SXMElections.com

Solutions To Save Our Local University

Dear Editor,

As an Educator teaching 25 years at the University of St. Martin (USM), I would like to humbly give my advice and solution to the Minister of Education on how to save our University of St. Martin. I fully understand the situation our Government is being confronted with. The shortage of income for this year and the coming years for the entire country is something we all have to face and therefore it is impossible at this point and time to commit to any type of monetary assistance to the University, but we need to be creative in seeking a solution.

This is where creative financing comes into the picture within Government Read more

MECYS promises a fun packed weekend for all

PHILIPSBURG:--- Events leading up to St. Martin Day 2017 continues this weekend with the debut of the Hurricane Heroes Social with Fred York and Friends at Laser 101. We all can agree that Laser 101 played a vital role in the days after Hurricane Irma and at one point was the main source of communication for many on the island and abroad. Therefore, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport in collaboration with Musicologie, spearheaded by Fred York, finds it befitting to kick off the Hurricane Heroes Social by honoring the management and staff of Laser 101 Read more

MARIGOT:--- President Daniel Gibbs announced since taking office in April 2017 that the wreck of the boat El Maud in Galisbay would soon disappear. Scheduled well before Hurricane IRMA, this public contract was awarded last July to the Dutch company Koole BV for € 395,000. Work began in mid-October and is now complete.
The ship El Maud ran aground 100 meters from the shore, about 4.5 meters deep, during the passage of Hurricane Lenny, in November 1999 Read more

Canto And Carilec Mou Supports Sustainable Energy And Ict Goals Of The Caribbean

PORT OF SPAIN - From May 2017, discussions have been   ongoing between CARILEC and CANTO in the formulation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which included, inter alia, agreement on the joint promotion of the current CARILEC Smart Grid Symposium in Trinidad, October 23-26, 2017. The MOU articulates the agreement between the parties to explore and implement initiatives focused on the following areas of common interest and priorities in the energy and information and communications technology (ICT) sectors: Training and Capacity Building; Conferences and Networking; Smart Grid Infrastructure and Applications, Business Development and Consulting opportunities. Secretary General of CANTO, Teresa Wankin  welcomed the benefits of the MOU stating that: "At CANTO, we embody the holistic approach to regional development, and we are excited to add this dynamic and important sector to our connections". Executive Director of CARILEC, Dr Read more

President Of Parliament Convenes Meeting On Integrity Chamber And Border Control

Philipsburg, St.Maarten, –– The President of Parliament, Sarah Wescot -Williams has convened a public meeting of Parliament, to which the honorable Prime Minister, William Marlin has been invited, with the agenda points; Integrity Chamber and Border Control. 

“ As president of Parliament I may convene meetings of Parliament as often as deemed   necessary Read more

Pm Harris Cancels Trip To Attend Cannes International Emigration & Luxury Property Expo In France

Basseterre, St. Kitts,  – Questions have been raised about the last minute cancellation of travel arrangements by St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris to Cannes, France via London on Monday.

Dr. Harris was scheduled to leave Antigua for France on a British Airways flight via London to attend the Cannes      International Emigration & Luxury Property Expo from 26 – 27 October at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes.

Leader of the Opposition, the Right Hon Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The President of Parliament, Sarah Wescot -Williams has convened a public meeting of Parliament, to which the honorable Prime Minister, William Marlin has been invited, with the agenda points; Integrity Chamber and Border Control.

“ As president of Parliament, I may convene meetings of Parliament as often as deemed necessary Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- On October 23rd, 2017, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS) held a consultation meeting for the Midterm Resilience Plan. The aim of the meeting was to contribute to the National Recovery Plan (NRP) of St. Maarten in the area of education, culture, youth, and sport. Participating stakeholders included school boards, UNICEF, sporting organizations, culture and heritage foundations, day care centers, youth organizations and representatives from the Ministry ECYS and other Ministries Read more

Informative Briefing Held With Top Civil Servants

  

PHILIPSBURG –  The position of the Dutch Government not to grant aid for the recovery of Sint Maarten following the devastation caused by hurricane Irma if the Government of Sint Maarten doesn’t accept the two conditions, was the topic of a briefing conducted by Prime Minister, Mr. William Marlin, and Minister of Justice, Mr Read more

The Ministry Of Education, Culture, Youth And Sport Holds A Consultation Meeting.

~ Meeting was for the Mid-term Resilience Plan with critical stakeholders as part of the National Recovery Plan 2017-2019 ~

PHILIPSBURG — On October 23rd, 2017, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS) held a consultation meeting for the Midterm Resilience Plan. The aim of the meeting was to contribute to the National Recovery Plan (NRP) of St. Maarten in the area of education, culture, youth and sport. Participating stakeholders included schoolboards, UNICEF, sporting organizations, culture and heritage foundations, day care centers, youth organizations and representatives from the Ministry ECYS and other Ministries Read more

Curacao's Economy Shrinks In The First Quarter Of 2017.

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao:--- The Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten reports that the economy of Curacao during the first quarter of 2017 with an estimated 0.9% has shrunk compared to the first quarter of 2016. The economic downturn in the first quarter of 2017 was accompanied by higher inflationary pressures, mainly as due to an increase in gasoline and electricity prices. Inflation increased 0.0% in the first quarter of 2016 to 1.7% in the first quarter of 2017.

The analysis by sector in the Bank's first quarterly report of 2017 shows that the shrinkage of real Curaçao's GDP was mainly due to a decline in activities the private sector Read more

The Ministry Of Vromi Flagpole Project Today, Post Irma???

A few months before Irma, I got a request from the VROMI Minister on his official VROMI Government letterhead (with what appears to be a Black Power fist as part of that official letterhead??), requesting a donation of FLS. 5,000.00 towards a plan to put two very tall flagpoles with huge Miami- dealership-style SXM flags in strategic locations: one on the Bell property above what was once Harold Jack’s  look-out stand and one in the (now not so) Great Salt Pond, at the combined cost of well over US$ 150,000.00.

The idea was to before November 11, 2017, have a prominent display of our National Flag in places where if people took selfies, the flag would proudly be displayed in the back ground, in an effort to increase National Pride awareness Read more

Parliament Is To Blame For Delay In Hurricane Aid

While most people blame our honourable Prime Minister and the Government for delaying Dutch hurricane financial aid, the hold-up really lies with Parliament. The Prime Minister is only acting on a mandate, received from Parliament on January 30th 2017, which instructed Government to block the establishing of the Integrity Chamber.

In the corporate world when the Board of Directors instructs Management to carry out an order, it is executed until the Board cancels the instruction. Likewise, in the public sector when Parliament passes a motion, instructing government to execute an order, government is expected to carry out the instruction until Parliament decides otherwise.

Let me spare the reader the history and intrigues related to the Integrity Chamber and fast forward to January 30th 2017 when the Integrity Chamber was once again the topic of discussion on the floor of Parliament Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- On October 2nd, the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS), Silveria Jacobs, received a letter from the President of the Board from the University of St. Martin Foundation (USMF), Mrs. Valerie Giterson-Pantophlet. In said letter, the USMF requested the intervention from the Minister of Education, and by extension the Government of St Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Monday, October 23rd, the interim report of the workgroup National Recovery Plan (NRP) for the reconstruction and recovery of Sint Maarten will be available after 3:00 PM on the website www.sxmemergency.org, the website that Government launched shortly after the passing of Hurricane Irma.

The interim report entitled Interim Report National Recovery Plan provides a preliminary analysis of the economic impact expected due to the loss of the country’s main business activities and infrastructure Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister William Marlin said on Sunday afternoon following a phone call from Minister Ronald Plasterk, that it is not right for the Dutch government to hold the people of Sint Maarten hostage over the issue of establishing an Integrity Chamber controlled by the Dutch and reports to the Dutch. If that is not accepted Minister Plasterk said then there will be no aid from the Netherlands.

In the present draft legislation currently being advised on by the Council of Advice, the board of the Integrity Chamber will consist of three persons, each nominated by the Courts of First Instance, by the General Audit Chamber and by the Ombudsman Read more

Prime Minister Marlin Response To Conditions

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — On October 20, 2017, the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Mr. William Marlin, issued a letter to the Dutch caretaker Minister of Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations, Mr. Ronald Plasterk, in response to his letter dated October 13, in which the conditions of the Dutch Government to make the recovery funds available were stipulated.

While amidst the urgency of managing the impact of the hurricane, the Government of Sint Maarten has sent various letters to the Dutch Government in which several topics were raised to keep the Dutch Government aligned and give the possibility to comment and complement Read more

Frans: Shta Should Guard Its Tone In Addressing Its Government Partner

~ Govt. will not be irresponsible in talks with Dutch ~

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party MP Frans Richardson believes the St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) should guard its tone and refrain from levying insults towards Parliament and the government of St. Maarten. Richardson’s US party holds the political responsibility for the Ministry of Tourism and Economic Affairs and that of Justice.

He said St Read more

~ Govt. will not be irresponsible in talks with Dutch ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party MP Frans Richardson believes the St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) should guard its tone and refrain from levying insults towards Parliament and the government of St. Maarten. Richardson’s US party holds the political responsibility for the Ministry of Tourism and Economic Affairs and that of Justice.

He said St Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- On October 20, 2017, the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Mr. William Marlin, issued a letter to the Dutch caretaker Minister of Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations, Mr. Ronald Plasterk, in response to his letter dated October 13, in which the conditions of the Dutch Government to make the recovery funds available were stipulated.

While amidst the urgency of managing the impact of the hurricane, the Government of Sint Maarten has sent various letters to the Dutch Government in which several topics were raised to keep the Dutch Government aligned and give the possibility to comment and complement Read more

Office World Donates Supplies To The Ministry Ecys

PHILIPSBURG —  As a way to commemorate the 28th Anniversary, Office World donated 1000 composition books and other school supplies to the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Silveria Jacobs. The books are welcomed at an ideal time, especially after the passing of Hurricane Irma whereby many children may have lost their books and/or school supplies.

Minister Jacobs expressed her congratulations and gratitude to the management and staff of Office World for serving the community and businesses with supplies for the last 28 years Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- As a way to commemorate the 28th Anniversary, Office World donated 1000 composition books and other school supplies to the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Silveria Jacobs. The books are welcomed at an ideal time, especially after the passing of Hurricane Irma whereby many children may have lost their books and/or school supplies.
Minister Jacobs expressed her congratulations and gratitude to the management and staff of Office World for serving the community and businesses with supplies for the last 28 years Read more

L.B. SCOT RD:--- On Tuesday, October 17th police received information about a large crocodile was being kept on the property of a home located on L.B. Scot road. After receiving this information an investigation was done by police to determine what this case was really all about. On the scene, the police discovered an approximately five-foot long crocodile which was being kept in a concrete water reservoir. The owner of this wild and very dangerous animal identified with initials S.B. stated that he has owned the animal for approximately 30 years Read more

Motorworld Group Hurricane Car Sale Offers Once In A Lifetime Deals With Up To 70% Discounts On All Brands

COLEBAY, Sint Maarten — In the wave of the aftermath of the recent hurricanes and storms, Motorworld Group of Companies has launched the ‘Hurricane Car Sale’ with up to 70% discount on new and used vehicles from all brands that are available at Motorworld, Caribbean Auto and Audi. This major sale begins today, and is valid for a limited time only, whilst stocks last. “Businesses and residents are working diligently to rebuild and survive beyond the damages and destruction throughout the community of St Read more