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President Of Parliament Sarah Wescot Presented With Reusable Canvas Bags Proposal By Creative Hands.

~ Students learn of Plastic Bag ban initiative. ~

Philipsburg, St. Maarten, August 15th, 2017 – Simran Hotwani & Celine Mayeko-Coklee of Creative Hands recently met with President of Parliament, Sarah Wescot Williams, to share their proposal on eliminating the use of plastic bags through the use of individually-designed reusable canvas shopping bags.

The students learnt of the MP’s proposal to ban plastic bags and were elated to share their project that supports this initiative with the Chairlady of Parliament.

Creative Hands is a student-developed, non-profit organization that aims to encourage youths to artistically solve some of the island’s current issues, such as pollution.

MP Wescot  has been working on a draft initiate law to amend the   police ordinance to ban the use of plastic bags Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Simran Hotwani & Celine Mayeko-Coklee of Creative Hands recently met with President of Parliament, Sarah Wescot Williams, to share their proposal on eliminating the use of plastic bags through the use of individually-designed reusable canvas shopping bags.
The students learned of the MP’s proposal to ban plastic bags and were elated to share their project that supports this initiative with the Chairlady of Parliament.

Creative Hands is a student-developed, non-profit organization that aims to encourage youths to artistically solve some of the island’s current issues, such as pollution.

MP Wescot has been working on a draft initiate law to amend the police ordinance to ban the use of plastic bags Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Simran Hotwani & Celine Mayeko-Coklee of Creative Hands recently met with President of Parliament, Sarah Wescot Williams, to share their proposal on eliminating the use of plastic bags through the use of individually-designed reusable canvas shopping bags.
The students learned of the MP’s proposal to ban plastic bags and were elated to share their project that supports this initiative with the Chairlady of Parliament.

Creative Hands is a student-developed, non-profit organization that aims to encourage youths to artistically solve some of the island’s current issues, such as pollution.

MP Wescot has been working on a draft initiate law to amend the police ordinance to ban the use of plastic bags Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---  St. Maarten Lion’s Club president, A. Busby and Lion members Gumbs, Boirard and Johnson recently held discussions with the President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams, regarding Lion’s Club focus on the youth for this lionistic year. Central to this theme are the topics of drug and alcohol use and abuse and cyber bullying.

Bringing the permit ordinance that regards the sale of alcohol to minors in synch with the legal age of 18 was again a topic of discussion as was the need for a broad discussion on (cyber) bullying.

It was explained by the President of Parliament that tabling the initiative law to amend the permit ordinance as presented by the Minister of ECYS in her former capacity of MP, was still possible, but needs to be done by the NA faction in Parliament.

On the topic of bullying, the President of Parliament expressed her opinion that Parliament would gladly collaborate through hearings etc Read more

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The Supervisory Board Of Directors Of Nv Gebe (“Sbod”)

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — On August 15, 2017, Mr. Roy Marlin tendered his resignation as the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Directors of NV GEBE.

During the SBOD meeting of August 15, 2017, the Supervisory Board resolved to appoint Mr. Bienvenido Richardson as the new Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Directors of NV GEBE.

The SBOD thanks Mr Read more

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Exlcusive: Roy Marlin Resigns As Chairman Of Gebe Supervisory Board.

Bienvenido Richardson appointed new chairman.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Former Member of Parliament and member of the Democratic Party Roy Marlin has tendered his resignation as the chairman of the Supervisory Board of GEBE. Marlin submitted his letter to the office of the Prime Minister on Tuesday morning.
SMN News learned that other members of the Supervisory Board of GEBE were having problems with Marlin since they believe Marlin was micromanaging Read more

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Barbados Pm Defends Controversial National Social Responsibility Levy

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has defended the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) saying the country was dealing “incrementally” with a ‘serious deficit problem”:

Addressing stakeholders to the Barbados Social Partnership meeting here, Stuart defended the near 400 percent increase in the NSRL amid calls from the trade unions and the private sector for either a reduction or a complete repeal of the fiscal measure that came into force at the start of July.

During the budget presentation in May, Finance Minister Chris Sinckler said the NSRL, which was introduced in September last year, would be increased from two to ten percent effective July 1.

According to Sinckler, this increase will result in “increased revenue of $291 million for a full financial year and $218 million for the remaining nine months of the current fiscal year”.

The NSRL was imposed on goods imported into Barbados and on domestically manufactured goods Read more

Message Of Hon. Prime Minister Mr. William Marlin At The Opening Of The Basic Legal Course

St. Maarten, Monday, August 14, 2017.

Our governing program for 2016-2020 is entitled, “Stability for Prosperity”. It is anchored on five strategic objectives, all of which can only be achieved by upgrading our government apparatus.  We are not even one year into this governing period yet and we can see that various initiatives that are geared towards a profound transformation of our society are already taking shape. One of those initiatives is why we are gathered here today. Nobody knows the challenges that this coalition government faces better than the civil servants who do their utmost day in, day out, to give professional support to government Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Our governing program for 2016-2020 is entitled, “Stability for Prosperity”. It is anchored on five strategic objectives, all of which can only be achieved by upgrading our government apparatus. We are not even one year into this governing period yet and we can see that various initiatives that are geared towards a profound transformation of our society are already taking shape. One of those initiatives is why we are gathered here today. Nobody knows the challenges that this coalition government faces better than the civil servants who do their utmost day in, day out, to give professional support to government Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- On Friday the 11th of August 2017, Safe Haven Foundation Managing Director, Miss Cassandra Richardson, met with the Justice Minister Rafael Boasman and Mr. Benjamin Ortega of I-Novus to discuss the upcoming events surrounding the awareness campaign to eradicate domestic violence, an unfortunate phenomenon observed internationally Read more

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Parents’  Time Is Worth The Sacrifice.

The Democratic Party would iike to extend a warm welcome home to those who spent the summer abroad and  extends best wishes to all students,  teachers, staff of learning institutions island-wide,  and surely to parents too,  for the new academic year. 

We believe that parents play an important, perhaps the most important role in this equation. We do so with  genuine appreciation and respect for all that parents must sacrifice and do to ensure their children’s  success, sometimes working two,  even three jobs to pay school fees, books, uniforms and more; not to mention after-school care and activity costs, which increase if the child engages in some sport or form of art (sports gear, musical instruments etc.).

Of the expressions of God’s steadfast and abiding love here on earth, that of a parent is surely one of them.   From it we learn that sacrifices and investments made for all those who come behind us is the very definition of civilization.  

Good teachers confess to faithfully picking up where the parents leave off, child after child,  day after day.   Yet in conversations held in confidence, we hear them say that they work even better with students whose parents take the time to give them individual and personal assistance.  Why?  They say they know for sure that those students will always have an extra push and those parents keep a keen eye on their child’s progress or their challenges. 

Even 30 minutes of uninterrupted one-on-one time spent by a parent with their youth on homework or any other activity , not only strengthens the bond, but is  critical to their development and  an ‘unspoken’ agreement in “co-labor” that the youth will uphold.  

It may be that they resist at first, believing that you will not continue,  or they  prefer to command their own space Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Democratic Party would like to extend a warm welcome home to those who spent the summer abroad and extends best wishes to all students, teachers, staff of learning institutions islandwide, and surely to parents too, for the new academic year.
We believe that parents play an important, perhaps the most important role in this equation. We do so with genuine appreciation and respect for all that parents must sacrifice and do to ensure their children's success, sometimes working two, even three jobs to pay school fees, books, uniforms and more; not to mention after-school care and activity costs, which increase if the child engages in some sport or form of art (sports gear, musical instruments etc.).
Of the expressions of God’s steadfast and abiding love here on earth, that of a parent is surely one of them Read more

Minister Of Education, Culture, Youth And Sport, The Honorable Silveria Jacobs’ Back To School Message.

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — On  Monday August 14, the school bells will be ringing, children will be walking to school, being dropped off by excited parents, and otherwise doing their usual, but it will be the dawning of a new day for many entering the school gates for the very first time. All across Soualiga, there will be children ready for the next step.

As the school year 2017-2018 commences,  I would like to wish each and every student, teacher, parent, school management, and all who make school possible, a happy and productive 2017-2018 Read more

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Smmc Hosts Appreciation Celebration Event For Oncology Patients

CAYHILL- On Saturday August 5th, the SMMC hosted an appreciation celebration event for their heroes, current and former oncology patients. The theme of the event was an ‘Appreciation Celebration; Surviving the Odds’.

The purpose of this celebration was to commemorate their patients and all that they have overcome. A small team of the Outpatient department felt a great need to celebrate their patients by involving all those that they have helped along the journey. The preparations for this event begun earlier in the year, with the initial idea brought forth almost two years previously.

Coincidentally, this year marks 20 years since the hospital first started oncology treatments for patients in need Read more

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Condolence Message Of Prime Minister William Marlin On The Demise Of Queen Maxima’S Father.

Philipsburg – Your Royal Highness, It is with great sorrow that we received the sad news of the passing of your father, the late Mr. Jorge Horacio Zorrequiete Stafanini in Argentina on Tuesday August 9th, 2017.

We pray that God will grant you the strength to bear this irreplaceable loss Read more

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Condolence Message Of Prime Minister William Marlin On The Demise Of Queen Maxima’S Father.

Your Royal Highness,
It is with great sorrow that we received the sad news of the passing of your father, the late Mr. Jorge Horacio Zorrequiete Stafanini in Argentina on Tuesday August 9th, 2017.
We pray that God will grant you the strength to bear this irreplaceable loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and the Royal Family.
We join millions in the Kingdom and beyond in praying that his soul may rest in eternal peace and wish you much strength and divine co Read more

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Students Send Social Message Through Movement

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Dance has long been a potent force among the arts in Jamaica, with pioneering companies such as Rex Nettleford’s National Dance Theatre Company holding a mirror up to society and promoting Caribbean culture.

Now students are taking the genre to a whole new level with powerful, socially relevant performances.

The island’s top high school, Campion College, is one of the institutions leading the way Read more

I would like to commend Member of Parliament, the Honorable Ardwell Irion, for presenting a proposal to Parliament that would make MPs more accountable and transparent, particularly towards their voters and the public in general. In the next Annual Parliamentary Report, we should be able to see how each MP voted on a law or a motion.

I also concur with MP Irion that Parliament’s website also needs upgrading Read more

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MIAMI:--- The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is partnering with travel associations around the world to strengthen the tourism sector in the region.

President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Karolin Troubetzkoy disclosed that under the stewardship of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), CHTA has joined forces with close to a dozen regional and national travel organizations to advocate for the sector among governments, legislators and economists.

The National Travel Association Coalition (NTAC), which comprises travel associations from Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, Egypt, Europe, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States, provides a forum for national travel associations to support each other and ensure the sustainable growth of travel and tourism Read more

CAYHILL:--- On Saturday, August 5th, the SMMC hosted an appreciation celebration event for their heroes, current, and former oncology patients. The theme of the event was an ‘Appreciation Celebration; Surviving the Odds’.
The purpose of this celebration was to commemorate their patients and all that they have overcome. A small team of the Outpatient department felt a great need to celebrate their patients by involving all those that they have helped along the journey. The preparations for this event begun earlier in the year, with the initial idea brought forth almost two years previously.
Coincidentally, this year marks 20 years since the hospital first started oncology treatments for patients in need Read more

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Opening Remarks Of Prime Minister William Marlin At General Meeting Of Teachers Of The St. Maarten Academy

President of the St. Maarten Academy School Board, Principal,

Fellow teachers,

Good morning.

Wow, where did time go? It feels like it was just a few weeks ago, that I stood here, addressing many of you and welcoming you to the new academic year and welcoming several of you to our new Country St. Maarten.

Once a teacher, ALWAYS a teacher, they say. I know this to be the gospel truth, at least, in my own case. As some of you may already know, I have been a teacher most of my life; actually, I dare say, all my life.

And although politics has consumed most of my time and energy in the latter part of my still rather young existence, I can say without doubt that nothing gives me more satisfaction than to run into one of my former students and be called “Meneer Marlin.” Just yesterday in the evening I ran into one of them with not only her daughter, but with her grandchildren as well.

I am sure some of you know that feeling Read more

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Inmates And Guards Fed-Up With Situation At Pointe Blanche Prison

Dear Editor,

Inmates and guards are fed-up with the current situation at the Pointe Blanche prison.

The prison is facing a great number of issues: lack of guards, malfunctioning locks, showers and toilets that are not functioning, rusted gates, poor health care, no dentist, no phone calls, all falling under this new management team, who seem incapable for the job.

Steven Carty and Wilfred Williams have been placed at the prison since February 2017, as the interim directors for a period of three months in order to have the situation at the prison “normalized,” which has been very unsuccessful.

The situation is very worrisome at the prison Read more

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Climate Scientists Use Forecasting Tools To Protect Caribbean Ways Of Life

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Since 2013, Jamaica’s Met Office has been using its Climate Predictability Tool (CPT) to forecast ‘below average’ rainfall or drought across the island. The tool has allowed this northern Caribbean island to accurately predict several dry periods and droughts, including its most destructive episode in 2014 when an estimated one billion dollars in agricultural losses were incurred due to crop failures and wild fires caused by the exceptionally dry conditions.

In neighbouring Cuba, the reputation of the Centre for Atmospheric Physics at the Institute for Meteorology (INSMET) is built on the development of tools that “provide reliable and timely climate and weather information” that enables the nation to prepare for extreme rainfall and drought conditions as well as for hurricanes.

Regional scientists believe the extended dry periods are one of several signs of climate change, now being experienced across the region Read more

SIMPSON BAY:--- Ms. Shanice Powell returned home on Tuesday evening after participating in the Miss Caribbean Culture Queen Pageant held in Nevis.

Shanice represented St. Maarten to the best of her ability and won “Best Promotional Video (produced by Soualiga Media)”, Best Interview and Best Talent and ultimately placed 2nd Runner-up. The regional pageant was held during the Culturama Festival in Nevis and consisted of contestants from 11 islands and was won by Miss Dominica, Jade Romain.

Mrs Read more

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