SXMElections.com

Par Celebrates Election Victory

UPDATE

WILLEMSTAD – The preliminary results of Curaçao’s 2017 elections are in. The biggest winner with 18,362 votes is PAR headed by Eugene Rhuggenaath. It was the first time he participated as political leader.

The MAN led by former Prime Minister Hensley Koeiman came in second with 16,071 votes, followed at third place is current coalition party MFK of Gerrit Schotte Read more

Road Closures For Upcoming Parades And Jump Up

PHILIPSBURG:---In connection with the upcoming Grand Parade scheduled for May 1st, the Second Day Parade scheduled for May 2nd and the closing Jump up scheduled for May 3rd the Police Department is announcing the following road closures.
Grand Parade May 1st, 2017
The parade is scheduled to start at 10.00 a.m. leaving the entrance of Sint Johns Ranch on the L.B. Scot road with the following route: Sint Johns Estate road/ L.B. Scot road/Bush road/W.J.A. Nisbeth road/Percy Labega Street/Longwall road/Kerkhof Steeg/Front Street/ Emma plein/ Welvaart Brug/Buncamper road/Freedom Fighter Round About/W.J.A Read more

Police: Road Closures For Upcoming Parades And Jump Up

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — In connection with the upcoming Grand Parade scheduled for May 1st, the Second Day Parade scheduled for May 2nd and the closing Jump up scheduled for May 3rd the Police Department is announcing the following road closures.

Grand Parade May 1st 2017

The parade is scheduled to start at 10.00 a.m. leaving the entrance of Sint Johns Ranch on the L.B. Scot road with the following route: Sint Johns Estate road/ L.B. Scot road/Bush road/W.J.A. Nisbeth road/Percy Labega Street/Long wall road/Kerkhof Steeg/Front Street/ Emma plein/ Welvaart Brug/Buncamper road/Freedom Fighter Round About/W.J.A Read more

Opposition Party Says It Will Win May 10 Poll

NASSAU, Bahamas – The main opposition Free National Movement (FNM) says it will win the May 10 general elections even as a political storm appears to be brewing over remarks made by Prime Minister Perry Christie that not even “God could stop” the ruling Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) from attaining victory at the polls.

Addressing a political rally in Grand Bahama over the weekend, FNM leader, Dr Hubert A Minnis said before arriving to address the rally, he had received “a formal report on the state of the general election.

“The report is based on information from every constituency and includes specific numbers Read more

Bamboo Gaining Traction In Caribbean As Climate Savior

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Keen to tap its natural resources as a way to boost its struggling economy, Guyana struck a multi-million-dollar deal with Norway in 2009.

Under the deal, Norway agreed to pay up to 250 million dollars over five years, if Guyana, a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country in South America, maintained a low deforestation rate.

It was the first time a developed country, conscious of its own carbon-dioxide emissions, had paid a developing country to keep its trees in the ground.

The initiative was developed by the United Nations and called REDD+ (for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation plus conservation).

The main aim was to allow for carbon sequestration – the process involved in carbon capture and the long-term storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Trees are thirsty for the potent greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, soaking it up during photosynthesis and storing it in their roots, branches and leaves Read more

Victorious Living Celebrates 15 Years & Hosting Leadercast For 5 Years

Leadercast Registration deadline May 1st

Belair, St Maarten —  Leadercast Live 2017, the largest one day global leadership conference, hosted locally by Victorious Living Foundation via live simulcast is only one week away. As the excitement mounts, over 100 persons have already registered for this transformational experience hosted consecutively on St. Martin by Victorious Living for the past five years.

The theme for Leadercast 2017 is “Powered by Purpose.” Headliners at this year’s event include the world renowned director, playwright, producer and philanthropist, Tyler Perry; Dr Read more

Prime Minister William Marlin Meets With Progress Committee  

 

PHILIPSBURG – On Friday morning April 28th , Prime Minister William Marlin met with the Progress Committee. Prime Minister Marlin said that in the past reports have been very critical, but the reporting this time has been quite positive.

The new Justice Minister, Mr. Rafael Boasman is very serious about tackling the Plans of Approach Read more

Preparations Has Commenced For Memorial Day On May 4Th

PHILIPSBURG –  Prime Minister William Marlin hereby makes it known that preparations for Memorial Day have commenced. Memorial Day is the National Day of Remembrance, which is the day that we commemorate the victims who have died in wars or peacekeeping missions since the outbreak of World War II have commenced.

The preparations include the relocation of the commemoration plaques at the Captain Hodge Wharf to a more publicly accessible location on the same Wharf Read more

Vwa Concludes Saturday As Preps Get Underway For Vaccination Open House In May And June

 

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – Vaccination Week in the Americas (VWA) which kicked off onSaturday, April 22, concludes on Saturday, April 29.

VWA did not go un-noticed in Sint Maarten, as Minister of Public Health Emil Lee received promotional materials from the local VWA Committee to signify the support of the country wi Read more

GREAT BA(DCOMM):--- Vaccination Week in the Americas (VWA) which kicked off on Saturday, April 22, concludes on Saturday, April 29.

VWA did not go un-noticed in Sint Maarten, as Minister of Public Health Emil Lee received promotional materials from the local VWA Committee to signify the support of the country with the annual VWA campaign.

Sint Maarten will start with its own vaccination campaign that will be organized in May and June Read more

Preparations Has Commenced For Memorial Day On May 4Th

PHILIPSBURG - Prime Minister William Marlin hereby makes it known that preparations for Memorial Day have commenced. Memorial Day is the National Day of Remembrance, which is the day that we commemorate the victims who have died in wars or peacekeeping missions since the outbreak of World War II have commenced.

The preparations include the relocation of the commemoration plaques at the Captain Hodge Wharf to a more publicly accessible location on the same Wharf Read more

Draft Law Soon On Upping Age For Alcohol Purchase

PHILIPSBURG--The Penal Code establishes the legal alcohol drinking age at eighteen, but the ordinance regulating the sale of alcohol prohibits the sale of alcohol to anyone below age sixteen. This glaring discrepancy will soon be tackled by Parliament via an initiative draft law.

The draft law to amend the Permit Ordinance was initiated by former Member of Parliament now Minister of Education and Youth Read more

Caricom’S Energy-Efficient Building Code Could Be Tough Sell

By Jewel FraserPORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Caribbean Community (Caricom) states are in the process of formulating an energy efficiency building code for the region that would help reduce CO2 emissions, but implementation of the code may depend heavily on moral suasion for its success.

Fulgence St. Prix, technical officer for standards at Caricom Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) who is overseeing the Regional Energy Efficiency Building Code (REEBC), told IPS, “When we at the regional level propose a standard or code it’s meant to be voluntary…We do not have the mechanism to dictate to member states to make any standard the subject of a technical regulation thus making implementation mandatory.”

In keeping with WTO guidelines, he said, “A standard is a voluntary document Read more

One Killed, Three Injured In Explosion At Rui Montego Bay Hotel

KINGSTON, Jamaica – One man was killed and four injured in an explosion at the RIU Montego Bay Hotel in the western parish of St. James on Thursday.

The Jamaica Fire Brigade reports the explosion happened in the main boiler room of the hotel.

The public relations officer of the Jamaica Fire Brigade, Emeleo Ebanks, said the cause of the explosion is not yet known.

As investigations continue into the incident, the hotel has been closed and guests moved to other locations.

“There is no electricity and the guests were relocated to the other hotels in the island Read more

Upp Faction Forfeits Opportunity To Represent The People

The Central Committee of Parliament made history last week when it scheduled ample time to discuss the 2016-2020 Governing Program “Solidarity for Prosperity.” As far as I can recall, this is the first time that Parliament planned so many meetings to handle a governing program. The only other topic for which so many meetings are scheduled by Parliament is the country’s budget. I am a strong believer that these two go hand in hand and we should expect to see the priorities and projects listed in the governing program also reflected in all future budgets presented.

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA), comprised of the USP, DP and NA factions, also ought to be commended for their display of unity during the opening presentation Read more

Minister Jacobs Pushes Initiative To Increase Drinking Age

 

PHILIPSBURG – It is Parliament’s policy that initiative draft laws presented to Parliament and whose authors are no longer Members of Parliament, can be further promoted by the faction to which the initiative taker belonged.

This is the case with the change to the permit ordinance and the “legal” drinking age. One would recall that the Lion’s Club has been an advocate for the legal drinking age to be established at 18. This is the case in the penal code, however, the permit ordinance that regulates the sale of alcohol, prohibits the sale of alcohol to persons below the age of 16.

This discrepancy was addressed in Parliament during a meeting with representatives of the Lion’s Club.

Former Member of Parliament (MP) and present Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Silveria Jacobs, presented an initiative draft law, amending the permit ordinance to bring this in line with the penal code Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- It is parliament's policy that initiative draft laws presented to parliament and whose authors are no longer members of parliament, can be further promoted by the faction to which the initiative taker belonged.
This is the case with the change to the permit ordinance and the "legal" drinking age.
One would recall that the Lion's Club has been an advocate for the legal drinking age to be established at 18. This is the case in our penal code, however, the permit ordinance that regulates the sale of alcohol, prohibits the sale of alcohol below the age of 16 Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Over the weekend a small group consisting of Minister Emil Lee and one representative each from INSO, Royal Haskoning, St. Maarten Medical Center, and KPMG, visited the Owen King E. U. Hospital in St. Lucia. During their tour of the hospital built by INSO this group met with the Honorable Minister of Health and Wellness, Minister Mary Isaac Read more

Charlotte Brookson Academy Hosts Staff Retreat 

 

PHILIPSBURG – The Charlotte Brookson Academy of the Performance Arts recently concluded its retreat on April 18.

The 14 members of the board, management and staff gathered at the conference room of the Simpson Bay Resort. The purpose of the retreat was to re-establish a common understanding of the CBA vision and the school development plan, strengthen a collective understanding of how the vision will be implemented, monitored and evaluated and to identify strategic personal and professional development plans for the staff.

The turbulent process of moving to the new location, and in preparation for the upcoming school year and getting approval for the future focus of the school, management and staff felt it opportune to get together in a conducive environment to reflect on the immediate past, the successes, challenges and opportunities for the future of CBA.

The sessions were facilitated by independent consultant Marjan de Visser and assisted by Human Resources and Finance Manager Hiro Shigemoto and Innovations Coordinator Okama Ekpe Brook Read more

Draft Law Establishing Timeshare Authority For St. Maarten Under Review

 

PHILIPSBURG – It has not gone unnoticed that timeshare users of units on St. Maarten have been very vocal as of late regarding the draft law to establish a timeshare authority.

“There is quite a history behind the proposal to establish a Timeshare Authority, starting with a motion passed in Parliament on June 29, 2011 to establish a ‘timeshare regulatory body,’” explained Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams.

With the help and involvement of many, in and outside of government/parliament and the timeshare industry, two draft initiatives were tabled by former MP P Read more

Draft Law Establishing A Timeshare Authority For St. Maarten Under Review.

PHILIPSBURG:--- It has not gone unnoticed that timeshare users of units on St. Maarten have been very vocal as of late regarding the draft law to establish a timeshare authority.
“There is quite a history behind the proposal to establish a Timeshare Authority, starting with a motion passed in Parliament on June 29, 2011, to establish a ‘timeshare regulatory body”, explained MP Wescot-Williams.
With the help and involvement of many, in and outside of government/parliament and in and outside of the timeshare industry, two draft initiatives were tabled by former MP, P Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Charlotte Brookson Academy of the Performance Arts concluded its retreat on April 18th, 2017. The 14 members of the board, management, and staff gathered at the conference room of the Simpson Bay Resort. The purpose of the retreat was to reestablish a common understanding of the CBA vision and the school development plan, strengthen a collective understanding of how the vision will be implemented, monitored and evaluated and to identify strategic personal and professional development plans for the staff Read more

WILLEMSTAD/ PHILIPSBURG:--- The medical director of SEHOS (St Elizabeth Hospital ) Dr. Franke Scheper worked closely with the Inspector of Health in Curacao Dr. Gersji Pererira to find a workable solution and one that he could manage in the interest of Healthcare.
Dr. Michel Berry was suspended by the institution in the month of January for not seeing and treating a patient that was admitted to SEHOS. The moment Dr. Berry was suspended both by SEHOS and the Inspector of Health the director of SEHOS called in two different auditors from the Netherlands to conduct an independent audit on the quality of surgery care and on patient safety.
Shortly after that SEHOS discovered that one of their surgeons, Dr Read more

A New Political Party Launches In Antigua

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – With a promise to advocate for transnational leadership and changing how politics has been practiced here, a new political party was launched Tuesday.

Member of Parliament for All Saints East and St Luke Joanne Massiah said the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) would change the culture of disillusionment with the current crop of political leaders in Antigua and Barbuda.

Massiah, who is a founding member of the DNA, said she would name candidates “after carnival.”

She envisions a “new Antigua and Barbuda” where residents can live out the motto, each endeavoring all achieving.

Massiah told the launch of her party, at the Multi-purpose Centre in the capital, that others in the past have failed to provide a reliable “supply of water, electricity and modern road infrastructure”.

She promised a 20-year development plan for the country called vision 20/20.

“Growth is only possible if we are prepared to change,” the female legislator said, while quoting the national anthem.

“We intend to give people hope Read more