SXMElections.com

Sxm In The Whirlwind Of Dutch Politics

A lot of indignation reigned during the discussions on the appointment of a quartermaster by the Dutch government and rightfully so. The Dutch minister (Plasterk) has, however, remained undeterred and firm: “The quarter master will come, it was an agreement and SXM procrastinated.”

Did we?

The govt. of SXM learned of the appointment via the press, evoking a caution from the Finance Minister Gibson that newspapers can be wrong. True, in this world of “false news,” even newspapers can be tricked.

However, in the Netherlands, this news was an orchestrated part of simultaneous and official publications Read more

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Summit Resort Hotel Wins 2017 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award

CUPECOY, St. Maarten – The Summit Resort Hotel today announced it has been recognized as a winner in the Top Bargain Hotels – Caribbean category of the 2017 TripAdvisor Travelers’ ChoiceR awards for Hotels, ranking 24th out of 25 total winners.

In the 15th year of the awards, TripAdvisor has highlighted the world’s top properties based on the millions of reviews and opinions collected in a single year from travelers around the globe Read more

Pond Island:---TelEm Group’s Management Board, consisting of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Mrs. Helma Etnel, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Mr. Brian Mingo and Chief Technical Officer (CTO) Mrs. Helma Etnel, officially hand over the reins of the government-owned company this week to new Chief Executive Officer (CFO) Mr. Kendall Dupersoy after filling the vacant CEO position for more than seven years.

All three were personally thanked recently by Prime Minister and Shareholder Representative, Mr Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- A delegation from St. Maarten will be attending Caribbean Travel Marketplace, the region's largest and most significant marketing forum, in the Bahamas, from Jan. 31 - Feb. 2, 2017, at Atlantis, Paradise Island. The event is being hosted by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA).
Caribbean Travel Marketplace affords tourism suppliers the vital opportunity to meet face-to-face with wholesalers from around the world selling Caribbean vacation packages over the course of two days of business meetings.
CHTA will offer a full day of professional development opportunities for attendees on Jan Read more

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Scdf Thanks Helma, Brian At Telem, Congratulates Kendall.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) over the weekend thanked TelEm’s CFO Helma Etnel and CCO Brian Mingo for their steadfast support of Carnival over the past five years and in the same breath congratulated new TelEm CEO Kendall Dupersoy on his appointment. Dupersoy is a former SCDF President.

The SCDF and TelEm broke barriers five years ago when the entities signed the largest contract Carnival ever entered into at that time Read more

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Up Party Submits Register Of Donations To Electoral Council

 

PHILIPSBURG – The United People’s (UP) Party on Wednesday submitted its Register of Donations to the Electoral Council.

Treasurer of the UP Party Board Earl Wyatt and Secr Read more

Prime Minister: Relationship Within The Kingdom Is Not What It’S Supposed To Be

PHILIPSBURG – Prime Minister and Minister responsible for General affairs William Marlin, in Wednesday’s, January 25, Council of Minister press briefing updated on several matters pertaining to his Ministry.

He briefly mentioned the survivors of the fire that destroyed their home completely in the Cul-de-Sac area, who are staying temporarily at Paradise inn, and stated that the Department of Social Welfare along with the St Read more

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Minister Jacobs: Ministry Is Occupied With Synchronization Of This Govt’S Vision

PHILIPSBURG – Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Silveria Jacobs gave an update in Wednesday’s, January 25, Council of Ministers press briefing, on a few matters pertaining to her Ministry.

Last Wednesday, a meeting was held with management and staff of the Leonald Conner School in order to update them. Staff and management were also given the opportunity to voice their concerns Read more

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Minister Gibson: My Aim Is To Improve Financial Basis Of Govt. Of St. Maarten

PHILIPSBURG – In Wednesday’s, January 25, Council of Ministers press briefing Minister of Finance Richard Gibson Sr. shared provisional numbers for 2016.

“The provisional numbers that we have for 2016 is that we’ve managed the budget in such a manner notwithstanding all of the difficulties. We were confronted with, in 2016 and ended up with a provisional surplus of 1.1 million guilders for 2016,” Minister Gibson stated.

“Bear in mind at the budget 2016, we started with reserving 20 million guilders from revenues to be able to pay the debts off the past Read more

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Big Things Happening At A Small School In Anguilla    

ANGUILLA – The Omololu International School, a private primary school located in Anguilla, is prepped for big changes over the coming months.

The changes really began back in July of 2016, when the school received official authorization from the International Baccalaureate Organization, certifying it as a Primary Years Programme World School.

The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) is a world-wide educational group headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The three programmes that run under the IBO are the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the Diploma Programme (DP) Read more

Let Us Not Blame The Dutch

The appointment of Quartermaster Hans Leijtens, last week, came as a shock to our politicians. The Honorable Prime Minister said he was flabbergasted. The Honorable President of Parliament called the appointment provocative and Member of Parliament, Theo Heyliger, described it as vindictive.

And of course, the Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk, gets the blame Read more

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It Is A Discussion We Must Have, Sooner Rather Than Later

Not totally unexpected, my recent comments on the relationships in the Dutch Kingdom have evoked quite some reactions. I welcome these reactions, because I believe it is a discussion we must have, sooner rather than later.

My comments, however, had to do with the following: Theoretically, the competencies and authorities between the Dutch countries and the Kingdom level of Government are quite clear in the Charter of the Dutch Kingdom. The main areas of Kingdom responsibilities are Defense, Nationality and Defense.

No one would argue though, that the so-called equality of all 4 Dutch countries in reality is far from such Read more

World’s Best Hotels Named in 15th Year of Awards

CUPECOY:--- The Summit Resort Hotel today announced it has been recognized as a winner in the Top Bargain Hotels - Caribbean category of the 2017 TripAdvisor Travelers’ ChoiceR awards for Hotels, ranking twenty-fourth out of twenty-five total winners. In the 15th year of the awards, TripAdvisor has highlighted the world’s top properties based on the millions of reviews and opinions collected in a single year from travelers around the globe Read more

Guyana Oil Discovery: Blessing Or Curse?

NASSAU, The Bahamas  –  With the survival of CARICOM member states on the line in the face of a changing climate fuelled by greenhouse gas emissions, Guyana could have some tough decisions ahead, following the recent discovery of oil off its coast.

This is according to Dr Al Binger, interim executive director of the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE), who suggested that the 1.4 billion-barrel discovery could perhaps not have come at a worse time.

This, as CARICOM and other Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) members press for keeping global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels as provided for in the historic Paris Agreement.

“Limiting warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2100 requires a reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions by 70 to 95 per cent relative to 2010 levels by 2050 Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Saturday, January 28, 2017, National Institute of Arts will present a free circus act performance at the Gym Hall at the Asha Stevens Christian Hillside School in Cay Hill. The Free performance is to show case the talents of Olga Subbota and partner Alexse, two international circus performers who will offer circus genre classes at the National Institute of Arts.

This collaboration between NIA and Olga Entertainment Agency is new partnership to create and expand the creative expressive opportunities for St.Maarten’s children.
The circus platform is a wonderful opportunity for children to explore more fun activities and develop physical coordination, endurance, and agility Read more

Harbour View:--- On January 25th, 2017, His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday administered the oath of office of Hasani B. Ellis as the deputy minister plenipotentiary.
Governor Holiday congratulated the new deputy minister plenipotentiary on his appointment and wished him strength and wisdom in the performanc Read more

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St. Maarten Parliament Passes A Law That Infringes On The Rights Of The People --- Mp Frans Richardson.

Kingdom must respect, PM, Parliament and its people.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Frans Richardson in his opening remarks on the floor of parliament on Thursday afternoon during the discussion on the appointment of a Quartermaster by the Minister of Interior and Foreign Affairs Ronald Plasterk said it’s a shame that the Kingdom has stopped so low when they chose not to inform the Prime Minister of St Read more

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Guardrail Down

Acting Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Silveria Jacobs announced on Wednesday that the Ministry urges drivers to be careful when passing over Prins Bernhard Bridge, as the railing was severely damaged by a motorist this past weekend. Government is looking at quotations to repair the rai Read more

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The Bahamas To Improve Airport Infrastructure With Idb Support

NASSAU, The Bahamas  – The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a $35 million loan designed to improve infrastructure at four airports on the Family Islands, as The Bahamas’ less developed outer islands are known.

The loan will contribute to the archipelago’s regional and international integration through upgrades at the airports of Exuma, North Eleuthera, Marsh Harbour and Treasure Cay.

The project will finance modernization and maintenance of the airports, including a wide range of aviation and infrastructure improvements such as visual aids, lighting, runway beacons, mobile airport equipment, parking platforms and passenger terminals Read more

Pastor Convicted Of Sex Charges Involving A Minor

KINGSTON, Jamaica – A 55-year-old pastor is to return to court on February 24 after he was found guilty of having sexual intercourse with a minor in March 2015.

A statement issued by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) said that Paul Hanniford was found guilty of the crime during an in-camera trial held at the Home Circuit Court.

The seven-member jury, which was unanimous in its guilty verdict, deliberated for an hour and 20 minutes after instructions were given by Justice Lorna Shelly-Williams.

The statement by the DPP said the court was told that the minor, who was 13 years old at the time the offence was committed, was a member of the Pentecostal City Mission Church and was baptised by Hanniford.

The DPP said 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 statement noted that the pastor took the children to his house in Kingston where the complainant requested the use of the bathroom and while there in the bathroom the pastor entered.

“The complainant was pushed by the pastor outside the bathroom onto a bed that was inside a nearby bedroom and sexually assaulted her,” the DPP said.

Prosecutors led evidence that the complainant managed to push the pastor off and went outside of the bedroom where her brother was.

The court was told that her cries of “help, help” were overheard by her brother, who had climbed onto a chair and peeped through a hole in the door and observed Pastor Hanniford sexually assaulting his sister which made him feel “sad”.

According to the evidence presented to the court, after the complainant managed to leave the room, on re-joining her brother, the pastor gave them some cornflakes to eat and later warned the complainant not to tell anyone as it was their “secret”.

But the complainant’s brother made a report to his mother in the presence of the pastor about what he had seen and the following day a meeting was convened at the church with the bishop, the pastor, the complainant, her brother and the children’s parents.

On April 14, 2015, a report was made to the police and the pastor was arrested Read more

Gibson: Airport, Harbour Should Pay Departure Tax

PHILIPSBURG--Finance Minister Richard Gibson says Princess Juliana International Airport and Port St. Maarten (Harbour) should pay a “departure tax” to government as is the case in other countries.

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Government Registers Naf. 1.1 Million Surplus

PHILIPSBURG--Government has registered a surplus of NAf. 1.1 million in revenues in 2016, Finance Minister Richard Gibson announced on Wednesday.

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The appointment of Quartermaster Hans Leijtens, last week, came as a shock to our politicians. The Honorable Prime Minister said he was flabbergasted. The Honorable President of Parliament called the appointment provocative and Member of Parliament, Theo Heyliger, described it as vindictive. And of course, the Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations, Ronald Plasterk, gets the blame Read more

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Noticia De Ultima Hora: Asesinan A Tiros A Franky Brunache Frente A Su Residencia

Traducido por Máximo Castro

HOPE ESTATE, Sint Maarten.- Franklin “Franky” Brunache, fue asesinado a sangre fría el martes en la noche frente a su residencia en Hope Estate por un asaltante  aún desconocido.

La policía arribó a la escena después de las 11:00 pm y encontraron al joven en la entrada cerca del lado del conductor de su vehículo un todoterreno negro.

El jefe de la policía, Carl John, y un fiscal estuvieron en la escena del crimen el martes en la noche, mientras los investigadores procuraban hablar con cualquier posible testigo que les ayudara a reconstruir lo ocurrido Read more