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Minister Jacobs Attends “Shing Din” For Special Needs Citizens

ST. LOUIS, Saint Martin – On Saturday, February 11, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Affairs, Silveria Jacobs attended the first annual “Shing Din” at the cultural site of St. Louis.

The “Shing Din” was an event put together by the Rambaud-St. Louis Fete Association and hosted the special needs citizens of both the French and Dutch side Read more

Minister Jacobs Attends “Shing Din” For Special Needs Citizens.

St. Louis:--- On Saturday, February 11th, 2017, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports Affairs, Silveria Jacobs attended the first annual “Shing Din” at the cultural site of St. Louis. The “Shing Din” was an event put together by the Rambaud-St. Louis Fete Association and hosted the special needs citizens of both the French and Dutch side Read more

Helligar Says Some Progress Being Made In Pension Battle

Former President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams gives her input at a meeting on the ongoing negotiations to obtain pensions for seniors who worked on the Dutch side in the 1970s.

MARIGOT--Raymond Helligar, the man who is spearheading the fight on behalf of the now so called “border workers” from the French side who are fighting to get their full pensions paid for the years they worked on the Dutch side in the 1970s, said he found a recent meeting with SZV and a mixed commission from the Ministry of Social Development and Labour “very encouraging.”

  To be better armed for negotiating, Helligar formed the Collectif des Anciens Travailleurs Francais de St Read more

Helligar Says Some Progress Being Made In Pension Battle

MARIGOT--Raymond Helligar, the man who is spearheading the fight on behalf of the now so called “border workers” from the French side who are fighting to get their full pensions paid for the years they worked on the Dutch side in the 1970s, said he found a recent meeting with SZV and a mixed commission from the Ministry of Social Development and Labour “very encouraging.”

  To be better armed for negotiating, Helligar formed the Collectif des Anciens Travailleurs Francais de St Read more

French-Side, Dutch-Side Hospitals Discuss Sharing Skills, Resources

MARIGOT--The health authorities of both sides of the island met Saturday in the Louis-Constant Fleming Hospital to further discuss cooperation and the sharing of skills and resources between the two hospitals, the main ingredients for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Those taking part in the meeting from the French side included Director of the Louis-Constant Fleming Hospital Roland Toussaint, Director of Agence Regional de la Santé (ARS) Patrice Richard, Territorial Délégué for the ARS Pascal Godefroy, President of the Health Observatory Dr Read more

Dutch & French Side Hospital Cooperation Steadily Increasing

Dr. Felix Holiday (general surgeon), Drs. Fenna Arnell( head of the Dept. of Public Health), Mr. Antonio Pantophlet (Manager of patient care, SMMC),Emil Lee (Minister of VSA), Kees Klarenbeek (Director of SMMC), Read more

Orient Beach Tenants Mull Legal Action If Satisfaction Not Obtained

~ Architect insists project has ‘been done by the book ~

ORIENT BAY--Three local proprietors of the new restaurant units on Orient Beach who have not signed contracts with the Collectivité based on their claims the buildings have not been constructed to French code in addition to contesting what they view as prohibitively high rent said Monday this was their “final stand.”

They alluded to a legal action if satisfaction is not obtained from the Collectivité. Meanwhile, other restaurants and boutiques in the new complex have signed contracts and opened, giving the project a half-opened look Read more

Senator Arnell Commends Journalists

MARIGOT, St. Martin — Senator Guillaume Arnell continued his tradition of inviting journalists for the each New Year to highlight his achievements, this time at the Parapal Hotel in Concordia on Saturday evening. Among the invitees were Préfète Délégué Anne Laubies, President of the Collectivité Aline Hanson, vice presidents Wendel Cocks and Ramona Connor.

Arnell pointed out that journalists play an important role in a democratic society by disseminating information to the public and contributing to the education of the people about politics and government policies Read more

Manzoni officially installed as Gendarmerie Commandant

MARIGOT--Sébastien Manzoni was officially installed as Commandant of the Gendarmerie for St. Martin and St. Barths on Thursday in a ceremony at the La Savane compound.

Manzoni took up his post in St. Martin on August 1, however, the ceremony was delayed due to a similar ceremony for his superior, Colonel Jean-Marc Descoux, which had to take place first in Guadeloupe.

The ceremony on Thursday was presided over by Colonel Descoux who wished Manzoni success, noting the post of a Commandant is a difficult job that rarely allows time off due to the level of crime manifesting itself on a daily basis Read more

French Quarter residents block main road over lack of security

~ Nerves frayed after district suffers 13 fires in two months ~

MARIGOT--The main RN7 road just outside French Quarter at Angel's Insurance was blocked for nearly five hours Wednesday morning as residents demanded accountability from authorities over lack of security in the district following a series of 13 fires in the span of less than two months.

Long lines of cars built up as motorists from both directions were forced to turn around.

A phantom arsonist appears to be at work and the fact that no suspects have been positively identified as perpetrators of the crimes has left residents on tenterhooks, wondering who will be the next victim.

Tensions boiled over after a wooden house on Route de La Saline burnt down Tuesday afternoon, destroying three cars and leaving a family of six homeless Read more

Observatory Certifies Eighty Interviewers

From left: Fenna Arnell, Joy Arnell, Ramona Connor, Minister Rafael Boasman, Rosette Gumbs-Lake, Dr. Louis Jeffry, and Valerie Giterson-Pantophlet Read more

Chinese delegation impressed with island’s ‘beauty, ethnicity’

MARIGOT--“The competitive nature of the global market place demands that we act global and think global. We must sell our assets of stability, ease of access and ease of doing business.”

Those were some of the remarks made by Founder and CEO of Invest Caribbean Now (ICN), Felicia Persaud, in her keynote address at Friday’s exclusive invitation-only conference in the Chamber of Commerce on the theme “Investing in St. Martin’s Tourism Product”.

“Partnerships, collaborations, linkages, networking…that’s the key to the success of businesses, economies, governments, because from where I sit there is no way that any government on any island is smart enough to do it alone,” she added Read more

Eviction drama exposes failings in French law to protect landlords

MARIGOT--French Quarter resident Daniella Chance Glasgow and her brother Marcel never could have imagined six years ago how difficult it would be to evict a tenant from one of their properties. If they had, they undoubtedly would have changed their minds.

Despite landlord Marcel Glasgow following procedures under French law to evict tenant Daphne Doyle (38), a Trinidad national, her companion and eight children from a two-bedroom house at #62 Around the Pond after the landlord/tenant relationship deteriorated three years ago, it took a mobilisation of neighbours, a blocked road and the intervention of Gendarmes to finally remove Doyle on Friday.

Frustration and concern for the property boiled over after a series of fires were lit over the space of a few days, allegedly by the tenant’s 14-year-old son, causing extensive damage Read more

VP Arnell to seek advice from Préfète on homeless situation

MARIGOT--The 72-hour deadline to prevent a protest action over the homeless situation at the Marina Royale car park was extended by District Five Wednesday to give First Vice-President Guillaume Arnell a chance to discuss the situation with Préfète Anne Laubies and get back to the district with answers.

Arnell was at the district headquarters Wednesday attending a presentation of their projects, unrelated to the marina car park problem, but nevertheless was questioned on what the Collectivité is doing, or can do, about the homeless situation and other matters related to the car park Read more

Homeless situation at marina has reached crisis point, says district

~ Authorities given 72 hours to take action ~

MARIGOT--Representatives of District Five and the marina and merchants associations of Marigot have warned they will take matters into their own hands unless authorities take action on the homeless persons’ situation and overall sanitation of the Marina Royale parking area, once and for all.

The merchants association says it is imperative that the situation is dealt with now in low season before the high season starts. Businesses or restaurants have closed in the marina due to the unresolved situation that is negatively impacting tourism and the island’s image.

A press conference at the Marina Royale parking area on the St Read more

>MARIGOT:--- The Health Observatory of St.Martin was created in October 2010 under the leadership of the Collectivité of St. Martin. This project was born of a cooperation between the Collectivité, the Government of Sint Maarten and Louis Constant Fleming Hospital. It is financed with European INTERREG IV Caribbean funds. The general meeting held on Friday, September 4, 2015 helped to formalize the functioning of the association that rules the Health Observatory.

The mission of the Health Observatory is to conduct public surveys and health studies on the both sides of the island in order to inform local institutions on priority needs for the population Read more

Laws Commission gives green light to reform RSA

~ Collectivité owes CAF 1.3M euros per month for RSA benefit ~

MARIGOT--The Laws Commission verbally approved reform of the social benefit Revenu Solidarité Active (RSA) presented by the Overseas Ministry for St. Martin in the National Assembly on July 17 and written confirmation should be received from Parliament in due course, Second Vice-President Ramona Connor said Wednesday.

With President François Hollande endorsing its reform during his official visit here in May, the Collectivité is already proceeding with adapting RSA to the fiscal revenues of the Collectivité and modifying the criteria to apply for it.

As it stands, RSA is based on fiscal law and revenues of France but the Collectivité argues it cannot realistically apply figures used in France for St Read more

‘Musical Chairs’ movie sends powerful message

MARIGOT--St. Maarten/St. Martin Alliance for Equality (SAFE) hosted a successful screening of the very entertaining movie “Musical Chairs” at the Cultural Center in Sandy Ground on Wednesday evening.

The event produced a good turnout from a diverse public representing both French and Dutch sides. Elected officials present included First Vice-President and Senator of the Collectivité of St. Martin Guillaume Arnell, Second Vice-President of the Collectivité Ramona Connor and Territorial Councillor René-Jean Duret Read more

Parliament committees to look into French/Dutch joint issues

Representatives of the French side Territorial Council with Members of Parliament in Parliament House on Tuesday.

PHILIPSBURG--A meeting between the French side Territorial Council and Members of Parliament (MPs) in Parliament House on Tuesday resulted in various topics discussed being sent to Parliament’s permanent committees for further deliberation and solution seeking.

Among the topics discussed was pensioners living on the French side, but who have contributed to the Dutch side’s General Pension Fund by working on the southern side of the island accessing their benefits Read more

Collectivité honours six for Father’s Day

MARIGOT--The Collectivité held its traditional Father's Day ceremony on Friday to honour six. As usual the chosen fathers were nominated by the representatives of each district council and a biography of each nominee was presented.

The six were Joseph Liburd from French Quarter, Bruno Burnett from Grand Case, Clement Gumbs from Cripple Gate, Jocelyn Jermin from Morne Valois, Charles Richardson from Marigot, and Fernand Sylvestre from Sandy Ground.

Vice-President for Solidarity and Families Ramona Connor in her address noted celebration of fathers has existed in France since 1952.

"Today we are going to celebrate the very good fathers you are," she said Read more

Fire at eco-landfill site brought under control

MARIGOT--An extensive fire that started in the interior of the eco-landfill site in Grand Cayes, Cul-de-Sac, on Tuesday at 9:00pm was finally contained late Wednesday afternoon after reinforcements were brought in, the Préfecture disclosed.

Fanned by a strong easterly wind the fire began to spread towards the residential areas of Cul-de-Sac and Anse Marcel. Despite the efforts of the French side firemen during the night the fire could not be extinguished and focus was put on protecting houses closest to the fire Read more

>Airport:--- Dignitaries from both sides of the island including Anguilla attended the opening ceremony of the renovated departure lounge at the Princess Juliana International Airport on Wednesday evening. Special Projects Coordinator Robert Brown gave an outline to the large gathering how management of PJIAE decided to upgrade the airport beginning with the departure lounge Read more

Six honoured in annual Mother’s Day ceremony

MARIGOT--The Collectivité honoured six worthy women in its annual Mother's Day ceremony on Friday.

In keeping with tradition, the representatives of the six different councils had the difficult task of choosing someone from their district. Mother's Day on the French side is celebrated annually on the last Sunday of May.

The ceremony began with an opening address by Vice-President Ramona Connor recalling the important role of the mother in society before each district representative announced their candidate with a biography.

The chosen six included Alberta Leblanc from district one, Jocelyne Illidge for district two, Marguerite Bryan from district three, and Tamika Meyers from district four, Louisita Fleming Richardson from district five and Mercedes Thomas from district six.

The ladies were chosen for their strong family values, raising many children, and contributing much to the community Read more

SNSM sea rescue RIB christened at marina

MARIGOT--The volunteers of French-side sea rescue service SNSM savoured an uplifting moment Friday evening when their second-hand semi-rigid inflatable boat (RIB) was christened officially at a ceremony on the shore next to Marina Fort Louis in front of elected officials and many invited guests.

The yellow RIB came into view with its crew just before the ceremony began, followed by the lifeboats SNSM 269 from St. Barths and Rescue 2 from the St. Maarten Sea Rescue Foundation, both vessels sounding their horns for the celebratory occasion before tying up to the entrance dock.

The 12-metre-long 3.62-metre-wide RIB named Rescue Star is powered by two 275-horsepower outboard engines and in calm sea conditions can reach speeds of 35-40 knots Read more