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Dearth of doctors drags on China private healthcare

SHANGHAI-- As China tries to privatize an overburdened public healthcare system, private hospitals face a shortage ... of doctors.

The bottleneck - the result of resistance from both public hospitals and doctors themselves - could dent a drive to reform China's hospital sector, just as investors flock to a healthcare delivery market that's set to more than double to $600 billion by the end of the decade, according to consultancy Bain & Co.

Part of the problem is that doctors across most of China need permission from the state-owned hospitals where they practice before they can also work in the private sector Read more

Holiday asks Heyliger to form Government

HARBOUR VIEW--Member of Parliament and United People's (UP) party leader Theo Heyliger, in his capacity as formateur, was requested by St. Maarten Governor Eugene Holiday on Monday to form a new government for the period 2014-2018.

A press release from the Governor's office said, "Having evaluated the report of the informateurs and following the consultations, the Governor met with Mr Read more

New committee wants UN support, says Dutch meddling is colonisation

~ Invites public to protest ~

PHILIPSBURG--Introducing themselves as a group of concerned citizens who have been listening closely to what is being said in the Netherlands about St. Maarten, "Citizens United for True Democracy" called a press conference Monday morning to assert that something needs to be done about the "meddling" of the Dutch in St. Maarten's internal affairs, especially as it relates to the outcome of the recent PricewaterhouseCoopers report.

Committee members Etienne "Tochie" Meyers, Elton Jones and Edwin Gumbs are calling on the public to join a march at 1:00pm on Monday, October 13, at the Windward Islands Federation of Labour (WIFOL) Building, along Walter Nisbeth Road and ending at the Government Administration Building, to "move the people to give a clear message to the Dutch that the days of colonialism and 'massa' are over."

There, a manifestation will be held that will include various speakers who will talk about colonisation and the relationship between the Netherlands and its former colonies.

The group also claimed that over the weekend they had been in touch with persons at the United Nations who work on the Decolonisation Committee, including one of its leaders, as well as representatives of the independent states of the eastern Caribbean.

Jones said Curacao had been having the same complaints about the Netherlands' "constant meddling" that are set to be heard by the committee today, Tuesday, October 7 Read more

>HARBOUR VIEW:--- On October 6, 2014, His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday, requested Mr. Theo Heyliger to form a new government as formateur.
Last Friday October 3rd the Governor received the final report of the informateurs Joe Richardson and Marcel Gumbs, plus the governing accord 2014-2018 signed by the 7 members of the UP and Mr Read more

style="text-align: center;">CUTD in Touch with UN, Dutch should not interfere in St. Maarten's Problems

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Citizens United for True Democracy (CUTD) plans to hold a protest march on Monday October 13th, 2014 starting at the WIFOL building on the Pondfill where they will march to the Government Administration Building to call on the Government of St. Maarten to stop the Dutch Members of Parliament namely Andre Bosman and Ronald van Raak who managed to rally the second chamber to take measures against St Read more

Monday Protest-March Against Dutch Interference – Citizens For True Democracy Turn On Bosman, Van Raak

The Citizens for True Democracy. From left: Etienne Meyers, Elton Jones and Edwin Gumbs, for the occasion dressed in tee shirts with a bloody message. Photo Today / Hilbert Haar

St. Maarten – Etienne “Toochie” Meyers, Elton Jones and Edwin Gumbs are the driving forces behind Citizens for True Democracy – an activist movement that organizes on Monday a protests march against what is perceived as unacceptable interference in St Read more

St. Maarten Governor Asks Theo Heyliger To Form New Government

MP Theo Heyliger. Photo today / Leo Brown

St. Maarten – Governor Drs. Eugène Holiday has asked United People’s party leader Theo Heyliger to form a new government as formateur.

Last Friday the governor received the final report of the informateurs Joe Richardson and Marcel Gumbs, plus the governing accord 2014-2018 signed by the 7 members of the UP and Cornelius de Weever who will take up their seats in Parliament on Friday.

The 8 MPs-elect agreed in the governing accord that they will form a government that will among others give priority to the approval of the 2015 budget and to the decision making regarding the different reports on integrity of the public administration as well as to the execution thereof Read more

Lifestyle Forum Hosts Rhoda Arrindell At 2Nd Edition Of "Afternoon With The Authors"

SIMPSON BAY, St. Martin - Educator Dr. Rhoda Arrindell will be the featured guest of the "Afternoon With the Authors" here at Royal Palm Hotel, on October 12, from 4 PM–6 PM, said Arrindell's publisher HNP.

The Melly Mel book club will host the affair. "Guests will have the distinct privilege of hearing the author share highlights about her new book, Language, Culture, and Identity in St Read more

Governor Holiday Requests Theo Heyliger To Form Government

HARBOUR VIEW, Sint Maarten – On October 6, 2014, His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday, requested Mr. Theo Heyliger to form a new government as formateur.

Last Friday October 3rd the Governor received the final report of the informateurs Joe Richardson and Marcel Gumbs, plus the governing accord 2014-2018 signed by the 7 members of the UP and Mr Read more

Citizens Form Group To Oppose Dutch Intervention

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - We have had enough interference from Holland in the affairs of St. Maarten, newly formed committee "Citizens United for True Democracy" told members of the media on Monday morning.

The committee consists of among others as members Etienne "Touchie" Meyers, Elton Jones and Edwin Gumbs.

The objective of the committee is to send a clear message to Holland, in particular to Ronald van Raak of the Socialist Party and Andre Bosman of the VVD.

As a result, the organization is gearing up towards holding a peaceful march and manifestation.

The march, which is set for Monday October 13th will start from the WIFOL building at 1 pm and will end in front of the Government Administration Building where the manifestation will take place.

Seemingly, the group is not too please with some of the things that are being said about St Read more

Yoplaitâ„¢ Calls For The Early Detection Of Breast Cancer With The Message "Friends In The Fight"

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - As part of its decade long commitment in supporting Breast cancer awareness, Yoplaitâ„¢ invites St. Maarten to help for a world without breast cancer.

From the 1st of October to the 31st of October 2014, 5¢ of each Yoplait™ 6 Oz Cup lid yogurt sold in St.Maarten at participating supermarkets will be directed towards supporting the initiative "Friends in the fight". The donation will be given to the St. Maarten Lions Club and will total $2,000.

The Elektralyets Foundation in collaboration with the Positive Foundation also present their annual Pink Phit Phabulous Walk-a-thon.

Consumers who will be participating in the Pink, Phit & Phabulous Walk on October 12th , 2014 from 5:00 am to 10:30am from Divico in Colebay will have the opportunity to receive a Yoplait T-shirt for the walk by either donating $5 on the day of the walk, purchasing Yoplait at participating supermarkets, or donating $5 for the Yoplait t-shirt at Divico Cash & Carry A portion of the funds donated will go toward the Positive Foundation, Still Beautiful foundation and the Elektralyets Foundation.

Consumers can find Yoplait Yogurt at the following participating Supermarkets:
Le Grand Marche Bushroad The Fresh Market Cakehouse
Le Grand Marche Colebay Afoo Supermarket EconoFood
Le Gourmet Marche Simpsonbay Food Club Yang Yang
Le Gourmet Marche Cupecoy Daily Extra Supermarket Tesco
Premier Supermarket Aki K Store
TLC Supermarket Econo Trocadero
Plaza China Fresh Pond Popular Pondfill
Johnnie 2 Palms Minimart Prime Cash & Carry

Each year, Yoplaitâ„¢ organizes special efforts and allocates funds for research, studies, and educational material about breast cancer Read more

Former Ministers Distributed Bus And Taxi Permits Like Candy

St. Maarten – Moratoriums on economic licenses “appear to be lifted by ministers in a subjective manner” the PricewaterhouseCoopers integrity report observes. Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs Ted Richardson has, in the past half year, lifted moratoriums on bars and restaurants, car rentals and casinos. It also appears that former Ministers Franklin Meyers and Romeo Pantophlet issued between them 161 taxi licenses and 52 bus permits to specific individuals at the end of their term in government in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

In February, the moratorium for bars and restaurants was lifted because “the government wants to stimulate entrepreneurship and the economic growth of St Read more

Pink October: Smmc Holds Open House For Breast Cancer Awareness

St. Maarten – Pink was the color of choice at the St. Maarten Medical Center’s open house on Saturday, Oct 4, which was held in honor of breast cancer awareness and the fight against breast cancer itself. Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Cornelius de Weever and PM Sarah Wescot-Williams were in attendance Read more

Thailand hits party scene to combat HIV among gay men

BANGKOK-- Bare-chested male models strutted through the glitzy ballroom in Bangkok to the beat of house music while dozens of young gay men waited anxiously, working up the nerve to have a blood test.

The mostly female health team taking samples seemed incongruous next to the shirtless models circling the party, but the health workers' presence at the TestBKK event, Thailand's first mass HIV testing for gays, was sending a powerful message.

Over the past decade, HIV has spread rapidly among gay men, transgender people and male sex workers in Bangkok to reach epidemic levels, fuelled partly by greater use of illicit party drugs that make people less cautious about sex, experts said.

Once touted as an HIV success story, Thailand is now faced with infection rates in its gay population comparable to those in Africa's AIDS hot spots.

Waking up to the scale of the problem, Thai authorities have embarked on a campaign to raise awareness about HIV and encourage testing among those most at risk: men who have sex with men and transgender people.

Frits van Griensven, an HIV researcher and adviser to the Thai Red Cross, said the initiative to focus on this key group was a positive step and long-awaited acknowledgement that Thailand - which successfully tackled HIV/AIDS in the 1990s - had failed to keep up with the spread of the virus into certain communities.

"For the government to take a stand in this epidemic and stand up for the rights of a minority population, I thought this was a big move," van Griensven told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an interview at his home in Bangkok.

He said it was only in the past year that Thai authorities had started to take this seriously and focus on HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) prevention in Thailand's gay community.

Perhaps the biggest step in the campaign was in March last year with the release of guidelines on how to prevent the spread of HIV in men who have sex with men and transgender people Read more

Caravanserai timeshare owners informed their rights annulled

~ Clients in disbelief, want Government to take action ~

SIMPSON BAY--Timeshare owners at Caravanserai Beach Resort are up in arms after being informed recently by the property's new owners Alegria Real Estate BV that all timeshare rights granted by the previous owners are being annulled and that instead the company will offer hotel units against payment.

The news, seemingly the only contact that has been made by Alegria so far, is causing considerable concern amongst timeshare owners who are overwhelmed with questions Read more

Public school teachers with perfect attendance receive financial award

~ Teachers lauded for work at WTD event ~

CAY HILL--Public school teachers with perfect attendance records during the last academic year were rewarded with a token of appreciation during the World Teacher's Day (WTD) ceremony at the Belair Community Center on Saturday evening.

The group of teachers were each presented with a cheque of NAf. 250 as well as a certificate of appreciation Read more

Heyliger weighs in on integrity report

PHILIPSBURG--United People's (UP) party leader Member of Parliament (MP) Theo Heyliger on Sunday issued a statement on the integrity report compiled by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) on instruction from Governor Eugene Holiday.

He said some were attempting to paint a picture of "an unwilling St Read more

Minister Lake says we need to raise the bar of politics. Says he supports implementation of integrity report recommendations.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake says we need to raise the bar of politics to a higher level.

"The voting population sent a strong message in this year's parliamentary elections to the candidates and also to the leaders of the different political parties Read more

style="text-align: center;">Johnson calls on community to support

DUTCH QUARTER:--- The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School which is located in the district of Dutch Quarter will soon start with their plans to create a new playground for their Cycle one students. "The initial discussions have commenced and we will be executing this plan within the shortest possible time," remarked School Manager Stuart Johnson.

School Management is working closely with the Parent Teacher Foundation (PTF) of the school to ensure this project is successfully completed Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- "Over the past two weeks much has been said about the PWC Integrity report locally and across the ocean. Unfortunately some are attempting to paint a picture of an unwilling St. Maarten, unwilling to address reported and alleged integrity issues highlighted in the report, a St. Maarten comfortable with the status quo. The volume on the noise has been increased, but it is important that we filter through this and focus.
"I thought it was important to point out that contrary to the opinion of some, you cannot wave a magic wand and address every reported issue overnight Read more

Mlk To Have New Playground For Cycle One Students, Johnson Calls On Community To Support

DUTCH QUARTER, St. Maarten- The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School which is located in the district of Dutch Quarter will soon start with their plans to create a new playground for their Cycle one students.

"The initial discussions have commenced and we will be executing this plan within the shortest possible time," remarked School Manager Stuart Johnson.

School Management is working closely with the Parent Teacher Foundation (PTF) of the school to ensure this project is successfully completed Read more

Minister Lake Says We Need To Raise The Bar Of Politics. Says He Supports Implementation Of Integrity Report Recommendations

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake says we need to raise the bar of politics to a higher level.

"The voting population sent a strong message in this year's parliamentary elections to the candidates and also to the leaders of the different political parties.

The people are looking for better representation, and the way the people's business is being handled should be in an open and transparent manner which I fully support.

"We need to raise the bar for the next four years and take care of our people Read more

“Justice Ministry Frontrunner In The Region” “Exemplary” Code Of Conduct

St. Maarten – “Working as a stripper or pole dancer.” That is on the “not-to-do-list” in the code of conduct for civil servants that work at the Ministry of Justice. It is an example among many, one that may speak more to the imagination than suggestions not to use a department-car to go to the beach, or not to print complete books on a printer in the office.

During a ceremony at the University of St. Martin, PricewaterhouseCoopers Dutch Caribbean presented the code of conduct, the first milestone in an integrity-journey that began six months ago with a presentation at the Claude Wathey Legislative Hall, followed by sessions at the Justice Academy, the prison and the airport Read more

Pwc Integrity Report: Unauthorized Payments Tourist Bureau Exceed Million Guilders

St. Maarten – The Tourist Bureau made in 2010 unauthorized payments for an amount of more than 1.1 million guilders (approximately $633,000). This appears from a case study in the PriceWaterhousCoopers integrity report. In November 2010, the director of the Tourist Bureau, Regina Labega, and marketing manager Edward Dest were suspended by then Minister Franklin Meyers Read more