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>MARIGOT:--- Residents, business owners, school children and visitors to the island were left in a state of disarray on Thursday when they found themselves trapped on the French side of the island. During the morning hours’ protestors and the 15 member committee members that are protesting the PLU law that is to be implemented on St. Martin blocked all entrances leading to Marigot.
The committee members are demanding that elected officials scrap the current PLU law and start over, but first they must properly inform the community of St Read more

Climate Change And The Caribbean

PORT OD SPAIN, Trinidad - This debate surrounding our climate has polarized the world into two different groups for a long time; some theorists maintain that an intrinsic characteristic of climate is that it changes while a large percent of others support the theory that global warming is anthropogenic or caused by human action.

There is however, scientific consensus that the Earth's climate system is warming, with average temperature rising somewhere between 0.4 and 0.8°C over the past 100 years Read more

Constitutional Advice Does Not Impress Prime Minister

“The governor cannot tell me what to do”

St. Maarten – Based on the advice he received from a panel of three judges Governor Drs. Eugène Holiday confirmed yesterday in a press release that he will sign the national decree to dissolve parliament as soon as the members of the Council of Ministers make their positions available. “In that case he can wait for a very long time,” Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs told this newspaper last night Read more

Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs: “I Will Not Back Down”

Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs (left) makes his position perfectly clear while Ministers Hassink, Sams and Connor look on. Photo Today / Andrew Dick

St. Maarten – “I will not back down,” Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs told this newspaper yesterday afternoon while he was walking back to the government building, where earlier yesterday he shed his light once more on the constitutional crisis that holds the country in a deadly embrace.

Professor Arjen van Rijn repeated yesterday in the Antilliaans Dagblad his firm position on the constitutional crisis: when the parliament hits, the cabinet is allowed to hit back Read more

“Criminal Organizations Are Killing Each Other”

Justice Minister Dennis Richardson about rising crime:

St. Maarten – The recent hike in crime can be attributed to criminal organizations fighting over territory and killing each other, Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson said at the Council of Ministers press briefing yesterday. The minister has taken notice of the crime situation and would rather focus on crime prevention efforts then contributing more money to capturing and locking up criminals. In a meeting with the police on Monday, the minister was informed that in 2014 there were ten murders while this year there are seven thus far Read more

style="text-align: center;">The people of St. Maarten needs to prepare for a long haul with the current political crisis the island has been in since September 30th 2015

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs told reporters that St. Maarten is not in a political crisis but instead it is in a constitutional crisis. Gumbs said his cabinet already sent a letter to the Governor of St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Cornelius de Weever spoke out on Wednesday for the first time since he left the Democratic Party to form a government with the UPP political party in 2014 Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The seven members making up the Gumbs cabinet on St. Maarten showed up at a press conference on Wednesday where they each laid out the projects they have been working on since taking office in December 2014. Minister Claret Connor spoke of the road patches, and road repairs that will soon begin while he also shed light on the sea water that is pumped from the sea into the Great Salt Pond.
Minister of Finance Maarten Hassink spoke of the 2016 budget he presented to the Council of Ministers and also sent to the CFT Read more

Council Of Ministers Gives Status Update, Pm Addresses Constitutional Issue

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Council of Ministers of St. Maarten held a press conference Wednesday morning in which they outlined the various plans which they had for implementation as well as a status report of ongoing matters.

VROMI

Minister of VROMI the Honorable Claret Conner stated on Wednesday that the street repair program is now in progress. The Minister stated that more extensive work will be done next year when the season is over. He also stated that most of the work will be done at night.

ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

Minister Ernest Sams who is responsible for Economic Affairs gave an outline Wednesday of the islands Economic Development plan Read more

“Principles And Values” Directed Maurice Lake’S Decision

Ex-Vromi Minister Maurice Lake.

St. Maarten – In a statement that runs almost 2,000 words, now independent MP Maurice Lake has defended himself against accusations by United People’s party leader Theo Heyliger that “power, position and ministry and others have manipulated him to break the government for self-interest.”

Lake says that he has known Heyliger for 25 years as a friend and for 15 years as his advisor.

“I have three Master’s Degrees and work hard for my family for everything I got in life and never asked Theo Heyliger for nothing in life Read more

Budget 250,000 Guilders For St. Maarten Day Celebrations

The St. Maarten Day committee at the A.C Legislative hall. Photo Today / Andrew Dick

St. Maarten – The committee in charge of organizing the November 11 St. Maarten Day celebrations has been working for the past months to organize and execute a well thought out program starting November 8. Minister of Culture Rita Bourne-Gumbs says this year the focus is on the people being proud of the heritage the island has to offer. “The community needs to be reminded of the rich culture the island has and we hope to depict this at this year’s festivities,” said the minister.

The highlight of the day will be a cultural parade consisting of 30 groups according to committee member Urmain Dormoy Read more

Island Gems Donates To No Kidding With Our Kids

Island Gems members Asha Stevens and Jody Rosen with a foundation representative and some children who benefit from the afterschool program. Photo contributed

St. Maarten – Island Gems Charity Foundation recently paid for the installation of gas lines and connectors for the No Kidding with Our Kids Foundation’s afterschool activities program in Retreat Estate.  The connectors and lines were necessary for the foundation to hook up its stove to cook warm meals for children who attend the program every day Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- SOTIC is an opportunity for Ministries of Tourism and private sector to interact, dialogue and exchange ideas and experiences. According to CHTA President Emil Lee, as a strategic partner of the CTO, CHTA believes it is important that private sector and public sector work together and support each others events. A key part of developing any partnership relationship is to build an understanding of each others challenges and aspirations Read more

Minister Plenipotentiary Fleming-Artsen Receives Courtesy Call From Macedonia Ambassador

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Sint Maarten Minister Plenipotentiary Josianne Fleming-Artsen, recently received a courtesy call from Ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia, Igor Popov.

“The Ambassador appeared interested in the functioning of country Sint Maarten as an autonomous entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, considering that Holland appears to be an important trade partner of Macedonia representing an annual mutual trade volume of about €800 million.

“Ambassador Popov is seeking to enhance and benefit from this economic opportunity with the Netherlands by extending its commercial relationship with the other members of the Kingdom of The Netherlands, namely the Dutch Caribbean partners Read more

Emil Lee Attends Sotic In Curacao

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Emil Lee, CHTA President and Curacao Minster of Economic Development and Tourism Stanley Palm meet at the CTO SOTIC or State of the industry conference.SOTIC is an opportunity for Ministries of Tourism and private sector to interact, dialogue and exchange ideas and experiences.  According to CHTA President Emil Lee, as a strategic partner of the CTO, CHTA believes it is important that private sector and public sector work together and support each others events Read more

Na Leader Questions Interpretation Of The Constitution By Council Of Ministers

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - National Alliance Leader MP the Honorable William Marlin took a critical look Sunday on the latest release form the Cabinet of the Governor as well as similar situations of the past.

The press conference of the “majority of 8” and which was held Sunday afternoon at the Parliament building was called for by the DP leader MP the honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams Read more

Mp Heyliger Raises Eyebrow At New Lake And Marlin Relationship

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Leader of the UP Party, MP the Honorable Theo Heyliger Monday broke his silence on the latest political developments plaguing the island and those before that also led to governmental turmoil.

The political leader who broke his silence on the Billy D Radio Program addressed many subjects, from the realities of being a Minister to trying to comply with the unrealistic demands of his members who have tasted power Read more

style="text-align: center;">Says crime spree is Minister’s indictment

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the USP and Member of Parliament Frans Richardson on Monday called on Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson to resign immediately in the wake of unprecedented crime on St Read more

>ST. PETERS:---- I have stated time and time again that at some point "somebody has to make a stand somewhere," to raise the bar and stop making decisions in the best interest of politics and self. Instead we need to start MAKING firm decisions in the best interest of our people and St. Maarten.
This was a very challenging three weeks for me personally with my family as my rock, where I ask God for strength and wisdom and his guidance to move St. Maarten forward. What I have learnt within these weeks is if you kneel before God you can stand before any man and speak the truth Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Prior to the change of the Presidium of Parliament on October 15th, the House of Parliament had already decided several weeks before that President of Parliament Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson would represent the country at a celebration event marking the 200th anniversary of the Dutch Chamber of Parliament (First and Second Chambers) in The Hague, the Netherlands.

Richardson joined the other Presidents of Parliament from Aruba, Curacao and the Netherlands First and Second Chambers, in The Hague, the Netherlands for activities organized in connection with the First and Second Chambers of the Dutch Parliament that took place in the Ridderzaal at the Binnenhof.

The Kingdom of the Netherlands is 200 years old Read more

style="text-align: center;">Another success in the pursuit of the freedom and liberty of all women

PHILIPSBURG:--- All participants have hailed the 3rd Caribbean Women and Sexual Diversity Conference 2015, hosted by United and Strong Saint Lucia/CariFLAGS Eastern Caribben Hub and Womantra ,with support from the Women's Caucus of Trinidad and Tobago, as a success. The conference, held at the Kapok Hotel in Port of Spain, Trinidad, from October 5 to 11, 2015, saw over 50 lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LBT) persons, as well as straight allies, from the Caribbean and Latin America, from a variety of feminist, LBT and women's organizations in attendance.
Members of St Read more

Ilo To Launch Global Campaign To End Modern Slavery

GENEVA - The International Labour Organization (ILO) will launch a major new campaign to end modern slavery, in partnership with the International Organization of Employers (IOE) and International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC,) on Tuesday 20 October.

The50 for Freedom campaignaims to mobilize public support and influence at least 50 countries to ratify theILO’s Forced Labour Protocol by 2018.

The legally binding Protocol, adopted by ILO member states in 2014, includes measures for prevention, protection and compensation designed to eliminate contemporary forms of slavery.

The event on 20 October will bring together key players in the fight against forced labour to discuss how international standards, better data and strong, innovative policies can help free those in forced labour.

This will include participants from the UK Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the ITUC, ILO, NGO’s and civil society Read more

Sara Stone Appointed Assistant Country Coordinator For Globe And Stem Education

ST. EUSTATIUS – The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program, is an international science and education program that provides students and the public worldwide with the opportunity to participate in data collection and the scientific process, and contribute meaningfully to our understanding of the Earth system and global environment. 

The GLOBE program was initially announced by the United States Government on Earth Day in 1994 and launched worldwide on Earth Day 1995.

GLOBE Netherlands, has appointed Sara Stone as the Assistant Country Coordinator in collaboration with the United States Department of State and NASA Space Agency Read more

3Rd Caribbean Women And Sexual Diversity Conference Another Success In The Pursuit Of The Freedom And Liberty Of All Women

PHILIPSBURG -- All participants have hailed the 3rd Caribbean Women and Sexual Diversity Conference 2015, hosted by United and Strong Saint Lucia/CariFLAGS Eastern Caribben Hub and Womantra ,with support from the Women's Caucus of Trinidad and Tobago, as a success.

The conference, held at the Kapok Hotel in Port of Spain, Trinidad, from October 5 to 11, 2015, saw over 50 lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LBT) persons, as well as straight allies, from the Caribbean and Latin America, from a variety of feminist, LBT and women's organizations in attendance Read more