SXMElections.com

Theo: No meeting ever held with Schotte, VDC member

PHILIPSBURG--"I am getting tired of being associated with Gerrit Schotte. I have never met with Schotte at the UP headquarters. I have never met anyone that identified themselves as the secret service of Curaçao. Nor have I ever wanted to. I had no meetings with them. I have never asked for information from them."

That was the statement from United People's (UP) party leader Member of Parliament (MP) Theo Heyliger upon reading Thursday about supposedly "secret documents" released online by anti-St Read more

Editorial - Quite a legacy

The winds of change have blown in St. Kitts-Nevis, where the Labour Party lost Monday's parliamentary vote after governing the country for two decades straight. While the war of words with the united opposition during the campaign had been fierce, in the end the process went peacefully and so did the transfer of power.

Unfortunately, the final outcome was not known immediately because the election supervisor halted the announcing of results early Tuesday morning, citing possible irregularities Read more

Self Defense Seminar to help Petition to Expel Pedophiles

COLE BAY--Renzo Gracie Jiu Jitsu St. Maarten (SXM BJJ) is hosting a fund-raising self-defense class for girls age eight to 20 on Saturday from 10:00 to 11:00am. The fundraiser will benefit Mhakeda Shillingford's organization Petition to Expel Pedophiles (PEP).

Sixteen year old Shillingford had a terrifying experience in December when a bus driver kept pestering her for her name and telephone number. He did not cease his behavior when she told him she was only 16, and then refused to let her get off the bus unless she provided her details.

This strong young woman happens to be vice-president of the Youth Parliament of St Read more

New political party emerges with goal to be deal breaker

GEORGETOWN, Guyana--A new political party has emerged in Guyana with hopes of truly breaking away from an ethnic divide and providing a balance between Guyana's two main political parties – a united Alliance For Change (AFC)/A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) and the incumbent People's Progressive Party.

The Healing the Nation Theocracy Party (HTNTP) believes that it can rally the support of Guyanese at the upcoming May 11 polls by opening "your eyes to the poverty we are experiencing .. Read more

Schotte, Heyliger met with security service man in 2010

~ Ronald van Raak publishes online article ~

THE HAGUE--Secret documents, supplied to Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Ronald van Raak of the Socialist Party (SP) and published on Tuesday on the website ThePostOnline.nl, revealed a meeting on or around the 2010 elections in St. Maarten between a member of the Curaçao Security Agency VDC, candidate Curaçao Prime Minister Gerrit Schotte, candidate minister George Jamaloodin and United People's Party Leader Theo Heyliger.

The meeting in St Read more

Airport ‘on the radar’ of various air carriers

~ Details opportunities, threats ~

AIRPORT--In reference to opportunities discussed at the Routes Americas 2015 Conference earlier this month, Princess Juliana International Airport SXM says it "remains firmly on the radar of various airlines, with several carriers stating that they are very pleased with the airport."

An airport press release said, "During one-on-one meetings between a St. Maarten delegation and a number of airlines and airport representatives at the Routes Americas 2015 Conference to discuss current and new air service opportunities, the United States carriers indicated that the 2014 load factors were good and that no changes were expected in the market."

The delegation was led by Tourism and Transport Minister Claret Connor and included airport Managing Director Regina LaBega and other top airport officials Read more

Police union says Dutch want St. Maarten to give up its rights

~Wants local politicians to react~

PHILIPSBURG--General Police Union NAPB says it is of the impression that Dutch authorities want St. Maarten to "give up its rights" and "its patriotism" with some of the things it wants to impose on the country.

Union President Ethelwoldus Josepha says local politicians should make their positions clear on the issues that have been developing lately and tell the people of St Read more

style="text-align: center;">Sir Richard Branson Commends Islands on Shark and Ocean Conservation Efforts

Bimini- Political Leaders, Government Representatives and Conservationists from the Dutch Caribbean attended a high-level Caribbean Shark Conservation Leadership Retreat in Bimini, Bahamas last week, where significant discussions were held regarding the conservation of Sharks and Rays and the protection of the Ocean Environment in the wider-Caribbean Region. The Retreat, hosted by the PEW Charitable Trust; former President of Costa Rica and co-chair of the Global Ocean's Commission Jose-Maria Figures; and well-known businessman and environmental steward Sir Richard Branson, brought together conservation and political leaders, filmmakers and scientists from around the wider Caribbean region in order to discuss the protection and conservation of sharks and the Marine Environment.

During the event the delegates from the Dutch Caribbean; Commissioner Chris Johnson of Saba, Commissioner Carlisle Tearr from St Read more

Editorial - No ifs, no buts

Concerns expressed by the Democratic Party (DP) parliamentarians in Tuesday's paper regarding a perceived lack of tourism marketing should not go unnoticed. As stated before, there is currently no representation in Europe and contracts for the all-important North American continent apparently expired.

The opposition members have a point when questioning why and how Economic Affairs Minister Claret Connor is – as he stated – reorganising, reviewing and revisiting the already established St Read more

EU patience frays as Greek PM refuses "blackmail"

BRUSSELS/ATHENS--A war of words between Greece and EU paymaster Germany escalated on Tuesday with Athens' new leftist prime minister rejecting what he called "blackmail" to extend an international bailout and vowing to rush through laws to reverse labour reforms.

A source close to the government said Greece intends to ask on Wednesday for an extension for up to six months of a loan agreement with the euro zone, on conditions to be negotiated. The source drew a distinction between a loan agreement and the full bailout programme which the government insists is dead.

However hardline German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble dismissed the Greek gambit, telling broadcaster ZDF: "It's not about extending a credit programme but about whether this bailout programme will be fulfilled, yes or no."

Financial markets held their nerve after the latest talks among euro zone finance ministers broke down late on Monday and EU partners gave Greece until the end of the week to request an extension or lose financial assistance Read more

Gumbs formally rejects The Hague intervention

~ Warns that measures will create social unrest ~

THE HAGUE--St. Maarten Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs has informed the Dutch government formally that his government cannot agree with the current proposal of the Kingdom Council of Ministers to impose the installation of an Integrity Chamber for St. Maarten.

Gumbs stated in separate letters dated February 9 to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in his capacity as Chairman of the Kingdom Council of Ministers and to Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk that the proposed General Measure of the Kingdom Government ("Algemene Maatregel van Rijksbestuur" AMvRB) was "in violation" of the Kingdom Charter and "disproportionate," that it "undermined St Read more

New Government Coming To St. Kitts

Premier Vance Amory’s seat is one of only two to be officially called.

By Felicia J. Persaud

News Americas, CHARLESTOWN, Nevis, Tues. Feb. 17, 2015: The opposition coalition, Team Unity, in St. Kitts/Nevis has claimed victory in Monday’s elections even though the country’s Supervisor of Elections of the Electoral Commission, Raphael Archibald, refused to announce the final results of the election at 5 a.m. this morning.  The country’s supervisor of elections told media personnel earlier this morning that there will be no more public results released and it could be “days” before the results were made official because there were reports of discrepancies in the elections where less than 16,000 votes were cast.

  Sources told NAN exclusively this morning that from a voter tally witnessed by their agents, that the opposition coalition, Team Unity, had won enough seats to take the reins of power from the 20-year ruling St Read more

Island Gems helps Animal Defenders

PHILIPSBURG--Island Gems Charity Foundation presented a cheque to Animal Defenders SXM recently to assist with neuter operations, vaccinations and other medical cost for stray animals.

The cheque for NAf. 900 was written to a veterinary clinic in keeping with Island Gems' policy of not giving money directly to any organisation. Island Gems prefers to pay for services or buy necessary items.

"We are all delighted and very thankful to the Island Gems Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Kooyman is pleased to announce a special guest for their upcoming Home Improvement Fair. Miss MAKITA - Maria Alejandra Montoya, spokes model of MAKITA brand Industrial power tools and Accessories will be live at the Kooyman Home Improvement Fair on Saturday February 28th.
The Kooyman team will welcome vendors and other top suppliers such as AIR MASTER Windows & Doors, MAPEI Adhesives, Sealants and Building Products, GLOBAL Professional High End paint manufacturer, and MAKITA Power Tools as well as local suppliers such as, Rollfix, SBS, City Furniture, Paradise Pools, WIB and more.
The event will feature a series of live product demonstrations, expert advice and estimates Read more

Princess Heights Awarded Prestigious Green Key Eco-Label Certification.

>PHILIPSBURG:---- The Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) awarded Princess Heights Luxury Boutique Condo Hotel with the first and only Green Key Eco-label certification in St. Maarten, solidifying St. Maarten's reputation as a destination that is serious about the environment.
"Here at Princess Heights, we've been using Green Key guidelines as a model for best practices for many years," said Emil Lee, General Manager of Princess Heights Read more

style="text-align: center;">Cycle One class assisted with establishing in-school recycling program

PHILIPSBURG:--- In its efforts to continue to bring environmental and conservation awareness into schools the Nature Foundation recently gave a presentation to the cycle one class of the Asha Stevens Christian Hillside School focused on the importance of Recycling Read more

Island Gems Helps Animal Defenders

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten -- Island Gems Charity Foundation recently presented a cheque to Animal Defenders SXM to assist with neuter operations, vaccinations and other medical costs for the stray animals.

The cheque for NAf 900 was written to a vet clinic in keeping with Island Gems policy of not giving money to any organization directly, preferring to pay for services or buy necessary items.

"We are all delighted and very thankful to the Island Gems Read more

Presentation On The Importance Of Recycling Given At Christian Hillside School, Cycle One Class Assisted With Establishing In-School Recycling Program

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - In its efforts to continue to bring environmental and conservation awareness into schools the Nature Foundation recently gave a presentation to the cycle one class of the Asha Stevens Christian Hillside School focused on the importance of Recycling.

Nature Foundation Office Manager Marisa Dyer-Brandy explai Read more

DP: Country’s marketing seemingly at standstill

PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten's tourism marketing in the Netherlands, the United States and Canada seems to be at a standstill with no representation in Europe and the expiration of the contracts for the North American market, according to Democratic Party (DP) Parliament fraction advisor Emil Lee.

Lee joined party leader Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams at Parliament House on Monday for a party press conference at which they discussed various issues the party is pursuing and is pushing for Parliament and the Gumbs Cabinet's attention.

Wescot-Williams said Tourism and Economic Affairs Minister Claret Connor is still to explain how and why he will be reorganising, re-evaluating and revisiting the already established St Read more

‘Non-existent’ pipe caused sewage spill into marina

OYSTER POND--A mystery overflow pipe that does not feature in the sewage and drainage plans of Etablissement des Eaux et Assainissement de St. Martin (EEASM) was the cause of the recent sewage spill into the pond at Captain Oliver's Marina, EEASM president Louis Fleming disclosed Monday.

"The pipe has now been blocked by the maintenance company Général des Eaux and there should not be any re-occurrence," Fleming said Read more

SXM talks preclearance, Open Skies at conference

AIRPORT--The possibility of an Open Skies agreement and the establishment of United States preclearance at SXM Princess Juliana International Airport were among the issues discussed by the St. Maarten delegation at the Routes Americas 2015 Conference, held in Denver, Colorado, February 1-3.

An SXM Airport press release said the St. Maarten delegation had been led by Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication Claret Connor and comprised SXM Airport Managing Director Regina LaBega, Operations Manager Michel Hyman and Marketing and Customer Service Acting Manager Suzy Kartokromo.

According to US State Department former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State John Byerly, a keynote speaker at the conference, Open Skies generated more than US $4 billion in revenues for the United States last year, SXM Airport said.

Byerly highlighted Chile as being at the forefront of air service liberalisation, which he stressed reaps significant economic benefits as a result.

Open Skies fosters competition and without doubt enhances the quality of service, he added Read more

Minister Connor congratulates Zaandam as new SHTA Director

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Tourism Claret Connor on Monday congratulated Anenda Zaandam on her appointment as Executive Director of the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA).
The SHTA announced Zaandam's appointment to the post last week.

Minister Connor congratulated the SHTA on its selection of a young professional to the post Read more

style="text-align: center;">Government and Supervisory Boards must respect Parliament and provide the answers necessary.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament and Leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams along with the President of the Democratic Party Board Emil Lee high-lighted several issues that they felt needs to be clarified.
Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams said on Monday during a press conference that the "Counterpart Policy" used by MP Cornelius de Weever was not the reason why the number two candidate of the DP Faction broke the first coalition Read more

Low Turnout, High Disappointment At Miss West Indies

St. Maarten -Guadeloupe’s Alex Rabolion is the new Ms. West Indies Queen after beating out thirteen other delegates to win the coveted crown on Sunday morning in Galisby. The 26-year old beautician was one of the early favorites heading into the pageant that was held at Carnival Village in French St. Martin on Valentine’s Day.

However she faced stiff competition from audience darlings, Ms. St. Lucia- Oneka Mckoy, Ms. Bahamas-Chantel O’Brian and Ms. US Virgin Islands-  Temisha Libert Read more