms of transferring them to special institutions or correctional facilities in Guadeloupe.

“We learnt that one of the kids admitted involvement in one of the fires, and his case comes up in November,” Patrick disclosed Read more