SXMElections.com

“I am proud to be a Guyanese but I chose St. Maarten as my home”

PHILIPSBURG:--- About 1,500 persons witnessed the grand opening of Motorworld state of the art showroom which officially opened on Friday, May 26th, 2017 (On Guyana’s 51st Independence.”)
Among those that attend the grand and spectacular ceremony were dignitaries from both sides of the island, Prime Minister William Marlin, Governor Eugene Holiday,  President of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams President of the Collectivity of St Read more

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Registration For Home Repair Program For The Elderly & Disabled Closing Soon.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister Emil Lee is proud to announce the launch of the ministry’s pilot Home Repair project for the Elderly and Disabled. “During my first tenure, it became very clear that there is a need in our community for a program that assists our elderly and disabled who are financially disadvantaged and cannot afford to make basic repairs to their homes in order to make their homes livable and dignified Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of VSA Emil Lee said in response to question posed by SMN News on how his ministry intends to combat mosquitos that are now plaguing residents after a few days of rainfall and if fogging will take place anytime soon. SMN News proceeded to ask the Minister of he will continue the use of the UV traps. Minister Lee said that while the residents would like to see trucks spraying chemicals throughout the island he along with CPS has taken another route Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Health Emil Lee refused to divulge the findings of the baseline study he paid a Dutch consultant to conduct a so-called baseline study at SMMC, the Inspectorate and the Department of Health. While Minister Lee confirmed he received the report from the consultant that was paid Euros 14,000.00 for a one week job. SMN News asked the Minister to release the conclusion of the report since he has been supporting SMMC who have not been complying with the rules laid down for them by the Inspectorate after the audit was conducted in 2012.
The stance of the Minister even led him to issue a gag order to the Inspectorate, which had to be withdrawn because the Inspectorate appealed the decision of the Minister Read more

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Minister Lee On Mosquito Squad Pilot Project

PHILIPSBURG – Minister Public Health, Social Development, and Labor Emil Lee addressed the press in Wednesday’s, May 17, Council of Ministers Press Briefing.

He praised the work of the CPS Department, and stated that after having meetings about environmental health last week, “We expect a report to be produced in terms of how the different ministries can cooperate and in particular what the role and function of the Ministry of VSA is in terms of making sure that our environment is a healthy environment.”

He also announced that next Monday, his Ministry and CPS will launch a “Mosquito Squad,” which is a pilot project Read more

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Workshop On Environmental Health Informative And Productive

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – “As Ministry responsible for Health, the Ministry of VSA (Public Health, Social Development and Labour) is constantly dealing with health complaints that are the result of Environmental pollution such as running septic water, air pollution such as at the Leonard Connor school and the dump.

“Dr. Virginia Asin of CPS or collective preventative services, a department of Ministry of VSA, took the initiative to organize a very candid and productive workshop.  As a result of the workshop, we are expecting a report with actionable steps to be produced on short notice with the input of various stakeholders.

“This report will make multi-ministerial recommendations on how to protect the health of the people by structurally tackling Environmental health.  Naturally, the emphasis will be on prevention,” stated Minister of Public Health Emil Lee.

During the workshops, there were several discussions about the role of VSA and other ministries Read more

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GREAT BAY (DCOMM):---- “As Ministry responsible for Health, the Ministry of VSA (Public Health, Social Development, and Labour) is constantly dealing with health complaints that are the result of Environmental pollution such as running septic water, air pollution such as at the Leonard Connor school and the dump.

“Dr. Virginia Asin of CPS or collective preventative services, a department of Ministry of VSA, took the initiative to organize a very candid and productive workshop. As a result of the workshop, we are expecting a report with actionable steps to be produced on short notice with the input of various stakeholders.
“This report will make multi-ministerial recommendations on how to protect the health of the people by structurally tackling Environmental health Read more

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Judge Deems Szv Case Against Inspectorate Inadmissible.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The court of First Instance deemed the case SZV filed against the Inspectorate VSA inadmissible. The verdict was handed down on May 8th, 2007.
The case filed by SZV regards an employee of SZV identified by patients as Nataschia Lijkwan.
In October 2016, SMN News published an article whereby the employee of SZV was staying at the Renaissance Resort in Curacao while being there as a patient on medical referral.
At the time patients from St. Maarten who were also in Curacao for treatment contacted SMN News, stating that they were also in Curacao for medical treatment and they were unable to get their daily allowances and other benefits from SZV, while one of its employees was receiving special treatment and staying at Renaissance Resort.
SMN News conducted its investigation and found that the patients that contacted SMN News had given accurate information.
Based on SMN News research it showed that the employee stayed at Renaissance for two weeks while she traveled with her young daughter who was on mid- term vacation.
Upon publishing that article SMN News contacted the Inspectorate and asked for an investigation to be conducted into the referral by SZV because the Inspectorate, the Minister of VSA and the SZV director had stated in a press release that the Inspectorate was scheduled to conduct an audit on the quality of services and care provided by the medical referral department of SZV due to a number of complaints from patients about the department and the approximately Nafls Read more

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El Ministerio De Salud Abordará La Salud Pública Y Su Relación Con El Medio Ambiente

FOTO: Ministro de Salud, Asuntos Sociales y Trabajo Emil Lee

Traducido por Máximo Castro

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM). – El Departamento de Servicios de Prevención Colectiva (CPS), dependiente del Ministerio de Salud Pública, Desarrollo Social y Trabajo (Ministerio VSA), ha iniciado el proceso de diálogo para poder Read more

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Mp Franklin Meyers Plans To Publish Names Of Businesses That Were Tested Positive For E-Coli And Legionella.

Minister refuses to provide the names to Parliament stating it is not good for business.

PHILIPSBURG:--- At the closing of the public meeting of parliament on Friday where Minister of Public Health Emil Lee returned to answer questions that were posed to him by Members of Parliament. MP Meyers stated that since the Minister did not answer his question where he asked for the names of the businesses that were tested positive for E-coli, he intends to make that information known to the public since he has the information and in his view the members of the public including tourist must know where there are health risks.
Minister of VSA Emil Lee in his response to the question from the get-go said that 15% of the businesses that were tested showed that they had E-coli in their water Read more

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Ministry Of Health Addressing Public Health Related To The Environment

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – The Department of Collective Prevention Services (CPS) which falls under the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA), has initiated the dialogue process in order to be able to address public health aspects related to the surrounding environment.

Starting on May 8, a representative from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Office of Caribbean Program Coordination, Ton Vlugman, Senior Advisor, Water, Sanitation and Environmental Health, will be hosting a two-day workshop for public and private sector stakeholders.

The general stakeholder’s workshop will include a presentation about the concept of Environmental Health within the scope of sustainable development; and a focus on an Integrated Solid Waste Management Strategy.

The objective of the workshop as well as the steps to be taken thereafter is to allow the Ministry of Public Health to be able to address the public health aspects surrounding the environment in a timely manner along with ministerial partners and other relevant key stakeholders on environmental health matters.

“While the Ministry of VROMI works on their Integrated Waste Management plan, some of the conclusions from this workshop will assist VROMI in setting standards and parameters for air quality and pollution that will be incorporated in the terms of reference for the Integrated Waste Management plans and any interim solution,” stated Minister Emil Lee.

There will also be field visits to the landfills on the Dutch and French sides where information related to the waste collection systems and recycling programs will be collected.

Part of the planning includes the development of a “Public Health Plan on Integrated Waste Management” within the realm of Social Determinants of Health, Primary Environmental Health Care.

“The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that outdoor and indoor air pollution kill 6.5 million people on an annual basis, making polluted air the most deadly consequences of environmental degradation.

“Air pollution is one of the most pernicious threats to health because it is so pervasive Read more

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Ministry Of Health Addressing Public Health Related To The Environment

GREAT BAY(DCOMM): ---The Department of Collective Prevention Services (CPS) which falls under the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA), has initiated the dialogue process in order to be able to address public health aspects related to the surrounding environment.

Starting on May 8, a representative from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Office of Caribbean Program Coordination, Ton Vlugman, Senior Advisor, Water, Sanitation and Environmental Health, will be hosting a two-day workshop for public and private sector stakeholders.

The general stakeholder’s workshop will include a presentation about the concept of Environmental Health within the scope of sustainable development; and a focus on an Integrated Solid Waste Management Strategy.

The objective of the workshop as well as the steps to be taken thereafter is to allow the Ministry of Public Health to be able to address the public health aspects surrounding the environment in a timely manner along with ministerial partners and other relevant key stakeholders on environmental health matters.

“While the Ministry of VROMI works on their Integrated Waste Management plan, some of the conclusions from this workshop will assist VROMI in setting standards and parameters for air quality and pollution that will be incorporated in the terms of reference for the Integrated Waste Management plans and any interim solution,” stated Minister Emil Lee.

There will also be field visits to the landfills on the Dutch and French sides where information related to the waste collection systems and recycling programs will be collected.

Part of the planning includes the development of a “Public Health Plan on Integrated Waste Management” within the realm of Social Determinants of Health, Primary Environmental Health Care.

“The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that outdoor and indoor air pollution kill 6.5 million people on an annual basis, making polluted air the most deadly consequences of environmental degradation.

“Air pollution is one of the most pernicious threats to health because it is so pervasive Read more

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Vwa Concludes Saturday As Preps Get Underway For Vaccination Open House In May And June

 

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – Vaccination Week in the Americas (VWA) which kicked off onSaturday, April 22, concludes on Saturday, April 29.

VWA did not go un-noticed in Sint Maarten, as Minister of Public Health Emil Lee received promotional materials from the local VWA Committee to signify the support of the country wi Read more

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GREAT BA(DCOMM):--- Vaccination Week in the Americas (VWA) which kicked off on Saturday, April 22, concludes on Saturday, April 29.

VWA did not go un-noticed in Sint Maarten, as Minister of Public Health Emil Lee received promotional materials from the local VWA Committee to signify the support of the country with the annual VWA campaign.

Sint Maarten will start with its own vaccination campaign that will be organized in May and June Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Over the weekend a small group consisting of Minister Emil Lee and one representative each from INSO, Royal Haskoning, St. Maarten Medical Center, and KPMG, visited the Owen King E. U. Hospital in St. Lucia. During their tour of the hospital built by INSO this group met with the Honorable Minister of Health and Wellness, Minister Mary Isaac Read more

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WILLEMSTAD/ PHILIPSBURG:--- The medical director of SEHOS (St Elizabeth Hospital ) Dr. Franke Scheper worked closely with the Inspector of Health in Curacao Dr. Gersji Pererira to find a workable solution and one that he could manage in the interest of Healthcare.
Dr. Michel Berry was suspended by the institution in the month of January for not seeing and treating a patient that was admitted to SEHOS. The moment Dr. Berry was suspended both by SEHOS and the Inspector of Health the director of SEHOS called in two different auditors from the Netherlands to conduct an independent audit on the quality of surgery care and on patient safety.
Shortly after that SEHOS discovered that one of their surgeons, Dr Read more

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Minister Emmanuel Not Distracted By False Information

PHILIPSBURG – Minister of VROMI Christophe Emmanuel gave a short status update to members of the press in Wednesday’s, April 19, Council of Ministers Press briefing.

In regard to the proposed housing development in Dawn Beach, representatives “will be here in May. They will give a full rundown.”

“I received an email from them today stating that they will be signing the agreement, and going over all the paperwork with the landowner, contracts with the developer. I think that part of it is for them to explain how they’re going to move forward with it when I was in Curaçao,” Minister Emmanuel informed.

“Everything was set and is in motion concerning the 167 homes that are supposed to be built in the Dawn Beach area,” he said.

Concerning the explosive letter that was printed in the media, the Minister said, “That’s just what it is for me Read more

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Minister Lee Asks Media To Provide Quality, Unbiased Information To Public

PHILIPSBURG – Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Emil Lee addressed the media in Wednesday’s, April 19, Council of Ministers Press Briefing.

He first reported on his trip to Holland. “The purpose for the visit was to discuss the developments with the hospital. The fact that the hospital project is now back on track, we are again looking at exploring the possibility of financial support from Holland,” Minister Lee informed.

“The reason being, although we’re accessing funds locally to begin the project, fact is that if we can access funds directly via Holland because of the lower interest rate and because of a different payment terms, this would result in a savings operationally for the new hospital of between 3-5 million guilders a year, and I believe that anything we can do to save money operationally is money that can be better spent on health care rather than paying into financing charges,” the Minister informed.

According to the Minister, the “Kingdom Council of Ministers will make a recommendation that the funding for the hospital project be considered outside of the normal lending procedures.”

The other purpose for the Holland trip was to speak about legislative assistance Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- With the new hospital project back on track, Minister Emil Lee traveled to the Netherlands last week and met with various members of the Dutch government. While there, Minister Lee met with Minister Plasterk, Secretary General of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Kingdom Relations Richard van Zwol, Raymond Gradus (incoming chairman of CFT), Andre Bosman (member of parliament for VVD), and Joba van den Berg-Jansen (member of parliament for CDA) Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Philipsburg Jubilee Library and the American University of the Caribbean (AUC) launched on Saturday, April 8th, 2017 their brand new collection of over 50 health books for a range of ages before invited guests, including Honorable Minister of Education Sylveria Jacobs, Honorable Minister of Health Emile Lee represented by the Collective Prevention Services department head Virginia Asin, Assistant Dean of Service Learning and Community Affairs PhD Golden Jackson and the AUC students along with Aukje de Jong OrganWise Guy library presenter Read more

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It’S Just A Smokescreen To Cover The Real Con Man

Dear Minister of VROMI,

Employees representing TelEm and GEBE took note of a project to be constructed in Dawn Beach. Nothing wrong with that as the Herald applauded.

The monthly mortgage payments are 1,530 guilders, for a one-bedroom home and 2,070 guilders for a two-bedroom home. This deal is brokered between the Minister and a private land owner. The Minister of Public Housing today is in Curaçao to negotiate financing with the taxpayer’s money on behalf of a private land owner.

The article states that soon the Minister will introduce the private land owner to Vidanova, the pension funds financier Read more

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Exclusive: Minister Lee Committed Country To $200K To Sunwing Airline While Attending Cha Meeting In The Bahamas.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of VSA Emil Lee who represented St. Maarten in the Bahamas committed the country to giving Sunwing Airlines $200k in order for them to continue their marketing programme and also flying to St. Maarten without consulting with the Ministry of TEATT or Council of Ministers.
An email dispatched by Susan Oland, Director of Programme Development Sunwing, stated in an email that at no time they were told they would not get the monies and that they were asked to block certain media which they did since January and now they are left without the promised $200k
Oland further stated that the Minister told them at the CHA meeting that certain media were not to be part of the plan and they made the changes and blocked those media, now they are left without the financial support the Minister promised them Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The rumored ‘gag order’ supposedly intended to hamper the functioning of the inspectorate as described by SMN-News and certain Members of Parliament is far from the reality. Indeed, an MB or instruction was issued to the inspectorate with the sole objective of protecting the rights to privacy of patients and medical personnel as guaranteed in St Maarten's constitution. This MB was quite simply intended to further define how details on reports of patients and medical professionals are to be handled in order to protect individual's rights and the Ministry from any potential liabilities or additional court cases.

Based on a legal case of possible violation of patient and medical specialist right to privacy, which is now in court following a lawsuit by SMMC against the inspectorate, the Minister felt it was necessary to ensure that a clear public and transparent policy on how potentially private information would be released and under what conditions and procedures.
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Although the inspectorate has an internal communication policy, due to concerns about current litigation, the Inspector General refused to provide a copy of the internal communication policy to the Minister Read more

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Exclusive: Will The Parliament Of St. Maarten Fail The People, Prosecutor Office Already Turned A Blind Eye.

What actions will Parliament take when they are being lied to by Ministers?

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Friday, April 6th 2017, the Minister of VSA Emil Lee told the Parliament of St. Maarten that he did not give the director of SZV Glen Carty permission to spend money from the AOV funds to construct the new hospital, instead he said the decision was taken by the Minister of General Affairs (Prime Minister William Marlin and Minister of Finance Richard Gibson Sr.) a blatant lie told to the members of Parliament.
The two letters sent by the Director of SZV Glen Carty to Minister Emil Lee and his response will be published under this article for sake of transparency.
SMN News got hold of the letters Minister of VSA Emil Lee sent to SZV director Glen Carty dated August 5th, 2016 informing Carty that the Council of Ministers gave him the approval to use the AOV funds to create a capital reserve fund to the tune of NAF 144M for the construction of the New General Hospital including consultant fees Read more

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