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School Continues With In-Class Instruction On Monday

~Schools boards advised to maintain safety protocols~

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS) Rodolphe Samuel says schools will resume on Monday, January 3 with face-to-face instruction.

  This was stated by the minister in a letter to all parents and guardians regarding advice on the continua Read more

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Chart showing a comparison between the Delta and Omicron cases count.

~ St. Maarten in the midst of its 5th wave ~

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA Omar Ottley, comparing the impacts of the Delta versus the Omicron variants, says although Omicron spreads faster it is milder.

  The Omicron variant is in St Read more

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Ombudsman Concludes Systemic Investigation Into Glucometers

PHILIPSBURG, Ombudsman Gwendolien Mossel recently concluded the Systemic Investigation into the procurement procedure of SZV for the selection of medical aid equipment (glucometers). After providing a Preliminary Findings Report, the Final Report was submitted on 30 December 2021 to the Director of SZV, Mr. Glen Carty. The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), Mr. Omar Ottley, was also provided with a copy of the report.

On 26 May 2020, a complaint was filed by a member of the general public regarding alleged faulty glucose testers being allowed as the sole option under the insurance of SZV Read more

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Ombudsman Concludes Systemic Investigation Into Glucometers

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Ombudsman Gwendolien Mossel recently concluded the Systemic Investigation into the procurement procedure of SZV for the selection of medical aid equipment (glucometers). After providing a Preliminary Findings Report, the Final Report was submitted on 30 December 2021 to the Director of SZV, Mr. Glen Carty. The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), Mr. Omar Ottley, was also provided with a copy of the report.

On 26 May 2020, a complaint was filed by a member of the general public regarding alleged faulty glucose testers being allowed as the sole option under the insurance of SZV Read more

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Pm Jacobs Sees 2022 As Year Of Hope, Continued Progress

Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs

PHILIPSBURG--A year of hope and continued progress was the description used by Prime Minister (PM) Silveria Jacobs to describe 2022.

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Ombudsman Gwendolien Mossel recently concluded the Systemic Investigation into the procurement procedure of SZV for the selection of medical aid equipment (glucometers). After providing a Preliminary Findings Report, the Final Report was submitted on 30 December 2021 to the Director of SZV, Mr. Glen Carty. The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), Mr. Omar Ottley, was also provided with a copy of the report.

On 26 May 2020, a complaint was filed by a member of the general public regarding alleged faulty glucose testers being allowed as the sole option under the insurance of SZV Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- During the Thanksgiving & National Day of Prayer Services that are held annually on the first Sunday in December following the hurricane season and the second Sunday in January respectively a monetary collection is usually gathered. Over the past few years, food baskets were distributed, and additionally, a cash amount of just over NAF 10 000.00 guilders was accumulated. Together with the Department of Culture and the participating Church organizations consisting of the St Maarten/St Read more

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55 Persons To Receive Naf 200.00 Food Vouchers Based On Funds Raised During Previous Thanksgiving & Prayer Services

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Martijn Is New Ocan Director

New Ocan Director Lionel Martijn. (Nick van der Ven photo)

THE HAGUE--Lionel Martijn (62) has been appointed director of Foundation Ocan, the organisation for Dutch Caribbean persons in the Netherlands, per January 1, 2022.

  Martijns appointment was approved during a meeting of the Supervisory Board on December 19. Martijn, who originates from Curaao, will succeed Cynthia Ortega-Martijn, whose appointment in 2020 was of a temporary nature.

  Martijn brings a lot of experience, as he has worked in several advisory and directors functions at multiple organisations Read more

Ecys Working On 2023-2026 Study Financing Priority List

~ Previous recipients invited to focus group ~

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS) Rodolphe Samuel said during Wednesdays live Council of Ministers press briefing that the ministry has begun the required steps to establish the Study Financing Priority List for 2023-2026.

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Omar Ottley informs the public, that due to technical problems with the establishment of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the AOV (Old-age pension), and AWW (Widow- and Orphan Insurance) will not be assessed in time to be indexed per January 1, 2022.

Annually, in accordance with the legislation, the amounts of AOV and AWW are adjusted on the basis of an increase in the CPI of the current year compared to the previous year Read more

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Xtratight Presents Comedy, Tapas & Dance On January 8

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Known for being different and innovative,XtratightEntertainment, famous for Night of the Hit Makers and Christmas Becomes Magical, will be ringing in the New Year in a very different and unique way.

On Saturday, January 8, Xtratight will tickle your funny bone and get you dancing when it hosts Comedy, Tapas & Dance at the Tropicana Ball Room. The event is a combined comedy and dance show featuring the Philosopher of Humor Fernando Clarke and St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Known for being different and innovative, Xtratight Entertainment, famous for Night of the Hit Makers and Christmas Becomes Magical, will be ringing in the New Year in a very different and unique way.
On Saturday, January 8, Xtratight will tickle your funny bone and get you dancing when it hosts Comedy, Tapas & Dance at the Tropicana Ball Room. The event is a combined comedy and dance show featuring the Philosopher of Humor Fernando Clarke and St Read more

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The Suspect, Who Shot A Woman In Middle Region Got Arrested

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The suspect, who shot a woman in Middle Region on Boxing Day, was on his way to turn himself in to the police when he was taken into custody on Monday night.   

The Police were aware that the suspect was going to turn himself in. Since Sunday night SXMISLANDTIME and 721 News with close friends were engaged in deep negotiations with the suspect to give himself in.

“We have to say that we convinced him to give up the gun so he agreed, which is why we made sure the moment he was picked up he would have been in a vehicle and the gun in a different vehicle to make sure there was no threat.”  

“When the police intercepted the truck he was going in on Harold Jack, they did not know about the weapon until he reached and we notified them about the weapon Read more

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Ottley: Business Hours Linked To Covid-19 Hospitalisation

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA Omar Ottley says the scaling back of business hours will be linked to COVID-19 hospitalisations.

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The male suspect that shot his partner in the Middle Region on Boxing Day was arrested on Monday evening at A.J. C Browers Road without incident.
Police Spokesman Joe Josepha said the suspect was taken to the Philipsburg Police Station where is he is being questioned.
In the meantime, the victim remains in critical condition at the St. Maarten Medical Center, unfortunately, the woman lost he unborn baby due to gunshot wounds in her stomach area.
SMN News learned that the young woman was about 6 to 8 weeks pregnant and her unborn child could not be saved.

Suspect arrested in connection with Basseterre Drive shooting

Over the past 24 hours, the staff of the police major crimes unit has been busy investigating the shooting that took place at Basseterre Drive in Middle Region in which a woman was shot several times on Boxing Day Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---  On December 10th, 2021 Orco Bank visited The Seventh Day Adventist School and Leonald Conner School to deliver books by the author Tamara Leonard (local author) facilitated by the bank. The objective of this project is to train Readers into Leaders.
Orco Bank believes in the importance and great effect that reading has on children and their future, therefore the bank fosters this practice and helps schools in the vicinity with this objective Read more

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POINTE BLANCHE:---  On Christmas Eve, Friday, December 24, the Simpson Bay Bridge came to life this holiday season after it was decked out with thousands of lights transforming one of the nations key traffic arteries for motorists and sea traffic.
This is the first time that the bridge was decorated and lighted up for the holiday season.
There are also colored changeable lights on the Causeway Bridge for the festive season.
The Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications Hon Read more

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Ministro Ottley: La Reduccin Del Horario Comercial Estar Vinculada A La Hospitalizacin Por Covid-19.

PHILIPSBURG El Ministro de Salud Pblica, Social Desarrollo y Trabajo, Omar Ottley afirm que si bien estamos notando un aumento en los casos activos en St. Maarten, el pblico no debe entrar en pnico.

El pnico causa un miedo repentino e incontrolable o ansiedad, y aqu es cuando las cosas tienden a salirse de control. El ministro Ottley insta al pblico a recordar adherirse a los protocolos de salud, administrar pases sanitarios para establecimientos, usar la mascarilla, desinfectarse con frecuencia, limitar las reuniones masivas y vacunarse Read more

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Minister Ottley: Scale Back Of Business Hours Will Be Linked To Covid-19 Hospitalization

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten –The Minister of Public Health, SocialDevelopment and Labor, Omar Ottley stated that while we are noticing an increase in active cases on St. Maarten, the public should not panic. Panic causes sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety, and this is when things tend to go out of control.

Minister Ottley urges the public to remember to adhere to the health protocols, administer health passes for establishments, wear your mask, sanitize frequently, limit mass gatherings and get vaccinated / boostered. 

“While I am the Minister of Public Health, I am also the Minister of Labor, and with the country facing dire financial strain, we just cannot afford any lock downs Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- 

The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Omar Ottley stated that while we are noticing an increase in active cases on St. Maarten, the public should not panic. Panic causes sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety, and this is when things tend to go out of control.

Minister Ottley urges the public to remember to adhere to the health protocols, administer health passes for establishments, wear your mask, sanitize frequently, limit mass gatherings, and get vaccinated / boostered.

"While I am the Minister of Public Health, I am also the Minister of Labor, and with the country facing dire financial strain, we just cannot afford any lockdowns Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Yesterday, December 23, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs updated Parliament in writing on the postponed decision of the Kingdom Council of Ministers meeting (RMR) regarding liquidity support for the first quarter of 2022. The postponement was confirmed upon request of the governments of St. Maarten, Aruba, and Curaao in instructions to their respective Plenipotentiary Ministers, after the review of the cover letter containing the proposed decision points drafted by the State Secretary Read more

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Pm: There Is Willingness To Discuss Way Forward

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister (PM) Silveria Jacobs said on Wednesday that there is willingness by caretaker Dutch State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops to discuss the way forward on the current impasse. 

  St. Maarten had requested a postponement of the Kingdom Council of Ministers RMR decision that was scheduled to be taken on Friday last week to approve the deviation from the budgetary norms of Article 15 of the Kingdom Act Financial Supervision RFT.

  The Netherlands made the granting of the deviation conditional on St.  Maartens political approval of the Note of Amendment to the Consensus Kingdom Law on the Caribbean Body for Reform and Development COHO, in an effort to force consensus, Jacobs had said last week.

  Knops also included excerpts of said amendment as decision points for the RMR, thereby circumventing the Parliaments of the Kingdom from debating this aspect of the law, Jacobs had said in a statement last week.

  Furthermore, decision points were included that would give the government of the Netherlands carte blanche to impose further unrelated conditions for future liquidity support.

  While speaking to the media during the live Council of Ministers press briefing on Wednesday this week, Jacobs reported on recent communication from Knops.

  I must say that in recent, lets call it, communication received from the state secretary, there is a willingness to discuss the way forward and we hope that through these discussions, negotiations, that we receive as a country what we deserve, Jacobs told reporters.

  She said there has been quite some uproar about what has been going on in the relations with the Kingdom government.

  Yes, we have been having better relations Read more

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Message From Witu President Stuart Johnson

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – WE are nearing the close of another very-testing year. The Corona Virus which spawned the deadly Delta, and now the highly-infectious Omicron variant, is leaving us exhausted mentally and physically.

Traditionally, December is a hectic month: traffic jams as we head to work and bustling businesses as we try to get the necessities for a memorable holiday.

For some of us, we get the luxury of a few days as a holiday. But for others, there is no such luxury.  

Sanitation workers must ensure the last pickup before Christmas.

Our front-line workers such as nurses, police officers, emergency dispatchers, ambulance personnel, firefighters, PJIAE personnel, Port St Read more

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