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Elshot says education issues are not addressed in governing programme

PHILIPSBURG--The recently submitted governing programme failed to address some critical issues in the country's education system, according to Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) President Claire Elshot.

She said on Tuesday that the governing programme "is lacking" when it comes to addressing issues in education. She said "a lot" had not been "dealt with" in the programme, particularly with regard to personnel.

"What they outlined was with regard to the infrastructure and buildings, but nothing with regard to the care of the students and teachers," Elshot said.

She said the union and its members were concerned about the constant "deterioration" and "weakening" of educators' health care package, whereby medication was being substituted with generic ones.

The union is also concerned about the elimination of the early retirement or VUT package for retirement and authorities' failure to increase teachers' vacation allowance equal to the amount paid in other parts of the Dutch Kingdom Read more

Notices August 5

Wednesday, August 5

HEART LECTURE

Organised by JCI St. Maarten and the Methodist church

Place: Methodist church Front-street

Time: 7:30pm

Lecturer: Cardiologist Mrs Emiko Bird –Lake.

NOTICES

Writing Session

Samenwerkende Fondsen (Cooperating Foundations) invites interested persons to a project writing session, Friday, August 7 at Philipsburg Jubilee Library, from 3:00 – 5:00pm. For more information on see the website of the Samenwerkende Fondsen or call your local project advisor 586-0808).

Female Soccer Team

FC Soualiga is looking for ladies to join their female soccer team Read more

Holding Public Office is indeed a family Affair on St. Maarten.

style="text-align: center;">Former Purchasing Officer of GEBE to take over Ministry of TEATT.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Ernest Sams the uncle in law of Member of Parliament Leona Romeo Marlin will be taking over the Ministry of TEATT as Minister Claret Conner moves over to the Ministry of VROMI. SMN News published months ago that Sams is the candidate that was selected and will be appointed by Member of Parliament Leona Marlin Romeo who is now an independent member of parliament Read more

>PHILIPSBURG (PARLIAMENT/Independent Faction):--- – Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo on Tuesday said that much have been said about the Adopt a School program, some negative and others positive.

“Irrespective of the feedback it is imperative for all to start thinking outside the box and embrace creative solutions to assist in remedying the challenges that we face in Sint Maarten.

“Hence, by no means does this imply that government is relinquishing its responsibility to the education system of the country Read more

Mp Leona Marlin-Romeo Says We Need To Think Outside Of The Box And Embrace Creative Solutions In Solving Country Problems

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten– Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo on Tuesday said that much have been said about the Adopt a School program, some negative and others positive.

"Irrespective of the feedback it is imperative for all to start thinking outside the box and embrace creative solutions to assist in remedying the challenges that we face in Sint Maarten.

"Hence, by no means does this imply that government is relinquishing its responsibility to the education system of the country Read more

The Future Beckons You Back To St. Maarten, Sxm Airport Managing Director Tells Holland-Bound Students

SIMPSON BAY, St. Maarten — "You are leaving home as teenagers, and will be returning as adults in a few years. Between now and then, you will experience life in a manner you have never done before," Regina LaBega, Managing Director of Princess Juliana International Airport, SXM Airport, told about 30 students who left the island Sunday, August 2, to further their studies in the Netherlands.

SXM Airport, in collaboration with Domino's Pizza, continued a tradition began four years ago, by organizing a "Bon Voyage" party for the students who were joined by their families and friends who came to bid them farewell.

"That moment has arrived to show that you are grown up; that you can stand on your own feet; that you don't need anybody to tell you what to do, when to study or when to come back home from the disco.

Free at last! But it is what you do with that freedom that will determine your success Read more

Transparency International Presents Integrity Assessment: “Political Parties Are Weak In Representing Social Interests”

Transparency International’s regional director for the Americas Alejandro Salas and lead researcher Cora de Voit. Photo Today / Leo Brown

GREAT BAY – At 7 p.m. local time last night, Transparency International’s National Integrity System assessment for St. Maarten came online. The company presented the report at the same time at the university on Pond Island. St. Maarten has now come full circle with probing its integrity issues. There are four reports on the table: the Baseline Study Institutional Integrity from the General Audit Chamber, the integrity-reports from the Bob Wit-committee and PricewaterhouseCoopers and now the transparency assessment.

It contains three core recommendations, of which the third one is the most concrete Read more

Mp Lake Went Shopping At French-Side Super U “A Plus For The Community”

St. Maarten – United People’s (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake says it is high time government sits down with supermarkets and distributors of food products to get a grasp on why consumer prices on the Dutch side are so high compared to the French side.

“The cost of living on St Read more

Notices August 4

Wednesday, August 5

HEART LECTURE

Organised by JCI St. Maarten and the Methodist church

Place: Methodist church Front-street

Time: 7:30pm

Lecturer: Cardiologist Mrs Emiko Bird –Lake.

NOTICES

Pool Closure

Carib Swim Team, Cole Bay will be closed for renovation during the month of August 2015. Practice re-starts on Monday August 31. Registration and try-outs for Swim Team and Swim Lessons will take place on Saturday August 29, from 10:00am-2:00pm Read more

Minister to sidestep foundation to create Tourism Authority

PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten Tourism Authority (STA) Foundation has been declared obsolete. Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Claret Connor now says the STA will be established without the intermediary foundation due to stagnation in progress caused by delays and lack of common vision on how to move forward.

Minister Connor reacted on Monday to requests for comment in light of last week Friday’s front page story describing the foundation as being in limbo Read more

No word yet on completion of minister candidates screening

PHILIPSBURG--It has been more than a month since the submission for screening a minister candidate to join the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet and there has not been any word about whether and when the candidate will be sworn in to office. There also has not been any information about the progress of the screening from authorities.

The candidate, who is expected to take up the post of Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT), is former utilities company GEBE employee Ernest Sams.

Following a successful screening, Sams is to take up that post and current minister Claret Connor is slated to move to the portfolio of Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Read more

Editorial - The necessary guidance

The names of two proposed new ministers who are to complete the current Gumbs cabinet of five and reach the normal seven members have been leaked (see related story). It reportedly regards former GEBE employee Ernest Sams and labour mediator Raphael Boasman.

Sams is to occupy the portfolio of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT), so that Claret Connor can move on to Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- Minister Plenipotentiary, Hon. Josianne Fleming–Artsen and 27 Sint Maarten students arrived at Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands to continue with their educational journey.
Minister Plenipotentiary Fleming-Artsen along with guidance Counsellors Ellen Rosina and Xaviera MacDonald-Archangel accompanied the 29 students to the Netherlands.
There was a welcome committee and flags were distributed to every student compliments of Sint Maarten Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs.
Before leaving Sint Maarten on Sunday, the students received gifts from the Minister of Education Rita Bourne-Gumbs and a grand party was organised in their honour by the Princess Juliana International Airport.
In addition the firemen as a sign of farewell to the students sprayed the plane with water.
Across from Schiphol the students were treated to breakfast on behalf of the Ministry of Education Read more

Minister Plenipotentiary Fleming-Artsen Arrives In The Netherlands With Sint Maarten Students

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Minister Plenipotentiary, Hon. Josianne Fleming–Artsen and 27 Sint Maarten students arrived at Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands to continue with their educational journey.

Minister Plenipotentiary Fleming-Artsen along with guidance Counsellors Ellen Rosina and Xaviera MacDonald-Archangel accompanied the 29 students to the Netherlands.

There was a welcome committee and flags were distributed to every student compliments of Sint Maarten Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs.

Before leaving Sint Maarten on Sunday, the students received gifts from the Minister of Education Rita Bourne-Gumbs and a grand party was organised in their honour by the Princess Juliana International Airport.

In addition the firemen as a sign of farewell to the students sprayed the plane with water.

Across from Schiphol the students were treated to breakfast on behalf of the Ministry of Education Read more

Notices August 3

Pool Closure

Carib Swim Team, Cole Bay will be closed for renovation during the month of August 2015. Practice re-starts on Monday August 31. Registration and try-outs for Swim Team and Swim Lessons will take place on Saturday August 29, from 10:00am-2:00pm. For more information, visit http://www.caribswimteam.org

Baseball Clinic

Rafel Skeete and Andrew Dee Dixon is hosting a baseball clinic starting August 3 to 10 at John Copper Jose Lake Sr. Ballpark starting 9:00am to 2:30pm Read more

Senior Carnival Queen vies in Nevis pageant

PHILIPSBURG--Senior Carnival Queen Phausha Winklaar will compete in the Ms. Caribbean Culture Queen Pageant tonight, August 3, in her capacity as Miss St. Maarten, as part of Nevis’ Culturama festival. This will be the first time she represents St. Maarten abroad.

Winklaar was sent off with best wishes by sponsors Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Claret Connor and Windward Islands Airways International Winair Read more

Jet ski driver released, did not have a licence

PHILIPSBURG--The jet ski driver who was detained on Friday after an incident with a passenger has been released.

Acting police spokesperson Inspector Steven Carty said on Sunday that the driver did not have a licence to operate the jet ski. The driver was not a tourist.

Coast Guard spokesperson Roderick Gouverneur had told this newspaper on Friday that the tourist had jumped off the jet ski on which she was a passenger and tried to swim to shore Read more

Netherlands-bound students bid farewell to family, friends

AIRPORT--Some 27 students bade farewell to family and friends on Sunday morning as they departed on their journey to the Netherlands to further their studies. Loved ones spent the last moments with them at Princess Juliana International Airport SXM, at the fourth Bon Voyage party hosted by the airport and Domino’s Pizza.

The students heard special addresses by Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs Rita Bourne-Gumbs and the airport’s Managing Director Regina LaBega before saying their final goodbyes Read more

Biden, aides talking about possible presidential run

WASHINGTON--Vice President Joe Biden, inspired in part by his late son, has been holding meetings at his Washington home to discuss challenging Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination, the New York Times reported on Saturday.
  Biden has said publicly he would make a decision at the end of the summer but the Times said the vice president and his associates were actively exploring getting in the race.
  The Times, citing several people who have spoken with him and his advisers, said the Biden camp was contacting Democratic leaders and donors who have not firmly committed to Clinton, the clear leader among the five Democrats who have entered the race, or might be concerned about her prospects Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunications Hon. Claret Connor, is one of the proud sponsors of Miss Sint Maarten 2015/2016 Phausha Winklaar.
Winklaar will be participating in the Ms. Caribbean Culture Queen Pageant that is taking place on the island of Nevis on Monday, August 3.
“I would like to wish Miss Sint Maarten Winklaar much success on Monday evening as she represents her country at the pageant Read more

>PHILIPSBURG: --- There is tension in the air when it comes to the screening of Rafael Boasman the candidate that was selected by Member of Parliament Cornelius de Weever to become the next Minister of Labor. Some political pundits said that they believe that Boasman’s affiliation to former Minister Maria Buncamper- Molanus and her husband Claudius Buncamper will definitely play a major role during the screening progress especially since he was Buncamper Molanus campaign manager Read more

Plenipotentiary Concerned About Integrity Matters And Relationship With Holland

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Minister of Plenipotentiary the Honorable Josianne Artsen Fleming also traveled along with the student to Holland on Sunday.

Speaking to our newsroom exclusively on Sunday the Plenipotentiary Minister noted that the break with S4 was taken to heart by the organisation.

She noted that the personnel of S4 really enjoyed taking care of the St Read more

Departing Students Recieve St. Maarten Flag From Prime Minister Sunday

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - 27 students left the island on Sunday afternoon for the Netherlands where they will continue with their studies.

The students educational endeavours are being financed by the Government of St. Maarten who called on the students to come back home when their studies are completed.

On hand for the students departure was the Minister of Education the Honorable Rita Bourn Gumbs, Prime Minister the Honorable Marcel Gumbs, Minister of Plenipotentiary the Honorable Josiane Artsen Fleming and the Managing Director of SXM Airport Regina Labega.

Education Department officials such as Antonio Aventurine and the Councilors for St Read more

St. Maarten to host CONCACAF U-15

PHILIPSBURG—St. Maarten will host the CONCACAF Boys Under 15 Championship Tournament August 7 to 18.
  Members of the St. Maarten Soccer Association executive board met with the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Telecommunication and Transportation (TEATT) Claret Connor to update him on the planning progress of the tournament.
  The tournament, which has been held on Trinidad and Tobago and the Cayman Islands in the past, will consist of 15 teams from across the region, and St Read more