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PHILIPSBURG:---  Student Jodian Mc Donald recently completed a two-week job-placement stint at the receptionist of the New Government Building. The PSVE student who also worked at the Public Service Center (PSC) branch in Simpson bay recently, has been praised for her outgoing attitude, professionalism, and exceptional work ethics.
In the function of receptionist (under the auspices of PSC), Ms. Mc Donald’s tasks were to welcome and coordinate guests on behalf of the cabinets of the Council of Ministers and provide assistance to government employees with regard to personnel matters just to name a few.
Over the last two years, the Public Service Center Department has been working with various secondary schools on St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The newly sworn in Council of Ministers held their first meeting at the Government Building on Thursday morning December 22nd. Attending the meeting were Prime Minister William Marlin, Minister of Finance Richard Gibson, Minister of Public Health Social Development and Labor Affairs Emil Lee, Minister of Education Culture Youth & Sports Silveria Jacobs and Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Christophe Emmanuel.

In its first meeting, the Council of Ministers took the decision amongst others, to grant all Civil Servants “half day off” on December 23rd and 30th where the service permits Read more

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PHILIPSBURG: --- During the first live press briefing on Wednesday Prime Minister William Marlin informed the people of St. Maarten that the screening process for the Ministry of TEATT is not yet completed but hopefully that process will be completed shortly. Marlin said that in the meantime, the Minister of Justice Raphael Boasman will be responsible for that Ministry until the new Minister takes office.
However, Minister Boasman has left the island shortly after the swearing in ceremony for the Netherlands for a period of two weeks, therefore, the Prime Minister will be responsible for the Ministry of General Affairs, Justice and TEATT until Minister Boasman returns.
The Prime Minister also introduced the new council of ministers, namely Minister of Finance Richard Gibson, returning Minister of VSA who was not present  at the opening of the weekly press briefing Emil Lee, Minister of Education, Minister of Justice Raphael Boasman, and Minister of VROMI Christopher Emmanuel and Minister of EYS Silveria Jacobs.
Marlin said that he hopes that the coalition partners will give this government a full four-year mandate which would give the island some stability.
Marlin outlined some of the things the government has been doing, and of the things they have high on their agenda are affordable housing and he plans to support the Minister of VROMI with whatever plans the SMHDF and the Ministry come up with to provide more affordable home.
Another priority for the government is the country’s infrastructure which is affecting the visitors of the island and residents Read more

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Integrated Youth Policy Plan Stakeholders Consultation Session Organized By The Department Of Youth.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Department of Youth hosted a consultation session with stakeholders to discuss the Integrated Youth Policy Plan (IYP) on Friday, December 9th, 2016 at the University of Sint Maarten. The purpose of the consultation session was to discuss relevant areas concerning youth development on St. Maarten as well as strategies for effective implementation as outlined in the draft document. Welcome statements were given by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Education, Culture Youth and Sport, Ms Read more

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Information Session Held On Istep For Public School Management.

BELVEDERE:---  The Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sport held an information session on iSTEP (Inspiring Students with Technology in Education Project) for the school managers, adjunct managers and student care coordinators of all public schools on December 1st, 2016. The session was facilitated by Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Ms. Silveria Jacobs, the iSTEP Team and the head of Division for Public Education, Mrs Read more

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Mlk Submits Lists Of Concerns To Minister Of Education.

PHILIPSBURG -- On Tuesday, December 6th, the management and staff of the Dr. Martin Luther King School, provided a list of concerns. Minister Jacobs was surprised and dismayed to learn that the challenges being faced had not yet been dealt with when management and teachers requested an urgent meeting on these topics.
Head of DPE, Mrs Read more

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SOUTH REWARD:---  Under the theme “Depending on Each Other to Create a Healthy Future,” the St. Maarten Vocational Training School (SMVTS) held its 3rd annual Health and Wellness fair on Monday, December 5th, 2016. The Minister of Education, Ms. Silveria Jacobs, as well as the Head of Division Public Education, Mrs. Glenderlin Davis-Holiday, were both in attendance.
Minister Jacobs encouraged all the students to apply all the information gained at the health and wellness fair Read more

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Council Of Ministers Meet With Representatives Of Sol, Us Laundry And Nv Gebe.

POND ISLAND:--- On Thursday, November 24, 2016 the Council of Ministers met with the management of the three major industries operating in the Cay Bay area – SOL, US Laundry and NV GEBE - to discuss the environmental and health situation at hand. While Minister of Education, Ms. Silveria Jacobs, has been addressing the situation in the Cay Bay area for the last couple of weeks, the complaints of residents in that area as well as of the Miss Lalie Center have increased Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Rumors are circulating on social media (Facebook) and throughout the community claiming that the current coalition agreement between the National Alliance (NA), the United St. Maarten People’s Party (USP) and the Democratic Party (DP) fell through and that talks are currently taking place between the United Peoples Party (UPP), United St Read more

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MARIGOT:---The International Rights of the Child Day 2016 ceremony, hosted this year by the Collectivité de Saint-Martin, under the theme “Educate me Right so my Future is Bright,” was held on November 21st, 2016, at the Hotel de la Collectivité in Marigot. The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports, the Honorable Silveria Jacobs was in attendance Read more

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Swimmers Return From Oecs Swimming Championship With Medals.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sports along with the Department of Sports congratulates the team who recently returned from St. Vincent and the Grenadines and participated in the 26th OECS Swimming Championship.
The Team which consisted of athletes from both the St. Martin Natacion and the St Maarten Aquatics Federation returned on Monday, November 14, 2016, to great welcome from parents, supporters and a representative of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth & Sports; the Department Head of Sports Ms Jonelle Richards.

Representing the St Read more

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The 18Th Annual Thanksgiving Service.

PHILIPSBURG:---- Under the theme, “Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart!,” the 18th Annual Thanksgiving Service will be held Sunday, December 4, 2016, in front of the New Government Administration Building. The ecumenical service will begin at 4:30 PM with Praise and Worship led by the Harmonics.

The Thanksgiving ecumenical service is an annual undertaking by the St. Maarten Christian Council, St. Maarten United Ministerial Foundation and the Seventh Day Adventist Church supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports Affairs Read more

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Emergency Interim Solution For Students And Staff Of The Leonard Connor School.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Over the past week, it has become blatantly clear that an emergency solution is needed to deal with the health challenges being experienced by staff and students of the Leonard Connor School. The Government has started to take several steps to deal with this pending situation; however, all these steps will require several weeks to come to fruition. The school was thoroughly cleaned and the authorities were convinced that the worst was over; however, the smell of gasses was once again too much to bear on Friday last.

The Ministry of VROMI will commission an independent study to be carried out to ascertain the levels of toxic gases being emitted into the environment by all industries operating in the Cay Bay area, as well as to ascertain what levels are affecting the population, including the staff and students at the Leonard Connor School, who have been experiencing it with alarming frequency Read more

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Emergency Interim Solution For Students And Staff Of The Leonard Connor School.

PHILIPSBURG:---- Over the past week it has become blatantly clear that an emergency solution is needed to deal with the health challenges being experienced by staff and students of the Leonard Connor School. The Government has started to take several steps to deal with this pending situation; however, all these steps will require several weeks to come to fruition. The school was thoroughly cleaned and the authorities were convinced that the worst was over; however, the smell of gasses was once again too much to bear on Friday last.

The Ministry of VROMI will commission an independent study to be carried out to ascertain the levels of toxic gases being emitted into the environment by all industries operating in the Cay Bay area, as well as to ascertain what levels are affecting the population, including the staff and students at the Leonard Connor School, who have been experiencing it with alarming frequency Read more

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Hope Estate:--- On Thursday, November 3rd, the Minister of Education, Silveria Jacobs, attended the unveiling ceremony of the bust for the late teacher Marie Genevieve de Weever which was organized by the management of the school, Mrs. Anna Grantham-Halley, Mrs. Sandra Mathew and the committee of dedicated staff members. The ceremony was hosted by Teacher Altagracia Hawley.

Minister Jacobs congratulated the current school staff and all others whom, over time, helped in the development of the institution, including teachers, administrators, and auxiliary workers Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:-- On Friday, November 4th, the Minister of Sports, Silveria Jacobs, attended the final game of the 9th CuraSur Masters Basketball tournament in the sports auditorium. The countries represented in the 9th annual veterans’ tournament were Curacao, Suriname, French Guyana, Holland and St. Maarten. The tournament was opened by the Minister on Monday, November 1 with the anthems of each country being played, while the country flags were displayed Read more

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Port de Plaisaince:--- On Friday November 4th, the Minister of Sport, Silveria Jacobs attended the ceremony to launch the Sint Maarten Baseball Academy at La Terasse, Princess Port de Plaisance Resort

The ceremony was opened by Carlos van Heyningen, president of the St. Maarten Baseball Federation, who gave a brief overview of how the federation came about to start the Academy.
He was followed by a presentation by the director of the Sint Maarten Baseball Academy, Coach Tony Rombley, alongside Ms Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the Democratic Party and Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams has dispatched a letter to the Minister of Education asking her to reconsider the temporary solution she is using for the Lionel Connor School since she saw some of the comments that are made by parents on social media and also since she was invited to visit the school Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs announced that the teachers and students at the Lionel Connor School are being affected since October 19th and that testing has been conducted daily at different hours to determine the level of toxic air in the area. Minister Jacobs also added that the Fire department only have equipment to test for 9 types of polluted air and what the level found in the area is not alarming, however, students and teachers have been affected and as such she along with the inspectorate of education took the decision to close the school on Tuesday and Wednesday in order to properly dust the school Read more

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Minister Jacobs Visits Leonard Connor School, School Closed On Wednesday.

CAY BAY - Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs visited the Leonard Connor School Tuesday morning to ascertain how the school was coping with the challenges faced with the noxious gasses which have been negatively affecting the students and staff of the school. The Minister also wanted to make sure that all persons involved knew and understood that the challenges with air pollution negatively affecting the students and staff has the attention of the Ministry Education Culture Youth and Sports.

The Inspectorate ECYS, VSA, and VROMI, as well as the Fire Department, are actively seeking solutions to alleviate the symptoms being experienced at the school Read more

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CAY HILL:---- On October 9th, the Ministry Education, Culture, Youth and Sports organized its second event to bring about the Revitalization of our Natural and Cultural Heritage whilst commemorating Constitution Day in the form of a panel discussion at the Belair Community Center. The aim of the panel discussion was to inform the general public about Parliament and our Constitution while providing those in attendance the opportunity to pose questions and receive answers from the panelists.

Panelists included Secretary General of Parliament Nancy Guishard-Joubert, who gave a thorough explanation of the role and workings of Parliament Read more

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Incoming Ministers S Documents Submitted For Screening.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The seven Ministers that that is expected to take office by the end of October has submitted all the necessary documents for screening.
According to information provided to SMN News. The seven candidates are as follows:-

William Marlin --- Prime Minister
Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Culture Silveria Jacobs was a guest at the Art Exhibit and Auction of artist Tes Verheij commemorating the opening of her new larger space in the Old Street. Making progress in the art world requires much talent, discipline and in this case a growing number of students who take lessons with the artist.

Tes Verheij had to make the move to a larger space to accommodate her 100 students whose work were on display Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The two political parties that got five seats each in parliament did not waste any time in forming a government. The leaders and deputy leaders of the two parties namely William Marlin and Silveria Jacobs from the National Alliance along with Theodore Heyliger and Franklin Meyers from the United Peoples Party signed a coalition agreement shortly after the results were announced.
Up to early Tuesday morning neither of the party leaders could be reached for a comment but SMN News managed to obtain a photograph of the four political leaders and deputy leaders holding up the signed documents. Sources told SMN News that Marlin announced the news in a Whatsapp chat to all his party members and promised to explain them the reasons for his decision in a meeting later today at 1pm Read more

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