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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Disciple Peter said, “use your God-given gifts to serve others”. Solange Ludmila York-Duncan; a young, strong and progressive professional has made the ultimate decision and postulated herself as #10 on the National Alliance slate. Ludmila was born and raised on St. Maarten and currently holds the position of Policy Advisor in the Ministry of Education Read more

Pm Romeo Marlin Expresó Condolencias Al Gobierno Y El Pueblo De Los Países Bajos

Primera Ministra de Sint Maarten Leona Romeo Marlin

PHILIPSBURG – Nueva juramentada Primera Ministra Leona Romeo Marlin, expresó sus condolencias al Gobierno y al pueblo de los Países Bajos en nombre de Sint Maarten por el fallecimiento de 3 personas durante la severa tormenta invernal del jueves 18 de los corrientes ocurrida en los Países Bajos.

Como país del Reino de los Países Bajos, nuestro apoyo y solidaridad inquebrantables se dirigen a los Países Bajos, y a los sanmartinianos residentes en los Países Bajos Read more

Mp Drs Rodolphe Samuel Visit Nipa

CAY HILL, Sint Maarten — As a result of the passing of Hurricane Irma many areas on the island were severely damaged.

Besides the enormous damage to homes and school buildings many of our hotel properties have also sustained serious damage forcing their closure in order to repair and rebuild.

Knowing that it would be impossible for all the workers in the Hospitality trade to find work elsewhere the Government devised a plan / solution to remedy this negative situation.

The previous Minister of Finance – former Minister Richard E Read more

Minister De Weever Attends Justice Meeting

WILLEMSTAD / PHILIPSBURG — Immediately after having been sworn in as Minister of Justice on Monday January 15th, 2018 the Honorable Minister Cornelius de Weever traveled to Curacao to participate in the biannual meeting of the four Ministers of Justice of the countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

During the formal Ministers’ meeting which took place on Tuesday January 16th agreements where made regarding cooperation and joint programs towards: further strengthening the Justice-chain, the prevention of High Impact Crimes, improving exchange of data, the implementation of ICT systems and combating Human Smuggling and Trafficking.

In addition, the Honorable Minister of Justice of Sint Maarten and his esteemed colleagues of Curacao Minister Girigorie, Aruba Minister Bikker and the Netherlands Minister Grapperhaus agreed to explore the possibilities of modernizing and improving the Prison System.

Particular emphasis was furthermore placed on the importance of the implementation and continuous carrying out of crime prevention programs specifically aimed at the youth as well as improving legislative capacity on the islands.

In his closing remarks Minister de Weever expressed his gratitude and extreme appreciation for all the assistance and support the kingdom partners have given Sint Maarten during the aftermath of hurricane Irma.

“I would like to thank the St Read more

POND ISLAND:--- On Monday, January 15th, almost immediately after new Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Jorien Wuite was sworn in, the Minister and members of her cabinet attended a stakeholder consultation session at the University of St. Martin regarding the Ministry’s Resilience Plan (MRP). The plan, formulated in collaboration with UNICEF representatives, MECYS Policy department heads and the policy advisor of staff bureau in response to the devastation caused by hurricane IRMA, has as its main objectives: to establish a foundation for a sustainable recovery plan and to improve disaster responsiveness before, during and after disasters in the education, culture, youth and sport sector.

This meeting was the second stakeholder session as a follow up to an initial inter-sector consultation session in October 2017 Read more

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao:--- Immediately after having been sworn in as Minister of Justice on Monday, January 15th, 2018 the Honorable Minister Cornelius de Weever traveled to Curacao to participate in the biannual meeting of the four Ministers of Justice of the countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

During the formal Ministers’ meeting which took place on Tuesday, January 16th agreements where made regarding cooperation and joint programs towards: further strengthening the Justice-chain, the prevention of High Impact Crimes, improving exchange of data, the implementation of ICT systems and combating Human Smuggling and Trafficking.

In addition, the Honorable Minister of Justice of Sint Maarten and his esteemed colleagues of Curacao Minister Girigorie, Aruba Minister Bikker and the Netherlands Minister Grapperhaus agreed to explore the possibilities of modernizing and improving the Prison System.

Particular emphasis was furthermore placed on the importance of the implementation and continuous carrying out of crime prevention programs specifically aimed at the youth as well as improving legislative capacity on the islands

In his closing remarks, Minister de Weever expressed his gratitude and extreme appreciation for all the assistance and support the kingdom partners have given Sint Maarten during the aftermath of hurricane Irma.

“I would like to thank the St Read more

Prime Minister, fellow ministers of the Council, members of the media, Good Morning.

Let me begin by expressing my appreciation to the Prime Minister and my fellow council ministers for the opportunity to work with such a vibrant and enthused set of individuals whose only motive is to see the people of St. Maarten through the recovery phase that we are currently in.

Hurricane Irma has undoubtedly changed not only the physical landscape of our island; it has changed the economic, financial and psycho-social landscape as well Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- CEO of government-owned company GEBE Kenrick Chittick scored poorly during the evaluation process, while the CFO Iris Arrindell and COO Veronica Jansen-Webster met the expectations of the Supervisory Board.
SMN News learned that Chittick scored a “2” meaning that he needs to improve his performance as the CEO Read more

Wuite Attends Second Mrp Stakeholder Consultation Meeting

PHILIPSBURG – On Monday, January 15th, almost immediately after new Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Jorien Wuite was sworn in, the Minister and members of her cabinet attended a stakeholder consultation session at the University of St. Martin regarding the Ministry’s Resilience Plan (MRP).  The plan, formulated in Read more

First Press Briefing Address Of Minister Ecys

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Prime Minister, fellow ministers of the Council, members of the media, Good Morning.

Let me begin by expressing my appreciation to the Prime Minister and my fellow council ministers for the opportunity to work with such a vibrant and enthused set of individuals whose only motive is to see the people of St. Maarten through the recovery phase that we are currently in.

Hurricane Irma has undoubtedly changed not only the physical landscape of our island; it has changed the economic, financial and psycho-social landscape as well.  As Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, besides lending my support and focus to the agreements of the governing accord of the Romeo-Marlin cabinet, in these coming weeks and months my priorities will also be on the early and midterm recovery of our nation and the areas that pertain to my ministry in particular.

As I received Cultural Xpressions of Inspiration for today I would like to share it with you as it says that “Put your heart, mind and soul into even your smallest acts Read more

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- As a follow-up to a unanimous decision of the newly installed incoming Council of Ministers (COM), a delegation consisting of Minister of Finance, Michael Ferrier, Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Emil Lee, Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure, Miklos Giterson and Deputy Minister Plenipotentiary Hasani Ellis, were given a tour of the Sint Maarten Airport Terminal Building (ATB) in the afternoon of Monday, January 15, the same day the Council was sworn in.

Prior to his departure to Curaçao for his first ‘Justitieel Overleg (JVO)’, Minister of Justice Cornelius de Weever, also visited the airport building.

Management and board of SXM Airport were present and conducted both tours for the delegation, as well as for Minister de Weever.

It was pointed out to the representatives of the airport that the public’s perception of Sint Maarten’s ATB is that after four and a half months post-hurricane Irma, the main portal of Sint Maarten’s economy is still in shambles and that seemingly very little has been done to repair the destruction.

While according to the airport officials present, improvements are being made, amongst which having a baggage handling system that is now about 80% functional, the conditions of the ATB appear to have been allowed to deteriorate daily, according to the visiting ministers.

Practically the entire roof continues to leak unabated even today, resulting in mold throughout the entire facility Read more

CUPECOY:--- Four months after Hurricane Irma caused American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC) to evacuate students and faculty from Sint Maarten, AUC has resumed classes on its Sint Maarten campus. The medical school has begun a phased return to Sint Maarten after holding its September 2017 semester on the campus of the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in Preston, United Kingdom.

“The last four months have required a tremendous amount of teamwork, support, and resilience from our students, faculty, and colleagues as well as from UCLan, which welcomed AUC and provided immense support,” said Heidi Chumley, MD, Executive Dean of AUC Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Monday, January 15th, 2018, His Excellency the Governor, drs. Eugene B. Holiday, administered the oath of office to Ms. Jorien Wuite as Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport (ECYS).

Wuite, a senior civil servant and former Secretary General of the Ministry of ECYS, is the daughter of two educators and granddaughter of well-known butcher and farmer “Alec the Butcher” from Middle Region Read more

Chairperson of Parliament, Members of Parliament
Prime-Minister, Ministers,
Préfète déléguée of Saint Martin and St. Barths
President of the Collectivity of Saint Martin
Distinguished Guests, Good Morning,

On November 2, 2017, a shift in the majority in Parliament took place creating the basis for the transfer of governing responsibility to a new team of Ministers. Today, almost two and half months later we have before us a council of ministers supported by the new majority in Parliament.
During the formation period for this interim cabinet, I consulted with various persons and named Mr Read more

Dear people of Sint Maarten,

There is a time for hellos, and a time for farewells.
As my tenure as Minister Plenipotentiary of Sint Maarten has come to its end, l say farewell with a heart full of gratitude.
Gratitude for the opportunity to have served my people and my island, and above all, gratitude to God for allowing me to take on this very challenging task, with dignity and integrity, with humility and determination, with faith and conviction, especially at a time as this.
When I was approached in 2015 to take on this role, l saw it as a great challenge that I could not resist.
A task that I knew I was well able to take on and execute to the fullest expectations of the people of Sint Maarten.
The title of “Minister Plenipotentiary” evokes a diplomatic language, with “representation” as its key meaning.
Being part of the Dutch Kingdom Council of Ministers, meant representing St Read more

Speech Governor Holiday Swearing-In Interim Ministers

Chairperson of Parliament, Members of Parliament

Prime-Minister, Ministers,

Préfète déléguée of Saint Martin and St. Barths

President of the Collectivity of Saint Martin

Distinguished Guests, Good Morning,

On November 2, 2017, a shift in the majority in Parliament took place creating the basis for the transfer of governing responsibility to a new team of Ministers. Today, almost two and half months later we have before us a council of ministers supported by the new majority in Parliament.

During the formation period for this interim cabinet, I consulted with various persons and named Mr Read more

Minister Of Teatt Receives Tour Of Princess Juliana International Airport By Managing Board

Simpson Bay, St. Maarten – The Managing Board of the Princess Juliana International Airport- SXM hosted a guided tour for the Honorable Minister of Justice and Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT), Cornelius de Weever on Monday January 15, 2018 at the terminal building.

The PJIAE Managing Board members included the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Michel Hyman and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ravi Daryanani Read more

Jorien Wuite New Minister Of Education, Culture, Youth And Sport

PHILIPSBURG — On Monday, January 15th, 2018, His Excellency the Governor, drs. Eugene B. Holiday, administered the oath of office to Ms. Jorien Wuite as Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport (ECYS).

Wuite, a senior civil servant and former Secretary General of the Ministry of ECYS, is the daughter of two educators and granddaughter of well-known butcher and farmer “Alec the Butcher” from Middle Region Read more

Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin 1St Official Address To The People Of Sint Maarten

PHILIPSBURG –  Let me commence by sharing a few of the  lyrics of a song called Not alone for mighty empire. Written by William P. Merrill, in 1911.

Not alone for mighty empire,

Stretching far over land and sea,

Not alone for bounteous harvests,

Lift we up our hearts to Thee.

Standing in the living present,

Memory and hope between,

Lord, we would with deep thanksgiving,

Praise Thee more for things unseen.

God of justice, save the people

From the clash of race and creed,

From the strife of class and faction,

Make our nation free indeed;

Keep her faith in simple manhood

Strong as when her life began,

Till it find its full fruition

In the brotherhood of man!

I want to give thanks for this opportunity presented to me to represent St Maarten as the second female Prime Minister of this young nation Read more

Minister Silveria Jacobs Addresses Gathering At National Day Of Prayer 

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The theme of this National Day of Prayer “Repentance will result in the Glory of God in the Land” and I daresay St. Maarten is so fitting for the time we are in. This morning in service I was blessed by this word by the boys and l again to recognize the power of God and the  power of prayer, the power of a praying people. A praying people are a people of faith, a people of Love for God, who is Love and his mercy endures forever!!!! He doesn’t take us through it without a purpose – each diamond must go through much stress in order to shine – and God has allowed us to go through the experiences of 2017 for a reason, and I pray that we take stock of ourselves – each and everyone one of us, to reflect, repent, ask for forgiveness and turn away from any thoughts and acts that are not acceptable to him – let all we do glorify him here on St Read more

The theme of this National Day of Prayer “Repentance will result in the Glory of God in the Land” and I daresay St. Maarten is so fitting for the time we are in.

This morning in service I was blessed by this word by the boys and l again to recognize the power of God and the power of prayer, the power of a praying people.
A praying people are a people of faith, a people of Love for God, who is Love and his mercy endures forever!!!!

He doesn’t take us through it without a purpose - each diamond must go through much stress in order to shine - and God has allowed us to go through the experiences of 2017 for a reason, and I pray that we take stock of ourselves - each and everyone one of us, to reflect, repent, ask for forgiveness and turn away from any thoughts and acts that are not acceptable to him - let all we do glorify him here on St Read more

HARBOUR VIEW:--- On January 12, 2018, His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday, received the updated final report from formateur S. Wescot-Williams.
The formateur has accepted the commission to form an interim new government supported by a majority in Parliament comprised of the UP-fraction, the DP-fraction, and Member of Parliament C.E Read more

The February 26Th Election Decree; A Flagrant Disregard For The Constitution

~The February 26th Election Decree; a Flagrant Disregard for the Constitution and the People.~

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The first national decree promulgating the dissolution of parliament was dated November 3, 2017,  LB-17/0575) with the first convening of the new parliament on January 31, 2018.
By decree of November 12th, one day before nomination day (kandidaatstelling), this decree was amended to establish the day of election on February 26th.

However, in the amended decree ( LB-17/0619), the first convening of the new parliament is now set for April 2nd 2018, in gross violation of article 59 of the Constitution of St Read more

Mp Wescot-Williams: Civil Registry Of St. Maarten Is Alleged To Be Way Below Par

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Office of the Civil Registry of St. Maarten is the subject of much criticism, due to its new policy of providing services via appointment only. The phone and email service that is supposed to facilitate the “by-appointment-only” policy is alleged to be way below par.

It would help greatly if the motivation for this management decision and an overview of the numbers and data involved would be provided.

For example:
How many requests for appointment have been made?
How many requests have been honored?
What was the subject of these requests ( ID, passport, etc Read more