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Petrotrin VP suspended following Trinidad oil spill

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad--The Vice President of Petrotrin's refinery and marketing department has been suspended pending investigations into the recent oil spill in the southern town of Marabella.

Petrotrin chairman Lindsay Gillette told a news conference Saturday that vice president Mado Bachan was suspended with pay and other suspensions were also expected, but the number could not be confirmed.

The company also announced the appointment of an independent auditor to conduct further investigations on the leaking tank at the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery and a failed bund wall which was expected to contain oil spillage from tanks.

"When this board was appointed, it set up an asset maintenance and optimisation committee to look at asset integrity issues Read more

Brady, former White House press secretary, dies at 73

WASHINGTON--James Brady, a former U.S. presidential press secretary who became a leading gun control crusader after he was critically wounded in an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan, has died, a family spokeswoman said on Monday. He was 73.

The attack on Reagan in 1981 left Brady partially paralyzed due to brain damage. His family said in a statement he died Monday morning after a series of health issues at a retirement community in Alexandria, Virginia, where he had been living for the past year and a half.

Brady spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair after being shot, but he and his wife, Sarah, campaigned for a gun law that would be known as the "Brady bill." The law, which was passed in 1993, required a mandatory five-day waiting period for purchase of handguns and also background checks for would-be gun buyers.

"As a result, countless lives have been saved Read more

Youth empowerment: entrepreneurship

Dear Editor,

What is our attitude towards entrepreneurship on St. Maarten, should it not reflect the environment created to foster Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMEs)? According to Russell S. Sobel, in the Concise Encyclopaedia of Economics, "an entrepreneur is someone who organizes, manages and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise. An entrepreneur is an agent of change. Entrepreneurship is the process of discovering new ways of combining resources.

When the market value generated by this new combination of resources is greater than the market value these resources can generate elsewhere individually or in some other combination, the entrepreneur makes a profit Read more

Editorial - Co-responsible

Saturday morning's fire that left several people homeless has drawn attention once again to especially wooden dwellings built close together and the hazard this creates. On this occasion it regarded the St. Peters district near Marigot Hill Road, but similarly devastating blazes with comparable consequences already have occurred several times in recent years at, for example, Over the Bank near the Vineyard Building and in the Cay Bay area.

Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure Maurice Lake is rightly concerned about this situation and after the October 2013 fire in Cole Bay put a team together to make recommendations for improvement Read more

Duty officer: Fire Department was dispatched immediately

~ Call 919 for faster fire response ~

PHILIPSBURG--"Call 919 in case of a fire, not 911," is an important message from the Fire Department.

Although 911 may also be utilised, calls are taken by a controller. When people dial 919, the calls are answered by fire officers who are on duty 24/7 and have specific training and knowledge that a non-Fire Department controller does not have.

Calling 919 enables the fire officer to ask specific questions that will help determine whether the fire is a threat to life or property, or whether it is caused, for example, by someone burning garbage.

In the case of the house fire in St Read more

Judge to rule in election fraud case on August 25

PHILIPSBURG--Four days before the election of a new Parliament of St. Maarten, which is scheduled for Friday, August 29, the Court of First Instance will hand down its verdicts in the so-called Masbangu case. This case concerns four persons allegedly involved in the selling and buying of votes during the first general election in Country St. Maarten, which was held September 17, 2010.

The Prosecutor’s Office considered all suspects guilty as charged and requested suspended prison sentences of three years, with two years’ probation.

Prosecutor Maarten Noordzij also requested 150-200 hours of community service, and that the Court take away suspects’ rights to vote.

In addition, the Prosecutor requested that United People’s (UP) party representative R.H Read more

Prime Minister Reacts To Up Leader:  “No Ministerial Elections In Our Constitution”

St. Maarten - “Already you hear politicians and aspiring politicians saying that vote for me and I will be Prime Minister of St. Maarten. That is not what the people of St. Maarten are voting for; they will be voting for the fifteen Members of Parliament,” Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams said during a special broadcast of One on One with the Prime Minister on 98.1 this past Friday, responding to the United People’s (UP) Party leader Theo Heyliger’s public request to voters to become the next Prime Minister of St Read more

style="text-align: center;">"Voters will be voting for fifteen members of Parliament and not for Minister or a Prime Minister. There are no Ministerial Elections in our constitution" PHILIPSBURG:--- During a special broadcast of One on One with the Prime Minister on 98.1 this past Friday, the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams clarified certain matters pertaining to the upcoming August 29th Parliamentary Elections Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The >National Alliance family is deeply saddened by the passing of trade union stalwart, humanitarian, vocal community activist and woman-of-grit Patricia Pantophet, 57, in Bogota Colombia, where she was flown for medical attention in early July. Pantophlet was the sister of >National Alliance number two candidate Member of Parliament George Pantophlet Read more

Democratic Party Leader and Prime Minister the Hon. Sarah Wescot-Williams: “Ready or No…An October Parliament means a hurricane season campaign and election period.”

>PHILIPSBURG:--- In response to recent media articles disseminated by the >United People's Party regarding that party's wish to have elections before the Hurricane Season, Prime Minister of St. Maarten and the leader of the >Democratic Party the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams clearly stated that due to the Heyliger/ >National Alliance Coalition Government in 2009-20010 deciding that the date for the transition of St Read more

style="text-align: center;">>DP # 12 candidate starts weekly messages. PHILIPSBURG:--- Increasing the purchasing power of our senior citizens is one of the four primary issues Mr. Hubert Pantophlet plans to tackle in the four-year parliamentary term, when elected.Pantophlet, the nr Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- President of Parliament Hon. Gracita Arrindell wishes the 80 students who left on Sunday for the Netherlands much success with their studies."I can recall the days when I left the island to continue with my studies. It is a positive experience. You will have challenges, but nothing that you can't overcome."It is also a difficult time for parents to say good bye to their sons and daughters, but at the same time, also exciting Read more

Prime Minister Wescot-Williams Visits Site Of St. Peters Fire, Commends Those Who Assisted In Controlling Fire

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams on Saturday visited the area in St. Peters that was struck by a fire hours before.

The Prime Minister visited the site and spoke to the residents of the area, some of who have lost many personal items in the blaze.

"It is with a heavy heart that I stand here and talk to those who have lost their possessions during this fire.

This is indeed a tragedy, although we should all be thankful to God that there was no loss of life," commented Prime Minister Wescot-Williams.

The PM also thanked the residents, especially several young men, from the St Read more

Winair Now Offers Door To Door Courier Service

AIRPORT ROAD, Simpson Bay - WINAIR is pleased to announce another value-added service for its clients, door-to-door courier service.

WINAIR currently provides Cargo Express services and Speedmail and now has enhanced this service by adding pick-up and delivery anywhere in St. Maarten.

Customers can have packages or speed-mail picked up for shipping or delivered to their home or business.

Caribbean Vis/Pass Consultancy, 40 Cannegieter Street, Philipsburg Read more

Healthy eating equals healthy education!

What to put in your child's lunch kit Packing healthy and nutritious snacks and meals for your child to take to school five days a week can be challenging for some parents, particularly if you're not quite sure what constitutes a "healthy" meal and if you have a child who constantly nags you for "junk" food. Nutritionist Swinda Richardson from the Ministry of Public Health says despite the challenges they face, parents should remain firm in their resolve to continue having their child consume healthy edibles: "Children are very active in school and need energy to focus on their lessons in class Read more

Up Leader And Board Comments On Passing Of Union Leader And Fire Victims

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – United People's (UP) Party Leader and Member of Parliament Hon. Theo Heyliger and the UP Board expresses their deepest condolences to the family and friends of Union Leader and Social Worker Patricia Pantophlet who passed away over the weekend.

The UP family would also like to offer its support and prayers to the fire victims who lost their homes in St Read more

Prime Minister Goes On Air To Clarify Procedures For 2014 Elections

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - During a special broadcast of One on One with the Prime Minister on 98.1 this past Friday, the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams clarified certain matters pertaining to the upcoming August 29th Parliamentary Elections.

The Prime Minister chose to discuss the topics due to much confusion amongst the population regarding what they will be voting for and the responsibilities of Government Towards Parliament; "There has been much confusion created amongst the population regarding exactly what citizens will be voting for during the 2014 elections.

All the matters that have to do with elections have to do with the Ministry of General Affairs, which is under my portfolio as Prime Minister.

This is the first time that we are having elections directly for Parliament and therefore we need to acknowledge that for all the voters on St Read more

Democratic Party Leader And Prime Minister The Hon. Sarah Wescot-Williams: "Ready Or No...An October Parliament Means A Hurricane Season Campaign And Election Period"

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - In response to recent media articles disseminated by the United People's Party regarding that party's wish to have elections before the Hurricane Season, Prime Minister of St. Maarten and the leader of the Democratic Party the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams clearly stated that due to the Heyliger/ National Alliance Coalition Government in 2009-20010 deciding that the date for the transition of St Read more

President Arrindell Wishes Students Much Success With Studies Overseas

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – President of Parliament Hon. Gracita Arrindell wishes the 80 students who left on Sunday for the Netherlands much success with their studies.

"I can recall the days when I left the island to continue with my studies. It is a positive experience. You will have challenges, but nothing that you can't overcome.

"It is also a difficult time for parents to say good bye to their sons and daughters, but at the same time, also exciting Read more

Dp To Hold First Public Meeting This Friday At The De Weever Priority In Dutch Quarter Starting At Seven Pm, District Improvements Already Underway And Those Planned To Be Extensively Discussed

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The Democratic Party of St. Maarten is inviting the residents of Dutch Quarter, Belvedere, Middle Region, Defiance, Oyster Pond, Dawn Beach, Sucker Garden, Guana Bay, Madame Estate and French Quarter to come out to its first public meeting this Friday, August 7th starting at seven pm at the de Weever property.

The Board, membership and candidates invite the public to come out to listen to the red thread and hear what the DP plans for its vision bringing St Read more

Cancellation Of All Future Town Hall Meetings

SUCKER GARDEN, St. Maarten – The Board of the OSPP after the two mishaps last week with us not being able to hold the two town hall meetings due to electrical problems at both centers has decided to cancel all future town hall meetings.

Instead we have opted to organize more contact meetings in the various districts.

We have organized various contact meetings in the Sucker garden area on Monday, August 4, 2014 in the Keys opposite the entrance to the emergency homes; Tuesday, August 5, 2014 Arch Road #16 on the property of the family Violenus and on Wednesday, August 7, 2014 at house #43 in the Emergency Homes in the Foga Pond.

We are inviting all the residents from Suckergarden to come and have a conversation with all the candidates of the OSPP regarding the issues that are affecting their daily lives Read more

ST. PETERS:--- The >OSPP was forced to cancel their first ever political town hall meeting that was scheduled to be held on Thursday, July 31, 2014 at the Salvation Army Hall in Cole Bay. This cancellation was due to an electrical problem that existed in the building of the Salvation Army. Thereafter, NV GEBE emergency personnel were summoned to the building and after some searching they were able to put back on the electricity Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Retired Police Inspector Antonio Rogers was officially sworn in on Saturday as the new Commander of the Voluntary Korps of St. Maarten (V.K.S), Rogers took the oath in the presence of retired commander Jean Illidge and Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams Read more

Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams Wishes Departing Students Much Success For their Departure on Sunday.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams is wishing the almost eighty students who will be leaving for the Netherlands to pursue their studies an excellent and successful journey and much success during their studies. "It is always heartening to see young students going abroad to stand on their own feet and pursue an education Read more