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Supermarket moratorium amended to allow existing businesses leeway

PHILIPSBURG--The moratorium established as of February 18, 2014, on the issuance of business and operational licences remains in force, but has been amended as of July 3, 2015, to allow replacement licences, some location changes and some business expansion.

The announcement came from Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT) Claret Connor via press release on Wednesday night.

Replacement licences are allowed, but are limited to establishments operating on the premises of hotels with a minimum of 200 rooms, at Princess Juliana International Airport SXM and Port St Read more

CFT issues advice for targeted instruction

PHILIPSBURG/THE HAGUE--The Committee for Financial Supervision CFT has advised the Dutch Kingdom Council of Ministers to issue an instruction to the St. Maarten Government. That instruction is said to only cover the need for government to reach an agreement on the settling of arrears to the social funds.

CFT informed Parliament Chairman Dr. Lloyd Richardson of its advice to the Kingdom Council of Ministers in a letter dated July 3.

This advice for a targeted instruction comes as no surprise as CFT Chairman Age Bakker had announced in a June 25 press conference in St Read more

style="text-align: center;">GEBE Supervisory Board plans to file complaint against Maduro and Harley.

PHILIPSBURG: --- SMN News has landed its hands on some more documents relating to the dismissal of Romelio Maduro all of which was sent to the Council of Ministers on the decision taken by the Supervisory Board of Directors to dismiss the former Chief Operational Officer (COO) Romelio Maduro when they discovered that Maduro abused his position as the COO and head of the management team when he signed a contract with Alfred Harley under a company that is owned by his mother which is meant for inter-island purchasing and not consultancy.
On May 15th 2015, the supervisory board sent a letter to the Council of Ministers stating that they have taken a decision not to renew the working contract for Maduro Read more

Map Party Preparing For 2017 Elections

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Whilst March 2017 seems far away, the MAP Party of the French side is hoping to have been fully organized in March 2016 for the Territorial elections.

The election is slated to be held in March of 2017, and according to leader of the MAP former Counc Read more

Pantophlet Villa Foundation Donate Grants To The Asha Stevens Hill Side School

CAY HILL, St. Maarten- As part of its "Help A Parent Project" the Pantophlet Villa Foundation (PVF) presented a total of 3 financial grants on Tuesday, June 30th, 2015 to the Asha Stevens Hill side Christian school.

The "Help a Parent Project" is designed to offer parents/families who, through no fault of their own, were suddenly unable to pay their child's school fees or uniforms due to: 1) * loss of employment of one or both parents; *divorcee without assistance of spouse; *widow(er), but who still shows an active interest in the child's education.

The Pantophlet Villa Foundation was established on February 23rd 2009 Read more

Four primary schools bid farewell to managers

PHILIPSBURG--Four primary schools are bidding farewell to their School Managers (SMs) and Adjunct School Managers (ASMs) at the closing of this school year. The four women with a love of teaching have each had long careers in education, would chose the same career again if given the chance, and are contemplating what to do next.

SM Merlese Lake will be leaving the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) School as Melinda Thomas-Lake steps into the role and Clara George steps up as the new ASM.

SM Malva Brooks-Brill is leaving Prins Willem Alexander School (PWAS), ASM Lucia Kroon the Dr Read more

Leona calls on govt to table integrity amendments soon

PHILIPSBURG--Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin says Government should speed up its work on amendments to the national ordinance to establish an Integrity Chamber for the country, and head back to Parliament as soon as possible even though it is the annual July recess.

Marlin-Romeo told The Daily Herald on Tuesday that she believed Government should bring the amendments to Parliament.

She has been in touch with MP Franklin Meyers, faction leader of the United People's (UP) party, this week on the matter and is waiting to hear how the matter will be dealt with, in particular from fellow coalition partners.

Commenting on Dutch Minister Ronald Plasterk's statement last week to the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament that there would be consequences for St Read more

Carnival aims to start Cuba cruises in May

MIAMI/HAVANA--Carnival Corporation has won United States approval to operate cruises to Cuba, and plans to start taking travellers there in May 2016, on weekly seven-day voyages from Miami. Carnival, the world's largest cruise operator and a major source of St. Maarten's cruise tourists, said it was still in talks with Cuba for approval to start humanitarian and culturally themed visits.

Based in Miami, Carnival is the first major US-based cruise ship company to venture into Cuban waters, but joins a growing list of maritime companies hoping to profit from a thaw in relations between Washington and Havana.

The Cuba cruise should be launched in May under its new "fathom" brand, set up last month to run cruises with humanitarian and cultural themes to the Dominican Republic.

Carnival will use the 710-passenger vessel, MV Adonia, for its Cuba cruises on the small side for the company, whose ships typically carry 2,000 to 3,000 people.

Carnival said the cruises would focus on education, the environment and economic development, and feature Spanish lessons and workshops on the country's heritage Read more

Caribbean fights to protect high-value, declining species

KINGSTON, Jamaica--Threats from climate change, declining reefs, overfishing and possible loss of several commercial species are driving the rollout of new policy measures to keep Caribbean fisheries sustainable.

Regional groups and the US-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) Wild Earth Guardians have petitioned for the listing of some of the Caribbean's most economically valuable marine species as vulnerable, endangered or threatened with extinction.

In addition, regional scientists believe that climate change could alter the ranges of some of the larger species and perhaps wipe out existing ones.

Fisheries ministers of the Caribbean say they are concerned that "extra-national activities and decisions" could impact the social and economic well-being of their countries and their access to international markets Read more

UN Srebrenica vote delayed in bid to avoid Russia veto

UNITED NATIONS--A U.N. Security Council vote on a resolution to condemn the Srebrenica massacre as genocide, marking the 20th anniversary of the mass killing, has been delayed until Wednesday as Britain and the United States try to convince Russia not to veto the commemoration, diplomats said.

Russia has deemed the British-drafted resolution unbalanced and does not want the 1995 massacre of 8,000 Muslim men and boys described as genocide Read more

Bill Cosby's moralizing comes back to haunt him

NEW YORK--Bill Cosby's forthright views on black parenting came back to haunt him this week when a U.S. judge called the comedian a "public moralist" who had lost the right of personal privacy in a 2005 civil sexual assault case.
  The career of the once beloved comedian from TV's "The Cosby Show" is in tatters after more than 40 women came forward in the past year to accuse him of drugging and sexually assaulting them in incidents dating back decades.
  For years, Crosby was a sought-after speaker at graduation ceremonies and other college events across the United States, giving dozens of speeches that amused and inspired his mostly young audiences Read more

Wide Feet need love too!

FOR THE LOVE OF SHOES

Greetings!

My name is Ameera Groeneveldt. I am the owner of Shoe Solution SXM – the ONLINE delivery shoe store for women, men and kids; specializing in large shoe sizes 10 and up and wide-width shoes. I am also a shoe consultant.

LOVE. That is the one word that sums up what is LACKING for feet these days Read more

Notices July 8

VKS Practice   

Voluntary Corps of St. Maarten (VKS) announces that the VKS will be having a practice on Sunday July 12, from 9:30am to12:30pm at St. Peters intersections, located at St. Peters. The general public is requested to exercise caution when passing through these areas. 

Teachers, Volunteers Needed

I Too Can Learn (ITCL) Foundation is seeking teachers (Special Ed) and volunteers for their Center. For more information call 547 0890 or 524 6067 Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Hon. Marcel Gumbs is calling on the populace to be extremely careful not to light any bush fires and not to throw out any lighted cigarettes which could easily ignite a fire. The extreme drought has heightened the threat for bush fires.
The Meteorological Department of Sint Maarten seasonal outlook for July and August says that rainfall is expected to be below-normal to near normal.
Present observations are indicating that there is a greater than 90 per cent chance that El Nino will continue through the fall Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Fourteen persons were successful in following and completing a Job Trainer training and are now certified job trainers. The Job Trainer Training was given by the Council of Education and Labor Dutch Caribbean (known as ROA CN) and focuses on equipping job trainers (personnel at the job training company tasked with supervising and guiding trainees) with the skills necessary to effectively guide students on traineeships.
The training was coordinated by the Division for Educational Innovation (DEI) and facilitated by Violet Duggins-Gumbs of the Council of Education and Labor Dutch Caribbean Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Council of Education and Labor of the Dutch Caribbean (known as ROA CN) made a working visit to St. Maarten in June 2015 in which one of its activities was to conduct a presentation on its organization and render advice and tips to St. Maarten on setting up its own Council of Education and Labor. St. Maarten is already in the process of establishing its own Council of Education and Labor therefore the presentation was very beneficial to government stakeholders who are busy with establishing the council Read more

When will PJIAE get its FBO Building Permit --- Building Permit sent to Prime Minister’s Office two weeks ago.

style="text-align: center;">Creditors still have hope and waiting for Project to kick off.

PHILIPSBURG:--- SMN News received information that the head of VROMI Louis Brown signed off on the building permit for the Fixed Based Operations (FBO) Project which is to be constructed at the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE) some two weeks ago and sent it to the Office of the Prime Minister but to date the Prime Minister of St Read more

Mp Lake Supports Mp Marlin's Stance On Promoting Nationalism, Patriotism And Cultural Retention

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Today's youth take signals from our generation, United People's (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake said on Tuesday.

This is in connection with fellow MP Hon. Leona Marlin-Romeo call for the promotion of nationalism, patriotism and cultural retention.

"If it is important to us then it becomes important to them Read more

Statia Prepares For Sustainable Conference In September

ORANJESTAD, St. Eustatius - St. Eustatius is once again preparing for the annual Sustainable Development conference.

The event which is in its 4th year is being held under the theme, "Economic Value of Tourism" and is earmarked to run from September 25th to 26th.

Speaking to our news department, director of the Statia Tourism Development Authority, Read more

Prime Minister Gumbs Calls On Community To Be Cautious Due To High Fire Threat Caused By Drought

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Prime Minister Hon. Marcel Gumbs is calling on the populace to be extremely careful not to light any bush fires and not to throw out any lighted cigarettes which could easily ignite a fire.

The extreme drought has heightened the threat for bush fires.

The Meteorological Department of Sint Maarten seasonal outlook for July and August says that rainfall is expected to be below-normal to near normal.

Present observations are indicating that there is a greater than 90 per cent chance that El Nino will continue through the fall Read more

Notices July 7

Educational Scholarship

Be the Change Foundation has set up the first Erika Cannegieter Dream Big Educational Scholarship. Interested students must be legal residents of the island. The applications must be submitted by July 20th and the winner will be announced on July 27. For more information call 580 1437 or email \n This e-mail address is being protected from spambots Read more

Chicago's July 4 rituals: fireworks, gun deaths

CHICAGO--Late in the evening on July 4 a haze of smoke from backyard fireworks hung over Chicago. Like kids all over the city, 7-year-old Amari Brown stood on the sidewalk enjoying the show - until the staccato burst of explosives turned into gunfire.
  Brown was hit when a man ran around the corner and shot at his group in an apparent gang-related attack. He was rushed to the hospital in his father's arms and died two hours later.
  The boy was the youngest of 10 people killed and more than 50 injured in gun violence over the Independence Day weekend, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner and local media reports Read more

Mr. Sneek lost it, again

Dear Editor,

On Friday, July 3, 2015, the headlines of this well-read newspaper stated: "Koos Sneek Files Charges Against Clyde van Putten."

Mr. Sneek plays the victim here. The victim of slander, of unsubstantiated accusations. Now playing the role of a victim is a rescue mechanism to protect the person's ego when he fails to reach his important goals. Instead of admitting that he failed in doing what he wanted to do, he plays the role of victim and claims external factors were the reasons he didn't reach his goals Read more

NAGICO’s Little Stars - Back to School Campaign begins.

style="text-align: justify;">PHILIPSBURG:--- Eight (8) students from the Dr. Martin Luther King School in Dutch Quarter, were named the Nagico Little Stars for the 2014- 2015 school year.
The NAGICO Little Stars project, grants the top performer in every grade within the school a scholarship for the next school term, which consists of a fully paid tuition fee for one school year and a voucher to cover the costs of school supplies; including books and school uniforms for the next school term.
The students chosen were the top performers in their respective groups, who excelled in academics, attendance and their overall behavior throughout the school year.
The selection process which was done by the teachers and principal of the MLK School was also observed and vetted by a representative of NAGICO Insurances for transparency reasons Read more