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Minister Jacobs: Not Just A Marketing Issue, Not Just A Culture Issue, It’S A St. Maarten Issue

PHILIPSBURG – Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Silveria Jacobs in Wednesday’s, March 1, Council of Ministers Press Briefing, updated on issues within Division of Public Education.

After having received a list of grievances last year 2016, from the various public schools, meetings were held with both management and teachers, and those grievances were brought forward to the ministry, Minister Jacobs informed.

Areas of complaint covered, lack of a discipline policy; serious issues with discipline within schools; children with learning disabilities; adherents to the school curriculum; lack of parental involvement; day to day maintenance of school premises, among others.

The Department of Education, Department of Youth Affairs, Head of the Division Inspection and Exams Head of the Division Public Education, and the Secretary General hosted a meeting where these concerns were brought forward and brainstorming and action planning took place on how to facilitate solving some of these grievances.

“The plans are currently underway, some of them in the beginning phases, others as they are long-term still need to begin Read more

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Meyers Calls On Govt. To Explain How Shortfalls Will Be Addressed

PHILIPSBURG--Government needs to explain to Parliament as soon as possible how it intends to cover the shortfalls in revenue from dwindling cruise ship calls, said United People’s (UP) party deputy leader Member of Parliament (MP) Franklin Meyers< Read more

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Prime Minister Marlin Leads High Powered Delegation To Aruba

ARUBA — Last week, Prime Minister of St. Maarten, 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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Application Period For Carnival Vending Now Open

PHILIPSBURG – The Department of Economic Licenses announced that persons interested in vending food, beverages, helium balloons and other typical items associated with Carnival can now apply for these licenses at the aforementioned department located at Zoutsteeg 3, Philipsburg.

The deadline for these applications to be submitted is Friday, April 14. Furthermore, due to safety concerns, the no-vending zones of past years will be strictly applied for Carnival 2017. As a result of this, lots will be given out to applicants on a first come, first serve basis.

The department stressed that persons interested in street vending in the Philipsburg area submit their applications (and choose their vending location) early as space is limited Read more

We, The People And Our Representatives In Parliament

Last week, the Office of the Ombudsman held a very successful Open House, with the aim to inform the public of its functioning.

For me, the highlight of the Open house was the very simple, yet profound, presentation given by the Ombudsman herself, Dr. Nilda Arduin. The presentation centered on the topic “We, the People.”

Dr. Arduin pointed out that in a democracy the people rule. She went on to compare a country to a house. As the owners of the house are working people and therefore unable to do their own house chores, they hire a domestic aid or servant to handle the chores and to run the household on their behalf Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Last week, Prime Minister of St. Maarten, 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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Wiclu Reps, Lee Discuss Range Of Issues At Meeting

PHILIPSBURG--Labour Day celebrations, being represented on the board of Social and Health Insurances SZV, International Labour Conference, changes to the civil code, improved compliance and concerns regarding businesses encountering financial difficulties were amongst the issues representatives of the Windward Islands Chamber of Labour Unions (WICLU) discussed when they met with Labour Minister Emil Lee recently Read more

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Telem Group Technicians Training On Use Of Newly Purchased Fiber-Blowing Tools

 

Pond Island – TelEm Group recently took delivery of state-of-the-art fiber-blowing tools that technicians are now learning to use in the field with the help of the equipment manufacturer.

The equipment is part of the arsenal of tools that TelEm Group workers themselves will be mobilizing in the coming months, when the company begins a massive Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) rollout.

According to Manager, Outside Plant, Mr. Marco London, Tools expert, Jesper Damtoft, and FTTH Engineer, Rune Hausvik, have been made available by the manufacturing company in Norway, to train TelEm Group staff on the use of the new equipment Read more

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Pond Island:----  TelEm Group recently took delivery of state-of-the-art fiber-blowing tools that technicians are now learning to use in the field with the help of the equipment manufacturer.

The equipment is part of the arsenal of tools that TelEm Group workers themselves will be mobilizing in the coming months when the company begins a massive Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) rollout.

According to Manager, Outside Plant, Mr. Marco London, Tools expert, Jesper Damtoft, and FTTH Engineer, Rune Hausvik, have been made available by the manufacturing company in Norway, to train TelEm Group staff on the use of the new equipment Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Today, two months after the new Council of Ministers was sworn in, we still do not have a Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication (TEATT). The blame for this has been placed on the vetting or screening process. However, in truth and in fact, the blame lies squarely on the shoulders of our parliament.

Now, the USP will have to present another candidate minister and the screening process will start all over again Read more

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Carty, Williams To Run Pointe Blanche Prison

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Justice Raphael Boasman has appointed acting police spokesman Inspector Steven Carty and former prison guard Wilfred Williams to run the day-to-day operations at the Pointe Blanche prison on a short-term basis.

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*** Breaking News *** Two Arrests In Fatal Shooting At Hope Estate

UPDATE Prosecutor’s Office Bulletin:

OVER THE BANK, Sint Maarten — Members of the St. Maarten Police Force and the Kingdom Detectives Cooperation Team (RST) led by the Prosecutor’s Office and in the presence of the investigative judge held two house searches in Pointe Blanche and in Belvedere on Tuesday afternoon, February 21, 2017.

Two suspects H.H.M. (22) and H.F.M Read more

Plenary Session Of Parliament About Draft Initiative National Ordinances Concerning Timeshare On Wednesday.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a plenary public session on February 22, 2017. The initiative taken of these two drafts, Member of Parliament Sarah A. Wescot-Williams will be answering and queries from Members of Parliament on these two drafts.
The plenary public meeting has been set for Wednesday at 2.00 pm in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg.
The agenda points are:

1 Read more

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Plenary Session Of Parliament About Draft Initiative National Ordinances Concerning Timeshare On Wednesday

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The House of Parliament will sit in a plenary public session on February 22, 2017. The initiative taker of these two drafts, Member of Parliament Sarah A. Wescot-Williams will be answering and queries from Members of Parliament on these two drafts.

The plenary public meeting has been set for Wednesday at 2.00 pm in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda points are:

1.  Incoming documents

2.  Draft initiative national ordinance to revise the rules pertaining timeshare

3.  Draft initiative national ordinance to establish a Timeshare Authority

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary session will be carried live on St Read more

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Szv Hosts Info Session: Sickness Insurance Ordinance

PHILIPSBURG – On Thursday, February 23, Social & Health Insurances SZV will host an information session at the University of St. Martin (USM) from 6:30pm-8:00pm on the Sickness Insurance Ordinance.

The general public, but especially employed persons are invited to attend the information session. SZV will highlight the rights and obligations as it pertains to those who qualify; employed persons working 5 or 6 days in the private sector, earning less than the maximum wage limit, NAf Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---Utility provider GEBE and the St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) have partnered for Carnival 2017 to specifically highlight SCDF’s Culture Night and culture in general throughout Carnival. The two entities are no strangers, having partnered for well over three decades in various forms.

SCDF President Alston Lourens accepted GEBE’s contribution towards Carnival 2017 on Thursday from the company’s Chief Operations Office Veronica Jansen-Webster and the Chief Financial Officer Iris Arrindell.

Lourens expressed thanks on behalf of the board and volunteers of the SCDF and noted that it’s a perfect fit for GEBE to support Culture Night as it will feature the various national groups that make up St Read more

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THE HAGUE:--- Newly appointed Deputy Minister Plenipotentiary H.E. Hasani Ellis received a grand welcome to the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary in The Hague from Minister Plenipotentiary H.E. Henrietta Doran-York and the staff of her cabinet upon his arrival in The Netherlands.
Deputy Minister Ellis was first welcomed at the Schiphol Airport in the Royal Room of the VIP Lounge, after which he was brought to The Hague where he began his tenure at the Cabinet.
At the Cabinet, the Deputy Minister Ellis first met one on one with Minister Plenipotentiary Doran-York, who after first welcoming him officially to his new workplace, wished him much success during his tenure in The Hague and continued to inform him of the tasks of a Minister Plenipotentiary, and what was expected of him as Deputy Minister.
Minister Doran-York said; “Leaving your loved ones behind can never be easy for anyone, no matter the reason Read more

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THE HAGUE:--- Minister Plenipotentiary, Her Excellency Mrs. Henrietta Doran-York recently received a courtesy visit from her colleague Minister Plenipotentiary of Curacao, H.E. Ms. Eunice Eisden, at the Cabinet of Sint Maarten in The Hague.
Minister Doran-York during her tenure as Member of Parliament in the former Netherlands Antilles, worked together with Minister Eisden in Parliament and also traveled together en route to Parlatino meetings in Paraguay and Argentina.
In the Netherlands, they also met prior to this official visit to the Cabinet, at several Kingdom Council of Ministers meetings, and other events such as at the New Year’s reception of his Majesty King Willem Alexander in January Read more

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Party Leader says he has no issues with the current coalition and that they are not going anywhere.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United Peoples Party (USP) Frans Richardson and members of the board expressed their sentiments on the screening process now that it has become public knowledge that their candidate for the Ministry of TEATT failed the screening process Read more

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Marlin, Plasterk To Meet This Tuesday

THE HAGUE--The meeting between St. Maarten Prime Minister William Marlin and Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk will take place in Aruba coming Tuesday.

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Szv, Govt. Sign Lease Accord For New Govt. Adm. Building

POND ISLAND--Social Health Insurances SZV and Prime Minister William Marlin on Friday signed a 30-year lease agreement to enable government to rent the new Administration Building on Pond Island for the next three decades.

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Szv And Govt. Sign Lease Agreement For Govt. Building

PHILIPSBURG – Social and Health Insurances SZV and Government have signed the lease agreement for the new Government Administration building today, Friday, February 17. Signing the lease agreement was Prime Minister William Marlin and Director of SZV Glen A. Carty.

The lease agreement is for a term of 30 years, and effective as of January 1, 2017 Read more

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Volleyball Assoc. Donates New Court To Sports Auditorium

PHILIPSBURG – In an effort to improve on the current playing fields and by extension the development of Volleyball on St. Maarten, the St. Maarten Volleyball Association (SIMVA), through its affiliation with the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association received a new court.

Following receipt of this new court, it was decided by SIMVA to donate the court to government facilities, and installed and lined the L.B. Scott Sports Auditorium for the use of volleyball and basketball.

The government facility is managed by the FUSF/NSI, which is the executing arm of government with regard to various sports on the island Read more

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Prime Minister Marlin: Building A Nation Piece By Piece

PHILIPSBURG –  At Wednesday’s, February 15, Council of Ministers Press Briefing Prime Minister William Marlin spoke to the press after being away for approximately 2 weeks.

He had been in Colombia for a medical checkup, where he also visited St. Maarteners who were there for medical reasons as well.

The Prime Minister talked first about the dispute surrounding Captain Oliver’s Marina Read more

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