SXMElections.com

Editorial - Never a dull moment

Wednesday's Island Council elections in the Caribbean Netherlands produced some intriguing results. Especially Bonaire's three-way tie in seats caught the eye, but developments in St. Eustatius and Saba also were exciting, to say the least.

In Bonaire it looked for a long time as though PDB was headed for a solid victory and perhaps even a majority with five of nine seats, but newcomer MPB had a strong finish as the last voting districts were announced and miraculously won that race by 33 votes Read more

Safety measures for Saba volcano in place

THE HAGUE--Various safety measures have been taken to monitor the volcanic activity of Saba's Mount Scenery and to deal effectively with a possible disaster. A second and third seismic metre will be installed in June this year, as well as a Global Positioning System (GPS) later this year. A disaster management plan is in place and regular disaster exercises are held.

Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk stated this in response to written questions submitted by Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Wassila Hachchi of the Democratic Party D66 Read more

New fire station, control tower in Grand Case Airport plans

MARIGOT--A new fire station building and an extension to the control tower are among projects due to start this year at Grand Case Airport, falling within an approximate 4.5-million-euro budget for improvements that include renovation of the terminal building, the airport's Managing Director Mongi Djouba disclosed Thursday.

The fire station construction is expected to start at the end of April in the same location as the old premises. The control tower will be extended upwards close to 10 metres in height from the present four metres, giving controllers a higher and better view of aircraft movements.

Renovation work to the terminal building will start in phases some time in July for completion in June 2016.

"We will start with the management and administration offices, as that will not disrupt the passenger flow and processes of immigration, check-ins and security," Djouba explained Read more

Statia to get coalition govt. as no outright winner emerges

~ Two seats each for PLP, DP, one for UPC ~

ST. EUSTATIUS--St. Eustatius voters opted for a coalition government in Wednesday’s Island Council elections, as none of the six parties in the polls emerged with the needed three or more seats in the Island Council.

Talks about forming a coalition government are said to have commenced already among parties.

The Progressive Labour Party (PLP) led by Clyde van Putten captured two seats after receiving 481 votes, the most for any party Read more

More than 60 expect at NAGICO to NAGICO Cycle

PHILIPSBURG-- More than 60 riders including some children are registered to compete the third annual NAGICO to NAGICO (N2N) Cycling Race which starts this evening. There will be two races Saturday and a finale Sunday.

Thursday representatives from NAGICO Insurances, the title sponsor, in collaboration with the Velo Club de Grand Case (VCG) met with the police and Red Cross at the police station to go over the safety protocol and cycling route.

"Our highest priority at this time is the safety of our riders and road users during our NAGICO to NAGICO cycling races," said Lisa Brown Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---  The Parliament of Sint Maarten is now represented in the Standing Committee of Eurolat (European Union and the Parliament of Latin America - Parlatino), namely the Committee for Sustainable Development, the Environment, Energy Policy, Research, Innovation and Technology.

President of Parliament Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson, is currently in Panama attending the Directors meeting of Parlatino that started on Monday, and attended by the Vice Presidents of Parlatino where the parliamentary year plan of activities is compiled for the year (2014-2015).

President Richardson was invited to attend meetings of Eurolat, a meeting of representatives of parliaments from the European Union and Parlatino, which started on Tuesday and runs through Thursday.

A written request for the Parlatino floor sent on March 1, 2015, was given to Senator Angel Rodriquez, President of the Venezuelan Parliament, and Vice-President for Venezuela in Parlatino, to address the situation between Venezuela and the United States.

After a lengthy deliberation on the matter, an agreement on the resolution was sought from the member countries to, "reject the measures adopted by the government of United States, as being in flagrant contravention to the basic principles of international rights" etc.

The Dutch Caribbean countries with representatives at Parlatino namely, Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten, abstained from voting based on not having the legal authority to solely decide on matters of foreign affairs Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- MPs  Silveria Jacobs, Christopher Emmanuel, George Pantophlet and Johan Janchi Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Chuchubi Foundation events for Aruba Day (March 18th 2015) was termed a big success. The two- day event, started on March 17th 2015 with the launching of the book "Calypso and resistance in Aruba" by Mr. Gregory Richardson and the documentary film on "Mighty Lords, Kings and Queens - Calypso and the politics of recognition in Aruba" by Ms Read more

>NAGICO to NAGICO annual cycling race.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday March 19th representatives from NAGICO N.V., representatives from Sint Maarten/Sint Martin Cyclers Club Association and the Police Department held their final meeting for this upcoming weekend Third Annual NAGICO to NAGICO cycling competition Read more

Chuchubi Foundation Events Termed A Success

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Chuchubi Foundation events for Aruba Day (March 18th 2015) was termed a big success.

The two- day event, started on March 17th 2015 with the launching of the book "Calypso and resistance in Aruba" by Mr. Gregory Richardson and the documentary film on "Mighty Lords, Kings and Queens - Calypso and the politics of recognition in Aruba" by Ms Read more

Elections Concluded On Bes Islands

BES Islands - The PLP Party of Clyde van Putten is in a celebratory mood, as the won two seats during the Island Council elections on Wednesday.

Also celebrating is the Democratic Party of Adelka Spanner.

They too won 2 seats, while the UPC was able to recapture its one seat in the island council of St Read more

Editorial: Creating Jobs

Members of Parliament love talking about creating jobs for the people. The latest cry is coming from MP Maurice Lake, the former Minister of Vromi, who urges the government to create work for local contractors.

It sounds sympathetic – no question about it – but when governments create work they are most likely whipping up jobs out of thin air that do not really exist Read more

Marlin-Romeo Calls For Establishment Of Consumer Protection Agency

St. Maarten —The time has come for the establishment of a Consumer Protection Agency locally, independent MP Leona Marlin-Romeo opined yesterday, pointing out that consumer protection laws exists locally but there is no body to execute such laws.

The MP noted that statistics continue to show that the island is still considered and favoured as the duty free shopping hub of the Caribbean Read more

Up Mp Lake Calls On Up Lead Government To Make Job Creation A Priority

St. Maarten –  “It is high time that Government and Parliament start empowering our local people to be tops where it concerns jobs and other relevant areas in the country,” UP MP and former Vromi Minister Maurice Lake said yesterday while contending that since his tenure as Vromi Minister not much is happening within the districts.

The UP MP has issued a call to the UP lead government to make use of local contractors in the various districts when it comes to district community improvement Read more

Minister Connor Stresses Importance Of Tourism To Mac 3Rd Graders

St. Maarten – Minister of TEATT Claret Connor visited the Methodist Agogic Center (MAC), St. John’s Campus and spoke to the 3rd grade students of campus 1 & 2 about tourism and how it affects their lives.

The visit is in keeping with the Ministry’s vision to create greater awareness and understanding about the industry and the importance to the economy and by extension, the citizens of this country Read more

Na Mp Pantophlet Seeks Clarity On Internal Control Department

St. Maarten – Member of Parliament George Pantophlet disclosed yesterday that he will be submitting some questions to Minister of Finance Martin Hassink regarding the setting up of an internal control department. Pantophlet also plans to request a copy of an agreement signed between the SOAB and government. “This agreement apparently has in it that the SOAB would set up the internal control department within 2 years, write the internal control process and also train the employees Read more

Boy (16) assisted on road to rehabilitation

PHILIPSBURG--A sixteen-year-old boy showed some responsibility as he made a full admission to the five burglaries he stood trial for. The burglaries had been committed in the presence of, depending on which burglary, one or two older boys, who were already sentenced a few months ago and who had emphasised during their trial that it was the juvenile who was to blame and who had taken the lead.

That picture did not match the remorseful young man who came to court respectably dressed and who had already made clear steps to improve his behaviour, judging by a report of the Court of Guardianship.

The boy had committed burglaries in Diamond Estate Drive in July 2013, Venus Drive in August 2013, Sarsapilla Road in April 2014, Puma Road and Hamster Drive in June 2014 Read more

Halley asks PM for extension, still awaits any govt response

~ Kadaster: illegally filled at own risk ~

SIMPSON BAY--Simpson Bay business owner Marlon Halley reportedly has not heard back from any Government representatives concerning his appeal to stay on or be compensated for land that he filled and to investigate matters pertaining to the adjoining family land's transfer of rights. A second letter on the matter was submitted to Prime Minister/Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Minister Marcel Gumbs on March 16.

This had been preceded by other correspondence to Minister Gumbs and a petition to Parliament submitted on his behalf that calls for an investigation into what the community has dubbed "fishy business" surrounding the transfer of rights to the land (see March 4 article "Simpson Bay: Parliament must investigate land deal").

Questions posed to Parliament by The Daily Herald concerning its reaction to the petition, which was accompanied by two pages of signatures and listed some 14 attachments of supporting documents, have gone unanswered.

Halley had been instructed by VROMI to remove his belongings from the property or face "legal measures" by Wednesday, March 18 Read more

Rakitic on target as Barcelona sink City

BARCELONA-- A Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona completely outclassed Manchester City as an Ivan Rakitic strike secured a 1-0 win on Wednesday that sent the Spanish giants into the Champions League quarter-finals 3-1 on aggregate.

Messi has been in blistering form for the Catalan side and he delighted the home fans in a packed Nou Camp as he relentlessly teased the City players with Read more

Public Transport Permits Under The Microscope

MP Wescot-Williams sends questions to Minister Connor

St. Maarten – The closed-door committee meeting of last Tuesday about bus and taxi permits ended prematurely, because Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication Minister Claret Connor asked committee members to submit their questions about this issue in writing.

Connor said that he has decided to keep the moratorium for public transportation permits in place Read more

Ava Airways Representatives Meet With St. Maarten Civil Aviation

GREATBAY –  “St. Maarten needs airlift. The island cannot be dependent upon North American traffic anymore…” This is according to Olivier Arrindell, Chairman of AVA Airways.

Recently  Arrindell and The President of AVA Airways Giovanni Atalita presented AVA Airways plans to the Ministry of Transportation, Civil Aviation and Economic Development, “One of our main objectives is to learn from the past and to propose a bold new direction for commercial aviation in St. Maarten Read more

England's Richard III set to be reburied 530 years after death

LONDON--King Richard III, the medieval English monarch whose remains were found under a car park three years ago, will be reburied next week nearly 530 years after he was slain in battle and dumped in an humble grave.

The remains of Richard - the last English king to die in battle when he was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field in central England in 1485 - were found in 2012. His body will be re-interred at Leicester Cathedral next week in an oak coffin designed by a descendant whose DNA helped identify the remains Read more

Top cyclists gathering for 3rd Nagico to Nagico Race

MARIGOT—The region's top cycling teams are set to contest this coming weekend's third edition of the Nagico to Nagico Cycling Race that starts Friday with a 2.5K time trial.

An overview of the race was provided Monday evening at a press conference convened by Velo Club de Grand Case (VCG) and attended by cycling fan Préfet Philippe Chopin, Vice-President Wendel Cocks, Territorial Councillor in charge of sports, Alain Gros-Desormeaux, as well as representatives from main sponsor Nagico.

Registration was not yet complete for the race but it was estimated some 60 riders would be competing from Guadeloupe, Martinique, Anguilla, French Guiana and St Read more

Skerrit: Grenada revolution holds lessons for Caribbean development

ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada--Dominica's Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says the 1979 Grenada revolution that brought Maurice Bishop to power marked the most decisive fracture in the Anglophone Caribbean with the political and constitutional status quo.

"The greatest tragedy of that historical episode is that we have failed to learn the lessons of that experience and even more disturbingly, succeeding generations seem to have no knowledge of what is without question the most significant historical episode in the Caribbean in the 20th Century," Skerrit said as he delivered the inaugural March 13th "Lecturer" Monday night organised by the Grenada Revolution Memorial Foundation Inc Read more