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Com Receives Presentation On Disaster Management Structure, Roles And Responsibilities

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) On Thursday, August 26, the countrys disaster management officials made a presentation to members of the Council of Ministers (COM) concerning the structure of the disaster management system, the role of the Prime Minister and responsibilities of the ministers.

The presentation was given by Disaster Management Coordinator and Fire Chief Clive Richardson, Section Head Disaster Management Paul Martens, and Emergency Support Function (ESF) 9 Governmental Affairs representative Angelique Gumbs.

The COM presentation included the following: disaster definition; types of disasters; legislation; role of ministers; disaster management system; command structure; role of the prime minister; Emergency Support Function (ESF) groups and their tasks.

The ministers were informed about the three ordinances and legal instruments of legislation that govern the countrys disaster management system, namely, the national ordinance disaster management; the national decree containing general measures disaster management; and the national ordinance state of emergency.

The disaster management organization is subdivided into three levels: Operational (On Scene Command COPI); Tactical (ESF groups); Strategic (Emergency Operations Center EOC).

The Prime Minister and Chairlady of the EOC, Hon Read more

Prime Minister Jacobs Meets With Ballast Nedam International Projects Ceo

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — On Wednesday, August 25, 2021, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs held an introductory meeting with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ballast Nedam International Projects B.V., Mr. Roy van Eijsden. Ballast Nedam International Projects B.V. (BNIP) was chosen as the General Contractor for the Airport Terminal Reconstruction Project and officially signed the agreement with PJIAE N.V Read more

Emmanuel: Coalition Not Holding Their Own Accountable, Meeting Requested

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — MP Christopher Emmanuel on Friday said a request has been submitted for an urgent Central Committee meeting with Minister of VSA Omar Ottley regarding COVID-19 protocols, their enforcement by the authorities and circumventing by members of the UP/NA coalition at their discretion for personal pleasure.

The MP said he has listened to Ottleys explanation of what transpired last weekend at Lotus Night Club, but as the Minister of VSA and Interim Minister of TEATT at the time, he did not address pertinent questions that specifically focused on breaching protocols.
The Minister used the opportunity to defend himself and take a target off of his back, but in doing so he either forgot or willfully did not answer important questions, MP Emmanuel said.

The question is, did the event, the same event the Minister said had just 100 people, carry on past 11pm and past 2am in the morning? If yes, who gave the permission to the club owners to continue their party later than the stipulated closing time of 11pm and have they been fined? Simple questions, yet all we get is dancing from the Minister who is obviously only concerned with protecting himself, the MP said.

He said the coalition also has yet to answer for the behavior of the Chairman of Parliament Rolando Brison, who used the medical situation of a fellow MP (MP Buncamper) as an excuse not to travel to Bonaire to attend IPKO, but instead spent a weekend partying Read more

Nagico Insurances Has Launched A Project To Help Promote Safety Awareness In School

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Given the emergence of the highly transmissible COVID-19 Delta variant, NAGICO Insurances has launched a project to help promote safety awareness in schools.

The awareness campaign will see child friendly, colorful posters and social distancing floor stickers, being placed at strategic locations in all Elementary and Secondary schools. The messages on these signs are all geared at informing and reminding students, of COVID-19 safety measures, which they need to practice, which will in turn reduce the risk of contracting and spreading the virus in and around the school campuses.

Our main objective with this project, is to help create a safe environment for our children and teachers in school as this is crucial in curbing the spread of the coronavirus, Eric Ellis; Territory Head for NAGICO St Read more

Prime Minister Jacobs Presented With Integrity Chamber 2020 Annual Report

PHIIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — On Wednesday, August 25, 2021, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs engaged in a fruitful meeting with the board members and director of the Integrity Chamber Sint Maarten to receive the 2020 annual report and updates from the organization. Present at this meeting were the President of the Integrity Chamber Mrs Read more

Winair Audited Annual Accounts For 2020 Approved

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — On Thursday, August 19, a shareholders meeting of Winair Airline was held with all shares represented as Winairs board presented the audited annual accounts for fiscal year 2020. Present at this meeting were the Sint Maarten shareholder represented by the Council of Ministers, the representative of the Netherlands shareholder, the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board of Directors of Winair.

The report was delivered with a clean or unqualified opinion by the auditors, indicative of the boards continued commitment for high quality and timely financial reporting Read more

Sarah Tables The Unfair Taxation Of TheMental Health Professionals On St. Maarten.

Philipsburg, St. Maarten– Member of Parliament, Sarah A. Wescot-Williams in a recent statement stated that It has been some months now that the Association of Psychologists and Allied Professionals (APAP) has approached me regarding challenges faced by its members. In fact, nearly one year ago, the association publicly expressed its concern with respect to the continuation of mental health services by its members due to a number of reasons, such as timely payments, adjustment of tariffs and the fact that since 10-10-10, these professionals, unlike most of their peers, are still subjected to Turn-over-Tax.

MP Wescot-Williams said that for months I have been asking the Minister of Finance, when projected tax amendments will find their way to Parliament Read more

Mgdw Students Get A Surprise Treat

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — The students of the Marie Genevieve de Weever Primary School received a surprise treat late last week. Chris Wever, former Minister teamed up with Norissa Anatol of Uni-corn Flavored Popcorn Treats to surprise close to three hundred students at the school. The colored popcorn bags labeled with Welcome back to school were given to all of the students and staff of the school. Ushering in a new school year in these challenging times with some positivity was a welcoming feeling for everyone, remarked Stuart Johnson, School Manager of the Marie Genevieve de Weever Primary School. Wever stated, I always enjoy giving back to my community especially the students as they surely enjoyed this treat Read more

Minister Ottley: No Permission Given For 2:00 Am Closure

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Minister of VSA, the Honorable Omar Ottley denies rumors of him giving a popular night club the permission to stay open until 2:00 AM.
It is disheartening that certain political figures are quick to spread misleading rumors with zero facts.

The Minister signed a Ministerial Regulation containing COVID guidelines and protocols, with 11:00 PM business closures being one of them.“I am not annoyed with the person in the voice note that has been circulating, but I am very disappointed with the public figures that knows how to access the facts and choose not to.

The Minister went on to state that obtaining factual information is as simple as asking the Inspectorate of VSA/TEATT and KPSM if any approval was given to allow the night club in
question, to operate until 2:00 AM.

Naturally, their answer will be No! Minister Ottley went on to state that it is not a secret that the hours for enjoying night life was scaled back to 11:00 PM; however nightlife is not
prohibited Read more

Frans, Usp Extends Condolences On Max PhelipaS Passing

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Former Member of Parliament Frans Richardson on behalf of the entire US party, expressed heartfelt condolences to the family of Maximiliaan Max Phelipa on Wednesday.

Phelipa passed away at the age of 68 on Tuesday morning, August 17. A former police officer and local artist Phelipa was also widely viewed as a confidant to many, never seeking public acclaim for those he advised or supported in various ways.
Richardson said Phelipas passing is a great loss for St Read more

Prime Minister Jacobs Congratulates New Caricom Secretary General Dr. Barnett

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) Prime Minister Hon. Silveria Jacobs, would like to congratulate the new Secretary General (SG) of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) organization Dr. Carla Barnett who was installed on Monday in a ceremony, becoming the eighth SG of CARICOM and its predecessor the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA), and the first woman to head the regional institution of Caribbean integration.

I would like to congratulate Dr Read more

Debt Cancellation Is The Only Option.

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Member of Parliament George Pantophlet is insistent that debt cancellation is the only viable and reasonable option for St Maarten and the other islands in the Dutch Caribbean. The Central Bank of Curacao and St. Maarten in its article of Monday August 2, 2021 entitled Multi-annual plan deemed crucial for balanced Budget was clear when it stated in its CBSC 2020 Annual Report and he quotes that in both countries the current budget deficit widened significantly in 2020 compared to 2019, due to decline in government revenues combined with an increase in expenditures end of quote.

In the MPs opinion It does not take a rocket scientist to come to this conclusion Read more

Emmanuel: Integrity Chamber Is A Completely Useless Entity

~ Chamber declines to give opinion on Ballast Nedam ~

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Monday said the Integrity Chamber has verified that his initial impression of the entity was exactly on point: a completely useless construction that does not serve the best interest of St. Maarten, only those that forced it upon the country. The double standards are evident, the MP said.

The MPs comment came after he received the response from the Chamber to his request for the Chambers opinion on Ballast Nedam being awarded the contract for the reconstruction of the airport.

He specifically requested an opinion considering Ballast Nedams criminal history of bribing governments and other officials and since it is becoming the norm for the government of St Read more

Former Minister Gordon-Carty Presents Copy Of Her Book To Usp Leader Frans Richardson

St. Peters, Sint Maarten — Former USP Minister of VSA Pamela Gordon Carty presented a copy of her book, 2021 Financial Economic Social & Spatial Recovery Plan Part 1 to the Leader of the United St. Maarten Party (USP) at a ceremony held at her office in St. Peters on Saturday August 14th, 2021.

In attendance was USP Faction Leader MP Buncamper, President of the party Agnes Brooks Mardenborough, Union Leaders Claire Elshot and Raymond Jessurun, Veteran Politician and Political Advisor to many Julian Rollocks, outspoken Political Commentator Edwin James and other invited guest.

The former Minister was the driving force behind the Pamela Policy passed in the National Gazette on February 5th, 2020 Read more

Minister Ottley: Regulates Up To 4 Months Detention Or 5,000Ang Fines

Ministerial Regulation (MR) imposes up to 4 months detention or 5,000 ANG fines for 11 PM closure violators.

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), Omar Ottley is reminding the General Public of the COVID- 19 measures that are still obligatory.

In just a week, the active COVID numbers surged to 300 plus persons; 18 patients are currently hospitalized at SMMC, and 290 persons are in home isolation Read more

The Council Of Ministers Announces Covid-19 Response Measures

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — Over the past 15 months, the government has implemented public health protocols for public safety as we reopened after the first wave. Given the drastic rise to 308 active cases of COVID-19 on St. Maarten, attributed to the Delta variant, the Council of Ministers has decided to implement additional measures to safeguard the health of the general public. These measures have also been taken after much deliberation upon receiving the recommendations of our health professionals.

Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, VSA Omar Ottley stated, Your safety is my number one priority Read more

Members Of Apc BankS Supervisory Board Relinquish Their Position

Willemstad – The members of APC Bank’s Supervisory Board have recently relinquished their positions at the bank. The Supervisory Board is discussing the situation with the shareholder and the Central Bank of Curaao and St. Maarten The parties are working in good consultation together to ensure that there is a responsible transfer of duties and powers.

No further announ Read more

Minister Ottley: Night Life Set To Scale Back To 11Pm.

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), Omar Ottley held a meeting with club night life business owners, beach bar owners, directors and managers from Dutch Sint Maarten.

The purpose of the meeting was to ensure a safe environment for patrons and to avoid COVID clusters within the respective establishment Read more

Minister Ottley Introduces Community Day

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), Omar Ottley hereby informs the public that starting this month August, Minister Ottley will open his office to the public on every last Friday of the month.

During this time, persons can choose to share ideas and suggestions with the Minister Read more