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Notices July 28

First Responder

WIEMS is now registering for the annual First Responder (EMR) course at the Dutch Quarter Community Centre starting Tuesday, September 1, 7:00pm. For more information: www.wiems.org . To register: email \n This e-mail address is being protected from spambots Read more

Helena Jewellers robbery Fri captured on camera

PHILIPSBURG--The three men who carried out a brazen daylight robbery at Helena Jewellers on Front Street on Friday were captured on camera fleeing the scene with their faces masked and holding about four bags.

The camera footage was handed over to police about an hour after the robbery. St. Rose Arcade’s cameras, which focus on different angles along that section of Front Street, captured the three men fleeing the scene with the bags in their hand. The content of the bags is suspected to be their loot from the jewellery store and possibly their weapons as well Read more

Sarah disappointed in governing programme

~ Shows govt inadequate, unprepared ~

PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) leader Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams has given the coalition government a thumbs-down for its recently-released governing programme.

Wescot-Williams said on Sunday that her analysis of the document showed that government was “inadequate,” and “unprepared.”

“I cannot but express utter disappointment in the document that should have spelled out government’s vision for the remainder of this governing term,” Wescot-Williams said on Sunday Read more

>In a further reaction to the governing program 2014 -2018, " Ready to work for you", as received by Parliament from Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs , I cannot but express utter disappointment in the document that should have spelled out government's vision for the remainder of this governing term.

Considering that the government has presented the program to Parliament, I consider this the program of the Gumbs-cabinet Read more

No response yet from Harbour to Prosecutors Office inquiries

PHILIPSBURG--The Harbour has not yet responded to the inquiries from the Prosecutors Office regarding its policies and that of its closely linked companies.

Prosecutor Karola van Nie told The Daily Herald on Thursday that the office had not yet received a response from the harbour.

In a letter dated July 13, the Prosecutor’s Office requested information regarding the policies and “course of affairs” from the St. Maarten Harbour Holding NV and from its closely linked companies Read more

Obama dines with Kenyan family after arriving in father's homeland

NAIROBI--U.S. President Barack Obama dined with his step grandmother, his sister and other extended family members after arriving in Kenya for his first presidential visit to his father's homeland on Friday.
  Obama's plane, Air Force One, landed in the evening in the Kenyan capital, where he will co-host a conference on boosting entrepreneurs in Africa before travelling on to Ethiopia Read more

Editorial Bare necessity

Again a public warning has been issued about the lack of marketing for the island, this time by its top bookings producer Expedia (see Friday paper). Both the Dutch and French sides are showing figures that were called sub-par.

In fact, the combined destination was just one of two within the Caribbean to achieve only single digit growth in nights booked via the company and its brands such as Travelocity, Hotwire, Trivago and Hotels.com so far this year compared to 2014. In addition, competitors such as Aruba are also able to get better average room rates.

It’s not entirely clear how this relates to somewhat more optimistic visitor arrival and resort occupancy numbers released in recent times locally, but sometimes it’s good to also hear from others “outside looking in” to get a balanced view Read more

Armed men rob Helena Jewelers

PHILIPSBURG--Three armed men carried out a brazen daylight robbery at Helena Jewelers on Front Street around 11:20am on Friday.

Acting police spokesperson Inspector Steven Carty said in a press release that the robbers managed to steal an undisclosed amount of merchandise from the store. After the robbery, the armed men fled the jewellery store Read more

Chief Minister Banks takes over chairmanship of Monetary Council

ANGUILLA--At a ceremony on Friday, July 24, the chairmanship of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) was handed over from Ralph Gonsalves Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to Anguilla’s Chief Minister Victor Banks. Members of the Monetary Council from the eight countries represented were preceded by the country’s flag held by members of the Pathfinders as they walked into the ceremony.

Governor of the ECCB Sir Dwight Venner welcomed those present to the 82nd meeting noting that the ECCB started in 1983 and since that time has maintained a stable Eastern Caribbean currency and low inflation Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:----- Prime Minister Hon. Marcel Gumbs invited Tracy Blijden who recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management from Johnson and Wales University.
Blijden spent one month in Singapore and is now off to Germany to further gain experience and expand her craft in culinary arts. To hig Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Hon. Marcel Gumbs earlier in the week received the Ombudsman 2014 Annual Report from Ombudsman Dr. Nilda Arduin. Also present for the presentation was student and former chair of the Youth Parliament, Rochana Richardson, who is currently on a summer job stint at the Ombudsman Bureau. The report has been sent to Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- 89 years later the late Albert Claudius Wathey also known as Claude Wathey was honored with a wreath laying ceremony in front of the Government Administration Building on Friday moring.
Family members of the late politician and supporters flocked by his statue to pay tribute to the “ole man” Erno Labega started out the wreath laying session with some words about the late politician.
Al Wathey laid the first wreath along with Michaela Hodge on the part of University of St Read more

Prime Minister Gumbs Receives 2014 Ombudsman Annual Report

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Prime Minister Hon. Marcel Gumbs earlier in the week received the Ombudsman 2014 Annual Report from Ombudsman Dr. Nilda Arduin.

Also present for the presentation was student and former chair of the Youth Parliament, Rochana Richardson, who is currently on a summer job stint at the Ombudsman Bureau.

The report has been sent to the Council of Ministers for further review and handling.

In Photo: L to R: Prime Minister Hon Read more