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Pastor Gets 20 Years For Sex With Minor

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Pastor Reverend Paul Hanniford was today sentenced to 20 years in prison for having sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl.

The sentence was handed down by Justice Lorna Shelly Williams when he appeared in the Home Circuit Court.

The Pentecostal City Mission Church pastor was convicted by a seven-member jury, on January 24 of having sexual intercourse with a minor.

According to Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (OFPP) the complainant, who is now 15 years old, testified in court that on March 12, 2015, she and her five-year-old brother went to the church for choir practice and after the rehearsal they asked Pastor Hanniford for a drive out in his van.

The pastor took the children to his house in Kingston and all three went inside the house.

“The pastor gave the five-year-old some cornflakes to eat Read more

Intensified Inspections Start, Businesses Closed

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour VSA Emil Lee kept to his word and started intensified inspections at several businesses on Friday with a team from the VSA Inspectorate.

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Prime Minister: Prevention Is Better Than Cure

PHILIPSBURG – Prime Minister (PM) William Marlin gave an update on discussions he took part in during his attendance to the OCT Forum in Aruba, in Wednesday’s, March 8, Council of Ministers Press Briefing.

First, he publicly congratulated Carol Voges, who is part of the work cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary in The Hague, and who attends the OCTA meetings “on our behalf often times in Brussels,” on being elected as Chair of the Executive Committee of OCTA for 2017 Read more

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Minister Lee: We’Re Searching For The ‘Goldilocks Solution’

PHILIPSBURG – In Wednesday’s, March 8, Council of Ministers Weekly Press Briefing, Minister of Health, Social Affairs and Labour Emil Lee clarified a number of issues including the statement of the Minister of Finance regarding progress on a National Health Insurance (NHI).

“While certainly the process of having legislation approved by parliament is the culmination of the efforts, I think it’s important to recognize that a reform of our health care system or national health insurance is a complicated process, and we need time to work together with stakeholders to make sure that everybody’s concerns and feedback is incorporated Read more

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Minister Jacobs: Give A Helping Hand

PHILIPSBURG – In Wednesday’s, March 8, Council of Minister’s Press Briefing Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Silveria Jacobs updated on the following:

This weekend the SXM DOET will be happening all over the Dutch Kingdom. She commended the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School management and staff for initiating the painting of their school, as well as their benches.

As a result of the initiative of the Ministry, three public schools will have murals done Read more

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Minister Of Finance: It System Held Together With Hanger Wires And Tape

PHILIPSBURG – Minister of Finance Richard Gibson addressed the Press in Wednesday’s, March 8, Council of Minister’s press briefing.

First, he mentioned the closing of the Receiver’s and Census Offices “because of a smell that was detected this morning in the building. It has not been discovered yet where that smell is coming from, what’s the source of the smell or the nature of the smell, whether it is sewage, electrical, or another.”

“The Fire Department came and aired out the building, and hopefully by lunchtime there is a plan that the Receiver of taxes, the Census office will again open,” he said.

“We’ve been experiencing breach in terms of a virus attack again Read more

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Minister Of Finance Meets With Deloitte Partners

 

PHILIPSBURG – On March 1, Minister of Finance Richard Gibson met with Managing Partner and Tax Partner of Deloitte in the Dutch Caribbean Julian Lopez-Ramirez, to discuss the most recent developments in national and international fiscal affairs.

Lopez-Ramirez took this opportunity to also present the published inau Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---The National Ordinance to amend Book 7A of the civil code to eliminate the abuse of the short term contract.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament George Pantophlet says it is important to give the public a refresher as for why the process to amend book 7A of the civil code.
The intention amends Book 7A of civil code is to protect the employees or workers Read more

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Exclusive:--- Uszv Trying To Force Father Of Baby Polanco To Sign Out Of St. Maarten And Sign In The Netherlands For The Dutch To Provide Medicare Of Their Child. (Updated)

Arrindell said he is a Civil Servant and under no circumstances, he will sign out of his country to burden the Dutch with St. Maarten failures, SZV reacts.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The parents of “Baby Polanco” Oliver Vincent Arrindell aka Bolo and Basilla Polanco who is currently in the Netherlands since January 15th 2017 informed SMN News on Friday morning that since he reached out to SMN News and the Minister of Plenipotentiary, Henrietta Doran York, USZV managed to find him an apartment for one month “until April 16th.
Arrindell said he was contacted on Thursday and was told to go and see a house which he did and also accepted because he did not go to the Netherlands for a “joy ride” but instead to seek medical treatment for his son who became handicapped due to gross negligence at the St Read more

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Victorious Living’S Leadership Workshop With Nelson Els Leaves Lasting Impact.

Cay Hill:--- St. Martin: On Saturday, March 4th, The Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School in Cay Hill came alive with 65 leaders and aspiring leaders ranging from 13 to 70 years who eagerly and thankfully digested the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, by John Maxwell, facilitated by certified John Maxwell Coach, Nelson Els.
Victorious Living Foundation, who hosted this transformational leadership workshop and mastermind, is pleased with the growing interest among the St Read more

Jacobs Calls On Women To Make ‘Business To Strengthen Society’

PHILIPSBURG--“Women, let’s make it our business to strengthen our society one woman, one man and one child at a time.” This was the rallying call of Education and Culture Minister Silveria Jacobs in her International Women’s Day (IWD) message.

  Jacobs said in the Council of Ministers Press Briefing on Wednesday that as the world marks IWD “let us pledge to honour women for the role they play in society every day and strive to raise a nation of strong men and women passionate about the progress of this country we call Oualichi, St Read more

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Cibc Firstcaribbean Takes A “Bold” Action On International Women’S Day.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Women in St. Maarten were challenged to take bold action to challenge social rules and break down sexist barriers. The advice came from attorney Dagmar Daal as she spoke as part of a panel discussion to mark International Women’s Day held at the Phillipsburg branch of CIBC FirstCaribbean on Wednesday, March 8. Daal encouraged women to create their own bold moments by taking action challenging social rules and perceptions and break sexist barriers.

Annually, the day provides a unique occasion to take actions that motivate and encourage significant change for women Read more

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Marlin Says Change In Entire Pss Structure Needed For It To Survive

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister William Marlin says the entire structure of Postal Services St. Maarten (PSS) needs to change in order for the organisation to survive.

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Lee: Businesses To Prepare For Intensified Inspections

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour VSA Emil Lee announced at Wednesday’s weekly Council of Ministers press briefing that the Inspectorate of VSA will begin with an intensified schedule for inspections.

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Carol Voges Elected As President Of Executive Committee During Ministerial Conference

ORANJESTAD, Aruba – On their recent working visit to Aruba, Prime Minister of St. Maarten William Marlin, Minister Plenipotentiary Henrietta Doran-York, Secretary General of the Ministry of General Affairs Hensley Plantijn, and the rest of the St Read more

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Vlf’S Leadership Workshop With Nelson Els Leaves Lasting Impact

CAY HILL – On Saturday, March 4, the Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School in Cay Hill came alive with 65 leaders and aspiring leaders ranging from 13 to 70 years, who eagerly and thankfully digested the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, by John Maxwell, facilitated by certified John Maxwell Coach Nelson Els.

Victorious Living Foundation (VLF), who hosted this transformational leadership workshop and mastermind, is pleased with the growing interest among the St Read more

Minister Silveria Jacobs Address On International Women’S Day

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — On this International Women’s Day, I would like to wish all women and girls a Happy International Women’s Day, especially the women of St. Maarten. St. Maarten is also historically known as Oualichi, which means Land of Strong Women.

The women of our land are also indeed strong. I must honor all women of influence, women in leadership in our homes, schools, churches, in the community and in government for the role they play in raising and shaping our tiny island nation.

Being the only female Minister amongst the men, I am deeply honored to be a woman, one of Oualichi descent, proud to be your voice and represent you – to bring the woman’s perspective to the floor Read more

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Parliament’S Right To Question Government

One of Parliament’s roles is to supervise the functioning of government. And one of its tools to carry out this supervisory function is the right to ask questions as laid down in article 62 of the Constitution.

This entails parliamentarians submitting their queries in writing to the government via the President of Parliament. Article 63 of the Constitution mentions that a Member of Parliament may also invite the ministers to provide information. Article 62 of the Rules of Order of Parliament states that this invitation will be considered by the President of Parliament, if it is supported by at least one other member of parliament Read more

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Prime Minister William Marlin Attends 15Th Oct-Eu Forum

ORANJESTAD, Aruba – During his working visit in Aruba, Prime Minister of St. Maarten William Marlin, and the rest of the St. Maarten delegation attended the 15th OCT-EU Forum.

The core objective of this forum was to bring together the OCT Authorities with their Member State, members from the European Commission, members from the European Parliament, the European Investment Bank (EIB), and when appropriate as in this case, members of the Outermost Regions and other Regional Organizations for dialogue.

During the Forum, the Joint Position on the guiding principles of the post 2020 EU-OCT partnership and Political Declarations of the OCTA Ministerial Conference the previous day, were presented to the European Commission.

A panel was also convened at the political level where Prime Minister of St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Taxi drivers that are operating in Philipsburg and are not members of the Dutch St. Maarten Taxi Association (DSTA) plans to take action if government does not intervene to preserve their livelihood
Some of the taxi drivers gathered on Wednesday morning planning how to deal with a situation the DSTA started on Tuesday. The drivers said on Tuesday the DSTA began putting orange bands on the hands of the tourists and informed them that they are not to use any other taxi on the island Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- One of Parliament’s roles is to supervise the functioning of government. And one of its tools to carry out this supervisory function is the right to ask questions as laid down in article 62 of the Constitution. This entails parliamentarians submitting their queries in writing to the government via the President of Parliament. Article 63 of the Constitution mentions that a Member of Parliament may also invite the ministers to provide information. Article 62 of the Rules of Order of Parliament states that this invitation will be considered by the President of Parliament if it is supported by at least one other member of parliament Read more

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ORANJESTAD:--- On their recent working visit to Aruba, Prime Minister of St. Maarten, the Honourable Mr. William Marlin, the Minister Plenipotentiary, Mrs. Henrietta Doran-York, the Secretary General of the Ministry of General Affairs, Mr Read more

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Prime Minister Talks Gender Equality In Iwd Message

PHILIPSBURG--“If, indeed, gender equality is a condition sine qua non to achieve good governance, shouldn’t we on St. Maarten, where good governance has become such a coveted political ideal, be bold and change our laws to guarantee equal representation for women in our public institutions,” said Prime Minister William Marlin in a message to mark International Women’s Day (IWD) today, Wednesday Read more

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Message Of Prime Minister William Marlin On International Women’S Day

Fellow St. Maarteners,

Residents of our beautiful island, and in particular, ALL the women of this land.

For over 100 years now, the world has been celebrating International Women’s Day, which began as a female workers’ struggle for shorter hours, better pay and voting rights. More than a century later, despite the great strides that we have made, gender equality, equal pay for equal work, and an end to violence, exploitation and oppression against women remain elusive in many parts of the world, including here on our beloved St Read more

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