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St. Martin Poetry Selected By Dutch Composers For Choral Music Performance In Netherlands

GREAT BAY, St. Martin — Newly created music to Drisana Deborah Jack's poetry will be performed at the 55th anniversary concert of the Delft Ars Vocalis Chamber Choir in the Netherlands, said Jack's publisher HNP.

Dutch composers Rita Hijmans and Anke Brouwer selected Jack's poem "I dare you" and its Dutch translation from a long list of verse proposed by Ars Vocalis to four composers that it commissioned to create "new musical composition" for its anniversary concert.

"I am very intrigued by the notion of interpreting the poetry into music for a choir," said Jack, a leading St Read more

Dp Leader Tells Press Minister De Weever Still To Inform Dp Party About Departure

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - In light of the ongoing political situation on the island, the Democratic Party of St. Maarten held a press conference on Sunday.

During the press conference which was held at the Holland House Hotel, Prime Minister and leader of the Democratic Party, the Honorable Sarah W Williams informed members of the media that an agreement between the number 2 candidate on the slate of the party, Minister of Health, Social Affairs and Labor, the Honorable Cornelius de Weever and the United People Party of Member of Parliament, the Honorable Theo Heyliger has been signed.

However, to date, Mr Read more

Mp William Marlin Makes Public Governing Accord

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The governing accord which was worked out by a workgroup of the National Alliance, Democrat Party and the United St. Maarten (US) Party and with the assistance of Bearing Point, was made public on Sunday afternoon.

The highly anticipated document was released during a press conference on Sunday afternoon which was called for by the leader of the National Alliance MP William Marlin.

The governing document which was put together by the workgroup of the three political parties is entitled "Open and Stable Government, The governing program 2014 – 2018".

The National Alliance Leader MP William Marlin stated that the National Alliance, the Democratic Party and the United St Read more

Shaw: IMF making things easier for PNP Government

KINGSTON, Jamaica--Opposition Spokesman on Finance and Planning Audley Shaw says that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has been much easier on the current administration than it was on the previous Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Government.

However, Shaw says that the Government has failed to capitalise on its good luck, by ignoring the need for growth-inducement strategies.

"Passing the IMF test in and of itself cannot yield the incremental benefits the economy needs," the Opposition spokesman told a JLP press briefing at its Belmont Road headquarters Thursday.

"You know why they are passing these tests so much? It is because they get an easy test Read more

New campaign to surrender firearms starts October 1

MARIGOT--Préfet Philippe Chopin on Friday officially launched the second weapons amnesty, this time in conjunction with the Dutch side that will begin with an intensive communication campaign starting on October 1.

Justice Minister Dennis Richardson, Solicitor General Taco Stein and Chief Inspector Benjamin Gout were among law enforcement officials representing the Dutch side at the bilingual press conference with the Préfet, joined by Chief Prosecutor Samuel Finielz from Guadeloupe and Commandant of the Gendarmerie Paul Betaille Read more

Joe Richardson, Marcel Gumbs appointed as new informateurs

HARBOUR VIEW--Governor Eugene Holiday has appointed Marcel Gumbs and Joe Richardson as informateurs to work on the formation of the new coalition government.

He announced his decision following discussions with United People's (UP) party leader Theo Heyliger on Friday.

Considering the consultations, the results of the August 29 elections, the developments over the past four weeks and the coalition agreement signed by UP's seven Members of Parliament (MPs)-elect and Democratic Party (DP) MP-elect Van Hugh Cornelius de Weever, Holiday requested that Richardson and Gumbs take up the tasks of informateurs Read more

De Weever breaks silence on reasons for abandoning DP

~ Counterpart policy at centre of decision ~

PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) Member of Parliament (MP)-elect Cornelius de Weever broke his silence Friday on his reasons for pulling his support from the slate on which he was elected to help the United People's (UP) party form a one-seat Parliamentary majority.

De Weever said in a press release that the counterpart policy was "a principle" on which he "was not willing to compromise," as it sought to protect the interests of "our nationals [who – Ed.] want to return home only to be told they do not have enough experience and are even sometimes told they have too much experience and the company cannot afford to pay them; all this while companies still want foreign work permits for the same position."

De Weever said that with all "the rumours and innuendo circulating," he wanted to inform the populace formally on the "reasoning" behind his decision.

He said he had informed DP party leader Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams that he would be taking up his seat in Parliament instead of serving as Minister.

"In this regard, I believe an explanation is warranted to the people of St Read more

Budget amendment meet called off again due to lack of quorum

PHILIPSBURG--The public plenary session of Parliament on amendments to the 2014 budget was cancelled for the second time on Friday, as only four Members of Parliament (MPs) showed up and signed in for the meeting.

The meeting was first called off on Wednesday, due to the lack of a quorum when seven MPs were signed in, though United People's (UP) party MPs and Independent MP Dr. Lloyd Richardson had been in the building.

Present at Friday's session were National Alliance (NA) MPs Hyacinth Richardson and George Pantophlet, Democratic Party (DP) MP Roy Marlin and United People's (UP) party MP Gracita Arrindell Read more

Governor appoints Marcel Gumbs and Joe Richardson as informateurs.

>HARBOUR VIEW:--- After the consultations of Thursday September 25th, 2014, His Excellency Governor Eugene B. Holiday met again with the leader of the United People's Party, Mr. Theodore E. Heyliger on Friday to discuss the process to come to the formation of a new government. Considering the consultations, the results of the August 29, 2014 elections, the developments of the past 4 weeks and the coalition agreement signed by the 7 members of the UP and Mr Read more

style="text-align: center;">Audi Commences Construction of New Dealership in Cole Bay, St. Maarten

What: Ground breaking with St. Maarten Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams; Audi Latin America Vice President, Diego Ramos; Audi Latin America Sales Manager Gerardo Castillo-Flores, Tariq Amjad, Reza Amjad and Imran McSood Amjad from Caribbean Auto.Date: Thursday, September 25 at 9:00 a.m.Audi kicks off construction of new 2,690 square-foot dealership

ST Read more

Second time Budget meeting could not be held --- UPP MPs not present.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Roy Marlin spoke out on Friday on the budget meeting that had to be postponed for the second time due to a lack of quorum. MP Marlin said that the chairlady of Parliament has not being following the rules of order. He said that the meeting is supposed to be called within 48 hours (2x24 hours).
Marlin said that St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- My fellow St. Maarteners, with all of the rumors and innuendo circulating, I want to inform you formally on a decision that I have made and some of the reasoning behind it. On Tuesday afternoon, I informed Honorable Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams that I will be taking up my seat in Parliament instead of serving as Minister and serve the people of St Read more

Political Statement Minister Cornelius De Weever

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - My fellow St. Maarteners, with all of the rumors and innuendo circulating, I want to inform you formally on a decision that I have made and some of the reasoning behind it.

On Tuesday afternoon, I informed Honorable Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams that I will be taking up my seat in Parliament instead of serving as Minister and serve the people of St Read more

Governor Appoints Marcel Gumbs And Joe Richardson As Informateurs

HARBOUR VIEW, Sint Maarten – After the consultations of Thursday September 25th, 2014, His Excellency Governor Eugene B. Holiday met again with the leader of the United People's Party, Mr. Theodore E. Heyliger on Friday to discuss the process to come to the formation of a new government.

Considering the consultations, the results of the August 29, 2014 elections, the developments of the past 4 weeks and the coalition agreement signed by the 7 members of the UP and Mr Read more

As Part Of Succesful Fun Miles Millionaire Campaign, Fun Miles Presents Bumper Sticker Prize-Fest

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Fun Miles cardholders can now instantly win 500 Fun Miles, just for being seen with a Fun Miles Millionaire bumper sticker.

This is the latest exciting development in the popular Fun Miles Millionaire campaign, which enables cardholders to win the stupefying

amount of one million Fun Miles.

The bumper stickers are available for free from the Fun Miles office in Welgelegen Road in Cay Hill, or from the Fun Miles promotion team that is currently roaming our island.

Cardholders simply need to apply the sticker to their vehicle in a clearly visible way Read more

Editorial - Majority rule

A lot of frustration is being expressed by voters about the meanwhile-confirmed latest political twist that will see a UP-led government take office after all. Many uttered disbelief as to how something like this was even possible, let alone allowed to take place.

Some reason that especially as DP candidate and caretaker minister Cornelius de Weever had failed to earn a Parliament seat outright in terms of preferential votes, he should not be able to "jump ship" and torpedo the seemingly-incoming NA/DP/US Party coalition of which his party was to be part Read more

First Russian woman lifts off to International Space Station

ALMATY-- A Russian rocket blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday, taking to orbit a U.S.-Russian trio including the first Russian woman to serve on the $100 billion space outpost.

The Soyuz rocket lifted off from a vast steppe into a black sky at 0225 a.m. (2025 GMT on Thursday) to take Russian Alexander Samokutyaev, his compatriot Elena Serova and U.S. astronaut Barry Wilmore into orbit.

"Everything in order on board, we feel well," a live television broadcast by U.S Read more

No quorum for budget amendment meeting

~ UP, Dr. Richardson, Illidge, De Weever absent ~

PHILIPSBURG--The public plenary session of Parliament on amendments to the 2014 budget was cancelled on Wednesday due to the lack of a quorum, as only seven Members of Parliament (MPs) were signed in.

Parliament Press Secretary Roddy Heyliger said in a press release last night that the session had been rescheduled to Friday at 10:00am.

At least eight MPs are needed for the meeting to proceed Read more

De Weever prefers serving as MP, no longer wants to stay a minister

PHILIPSBURG--Incumbent Health Minister Cornelius de Weever has informed Democratic Party (DP) leader Sarah Wescot-Williams that he wants to serve as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the new government and no longer will be continuing as Minister of Health, Labour and Social Affairs as was originally the case.

De Weever was elected to Parliament on the DP slate in the August 29 election Read more

Holiday starts new consultations after end of ‘Marlin’ formation

PHILIPSBURG--Governor Eugene Holiday started new formation talks on Thursday after United People's (UP) party leader Theodore Heyliger submitted a signed "coalition agreement" for the governing period 2014-2018.

The agreement was signed by UP's seven elected Members of Parliament (MPs) and Democratic Party (DP) MP-elect Cornelius de Weever.

Holiday said in a press release that in view of these developments, National Alliance (NA) leader William Marlin had informed him that the majority in Parliament necessary for the formation of the planned NA/DP/US Party coalition government no longer existed Read more

New coalition said imminent

PHILIPSBURG--Widespread but unconfirmed reports on Wednesday indicated that a new coalition government with a one-seat majority is in the making between the United People's (UP) party with its seven seats and Democratic Party (DP) candidate and incumbent Health Minister Cornelius de Weever.

It could not be ascertained whether De Weever has severed ties with DP, as up to early yesterday Wescot-Williams said she had not been informed of such, although he had indicated that he no longer wanted a ministerial post and would retain his parliamentary seat (see related story).

According to reports, De Weever has agreed to form a coalition with UP Read more

Audi and Caribbean Auto break ground for $500,000 showroom

COLE BAY--Audi Latin America and Caribbean Auto broke ground for the construction of a US $500,000 new Audi dealership in St. Maarten on Thursday.

The dealership will be located at 153 Union Road Cole Bay, near Caribbean Auto. The centre will be Audi's St. Maarten/St. Martin dealership in the Caribbean region and will help strengthen its relationship with current and future four-ring customers.

"It's wonderful having a global company like Audi bring its quality-engineered vehicles to the island Read more

Minister Lake Commends SHTA on Level of Discussion and Approach to Issues.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (Ministry of VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake, says he would like to commend the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA) for its high level of discussion at its recent Annual General Meeting.

"We have to lift the bar, and the SHTA is one organization in our community that is doing that Read more

>HARBOUR VIEW:--- On Thursday September 25, 2014, His Excellency Governor Eugene B. Holiday met with the leader of the United People's Party, Mr. Theodore E. Heyliger. During the meeting Mr. Theodore E. Heyliger presented the Governor a coalition agreement for the period 2014-2018 for the governing of Sint Maarten. This agreement has been signed by the seven elected members to Parliament of the UPP and elected member to Parliament Mr Read more