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Prisons officers threaten shutdown

PORT OF SPAIN--Prisons officers are threatening to shut down operations at the country's penal institutions in protest over Government's failure to implement additional security measures, promised after the murder of one of their colleagues last year.

Speaking at a press conference outside the Frederick Street entrance of the Port-of-Spain State Prison on Wednesday president of the Prisons Officers' Association Ceron Richards described the proposed action, which crippled operations at the prisons for several weeks last year, as a last resort by prisons officers to have their concerns addressed Read more

Temporary dirt road to ease traffic congestion

PHILIPSBURG--The ring road has been transformed into a temporary one-way dirt road which will accommodate the outflow of traffic from Philipsburg for the busy holiday season. The entrance is near the Salt Pickers Roundabout at the section previously barricaded by yellow boulders, and the exit near Air Lekkerbek, both connecting to Walter Nisbeth Road.

Police Officers were in the area between 5:00pm and 6:00pm to direct traffic and introduce them to the lane.

The arrangement will be in place until at least January 5, informed Community Police Officer Steven Carty during a press conference held between the Police Force and Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI on December 18 Read more

New Kenya security law approved despite disruptions in parliament

NAIROBI--Kenya's parliament approved new anti-terrorism laws on Thursday after chaotic scenes in which opposition legislators, citing a threat to civil liberties and free speech, threw books at the Speaker, shouted, chanted and sprinkled water over his deputy. Television footage showed legislators exchanging blows in the public gallery before the vote.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has faced mounting pressure to boost security since a 2013 attack by Somali al Shabaab rebels on a Nairobi mall that killed 67 people Read more

MPs will propose review of Dutch nationality rescinding

PHILIPSBURG--The rescinding of the Dutch nationality of a number of people in the Dutch Caribbean due to administrative errors, and the subsequent statelessness of those persons as well as their children and in some instances grandchildren, is an issue Members of Parliament (MPs) want on the table for the Inter-Parliamentary Affairs Contact Meeting IPOK in Aruba January 6-9.

Parliament's Permanent Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Affairs and Kingdom Relations met in Parliament House on Thursday afternoon to review the draft agenda and preparations for the meeting of members of the Parliaments of the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and St Read more

Stars align to boost modest hopes of French recovery

PARIS--The euro has fallen, oil prices have tumbled, and borrowing rates are at record lows: French President Francois Hollande has had much of his economic wishlist granted, and it may just help him kickstart a long-awaited recovery in 2015.
  Granted, the short-term lethargy and structural problems in the euro zone's second-largest economy mean that it will remain a major worry for others in the single currency bloc. But the global context together with new reforms due to kick in next year are leading some to bet that France can achieve its 1 percent growth target for next year - modest by many standards but more than twice the 2014 growth estimate of 0.4 percent.
  Crude oil prices have nearly halved since June and the euro, a drop in which has long been sought by French politicians to help exports, has lost 11 percent since May Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- NAGICO sponsored 10,000 brochures to the Community Police Officers of Sint Maarten on Thursday morning, to assist with their crime prevention efforts.
CEO of NAGICO Insurances N.V; Dwayne Elgin made the presentation to representatives of the Police Force; Community Police Officers; Inspectors Steven Carty and Arcella Leonard Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday December 18th, 2014, a press briefing was organized between the Department of VROMI and the Police Department regarding traffic measures that will take place during the busy Christmas Holiday Season. The press briefing was held at the Philipsburg Police Station. These measures are to alleviate the serious traffic congestion that occurs during this period by creating better traffic circulation throughout the Philipsburg area.
Later during that evening between 5:00 p.m Read more

Preventing Holiday Tree Fires.

>GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Many homes on the inside and outside have been decorated with Christmas lights, stockings, banners, wreaths and the most popular of these decorations is the Christmas tree.

As part of Ministry of Public Health's Collective Prevention Services (CPS) Safe Holiday Season Observances, in collaboration with the Department of Communication, residents are advised to keep the season safe by following a few helpful tips.

Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius de Weever as part of his 'Get Checked' campaign, is calling on the community to check their Christmas tree lighting to make sure is operating safely in order in order to avoid any hazards this holiday season.

These are some life-saving steps you can take to ensure a safe and happy holiday:

Preventing Holiday Tree Fires

Holiday tree fire hazards
Special fire safety precautions need to be taken when keeping a live tree in the house Read more

Nagico Sponsors Brochures To Police Safety Awareness Project

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - NAGICO sponsored 10,000 brochures to the Community Police Officers of Sint Maarten on Thursday morning, to assist with their crime prevention efforts.

CEO of NAGICO Insurances N.V; Dwayne Elgin made the presentation to representatives of the Police Force; Community Police Officers; Inspectors Steven Carty and Arcella Leonard.

"We at NAGICO are pleased to be able to assist the Community Police Officers (CPOs) in this initiative and we remain committed to our community as the repercussions and ripple effect from increased crime rate can be severe."

The brochures which will be distributed by the police officers to the general public contain safety tips on how to minimize the risk of theft, robberies and burglary Read more

Traffic Measure Implemented

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - On Thursday December 18th a press briefing was organized between the Department of VROMI and the Police Department regarding traffic measures that will take place during the busy Christmas Holiday Season.

The press briefing was held at the Philipsburg Police Station.

These measures are to alleviate the serious traffic congestion that occurs during this period by creating better traffic circulation throughout the Philipsburg area.

Later during that evening between 05.00 p.m Read more

Housing Foundation Board Member Elston Fos Speaks: “Lake Knew What Is Going On”

St. Maarten – Four candidates for the three vacant positions on the supervisory board of the Sint Maarten Housing Development Foundation withdrew their candidacy this weekend “for fear of their lives,” attorney Jairo Bloem stated in a press release issued yesterday on behalf of the foundation.

It is the next step in an ugly situation that developed last week with a report that the managing director of the foundation, Henry Lynch had been suspended. Next thing anyone knew, someone attempted to shoot board member Elston Fos Read more

Cornelius De-Weever Says: “Bring Back Our Professionals”

Great Bay—St. Maarten graduates and professionals in Holland must, according to Minister Cornelius de Weever, be encouraged and motivated to return to the island to use their expertise and knowledge in building their country.

The Social development and labor minister is urging local businesses to participate in Flinx Recruitment Expo Dutch Caribbean (FRED) June 4-June 7, 2015 in the Netherlands, Rotterdam.  “We need to bring our graduating and graduated students back to St Read more

Statians to the polls in referendum vote today

Preparations were still in full swing to turn Mike van Putten Youth Centre into a polling station on Tuesday afternoon.

ST. EUSTATIUS--Eligible voters in St. Eustatius will be casting their votes today, Wednesday, in the consultative referendum on the island’s constitutional future. The polling station in Mike van Putten Youth Centre will be open from 7:30am to 9:00pm. The results will not be made public until Friday, 10:00pm.

In the referendum, voters will have the opportunity to choose between four different options: 1 Read more

Collins admits to sexual contact with young girls

NEW YORK--Actor Stephen Collins, who played the family pastor in the television series "7th Heaven," has admitted to having inappropriate sexual contact with three underage girls decades ago, People magazine reported on Wednesday.

"Forty years ago, I did something terribly wrong that I deeply regret. I have been working to atone for it ever since," Collins, 67 said in a statement released to the magazine.

The actor said he decided to address the issue following the release earlier this year of an audio tape made during a confidential marriage therapy session with his estranged wife, Faye Grant Read more

>POINT BLANCHE:--- Thursday, 18 December, will be one of the busiest days of the cruise tourism season for destination St. Maarten with seven cruise vessels in port with a combined 18,000 (approximately) cruise passengers. This does not include crew, which could be an additional 8,000.

The smallest vessel will be Wind Surf of Windstar Cruises with over 300 passengers, to the largest, Freedom of the Seas with over 3,600 Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- In my opinion, it can and specifically in the case of the formation of the council of ministers, following a regular election.
The Governor has in this particular matter taken it upon himself (and we know why of course) to direct the process.
The government of the country is the responsibility of Parliament. When something seems awry, which it does, parliament has the responsibility to query the formation of a government for the country.
It should never be the case, that candidate ministers are publicly hung out to dry; taken down like sitting ducks, and all this on the basis of information that is somehow attained, because those who should apprise the people of the process, are mum.
Mostly, persons selected for ministerial positions are those who have postulated themselves in an election, unless there is a case of exceptional expertise in one or more particular areas and needed because of circumstances that warrant such Read more

>HARBOUR VIEW:--- His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday, received the final report of formateur Theodore Heyliger. The formateur has accepted the commission to form a new government that has a majority in Parliament and that consists of Ministers who are committed to the promotion of the wellbeing of Sint Maarten and dedicated to jointly execute the UP/I-2 Governing Accord, agreed upon by the coalition partners United People's Party, independent Member of Parliament Van Hugh C Read more

Governor Receives Final Formation Report Theodore Heyliger

HARBOUR VIEW, Sint Maarten – On December 17, 2014, His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday, received the final report of formateur Theodore Heyliger.

The formateur has accepted the commission to form a new government that has a majority in Parliament and that consists of Ministers who are committed to the promotion of the wellbeing of Sint Maarten and dedicated to jointly execute the UP/I-2 Governing Accord, agreed upon by the coalition partners United People's Party, independent Member of Parliament Van Hugh C Read more

Editorial: Not Helpful (Vague Press Statement From Minister Lake)

Vromi-Minister Maurice Lake is apparently not aware of the finer details of the articles of incorporation that regulate the St. Maarten Housing Foundation. That leads to public statements that are at odds with reality – and nobody stands to benefit from that.

The foundation’s board should have five – not seven, as the minister claims in a press statement – members and as long as there is at least one member left, that board is legal.

Another point is of course that the board should take action without delay (meaning: immediately) once there are fewer than five board members Read more

Minister Lake Misreads Articles Of Incorporation: Chaos At Housing Foundation

St. Maarten – The actions by a lone board member of the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF) to request the government’s accountants bureau (Soab) to carry out a forensic investigation, and also into the purchase-to-pay process and remuneration process is premature, Vromi-Minister Maurice Lake states in a press release.

“I was not aware of this process Read more

“The People Have Had Enough”: Priest Demands A Firm Discount On Utility Bills

St. Maarten – According to media reports, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has announced that oil prices have fallen to an all-time low of $58 a barrel. Governments and energy companies all over the world have passed on this savings to their consumers,” Lenny Priest, leader of the extra-parliamentary political party OSPP writes in a press release. “What will it take for our government and Gebe to provide relief to the people in the form of a 40 to 50 percent reduction in the fuel clause on our electricity bills? After all, our monthly electricity bill consists of energy consumption and the fuel clause Read more

High Court ruling sets limits to politicians’ speech freedom

THE HAGUE--A new ruling by the Dutch High Court sets limits on freedom of speech for politicians and has implications for the case against anti-Islam campaigner Geert Wilders.

The Prosecutor's Office is soon to take a decision on whether or not to press ahead with prosecuting Wilders for inciting hatred after leading a crowd of his Party for Freedom PVV followers in an anti-Morocca Read more

Minister confirms Statia housing project is on hold

THE HAGUE--Dutch Minister of Housing and Governmental Organisation Stef Blok on Tuesday confirmed that the cooperation with the Dutch housing corporation Woonlinie has again been put on hold with adverse consequences for the Golden Rock public housing project.

Blok explained in response to written questions submitted by Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Ronald van Raak of the Socialist Party (SP) that Statia's current Executive Council indicated early December that it didn't want to stick to agreements that it signed regarding the reorganisation of the Statia Housing Foundation (SHF).

Van Raak had sought clarity following a letter to the editor in The Daily Herald last week in which the Democratic Party of St Read more

Fatal accident victims to be remembered by silhouettes

MARIGOT--In view of the high death toll from scooter accidents this year, the Préfecture and the Collectivité have decided to strategically place symbolic reminders of the deceased in the form of a black silhouette of an accident victim in the districts where the accidents occurred.

The first silhouette was installed outside French Quarter Collège on Monday in the presence of Préfet Philippe Chopin, President of the Collectivité Aline Hanson, representative of the Recteur of Guadeloupe Jean-Marie Jespere, representatives of the Gendarmerie and French Quarter Collège Principal Daniel Gumbs.

The black silhouettes in the shape of a person have a red flash through the head that represents blood Read more