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Prominent Lawyer Allegedly Failed Screening due to Molestation Investigation.

style="text-align: center;"> Coalition dispute ongoing

PHILIPSBURG:--- Well placed sources have informed SMN News that a prominent lawyer on St. Maarten has failed the screening process to become a Minister in the UP/DP/ Marlin coalition. SMN News learnt that the candidate is allegedly under investigation for molesting a teenager. According to the information SMN News received a relative of the victim filed charges against the prominent citizen and lawyer on St. Maarten about two months ago Read more

"Six 4 Nine" Presentation Set For University Of St. Martin On November 6Th

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten- The University of St. Martin (USM) will be hosting a presentation on the book "Six 4 Nine" written by Mr. Joseph Lake Jr. followed by a panel discussion.

Six 4 Nine is about the people of St. Martin, it argues that the Country and Collectivite´ are colonies that are not in the interest of the people of St. Martin.

The book champions independence as the main solution to the problems on the island.

A patriotic book is a cry, a critique, and a challenge; it tries in these three tonalities to convey the author's prophetic opinion on the current state of his society.

Mr Read more

Process To Identify Candidate Ministers Still Ongoing

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Formateur the Honorable MP Theo Heyliger on Tuesday made clear that the task given to him by the Governor of St. Maarten is still ongoing and he has not finalized the names of candidate Ministers to present to the Governor.

MP Heyliger's statement was in reaction to speculative media reports published Read more

Editorial - For a better position

It appears the decision to appoint someone else than UP leader Theodore Heyliger as prime minister has been taken (see related article). The by-far-biggest vote-getter during the end of August elections apparently will remain in Parliament despite earlier intentions to lead his first cabinet.

This development obviously is related to Governor Eugene Holiday being ordered by the Kingdom Council of Ministers to hold off on installing any candidate-ministers until a more stringent screening process determined and executed by officials from the Netherlands is completed Read more

Rocket plane's tail activated prematurely in fatal crash

MOJAVE, California--A human-factors expert will join a team investigating the fatal test-flight crash of the Virgin Galactic passenger rocket plane to study why the co-pilot prematurely unlocked the ship's pivoting tail section, the National Transportation Safety Board chairman said on Monday.

The untimely engagement of the tail mechanism, designed to slow the vehicle's descent into the atmosphere from space, and the possibility that pilot error was to blame, were disclosed by the NTSB late on Sunday and have emerged as a main thrust of the inquiry into the accident.

The suborbital rocket vehicle dubbed SpaceShipTwo was undergoing its first powered test flight since January when it crashed on Friday shortly after separation from the special jet aircraft that carried it aloft for its high-altitude launch Read more

OSPP instruction to Mr. Heyliger

Dear Editor,

It is the first time in the history of St. Maarten that it has taken such a long time to form a government. Nevertheless, we are at a point where the country is in serious need of a government that will work in the interest of the people. The campaigns are over and now it is time to work for the people.

Since the instruction was given to the Governor of St. Maarten on October 17, 2014, the Parliament of St. Maarten has met on numerous occasions to debate this issue. During this debate many statements were made by many Members of Parliament, but the statement that stood out was the one made by the leader of the UP Party, Mr Read more

Coliseum staff furious about sudden job loss, feel helpless

~ Told to stay home for three months, then reapply ~

PHILIPSBURG--Twelve Coliseum Casino workers, ten of whom have been working at the casino for more than twenty years and one for twelve, are "furious," "frustrated" and "stressed out" after suddenly being placed on the unemployment line on Monday "without any explanation."

The workers were left in limbo after receiving their work schedules, which show that Monday was their last day of work. When they approached Princess Group of Companies official Hakan Unal about the matter, the workers said they had been told they either could stay home for three months and reapply for their jobs and would be considered for employment, or they could form an employment agency and the casino would consider hiring the agency under which they would be given a chance to work at the casino.

Unal could not be reached for comment late last night Read more

Marcel Gumbs tipped to be prime minister

PHILIPSBURG--It appears United People's (UP) party leader Member of Parliament Theo Heyliger will stick to his seat in Parliament instead of opting to become prime minister of the new UP/Democratic Party/Marlin-Romeo coalition.

Veteran politician Marcel Gumbs has been tipped as a possible candidate for prime minister Read more

Pupil expulsion not valid, school seeks assistance

CAY HILL--A couple describing themselves as very "angry parents" reported to The Daily Herald that their nine-year-old child, who attends Hillside Christian Schools Asha Stevens Campus, has been expelled, a decision with which they fervently disagree and say is not allowed under St. Maarten's stand on compulsory education.

The school has described a situation of uncooperative parents and disruptive and dangerous behaviour by the pupil, stating that action is needed for both his safety and that of other pupils.

Amongst other warnings, the pupil was suspended for aggressive behaviour near the end of the last school year Read more

>CAY HILL:--- Representatives from the Ebola Virus Disease Incidence Management Team VSA(EVD-IMT) met with representatives from St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) to discuss St. Maarten's Ebola Preparedness Plan. The meeting was held to share ideas and discuss a coordinated response. ""The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (VSA) along with all key stakeholders have taken a rigorous pro-active approach in order to ensure that St. Maarten will be prepared to respond in the event a suspected or confirmed Ebola patient surfaces in the area", said Minister of Public Health Cornelius de Weever

At the meeting SMMC gave an extensive overview on the protective equipment they currently have in-house and what is still needed to be acquired Read more

No Ebola Travel Ban In Place On French St. Martin

St. Maarten –No ebola travel plan has been put in place on French St. Martin, although officials there have said they have three levels when dealing with a suspected case of ebola. Dutch St. Maarten issued an ebola travel ban on October 27.

Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a delegation from the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), met with French side officials in Hope Estate last week to discuss preparations related to the ebola virus disease (EVD) and inform them of the St Read more

Priest Instructs Heyliger: Man Up To Your Position; Take A Delegation To Holland And Present St. Maarten’S Case

St. Maarten—An instruction to form a delegation consisting of the leaders of the political parties in Parliament and visit the First and Second Chambers and present St. Maarten’s case, has been issued to leader of the UPP Theo Heyliger by leader of the One St Read more

Minister Lake Implores Boat Owners To Clear Lagoon Of Sunken Vessels

St. Maarten – “I’ve observed some of the vessels that partially sank or were blown ashore have been removed within the Simpson Bay Lagoon; however, there are still a number of vessels that are partially underwater or sitting onshore. I am appealing to the owners of the vessels to make arrangements to have these vessels removed as soon as possible,” Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure Maurice Lake said on Sunday Read more

Upnext Planning Its “Christmas Cheer Up” Project

St. Maarten —Two fund raising bake sales are carded to be held this month by the —UPNext, the youth movement of the United People (UP) party—as they gear up their “Christmas Cheer UP” activities for the upcoming Christmas season Read more

Lake Says Work Will Start Soon On Chin Cactus Drive.

St. Maarten – Vromi Minister Maurice Lake has said that work will begin soon on the Cactus Drive road in Sucker Garden which is in a deplorable condition, but added that procedures must be followed.

Lakes statements comes on the heels of a petition signed by Sucker Garden residents and carried in local media in which they ask that the Cactus Drive road be repaired Read more

Vsa Meets With Smmc On Ebola Preparedness Plan

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Representatives from the Ebola Virus Disease Incidence Management Team VSA(EVD-IMT) met with representatives from St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) to discuss St. Maarten's Ebola Preparedness Plan.

The meeting was held to share ideas and discuss a coordinated response.

"The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (VSA) along with all key stakeholders have taken a rigorous pro-active approach in order to ensure that St. Maarten will be prepared to respond in the event a suspected or confirmed Ebola patient surfaces in the area", said Minister of Public Health Cornelius de Weever.

At the meeting SMMC gave an extensive overview on the protective equipment they currently have in-house and what is still needed to be acquired.

An update was also given as to the area within the hospital designated as the isolation unit and the necessary upgrades needed to further prepare that isolation unit.

"God forbid Ebola were to reach St Read more

Editorial - All hands on deck

The call by Minister Maurice Lake to remove stricken vessels from St. Maarten’s inlets (see related article) might sound a bit callous to boaters who recently became victims of Hurricane Gonzalo, but is nevertheless to the point. After all, the wrecks in and around the bays and lagoons are not only a maritime risk and in some cases an environmental hazard, but also pollute the landscape.

As long as the unsightly view they create remains, every visitor will be reminded of the natural disaster, which is nothing to be ashamed of, but certainly not the image any destination would prefer to portray either Read more

UP PR is a perfect case study of how it’s done

Dear Editor,

I'm a third year marketing student in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. For new, innovative, practical approaches we are taught to observe our surroundings. Being from St. Maarten (by way of Suriname) I keep my eye on advertising campaigns and such at home. In many cases St. Maarten is still using old methods, but I know a few friends who have returned to the island, trying to do new things in our field.

This brings me to what I observed during the last election campaign. I was truly impressed with the innovation, organisation, speed and ability to pivot on the fly of the UP party Read more

Clinton takes tougher line on big business

NASHUA, New Hampshire--Long viewed as an ally by Wall Street, likely 2016 presidential contender Hillary Clinton has increasingly been taking banks and big business to task while on the campaign trail for Democrats across the country.

Many Democratic strategists see the sharper rhetoric as an effort to win over liberal critics, such as supporters of Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren Read more

Anand: Code of Ethics does not cover criminal offences

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad--Attorney General Anand Ramlogan said Saturday the alleged removal of seventeen cocaine pellets from a patient by a doctor raises several issues.

"I am heartened to know that the Commissioner of Police has not closed this investigation and that enquiries are continuing. As the legal guardian of the public interest, I think it is necessary to provide some clarification about the responsibility of doctors when they are confronted with delicate and difficult situations which might involve the suspected commission of criminal offences," he said in a statement.

"I am in agreement with the statements made recently by secretary of the Medical Board of Trinidad and Tobago (MBTT) Dr Read more

Lake urges mariners to remove damaged vessels

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Maurice Lake is calling on mariners whose vessels were damaged during the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo three weeks ago to remove the vessels from inland waterways and lagoons, and to clean up debris.

"I've observed some of the vessels that partially sank or were blown ashore have been removed within the Simpson Bay Lagoon Read more

Churches call for day of fasting on Sunday

~ Suggest business cabinet ~

PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten United Ministerial Foundation has called for Sunday, November 9, to be a day of pray and fasting to help bring the country out of its impasse with the Dutch Government about the instruction for additional screening for minister candidates. This measure was taken due to "serious concerns" about the integrity of the government, said the foundation.

The instruction has caused the appointment of ministers and the prime minister to come to a halt.

"This situation is not good at all for St Read more

The Church Calls for a Government of Integrity.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Sint Maarten needs a Government of integrity.
In Bible times when prophets and kings were at a crossroad in the nation and when Israel was faced with serious threats and obstacles they sought their God by means of prayer and fasting. The prophet Joel declared a fast saying: "summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD" (Joel 1:14). King Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah and the people "gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord..." (2 Chron Read more

>GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- A delegation from the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA) Collective Prevention Services (CPS) met with French colleagues (St. Martin) in Hope Estate last week to discuss preparations related to the Ebola virus disease (EVD).

CPS apprised French officials about the Sint Maarten Ebola Preparedness Plan and the travel ban that was officially announced by the Minister of Public Health on Monday, October 27.

French health department officials apprised the CPS that for the French territories to date, there was no travel ban in effect, and the French Ebola national preparedness plan has three levels when dealing with a suspected case of EVD.

After the discussion about the various scenarios, levels and possible collaboration, it was decided that there is a need for an additional meeting where all counterparts can meet and discuss associated logistics.

It was also decided that both sides will be working together to ensure an effective response and will seek the intervention of their respective supervisors and political leaders to ensure the effectiveness of the travel ban in protecting the borders of Sint Maarten/St Read more