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>PHILIPSBURG:--- NAGICO sponsored 10,000 brochures to the Community Police Officers of Sint Maarten on Thursday morning, to assist with their crime prevention efforts.
CEO of NAGICO Insurances N.V; Dwayne Elgin made the presentation to representatives of the Police Force; Community Police Officers; Inspectors Steven Carty and Arcella Leonard Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday December 18th, 2014, a press briefing was organized between the Department of VROMI and the Police Department regarding traffic measures that will take place during the busy Christmas Holiday Season. The press briefing was held at the Philipsburg Police Station. These measures are to alleviate the serious traffic congestion that occurs during this period by creating better traffic circulation throughout the Philipsburg area.
Later during that evening between 5:00 p.m Read more

Preventing Holiday Tree Fires.

>GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Many homes on the inside and outside have been decorated with Christmas lights, stockings, banners, wreaths and the most popular of these decorations is the Christmas tree.

As part of Ministry of Public Health's Collective Prevention Services (CPS) Safe Holiday Season Observances, in collaboration with the Department of Communication, residents are advised to keep the season safe by following a few helpful tips.

Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius de Weever as part of his 'Get Checked' campaign, is calling on the community to check their Christmas tree lighting to make sure is operating safely in order in order to avoid any hazards this holiday season.

These are some life-saving steps you can take to ensure a safe and happy holiday:

Preventing Holiday Tree Fires

Holiday tree fire hazards
Special fire safety precautions need to be taken when keeping a live tree in the house Read more

Nagico Sponsors Brochures To Police Safety Awareness Project

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - NAGICO sponsored 10,000 brochures to the Community Police Officers of Sint Maarten on Thursday morning, to assist with their crime prevention efforts.

CEO of NAGICO Insurances N.V; Dwayne Elgin made the presentation to representatives of the Police Force; Community Police Officers; Inspectors Steven Carty and Arcella Leonard.

"We at NAGICO are pleased to be able to assist the Community Police Officers (CPOs) in this initiative and we remain committed to our community as the repercussions and ripple effect from increased crime rate can be severe."

The brochures which will be distributed by the police officers to the general public contain safety tips on how to minimize the risk of theft, robberies and burglary Read more

Traffic Measure Implemented

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - On Thursday December 18th a press briefing was organized between the Department of VROMI and the Police Department regarding traffic measures that will take place during the busy Christmas Holiday Season.

The press briefing was held at the Philipsburg Police Station.

These measures are to alleviate the serious traffic congestion that occurs during this period by creating better traffic circulation throughout the Philipsburg area.

Later during that evening between 05.00 p.m Read more

Housing Foundation Board Member Elston Fos Speaks: “Lake Knew What Is Going On”

St. Maarten – Four candidates for the three vacant positions on the supervisory board of the Sint Maarten Housing Development Foundation withdrew their candidacy this weekend “for fear of their lives,” attorney Jairo Bloem stated in a press release issued yesterday on behalf of the foundation.

It is the next step in an ugly situation that developed last week with a report that the managing director of the foundation, Henry Lynch had been suspended. Next thing anyone knew, someone attempted to shoot board member Elston Fos Read more

Cornelius De-Weever Says: “Bring Back Our Professionals”

Great Bay—St. Maarten graduates and professionals in Holland must, according to Minister Cornelius de Weever, be encouraged and motivated to return to the island to use their expertise and knowledge in building their country.

The Social development and labor minister is urging local businesses to participate in Flinx Recruitment Expo Dutch Caribbean (FRED) June 4-June 7, 2015 in the Netherlands, Rotterdam.  “We need to bring our graduating and graduated students back to St Read more

Statians to the polls in referendum vote today

Preparations were still in full swing to turn Mike van Putten Youth Centre into a polling station on Tuesday afternoon.

ST. EUSTATIUS--Eligible voters in St. Eustatius will be casting their votes today, Wednesday, in the consultative referendum on the island’s constitutional future. The polling station in Mike van Putten Youth Centre will be open from 7:30am to 9:00pm. The results will not be made public until Friday, 10:00pm.

In the referendum, voters will have the opportunity to choose between four different options: 1 Read more

Collins admits to sexual contact with young girls

NEW YORK--Actor Stephen Collins, who played the family pastor in the television series "7th Heaven," has admitted to having inappropriate sexual contact with three underage girls decades ago, People magazine reported on Wednesday.

"Forty years ago, I did something terribly wrong that I deeply regret. I have been working to atone for it ever since," Collins, 67 said in a statement released to the magazine.

The actor said he decided to address the issue following the release earlier this year of an audio tape made during a confidential marriage therapy session with his estranged wife, Faye Grant Read more

>POINT BLANCHE:--- Thursday, 18 December, will be one of the busiest days of the cruise tourism season for destination St. Maarten with seven cruise vessels in port with a combined 18,000 (approximately) cruise passengers. This does not include crew, which could be an additional 8,000.

The smallest vessel will be Wind Surf of Windstar Cruises with over 300 passengers, to the largest, Freedom of the Seas with over 3,600 Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- In my opinion, it can and specifically in the case of the formation of the council of ministers, following a regular election.
The Governor has in this particular matter taken it upon himself (and we know why of course) to direct the process.
The government of the country is the responsibility of Parliament. When something seems awry, which it does, parliament has the responsibility to query the formation of a government for the country.
It should never be the case, that candidate ministers are publicly hung out to dry; taken down like sitting ducks, and all this on the basis of information that is somehow attained, because those who should apprise the people of the process, are mum.
Mostly, persons selected for ministerial positions are those who have postulated themselves in an election, unless there is a case of exceptional expertise in one or more particular areas and needed because of circumstances that warrant such Read more

>HARBOUR VIEW:--- His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday, received the final report of formateur Theodore Heyliger. The formateur has accepted the commission to form a new government that has a majority in Parliament and that consists of Ministers who are committed to the promotion of the wellbeing of Sint Maarten and dedicated to jointly execute the UP/I-2 Governing Accord, agreed upon by the coalition partners United People's Party, independent Member of Parliament Van Hugh C Read more

Governor Receives Final Formation Report Theodore Heyliger

HARBOUR VIEW, Sint Maarten – On December 17, 2014, His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday, received the final report of formateur Theodore Heyliger.

The formateur has accepted the commission to form a new government that has a majority in Parliament and that consists of Ministers who are committed to the promotion of the wellbeing of Sint Maarten and dedicated to jointly execute the UP/I-2 Governing Accord, agreed upon by the coalition partners United People's Party, independent Member of Parliament Van Hugh C Read more

Editorial: Not Helpful (Vague Press Statement From Minister Lake)

Vromi-Minister Maurice Lake is apparently not aware of the finer details of the articles of incorporation that regulate the St. Maarten Housing Foundation. That leads to public statements that are at odds with reality – and nobody stands to benefit from that.

The foundation’s board should have five – not seven, as the minister claims in a press statement – members and as long as there is at least one member left, that board is legal.

Another point is of course that the board should take action without delay (meaning: immediately) once there are fewer than five board members Read more

Minister Lake Misreads Articles Of Incorporation: Chaos At Housing Foundation

St. Maarten – The actions by a lone board member of the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF) to request the government’s accountants bureau (Soab) to carry out a forensic investigation, and also into the purchase-to-pay process and remuneration process is premature, Vromi-Minister Maurice Lake states in a press release.

“I was not aware of this process Read more

“The People Have Had Enough”: Priest Demands A Firm Discount On Utility Bills

St. Maarten – According to media reports, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has announced that oil prices have fallen to an all-time low of $58 a barrel. Governments and energy companies all over the world have passed on this savings to their consumers,” Lenny Priest, leader of the extra-parliamentary political party OSPP writes in a press release. “What will it take for our government and Gebe to provide relief to the people in the form of a 40 to 50 percent reduction in the fuel clause on our electricity bills? After all, our monthly electricity bill consists of energy consumption and the fuel clause Read more

High Court ruling sets limits to politicians’ speech freedom

THE HAGUE--A new ruling by the Dutch High Court sets limits on freedom of speech for politicians and has implications for the case against anti-Islam campaigner Geert Wilders.

The Prosecutor's Office is soon to take a decision on whether or not to press ahead with prosecuting Wilders for inciting hatred after leading a crowd of his Party for Freedom PVV followers in an anti-Morocca Read more

Minister confirms Statia housing project is on hold

THE HAGUE--Dutch Minister of Housing and Governmental Organisation Stef Blok on Tuesday confirmed that the cooperation with the Dutch housing corporation Woonlinie has again been put on hold with adverse consequences for the Golden Rock public housing project.

Blok explained in response to written questions submitted by Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Ronald van Raak of the Socialist Party (SP) that Statia's current Executive Council indicated early December that it didn't want to stick to agreements that it signed regarding the reorganisation of the Statia Housing Foundation (SHF).

Van Raak had sought clarity following a letter to the editor in The Daily Herald last week in which the Democratic Party of St Read more

Fatal accident victims to be remembered by silhouettes

MARIGOT--In view of the high death toll from scooter accidents this year, the Préfecture and the Collectivité have decided to strategically place symbolic reminders of the deceased in the form of a black silhouette of an accident victim in the districts where the accidents occurred.

The first silhouette was installed outside French Quarter Collège on Monday in the presence of Préfet Philippe Chopin, President of the Collectivité Aline Hanson, representative of the Recteur of Guadeloupe Jean-Marie Jespere, representatives of the Gendarmerie and French Quarter Collège Principal Daniel Gumbs.

The black silhouettes in the shape of a person have a red flash through the head that represents blood Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- President of Parliament, Hon. Lloyd Richardson, MD attended the 60th anniversary ceremony of the Kingdom Charter which was celebrated on Kingdom Day, December 15th.
At the ceremony on Monday, President Richardson met several Sint Maarten students who are studying in the Netherlands.
Queen Juliana signed the Kingdom Charter 60-years ago on December 15th Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- On Saturday Dec 13, 2014 the ICUC, the Intercontinental University of the Caribbean, held a thesis defence exam for its St. Maarten based students in their Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management program. Six students earned their bachelors degree on Saturday and have joined their seven predecessors making the total graduates 13.

The International Hospitality & Tourism Management (IHTM) program of ICUC was founded on The World Bank's recommendation Read more

>GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sports Hon. Patricia Lourens-Philip would like to say thank you to the people of Sint Maarten and all participating groups for bringing the true spirit of Christmas to Philipsburg on Sunday, December 14th.
Philipsburg will come alive with sounds of music, laughter, joy, hope and good will to all mankind.
"They brought joy, peace and showed the love one to another and for the traditions of this country by making such a tremendous effort to portray the true meaning of Christmas such as togetherness, family and gratitude.
"The Department of Culture and the Caribbean Professionals in Intangible and Tangible Cultural Heritage PITCH - IT Foundation, must be applauded for putting this together.
"I will encourage them to establish it in our intangible heritage profile and have it become a tradition that will continue for many years to come," Minister Hon Read more

>SUCKER GARDEN:--- The weekend started off on Saturday December 13th with a 3 on 3 double Elimination Tournament amongst the various teams in the league. The 3 on 3 teams consisted of 2 females and 1 male to get a nice balance. The MGM Lightning had 2 Teams, Thunderz had 2 teams and Bush Tea Remedy had 1 team. The Thunderz Team 2 consisting of Tiana Lionel, Ashley Daniel and Chener won first place by winning all 3 games, the MGM Lightning Team 1 came out second place consisting of Jamaiah Newton-Herbert, Micaela Galva and Joshua Bowers Read more

Chamber Election Set For December 18

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry would like to inform the members that during the nomination period that ended on Tuesday December 16th, 2014, thirteen (13) persons were nominated for the three (3) vacancies on its Board of Directors.

For the Large Business Sector, five (5) person postulated themselves, and for the Small Business Sector, eight (8) persons postulated themselves.

For the Large Business Sector, there is one (1) vacancy, and for the Small Business Sector, there are two (2) vacancies on its Board of Directors.

The Election Committee consisted of the following members, Messer: Franklin Brison, Cleophas Richardson, Myrna Lynch, and Charles Benders.

For the Large Business Sector there were five (5) candidates who were approved for the one (1) position Read more