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Manzoni officially installed as Gendarmerie Commandant

MARIGOT--Sébastien Manzoni was officially installed as Commandant of the Gendarmerie for St. Martin and St. Barths on Thursday in a ceremony at the La Savane compound.

Manzoni took up his post in St. Martin on August 1, however, the ceremony was delayed due to a similar ceremony for his superior, Colonel Jean-Marc Descoux, which had to take place first in Guadeloupe.

The ceremony on Thursday was presided over by Colonel Descoux who wished Manzoni success, noting the post of a Commandant is a difficult job that rarely allows time off due to the level of crime manifesting itself on a daily basis Read more

French Quarter residents block main road over lack of security

~ Nerves frayed after district suffers 13 fires in two months ~

MARIGOT--The main RN7 road just outside French Quarter at Angel's Insurance was blocked for nearly five hours Wednesday morning as residents demanded accountability from authorities over lack of security in the district following a series of 13 fires in the span of less than two months.

Long lines of cars built up as motorists from both directions were forced to turn around.

A phantom arsonist appears to be at work and the fact that no suspects have been positively identified as perpetrators of the crimes has left residents on tenterhooks, wondering who will be the next victim.

Tensions boiled over after a wooden house on Route de La Saline burnt down Tuesday afternoon, destroying three cars and leaving a family of six homeless Read more

Gibbs offers new school year wishes but says illiteracy must be addressed

MARIGOT--Member of Parliament (MP) Daniel Gibbs said illiteracy is still a phenomenon affecting a large part of St. Martin and attention must be paid to it, as part of his message to children, parents and teachers on the start of the new school year.

   “Unfortunately, a huge part of St. Martin suffers from illiteracy, and I am aware of this scourge,” he said Read more

The final salute, massive crowd turns out to pay last respects to Benjamin

By Judy H. Fitzpatrick

PHILIPSBURG--A massive crowd turned out to pay their last respects to murdered bike patrol leader Police Officer Gamali "Benji" Kwasi Benjamin, who was laid to rest on Thursday in a ceremony fit for a hero.

Scores of persons converged in Philipsburg to witness the ceremony, which attracted mourners from all over the island, including the disciplined services and dignitaries of both Dutch St. Maarten and French St. Martin, and from Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St Read more

Schoelcher Commemoration In Grand Case: Chance-Duzant Wants “Support For The Little Things We Ask”

Attorney Patricia Chance-Duzant is on a roll during her address. Photo Today / Leo Brown

GRAND CASE, St. Martin – Victor Schoelcher, the 19th-century abolitionist writer who had a large influence on the abolition of slavery in the West Indies, leaves his mark every year in Grand Case when a celebration is held to honor his legacy. Also this year there was the traditional church service, the cultural parade and the speeches on the field next to the village’s cultural center. However, by inviting the chair of Grand Case’s community council Patricia Chance-Duzant to speak, the Collectivité called a lot of criticism upon itself, because the speaker did not mince her words.

“We have a lot of work to do in Grand Case,” Chance-Duzant said Read more

Grand Case holds all-day festivities

~ To commemorate Victor Schoelcher ~

GRAND CASE--St. Martin Territorial Council President Aline Hanson and fellow Territorial Council members led a well-attended festive host of activities for the traditional Victor Schoelcher Celebration, also known as Grand Case Fête, in Grand Case on Tuesday morning.

The celebration commemorates both Grand Case and the contributions of Schoelcher against the institution of slavery and towards liberation of the slaves.

Festivities kicked off with a religious service at St Read more

Gendarmes, Firemen, honoured in Bastille Day pinning ceremonies

MARIGOT--The usually predictable format of the Bastille Day programme took on a different twist Tuesday when military medals were bestowed on six Gendarmes and, in a separate ceremony, three professional firemen promoted in rank received their stripes.

The medal ceremony for the Gendarmes of St. Martin and St. Barths conducted by Colonel Thiriot, second in command of the Guadeloupe Gendarmerie, preceded the wreath-laying ceremony at the war memorial in the garden of Hotel de la Collectivité.

Dignitaries from both sides of the island and Anguilla had attended a service in the Catholic Church just earlier.

The Military Medal, France’s third highest military distinction, was pinned on the lapels of Adjudant-Chef Nicolas Heslon (48) of the St Read more

Income tax reduction rate for hotel renovations increased

MARIGOT--A decree concerning a new income tax reduction rate applicable to the hotel renovation sector was published recently in the Official Journal.

Up to now the hotel industry in St. Martin enjoyed an income tax reduction rate of 38.25 per cent for hotel renovation and restoration work while it was 45.9 per cent in other Collectivités under Article 74 of the French Constitution such as New Caledonia, Wallis- et-Futuna, St. Pierre-et-Miquelon, and French southern and Antarctic territories.

St Read more

>Airport:--- Dignitaries from both sides of the island including Anguilla attended the opening ceremony of the renovated departure lounge at the Princess Juliana International Airport on Wednesday evening. Special Projects Coordinator Robert Brown gave an outline to the large gathering how management of PJIAE decided to upgrade the airport beginning with the departure lounge Read more

Betaille: ‘Outlook bleak for solving juvenile delinquency in St. Martin’

MARIGOT--Commandant of the Gendarmerie in St. Martin and St. Barths Paul Betaille said Tuesday that French St. Martin is blighted by delinquency despite a number of Collectivité training programmes and incentive schemes aimed at the youth. He noted the situation could only improve with dedicated political will and deep analysis of the situation.

Speaking at a gathering and cocktail party in La Savane to mark his departure in August for a new posting, Betaille remarked that "delinquency is ingrained in the local culture," adding young St Read more

Abolition of slavery celebrated with speeches, song and dance

MARIGOT--The 167th anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery was commemorated Wednesday at the Agrément roundabout with Lady Liberty looking on approvingly as the scourge of slavery was re-enacted in dance, music and the spoken word by various performers.

Despite an overcast sky threatening rain, only a little came down from time to time but umbrellas were ready.

The audience comprising the entire Territorial Council, Préfet Philippe Chopin, MP Daniel Gibbs, former Mayor Albert Fleming, Economic and Cultural Council President Georges Gumbs, and representatives from the district councils were all seated under a tent to watch the activities.

The ceremony was opened by Malaïka Maxwell singing the song "when you believe" by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston before Percussionist Hélier Coquillas called out the freedom fighters with a conch shell and remained to provide the drumming for the different segments.

President of the Territorial Council Aline Hanson said in her address the commemoration is an opportunity to remember the big sacrifices made by the ancestors for freedom.

"Today we celebrate this freedom and all the people who fought body and soul to liberate our islands and get this precious freedom Read more

SNSM sea rescue RIB christened at marina

MARIGOT--The volunteers of French-side sea rescue service SNSM savoured an uplifting moment Friday evening when their second-hand semi-rigid inflatable boat (RIB) was christened officially at a ceremony on the shore next to Marina Fort Louis in front of elected officials and many invited guests.

The yellow RIB came into view with its crew just before the ceremony began, followed by the lifeboats SNSM 269 from St. Barths and Rescue 2 from the St. Maarten Sea Rescue Foundation, both vessels sounding their horns for the celebratory occasion before tying up to the entrance dock.

The 12-metre-long 3.62-metre-wide RIB named Rescue Star is powered by two 275-horsepower outboard engines and in calm sea conditions can reach speeds of 35-40 knots Read more

Hollande declares Court of First Instance will open January 2016

MARIGOT--President of the French Republic François Hollande made a number of sweeping announcements in his speech to the population of St. Martin at the end of his whirlwind visit to St. Martin last night. Among them were assurances that the social benefit (RSA) would be reformed to be more adaptable for St. Martin with help given to pay off the Collectivité's debt.

He also said a Court of First Instance and a rehabilitation centre for the youth (foyer educatif) would be established, and the number of Gendarmes in the territory would increase this July.

Hollande appeared to be decisive and up to speed on the issues plaguing St Read more

Unprecedented security in place for President François Hollande

MARIGOT--Practically the entire law enforcement detachment of the French side will be on duty for President François Hollande's very brief official visit today, the first for a French President since Jacque Chirac's visit in 2000.

According to reports, 198 Gendarmes will be assuring security assisted by the Territorial Police and officers from Police aux Frontières (PAF). The President will also no doubt have his own security detail close to him.

The Presidential plane is due to touch down at Princess Juliana International Airport at 3:30pm where President Hollande will be welcomed by Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, Governor Eugene Holiday and Chairman of Parliament Dr Read more

Dutch-side French-side governments discuss topics during ‘meet and greet’

MARIGOT--Harmonisation of taxes, rooting out abusers of social benefits, and controlling immigration were among topics marked for high importance at a meeting between the two island governments in Hotel de La Collectivité on Wednesday morning.

It was the first courtesy visit organised between the two administrations since Marcel Gumbs became Prime Minister of Country St Read more

St. Martin Football Association seeking integration with FIFA

MARIGOT—President of St. Martin Football Association (SMFA) Fabrice Baly disclosed Monday St. Martin has applied for membership of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) and is awaiting news since submission of the application on March 17.

At the last General Assembly it was agreed St. Martin Football Association would benefit greatly from integration with FIFA but because St. Martin was not an independent country it needed to receive endorsement from the French Federation of Football (FFF) which was done.

CONCACAF and FIFA member Grenada have also supported St Read more

Police Cooperation bill adopted in National Assembly session

MARIGOT--The law pertaining to the Police Cooperation Treaty between St. Martin and St. Maarten was finally examined and adopted on Thursday, March 19, in the National Assembly and will come into effect around May this year the Préfecture indicated previously.

MP Daniel Gibbs who was the appointed rapporteur confirmed the treaty has now been ratified by both France and the Netherlands.

Gibbs noted that one of the important benefits of the reinforced police cooperation will be control on immigration Read more

Ratification of police cooperation treaty ‘imminent’ Préfet discloses

MARIGOT--The long-awaited ratification of the police cooperation treaty between The Netherlands and France is "imminent," Préfet Philippe Chopin disclosed in a press release on Monday in answer to merchant's concerns over security, increase of violence and random assaults on tourists in St. Martin.

The cooperation treaty, signed already by the Dutch, was one item of good news presented to a delegation of merchants at a closed meeting in the Préfecture following the march earlier in Marigot to protest the crime situation.

The Préfecture's Chef de Cabinet Emmanuel Effantin further confirmed ratification will be completed "before the end of the year" and that MP Daniel Gibbs is the "rapporteur" for the ratification process Read more

Hanson sends condolences to family of Alain Tochou

MARIGOT--President of the Collectivité Aline Hanson has extended her condolences to the family and friends of the late Alain Tochou whose funeral took place Friday.

Tochou (83) passed away during the night of Monday and Tuesday morning last week.

"It is with great sadness that I learned of the death of Alain Tochou," she said in a statement Read more

Biodiversity Institute planned for Réserve Naturelle in 2017

MARIGOT--A 1.5 million-euro Institute of Biodiversity is one of the exciting future projects Réserve Naturelle is engaged in as part of the development contract between Collectivité and State, it was disclosed at a press conference hosted by Réserve Naturelle on Thursday in Anse Marcel.

Feasibility studies are close to completion for the project and State representative Romain Perreau confirmed that 1.5 million euros has been set aside for its creation. The Institute, however, is not expected to be inaugurated before 2017.

Réserve Naturelle Director Nicolas Maslach said the institute will combine elements of research institute, environmental awareness and eco-tourism while its objective will be to improve the knowledge of ecosystems in St Read more

Ribbon cutting launches new season of Tuesday Nights

MARIGOT--The 13th edition of "Les Mardis de Grand Case" kicked off Tuesday evening with a ribbon cutting outside the Lolos at 6:00 where scores of tourists had already descended on the main boulevard, making sure to come early to secure a parking spot for the first of what will be eight weekly events every Tuesday night in season.

Organized each year by Calypso Events, Tuesday Nights has become one of the most successful events in the calendar drawing tourists and locals alike to the boulevard that is transformed into a pedestrian-only street market Read more

Hundreds gather at vigil for Charlie Hebdo victims

MARIGOT--The brutal massacre of journalists and cartoonists at the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris on Wednesday has generated an outpouring of sympathy and solidarity amongst the public in French St. Martin.

Such is the power of social media that organisers of a vigil held at Marina Fort Louis at 6:00pm Thursday managed to gather around 400 persons in record time to pay homage to the victims.

Echomag Editor Laurent Fuentes was one of three organisers behind the spontaneous event Read more

VCG announces teams ahead of 2015 season

MARIGOT—Velo Club de Grand Case (VCG) held its General Assembly on Monday at which the board went over the 2013 accounts, modified the statutes and reviewed the 2014 racing season and results, before announcing the teams for 2015.

Vice-President of the Collectivité Wendel Cocks, MP Daniel Gibbs, representative from main sponsor Dauphin Telecom, Philippe Morel, and President of the Territorial Cycling Federation Rigobert Benjamin were among audience members for the meeting that was chaired by VCG President St Read more