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Independent Foundation calls for boycott of Dominican Republic

PHILIPSBURG--Independence for St. Martin Foundation (ISMF) has called for a boycott of travel to and importation of goods from the Dominican Republic, as it condemned the plight of loss of rights to citizenship and the stripping of citizenship going back some five generations from Haitians, and people of Haitian descent living in that country.

   Governments on the Dutch and French sides of the island are urged by the foundation, headed by rights activist José Lake Jr, “to condemn the atrocities that are being perpetrated in the Dominican Republic.”

In its press statement issued on Thursday, the foundation said it has aligned itself with the growing international call for a boycott of the Dominican Republic for travel and the importation of products made in that country.

The foundation urged the Caribbean Community CARICOM, the Organization of American States (OAS), the United Nations (UN) and other national and international bodies “to impose sanctions against the Dominican Republic until it reverses its ill-conceived policy of mass deportations of undocumented Haitian immigrants and of Dominicans of Haitian origin.”

The decision to approve the condemnation of the denationalization and forced deportation of tens of thousands of Dominicanos of Haitian descent was made in the foundation’s meeting of June 30.  

The foundation has been following “with great regret and outrage” the “unfolding human tragedy” in the Dominican Republic” brought about by “a misguided decision” of that country’s highest judicial entity, its Constitutional Court, in 2013.

“Contrary to what the government of the Dominican Republic is claiming, this whole issue has been one of human rights from the very start, and not of the sovereign rights of the country to regulate immigration,” said the foundation.

Unfortunately, the key legal points of the court decision “have disappeared in the current debate.” One of those points of the decision being retroactive to 1930 that gives “a perverse interpretation of the term ‘in-transit’ to mean anyone, who has been residing in the country without the necessary documents since 1929, and its defiant ignoring of the ruling of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on a similar case,” said the foundation Read more

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Sarah concerned about Connor’s move from Tourism Ministry

PHILIPSBURG--A pending shuffling of portfolios in the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet, particularly the move of current Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Minister Claret Connor to the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI and the appointment of a new minister in Connor's place, has drawn concern from Democratic Party (DP) leader Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams.

She has termed the pending shuffle as "cabinet shake-up." She based her position on comments made by United People's (UP) party faction leader MP Franklin Meyers recently in a television interview.

Conner's post is tipped to be taken by a minister candidate proposed by coalition member independent MP Leona Marlin-Romeo Read more

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General: Russia top US national security threat

WASHINGTON--Russia presents the greatest threat to U.S. national security and its behaviour is "nothing short of alarming," Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford told lawmakers on Thursday as they weighed his nomination to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Dunford also added his voice to those Pentagon officials who have supported providing lethal arms to Ukraine to help it defend itself from Russia-backed separatists, a step that President Barack Obama has so far resisted.

"My assessment today, senator, is that Russia presents the greatest threat to our national security," said Dunford, the Marine Corps commandant, who is expected to swiftly win Senate confirmation to become the top U.S Read more

Editorial - Reserve judgement

The UP-led coalition submitted its governing programme “Ready to Work for You” on Thursday. Better late than never, considering that it comes almost seven months after the Gumbs cabinet took office.

The question is also to what extent the policy intentions can be achieved in light of the current financial situation, with a looming instruction from the Kingdom Council of Ministers to settle the arrears totalling 189 million guilders to Social and Health Insurance SZV and the general pension fund APS Read more

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Notices July 10

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

The faction of the DP is seriously concerned about the state of our tourism industry, for reasons which we have outlined on numerous occasions, such as lack of representation abroad, lack of funds, lack of direction, lack of real dialogue between partners and lack of investments in the tourism product in general.

We are facing critical times in our nation's main industry Read more

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Vandalism At School

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Police Department recently received report of Vandalism at the Helmich Stevens School in Sint Peters, where unknown youngster have entered the school premises and vandalized some of the equipment and property of the school.

The vandalism took place recently since the school vacation has started.

It is unfortunate that youngsters commit these acts destruction, not knowing the amount of damage and setback to the operation of the school this causes.

In this case the culprits used expanding foam, causing damage to the air-conditioning, water cooler, carpets, windows etc.

The culprits even tried to break into one of the rooms of the school Read more

Sabre Delivers Enhanced Merchandising Capabilities To Airlines

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Sabre Corporation (NASDAQ: SABR) has introduced an enhanced Sabre Branded Fares solution to help airlines merchandise their products in new and different ways to travelers through the travel agency channel.

The upgraded Sabre Branded Fares solution allows airlines to utilize ATPCO industry technology standards to distribute their branded fares to more than 425,000 travel agents as well as online travel agencies (OTAs) via Sabre's travel marketplace Read more

Notices July 9

Educational Scholarship

Be the Change Foundation is accepting applications for the first Erika Cannegieter Dream Big Educational Scholarship. The scholarship this year is up to the amount of $1500 for a student to help pay part of any educational expenses. Interested students must be legal residents and can apply by filling out the online form at this link: http://bethechangesxm.com/scholarship-application. The applications must be submitted by July 20 and the winner will be announced on July 27 Read more

Critical blogger imprisoned and intimidated

Dear Editor,

Mafia figures can have their way, politicians seem to get away anywhere, but a critical blogger intimidated and put in prison. Judith Roumou says what she thinks. And that’s not good — for politicians and other leaders in St. Maarten.

Sometimes rash, rarely nuanced, but always with conviction and humour, she sketches the abuse of power in this part of our Kingdom. Now she is possibly herself the subject of abuse of power. Roumou was arrested last Tuesday for libel, insult and slander Read more

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Sarah: Why are changes to the law taking so long?

PHILIPSBURG--How long does it take to make amendments requested by Members of Parliament (MPs) to the draft national ordinance to establish an Integrity Chamber for the country, Democratic Party (DP) leader MP Sarah Wescot-Williams questioned on Wednesday.

Her enquiry follows a statement from Justice Minister Dennis Richardson on Tuesday about the amendments Read more

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Education, Culture, Youth, Sports Ministry to develop 10 year plan

PHILIPSBURG--The Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports (ECYS) has started a strategic planning process to re-define its long term ambitions in order to remain responsive to the environment in which it operates, a press release said on Wednesday.

ECYS Minister Rita Bourne-Gumbs wants to develop a 10-year (2016-2026) Strategic Plan for the Ministry with operational procedures for the policy areas of education, culture, youth and sports.

The first step in the development of the document was a strategic kick-off session to align and synchronise the ideas of the 70 key stakeholders who were present.

The first strategic session, called "The future through your eyes," challenged the stakeholders to think outside of the box and in terms of collaboration both within and outside of the Ministry Read more

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Supermarket moratorium amended to allow existing businesses leeway

PHILIPSBURG--The moratorium established as of February 18, 2014, on the issuance of business and operational licences remains in force, but has been amended as of July 3, 2015, to allow replacement licences, some location changes and some business expansion.

The announcement came from Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT) Claret Connor via press release on Wednesday night.

Replacement licences are allowed, but are limited to establishments operating on the premises of hotels with a minimum of 200 rooms, at Princess Juliana International Airport SXM and Port St Read more

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CFT issues advice for targeted instruction

PHILIPSBURG/THE HAGUE--The Committee for Financial Supervision CFT has advised the Dutch Kingdom Council of Ministers to issue an instruction to the St. Maarten Government. That instruction is said to only cover the need for government to reach an agreement on the settling of arrears to the social funds.

CFT informed Parliament Chairman Dr. Lloyd Richardson of its advice to the Kingdom Council of Ministers in a letter dated July 3.

This advice for a targeted instruction comes as no surprise as CFT Chairman Age Bakker had announced in a June 25 press conference in St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG: --- SMN News has landed its hands on some more documents relating to the dismissal of Romelio Maduro all of which was sent to the Council of Ministers on the decision taken by the Supervisory Board of Directors to dismiss the former Chief Operational Officer (COO) Romelio Maduro when they discovered that Maduro abused his position as the COO and head of the management team when he signed a contract with Alfred Harley under a company that is owned by his mother which is meant for inter-island purchasing and not consultancy.
On May 15th 2015, the supervisory board sent a letter to the Council of Ministers stating that they have taken a decision not to renew the working contract for Maduro Read more

Map Party Preparing For 2017 Elections

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Whilst March 2017 seems far away, the MAP Party of the French side is hoping to have been fully organized in March 2016 for the Territorial elections.

The election is slated to be held in March of 2017, and according to leader of the MAP former Counc Read more

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Pantophlet Villa Foundation Donate Grants To The Asha Stevens Hill Side School

CAY HILL, St. Maarten- As part of its "Help A Parent Project" the Pantophlet Villa Foundation (PVF) presented a total of 3 financial grants on Tuesday, June 30th, 2015 to the Asha Stevens Hill side Christian school.

The "Help a Parent Project" is designed to offer parents/families who, through no fault of their own, were suddenly unable to pay their child's school fees or uniforms due to: 1) * loss of employment of one or both parents; *divorcee without assistance of spouse; *widow(er), but who still shows an active interest in the child's education.

The Pantophlet Villa Foundation was established on February 23rd 2009 Read more

Four primary schools bid farewell to managers

PHILIPSBURG--Four primary schools are bidding farewell to their School Managers (SMs) and Adjunct School Managers (ASMs) at the closing of this school year. The four women with a love of teaching have each had long careers in education, would chose the same career again if given the chance, and are contemplating what to do next.

SM Merlese Lake will be leaving the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) School as Melinda Thomas-Lake steps into the role and Clara George steps up as the new ASM.

SM Malva Brooks-Brill is leaving Prins Willem Alexander School (PWAS), ASM Lucia Kroon the Dr Read more

Leona calls on govt to table integrity amendments soon

PHILIPSBURG--Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin says Government should speed up its work on amendments to the national ordinance to establish an Integrity Chamber for the country, and head back to Parliament as soon as possible even though it is the annual July recess.

Marlin-Romeo told The Daily Herald on Tuesday that she believed Government should bring the amendments to Parliament.

She has been in touch with MP Franklin Meyers, faction leader of the United People's (UP) party, this week on the matter and is waiting to hear how the matter will be dealt with, in particular from fellow coalition partners.

Commenting on Dutch Minister Ronald Plasterk's statement last week to the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament that there would be consequences for St Read more

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Carnival aims to start Cuba cruises in May

MIAMI/HAVANA--Carnival Corporation has won United States approval to operate cruises to Cuba, and plans to start taking travellers there in May 2016, on weekly seven-day voyages from Miami. Carnival, the world's largest cruise operator and a major source of St. Maarten's cruise tourists, said it was still in talks with Cuba for approval to start humanitarian and culturally themed visits.

Based in Miami, Carnival is the first major US-based cruise ship company to venture into Cuban waters, but joins a growing list of maritime companies hoping to profit from a thaw in relations between Washington and Havana.

The Cuba cruise should be launched in May under its new "fathom" brand, set up last month to run cruises with humanitarian and cultural themes to the Dominican Republic.

Carnival will use the 710-passenger vessel, MV Adonia, for its Cuba cruises on the small side for the company, whose ships typically carry 2,000 to 3,000 people.

Carnival said the cruises would focus on education, the environment and economic development, and feature Spanish lessons and workshops on the country's heritage Read more

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