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Up Mp Lake Commends Act. Minister Of Vromi Gumbs And Gebe For Quick Action In St. Peters Community

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – United People's (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake wrote a letter to the Acting Minister of the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Marcel Gumbs, addressing the concerns of residents of Marigot Hill regarding the placement of a NV GEBE street light at Soursop Road #42.

"In that specific area at night it's very dark and is well-known for car stripping by criminal elements Read more

Prime Minister Gumbs Announces Flags At Half-Mast For Police Officer Benjamin

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Prime Minister Hon. Marcel Gumbs in solidarity with the nation instructed according to protocol to have flags flown at half-mast out of respect after a law enforcement official was killed in the line of duty.

Police Officer G. Benjamin from the Sint Maarten Police Force was seriously wounded on Wednesday, Read more

Prime Minister Gumbs Statement On The Passing Of Police Officer Gamali Benjamin

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs on Sunday, August 9th issued the following statement with respect to the passing of Police Officer Gamali Benjamin.

My fellow St. Maarteners,

"My heart is heavy as I offer, my family's and Government's deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Officer Gamali Benjamin Read more

Minister Offers Condolences, Mourns Passing Of Officer Benjamin

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - On Saturday August 8th, 2015 the Minister of Justice the Honorable Dennis Richardson received the disheartening news that Officer Benjamin had passed away at the Sint Maarten Medical Center as a direct result of the severe gunshot injuries he sustained while exercising his duties and protecting the residents and visitors of Sint Maarten.

Minister Richardson and Prime Minister Mr. Marcel Gumbs immediately visited the Medical Center to pay their respects to Officer Benjamin and tried to comfort the many family members and colleagues who were clearly in soul wrenching pain from the passing of Benjamin.

The Minister and the entire Ministry of Justice extend their deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the late Officer Benjamin.

Officer Benjamin's shooting and his subsequent passing have come as a severe shock to his family, the Sint Maarten Police Force and the Community at large and will undoubtedly have an effect on many lives for a very long time to come Read more

Pm Gumbs: “Your Island Needs You” Tearful Goodbyes To 27 Students At The Airport

St. Maarten -The ceremony to mark the departure of 27 students who left St Maarten yesterday to further their studies in the Netherlands is a timely reminder of what must be done to encourage them to come back and take up responsible positions in the public and private sector.

For the fourth straight year, it was a time for parents, guardians, siblings and close friends bid Bon Voyage, something that is not easy to do under the circumstances. It was a time for emotions that were in some cases uncontrollable Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs on Wednesday said the nation was shocked with the callous act carried out by an individual resulting in law enforcement Officer G. Benjamin being shot while performing his duty to protect and serve the people of Sint Maarten.
On behalf of the Council of Ministers, our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Officer G Read more

The Future Beckons You Back To St. Maarten, Sxm Airport Managing Director Tells Holland-Bound Students

SIMPSON BAY, St. Maarten — "You are leaving home as teenagers, and will be returning as adults in a few years. Between now and then, you will experience life in a manner you have never done before," Regina LaBega, Managing Director of Princess Juliana International Airport, SXM Airport, told about 30 students who left the island Sunday, August 2, to further their studies in the Netherlands.

SXM Airport, in collaboration with Domino's Pizza, continued a tradition began four years ago, by organizing a "Bon Voyage" party for the students who were joined by their families and friends who came to bid them farewell.

"That moment has arrived to show that you are grown up; that you can stand on your own feet; that you don't need anybody to tell you what to do, when to study or when to come back home from the disco.

Free at last! But it is what you do with that freedom that will determine your success Read more

Transparency International Presents Integrity Assessment: “Political Parties Are Weak In Representing Social Interests”

Transparency International’s regional director for the Americas Alejandro Salas and lead researcher Cora de Voit. Photo Today / Leo Brown

GREAT BAY – At 7 p.m. local time last night, Transparency International’s National Integrity System assessment for St. Maarten came online. The company presented the report at the same time at the university on Pond Island. St. Maarten has now come full circle with probing its integrity issues. There are four reports on the table: the Baseline Study Institutional Integrity from the General Audit Chamber, the integrity-reports from the Bob Wit-committee and PricewaterhouseCoopers and now the transparency assessment.

It contains three core recommendations, of which the third one is the most concrete Read more

No word yet on completion of minister candidates screening

PHILIPSBURG--It has been more than a month since the submission for screening a minister candidate to join the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet and there has not been any word about whether and when the candidate will be sworn in to office. There also has not been any information about the progress of the screening from authorities.

The candidate, who is expected to take up the post of Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT), is former utilities company GEBE employee Ernest Sams.

Following a successful screening, Sams is to take up that post and current minister Claret Connor is slated to move to the portfolio of Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- Minister Plenipotentiary, Hon. Josianne Fleming–Artsen and 27 Sint Maarten students arrived at Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands to continue with their educational journey.
Minister Plenipotentiary Fleming-Artsen along with guidance Counsellors Ellen Rosina and Xaviera MacDonald-Archangel accompanied the 29 students to the Netherlands.
There was a welcome committee and flags were distributed to every student compliments of Sint Maarten Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs.
Before leaving Sint Maarten on Sunday, the students received gifts from the Minister of Education Rita Bourne-Gumbs and a grand party was organised in their honour by the Princess Juliana International Airport.
In addition the firemen as a sign of farewell to the students sprayed the plane with water.
Across from Schiphol the students were treated to breakfast on behalf of the Ministry of Education Read more

Minister Plenipotentiary Fleming-Artsen Arrives In The Netherlands With Sint Maarten Students

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Minister Plenipotentiary, Hon. Josianne Fleming–Artsen and 27 Sint Maarten students arrived at Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands to continue with their educational journey.

Minister Plenipotentiary Fleming-Artsen along with guidance Counsellors Ellen Rosina and Xaviera MacDonald-Archangel accompanied the 29 students to the Netherlands.

There was a welcome committee and flags were distributed to every student compliments of Sint Maarten Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs.

Before leaving Sint Maarten on Sunday, the students received gifts from the Minister of Education Rita Bourne-Gumbs and a grand party was organised in their honour by the Princess Juliana International Airport.

In addition the firemen as a sign of farewell to the students sprayed the plane with water.

Across from Schiphol the students were treated to breakfast on behalf of the Ministry of Education Read more

Netherlands-bound students bid farewell to family, friends

AIRPORT--Some 27 students bade farewell to family and friends on Sunday morning as they departed on their journey to the Netherlands to further their studies. Loved ones spent the last moments with them at Princess Juliana International Airport SXM, at the fourth Bon Voyage party hosted by the airport and Domino’s Pizza.

The students heard special addresses by Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs Rita Bourne-Gumbs and the airport’s Managing Director Regina LaBega before saying their final goodbyes Read more

Departing Students Recieve St. Maarten Flag From Prime Minister Sunday

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - 27 students left the island on Sunday afternoon for the Netherlands where they will continue with their studies.

The students educational endeavours are being financed by the Government of St. Maarten who called on the students to come back home when their studies are completed.

On hand for the students departure was the Minister of Education the Honorable Rita Bourn Gumbs, Prime Minister the Honorable Marcel Gumbs, Minister of Plenipotentiary the Honorable Josiane Artsen Fleming and the Managing Director of SXM Airport Regina Labega.

Education Department officials such as Antonio Aventurine and the Councilors for St Read more

SER: Only 20 per cent live below poverty line

HARBOUR VIEW--Only 20 to 25 per cent of the country’s population can be tagged as living below the poverty line by using the country’s actual minimum wage, according to the Social Economic Council SER in its recent unsolicited advice to Government on the establishment of “Boost St. Maarten” – a conditional cash transfers programme to reduce poverty.

The preliminary results of the 2011 Census show that some 20 per cent of households live on NAf Read more

>SIMPSON BAY:----For the fourth consecutive year, the Princess Juliana International Airport, SXM, in collaboration with Domino’s Pizza, will be saying “Bon Voyage” to about 30 students who will be departing the island Sunday, August 2, 2015, to further their studies in The Netherlands.
Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, Minister of Education, Sports, Culture & Youth Affairs Rita Bourne-Gumbs, and SXM Airport’s Managing Director Regina LaBega will all address the students before they board the KLM aircraft that will take them to Schiphol, Amsterdam.
During the special send-off, the students, while enjoying pizza and refreshments distributed by Domino’s Pizza, will be entertained by DJ King Kembe and MC Suppa.
They will also receive goodie bags containing SXM branded gift items fit for college-bound students Read more

Sxm To Say Bon Voyage To Holland-Bound Students Sunday

SIMPSON BAY, St. Maarten — For the fourth consecutive year, the Princess Juliana International Airport, SXM, in collaboration with Domino's Pizza, will be saying "Bon Voyage" to about 30 students who will be departing the island Sunday, August 2, 2015, to further their studies in The Netherlands.

Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, Minister of Education, Sports, Culture & Youth Affairs Rita Bourne-Gumbs, and SXM Airport's Managing Director Regina LaBega will all address the students before they board the KLM aircraft that will take them to Schiphol, Amsterdam.

During the special send-off, the students, while enjoying pizza and refreshments distributed by Domino's Pizza, will be entertained by DJ King Kembe and MC Suppa.

They will also receive goodie bags containing SXM branded gift items fit for college-bound students Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, Minister of Finance Martin Hassink, Vice Presidents of Parliament Leona Marlin-Romeo and Cornelius de Weever were in Anguilla last Friday to attend the change of the guard at the Monetary Council of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB).
In a ceremony that took place on July 24, Anguilla’s Chief Minister Victor Banks became the chairman which was held by Prime Minister of St Read more

>In a further reaction to the governing program 2014 -2018, " Ready to work for you", as received by Parliament from Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs , I cannot but express utter disappointment in the document that should have spelled out government's vision for the remainder of this governing term.

Considering that the government has presented the program to Parliament, I consider this the program of the Gumbs-cabinet Read more

Chief Minister Banks takes over chairmanship of Monetary Council

ANGUILLA--At a ceremony on Friday, July 24, the chairmanship of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) was handed over from Ralph Gonsalves Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to Anguilla’s Chief Minister Victor Banks. Members of the Monetary Council from the eight countries represented were preceded by the country’s flag held by members of the Pathfinders as they walked into the ceremony.

Governor of the ECCB Sir Dwight Venner welcomed those present to the 82nd meeting noting that the ECCB started in 1983 and since that time has maintained a stable Eastern Caribbean currency and low inflation Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:----- Prime Minister Hon. Marcel Gumbs invited Tracy Blijden who recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management from Johnson and Wales University.
Blijden spent one month in Singapore and is now off to Germany to further gain experience and expand her craft in culinary arts. To hig Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Hon. Marcel Gumbs earlier in the week received the Ombudsman 2014 Annual Report from Ombudsman Dr. Nilda Arduin. Also present for the presentation was student and former chair of the Youth Parliament, Rochana Richardson, who is currently on a summer job stint at the Ombudsman Bureau. The report has been sent to Read more

Prime Minister Gumbs Receives 2014 Ombudsman Annual Report

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Prime Minister Hon. Marcel Gumbs earlier in the week received the Ombudsman 2014 Annual Report from Ombudsman Dr. Nilda Arduin.

Also present for the presentation was student and former chair of the Youth Parliament, Rochana Richardson, who is currently on a summer job stint at the Ombudsman Bureau.

The report has been sent to the Council of Ministers for further review and handling.

In Photo: L to R: Prime Minister Hon Read more

Prime Minister Gumbs Invites Culinary Student To Showcase Talents

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Prime Minister Hon. Marcel Gumbs invited Tracy Blijden who recently graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management from Johnson and Wales University.

Blijden spent one month in Singapore and is now off to Germany to further gain experience and expand her craft in culinary arts.

To highlight the accomplishments of this young local professional, Blijden just 22 years of age, was invited by the Prime Minister to prepare lunch for the Council of Ministers.

In Photo: L to R: Prime Minister Hon Read more

Court Rules Reappointment Rennie Maduro Null And Void (Former Gebe C.O.O.)

St. Maarten – Utilities Company Gebe won its lawsuit against its former Chief Operating Officer Rennie Maduro and by extension against the Council of Ministers (CoM) on Thursday. The Court in First Instance ruled that the CoM’s decision Ministers to extend Maduro’s contract by two years is null and void. It banned Maduro from taking management decisions for the company, barred his access to the Gebe-officers and authorized Gebe to de-register Maduro as a director of the company. Gebe does not have to pay Maduro any more salary.

The court ruling brings the rules for the appointment of directors at government-owned companies sharply into focus and sets a clear limit to the CoM’s authority.

On May 29, the CoM signed a decree to extend Maduro’s contract that formally ended on May 31, by two years Read more