SXMElections.com

Damage From Lightning Strikes Keeps Telem Group Technicians Busy All Day Monday.

Pond Island:--- TelEm Group technicians were busy in the field Monday dealing with a spate of reports of equipment damage caused by lightning strikes and flash floods.
The area hardest hit was Belvedere, where a TelEm Group sub-station was struck by lightning leaving the customers in the area with mobile voice and data service and also without fixed voice and Internet service.
According to Chief Technical Officer (CTO) Mr. Eldert Louisa, customers in the Dutch Quarter, Sucker Garden, Middle Region and Defiance areas also had their telecommunication services interrupted Monday morning as a result of the damage to the Belvedere sub-station which also serves these areas.
Mr Read more

Exámenes Y Clases Han Sido Oficialmente Suspendidos

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — La Ministra de Educación Cultura Juventud y Deportes, Honorable Silveria Jacobs ha decidido cerrar todas las escuelas hoy lunes 29 de mayo de 2017 debido a las fuertes lluvias caídas en las últimas horas, y los informes de las fuertes inundaciones en toda la isla, así como las malas condiciones cli Read more

Update: No School Today !!!

UPDATE DCOMM: * Press Release # 2– EXAM Classes Cancelled 

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Minister of Education Culture Youth & Sports The Honorable Silveria Jacobs has decided to close all schools on Mond Read more

“Dominate The Runway” Brings Caribbean Emerging Designers To St. Maarten.

Foundation INFOBIZZ hosts project to better support creative entrepreneurs in the fashion industry

Great Bay:---- Eight emerging fashion designers from Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT’s) will be in St. Maarten from June 4 – 9, 2017 for a weeklong training called Dominate the Runway, which culminates with a fashion show. Inspired by Project Runway and led by Cristal Le Grand, the project manager, Dominate The Runway seeks to equip emerging designers to dominate in business and in fashion by providing experiential learning in both areas Read more

Update: All Clear Given. Princess Juliana International Airport Open; Temporarily Closed Roads Open

AIRPORT UPDATE:

Just after 2 pm today, the Central Dispatch in Philipsburg received notice of a bomb threat on a JetBlue flight, according to Police Spokesman Ricardo Hanson. Emergency personnel were immediately dispatched to the airport, where the local authorities, who were leading the search and investigation, were assisted by representatives of PJIAE. In the interest of the safety and security of all involved, the aircraft was isolated at the eastern part of the airport near the Causeway roundabout. Onboard searches of the aircraft were conducted by the local search team and completed a few minutes ago Read more

“I am proud to be a Guyanese but I chose St. Maarten as my home”

PHILIPSBURG:--- About 1,500 persons witnessed the grand opening of Motorworld state of the art showroom which officially opened on Friday, May 26th, 2017 (On Guyana’s 51st Independence.”)
Among those that attend the grand and spectacular ceremony were dignitaries from both sides of the island, Prime Minister William Marlin, Governor Eugene Holiday,  President of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams President of the Collectivity of St Read more

Is Parliament Serious About Independence?

Last week Wednesday, the Central Committee of Parliament, once again, invited the Independence for St. Martin Foundation (ISMF) to give a presentation regarding holding a referendum to determine whether the people of Sint Maarten desire to become independent or not. This is the fourth time that the ISMF was in parliament presenting its case. The first presentation was held in March 2016. Hereafter, the Central Committee reconvened, in September 2016, to give the ISMF the opportunity to answer questions that the MPs had posed in the first round in March Read more

If The Youth Are The Future, Then The Future Is Now, Dennisio Duzong Of Independence For St. Martin Foundation Tells Parliament

GREAT BAY, St. Martin (May 23, 2017)—“We often say that the youth are the future. Well, the future is now.” This statement by Dennisio Duzong, 27, of the Independence for St. Martin Foundation (ISMF) sums up one of the main reasons the foundation is requesting Parliament to convene a new constitutional referendum.

Making the case for ISMF in its presentation before the Central Committee of Parliament on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, Duzong received high praise from members of parliament one of whom said the future is in good hands.

“Unless we are willing to take full responsibility for ourselves and the choices we make, we have no control over our lives Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The tenants living in the Belvedere area under deplorable conditions got another surprise earlier this week when they received a letter from the foundation informing them that they are not allowed to have pets. But management of the SMHDF along with the Supervisory Board is yet to tell the tenants and homeowners when their homes will be repaired. At least four homeowners who bought their homes from SMHDF got homes with defects, yet these homes pass the inspection that was conducted by the department of VROMI.
SMN News learned that just recently SMHDF sold two other homes and at least one of the homeowners already reported that the walls of his new home is cracking just like the others.
Besides the lack of maintenance the Supervisory Board members are at war among themselves simply because at least one of them who ran for office on the UPP slate wanted his campaign manager to get the job as the technical manager for SMHDF Read more

Registration For Home Repair Program For The Elderly & Disabled Closing Soon.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister Emil Lee is proud to announce the launch of the ministry’s pilot Home Repair project for the Elderly and Disabled. “During my first tenure, it became very clear that there is a need in our community for a program that assists our elderly and disabled who are financially disadvantaged and cannot afford to make basic repairs to their homes in order to make their homes livable and dignified Read more

The time to come clean now says Minister Gibson Sr.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Finance Richard Gibson Sr. announced on Wednesday that his Ministry is busy preparing a legislation which will soon be presented to the Council of Ministers. This legislation is aimed at getting residents to fully disclose their income taxes. The Minister said each year the country have been struggling to balance its budget simply because government does not have enough funds to cover its expenses Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of VSA Emil Lee said in response to question posed by SMN News on how his ministry intends to combat mosquitos that are now plaguing residents after a few days of rainfall and if fogging will take place anytime soon. SMN News proceeded to ask the Minister of he will continue the use of the UV traps. Minister Lee said that while the residents would like to see trucks spraying chemicals throughout the island he along with CPS has taken another route Read more

Division Public Education Hosts Motivational Day For Cycle Ii Year 4 Students.

BELVEDERE:--- The Division of Public Education (DPE) within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sport is hosting a Motivational Day for the Public Schools’ cycle II year 4 students on Tuesday, May 23rd and today, Wednesday, May 24th. The theme for this years’ Motivational Day is “Being Dependable helps you get the results you want.” A motivational day is a two-part event and also consists of a Career Fair Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Health Emil Lee refused to divulge the findings of the baseline study he paid a Dutch consultant to conduct a so-called baseline study at SMMC, the Inspectorate and the Department of Health. While Minister Lee confirmed he received the report from the consultant that was paid Euros 14,000.00 for a one week job. SMN News asked the Minister to release the conclusion of the report since he has been supporting SMMC who have not been complying with the rules laid down for them by the Inspectorate after the audit was conducted in 2012.
The stance of the Minister even led him to issue a gag order to the Inspectorate, which had to be withdrawn because the Inspectorate appealed the decision of the Minister Read more

St Vincent Pm Warns Caricom Of Plot Against Venezuela

KINGSTON, St. Vincent – Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has cautioned the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to refrain from allowing a small group of powerful nations to dilute the “collective strength” of the 15 member regional grouping.

Gonsalves, in a three-page letter to CARICOM leaders, warned that a wedge is being driven through CARICOM over a plan for “regime change” in Venezuela and the group of powerful nations with the Organisation of America States (OAS) has an “agenda of naked self-interest”.

He said the group has “strategically invited select CARICOM countries to their meetings and ignored the others Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Saint Maarten Martial Arts Federation (SMMAF) proudly presented its first annual spring competition on Saturday, May 20th at MPC Gym in St. Peters. SMMAF is a new sports foundation founded by Marco London with the objective of unifying combat martial arts on St. Maarten. The event was unique in that two very different combat martial art forms were on display- Muay Thai Kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Competitors ages 4-22 years hailed from Marco London's Sityodtong Foundation, SXM BJJ/Renzo Gracie St Read more

GREAT BAY:--- We often say that the youth are the future. Well, the future is now.” This statement by Dennisio Duzong, 27, of the Independence for St. Martin Foundation (ISMF) sums up one of the main reasons the foundation is requesting Parliament to convene a new constitutional referendum.
Making the case for ISMF in its presentation before the Central Committee of Parliament on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, Duzong received high praise from members of parliament one of whom said the future is in good hands.
“Unless we are willing to take full responsibility for ourselves and the choices we make, we have no control over our lives Read more

Charlotte Brookson Academy Of The Performance Arts Students To Compete In France  

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — The Charlotte Brookson Academy of the Performance Arts (CBA) proudly announces its students Faith Peterson, Kiara Vanterpool, Lian Borsje, Ray Angel Boasman and Jeremiah David, who will be forming part of the National Institute of Arts (NIA) delegation to compete in Champagne, France, from May 25-28, 2017.  The total delegation of students traveling to France is eight of which five are the CBA students.

The students had first competed in the prestigious Regionaux Confederation National De Danse held for the first time in St Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Charlotte Brookson Academy of the Performance Arts (CBA) proudly announces its students Faith Peterson, Kiara Vanterpool, Lian Borsje, Ray Angel Boasman and Jeremiah David, who will be forming part of the National Institute of Arts (NIA) delegation to compete in Champagne, France, from May 25-28, 2017. The total delegation of students traveling to France is eight of which five are the CBA students. Th students had first competed in the prestigious Regionaux Confederation National De Danse held for the first time in St Read more

USM, Pond Island:---- There are two matters all St Martiners agree on. The first is the importance of education as a way for the every Peter, Paul, Pablo, Ping, Maria, Melissa, and Mahati to become a lawyer, doctor, nurse, carpenter, electrician, or scientist. The second is that education on this island is in need of improvement. It is important however to recognize that part of fixing any situation is thoroughly understanding how one got into that situation and how seemingly easy solutions might be costly in the long run.

Given this state of affairs, the University of St Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI) would like to welcome Mr. Benjamin Ortega as a new member on COCI’s Board of Directors.

Read more

PHILIPSBURG--Actual pension reforms in St. Maarten are one step closer to being implemented following the signing of an agreement between the general pension fund administrator APS and St. Maarten’s Finance Minister Richard Gibson, Sr.

Read more

Police Report May 21, 2017

Police continues Robbery Awareness program

On Wednesday May 17th the second of four Robbery Awareness Trainings conducted by the Sint Maarten Police Force, mainly the Community Police Officers, in collaboration with the Philipsburg Safety and Security Committee was given to business owners and their employees on Front Street and members of the Indian Merchant Association at the Cultural Center on Back Street.

These Robbery Awareness Training are given free of charge by the Police Department to any business upon their request Read more

Minister Of Culture Jacobs Attends St. Louis Freetown Feast

ST. LOUIS – On Sunday May 21st, Minister of Culture The Honorable Silveria Jacobs visited the annual Rambaud St. Louis Freetown Fete. The annual fete is organized by the Rambaud – St. Louis Committee led by Mr. Etienne “Rocky” Andrew. While at the fete Mr. Rocky Andrew accompanied Minister Jacobs on a tour of the different booths with their cultural and historical display

On display were traditional foods and drinks with music from Tanny & the Boys in the background along with presentations of locally made dolls, milking of the cow, traditional hair wrapping techniques and much more.

The highlight of the tour was the visit to the traditional creole home “La Case Creole” done by 2 sisters Ghyslane Richardson & Helene Hanson Richardson, who were inspired by Miss Jeanne Elisa Baly aka Chez Yaw Yaw Read more