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Minister Lake Follows-Up On Trench Cleaning Works And Job Creation

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake announced on Tuesday that he is in the process of visiting the different districts where it concerns trench cleaning works based on contracts that were signed earlier this year.

"I am very proud of the work that has been carried out by our young small business owners, the local contractors Read more

Nadal puzzled as Spain pick female Davis Cup captain

SPAIN-- Toni Nadal has given a lukewarm response to the decision by the Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET) to appoint former women's Tour player Gala Leon as Spain's new Davis Cup captain.

The RFET handed the 40-year-old Leon responsibility for the country's Davis Cup team following Carlos Moya's decision to step aside last week.

Leon, the former world number 27, will become Spain's first female Davis Cup captain.

Nadal, uncle and coach to 14-times grand slam champion Rafa, sounded puzzled when asked about the appointment.

Leon's appointment could create problems "at dressing room level," he told Spanish radio.

"I have had zero relations with Gala Leon and I believe Rafa Nadal also zero, he has never mentioned it to me," he said.

"But it doesn't matter, I have never spoken to her but that doesn't mean anything.

"It would seem to be more normal if the captain had been someone like Juan Carlos Ferrero, or some ex-player of a certain level, which is what has happened recently."

Former world number one Ferrero, who retired in 2012, has expressed a desire to captain the team one day.

Moya quit after five-times winners Spain, fielding a weakened team, were relegated from the elite World Group for the first time in 18 years after a playoff loss in Brazil.

The RFET said in a statement on Monday that Leon, who quit the tour in 2004, would take on Moya's responsibilities as part of her role in charge of the federation's sporting management.

While Toni Nadal sounded unenthusiastic, Leon received support from Britain's twice grand slam champion Andy Murray who broke the mould earlier this year by deciding to employ former French player Amelie Mauresmo as his coach.

"Congrats to Gala Leon Garcia for becoming first female Spanish Davis Cup captain today.. Read more

Two wrongs do not make right

Dear Editor,

It seems as if everyone tends to agree or raise their hands above their heads when it comes down to "what about when so and so did this or did that?" And then there was this in the editorial "the disturbing trend unfortunately can be seen throughout all sectors." The behaviour in traffic was mentioned as an example and I could not agree more, but permit me to remind your readers how too many of those who were vying for office expressed themselves during the recent held political campaign Read more

Air France strike crisis deepens

PARIS-- A bitter Air France labour dispute deepened on Monday as management pledged to press ahead with its low-cost airline ambitions and pilots said that an eight day-old strike over the proposals would continue indefinitely as a result.

Air France's Franco-Dutch parent Air France-KLM wants to develop its own low-cost brand, Transavia, with hubs in France, the Netherlands and Europe in an attempt to maintain market share for Europe's second-largest carrier by revenue in the face of fierce competition in the sector.

However, Air France pilots fear that the move - particularly for those hubs that will hire pilots outside France - will end up eroding their pay and conditions, which are among the best in Europe.

The strike has grounded 60 percent of Air France flights and is costing Air France-KLM up to 20 million euros ($25.7 million) a day.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls stepped in on Monday to back the management.

"For the image of France, the image of the company and its future, for the employees themselves and clearly for customers and passengers it is time to find a solution," he said.

The CFDT Air France union, which represents ground staff and flight attendants but not pilots, criticised what it called a "disproportionate" and "exorbitant" strike and said anger was growing among the airline's other workers.

Labour Reforms

Valls' intervention, during a visit to an Airbus plant in Hamburg, came as he battles rebellious left wingers in his Socialist government who think he is giving away too much to big business Read more

‘Vote-buying undermines St. Maarten’s democracy’

THE HAGUE--The reported trading of votes in St. Maarten is worrisome and has an undermining effect on the country's democracy.

That is what Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk stated on Monday in response to written questions submitted by Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Ronald van Raak of the Socialist Party (SP).

Van Raak sought clarity on August 27, two days prior to the elections, after reading in the local media that the Court of First Instance had declared admissible the Prosecutor's Office's cases against five persons involved in the selling and buying of votes on behalf of the United People's (UP) party in the September 2010 election.

Van Raak had asked the minister's opinion on the court's decision and the accusation of the judge that the Prosecutor's Office was guilty of "class justice" by only prosecuting the five suspects in question, and to leave the management of UP in peace despite evidence that pointed in their direction Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The members of the workgroup and the three political party leaders that came together hours after the 2014 Parliamentary Election to form a broad based government were at Bearing Point in Cay Hill finalizing the draft Governing Program which will be submitted to the Governor of St. Maarten by the formateur William Marlin, the leader of the National Alliance on Wednesday September 24th, 2014.
The three political parties that came together early in the morning of August 30th, 2014 are the United  St Read more

>GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Sint Maarten's participation in the United Nations (UN) 3rd Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) that took place early September in the South Pacific Ocean island nation of Samoa, will be presented in a meeting on Tuesday to the Inter-Ministerial Working Group.

The workgroup consist of senior representatives from all the departments. The objective of the meeting is to see which areas each of the responsible ministries/departments can be prioritized for action that has been identified.

The ministries involved are Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labour, Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation & Telecommunications, Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth & Sports, and Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- No less than 6 armed robberies on supermarkets were reported during September 15th through September 20th, 2014. These robberies took place in the areas of Nazareth, Sucker Garden, Fort Willem and Cole Bay. During these robberies the sales profit of the day or at least part thereof was taken from the cash register by masked suspects armed mainly with guns and who would not hesitate to use them. During one robbery one victim suffered an injury to his head. They robbers sometimes would also use weapons such machetes, knives and even baseball bats Read more

Vorst Land Deal Will Not Have Support Of Na Leader

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Member of Parliament and leader of the National Alliance, the Honorable William Marlin made clear last week, that his faction will not support the purchase of the Vorst family to the tune of 5.5 million guilders, as has been agreed upon by outgoing Minister responsibility for VROMI, Maurice Lake.

The leader of the National Alliance reaffirmed his decision during the Central Committee meeting last week handling the amendments to the 2014 budget.

The amendments to the budget also include the purchase of the property Read more

Sids Conference In Samoa Outcome To Be Presented To Inter Ministerial Workgroup

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – Sint Maarten's participation in the United Nations (UN) 3rd Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) that took place early September in the South Pacific Ocean island nation of Samoa, will be presented in a meeting on Tuesday to the Inter-Ministerial Working Group.

The workgroup consist of senior representatives from all the departments. The objective of the meeting is to see which areas each of the responsible ministries/departments can be prioritized for action that has been identified.

The ministries involved are Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labour, Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation & Telecommunications, Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth & Sports, and Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Read more

Peace Day Celebrations Conclude: “Make This Be The One To Start The Dialogue”

Guests at yesterdays’ cultural manifestation join hands around the peace monument at the Philipsburg Jubilee library as part of activities to commemorate International Peace Day 2014.

St. Maarten’s multicultural aspect was evident yesterday during a colorful cultural manifestation organized by the local arm of the Rotary Club to commemorate International Peace Day with a call “to make this be the one to start the dialogue”.

The celebrations took place at the Philipsburg Jubilee Library kicking off with a moment of silence, followed by the joining of hands for a prayer for peace and “unity among the many cultures from different parts of the world represented here on St Read more

Minister Lake Prepares Legal Defense For Vorst-Controversy

St. Maarten – Vromi-Minister Maurice Lake says he is preparing for a legal battle about the Vorst property based on the outcome of Friday’s Central Committee.

“I am going to prepare myself legally because some parliamentarians are making this issue a personal one.  This is not about politics anymore. I have to defend myself now with the slandering of my name. I don’t have any butter on my head Read more

Lions upset Packers, Giants secure first win

NEW YORK-- The Detroit Lions defense overwhelmed the Green Bay Packers and Eli Manning engineered the first win of the season for the New York Giants in a Sunday of NFL surprises.

Defensive back Don Carey scored on a 40-yard fumble return in the first quarter and running back Reggie Bush had a 26-yard scoring run in the fourth as the Lions upended the Packers 19-7, holding Green Bay to 223 yards total offense at Ford Field.

Manning threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns as the Giants beat Houston 30-17, handing the Texans their first loss of the season.

The Giants led 14-0 at halftime, after touchdowns by wide receiver Victor Cruz on a pass from Manning and running back Rashad Jennings's one-yard run, then withstood a third-quarter rally by the Texans to secure the win.

In other early games, the New England Patriots defeated the visiting Oakland Raiders 16-9 and the Dallas Cowboys scraped past the Rams 34-31 in St Read more

Michel Hodge new chairman of airport holding company

AIRPORT--Michel Hodge's career has come full circle. He is back at SXM Airport as the chairman of the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) Holding Company.

Hodge brings to the holding and operating companies of the airport many years of experience in the aviation and airport management field, as well as expertise from his 12-year tenure on the supervisory board of St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies where he served as vice chairman.

Hodge was nominated by independent Member of Parliament (MP) Romain Laville for the post on the holding company board Read more

Inspectorate investigating physical abuse at Day Care

~ Owner says accusations malicious, false ~

CUL DE SAC--A day care centre in the Cul de Sac area is under investigation for the alleged physical abuse of children in its care, but the centre in question says the accusations are malicious, false and intended to damage its reputation.

Head of the Court of Guardianship Richelda Rodriguez-Emmanuel confirmed that two reports of child abuse had been reported to the Child Protection Services about the day care centre up to last week Read more

Lake ‘preparing for legal battle’

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure Maurice Lake, who was heavily criticised for agreeing to purchase the Vorst Estate property for an "exorbitant price that can drive up the cost of real estate in St. Maarten," says he is preparing for a legal battle over this issue.

Lake was at the time responding to a meeting of the Central Committee of Parliament held on Friday, in which several Members of Parliament (MPs) said that he should be held personally liable for the agreement he had signed to purchase the Vorst Estate for way above the market value, and for the procedures he had followed in this process.

Lake, who issued a release about the matter following Friday's meeting of the Central Committee, said in a second release on Sunday that he will prepare himself legally as MPs were making the issue a personal one and he had to defend the "slandering" of his name Read more

Minister Lake to prepare for legal battle regarding Vorst property.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake says he is preparing for a legal battle regarding the Vorst property based on the outcome of the Central Committee meeting on Friday, September 19.

"I am going to prepare myself legally for this case because some Parliamentarians are making this issue a personal one Read more

>COLE BAY:--- A scooter rider was injured after being involved in an accident not far away from the Causeway round-a-bout near Port de Plaisance. An eyewitness told SMN News that KPSM and the ambulance from the Dutch side were at the scene. The eyewitness said that at the border there was a French ambulance and French Gendarmes who did not step-foot on the Dutch side to assist the victim who was laying on the road. The eyewitness said one of the Dutch police officers had to walk up to the Gendarmes to probably inform them that they were going to handle the case.
Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson confirmed that a young man who was riding a scooter lost control because he was riding at very high speed Read more

Acs Drives Regional Approach To Disaster Risk Reduction

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago - The crippling effects of Natural Disasters on Small Island Development States (SIDS) has increased the need for Disaster Risk Reduction strategies as it becomes an important asset in the future of Sustainable Development.

The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) in its overall aim of promoting Sustainable Development for the Greater Caribbean, through its Directorate of Disaster Risk Reduction, continues to improve and increase its initiatives in the area of Disaster Risk Reduction as reflected in the 22nd Meeting of the Special Committee for Disaster Risk Reduction.

In his opening remarks, Minister of Planning and Sustainable Development of Trinidad and Tobago, Senator the Honourable Bhoendradatt Tewarie, identified Caribbean SIDS as the most vulnerable in relation to the intensity and frequency of natural hazards.

As a result, disaster risk reduction becomes "a powerful tool for development as it allows communities to continue their progress in spite of hazards."

Minister Tewarie, also identified Microzonation Studies as a Disaster Risk Reduction project currently being carried out in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Microzonation map of Port of Spain, expected to be completed in December 2014, is a process of generating detailed earthquake hazard maps for a small area such as a city as opposed to a whole country.

Further to this, sites are subdivided into zones based upon the identification of seismic hazards such as ground shaking, liquefaction susceptibility, landslide and rock fall hazard.

H.E Read more

Editorial - Term ahead

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has confirmed that financial supervision will stay in place until next year's evaluation of the consensus kingdom laws has been completed (see related article). With a new government to be installed on October 10, some might say that is a reassuring thought.

Moreover, the 2015 budget is in the final phases of preparation and must be balanced if it is to receive the required approval of the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT. The incoming NA/DP/US Party coalition has every right to set new policy and make changes to the final draft or even come with supplementary budgets later on, but the figures in terms of income and expenses will have to add up.

What happens after the summer of 2015 remains to be seen, but there are already those who wouldn't mind keeping CFT a bit longer, as it provides at least some safeguard against financial mismanagement to which the former Netherlands Antilles was no stranger Read more

Ground broken for new SZV walkway

HARBOUR VIEW--Efforts to have a walkway bridge for pedestrians to have easier access to the Social and Health Care Insurances SZV compound at Harbour View came one step closer to reality on Wednesday, when the ground was broken for the new structure.

SZV Deputy Director Reginald Willemsberg and Health Minister Cornelius de Weever turned the sod to signal the official start of walkway's construction.

Willemsberg said the idea for the bridge had come about 18 months ago and the owners of the building, Independent Consulting Engineers (ICE) and ERPMG had been contacted to set the project in motion Read more

‘Champions of Peace’ march through town

PHILIPSBURG--A rally dubbed "Champions of Peace" was held on the afternoon of September 19. Participants marched through the streets of Philipsburg and held a small presentation at Clem Labega Square, which served as the beginning and ending point.

Students of various schools participated in the rally. Still dressed in uniform, they formed small groups holding banners for the march.

Offering kind words and touching on the significance of acting as "champions of peace," Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams addressed the crowd briefly, as did Jorien Wuite on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Affairs and Marcellia Henry on behalf of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Addressing the crowd, Henry shared a poem called "I dream of a world of peace" by a Nepalese high school student before sharing a reflection on whether peace is really possible or an ideal concept Read more

First hearing in sports coach paedophilia case

PHILIPSBURG--Thursday saw the first appearance in the Court of First Instance of E.Y., the 49-year-old basketball coach who is suspected of sexually abusing minors.

The hearing was pro-forma, as the prosecutor was not ready to proceed and Y.'s lawyer had investigation requests.

The prosecutor read out that Y. had currently been charged with two offences: the rape of an underage boy on April 2, 2014, after he had groomed the child on the Internet, using Facebook, and persuaded him to meet up for a one-to-one coaching session, and the second charge being a series of rapes of another underage boy, between August 2013 and February 2014, where he had groomed the child in a similar manner.

The prosecutor added that the investigation is still ongoing, and that "multiple further allegations are being investigated."

As the case would not be heard before the end of Y.'s current period of pre-trial detention, the prosecutor asked for this detention to be extended.

Y.'s lawyer, Brenda Brooks, in a manner that would have befitted an American court room drama, complained of receiving the summons of the accused at too short notice, something that was seconded by the judge.

She asked for the immediate release of her client, who "denies all involvement and has fully cooperated with the investigation." She stated the prosecution was "desperately looking for evidence that is not available."

She stated her client's image had been damaged by the case, that he would have "no life" after the case and that he would do anything to prove his innocence.

She stated that there were a number of discrepancies, and demanded that victims and witnesses be further questioned on behalf of the prosecution.

The prosecutor responded that the statements of the victims were exceptionally detailed, and apart from those, there were evidential files from Facebook and medical statements to back up accounts of the witnesses, as well as a statement from the basketball team to state it was not normal for Y Read more

TelEm, Digicel sign financial information-sharing contract

POND ISLAND--St. Maarten Telephone Group of Companies TelEm and regional telecom company Digicel are said to have signed an agreement to share financial information and pursue further talks. The agreement is said to be a precursor to possible merger talks between the two companies.

It is unclear at this point what will happen with the partnering talks TelEm already had underway with United Telecommunication Services (UTS).

St. Maarten is entitled to between 12 and 25 per cent of UTS' operation as a result of the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles Read more