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Prime Minister Jacobs Presented With Integrity Chamber 2020 Annual Report

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – On Wednesday, August 25, 2021, Prime MinisterSilveriaJacobsengaged in a fruitful meetingwith the boardmembers and directorof the Integrity ChamberSintMaarten to receive the 2020 annual report and updates from the organization. Present at this meeting werethePresidentof the Integrity Chamber Mrs.RianVogels,Integrity Chamber members Mr. RafaelBoasmanand Mr. HansLoddertogether with Integrity Chamber DirectorMs.CharnaPompier.

During the meeting, President Vogels presented Prime Minister Jacobs with the Integrity Chamber Sint Maarten Annual Report for 2020. Director Pompier informed that the Integrity Chamber has been working on some matters, the most recent being the strengthening of awareness on the importance of integrity Read more

~ Prosecutors refused to arrest the driver.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Police are busy investigating an accident that took place on L. B Scott Road by the entrance of Emilio Wilson Estate where a motorcycle rider slammed into a car that was turning left to go towards the foot ballfield. The motorcycle rider passed away shortly after. SMN News learned that the deceased driver is known to all in the community of Simpson Bay as Jason Peterson.
Police Spokesman Joe Josepha issued the short statement above and said more information will be released on Thursday.
SMN News learned that a VKS officer was involved in the deadly accident, relatives of the deceased are demanding justice because they said the driver of the car is a VKS officer and he is the one that hit down the motorcycle rider who was coming down L Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday, August 25, 2021, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs engaged in a fruitful meeting with the board members and director of the Integrity Chamber Sint Maarten to receive the 2020 annual report and updates from the organization. Present at this meeting were the President of the Integrity Chamber Mrs. Rian Vogels, Integrity Chamber members Mr Read more

School Will Remain Open Even Though Students And Teachers Tested Positive Covid -19.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports (ECYS) Rodolphe Samuel announced on Wednesday that schools on St. Maarten will remain open for face-to-face teaching even though a number of teachers and students have tested positive with the coronavirus.
Samuel said since the opening of school on August 9th, 2021, 17 students and 12 teachers from Primary Schools on St Read more

~ Pop-ups vaccination will restart. ~

PHILIPSBURG: --- The Minister of Health Omar Ottley announced on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers press briefing those 12 persons lost their lives due to COVID -19 during the month of August. Of those 9 of those persons were unvaccinated, 2 were partly vaccinated and one was fully vaccinated. The Minister said that 46 persons lost their lives due to the coronavirus since the pandemic started in March 2020.
The Minister said that the pop-up vaccination will resume as of this Saturday at the CPS location at the Vineyard Building Read more

Winair Audited Annual Accounts For 2020 Approved

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — On Thursday, August 19, a shareholders meeting of Winair Airline was held with all shares represented as Winairs board presented the audited annual accounts for fiscal year 2020. Present at this meeting were the Sint Maarten shareholder represented by the Council of Ministers, the representative of the Netherlands shareholder, the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board of Directors of Winair.

The report was delivered with a clean or unqualified opinion by the auditors, indicative of the boards continued commitment for high quality and timely financial reporting Read more

Sarah Tables The Unfair Taxation Of TheMental Health Professionals On St. Maarten.

Philipsburg, St. Maarten– Member of Parliament, Sarah A. Wescot-Williams in a recent statement stated that It has been some months now that the Association of Psychologists and Allied Professionals (APAP) has approached me regarding challenges faced by its members. In fact, nearly one year ago, the association publicly expressed its concern with respect to the continuation of mental health services by its members due to a number of reasons, such as timely payments, adjustment of tariffs and the fact that since 10-10-10, these professionals, unlike most of their peers, are still subjected to Turn-over-Tax.

MP Wescot-Williams said that for months I have been asking the Minister of Finance, when projected tax amendments will find their way to Parliament Read more

Mgdw Students Get A Surprise Treat

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — The students of the Marie Genevieve de Weever Primary School received a surprise treat late last week. Chris Wever, former Minister teamed up with Norissa Anatol of Uni-corn Flavored Popcorn Treats to surprise close to three hundred students at the school. The colored popcorn bags labeled with Welcome back to school were given to all of the students and staff of the school. Ushering in a new school year in these challenging times with some positivity was a welcoming feeling for everyone, remarked Stuart Johnson, School Manager of the Marie Genevieve de Weever Primary School. Wever stated, I always enjoy giving back to my community especially the students as they surely enjoyed this treat Read more

Ballast Nedam International Commits To Rebuilding Airport Of The Future

From left: National Recovery Program Bureau Director Claret Connor; Project Management Unit Procurement Officer Anton Suurmeijer; PJIAE NV Chief Financial Officer Leo van der Meiden, Chief Operations Officer Michel Hyman and Chief Executive Officer Brian Mingo; Ballast Nedam International Projects BV Chief Executive Officer Roy van Eijsden Read more

Exclusive: Gebe Sbod Gives Government Until 12 Noon On Tuesday To Declare Resolution To Appoint Statutory Director Null And Void.

~ Knowing the law on SXM when it comes to appointments is key.~

PHILIPSBURG: --- The four members of the Supervisory Board of Directors of NV GEBE penned a letter to the Council of Ministers on Monday, August 23rd after the advice from the Corporate Governance Council mysteriously leaked Sunday evening.
In their letter, the four members of SBOD said that they are strongly advising the shareholder to declare the resolution sent to them on August 11th, 2021, to appoint Dr. Sharine Daniel as the Chief Executive Officer null and void or can alternatively be voided Read more

Breaking News: Two St. Maarten Patients Died From Covid-19 (Updated)

~Unvaccinated patients succumbed to COVID-19.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Two patients from St. Maarten patients passed away from  COVID-19 confirmed Minister of Health Omar Ottley.
The Minister of Health also confirmed that St. Maarten sent five COVID-19 patients to Colombia and Panama of the five patients one passed away, while the other passed away at the St Read more

Sarah Tables The Unfair Taxation Of The Mental Health Professionals On St. Maarten.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament, Sarah A. Wescot-Williams in a recent statement stated that It has been some months now that the Association of Psychologists and Allied Professionals (APAP) has approached me regarding challenges faced by its members. In fact, nearly one year ago, the association publicly expressed its concern with respect to the continuation of mental health services by its members due to a number of reasons, such as timely payments, adjustment of tariffs, and the fact that since 10-10-10, these professionals, unlike most of their peers, are still subjected to Turn-over-Tax.

MP Wescot-Williams said that for months I have been asking the Minister of Finance when projected tax amendments will find their way to Parliament Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, Omar Ottley extends his sympathy to the family and friends of Sint Maartens 43rd COVID-19 victim, who has passed away. May peace be with the family during this difficult time.

As of August 23rd, there were seventy-eight (78) persons who tested positive for COVID-19; however, seventy-two (72) persons have recovered; bringing the total active cases to three hundred twenty (320) Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---  On Thursday, August 19, a shareholders meeting of Winair Airline was held with all shares represented as Winairs board presented the audited annual accounts for the fiscal year 2020. Present at this meeting were the Sint Maarten shareholder represented by the Council of Ministers, the representative of the Netherlands shareholder, the Executive Board, and the Supervisory Board of Directors of Winair. The report was delivered with a clean or unqualified opinion by the auditors, indicative of the boards continued commitment to high quality and timely financial reporting Read more

4-Person Delegation At Ipko, Several Mps Did Not Attend

Kralendijk, Bonaire

PHILIPSBURG--Vice Chairman of Parliament and Chairman of Parliaments Committee of Kingdom Affairs and Inter-Parliamentary Relations William Marlin, along with Members of Parliament (MPs) Grisha Heyliger-Marten (UP), Melissa Gumbs (PFP), and Secretary General Garrick J Read more

Chris, Ottley Quarrel Over Club Staying Open Past Closing Time

SIMPSON BAY--A war of words seems to have erupted over the weekend between independent Member of Parliament (MP) Christophe Emmanuel and Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA Omar Ottley over the reported closing of a nightclub beyond the 11:00pm mandatory time.

Read more

Exclusive: Cgc Approves The Appointment Of Sbod Members Of Nv Gebe.

~ No finance, legal, and Human Resource expertise.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Corporate Governance Council (CGC) has issued advice to the Minister of VROMI on the appointment of six persons as members of the Supervisory Board of Directors to N.V GEBE.
Those persons are Dimar Labega, Emmanuel Brooks, Lela Simmonds, Sabrina Jno Baptiste, Dave York, and Anastacio Baker while the seventh member is Denicio Boasman.
While the CGC says that it has no serious objection to the appointment it did say that of the six members there is none with financial, legal, and human resource expertise among the lot Read more

Constitutional Court To Deliberate And Present Judgement Within A Reasonable Time.

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The Constitutional Court of Sint Maarten, sat on Friday, August 20, in the case of the Ombudsman versus the Government of Sint Maarten in connection with three ordinances that were adjusted based on conditions from the Kingdom Government in order for Sint Maarten to receive financial support due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The case was filed by the Ombudsman against the Government on April 26.

The general conditions that have been imposed specifically for Sint Maarten, Curacao and Aruba are as follows: reduction of the total remuneration package for Members of Parliament and Minister by 25 percent; reduction of the total remuneration package for civil servants, government employees and employees in the semi-public sector by 12.5 percent; and the capping of high wage earners in the semi-public sector to 130 percent of the salary of the Prime Minister Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Sunday said members of government need to stop with unbecoming behavior, be transparent with the public, follow its established protocols and stop trying to deflect with empty, evasive press releases. CPS protocols are in place to protect people. Leaders in this country should avoid undermining them with irresponsible actions, the MP said.
The MP was referring to Minister of VSA Omar Ottleys response to reports that he and the President of Parliament Rolando Brison attended a gathering at Lotus Night Club after the stipulated 11 pm closing time on Friday last Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten delegation that left to attend the IPKO meetings in Bonaire took time off to pay their respects to relatives of the late Jopie Abraham.
Those that attended the IPKO meetings and the funeral service are National Alliance Faction Leader MP William Marlin, Grisha Marten Heyliger (UP) Mellissa Gumbs (PFP), and the griffier of the Parliament of St Read more

~Auditors report very damning states that Carty was obstructing their financial investigation~

PHILIPSBURG: --- Former Minister of TEATT Ludmilla de Weever has suspended the Director of Bureau of Telecommunications and Post Antony Carty. Carty is suspended with pay and all benefits until further notice. A Landsbesluit (LB) was prepared by the Minister and was sent to the Governors office for signature. That LB will be published once it is signed off by Governor Eugene Holiday.
SMN News understands that the financial auditors wrote a damning report against Carty whom they said have been uncooperative with the financial audits they have been commissioned to execute Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of VSA, the Honorable Omar Ottley denies rumors of him giving a popular nightclub the permission to stay open until 2:00 AM.
It is disheartening that certain political figures are quick to spread misleading rumors with zero facts.

The Minister signed a Ministerial Regulation containing COVID guidelines and protocols, with 11:00 PM business closures being one of them.

"I am not annoyed with the person in the voice note that has been circulating, but I am very disappointed with the public figures that know how to access the facts and choose not to.

The Minister went on to state that obtaining factual information is as simple as asking the Inspectorate of VSA/TEATT and KPSM if any approval was given to allow the nightclub in question, to operate until 2:00 AM.

Naturally, their answer will be No! Minister Ottley went on to state that it is not a secret that the hours for enjoying nightlife were scaled back to 11:00 PM; however, the nightlife is not prohibited Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel wants government to provide answers and clear up rumors concerning what he termed as disturbing incidents from this weekend. The island was clamoring on Saturday over news that Minister of Health Omar Ottley and President of Parliament MP Rolando Brison either organized or permitted a private party at Lotus Night Club in contravention to the Ministerial Regulation (MR).
According to witness reports, police were dispatched to Lotus Night Club on Friday night to ensure that the club closed its operations in accordance to the recently passed Ministerial Regulation which mandates closure at 11:00 pm Read more

Minister Ottley: No Permission Given For 2:00 Am Closure

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Minister of VSA, the Honorable Omar Ottley denies rumors of him giving a popular night club the permission to stay open until 2:00 AM.
It is disheartening that certain political figures are quick to spread misleading rumors with zero facts.

The Minister signed a Ministerial Regulation containing COVID guidelines and protocols, with 11:00 PM business closures being one of them.“I am not annoyed with the person in the voice note that has been circulating, but I am very disappointed with the public figures that knows how to access the facts and choose not to.

The Minister went on to state that obtaining factual information is as simple as asking the Inspectorate of VSA/TEATT and KPSM if any approval was given to allow the night club in
question, to operate until 2:00 AM.

Naturally, their answer will be No! Minister Ottley went on to state that it is not a secret that the hours for enjoying night life was scaled back to 11:00 PM; however nightlife is not
prohibited Read more