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Seniors Association highlights disparity in health rights to UN

PHILIPSBURG/NEW YORK--St. Maarten Seniors and Pensioners Association (SMSPA) Vice-President Raymond Jessurun highlighted the human rights perspective of those afflicted with dementia in low- and high-income countries as a panellist at the United Nations Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on Ageing Conference in New York on Tuesday.

After highlighting recent global and regional policy developments, standards and principles, Jessurun exemplified the vast difference in diagnosis and treatment of two patients based on location Read more

Prosecutor’s Office investigating Harbour, building of causeway

PHILIPSBURG--The Prosecutor’s Office has started civil proceedings looking into the affairs of the St. Maarten Harbour Holding NV.

The investigation covers a range of areas, including the construction of the Simpson Bay causeway, which was financed by the harbour. In a press statement issued late last night, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications Claret Connor said he hoped the harbour would “fully cooperate” with the inquiry.

In a letter dated July 13, the Prosecutor’s Office requested information regarding the policies and “course of affairs” from St Maarten Harbour Holding NV and from its closely linked companies.

Prosecutor Karola van Nie said in a press release on Tuesday that the investigation concerned the “corporate governance” of the port authority and addressed issues such as its compliance with the law, compliance with the statutes, transparency and some specific issues, including the course of affairs relating to the construction of the Simpson Bay causeway bridge.

Van Nie said the proceedings had been prompted by claims from the community, including the Integrity Inquiry report into the functioning of government conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2014 and the final report “Doing the right things right,” produced by Commissie Integer Openbaar Bestuur, also in 2014.

The investigation is a civil proceeding and not a criminal investigation.

Van Nie said due to public interest and based on the Civil Code of St Maarten, the Prosecutor’s Office is authorised to submit a request to the Common Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, St Read more

Lakes seeks update on solid waste ordinance

PHILIPSBURG--United People’s (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake has asked government to give an update on the progress of the draft solid waste ordinance. The ordinance, which will serve as a cornerstone in the solution of the country’s solid waste woes, is said to still be in the Legal Affairs Department and dates to the time when Lake was a minister almost a year ago Read more

Coral gardens of Jamaica give dying reefs new hope

KINGSTON, Jamaica--With time running out for Jamaica's coral reefs, local marine scientists are taking things into their own hands, rebuilding the island's reefs and coastal defences one tiny fragment at a time – a step authorities say is critical to the country's climate-change and disaster-mitigation plans.

Five years ago, local hoteliers turned to experimental coral gardening in a desperate bid to improve their diving attractions, protect their properties from frequent storm surges and arrest beach erosion.

In 2014, their efforts were boosted when the Centre for Marine Science (CMS) at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona scored a US $350,000-grant from the International Development Bank (IDB) for the Coral Reef Restoration Project.

Project director and coastal ecologist Dale Webber told IPS that his team will carry out genetic research, attempt to crack the secrets of coral spawning and re-grow coral at several locations across the island and at the centre's Discovery Bay site Read more

Upholstery World holds third annual workshop

PHILIPSBURG--Eight students took part in the third Annual Reginald Peters Junior Upholstery Workshop, which took place last week Monday through Friday, and was deemed “a great success” by organisers.

The students, ages 13 through 18, were required to bring their own dining chairs and upholstered them with fabric, foam and other materials provided by Upholstery World.

“It was beautiful to see the before and after of these chairs,” organisers said. “Some chairs also needed sanding and painting, and they did a tremendous job all around.”

The parents were invited to come in on Friday afternoon to see the end result of the one-week workshop on their furniture Read more

Editorial - Inquiry welcome

What already had been rumoured is now a fact. The Prosecutor’s Office is making use of its authority under the Civil Code – with approval of the Dutch Caribbean’s Joint Court of Justice – to investigate the policies of St. Maarten Harbour Holding and its related entities (see related story).

The decision was prompted by “claims from society,” including the integrity reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) and the Samsom Committee. The release emphasised that “as yet” it’s a civil inquiry into corporate governance issues rather than a criminal matter, which obviously means this could change based on the facts to be gathered.

For now only information has been requested, as is the procedure Read more

RSMA recruit sentenced for armed robbery in Guadeloupe

MARIGOT--Grégory Hanson de la Rosa, one of many young people recruited in St. Martin to join Régiment Service Militaire Adapté (RSMA) in Guadeloupe, was sentenced to three years in prison with one year suspended at a fast-track trial Monday in Basse-Terre. De la Rosa (18) took part in an armed robbery in the town of Pointe-Noire, Guadeloupe on Friday, July 10, France-Antilles newspaper reported.

De la Rosa and another individual, armed and wearing masks assaulted the driver of Oyé stationary truck at 3:30pm Friday then stole cash before escaping Read more

Notices July 16

First Responder

WIEMS is now registering for the annual First Responder (EMR) course starting Tuesday, September 1, 7:00pm at the Dutch Quarter Community Center. For more information: www.wiems.org . To register: email us at

This outsourcing seeks to persuade businesses to contribute to the community "in a productive, structured, visible manner," according to the UP-led coalition's "Ready to Work for You" 2014-2018 Governing Programme submitted to the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet on June 9.

It is now up to the cabinet to formulate an execution policy for the "Adopt-A-School" programme in which the private sector will have to participate Read more

Notices July 15

Volunteers Needed

St. Maarten AIDS Foundation is now registering volunteers interested in becoming facilitators for their Girl Power and Real Talk youth programmes. These programmes require that volunteers interact directly with students in a school environment. For more information call 588-1401 or \n This e-mail address is being protected from spambots Read more

Emmanuel calls on Govt. to address Haiti matter with DR

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel has issued a call to Governor Eugene Holiday and the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet to talk with the Government of the Dominican Republic (DR) about putting a halt to the stripping of that country’s nationality from people of Haitian descent and from the move to deport tens of thousands of Haitians living in that country Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:----  United People’s (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake just returned back to the island and is glad that the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers were presented with the Governing Program.

“I am looking forward to the next six months to set priorities, pass and amend some laws that will better serve the people of St Read more

style="text-align: center;">Haitian Lives Matters --- St. Maarten may soon be flooded with these people that are being deported from the Dominican Republic to Haiti.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel has issued an open call to the Governor of St. Maarten whom he said met recently with the President of the Dominican Republic Read more

>Pointe Blanche:---- The OSPP welcomes the news that an investigation is to take place at the St. Maarten Harbour Holding N.V. It is better late than never, says Lenny F. Priest. What kept them so long in initiating this investigation, in particular since there has been so much rumor circulating in St. Maarten for the last decade over wrong doings and corruption within the harbour group of companies? It has been said that the harbour has been used as the cash cow for in particular one of the leading politicians in St Read more

Invest Caribbean Now 2015 For The French Caribbean Island Of Saint-Martin

NEW YORK, NY - The exotic French Caribbean island of Saint-Martin will this year put the spotlight on its global investment opportunities through an exclusive collaboration with Invest Caribbean Now, the global private sector Caribbean investment agency.

The Office of Tourism of Saint-Martin, in conjunction with executives at ICN, will present the 2015 conference this September 28-30, 2015 in the capital of Marigot to spotlight on the Collectivité of French Saint-Martin.

This elite invitation only event will feature several officials from China along with key harbor developers and top regional and local stake holders from the north-eastern Caribbean.

"We are happy to host the 2015 Invest Caribbean Now conference this year in Saint Martin and to lead the way with this exciting partnership in the north-eastern Caribbean," said Hon Read more

Mp Lake Seeks Update On Solid Waste Ordinance. Concerned About Nv Gebe Distractions

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – United People's (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake just returned back to the island and is glad that the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers were presented with the Governing Program.

"I am looking forward to the next six months to set priorities, pass and amend some laws that will better serve the people of St Read more

Emotional Freedom Techniques (Eft)

ST. PETERS, St. Maarten - St. Maarten's society and many other societies have seen a drastic increase in the stress levels of our citizens. Among the signs of one's body's response to stress, are difficulty sleeping, increased alcohol and other substance use, being easily angered, feeling depressed, and having low energy.

Considering the increasing stress levels among members of our community, recently, over thirty persons attended a free information session on Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), organized by Victorious Living Foundation at the Rupert I Read more

Minister Of Transport Connor Comments On Public Prosecutors Civil Investigation Into Harbour Group Of Companies

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunications Hon. Claret Connor, has taken note of Sint Maarten's Public Prosecutor's Office (PPO) to commence with a civil investigation procedure that concerns the corporate governance of the St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies.

"The procedure embarked upon by the Public Prosecutor's Office is part of their competence, and as such, I do hope that the St Read more

Prime Minister Gumbs Attends Bastille Day Celebrations

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Prime Minister Hon. Marcel Gumbs and Minister Hon. Claret Connor represented the Council of Ministers at the 14 of July Bastille Day Celebrations that took place in Marigot on Tuesday.

His Excellency Acting Governor Reynold Groeneveldt and several Members of Parliament were also present.

President of the Collectivite of Saint-Martin and Members of the Territorial Council extended an official invitation to the Council of Ministers to observe the July 14 celebrations.

The delegation from the Sint Maarten attended a Religious ceremony at the Catholic Church in Marigot; this was followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the Memorial Monument of the Collectivite; then an official parade at Boulevard de France, Marigot Waterfront; Saint-Martin's Fire Department Pinning Ceremony, Marigot Waterfront.

The official ceremony concluded with speeches and cocktails Read more

Nagico Volunteers Assist With Clean-Up Of Mangroves, Illegally Dumped Material At Belair Pond

BELAIR, St. Maarten- Nine volunteers from NAGICO Insurances assisted the Sint Maarten Nature Foundation over the weekend with the clean-up of Mangrove areas surrounding the Little Bay Pond over the weekend.

The participants of the cleanup also noticed that someone, more than likely a construction contractor, dumped building material and household items in the vicinity of the Bird Watching Hut at the Pond; "During this exercise we were very saddened to see that someone dumped construction material and household items such as a water heater, microwave, bottles of oil and a vacuum cleaner at the Mangroves around Belair Pond.

With the help of this great group of volunteers we cleaned up the material and the mangrove areas but we urge the community to not engage in this illegal activity.

We have reported the incident to the authorities and hopefully we can figure out who purposefully damaged the environment so that they can receive the necessary fines," commented Tadzio Bervoets of the Nature Foundation.

The volunteers started at 9am and the clean-up was completed by 11am Read more

Gebe Street Light Monitoring Project Attracts The Attention Of Mp Christopher Emmanuel

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - MP the Honorable Christopher Emmanuel is concerned about developments at GEBE as he believes that there is a monitoring of the streetlights on the island by a foreign company.

He is concerned about the cost to the company GEBE and as a result, the people of St. Maarten.

He is calling on the GE Read more

Woman found dead in house

ZAGERSGUT--Authorities found a woman dead in her home on Tassel Road, Zagersgut, late Monday, acting police spokesperson Steven Carty said.

According to Carty, someone called the police around 6:30pm Monday to make a report after not seeing the woman, who was their neighbour, for several days. Apparently the person looked through a window and thought something was amiss.

Carty could not say whether the woman had died of natural causes or whether foul play was involved, as the police were still checking to determine this Read more

VROMI curbing commercial waste in government’s bins

PHILIPSBURG--“The government has been confronted with many commercial entities making use of government placed bins in particular areas to discharge their garbage,” Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Department Head Claudius Buncamper told The Daily Herald on Monday, adding that VROMI is now trying to curb the practice.

Buncamper issued a warning on the subject in Monday’s government information page. “This naturally leads to serious capacity shortage for residential garbage and thus more chance of stray garbage all over the roads and alongside the roads,” he said in a further comment to this newspaper.

He explained that in order to “curb the abuse,” VROMI “requested various businesses in some 30 different hotpots around the island to show us the contract they have with a garbage hauler and/or their own truck number that goes to the landfill.”

VROMI received many responses in return, he said, and a way forward was indicated to businesses that could not show evidence of their own waste removal Read more

>PHILIPSBURG;----  Just recently in one of the dailies our Minister of Education, Mrs. Rita Bourne-Gumbs stated that she will be contacting the banking industry to lower the interest rates for teachers interested in purchasing a property. We support whole heartedly this idea but would ask the Minister to add police officers and nurses as these are also noble professions that are earning on a daily basis this type of savings.
In a letter dated July 12, 2015 we have made this known to the Minister and have also recommended that she consider amending the present transfer tax legislature by exempting first time property buyers within these professions from paying this tax Read more