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Lions & Leos Host Christmas Party And Former Leo Member Spreads Christmas Joy

Former Leo member spreads Christmas Joy Former Leo member spreads Christmas Joy
Acting Minister Plenipotentiary Mr. Hasana Ellis, (former Omega Leo member) during a working visit to St. Maarten, visited the St. Maarten Lions Club. During this visit, he donated Christmas gifts to Lion President Alison Busby, for the St. Maarten Lions Club to share with the children of St. Maarten and spread some Christmas joy. Lions & Leos host Christmas Party St. Maarten Lions Club assisted by St Read more

Christmas Lunch For The Shelterees Hosted By Labriska Courtar

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — In light of the holidays, Labriska Courtar organized a Christmas Lunch for the Shelterees living in the Festival Village and the Little League Ballpark who lost their homes due to the major hurricanes Maria and Irma.

A lunch was catered for approximately 100 shelterees which consisted of turkey, ham, lasagna, Journey cakes and much more.

“It has always been a plan of mine, to give back to those in need. Hosting this event with my support team was amazing Read more

Culture Minister Silveria Jacobs Issues Christmas Message

Christmas is a time of joy, peace, family gatherings, food and celebration. Culturally and traditionally we would herald the season with many church services, cantatas, choirs caroling, programs depicting and celebrating the birth of Christ Jesus, who we learned from childhood came into the world to save us all, food, drink and merry making. In thinking of what Christmas truly means, we must reflect on who Jesus is – the son of God, the Messiah, the chosen one, a curious and respectful child, a humble man who showed love and compassion for all, even the ones we would usually turn our backs on.

From the wonderful words of scripture, we learn that his birth heralded a new beginning of Peace, of the one who came to save the world Read more

Mensaje De Navidad 2017 De La Ministra De Cultura, Silveria Jacobs

FOTO: Ministra de Educación, Cultura, Juventud y Deporte, Silveria Jacbos

Traducido por Máximo Castro

La Navidad es un momento de alegría, paz, reuniones familiares, comida y celebración. Culturalmente y tradicionalmente anunciamos la temporada con muchos servicios religiosos, cantatas, coros villancicos, programas que representan y celebran el nacimiento de Cristo Jesús, enseñanza que aprendimos desde la infancia, el niño Dios que vino al mundo para salvarnos a todos, comida, bebida y celebración Read more

Sint Maarten Deserves A Stable Coalition Government

After the new interim UP/DP/Brownbill government is sworn in, Sint Maarten would have had seven coalition governments in seven years. This is an average of one government per year. If we also count the number of elections since 2010, including the upcoming February 2018, Sint Maarteners would have gone to the polls four times which boils down to an average of one election every two years.

For a small young country such as ours, having on average, a change of government every year and elections every two years is unacceptable Read more

Meyers Withdraws As Formateur

Harbour View – On Wednesday, December 20, 2017, the Governor of Sint Maarten, His Excellency drs. E.B. Holiday, met with from formateur Mr. Franklin Meyers.

The formateur based on a progress review of the formation process has decided to withdraw himself as formateur and return the commission to form a new government.

Governor Holiday has accepted the decision of Mr Read more

First Rci Cruise Grandeur Of The Seas In Port On Sunday.

~ Kick-off to weekly port calls from RCI vessels  ~

PORT ST. MAARTEN – Royal Caribbean International (RCI) Grandeur of the Seas will be RCI’s first ship to return to the destination on a commercial cruise visit on Sunday.  A hosts of welcome activities have been planned by stakeholders to welcome the near 2000 guests.

The first RCI vessel on Sunday will kick-off weekly port calls from RCI cruise ships.  Port St. Maarten Management would like to remind all stakeholders and the populace to continue to welcome our cruise passengers with a warm St Read more

Governor Holiday Receives Update On Formation From F. Meyers

Harbour View – On Friday, December 15, 2017, the Governor of Sint Maarten, His Excellency drs. E.B. Holiday, met with and received an update from formateur Mr. Franklin Meyers on the progress regarding the pending points of the formation.

Considering that the background screening of candidate ministers is still ongoing the formateur therefore requested a further extension of his commission to form a new government.

Governor Holiday as a result and having assessed the situation extended the commission for Mr Read more

Again A Stalemate Between The Government And One Of Its Companies With The Dump Caught In The Middle. 

Philipsburg, St. Maarten — The statement by the VROMI Minister, Honorable Christopher Emmanuel, regarding the landfill and his solution for this public hazard, has done nothing to convince the public that all is well with the umpteen plan for a Waste to Energy plant on St. Maarten.

This plan should allegedly also include the clearing of the dump site in the Salt Pond Read more

Fortinet Donates Equipment To Re-Establish Communications In The Caribbean And Create Public Spaces To Access The Internet For Free

The cybersecurity company signed an agreement with local telecommunications providers to donate equipment, to be used in hotspots across various Caribbean islands

Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT), a global leader in broad, integrated and automated cybersecurity solutions, is donating IT equipment to provide public wireless access in St. Maarten, Antigua, Martinique and Guadalupe after hurricanes Irma and Maria severely impacted communications on these islands.

Fortinet signed a donation agreement with various local telecommunications providers to implement these public access points, to be installed in areas where large numbers of people tend to gather Read more

St. Maarten At Funding Mission And Energy Summit Cooperation With French St. Martin Seen As Way Forward

Great Bay, St. Maarten – Cooperation with the French side of St. Maarten is a key component for St. Maarten, in its ongoing rebuilding and development efforts. This is a prevalent sentiment of St. Maarten following its recent attendance of high level meetings held in Brussels.

At the invitation of the Association of the Overseas Countries and Territories of the European Union (OCTA), St. Maarten attended the 3rd Ministerial Energy Summit in Brussels, on December 6th and 7th. Utilizing the opportunity presented by this invitation, St Read more

Ids 2017: Everybody Counts End Aids

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – World AIDS Day was observed on December 1st. It provided an opportunity to increase awareness, education and a greater understanding of HIV as a global public health issue.

This holiday season, the Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department in the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA), calls on the Sint Maarten community to take time out to remember and pay respect and tribute to those that they have known who passed away from the disease.

CPS also reminds members of the community to practice safe sex this holiday season.

Currently there are many scientifically proven prevention options that health services can offer to help people prevent HIV infection and protect their health.

These measures include new options such as self-administered HIV testing, which can be done at home, and the availability of HIV testing in places other than health centers Read more

Successful #Sxmstrong Art Auction Raises  15,000 Guilders Plus For Primary Schools

PHILIPSBURG –  The Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, held an Art Auction on Saturday evening, the 9th of December 2017 at the Conference Room of the New Government Building in Philipsburg.

This project stemmed from the #SXMStrong Campaign which was held in the month of November and was facilitated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, together with General Affairs and Bearing Point. The initiative was taken to assist the schools after the devastation of Hurricane Irma and all proceeds from the bidding is given directly to the school that created the art work.

Invited guests and exuberant bidders in attendance included 1st Vice-President of the Collectivité Valerie Damaseau, Territorial Council Member Alex Pierre, Chief Advisor to The President Hervé Dorville, the Ombudsman Nilda Arduin, Members of Parliament Claret Conner and Tamara Leonard, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Anastacio Baker, school board representatives, school managers, teachers and students.

Some 12 4×4 foot wooden boards used as easels by primary and afternoon schools featuring creativity and the emotions of the young artists were auctioned Saturday evening in the conference room at the Government Administration Building as part of the Road to St Read more

Parliament Scheduled Three Meetings On Tuesday December 12

Permanent Committee of Kingdom Affairs and Inter-Parliamentary Relations scheduled to meet on Tuesday

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The Permanent Committee of Kingdom Affairs and Inter-Parliamentary Relations (CKAIR), will meet on December 12, 2017.

The CKAIR Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 09.00 am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda point to be discussed is:

Appointment of a chairman and vice-chairman of the committee

Continuation Central Committee meeting of Parliament about discussion with USM Board on the motives for the closure of USM on Tuesday morning December 5

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The House of Parliament will sit in a Central Committee meeting on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 Read more

Minister Jacobs Pledges Support To St. Maarten Youth Brigade

PHILIPSBURG  –  On Saturday December 9th the St. Maarten Youth Brigade, along with family and friends celebrated the promotion of its new recruits, cadets and Sergeants in a wonderful ceremony and reception which was also supported by the Prime Minister Rafael Boasman and Minister of Youth Silveria Jacobs.

Founder Zulayka Peterson spoke of the history of the St Read more

Minister Jacobs Attends Beyond Kultura Book Launch

SIMPSON BAY –  On Friday evening, the Beyond Kultura Foundation launched its latest children’s book “Chella and the Weird Woman” by Loekie Morales at OBA OBA Restaurant and lounge in Simpson Bay. The book was baptized by the author in the presence of its “godparents” Francis Carty and Claudette Forsythe-Labega.

The bilingual book (Dutch and English translation on each page, is well written and utilized imagery and a fast paced story line to capture the imagination of readers Read more

Inselair Receives Permit To Operate To Surinam

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — On Thursday, December 7th 2017, InselAir has received the formal permit from the Surinam Civil Aviation Authorities. The flights are now opened
for sale without any restriction.

In line with industry practice InselAir already started selling tickets with the remark “pending government approval” before the official permit was actually granted. This remark has now been removed on the booking site.

On December 18th 2017, InselAir will s Read more

Sint Maarten Nature Foundation’S Bervoets Attends United Nations Ecosystem Based Management Workshop In Panama City, Panama

PANAMA – Managing Director of the Sint Maarten Nature Foundation Tadzio Bervoets this week attended the United Nations Environment Program/ Caribbean Environment Program’s meeting on Ecosystem Based Management in Panama City, Panama.  The United Nations’ Caribbean Environment Program (CEP) and Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) to the Cartagena Convention, have been aiming to promote and integrate the principles of ecosystem-based management approach throughout the insular Caribbean.

Ecosystem-based management (EBM) is an environmental management approach that recognizes the variety of interactions within an ecosystem, including humans, rather than considering sonly ingle issues, species, or ecosystem services Read more

Marella Discovery Visit A Success.  Marella Celebration In Port On Friday

PORT ST. MAARTEN – Marella Discovery of Marella Cruises, formerly Thomson Cruises, and part of the TUI Group, the world’s leading travel company, was the second commercial cruise ship to visit Port St. Maarten.  The vessel docked along the cruise pier on Tuesday, December 5.

Cruise passengers were welcomed with Caribbean music from Dow Steel Pan Band along with a welcome banner, stilt walkers, dancers and the Carnival Queens.  Port St. Maarten also distributed complimentary #SXMStrong wrist bands to passengers who came ashore.

Throughout the day activities were held on the Boardwalk near the Captain Hodge Wharf in Philipsburg that included a steel band; a mini-parade with the Youmay Drum Band, and DJ entertainment.  These were organized by the St Read more

Minister Jacobs Hosts Attitude Of Gratitude Thanksgiving & Tree Lighting Ceremony

Philipsburg – Today Dec 3rd, the Government of St. Maarten in collaboration with the St. Maarten United Ministerial Foundation (SMUMF), Christian Council (CC) successfully hosted and celebrated the annual Thanksgiving Service and Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony heralding the end of the Hurricane Season 2017. His Excellency Governor E.B. Holiday and Mrs. Holiday, Chairlady of Parliament S. Wescott-Williams, Honorable Prime Minister R Read more

Response To Usp

The Democratic Party has been one of the longest serving parties in the history of St. Maarten.  We have had our ups and downs, but we have been there for the people of St. Maarten, now more than ever before. Our main goal was and continues to be, “how can we make our island a better place for the people of St. Maarten”.

To hear a political party, who welcomed the leader of the Democratic Party as the chairlady in one breathe and denounce her in the next, say some of the most unprofessional things is a shame to say the least.  This berating article from the USP board comes as no surprise, because the same lowdown type of message was previously shared in the NA/USP/DP coalition WhatsApp chat.

Yes, the “testicular fortitude” message from the hand of a TEATT cabinet staffer, singling out 2 leaders of the coalition and calling the other (female) leader “spineless” Read more

Minister Jacobs Presents Proposal To Usm To Provide Financial Injection To Prevent Closure

~ Minister Jacobs; Awaits decision of the Board ~

PHILIPSBURG — On Tuesday November 28th, the Council of Ministers (CoM) gave the go ahead to the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, to meet with the University of St. Martin Foundation (USMF) to propose a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to grant incidental subsidy (amounting to NAF. 690K- 920K over three/four months) in the interest of preventing the closure of the USM as well as preparing for the continuity of the institution in a transparent, accountable, efficient and effective manner Read more

Was Live: Resignation Of Prime Minister William Marlin

The post WAS LIVE: RESIGNATION OF PRIME MINISTER William Marlin appeared first on 721news.com.

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Ministers Of Vromi And Vsa Questioned On Roof Repair Program.

Philipsburg, St. Maarten, — Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams has requested Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure, the Honorable Mr. Christopher Emmanuel and Minister of Health Care, Social Development & Labor, the Honorable Mr Read more