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Gumbs Questions Teatt Minister About Incomplete Port Supervisory Board

PHILIPSBURG The supervisory board of the Sint Maarten Harbor Group of Companies has been incomplete for almost 18 months, operating with three members shy of the minimally required five, according to the companys statutes.

This concerning state of affairs prompted Party for Progress (PFP) Member of Parliament (MP) Melissa Gumbs on Tuesday to send written questions to Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Roger Lawrence.

In September 2020, The Daily Herald newspaper advertised two vacancies for the supervisory board Read more

Mp Emmanuel Says Nrpb Must Explain 1,400 Homes Repaired Statement

~ Wants a detailed report published ~

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Independent Member of Parliament wants the Director of the NRPB Claret Connor, through the Prime Minister of St. Maarten, to provide a detailed outline/report to the public of St. Maarten of the 1,400 homes and buildings that State Secretary Alexandra van Huffelen said were repaired on St Read more

Emmanuel: 30 Minute Meeting With Van Huffelen Is An Insult

~ Already treating Parliament as an after-thought ~

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Tuesday said he will not allow the people of St. Maarten to be insulted by new State Secretary Alexandra van Huffelen by sitting in a token meeting of 30 minutes to discuss Van Huffelens perspective of equality and other pressing matters such as COHO. I will not waste my time and accept such an insult, I will not sit in that meeting, MP Emmanuel said.

The MP explained that the Parliament of St Read more

Grisha Concerned About Heavy-Handed Approach Of Recent Joint Immigration Controls

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Chairlady of the Justice Committee in Parliament MP, the Honourable Grisha Heyliger-Marten, has sent nine questions to the Minister of TEATT, Justice and VSA asking for updates on the benefits of recent internationally publicized controls on local businesses.

On Tuesday evening, MP Heyliger-Marten also sent a press release to local media expressing severe concern over the “heavy-handed approach” the Ministries took during their recent controls to crack down on illegal activity on the island.

While she agrees that controls are necessary, she worries that the approach leaves many patrons of the establishments where Inspectors from the respective ministries and Uniformed Officers carried out the controls in a state of “shock and fright.”

“Having grown up in these circles, I have a broad and in-depth understanding of matters related to immigration on St Read more

Witu Makes History In St. Kitts At Cut Conference

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) Stuart Johnson returned over the past weekend from attending the Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) 40th biennial conference held in St. Kitts at the Marriott Resort.

Formed in August 1, 1935, the Caribbean Union of Teachers (C.U.T.) is a federation of Teacher Trade Unions in the Caribbean that aims to impart knowledge and experience, while promoting and supporting the work of teachers and education across the region Read more

Grisha Looks Back At Constructive Parlatino Meetings

~ Mutual cooperation and support between members needed to combat poverty ~

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — President of Parliament, the Honourable Grisha Heyliger-Marten, returned recently from her first Parlatino meeting with news of support from member states for Caribbean Dutch territories in their pursuit for full democratic rights.
She attended several presentations during which she networked and generated support for St Read more

Prime Minister Jacobs Isolated After Testing Positive

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — The Honorable Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs Silveria E. Jacobs would like to inform the general public that she has tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend, and will remain in isolation as prescribed by the public health protocols. Prime Minister Jacobs is fully vaccinated, has also taken the booster shot and is experiencing mild symptoms Read more

Mp Emmanuel: Pm Delivers Complete Supervision, Control Through Coho

~ Everything I warned about has come to pass ~

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Sunday said that the Prime Minister of St. Maarten has agreed to full administrative supervision by the Dutch under disguise of establishing the COHO and effectively relegated the Government and Parliament of St. Maarten to rubber-stamp status in their own country.

Exactly as I said this government would from day one, colonialism by a different name, the MP stressed, The MP said New State Secretary Alexandra van Huffelen has maintained the rigid stance of her predecessor Raymond Knops by ensuring that COHO and the CFT will have final say over St Read more

Nine Community Members Receives Rotary SunsetS Vocational Service Excellence Award

COLE BAY, ST. MAARTEN The Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset awarded nine professionals for their outstanding contributions to the community through their vocation and for exemplifying the Rotary ideal of, Service Above Self.

During the clubs general meeting, President Norrisa Anatol presented the 2022 Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunsets Vocational Excellence Awards to Dr. Tasheena Maccow Thomas, Owner of TeeZan Health and Wellness Center in the Health category; Ms. Nicole De Weever, Owner/Founder of Art Save Lives Foundation, local and international dancer and choreographer, in the Arts category; Dr Read more

Government Commits To Commercial Kitchen To Feed School Children And Vulnerable Persons.

PHILIPSBURGMinister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Omar Ottley and the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, Rodolphe Samuel commit to sustainability of commercial kitchen in the shelter project.

In 2020, the Government of Sint Maarten, under the 11th European Development Fund, B-Envelope, signed an agreement to execute a shelter project Read more

Usp: Something Is Afoul At Pjia, Says Management And Board Are Failures

President of the board of the United St. Maarten Party (USP) Cecil Nicholas

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — President of the board of the Unite St. Maarten Party (USP) Cecil Nicholas said it is as clear as day that something is afoul with the ongoing re-construction project of the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) Read more

Mp Emmanuel: Ever Increasing Cost For Pjia Is Corrupt To Its Core

~ Calls on Lawrence to explain publicly ~

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Independent MP Christophe Emmanuel on Wednesday said that the government of St. Maarten, in Particular Minister of TEATT Roger Lawrence, owes the public an explanation on why so much of their money is being wasted at the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) with ever increasing costs for a facility that only had to be repaired, not re-built. The MP pointed out that he had asked about overrun of costs at the airport and its slow progress on numerous occasions, only to be told by government, Lawrence included, that there were no overrun of costs Read more

Minister Ottley: Business Hours Extension Forthcoming.

PHILIPSBURG On Wednesday February 9th, during the live Council of Ministers press briefing, the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Omar Ottley announced that if the hospitalization and active numbers continue in its current trajectory, business hours will be extended to 1 am as soon as Friday February 11th.

The Minister then stated that while we have always been at the fore front of the COVID-19 realities, we now see the rest of the world speaking of the endemic nature of the virus and they are slowly lifting their COVID-19 protocols.

Minister Ottley announced that St Read more

St. Maarten Welcomes Ambassador Joke Brandt

Philipsburg On Monday, February 8, St. Maarten welcomed the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations, Her Excellency Ambassador Joke Brandt for a two-day working visit. Ambassador Brandt who was accompanied by First Secretary Climate and Environment, Kavish Bisseswar, executed an extensive agenda that allowed her the opportunity to meet with government officials, the St. Maarten Youth Parliament and local artists. This working visit was planned by Ambassador Brandt in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs to gain more knowledge and understanding of the specific needs and priorities for St Read more

Pantophlet Lauds Van Huffelen ForHonouring Her Word, Giving Hope

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament (MP) George Pantophlet on Sunday lauded the new Dutch government and in particular State Secretary for Home Affairs and Digitization Alexandra van Huffelen for keeping her promise giving the people of St Read more

Closure Of Meeting Hampered Discussion Of Motion On Long-Lease Land, Says Pfp

~MPs to request public meeting~

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten —While creating a draft policy on long-lease land is commendable, Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) Egbert J. Doran did not comply with the motion submitted by the Party for Progress (PFP) and passed by Parliament in October 2021. The follow-up meeting to discuss the resolutions that the motion brought forward was abruptly closed before it could truly start.

This is why several MPs – including PFP’s Melissa Gumbs and Raeyhon Peterson – have requested a public meeting of Parliament to discuss the motions resolutions, especially in light of last weeks verdict of the Court of First Instance, which ordered the VROMI Minister to cease from issuing long-lease rights in Vineyard Heights Read more

Deviation Article 25 Rft Granted To St. Maarten

Philipsburg Today, February 4, St. Maarten was granted the approval to deviate from article 25 Rft to be able to ratify its justifiable deficit budget. This decision was approved during the Kingdom Council of Ministers (RMR) meeting held in The Hague based on the positive advice as presented by BZK. The deviation to which the Committee of Financial Supervision (CFT) had advised positively since the end of November 2021, was the first point on the agenda for today. Government lived up to its legal obligation to submit the budget and to request deviation based on the national budgets deficit caused by the disasters the country has been facing from 2017 until present Read more

St. Maarten Progresses With Eu B-Envelope Shelters Project

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — On Thursday, February 3, 2022, a Steering Committee Meeting, chaired by St. Maarten {SG AZ, supported by BAK}, with representatives from the European Union (EU) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Ministry of VSA and the Ministry of VROMI, will take place. The focus of the steering committee meeting is to discuss the strategic focus for the coming year(s), share best practices, provide updates on all elements of the project and if necessary, suggest modifications based on lessons learned from the past year or other programs.

A large milestone has been achieved in March 2021, when the 11th European Development Fund B-Envelop Shelters project was launched for St Read more

Ursm Launches Weekly Radio Show

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — The Unified Resilient St.Maarten Movement (URSM) will be launching a weekly radio show on MIX 94.7FM. The first radio show launches on Wednesday, February 2, 2022 at 1:00pm. Featured on the first radio show will be Leader of URSM Doctor Luc Mercelina. “URSM is excited to launch this radio show which Read more

Prime Minister Jacobs Meets With State Secretary Van Huffelen Over Note Of Amendment

THE NETHERLANDS / SINT MAARTEN — On January 31, the Honorable Prime Minister Silveria E. Jacobs participated in a four-country level consultation held by State Secretary Alexandra van Huffelen together with the Prime Minister of Curacao, Hon. Gilmar Pisas and the Prime Minister of Aruba, Hon. Evelyn Wever-Croes. Prime Minister Jacobs was able to address several concerns St Read more

Central Committee Meeting Of Parliament Regarding The Financial Status Of Winair

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten- The House of Parliament will sit in a Central Committee meeting on January 31, 2022.

This Central Committee meeting, which was adjourned on October 20, 2021, will be reconvened on Monday at 14.00 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of General Affairs will be present. The agenda point is: The (financial) status of Windward Islands Airways (IS/1135/2019-2020 dated August 18, 2020 and IS/ 169/2020-2021 dated November 16, 2020) This meeting was requested by MP S.A Read more

Was The Meeting Held To Debate The Budget Illegal?

Member of Parliament George Pantophlet is asking the question as to why it is being said that passing the Budget without the approval of the Kingdom Council of Ministers is illegal. Pantophlet is not negating the fact that every Member of Parliament has to vote his/her conscience. “We all took an oath to do so. The meeting in which the Budget was discussed happened in accordance with article 34.2 of the rules of order which states: “As soon as the attendance list is signed by at least half plus one, the President opens the meeting Read more

Up Party Goes Digital To Get Community Feedback

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The United Peoples UP Party has launched three online polls to gauge the pulse of the public. UP is building various digital platforms and stepping up its use of technology to aid in its promise to deliver a new, cleaner, more transparent politics that engages all citizens and gets them involved in St. Maartens redevelopment.

When it comes to innovation and creativity, the UP Party continues to lead the way.

The first three polls launched are SXM Business Owners Survey: HTTPS:www.bit.ly/UPP2022BusinessSurvey, UPP Anonymous National Anthem Poll:www.bit.ly/UPP2022-NationalAnthemand UPP Feedback form:www.bit.ly/uppfeedback.

Each poll provides citizens with a unique opportunity to speak directly to the elected officials in both Government and Parliament on a wide range of subjects Read more

Mp Emmanuel: Prime Minister Again Shows Why Her Government Cannot Be Trusted

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Independent MP Christophe Emmanuel on Thursday said that the Prime Ministers statements that politics was being played with the airport dossier of airport COO Michel Hyman was a bad joke that re-enforces why Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and her government cannot be trusted.

The PM he said, when caught in a lie or gross negligence of duty, continues to deflect, blame, lie and spin the issues Read more