SXMElections.com

“The Best Me Is Drug Free, The Greatest Me Is Alcohol Free”

~ Ministry ECYS joins forces with Leo Club for Drug and Alcohol Awareness Campaign ~

PHILIPSBURG – The Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS) in collaboration with the St. Maarten Leo Club have joined forces in a quest to tackle the drugs and alcohol abuse by the youth.

Both parties have been exposed to the dangers and this matter is an ongoing problem with a root in the community, which cannot be solved if the matter is not tackled collaboratively.

Drug and alcohol use/abuse by the youth is a serious matter that must be addressed urgently Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Minister Of Culture Silveria Jacobs Carnival Address

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – As the Carnival Season quickly approaches with jump-ups, pageants, calypso eliminations and parades ahead of the opening of the village, I wish my fellow St. Maarteners and visitors alike, much fun and enjoyment of the cultural celebrations St. Maarten has to offer.

Do enjoy the local cuisine, music and revelry, and in everything you do this Carnival season, do it responsibly. I encourage you to not use this time to deal with a petty feuds or create scenes Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Ecys Ministry Collaborates On Alcohol/Drug Abuse Project

PHILIPSBURG – The Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports (ECYS) together with the Lions/Leos Club of St. Maarten will be collaborating on a drug and alcohol abuse campaign for the youngsters on the island.

Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports Silveria Jacobs stated during the press conference to introduce the project to the media, that it gave her great pleasure to inaugurate this project Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Minister Jacobs: Give A Helping Hand

PHILIPSBURG – In Wednesday’s, March 8, Council of Minister’s Press Briefing Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Silveria Jacobs updated on the following:

This weekend the SXM DOET will be happening all over the Dutch Kingdom. She commended the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School management and staff for initiating the painting of their school, as well as their benches.

As a result of the initiative of the Ministry, three public schools will have murals done Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Jacobs Calls On Women To Make ‘Business To Strengthen Society’

PHILIPSBURG--“Women, let’s make it our business to strengthen our society one woman, one man and one child at a time.” This was the rallying call of Education and Culture Minister Silveria Jacobs in her International Women’s Day (IWD) message.

  Jacobs said in the Council of Ministers Press Briefing on Wednesday that as the world marks IWD “let us pledge to honour women for the role they play in society every day and strive to raise a nation of strong men and women passionate about the progress of this country we call Oualichi, St Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Minister Silveria Jacobs Address On International Women’S Day

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — On this International Women’s Day, I would like to wish all women and girls a Happy International Women’s Day, especially the women of St. Maarten. St. Maarten is also historically known as Oualichi, which means Land of Strong Women.

The women of our land are also indeed strong. I must honor all women of influence, women in leadership in our homes, schools, churches, in the community and in government for the role they play in raising and shaping our tiny island nation.

Being the only female Minister amongst the men, I am deeply honored to be a woman, one of Oualichi descent, proud to be your voice and represent you – to bring the woman’s perspective to the floor Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Mlk Jr School Joins Sxm Doet

DUTCH QUARTER – The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School (MLK) will be part of the upcoming SXM Doet project, which will take place on March 10 and 11. The project titled, “Beautification of Dr. MLK School” will involve the repainting of the entire school campus on March 11 from 7:00am.

This special volunteer initiative is being coordinated by Educational Assistant Alisha Brookes and School Management.

“I am looking forward to the approaching SXM Doet especially since this is the first year our school will be participating,” remarked School Manager of the Dr Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Library Board Seeks Termination Of Monique Alberts

~ In the meantime, she is suspended as Library Director ~

PHILIPSBURG – Last week the news broke in the media that the board of the library had suspended Monique Alberts as Director of the Library. She has held that position for over 7 years.

Alberts has been employed by the Philipsburg Jubilee Library (PJL) since August 2006, and has held the position of Director of PJL since February 2008.

According to information reaching 721news, in a meeting that took place on January 4, 2017 between Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Silveria Jacobs, the PJL Board, Alberts and several civil servants, Minister Jacobs implored those members of the Board who had exceeded their maximum tenure of eight years (Clayton Holiday and Udo Aron, among them) – as stipulated in PJL’s bylaws – to step down and start recruiting new board members.

According to reliable information obtained by 721news newsroom, in that same meeting on January 4, Minister Jacobs addressed the persons, who were representing board members, and informed them that they were illegally executing orders Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Board Members outlived their time-span.

PHILIPSBURG: --- The outlived board members of the Philipsburg Jubilee Library chose to suspend the Director of the Library as of February 1st, 2017 after the board members were advised by the Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs to go home and that new members be appointed to the board.
According to information SMN News obtained the Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs called a meeting with the board members, the director and some civil servants during the month of January since government subsidizes the Philipsburg Jubilee Library and it was in that meeting she learned that the board members have been sitting for 10 years instead of 8 Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Minister Jacobs: Not Just A Marketing Issue, Not Just A Culture Issue, It’S A St. Maarten Issue

PHILIPSBURG – Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Silveria Jacobs in Wednesday’s, March 1, Council of Ministers Press Briefing, updated on issues within Division of Public Education.

After having received a list of grievances last year 2016, from the various public schools, meetings were held with both management and teachers, and those grievances were brought forward to the ministry, Minister Jacobs informed.

Areas of complaint covered, lack of a discipline policy; serious issues with discipline within schools; children with learning disabilities; adherents to the school curriculum; lack of parental involvement; day to day maintenance of school premises, among others.

The Department of Education, Department of Youth Affairs, Head of the Division Inspection and Exams Head of the Division Public Education, and the Secretary General hosted a meeting where these concerns were brought forward and brainstorming and action planning took place on how to facilitate solving some of these grievances.

“The plans are currently underway, some of them in the beginning phases, others as they are long-term still need to begin Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Volleyball Assoc. Donates New Court To Sports Auditorium

PHILIPSBURG – In an effort to improve on the current playing fields and by extension the development of Volleyball on St. Maarten, the St. Maarten Volleyball Association (SIMVA), through its affiliation with the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association received a new court.

Following receipt of this new court, it was decided by SIMVA to donate the court to government facilities, and installed and lined the L.B. Scott Sports Auditorium for the use of volleyball and basketball.

The government facility is managed by the FUSF/NSI, which is the executing arm of government with regard to various sports on the island Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

POND FILL:---  In an effort to improve on the current playing fields and by extension the development of Volleyball on St. Maarten, the St. Maarten Volleyball Association (SIMVA), through its affiliation with the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association received a new court. Following receipt of this new court, it was decided by SIMVA to donate the court to government facilities and installed and lined at the L.B. Scott Sports Auditorium for the use of both volleyball and basketball. The government facility is managed by the FUSF/NSI, which is the executing arm of government with regards to various sports on the island Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Minister Jacobs Attends “Shing Din” For Special Needs Citizens

ST. LOUIS, Saint Martin – On Saturday, February 11, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Affairs, Silveria Jacobs attended the first annual “Shing Din” at the cultural site of St. Louis.

The “Shing Din” was an event put together by the Rambaud-St. Louis Fete Association and hosted the special needs citizens of both the French and Dutch side Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Minister Jacobs Attends “Shing Din” For Special Needs Citizens.

St. Louis:--- On Saturday, February 11th, 2017, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports Affairs, Silveria Jacobs attended the first annual “Shing Din” at the cultural site of St. Louis. The “Shing Din” was an event put together by the Rambaud-St. Louis Fete Association and hosted the special needs citizens of both the French and Dutch side Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

‘S’Maatin English Competition On Int’L Mother Language Day

PHILIPSBURG – In commemoration of International Mother Language Day (February 21), Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (MECYS) Silveria Jacobs is inviting the general public, schools, poets and literary artists to participate and present in an upcoming S’Maatin English Poetry/Storytelling/Narration Competition.

This event will be held on Tuesday, February 21, at the New Government Building on Soualiga Blvd., in Conference Room 1, from 6:00pm-7:30pm, and will be hosted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization National Committee (UNESCO NatCom) in collaboration with the Department of Culture.

Since 1999, UNESCO has designated February 21, as the annual International Mother Language Day, which serves to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by people of the world (www.unesco.org).

Knowing, writing and speaking in one’s mother language is an essential tool for the transmission and safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

S’Maatin English Competition On Int’L Mother Language Day.

PHILIPSBURG:--- In commemoration of International Mother Language Day (February 21), the Honorable Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (MECYS) Ms. Silveria Jacobs invites the general public, schools, poets and literary artists to participate and present in an upcoming S’Maatin English Poetry/Storytelling/Narration Competition Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Jacobs: Putting Our Money Where Our Mouths Are

PHILIPSBURG – At Wednesday’s, February 8, Press Briefing, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports Affairs Silveria Jacobs gave an update on several issues her Ministry was dealing with.

In regard to the Leonald Conner School, funding had been secured and there was a meeting with the contractors. “The critical upgrades to Leonald Conner School are slated to start as of yesterday Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Soccer Foundation Opens 25Th Annual Tournament

BELVEDERE – On Saturday, February 4, the St. Maarten Soccer Educational Foundation Tournament held the opening of its 25th soccer tournament at the John Cruijff Court in Belvedere.

The tournament, which hosts all the elementary schools, is a yearly event, which sees a high level of participation at various age levels and includes both genders. The tournament was kicked off by the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Affairs Silveria Jacobs Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

BELVEDERE:--- On Saturday, February 4th, 2017, the St. Maarten Soccer Educational Foundation Tournament held the opening of its 25th soccer tournament at the John Cruijff Court in Belvedere. The tournament, which hosts all the elementary schools is a yearly event which sees a high level of participation at various age levels and includes both genders. The tournament was kicked off by the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs, Ms. Silveria Jacobs Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Jacobs: Ministry Is Systematically Looking To Prioritize All Challenges

PHILIPSBURG –  At Wednesday’s, February 1, Council of Minister Press Briefing, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sport Silveria Jacobs updated on the issues her Ministry was dealing with.

Agreements were finalized to get the works moving at the Leonald Connor School on “the critical upgrade, which we’ve been speaking about for quite some time.”

The company that won the contract was Hemco NV and Representative Henry Frederick signed an agreement Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

William, Silveria Saddened By Passing Of Freddie York

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister William Marlin and Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs (MECYS) Silveria Jacobs are saddened by the passing of cultural icon George Frederick “Freddie York” Adolphus York, who passed on Thursday a few days after celebrating his 100th birthday Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Minister Jacobs Extends Deepest Condolences To Family And Friends Of The Late George Frederick Adolphus York

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sport Affairs and the government of St. Maarten hereby extend sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the late George Frederick Adolphus aka Freddy York.

Our heart goes out to you in this time of bereavement, with special recognition to our Minister Plenipotentiary Mrs. Henrietta Doran-York as well as MECYS Culture Department head Mr Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

POND ISLAND:--- On Monday, January 30th, 2017, The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Affairs, Honorable Silveria Jacobs, together with the managing director of HEMCO NV, Mr. Henry Frederick & NV GEBE Mr. Kenrick J. Chittick, signed agreements to commence the emergency repairs at the Leonald Conner School. The repairs are scheduled to take 4 weeks until completion.
The assignment of the works was sealed with the signatures of Min Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Jacobs Says Freddy York Is A ‘Cultural Pillar’ Of St. Maarten

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Silveria Jacobs says George "Freddy York" York is the “root of tangible and intangible cultural heritage in St. Maarten, which is evident in the music of the pan, calypso, musical talent, sound production, poetry, etc. of his offspring who share his genes.

---

Candidates in this article: