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Antigua & Barbuda In Strong Position To Accelerate Renewable Energy Deployment

ST JOHN’S, Antigua — Developing Antigua and Barbuda’s abundant renewable energy resources will enable the country to meet a large share of its energy demand sustainably with renewables, according to a report released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Renewables Readiness Assessment: Antigua and Barbuda presents clear and practical steps for the country to maximise its renewable resources, primarily wind and solar, set new targets for renewable energy deployment, and strengthen energy efficiency measures in the country.

“Antigua and Barbuda has already surpassed its 2030 target of 15 percent of renewables in the electricity sector as part of its efforts to mitigate climate change, ensure greater energy security and chart a path for sustainable economic growth,” said IRENA Director-General Adnan Z Read more

Town Businesses Allowed To Be Open On New Year’S Day

PHILIPSBURG--Businesses in Philipsburg are allowed open on New Year’s Day, Sunday, January 1, 2017. An exemption for businesses in this area only was signed off by Acting Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs Prime Minister William Marlin.

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A Christmas Miracle, All Lives Saved—Fire Victims

Source: Guardian TT

TRINIDAD — A five-year-old autistic boy who was praying with a lighted candle for the release of his imprisoned father, accidentally set fire to his family’s four-apartment home and his grandmother’s home next door, leaving 28 members of his extended family homeless.

The child’s aunt said his father has been imprisoned for 19 months and his mother had been praying daily with a lighted candle for his release. She said the child, who copies everything his mother does, climbed up to where the candle was kept and while praying for his dad accidentally dropped it on the bed, where his 11-month-old brother was asleep Read more

18 Families Homeless In Massive Fire At Silver Lake

Dominica News Online VIDEO

Source: Dominica News Online

Eighteen families have lost everything and a total of 60 people have been directly affected in a massive fire that swept through a section of Silver Lake on Monday night.

No one was injured and MP for the area, Joshua Francis is now appealing to all Dominicans to assist those who have been affected by the blaze.

“What I have gathered in terms of people affected, it would appear that we have at least 6o people who were directly affected,” he told DNO on Tuesday morning Read more

Mp Connor Spreads The Joy Of Christmas To Three Organizations

PHILIPSBURG – Member of Parliament (MP) Claret Connor, was spreading the meaning of giving at Christmas time.

The MP delivered cooked turkeys and hams to the I Can Foundation, Key to Freedom Rehabilitation Center and New St Read more

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Bobby Ingesloten Voor Diefstal

SURINAME — Bobby B. (24) is op donderdag 22 december door de politie van Uitvlugt ingesloten.

Een jongeman deed eerder op de dag aangifte van diefstal tegen hem. Volgens verklaring van de aangever heeft zijn zwager Bobby enkele goederen uit zijn appartement weggenomen.

De aangever woont in een ander appartement niet ver van de verdachte. Bobby nam op een onbewaakt moment ongevraagd de sleutels van het appartement van de aangever weg Read more

Father Accuses Szv Of Dragging Feet On Referral

~ SZV says it discussed options available to client ~

PHILIPSBURG--Oliver Arrindell, the father of a son, who is a year and seven months old, has accused Social Health Insurances SZV of dragging its feet on the referral of his son to the Netherlands for various forms of therapy to recover from a condition he suffered at birth.

In an invited comment, SZV said it has had extensive communication with Arrindell related to the care of his son and had discussed the different options that are available to him, which are covered by his insurance at SZV, as is regulated by the law.

Arrindell said his son was born at St Read more

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Marlin: Jollification Part Of Christmas

PHILIPSBURG--“There is Jollification in Christmas. Traditionally, we cook up a storm, not just to feed ourselves, but all those who pass by our homes. We even send food to friends and relatives, and share with our neighbours, not because they have nothing to eat, but because this is the way we express our sense of belonging,” said Prime Minister William Marlin in his Christmas message to the community Read more

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Hasani Ellis Tipped To Be Deputy Minister In Hague

Hasani Ellis

PHILIPSBURG--St. Maartener Hasani Ellis is tipped to be the country’s Deputy Minister Plenipotentiary in The Hague. He is currently undergoing justice and integrity screening.

  Ellis was a candidate with the Democratic Party (DP) of Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams in the September 26 Parliamentary election, but did not earn a seat in Parliament Read more

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New Council Of Ministers Grants Half Days To Civil Servants

PHILIPSBURG – The newly sworn in Council of Ministers held their first meeting at the Government Building on Thursday morning, December 22.

Attending the meeting were: Prime Minister William Marlin; Minister of Finance Richard Gibson; Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor Affairs Emil Lee; Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports Silveria Jacobs, and Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Christophe Emmanuel.

In its first meeting, the Council of Ministers took the decision, amongst others, to grant all civil servants “half day off” on December 23, and 30 where the service permits Read more

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Pond Island:--- TelEm Group technicians and engineers successfully restored internet service to Dutch St. Maarten at approximately 5:30 pm Thursday evening after effecting repairs to a fibre connection between the French side and the Dutch side of the island.

Thursday’s restoration comes after several failed attempts to fully restore the service following a major outage Sunday.

Technicians and engineers working round the clock, successfully cleaned up a faulty link that was causing the company’s internet service to operate sporadically and sometimes not at all, since the outage Sunday.

“The local fiber connection came up several times, but deteriorated as soon as any load was put on it,” said Chief Technical Officer, Mr Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, Isaiah 9:6. This prophecy was uttered by the Hebrew prophet Isaiah some 700 years before Jesus was born. Isaiah became a prophet, after the death of King Uzziah who reigned for fifty-two years. Under Uzziah’s reign, the land of Judah enjoyed a period of prosperity not known since the reign of King Solomon Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The newly sworn in Council of Ministers held their first meeting at the Government Building on Thursday morning December 22nd. Attending the meeting were Prime Minister William Marlin, Minister of Finance Richard Gibson, Minister of Public Health Social Development and Labor Affairs Emil Lee, Minister of Education Culture Youth & Sports Silveria Jacobs and Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Christophe Emmanuel.

In its first meeting, the Council of Ministers took the decision amongst others, to grant all Civil Servants “half day off” on December 23rd and 30th where the service permits Read more

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Exclusive: Sls Threatens Uszv And Government That They Will Not Be Accepting Uszv Cards For Civil Servants Due To Outstanding Debts Amounting To Naf.139, 000.00.

USZV and Government have until January 15th to settle the debt or face litigation.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Laboratory Services (SLS) has dispatched a letter through its legal representatives to the Minister of VSA Emil Lee, and Director of USZV Glen Carty which was also copied to the Prime Minister of St. Maarten William Marlin and Minister of Finance Richard Gibson (Country St Read more

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Geerlings Might Enter St. Maarten Parliament

THE HAGUE--Director of the Cabinet of the St. Maarten Minister Plenipotentiary in The Hague Perry Geerlings is seriously contemplating taking up his position as Member of the St. Maarten Parliament.

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Gibson Sr. Expects Cft ‘Green Light’ For Budget

PHILIPSBURG--Finance Minister Richard Gibson Sr. said Wednesday he expects the Committee of Financial Supervision CFT to give its final “green light” for the 2017 Budget any time after January 10, 2017.

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Man Dies In Road Accident

SUCKER GARDEN--One man is dead after a freak accident on Sucker Garden Road on Wednesday morning close to 2:00am. The driver was heading to Oyster Pond Road when he lost control of his Suzuki Vitara and flipped over on the side of the street. The man died moments after the incident and was identified as a French side resident known as “Carlos”. Emergency personnel rushed to the scene and cut out the driver with the Jaws of Life. According to eyewitnesses, the man was speeding and overtook several vehicles before the accident occurred.Acting Police spokesman Steven Carty had not yet released information about the incident and remained unavailable to several media outlets for comment Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Incoming Minister of VROMI Christopher Emmanuel did not waste any time since taking office on Tuesday. Minister Emmanuel said at the weekly Council of Minister's press briefing that the Ministry of VROMI has a lot of issues to deal with, some of those issues he mentioned are the traffic congestion, sewage water, garbage collection, running water and even mattresses along the roadside and road infrastructure Read more

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Press Release Regarding Oyster Bay Beach Resort's Infinity Restaurant And Fête De La Cuisine Organizer Henri Brookson Handed Over A Cheque To The Shta For The Culinary Team

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - This Friday at Oyster Bay Beach Resort's Infinity Restaurant, Fête de la cuisine organizer Henri Brookson handed over a $1,758.57 cheque to the Sint Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association. The donation was the result of a collaboration between Fête de la Cuisine and Oyster Bay Beach Resort Infinity Restaurant to donating 50% on the net proceeds of the night’s event, to enable Sint Maarten to send our culinary team to the regional Taste of the Caribbean culinary contest Read more

Fête De La Cuisine.

PHILIPSBURG:--- This Friday at Oyster Bay Beach Resort's Infinity Restaurant, Fête de la cuisine organizer Henri Brookson handed over a $1,758.57 cheque to the Sint Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association. The donation was the result of a collaboration between Fête de la Cuisine and Oyster Bay Beach Resort Infinity Restaurant to donating 50% on the net proceeds of the night’s event, to enable Sint Maarten to send our culinary team to the regional Taste of the Caribbean culinary contest Read more

Finance Minister Advised Vromi Minister To Work Hard And Accept Critics.

2016 budget ended with a small surplus.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Finance Richard Gibson Sr welcomed the Minister of VROMI Christopher Emmanuel to the Council of Ministers, he also told Minister Emmanuel to be prepared to be criticized and to also work hard Read more

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PHILIPSBURG: --- During the first live press briefing on Wednesday Prime Minister William Marlin informed the people of St. Maarten that the screening process for the Ministry of TEATT is not yet completed but hopefully that process will be completed shortly. Marlin said that in the meantime, the Minister of Justice Raphael Boasman will be responsible for that Ministry until the new Minister takes office.
However, Minister Boasman has left the island shortly after the swearing in ceremony for the Netherlands for a period of two weeks, therefore, the Prime Minister will be responsible for the Ministry of General Affairs, Justice and TEATT until Minister Boasman returns.
The Prime Minister also introduced the new council of ministers, namely Minister of Finance Richard Gibson, returning Minister of VSA who was not present  at the opening of the weekly press briefing Emil Lee, Minister of Education, Minister of Justice Raphael Boasman, and Minister of VROMI Christopher Emmanuel and Minister of EYS Silveria Jacobs.
Marlin said that he hopes that the coalition partners will give this government a full four-year mandate which would give the island some stability.
Marlin outlined some of the things the government has been doing, and of the things they have high on their agenda are affordable housing and he plans to support the Minister of VROMI with whatever plans the SMHDF and the Ministry come up with to provide more affordable home.
Another priority for the government is the country’s infrastructure which is affecting the visitors of the island and residents Read more

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Richardson Proposes To Reduce Land Tax By 25% By ‘Disconnecting’ Garbage Tax

MARIGOT--Former President of the Collectivité Alain Richardson, now at the helm of “For the Love of St. Martin” party, proposes reducing the land tax by 25 per cent by “disconnecting” the garbage tax element (it can be reconsidered elsewhere), reforming and reassessing fiscal values of property that form the basis for calculati Read more

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*** Update***: Man Loses Life In Traffic Accident

UPDATE POLICE REPORT: Road fatality

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — On Wednesday, December 21, at 1:45am, a fatal car accident took place at the intersection of the Hulda B. Richardson/Oyster Pond/Bishop Hill roads.

The driver, a 56-year-old male with initials C.S.T., born in Suriname, was traveling in a beige 2012 Suzuki Vitara P-8938, on Hulda B. Richardson Road where the driver apparently lost control of his vehicle, ran off the road, resulting in the vehicle landing on its left side.

The Fire Department was called in for assistance to cut parts away from the vehicle in order to get the victim out Read more