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Update1: Theo Gets Five Years For Taking Bribes And Money Laundering

~ All Larimar suspects found guilty ~

PHILIPSBURG--Former Member of Parliament (MP) Theo Heyliger was found guilty of accepting bribes from Dutch consultant Ronald Maasdam and former director of construction company Windward Roads Janhendrik Boekaar, on Friday afternoon.

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Up Board: Hearsay Trial Produces Hearsay Verdict

PHILIPSBURG--The board of the United People (UP) party on Friday aid that the hearsay trial of party founder Theo Heyliger resulted in a hearsay verdict, and hopes Heyliger's legal team appeals the verdict forthwith. We are disappointed, but the fight is not over, the board said in a press release issued Friday afternoon.

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Theo Guilty Of Taking Bribes, Money Laundering, Gets 60 Months.

BREAKING NEWS: Former member of Parliament Theo Heyliger was found guilty of accepting bribes from Dutch consultant Ronald Maasdam at the courthouse in Philipsburg on Friday afternoon. He was also found guilty of laundering almost USD 4 million at the expense of the taxpayer.

He is sentenced to 60 months. Maasdam sentenced to 36 Read more

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Public Weather Forecast For St. Maarten

DATE ISSUED: Friday, May 15, 2020 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)

VALID UNTIL: Saturday midday (12:00 LST) May 16, 2020

WEATHER: This afternoon through Saturday midday: Fair to partly cloudy with a few passing showers possible.

Forecast High:31C / 88F Forecast Low:26C / 79F

Sunset Today:6:38 P.M. Sunrise Tomorrow:5:39 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Saturday midday: East-southeasterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 08 to 16 mph.

SYNOPSIS:

The Atlantic high pressure system will continue to dominate the weather pattern across the region and provide gentle to moderate winds Read more

Heyliger Convicted For 5 Years, All Suspects Found Guilty In Larimar Case.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The former Leader of the United Peoples Party and MP Theodore Heyliger was found guilty as charged in the Larimar case. Heyliger was sentenced to 5 years of prison time. The court found Heyliger guilty of accepting bribes from Ronald Maasdam who was a consultant on St Read more

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Richardson Speaks To Correctional Officers About Their Grievances

Justice Minister Anna Richardson (right, at head of table) speaking with correctional officers of the Pointe Blanche prison.

PHILIPSBURG--Justice Minister Anna Richardson met with correctional officers and other staff of the Pointe Blanche prison on Wednesday, May 13, to discuss their challenges and grievances Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The French and Dutch Governments are currently having some issues with the border controls and who are allowed to cross the French and Dutch border announced Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs on Friday. Jacobs said that the French Prefet Sylvie Feucher (State Government) seems to be fearful because the Dutch side has more active cases on their sides while the French only has one active case.

Jacobs said that the Dutch side did extensive community testing and they have been open and transparent with the results Read more

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Prime Minister & Chair Of The Eoc Silveria JacobsUpdates On Covid-19 Developments May 14, 2020

Prime Minister and Chair of theEmergency Operations Center (EOC)Silveria Jacobs hereby updates the general public fortoday, Thursday,May14, 2020,as part of the process to keep the community of St. Maarten informed about the latest developments and the Governments COVID-19 containment, mitigation and response measures.

Based on the latest available data provided by Collective Prevention Services (CPS) Epidemiologist Eva Lista-de Weever, for today, May 14, 2020, as of 4:00 PM, there have been no new reported COVID-19 confirmed cases. The data does, however, show an increase of one more person in self-quarantine and two more persons in self-isolation. The number of persons with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 currently hospitalized at the Mobile Medical Pavilion has decreased to two patients Read more

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Heyliger-Marten Not Impressed By AirportS Response To Parliament ~ Re-Iterates Areas Of Priority ~

PHILIPSBURGFaction Leader of the United People (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Grisha Heyliger-Marten on Tuesday said she was unimpressed with answers given to Parliament by airport CEO Brian Mingo regarding Princess Juliana International Airport’s financial situation, its reconstruction post-Irma, and the resignation of the Airport CFO.

She said Mingos answers to various questions posed by MPs in the Parliament meeting held this past Tuesday, showed a lack of interest and at times no sense of urgency when it came to the agenda point up for discussion Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister and Chair of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Silveria Jacobs hereby updates the general public for today, Thursday,May14, 2020,as part of the process to keep the community of St. Maarten informed about the latest developments and the Governments COVID-19 containment, mitigation and response measures.

Based on the latest available data provided by Collective Prevention Services (CPS) Epidemiologist Eva Lista-de Weever, for today, May 14, 2020, as of 4:00 PM, there have been no new reported COVID-19 confirmed cases Read more

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Cost Cutting Measures Discussed With Unions Government Awaiting Further Feedback From Ccsu

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – On Wednesday, May 13th, the Council of Ministers met with the unions for a second time, to discuss the proposed cost-cutting measures for Government. Some of these suggestions directly influence Civil Servants, thus deeming it necessary to discuss these measures with the spokespersons of the Committee of Civil Servants Unions (CCSU). This was the second meeting held with the Unions to discuss cost-cutting measures. During the first meeting, Government made the following proposal: cut its own salary by another 5% which is a total 20% cut 10% off salaries over NA 8,000 Cut of vacation pay 2020 off salaries over NA 4000 Also included in the proposal is freezing or postponement of bonuses etc.

None of the proposed cost-cutting measures would apply to anyone making under NA 4.000, -, which the Minister of Finance stressed in his opening remarks during the press briefing earlier that Wednesday Read more

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Mpc Students Say It Is Unfair To Have Exams With Inadequate Preparations

Milton Peters College.

~ Call for decision to be reconsidered ~

SOUTH REWARD--A large number of Milton Peters College (MPC) VWO 6 and HAVO 5 exam students said in a joint open letter to Education Minister Rodolphe Samuel that it is very unfair to demand that they prepare and follow through with school exams at the twe Read more

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Cost Cutting Measures Discussed With Unions.

Government awaiting further feedback from CCSU

PHILIPSBURG:---  On Wednesday, May 13th, the Council of Ministers met with the unions for a second time, to discuss the proposed cost-cutting measures for Government. Some of these suggestions directly influence Civil Servants, thus deeming it necessary to discuss these measures with the spokespersons of the Committee of Civil Servants Unions (CCSU). This was the second meeting held with the Unions to discuss cost-cutting measures. During the first meeting, Government made the following proposal:
cut its own salary by another 5% which is a total 20% cut
10% off salaries over NA 8,000
Cut of vacation pay 2020 off salaries over NA 4000
Also included in the proposal is freezing or postponement of bonuses etc.

None of the proposed cost-cutting measures would apply to anyone making under NA 4.000, -, which the Minister of Finance stressed in his opening remarks during the press briefing earlier that Wednesday Read more

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Public Weather Forecast For St. Maarten

DATE ISSUED: Thursday, May 14, 2020 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)

VALID UNTIL: Friday midday (12:00 LST) May 15, 2020

WEATHER: This afternoon through midday: Fair to partly cloudy and slightly hazy with a brief local shower possible.

Forecast High:31C / 88F Forecast Low:27C / 81F

Sunset Today:6:38 P.M. Sunrise Tomorrow:5:39 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through midday: Easterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 08 to 16 mph.

SYNOPSIS:

A relatively stable atmosphere will continue to restrict precipitation during this forecast period Read more

Samuel Clarifies Status On Reopening Of Schools

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS) Rodolphe Samuel provided clarity on the status of the reopening of schools for May 18.

What we (ECYS) are doing at this moment, at the final part of the school year is making it possible for those students who are finalising their exams to do so. Yes, you would rea Read more

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Police Force Implements First Phase In De-Escalation Plan

PHILIPSBURG--Justice Minister Anna Richardson said during the live virtual Council of Ministers press briefing on Wednesday that the St. Maarten Police Force KPSM has implemented the first phase in its post-COVID-19 de-escalation plan.

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Persons Stranded Abroad Urged To Register At Foreign Relations

PM Silveria Jacobs

PHILIPSBURG--Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Chairperson Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs on Wednesday urged St. Maarten residents who are stranded abroad to register at St Read more

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Civil Servants Union Leaders Reject Cost Cutting Measures.

Civil servants union leaders reject cost-cutting measures Exactly one week ago the Council of Ministers started a discussion on cost-cutting measures which will affect civil servants. Why the COM wants to cut in salaries, vacation allowance, periodic increases, etc from civil servants? According to the honorable Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs Ms. Silveria Jacobs and the honorable Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion, these cost-cutting measures are needed, because COVID 19 has affected the income of the government of Sint Maarten and from the Netherlands Read more

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Panneflek Signs Ministerial Regulation, Payroll Support Payment Starts By Mon.

VSA Minister Richard Panneflek

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Health, Labour and Social Affairs VSA Richard Panneflek on Wednesday affixed his signature to the ministeria Read more

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Civil Servants Salary Cuts Sparks Heavy Discussion With Unions And Com.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Council of Ministers are depending on the various unions to support them in the planned salary cuts for civil servants announced Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion and Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs.
Minister Irion said that he is of the opinion that the meeting with Council of Ministers and unions went well even though the unions expressed concerns about the proposed salary cuts as they battle to keep the country afloat post COVID-19 Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of VSA Richard Panneflek signed off on the much needed Ministerial Decree that would authorize USZV to begin making the stimulus payout especially the long-awaited payroll support.
Minister Panneflek said in an invited comment to SMN News that he received the documents on Monday and he sent it off to Legal Affairs for perusal Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of VSA Richard Panneflek signed off on the much needed Ministerial Decree that would authorize USZV to begin making the stimulus payout especially the long-awaited payroll support.
Minister Panneflek said in an invited comment to SMN News that he received the documents on Monday and he sent it off to Legal Affairs for perusal Read more

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Gibbs: Exiting Lockdown Does Not Mean Crisis Is Now Over

President of the Collectivit, Daniel Gibbs.

MARIGOT--President of the Collectivit Daniel Gibbs speaking at Mondays Facebook briefing cautioned that the gradual exit of lockdown on the F Read more

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Central Bank Responds To St. Maarten Mp, Says It Cannot Force Banks To Open

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The Central Bank for Curaao and St. Maarten (CBCS) has responded to United Peoples (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Rolando Brison, who in a letter dated April 21, urged CBCS to take a number of urgent actions to help ease the blow of the coronavirus COVID-19 crisis in St. Maarten within two weeks of receiving his letter or make their positions available for persons who are willing to help the country.

In a response dated May 7, CBCS Interim President Jose Jardim said CBCS cannot force any commercial bank to open a bank account for an individual or a business Read more

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