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Szv And Vsa Joint Controls To Begin This Week

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - In the Ministry’s effort to increase labor compliance, Minister of public health, Social development, and Labor Emil Lee held discussions with SZV and the inspectorate of VSA about joint controls, and informed that this week, they will start to conduct joint controls.

“This is a good idea because both inspectors will have complimentary authorities, and responsibilities Read more

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Debt Standard Proposed For Curaçao, St. Maarten

~ CFT advices in 2015 annual report ~

By Suzanne Koelega

THE HAGUE--A debt standard with a maximum threshold should be introduced for Curaçao and St. Maarten to keep the debts of the countries manageable in case the interest rates of capital loans increase.
The Committee for Financial Supervision CFT for Curaçao and St. Maarten drafted an advice to this effect early in 2016 on the request of Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk. The advice was mentioned in the CFT 2015 annual report which was presented in The Hague on Wednesday.
The CFT advised Plasterk that the two countries should be able to maintain a debt quota standard of 40 per cent on a medium term Read more

Health Insurance For Uninsured Less Than $3 A Day

PHILIPSBURG – One of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA’s top priorities is to ensure that everyone has access to affordable and quality healthcare. Having affordable health insurance is a critical part of having access to healthcare. Besides being a barrier to accessing healthcare, being uninsured can also place huge financial strains on the family.

Unfortunately, during the time in office, Minister of Health Emil Lee had already signed off for a few uninsured persons to be evacuated for emergency medical reasons Read more

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Gibson Reports Progress In Share Division From Dismantling Of Antilles

PHILIPSBURG – Plans are underway for St. Maarten to receive its share of the division of assets from the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles.

Minister of Finance Richard Gibson, as promised, met with his Curaçao counterpart recently and reported that the meeting went surprisingly well. “We will be meeting again somewhere around May 17.

That’s next month, to continue our discussions. In the meantime, support staff from the Minister in Curaçao as well as support staff from the Ministry of Finance of St Read more

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Education Ministry Updates On School Bussing Service

PHILIPSBURG – On April 7, a joint meeting was held between the Ministry of  Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, headed by Minister Silveria Jacobs and the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunications (TEATT) headed by Minister Ingrid Arrindell, with the intention to work collaboratively to come up with a short and long-term solution concerning the School Bussing Transportation Service.

Both Ministers gave the green light for a joint School Bus Committee, which includes prominent members of both Ministries, since both Ministries are working on a solution to come to a more efficient, safer and cost-effective School Bussing Transportation Service for a number of years.

The Joint Committee had its first meeting on April 12 Read more

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Committee Established For School Bus Solution 

PHILIPSBURG – A committee has been established with officials from the Ministry of Education, Sports, Youth and Culture and the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunications (TEATT), including the respective ministers, to come up with solutions to deal with the school bus issue.

“We have come together with the intention once again to work collaboratively to come up with a short-term and long-term solution concerning the school bussing transportation service,” said Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs Read more

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Businesses advised to have documents in order

PHILIPSBURG:--- In the Ministry’s effort to increase labor compliance, Minister of public health, Social development, and Labor Emil Lee held discussions with SZV and the inspectorate of VSA about joint controls, and informed that this week, they will start to conduct joint controls.
“This is a good idea because both inspectors will have complimentary authorities, and responsibilities Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- One of the Ministry of VSA’s top priorities is to ensure that everyone has access to affordable and quality healthcare. Having affordable health insurance is a critical part of having access to healthcare. Besides being a barrier to accessing healthcare, being uninsured can also place huge financial strains on the family.

Unfortunately, during the time in office, Minister Lee has already signed off for quite a few uninsured people to be evacuated for emergency medical reasons Read more

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Prosecutors Demanded Lifetime Sentence For Kilo Gotti And 25 Years For Second Accomplice.

Philipsburg:--- The prosecutor that handled the Menam murder case (Gamali Benjamin) asked the court to punish the main suspect DAMISSE
Ridge aka Kilo Gotti, while they asked the judge to sentence the second suspect LEON
Jovanny to 25 years imprisonment. The prosecution took the time to give the court detal explanation as to how Officer Gamali Benjamin life was taken when he responded to armed robbery at the Ore Diamante Jewelry store in Philipsburg.
The complete presentation to the court by the prosecution follows.
On Thursday the trial will continue with the other two suspects.

“Vigilant and committed to serve and protect all, in a decisive and professional manner” Read more

Adult Clubs Taking Govt. To Court Over Abrupt Stopping Of Permits

~ Move stifling their operations ~

PHILIPSBURG--Nine of the eleven adult entertainment centres operating in St. Maarten are taking Government to court over the abrupt discontinuation of the processing of employment and residence permits for exotic dancers, pending the finalisation of a new policy.
The clubs are particularly concerned that since the discontinuation four months ago, no mechanism has been put in place for them to bring in girls in the interim to sustain their operations while the new policy is being ironed out Read more

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Sarah Questions Teatt Minister On Survey Fraud

PHILIPSBURG--Chairperson of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams has sent a number of questions to Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT) Ingrid Arrindell about the reported fraud in the KITLV survey carried out in St. Maarten.
In her letter to Arrindell, Wescot-Williams questioned what, if any, actions would be taken by the Department of Statistics STAT regarding this matter, and whether it is STAT’s intention to revisit previous surveys conducted in St Read more

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Questions To Teatt Minister On Alleged Fraud In Kitlv Survey

PHILIPSBURG – President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams has dispatched questions to Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication (TEATT) Ingrid Arrindell pertaining to the recently corroborated reports of fraud in the KITLV survey carried out on St. Maarten by “seasoned interviewers,” who were hired as independent interviewers via the Department of Statistics (STAT).

In her letter to the Minister Arrindell, Wescot-Williams questioned what – if any – actions would be taken by the STAT department, and whether it is STAT’s intention to revisit previous surveys done on St Read more

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Common Court Of Justice Deals With Several Cases On April 6 And 7

A summary of some of these cases follows:

The case against N.B., suspected of strangling a toddler who was entrusted to him on August  27, 2014, was a so-called “pro-forma” case.

This means that the case wasn’t ready to be handled, but was brought in front of the judges in light of the pre-trial detention period. N.B.’s defense lawyer also requested to hear new witnesses.

The Solicitor General pleaded against this request.

The Common Court of Justice will decide on April 26, on the request by the defense attorney, and will set a date for the handling of the case.

N.B Read more

Awareness And Safety Tips Carnival 2016.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten is without any doubt doing its utmost, to protect you, your family and your property, in combating crime and criminals. The Public Relation Office of the Sint Maarten Police Force is therefore offering the community, the following safety tips, to help them prepare against crime.

Remember the 3 A’s of Crime Prevention:

1. Be Aware of your surroundings at all times.
2. Be Alert to suspicious people and vehicles.
3. Avoid dangerous situations.
If you are leaving home and out for the evening:
- Turn on lights, radio or television so that it looks like some-one is at home.
- Lock all doors and windows well, even if you are just leaving for a few minutes.
- Don’t display items where they can be seen from the outside.
- Park your car in a well-lit area and make sure all windows and doors are
locked.
- Avoid carrying a large amount of cash Read more

Questions To Teatt Minister On Kitlv Survey And Alleged Fraud.

PHILIPSBURG:--- President of Parliament MP Sarah Wescot-Williams has dispatched questions to TEATT Minister Ingrid Arrindell pertaining to the recently corroborated reports of fraud in the KITLV survey carried out on St. Maarten by “seasoned interviewers” hired as independent interviewers via the STAT department.
In her letter to the Minister, MP Wescot-Williams questioned what if any actions would be taken by the STAT department and whether it is STAT’s intention to revisit previous surveys done on St Read more

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St. Maarten, St. Martin Signatories To Sea Border Demarcation Treaty

Prime Minister William Marlin and Préfète Déléguée of Saint Barthelemy and Saint-Martin Anne Laubies shake hands after signing the Sea Border Demarcation Treaty on Wednesday, April 6.

PHILIPSBURG--Dutch St. Maarten and French St. Martin signed a Sea Border Demarcation Treaty at the conclusion of the third quadripartite meeting Read more

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St. Maarten Hosts 3Rd Annual Quadripartite Meeting

PHILIPSBURG– On Wednesday, April 6, the Government of St. Maarten hosted the 3rd annual quadripartite meeting.

The meeting was formulated in 2014 as a forum for representatives of the governments of The French Republic (led by Ambassador for Regional Cooperation for the Antilles-Guyana Veronique Bertile), The Kingdom of the Netherlands (led by Director of the Western Hemisphere Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Joost Reintjes), St. Martin (led by President of the Collectivity Aline Hanson), and St Read more

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Coast Guard Confiscate Sharks From Fishermen

PHILIPSBURG – Last Friday morning, April 8, the Nature Foundation was contacted by the Coast Guard Kustwacht Caribisch Gebied regarding a fishing vessel, which had been controlled. The vessel was found to contain four juvenile Caribbean Reef Sharks in their hold.

The fish were seized and the captain fined in accordance with the offense.

All species of sharks are illegal to catch and kill in the territorial waters of St. Maarten through the Ministerial Decree of October 2012, considering how important they are to the ecosystem Read more

Cps And Minister Lee Pleased With Awareness Created Around World Health Day 2016 – Be Aware, Get Diabetes Care!

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, is very pleased with the awareness created surrounding World Health Day (WHD) 2016 to profile WHD on April 7th.

WHD international theme was Diabetes: Beat It!  The local theme promoting awareness was “Be Aware, get Diabetes Care.”

Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Emil Lee, met with the WHD Organizing Committee, and thanked them for their professional organization of awareness activities.

“Diabetes is one of the most diseases in our community.  The good news is that it is also one of the most treatable diseases.  Simple lifestyle changes can allow people with diabetes to live long, healthy, and productive lives.  Please take the time to get informed,” Minister of Public Health Emil Lee said on Monday.

The number of people living with diabetes has almost quadrupled since 1980 to 422 million adults, with most living in developing countries Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---Information reaching SMN News indicates that Kendall Dupersoy former advisor to Prime Minister William Marlin who served as deputy Prime Minister in 2013 is the possible candidate that will be appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TELEM Group of Companies.
Dupersoy is a member of the TELEM board while he is currently working at the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE).
SMN News learnt that least four persons were interviewed for the position, they are Brian Mingo the current Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Helma Etnel the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and Eldert Louisa, the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) and Kendall Dupersoy, a member of Telem Board.
According to information reaching SMN News the front runner that is being considered by the shareholder representative for the position is Kendall Dupersoy Read more

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Cps And Minister Lee Pleased With Awareness Created Around World Health Day 2016 – Be Aware, Get Diabetes Care.

GREAT BAY(DCOMM):--- Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, is very pleased with the awareness created surrounding World Health Day (WHD) 2016 to profile WHD on April 7th.

WHD international theme was Diabetes: Beat It! The local theme promoting awareness was “Be Aware, get Diabetes Care.”

Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Emil Lee, met with the WHD Organizing Committee, and thanked them for their professional organization of awareness activities.

“Diabetes is one of the most diseases in our community Read more

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Managing sustainability of the funds

PHILIPSBURG:---  On Thursday March 31st, 2016 Social and Health Insurances (SZV) submitted it’s 2017 Budget to the Minister of Public Health, Minister Emil Lee for review and approval. The proposed budget includes continued efforts to control costs and identify opportunities for efficiencies in managing the sustainability of the various funds in SZV’s portfolio Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday, 6th April, the Government of Sint Maarten hosted the 3rd Annual Quadripartite Meeting. The meeting was formulated in 2014 as a forum for representatives of the governments of The French Republic (led by the Ambassador for Regional Cooperation for the Antilles-Guyana Mrs. Veronique Bertile), The Kingdom of the Netherlands (led by Director of the Western Hemisphere Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Joost Reintjes), Saint-Martin (led by President of the Collectivity Mrs Read more

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*** Police Report *** Arm Robbery At Tropicana Casino

Police Report: Casino robbed

The Special Robbery Unit along with several police patrols were sent to Tropicana Casino on Monday, April 11, at approximately 12:35pm where shortly before three armed men had stormed into casino and robbed it of an undisclosed sum of cash.

After committing this act, the suspects fled in a heavily tinted grey/silver colored van with license plate V-2800.

Immediately, a search of the area was conducted to locate the suspects. The suspect vehicle was found on Aaron Jacobs drive in Cape Bay.

Detectives are presently talking to potential witnesses and the Forensic Department is collecting evidence.

The van has been confiscated for further investigation Read more