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Majority adopts Urban Code at Council meeting

MARIGOT--The majority party adopted the new Urban Code at the year’s last Territorial Council meeting on Thursday despite the Opposition voicing several concerns before abstaining on the vote. The Code will now come into effect on March 1, 2015.

The vote followed the public meeting and presentation on December 4 with the specialist and editor of the Code, Philippe Baffert. On December 5 technicians correlated the Urban Code project with the Plan Local Urbanisme (PLU) and on December 9 the urbanism commission harmonised further aspects of the Code.

Since April 2012 St Read more

Pascal Averne takes up new post in Guadeloupe

~ Leaves Collectivité after 10 years' service ~

MARIGOT--The Collectivité's Director General of Services (DGS) Pascal Averne is to leave St. Martin on December 23 after ten years at the helm of the administration, to take up a new posting in his native Guadeloupe.

As of January 1, 2015, he will serve as Chef de Cabinet for UMP politician Marie-Luce Penchard who is the Maire of Basse-Terre and daughter of former Regional Council of Guadeloupe President Lucette Michaux-Chevry.

The Collectivité bid a fond farewell to Averne at a function held in his honour in the Sandy Ground Cultural Centre cinema on Tuesday evening attended by colleagues with whom he worked, the four presidents who held office during his tenure and former Mayor Albert Fleming during the Commune era.

Such was the scope of his function – he needed to be fully conversant with not only the running of the Collectivité, but also the issues of the day concerning State, Department, Region and the new untested organic law that ushered in the new status – that he was the most-sought-after official for clarification or consultation on any topic and acted as adviser to the former Mayor, the first President Louis-Constant Fleming, subsequent Presidents Frantz Gumbs and Alain Richardson, and Aline Hanson today.

He was in regular contact with sectors such as health, education, justice, Gendarmerie, Chamber of Commerce, district councils, economic council, etc Read more

New territorial archives and Media Library inaugurated

MARIGOT--The brand new building in Concordia that houses both the Territorial Archives and the Media Library was officially inaugurated Monday in the presence of elected officials, Director of the National Archives of France attached to the Ministry of Culture Hervé Lemoine, Director of the Archives Department in Guadeloupe Anne Lebel and numerous invited guests from both sides of the island.

Guests included principals of the collèges and schools, representatives of supervising contractor Semsamar, subcontractors, architects, representatives of the Philipsburg Jubilee Library, the Anguilla library, as well as employees and management of the Territorial Archives and Media Library.

Other personalities present, such as artist Roland Richardson and his wife, historian Daniella Jeffry, and President of the St Read more

Collectivité inaugurates bus terminal in Marigot

MARIGOT--The central bus terminal in Marigot on Rue de Hollande was inaugurated Thursday afternoon in the presence of President Aline Hanson, and other elected officials and representatives from bus transport associations on both sides of the island.

The facility, named in honour of retired bus driver Antoine Julien Gumbs, is being used on a daily basis since its completion a few months ago Read more

Collectivité notes 198 cases of violence against children

MARIGOT--The Collectivité recorded 198 cases of violence or abuse against children in 2013, an increase of 141 cases compared to 2012, Second Vice-President Ramona Connor responsible for the Department of Solidarity and Families disclosed Thursday.

Connor disclosed the figures during the official opening ceremony to commemorate International Rights of the Child Day in the new public library in Concordia, adding the figures for 2014 will most likely be higher.

She was joined at the opening by President Aline Hanson, Préfet Philippe Chopin, Senator Guillaume Arnell, St Read more

Sarah Wescot’s ‘fire in the belly’ speech reaffirms solidarity on St. Martin Day

FRENCH QUARTER--Words such as unity, togetherness, and cooperation have become clichéd over the years in St. Martin Day speeches but while this was still a favourite theme on Tuesday's 66th November 11 celebration, some speakers looked at it in a different context, alluding to derogatory remarks about tearing up the Treaty of Concordia and establishing borders attributed to a French Parliamentarian some months ago. It caused a stir on the Dutch side.

No one dismissed such outside threats more forthrightly than caretaker Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams in a typically rousing and patriotic speech that elicited rounds of applause.

"In the hearts of St Read more

style="text-align: center;">People of St. Maarten need to rise up and protect their heritage and culture – PM

PHILIPSBURG:--- The official and traditional St. Martin's Day celebration that was hosted by the French side did not see much Members of Parliament from the Dutch side. Even the ten seat majority in parliament did not show their faces on Tuesday at the church service that was held at the Methodist Church. In attendance were Member of Parliament Leona Marlin Romeo, Minister/Member of Parliament Maurice Lake and Minister/ Member of Parliament Cornelius de Weever along with Prime Minister/ President of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams Read more

St. Maarten/St. Martin Day Celebrated Tuesday, Celebrations Hosted By St. Martin

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The 66th anniversary of St. Maarten Day was celebrated on Tuesday, November 11th.

This year's celebrations were held on the French side, as it was their turn to host the activities marking the occasion this year.

The day started with an ecumenical service at the Methodist Church in French Quarter. This was then followed by the wreath laying ceremony at the frontier between Dutch Quarter and French Quarter in the morning.

Soon after the wreath laying ritual, dignitaries were transported to in front of the Cultural Center in French Quarter, where they witnessed the parade of the various uniform groups.

After the parade, dignitaries were shuttled to the Thelbert Carty Stadium, where the official ceremony for St Read more

Minister praises ‘quick’ recovery efforts on visit

MARIGOT--French Minister of Overseas Territories George Pau-Langevin has praised the "very quick" efforts of the territory to get back on its feet following the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo, on her visit to St. Martin and St. Barths on Sunday.

She especially thanked law enforcement, SNSM sea rescue, EDF and all service providers for working flat out to assist the population in getting back to normal daily routines.

"As the tourist season is starting shortly, it was important for us to see areas like Orient Beach that depend on tourism," she said before departing for St Read more

>MARIGOT:--- The first Vice President of the Collectivity of St. Martin Guillaume Arnell was elected senator of St. Martin on Sunday after two rounds of election. Arnell received 11 votes from of the 24 votes that were cast.
Arnell succeeds Louis Constant Fleming, the first person to represent St Read more

Préfecture confirms list of Senatorial candidates

MARIGOT--The Préfecture officially confirmed last night the list of candidates who will contest the September 28 election for senator of St. Martin. The deadline to declare candidacy was 6:00pm Friday.

The list has seven candidates, more than first expected. They are as follows: First Vice-President Guillaume Arnell (substitute Aline Hanson), Territorial Councillor René-Jean Duret (substitute Rosette Gumbs-Lake), President of Economic, Social and Cultural Council Georges Gumbs (substitute Carole Gumbs), Union for Democracy (UD) member Dominique Aubert (substitute Dominique Riboud), Territorial Councillor Alain Gros-Desormeaux (substitute Rollande Questel), Grand Case district representative Patricia Chance-Duzant (substitute Steven Patrick) and Boniface Hodge (substitute Marise Dixon).

The second election for the St Read more

Arnell receives Knight of National Order of Merit

MARIGOT--Territorial Council First Vice-President Guillaume Arnell was the latest recipient of the Knight of the National Order of Merit medal at a ceremony held in his honour at the Chamber of Commerce, Concordia, Thursday evening.

As has been customary at these ceremonies, a number of speeches were made before the award was bestowed upon Guillaume Arnell by Préfet Philippe Chopin.

President of the Association of the National Order of Merit in St Read more

Senatorial candidates to declare candidacy September 8th to 12th

MARIGOT--The Préfecture announced that official declarations of candidates for the upcoming Senator Elections will take place from Monday September 8 to Friday September 12 from 8:00am to 6:00pm. The election takes place on Sunday September 28 from 8:30am in the Prefecture of St. Martin and in the annex of St. Barths. In case of a second round, declaration of candidates will be submitted on the same day of voting, September 28, until 3:00pm when results will be announced. All information relating to declaring candidacy, eligibility, and other information can be obtained on the Website of the Prefecture www.saint-barth-saint-martin.pref.gouv.fr/ The same information can be obtained from the election services of the Prefecture at Tel Read more