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PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Rodolphe Samuel issued a call to the community to remain vigilant at all times as face to face in school resumed on November 19th.
The Minister said during the announcement at the weekly Council of Ministers press briefing that everyone wants to island to go back to normal as soon as possible however, the government must also safeguard the health and well-being of its people.
Because the schools are part of the community and clusters of infections can occur in the community this means that infections can also happen in schools.
The education continuity plan was drafted and based on that planned government has developed safety plans for the schools.
The Minister said after the vetting of the school's safety plans, those schools whose safety plans were found to be in order were inspected by a combined team of inspectors of Education and Healthcare Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---The importance of recognizing Childrens Rights in St. Maarten began as early as 1978. The now-deceased Mrs. Mavis Salomon Brooks and Dr. Linda Banks first started the initiative by writing and producing a song about children's rights for a song festival. Ever since many individuals in our community volunteered their personal time in promoting the development and empowerment of children through various activities. Radio programs, uniformed groups, and performing arts were among the undertakings by loyal persons.

On November 20th, 1989, the United Nations ratified the United Nations Convention for the Rights of the Child, with 140 countries including the Kingdom of the Netherlands adding their signature to this convention.

Consequently, all islands within the Kingdom adopted this treaty and started the work of drafting, establishing, and implementing policy and programs in the interest of Childrens Rights.

The first official policy initiative for St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG On Friday, November 13th, Minister of VSA, Richard Panneflek, and Minister of ECYS drs. Rodolphe Samuel signed a use agreement regarding the use of a mobile pavilion owned by Country, St Read more

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Survey On Distant Learning Conducted.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Education Rodolphe Samuel announced on Wednesday that the Division of Inspection for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport conducted a survey of primary and secondary education teachers on distance learning.
The survey was active from September 24th to 30th, 2020, and was filled in by a total of 209 of 264 (80%) primary school teachers, and 133 of 268 (50%) secondary school teachers representing all subsidized school boards and the Division Public Education.
When these persons were asked to rate their health, the majority (64%) of primary and secondary school teachers indicated to be healthy Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The University of St Martin (USM), after a decade of working in close partnership with The University of the West Indies (The UWI) Open Campus, expressed an interest in joining The UWI global system which includes joint centres with ten international universities. The UWI Council discussed the concept note and approved it in principle earlier this year, asking Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, and his team to develop a road map with a full proposal for further consideration Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- In preparation for the reopening of Schools to in class instructions, NAGICO Insurances has donated automated hand sanitizing and temperature check stations to all seven (7) Public Schools and school supplies for the students.
This donation is a result of a partnership formed between NAGICO, the Ministry of Education, Sports & Culture to fully outfit the Public Schools with the necessary safety equipment and items needed to allow for proper sanitization, health, and safety measures in school.
With our school's physical reopening in the next week and the Coronavirus pandemic still prevalent, we at NAGICO felt it necessary and prudent to partner with the Department of Public Schools to help to provide a safe environment for our children and teachers as they venture back into the classrooms, Eric Ellis, Managing Director and Head of NAGICO St Read more

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St. Maarten Commemorates 1St Decade Of Country Status With Virtual Events.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On behalf of the Council of Ministers, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs hereby invites the people of St. Maarten to join and take part in the Virtual Commemoration of Constitution Day under the theme Decadal Growth and Progress, on October 12th, 2020 at 10:00 am via Government of Sint Maarten Facebook page.

Today, Saturday, October 10, 2020, the commemoration commenced with a live National Address delivered by his Excellency, Governor of St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- On September 10th, 2020, members of the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset joined club President, Elisia Lake, and gathered at the Government Administration Building for the presentation of 67 tablet computers to various public schools on the island. Rotary Sunset launched its tablet/computer donation drive in August with hopes to provide the much-needed computer devices to students who were unable to attend online classes.

 Supporting basic education and literacy is one of Rotarys primary areas of focus and Rotary Sunset strongly believes in the right to sound education for every child Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday, September 17, the Council of Ministers held a cooperation meeting with the Collectivit of Saint Martin at the Government Administration Building. Although this meeting was planned since earlier in the week, both governments are elated with the outcome of the unity march of Wednesday, September 16, that took place at the Cole Bay/Bellevue border checkpoint which led to the lifting of the border controls at the Bellevue and French Quarter checkpoints.

Present during the meeting were Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs, Ministers Egbert Doran, Anna Richardson, Ardwell Irion, Ludmila de Weever, drs Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Bell Realty Company donated computers and printers to the seven public schools, as their contribution, towards education during this Corona Pandemic. This generous donation will assist the schools in providing online learning to the students attending the public schools on Sint Maarten.
One of the representative Mr. Russel Bell elaborated on the importance of education and the ability for students to be able to continue their education in spite of the current worldwide COVID Situation that requires a new Virtual reality Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Prime Minister and Chair of EOC, Honorable Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs, instructed all educational institutions on the island to be closed to students and the public as of March 18, 2020. To continue the learning process, schools opted to conduct classes online (distance learning) Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Rodolphe Samuel announced on Wednesday during the Council of Ministers press briefing that due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Annual Sport & Creative Industries Open House, will be presented as a virtual online event, via the Facebook pages of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, the Department of Sports and the Department of Culture, on September 14th, 2020 at 10 am Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- St. Maartens primary telecommunication provider, TelEm Group, is responding positively to its new role in the St. Maarten community - Virtual classroom provider.

 TelEm Group recently upgraded five public schools with an unprecedented internet connection package specially created for schools on the island, so that teachers can connect with students in remote classroom scenarios.

According to TelEm Group Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Mr. Michiel Parent, the key to the upgrades are faster upload speeds that enable students to receive instruction in real-time and also interact with their teachers.

Mr Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Education Rodolphe Samuel urged all schools to make use of the forms provided to them in the Education Continuity Plan to report all cases of COVID-19 in the event a student or staff member are tested positive for the virus. Minister Samuel said guidelines were also given to the schools in the event positive cases of coronavirus have been identified.
The Minister in response to a question on the school bus drivers and how they are being financed during the COVID-19 pandemic said an agreement was made with the school bus drivers when they were called to transport examination students Read more

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Government Waiting On Report From Health Professionals Before Moving Forward With Schools.

~ Distance Learning should be considered by private institutions.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The government of St. Maarten namely the Minister of Education Rodolphe Samuel in response to a question on Wednesday Council of Minister's press briefing said that his Ministry never set out to close schools on St. Maarten but in fact has an education continuity plan in place where it is recommended that educational institutions move forward through distance learning Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Caribbean International Academy has dispatched a letter to the Minister of Education Rodolphe Samuel and the Minister of Health and Labor Richard Panneflek inf Read more

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Government Departments Affected By Second Wave Of Covid-19 As Numbers Increase.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Several Government offices and services are being affected by the second wave of the COVOD-19 outbreak on St. Maarten. The Department of Immigration and Border Controls closed their doors because an immigration officer tested positive for the COVID-19, due to contact tracing four other persons working at the department are now under quarantine.
The St. Maarten Tourist Bureau also had to close its doors as someone in high standing also tested positive. SMN News understands that all employees of the Tourist Bureau were sent to be tested while the office is now closed.
The Inspectorate of Health and Labor located at the Vineyard Building is also closed as an inspector tested positive Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Management of Learning Unlimited has refused to follow the guidelines set down by the government when it comes to distance learning.
On Tuesday the Minister of VSA Richard Panneflek and Minister of Education Rodolphe Samuel sent a letter to Learning Unlimited and Caribbean International Academy advising them that they too have to follow the restrictions set down by government even though they are a private institution Read more

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Lu And Cia Warned Not To Open For Onsite Learning.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministers of Education Rodolphe Samuel and Minister of VSA Richard Panneflek dispatched a letter to the private institutions Learning Unlimited (LU) and the Caribbean International Academy (CIA) informing them that they are to remain closed for onsite education and instead proceed with distant learning Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Honorable Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS), drs. Rodolphe Samuel, has taken the bold decision to keep schools closed and to start the new school year with online learning, until further notice. He communicated this to parents and guardians via a letter, dated July 31, 2020. But, are schools prepared to deliver education online?
Unfortunately, the Ministers decision came ten days prior to the official start of the new school year, which gives schools very little time to prepare Read more

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Tropical Storm Warning Discontinued. Thursday Regular Business Day.

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM:---  The Tropical Storm Warning has been discontinued as of 5.00 AM. Today, Thursday is a regular business day for the private sector.

Government services will also resume as normal and the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Rodolphe Samuel, stated on Thursday that the scheduled examinations will continue.

Prime Minister and Chair of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Silveria Jacobs said early Thursday morning that the weather system which passed Sint Maarten on Wednesday has been upgraded to Tropical Storm Isaias but poses no immediate threat to the island, however the population should continue to monitor and remain vigilant while going about your day as rainfall is expected.

At 5.00AM the storm was located more than 300 miles west southwest of Sint Maarten and continues to move further away.

Some rainfall bands from the system could continue to bring periodic showers accompanied with gusty winds and possible thunderstorms throughout the day Read more

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School Leaving Exercises Held on July 2, 2020

PHILIPSBURG:--- St. Maarten Academy PSVE hosted its school leaving exercises on Thursday, July 2, on the schools campus, with the theme SOAR-The World Awaits You, with 58 students, or 89% of the Form 4 students meeting the graduation criteria. This year, given the COVID-19 realities, the school modified its graduation program, hosting five independent school leaving programs to minimize face-to-face engagement as students were conferred with their school-leaving plaques and grade lists while creating memories of their last official day at school Read more

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Winner Aquilla Pemberton receives a Lenova Lap Top courtesy of Philipsburg Jubilee Library.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The overall winner, Aquilla Pemberton, a fourth form student of the Sint Maarten Academy, received a laptop from the Philipsburg Jubilee Library. Ms. G. Holiday was accompanied by the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports, the Honorable Rodolphe Samuel, who handed Aquilla her prize as seen in the photo Read more

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~ Government has no money to pay for quarantine facility.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- St. Maarten is now moving towards its recovery phases from the COVID-19 pandemic announced Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs on Saturday at the EOC press conference.

Jacobs said that it is now 11 days since St. Maarten registered a positive case of the COVID-19, currently, there are no patients at the St Read more

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