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Council Of Ministers Meet With Representatives Of Sol, Us Laundry And Nv Gebe.

POND ISLAND:--- On Thursday, November 24, 2016 the Council of Ministers met with the management of the three major industries operating in the Cay Bay area – SOL, US Laundry and NV GEBE - to discuss the environmental and health situation at hand. While Minister of Education, Ms. Silveria Jacobs, has been addressing the situation in the Cay Bay area for the last couple of weeks, the complaints of residents in that area as well as of the Miss Lalie Center have increased Read more

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L’Esperance Airport Opens A Brand New Terminal Building

GRAND CASE--The first phase of a major 5.6 million-euro renovation to Grand Case’s L’Esperance Airport was inaugurated Tuesday evening by President of SNC-Lavalin Airports Youssef Sabeh and local dignitaries Préfète Déléguée Anne Laubies, Member of Parliament (MP) Daniel Gibbs, and President of the Collectivité Read more

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Fundraising Proceeds to empower and transform the lives of struggling families and youth

PORT DE PLAISANCE:--- In a world in which radio talk shows, employees, and the general public tend to lambaste political and other leaders for a lack of integrity and transparency, it is refreshing to know that leaders worth following still exist on St. Martin and the world. Therefore, on December 3rd, 2016, Victorious Living will host VLF’s Leader Worth Following Awards at La Terrasse Port de Plaisance from 7-9:30 pm Read more

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A Second Chance To Do Things Right

St. James, Marigot – I would like to thank all the voters in St. Martin who came out to vote on the occasion of the 1st round, last Saturday, November 19, of the Primary of the Right and Center.

I also want to thank the voters who voted for Alain Juppé and made it possible for him to earn 128 votes. This placed him in third place and 44 votes behind Nicolas Sarkozy who placed first on Saint Martin, but who was ultimately eliminated from the contest and soundly rejected at both the Overseas and the National level.

François Fillon’s surprising and brilliant performance is to be congratulated and Alain Juppé took precedence in the Overseas Territories while earning 28% of the overall vote Read more

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“Reach Out Speak Out” Sunset Walk

PHILIPSBURG – Safe Haven in collaboration with the Elektralyets Foundation presented their “Reach Out Speak Out” Sunset Walk against Domestic Violence for women and girls on November 25.

Elektralyets Foundation President Mercedes van der Waals-Wyatt was approached by Safe Haven as a community mobilizer to help with awareness activities and events against Domestic Violence Campaigns for Safe Haven.

“I wanted to do something different and innovative to get the attention of persons in our community to realize that women are suffering every day Read more

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Victorious Living Honours Officer Gamali Benjamin At Fundraising Awards

COLE BAY, Sint Maarten — In a world in which radio talk shows, employees, and the general public tend to lambaste political and other leaders for a lack of integrity and transparency, it is refreshing to know that leaders worth following still exist in St. Maarten and the world.

On December 3, Victorious Living will host VLF’s Leader Worth Following Awards at La Terrasse, Port-de-Plaisance from 7:00pm-9:30pm. This inspirational event is designed to encourage, stimulate and inspire leaders to be leaders worth following Read more

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Frans: Us Party ‘Seriously Busy’ With New Government Formation

PHILIPSBURG--“We are committed and still seriously busy with finalizing the formation process,” said United St. Maarten Party (US Party) Member of Parliament Frans Richardson on Tuesday.

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Time To Take Gebe To Another Level To Better Serve The Community

As a community-spirited person, I am not here to criticize or pass the blame, but to address the issues and come with solutions. NV GEBE needs to start thinking like a consumer and put themselves in the people’s position and address the issues as soon as possible with a permanent solution.

As we all know, load shedding should be something of the past. This is why the new Board and Management have accepted the challenge and now is the time to turn our local company around with a strategic plan for the next 5 to 10 years.

I have gotten so many calls from local business persons, acquaintances about what’s the issue with this constant load shedding Read more

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Minister Jacobs Attends Rights Of The Child Ceremony

MARIGOT – The International Rights of the Child Day 2016 ceremony, hosted this year by the Collectivité de Saint Martin, under the theme: “Educate me right so my future is Bright,” was held on November 21, at the Hotel de la Collectivité in Marigot.

Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports Silveria Jacobs was in attendance Read more

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Social Activist Quincy Gario Gives Keynote At Usm

PHILIPSBURG – Faced with what many consider the worldwide resurgence of virulent forms of ethnic chauvinism and xenophobia, fear and urban uprisings as Donald J. Trump prepares to inhabit the White House, and the PVV, the Dutch rightwing party, becoming the major vote getter in the upcoming elections in the Netherlands, the University of St. Martin (USM) has teamed up with the Eastern Caribbean Public Health Foundation (ECPHF) of St. Eustatius, and the National Archaeological and Anthropological Memory Management (NAAM) on Curaçao, to organize a 2-day conference entitled: “Raising the Curtain on Race.”

To start off the discussion and offer useful input, Quinsy Gario, one of St Read more

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Frans: Llamó A La Población A No Prestar Atención A Falsos Rumores, El Us Está Comprometido Con El Proceso De Formación

Traducido por Máximo Castro

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten.- El líder del UNITED ST. MAARTEN PARTY (US), el parlamentario Frans Richardson, pidió el miércoles en la noche a la población a no llevarse de rumores mal intencionados que circulan en las redes sociales, en los que se dice que el (US), ha estado en negociaciones con otro partido, intentado con lo que calificó; “un desesperado rumor”, crear confusión en la población.

Durante el transcurso del martes, ciertas personas difundieron en las redes sociales, el rumor del que la coalición blanco, azul y rojo, se había roto, dando paso a que el partido (US), iniciara negociaciones con otro partido.  “Nosotros estamos comprometidos y seriamente ocupados con la finalización del proceso de formación del nuevo gobierno”, dijo Richardson, y agregó que rara vez reacciona a rumores, pero entendió que el pueblo merecía escuchar la verdad en este sentido.

Dijo que el partido (US) no tiene ninguna intención de hablar / negociar con ninguna otro partido y no lo ha hecho Read more

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Frans: Don’T Listen To Rumor Mongers, Us Committed To Formation Process

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Leader of the UNITED ST. MAARTEN PARTY (US) party MP Frans Richardson on Wednesday evening dispelled and dismissed what he called “desperate rumor-mongering” regarding the state of the Red-White-Blue coalition.

“During the course of the day on Tuesday, certain people on social media thought it was cute or funny to start rumors, but we are committed and still seriously busy with finalizing the formation process,” Richardson said, adding that he rarely reacts to rumors, but the public deserved to hear the truth in this regard.

He said the US party has no intention whatsoever to talk/negotiate with any other party and have not done so Read more

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Frans: Don’T Listen To Rumor Mongers.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party MP Frans Richardson on Tuesday evening dispelled and dismissed what he called “desperate rumor-mongering” regarding the state of the Red-White-Blue coalition.

“During the course of the day on Tuesday, certain people on social media thought it was cute or funny to start rumors, but we are committed and still seriously busy with finalizing the formation process,” Richardson said, adding that he rarely reacts to rumors, but the public deserved to hear the truth in this regard.

He said the US party has no intention whatsoever to talk/negotiate with any other party and have not done so Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Rumors are circulating on social media (Facebook) and throughout the community claiming that the current coalition agreement between the National Alliance (NA), the United St. Maarten People’s Party (USP) and the Democratic Party (DP) fell through and that talks are currently taking place between the United Peoples Party (UPP), United St Read more

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MARIGOT:---The International Rights of the Child Day 2016 ceremony, hosted this year by the Collectivité de Saint-Martin, under the theme “Educate me Right so my Future is Bright,” was held on November 21st, 2016, at the Hotel de la Collectivité in Marigot. The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports, the Honorable Silveria Jacobs was in attendance Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Faced with what many consider the worldwide resurgence of virulent forms of ethnic chauvinism and xenophobia, fear and urban uprisings as Donald J Trump prepares to inhabit the White House, and, the PVV, the Dutch rightwing party, becoming the major vote getter in the upcoming elections in the Netherlands, The University of St. Martin (USM) has teamed up with the Eastern Caribbean Public Health Foundation (ECPHF) of St. Eustatius, and the National Archaeological and Anthropological Memory Management (NAAM) on Curacao, to organize a 2 day Conference entitled: Raising the Curtain on Race.

To start off the discussion and offer useful input, Mr Read more

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Minister Jacobs Attends Rights Of The Child Commemoration Ceremony

MARIGOT, Saint Martin - The International Rights of the Child Day 2016 ceremony, hosted this year by the Collectivité de Saint-Martin, under the theme “Educate me Right so my Future is Bright,” was held on November 21st 2016, at the Hotel de la Collectivité in Marigot. The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports, the Honorable Silveria Jacobs was in attendance Read more

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Social Activist Mr. Quincy Gario Gives Keynote At The Usm

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Faced with what many consider the worldwide resurgence of virulent forms of ethnic chauvinism and xenophobia, fear and urban uprisings as Donald J Trump prepares to inhabit the White House, and, the PVV, the Dutch rightwing party, becoming the major vote getter in the upcoming elections in the Netherlands, The University of St. Martin (USM) has teamed up with the Eastern Caribbean Public Health Foundation (ECPHF) of Sint Eustatius, and the National Archaeological and Anthropological Memory Management (NAAM) on Curacao, to organize a 2 day Conference entitled: Raising the Curtain on Race.

To start off the discussion and offer useful input, Mr Read more

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Pechtold: Good Governance, But Also More Respect Is Key

By Suzanne Koelega

THE HAGUE--“Good governance is good governance. We can be short about that.” No compromise there from Leader of the Democratic Party D66 Alexander Pechtold. Yet, more mutual respect and comprehension would benefit the Dutch Kingdom.

Minister Jacobs: Education Must Go Beyond Basic Needs And Learning

MARIGOT--Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture Silveria Jacobs was guest speaker at the official opening of International Rights of the Child Day hosted by the French side on Monday.

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Meyers: I Did Not Fail Screening, Was Cleared To Be New Minister

PHILIPSBURG--United People’s (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Franklin “Frankie” Meyers made it clear on Monday that he was cleared to sit as a Minister in the now collapsed UP/National Alliance (NA) coalition Read more

Police Officers In Court

PHILIPSBURG – On July 22, 2016 a group of police officers received their decrees by the Minister of Justice Edson Kirindngo during a ceremony held at Police Headquarters in Philipsburg.

When the officers took a look at their long awaited promotions, they were disappointed. The officers were taken into service early in 2012, during which period they were selected to follow the Basic Police Training (BPO).

However, the cadets were placed in the daily operation of police work instead of sitting on the benches as mentioned in their former decree, which stipulated that they were police cadets in training.

The cadets had never gotten proper training to fulfill their duties as full-fledged police officers, because management team (KPSM) claimed that there was no money in the budget for the BPO Read more

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Implement Short And Long-Term Solutions To Ease Traffic Situation On Both Sides

As the high tourist season is here and Christmas is just around the corner, I would like to advise both the Dutch and French Governments to start implementing short and long-term solutions to ease the traffic situation on both sides of the island.

I think it is high time we address our traffic bottlenecks with quick wins to ease the traffic congestion for the tourists during the Christmas season.

On the Dutch side, a short-term solution is to make the Ring Road drivable by fixing the road all around the pond and put proper signs from the Soualiga Roundabout, behind Ketty’s Snack to inform motorists they can use this alternative route to ease the traffic flow on the Pond fill.

You will be amazed that a lot of motorists don’t know the road is open for vehicular traffic, but the road needs to be fixed as soon as possible of potholes for the Christmas season.

Another short-term solution is to make a filter lane by the intersection by Zagersgut before you reach the bridge by the Seventh Day Adventist Church Read more

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Letter To The Editor By Koos Sneek: Statia’S Budget 2017

The debate in the Island Council on the budget took place on November 14. The most important debate of the year was held without most of us, including myself, having noticed it. This could happen because no official announcement was made through the media.

The island council members were not sent a convocation with an agenda that included the budget 2017 either. An agenda was sent out a little over 24 hours prior to the meeting, but mentioned only the first budget amendment and quarterly report 2016.  Disturbing is that the bylaw required two weeks for scrutiny of the budget by the public was not adhered to Read more