SXMElections.com

Ambulance duty officers receive disaster management training

ST. PETERS--The St. Maarten Ambulance Service is taking the next step in disaster management training and is increasing the preparedness of its staff for dealing with medical emergencies during disasters.

The White and Yellow Cross and the Netherlands Royal Marines assisted the St. Maarten Ambulance Service on Tuesday, during a special training session in which new medical duty officers ("officier van dienst – geneeskunde") had the chance to practice their leadership skills in a disaster scenario.

The Ambulance Service is currently in the process of training the four new medical duty officers Read more

‘History of the CXC’ to be launched December 2

KINGSTON, Jamaica--A book chronicling the forty years since the establishment of the Caribbean Examinations Council CXC will be launched during a ceremony at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica, on Tuesday, December 2.

Entitled A History of the Caribbean Examinations Council, 1973-2013, the book was written by University of the West Indies (UWI) Professor Emeritus and Historian Patrick Bryan in celebration of CXC's 40th anniversary in 2013.

The fascinating history chronicles the story of pre-independence Caribbean leaders who fought for an examinations council that would ultimately transform the regional school system into one that addresses the specific education needs of the region head-on.

From the meeting of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth Caribbean countries in 1964, to the first meeting of the Caribbean Examinations Council in 1973, to the first examinations in 1979, readers will witness all the obstacles the Council faced as it fought for regional and international acceptance in the midst of UK-based examinations' continued presence in the Caribbean.

In his Foreword to the book, Professor E Read more

In Pentagon deal with Russians, big profit for tiny Florida firm

ATLANTA/MOSCOW--For months, a powerful U.S. senator has been pushing for details of a murky deal under which a Russian manufacturer supplies the rocket engines used to launch America's spy satellites into space.

At issue: how much the U.S. Air Force pays for the engines, how much the Russians receive, and whether members of the elite in President Vladimir Putin's Russia are secretly profiting by inflating the price. Now, documents uncovered by Reuters provide some answers. A tiny Florida-based company, acting as a middleman in the deal, is marking up the price by millions of dollars per engine.

That five-person company, RD Amross, is a joint venture of Russian engine maker NPO Energomash and a U.S Read more

Customs, Coast Guard updated about Ebola preparedness plan

PHILIPSBURG--The Ministry of Health's Collective Prevention Services (CPS) updated the Customs Department and Coast Guard recently about the country's Ebola preparedness plan.

The two disciplined services were given information about the travel ban that was announced by Public Health Minister Cornelius de Weever on Monday, October 27, as well as the various screening layers that exist prior to a person entering St Maarten Read more

style="text-align: center;">Central Committee meeting to be held on November 24th

PHILIPSBURG:--- Vice President of Parliament Leona Marlin Romeo finds herself in a very compromising position now that the President of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams have resigned from the position of the chair Read more

>GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Recently Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA) Collective Prevention Services (CPS) met with the Customs Department and Coast Guard to discuss preparations related to the Ebola virus disease (EVD).

Customs and the Coast Guard were appraised about the Sint Maarten Ebola Preparedness Plan being worked on by Ministry VSA, the travel ban that was officially announced by the Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius de Weever on Monday, October 27, as well as the various screening layers that exist prior to a person entering country Sint Maarten.

The levels of screening entail, exit screening measures from countries affected by Ebola; entry screening measures in the United States of America and Europe and Sint Maarten.

The Customs Department has drafted its response plan since the meeting was held at the end of October and a draft a preparedness plan along with what resources would be required is being awaited from the Coast Guard for CPS to review with respect to how their respective agency would deal with a suspect Ebola case.

All stakeholders were updated about the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) protocols that are in place for cruise passengers and crew.

Another issue touched upon during the meeting was the inspection of shipping manifest prior to a vessel docking at one of the country's ports.

Present for the meeting were representatives from SXM Airport, Port St Read more

Cps Appraises Customs And Coast Guard About Sint Maarten Ebola Preparedness Plan

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – Recently Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA) Collective Prevention Services (CPS) met with the Customs Department and Coast Guard to discuss preparations related to the Ebola virus disease (EVD).

Customs and the Coast Guard were appraised about the Sint Maarten Ebola Preparedness Plan being worked on by Ministry VSA, the travel ban that was officially announced by the Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius de Weever on Monday, October 27, as well as the various screening layers that exist prior to a person entering country Sint Maarten.

The levels of screening entail, exit screening measures from countries affected by Ebola; entry screening measures in the United States of America and Europe and Sint Maarten.

The Customs Department has drafted its response plan since the meeting was held at the end of October and a draft a preparedness plan along with what resources would be required is being awaited from the Coast Guard for CPS to review with respect to how their respective agency would deal with a suspect Ebola case.

All stakeholders were updated about the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) protocols that are in place for cruise passengers and crew.

Another issue touched upon during the meeting was the inspection of shipping manifest prior to a vessel docking at one of the country's ports.

Present for the meeting were representatives from SXM Airport, Port St Read more

Editorial - Worth it in the end

With the approval of the organisational structure for an Integrity Project Bureau (see Monday paper) the outgoing Wescot-Williams III cabinet is on the right track. It's one thing to reject the manner in which the instruction for one of the recent integrity investigations came about, but that doesn't mean the recommendations in the related report aren't valid and shouldn't be implemented.

In fact, St Read more

Country’s old annual accounts handled by parliamentarians

PHILIPSBURG--The 2011 annual account covering the first year of country status was dealt with in a meeting of the Central Committee of Parliament on Monday.

Finance Minister Martin Hassink told Members of Parliament (MPs) the handling of the account was "far overdue," but a lot of hurdles and bottlenecks had to be overcome to get the report completed.

The report was compiled with "outside help" while those for the two subsequent years were put together internally.

The third quarter financial report for this year is completed and will be forwarded to parliament soon Read more

De Weever to take Bosman to court

PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) Member of Parliament Cornelius de Weever is poised to take Dutch Parliament Second Chamber Member Andre Bosman to court over allegations Bosman made about him, as well as Bosman's refusal to retract his "slanderous" remarks about De Weever.

De Weever's attorney Jairo Bloem confirmed that a case against Bosman would be filed in the Netherlands Read more

Lake: Concrete actions planned in disaster management meeting

PHILIPSBURG--A disaster management, planning and response meeting between initiator Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure VROMI Maurice Lake and various stakeholders has led to concrete actions being drafted, according to a VROMI press release issued shortly after the meeting took place at Dr. A.C. Wathey Legislative Hall on Monday, November 17.

"My ministry is reviewing the national drainage plan and will be presenting to the Council of Ministers a revised plan along with a budget in order to start to address these challenges Read more

Sandy Ground youths protest unfinished basketball court

SANDY GROUND--A crowd of youths blocked the main road in Sandy Ground on Monday afternoon, protesting a still unfinished basketball court that apparently had been promised to be delivered completely renovated in July.

The disturbance began around 3:00pm with barricades of garbage bins placed in the middle of the road, as well as a basketball post and hoop. A section of the road near the Cultural Centre was completely blocked to traffic for a few hours.

Gendarmes and Territorial Police were on the scene immediately to control a gathering crowd, but the Gendarmerie indicated that despite the tension, the situation remained calm and the youths were not aggressive Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Many persons on St. Maarten are still reeling from the devastation suffered due to the torrential weather system that battered our island on November 7th and 8th.
The individual and collective losses are greater than many can imagine and the cost to infrastructure comes at a time when the country can ill-afford such.
It is therefore understandable that persons are calling on government for assistance and that yet others point fingers in all directions.The weather reporting has also been much criticized.
My heart goes out to the many persons who lost possessions during the torrential rains Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake says the Monday meeting in the Dr. A. C. Wathey Legislative Hall with various stakeholders in disaster planning has led to concrete actions being drafted to be taken.

In the wake of the recent torrential rainfall event early November and Hurricane Gonzalo mid-October, outgoing Minister of VROMI Hon Read more

Bloem goes after Bosman for his response to letters.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Attorney at Law Jairo Bloem dispatched another letter by email to MP Andre Bosman, based on article that appeared in the Antillians Daglad on November 11th, 2014. In that newspaper article Bosmas was quoted as saying he is not obliged to respond to letters sent to him by email and that he only has to respond to letters that are sent to him by registered mail. Below is the contents of the letter sent again by email to MP Bosman.

"Dear Mr. Bosman,

You were quoted in an article that appeared in Antilliaans Dagblad on Tuesday, November 11, 2014 first and foremost disputing that you received the first open letter directly, admitting that you did receive a second letter per email, contending that you are not bound, or do not feel bound, to respond to letters that are not delivered to you by registered mail Read more

Central Committee Meeting of Parliament about August 29th parliament election discrepancies rescheduled for November 24.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament Central Committee session scheduled for November 18th about election discrepancies has been rescheduled to November 24th.
The committee meeting is now set for Monday at 10:00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.
The agenda point is a discussion with the Main Voting Bureau and the Civil Registry Department concerning discrepancies that occurred during and in preparation of the August 29th parliamentary elections.
The discrepancies noted are: at the Prison polling station; usage of foreign identification for voting purposes; discrepancies at specific polling stations in ballot counting; discrepancies of the lack of privacy during the supporting of the candidate list; discrepancies in the information given to political parties as it related to placement of campaign material.
Other points to be brought forward in the Central Committee meeting are: changes in the Electoral Law as it relates to having a structured chronological order; Increase of polling stations in 2014 in comparison to 2010; Implementation of electronic voting; If there any articles that are conflicting with each other?; and if there any articles wrongfully written?
This meeting has been requested by Members of Parliament (MP) Hon Read more

Central Committee Meeting Of Parliament About August 29Th Parliament Election Discrepancies Rescheduled For November 24

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The House of Parliament Central Committee session scheduled for November 18th about election discrepancies has been rescheduled to November 24th.

The committee meeting is now set for Monday at 10.00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda point is a discussion with the Main Voting Bureau and the Civil Registry Department concerning discrepancies that occurred during and in preparation of the August 29th parliamentary elections.

The discrepancies noted are: at the Prison polling station; usage of foreign identification for voting purposes; discrepancies at specific polling stations in ballot counting; discrepancies of the lack of privacy during the supporting of the candidate list; discrepancies in the information given to political parties as it related to placement of campaign material.

Other points to be brought forward in the Central Committee meeting are: changes in the Electoral Law as it relates to having a structured chronological order; Increase of polling stations in 2014 in comparison to 2010; Implementation of electronic voting; If there any articles that are conflicting with each other?; and if there any articles wrongfully written?

This meeting has been requested by Members of Parliament (MP) Hon Read more

Minister Lake Says Concrete Actions To Be Taken After A Review Of Disaster Management Planning And Response

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake says the Monday meeting in the Dr. A. C. Wathey Legislative Hall with various stakeholders in disaster planning has led to concrete actions being drafted to be taken.

In the wake of the recent torrential rainfall event early November and Hurricane Gonzalo mid-October, outgoing Minister of VROMI Hon Read more

Former Minister Roland Tuitt: “Ser Used As Political Football”

St. Maarten – Former Finance Minister Roland Tuitt has lashed out at the Social Economic Council (SER) for its advice that calculates the total write-off of uncollected taxes between 1976 and 2006 at more than 4.4 billion guilders ($2.5 billion). In a statement that sums up ten reasons why there is nothing wrong with his decision to write off the old tax debts, the former minister, a certified public accountant, notes that the receiver ought to be investigated  for breaking the law by instructing employees to collect tax debts older than 2006. Read more

Central Committee Rehashes Election Issues Tomorrow

St. Maarten – Parliament meets tomorrow at 2 p.m. to discuss with the main voting bureau and the civil registry department “discrepancies that occurred during and in preparation of the elections” in August.

According to the press release about the meeting there were (unspecified) discrepancies at the Pointe Blanche prison polling station. Voters used foreign ID’s and there was “a lack of privacy during the supporting of the candidate lists. At several polling stations there Read more

British Airways And Virgin Atlantic Still Interested To Service St. Maarten

St. Maarten – British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are among airlines still considering service to the Princess Juliana International Airport for a double stop as they prepare their schedules for 2015. This was disclosed following the recent World Routes Conference in Chicago.

A St. Maarten delegation attended the conference. The delegation included Ludwig Ouenniche, head of the cabinet at Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication, the airport’s managing director Regina Labega and Louis Halley, head of the St Read more

Editorial - For the future

It will be interesting to see whether a Central Committee meeting called for Tuesday (see related article) leads to anything tangible. Three Members of Parliament (MPs) of the incoming UP/De Weever/Marlin-Romeo coalition want to discuss “discrepancies” surrounding the August 29 election.

Of course, objections were handled already during the customary post-election session of the Main Voting Bureau, when votes listed as invalid were re-examined and, where applicable, added to the tallies of the respective politicians Read more

Report: Turnover tax at 4% earned less revenue than 2%

MARIGOT--The Collectivité recouped less revenue from the increase of Taxe Général sur le Chiffres d'Affaires (TGCA) to four per cent than it did when it was at two per cent, Independent Territorial Councillor Jules Charville has disclosed, citing a 2013 report.

He warned that now the TGCA has been imposed across the board to all services at four per cent the result will be more business closures, more unemployment, and significantly more people applying for the Revenu Solidarité Active (RSA) benefit, potentially bumping its cost to the Collectivité up to 20 million euros per year from 16 million.

"People could either not pay the four per cent for whatever reason or businesses closed because they were in trouble," he explained Read more

Lee calls on ‘opposition’ to form ‘united coalition’

DAWN BEACH--Democratic Party (DP) candidate hotelier Emil Lee has called on the "opposition" in Parliament, which now includes his party leader Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams, to form "a united coalition" to provide "quality opposition in Parliament."

Lee was the 12th highest vote getter out of 90 candidates who contested the August 29 Parliamentary Elections and was the third highest vote getter of his party Read more