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The Evolving View of Cannabis

~ Many opinions expressed at St. Maarten’s first open forum ~

By Lisa Davis-Burnett

Marijuana is seen as a gateway drug, partly because it is illegal, meaning that in order to get it, one must go into situations, where other illegal activities are taking place and associate with dealers of various illegal substances. “If it was structurally controlled and properly distributed, we would eliminate this discussion about it being a gateway to harder drugs.” This opinion was expressed by Dr Read more

Chamber lends helping hand to entrepreneurs with Business Centre

PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry (COCI) has set out to lend a helping hand to entrepreneurs with its new Business Centre, which was officially opened on Friday.

The Centre is located adjacent to the Chamber's office on Cannegieter Street and has opened with two staffers, Tytania Archangel and another person. Archangel told The Daily Herald after the opening that the intention is to eventually strengthen the staffing capacity with a receptionist, a marketing manager, finance and budget manager and economist.

The Business Centre is a service centre for business development for entrepreneurs living in St Read more

Appeals filed in Bada Bing case

PHILIPSBURG--All suspects in the Bada Bing case, involving bribery, trafficking of women, tax evasion, money-laundering and forgery, have filed for appeal.

The Prosecutor's Office confirmed that former Member of Parliament (MP) Patrick Illidge (49), Bada Bing brothel owner Jaap van den Heuvel (49), his manager Krijn van der Brug (42) and his company Lunteren NV have all launched appeals against their convictions by the Court of First Instance Read more

Sarah: Coalition ‘suddenly lost interest’ in Integrity Chamber

PHILIPSBURG--It appears, said Democratic Party (DP) leader Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams, that the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet and by extension the governing coalition have "suddenly lost interest" in the establishment of an integrity chamber for the country.

"It is revealing that suddenly the urgency is no longer there for our own 'thing,'" the MP said.

She has drawn this conclusion from the response of Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs to her inquiry Thursday about the timeframe for the tabling of the draft national law to establish the integrity chamber in Parliament.

Gumbs, in an immediate response on Thursday to Parliament President Dr Read more

French side President Hanson attacked with a frypan

MARIGOT--French side President Aline Hanson has allegedly been attacked this morning by man with a frying pan in front of her office in Marigot. She was rapidly transported to the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital for treatment Read more

style="text-align: center;"> "As a Member of Parliament I will not deal with a draft law unless I know what was discussed in The Hague."

PHILIPSBURG: --- Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel is calling on the Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson who travelled to the Netherlands last weekend to meet with the (Raad van State) Council of State and Minister of Interior Affairs Ronald Plasterk to further discuss the draft integrity law that was discussed in parliament and higher supervision that the Kingdom wants to impose on St Read more

style="text-align: center;">The governing coalition parties and their independent affiliates have "suddenly" lost interest in our own integrity chamber.

PHILIPSBURG:---  DP Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams said based on the response she got from the Prime Minister of St Read more

>MARIGOT:--- A local resident on French St. Martin attacked the President of the Collectivity Aline Hanson on Friday morning. According to information reaching SMN News, the resident known to everyone as "Lino" attacked  President Aline Hanson just around 8:45 am in front of the Collectivity as she arrived at the Collectiving to begin her days work Read more

Mp Lake Commends Usm Management And Board On Mou To Promote Further Educational Opportunities

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – University of St. Martin (USM) and the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will allow students from St. Maarten/St. Martin and from other parts of the Caribbean region to obtain accredited degrees at USM on Pond Island.

United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Maurice Lake on Thursday commended USM management and board for this major development as it promotes further educational opportunities for the country's youth.

"This is a definite step in the right direction and taking our own home-grown institution of higher learning to the next level.

Working with UVI educational institution, and involving the SHTA with respective to USMs hospitality program are very good developments that will benefit the students and the community overall.

"I am a strong supporter of our University and it's about time we recognize our own Read more

Chamber Of Commerce Opens Business Center Friday

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce Friday morning opened their new Business Center.

On hand for the official opening was the Honorable MP Tamara Leornard, a former President of the Chamber, Minister of economic affairs the Honorable Claret Conner as well as Mr. Stanly Lint of the Chambers Board.

During his address Mr. Lint spoke of the benefits for the islands business community that the new Business Center will provide.

Meanwhile the former Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, now Minister of Economic Affairs the Honorable Claret Connor said it is a great moment of joy for him to be in a position to be able to officially open the new Business Center.

He also gave a personal insight into the work that went into the creation of the Business Center at the St Read more

St. Maarten/St. Martin Musical Icon Attacks President Hanson {Updated}

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Sxmislandtime.com has been reliably informed that Madame Aline Hanson, President of the Collectivite was aggressively attacked on Friday morning.

The incident occurred between 8:30 and 8:45 upon her arrival to office.

However, she was not hurt during the unfortunate moment.

The attacker is also said to be a well-known musician in the community, "Lino Hughes", of Lino and the Hardway band.

It is also alleged that the attacker is somewhat unstable at this time.

We also learnt the Lino used a frying pan to attack the President however the president reacted quickly and used her hand to fend off the attack.

A statement from the Collectivite on the incident can be read below.

The Chairperson of the Community Aline Hanson was assaulted Friday morning Read more

Lake calling for MPs to ‘get on board’ with integrity chamber

PHILIPSBURG--"Get on-board" to approve the "home-grown" draft ordinance to establish an integrity chamber for St. Maarten "after certain changes are made." This was the call issued by United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake to his "fellow colleagues" in Parliament.

He said in a press statement if the ordinance is left hanging ".. Read more

Chamber opens Business Centre

PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry will officially open its Business Centre during a ceremony today, Friday.

The Business Centre will be the service centre for business development for entrepreneurs living in St. Maarten and business representatives seeking to do business with local entrepreneurs.

The Business Centre will offer use of facilities, guidance, administrative assistance support, consultation and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services to entrepreneurs seeking to start, expand or strengthen their business or business endeavours.

Scheduled to speak at the opening ceremony are Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications TEATT Claret Connor and Chamber Vice President Stanley Lint Read more

Sarah: Bringing ordinance in line with civil code can be done ‘rather quickly’

PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams says bringing the National Ordinance in line with the Civil Code to increase the legal drinking age from 16 to 18 can be done "rather quickly."

Independent MP Cornelius de Weever suggested that the legal age for cigarettes should also be addressed and not just that of alcohol.

The MPs were speaking during a session of Parliament's Permanent Committee of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs (CECYSA) on Thursday Read more

>GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- In accordance with the current Governing Accord, the Council of Ministers (COM) met with the Supervisory Board and Management of the Postal Services St. Maarten (PSS).

The meeting was requested by the Interim Managing Director to discuss some urgent matters. Up to this date, COM has conducted several shareholders meetings with supervisory boards and management among which were TelEm, NV GEBE, St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies, and the Holding Company of Princess Juliana International Airport.

It is the intention to schedule additional meetings with the other Government owned companies in the coming weeks and months.

Present in the meeting were: Stuart Johnson, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Hubert Pantophlet, Member of the Supervisory Board, Antonia Wilson, Interim Managing Director, Alex Richardson, Director of Finance and Daphne Benders, Head of Human Resources and administrative support Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Maurice Lake says it's a reality that the draft ordinance to establish a Sint Maarten national Integrity Chamber must take place by the House of Parliament, "...otherwise we will be talking integrity for another six months without anything happening for the people and moving Sint Maarten forward."

MP Lake is appealing to his fellow colleagues in the House of Parliament to get on-board and approve the Sint Maarten "home-grown" draft ordinance after certain changes are made, and if additional changes are needed, the MP said that this can be done along the way.

"We also have to realize if we don't approve our own draft ordinance to establish the integrity chamber it will open up the road for the General Measure of Kingdom Governance.

Sint Maarten is responsible for its own affairs, including good governance and the establishment of its own institutions such as its own Integrity Chamber, which came out of the country's own committee which made such a recommendation.

"As an elected representative of the people, I am a voice of the people Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot Willams has dispatched an email to the chairperson of Parliament requesting that he provide her with information regarding the status of the public meeting to be convened to deal with the draft law to establish an integrity chamber on St. Maarten.
The DP MP wants to know if the government of St. Maarten sent any communications to parli Read more

Council Of Ministers Meets With Pss Board Of Supervisory Directors And Management

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – In accordance with the current Governing Accord, the Council of Ministers (COM) met with the Supervisory Board and Management of the Postal Services St. Maarten (PSS).

The meeting was requested by the Interim Managing Director to discuss some urgent matters.

Up to this date, COM has conducted several shareholders meetings with supervisory boards and management among which were TelEm, NV GEBE, St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies, and the Holding Company of Princess Juliana International Airport.

It is the intention to schedule additional meetings with the other Government owned companies in the coming weeks and months.

Present in the meeting were: Stuart Johnson, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Hubert Pantophlet, Member of the Supervisory Board, Antonia Wilson, Interim Managing Director, Alex Richardson, Director of Finance and Daphne Benders, Head of Human Resources and administrative support Read more

Government Changes On Bonair

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The island of Bonaire now has a water melon coalition government.

This came about about as an agreement to govern was reached between the two rival parties of that island, the DP Bonaire and the UPB party.

Mariano Heyden told us more via PodCas Read more

Chief Prosecutor Ton Maan: “The Word Class Justice Has Hurt Us A Lot”

Chief Prosecutor Ton Maan: “We have indicated to the Minister of Justice that the prostitution policy violates international treaties.” Photo Today / Hilbert Haar

St. Maarten – “The word class justice has hurt us a lot and the effect is that you are almost going to have reverse class justice whereby you are inclined to prosecute dignitaries sooner than criminal citizens, if only to prove that you are not practicing class justice. That is not good either,” Chief Prosecutor Ton Maan says Read more

Ser Wants Additional Meeting About Counterpart Policy

St. Maarten – The Social Economic Council (SER) met with the central committee of parliament yesterday afternoon. The role of the SER and what they are presently working on was discussed among other issues by the advisory body.  Chairwoman Oldine Bryson-Pantophlet headed the discussion with a presentation about the role of the council and its scope for solicited and unsolicited advice. The chairwoman took the helm of the organization in 2014 and will end in 2017.

Member of Parliament Leona Marlin Romeo stressed on consumer protection which she says is being neglected Read more

Mp Lake: The People Elected Me To Run Their Own Affairs And Good Governance

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Maurice Lake says it's a reality that the draft ordinance to establish a Sint Maarten national Integrity Chamber must take place by the House of Parliament, "...otherwise we will be talking integrity for another six months without anything happening for the people and moving Sint Maarten forward."

MP Lake is appealing to his fellow colleagues in the House of Parliament to get on-board and approve the Sint Maarten "home-grown" draft ordinance after certain changes are made, and if additional changes are needed, the MP said that this can be done along the way.

"We also have to realize if we don't approve our own draft ordinance to establish the integrity chamber it will open up the road for the General Measure of Kingdom Governance.

Sint Maarten is responsible for its own affairs, including good governance and the establishment of its own institutions such as its own Integrity Chamber, which came out of the country's own committee which made such a recommendation.

"As an elected representative of the people, I am a voice of the people Read more

Editorial - Deadline looms

That Social and Health Insurances SZV remains positive about reaching agreement on what it is owed by government (see Wednesday paper) can be considered good news. The Committee for Financial Supervision CFT last month had set an end-of-May deadline for making arrangements with both SZV and the general pension fund APS on arrears totalling respectively 87 and 70 million guilders, with 75 million still in dispute back then.

In addition, the Gumbs cabinet was to substantiate an extra 15 million guilders in revenues to achieve the income of NAf Read more

Procedure started to hear VDC informants

THE HAGUE--Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Ronald van Raak of the Socialist Party (SP) wants to start the procedure to get informants of the Curaçao Security and Intelligence Service VDC to The Hague for a closed-door hearing.

Van Raak submitted a request on Wednesday during a procedural meeting of the Second Chamber’s Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations to start a written procedure to get the input of other committee members on his proposal.

Van Raak wants the support of the Second Chamber to send a request to Curaçao Prime Minister Ivar Asjes, under whose authority VDC resorts Read more