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Gag Order Issued To Civil Servants By Com

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Deputy Prime Minister of St. Maarten, Rafael Boasman has issued a letter to all Secretary Generals, Department Heads and other relevant civil servants not to meet with the newly appointed Dutch Quarter Master Hans Leijtens who has been charged with setting up an Integrity Chamber for St. Maarten. A unanimous motion has recently been passed by the Parliament of St. Maarten condemning the formation of a St. Maarten Integrity Chamber.

It is considered that the Constitutional Court found the legislation to establish an Integrity Chamber for St Read more

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El Primer Ministro Marlin Visitó A Pacientes Sanmartinianos En Colombia

Primer Ministro Marlin (4to desde la izquierda) junto con varios pacientes que permanecen en Bela Nova. De pie al frente, Lina, la propietario del complejo Bela Nova.

Traducido por Máximo Castro

SINT MAARTEN / COLOMBIA.- El primer ministro William Marlin, visitó el jueves de la semana pasada a varios pacientes sanmartinianos que se encuentran en Cali, Colombia recibiendo atenciones médicas Read more

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‘S’Maatin English Competition On Int’L Mother Language Day

PHILIPSBURG – In commemoration of International Mother Language Day (February 21), Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (MECYS) Silveria Jacobs is inviting the general public, schools, poets and literary artists to participate and present in an upcoming S’Maatin English Poetry/Storytelling/Narration Competition.

This event will be held on Tuesday, February 21, at the New Government Building on Soualiga Blvd., in Conference Room 1, from 6:00pm-7:30pm, and will be hosted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization National Committee (UNESCO NatCom) in collaboration with the Department of Culture.

Since 1999, UNESCO has designated February 21, as the annual International Mother Language Day, which serves to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by people of the world (www.unesco.org).

Knowing, writing and speaking in one’s mother language is an essential tool for the transmission and safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The deputy Prime Minister of St. Maarten Rafael Boasman dispatched a letter on Sunday, February 12th to all department heads, civil servants and persons working for the Government of St. Maarten not to meet with the appointed Dutch Quarter Master Mr. Hans Leijtens until further notice. The letter sent to all government workers can be viewed below this article.
Deputy Prime Minister Boasman said the instruction comes after the Council of Ministers adopted the motion passed Read more

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S’Maatin English Competition On Int’L Mother Language Day.

PHILIPSBURG:--- In commemoration of International Mother Language Day (February 21), the Honorable Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (MECYS) Ms. Silveria Jacobs invites the general public, schools, poets and literary artists to participate and present in an upcoming S’Maatin English Poetry/Storytelling/Narration Competition Read more

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Prime Minister William Marlin (fourth left) with several patients staying at Bela Nova. Standing in front is owner of the Bela Nova complex.

 COLOMBIA--Prime Minister William Marlin, on Thursday, paid a visit to a number of St Read more

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Prime Minister Marlin Visits Patients In Colombia

SINT MAARTEN/COLOMBIA – On Thursday afternoon, February 9, Prime Minister William Marlin paid a visit to a number of patients from St. Maarten who are in Cali, Colombia. The Prime Minister himself is there for a medical checkup.

The Prime Minister dropped in on the patients who are staying at the Bela Nova Hotel, made up of a complex of four buildings totaling 88 rooms Read more

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Chairlady Of Parliament Sets The Stage For Handling Draft Laws

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — From the outset of the Central Committee meeting of Parliament on Friday, February 10, dealing with the draft law “Rules for Administrative Enforcement,” Chairlady Sarah Wescot-Williams made it clear that Members of Parliament will be given the time and opportunity to delve into the depth and width of this necessary, but very technical piece of draft law.

The handling will not be delayed, but neither will Parliament rush through this draft law Read more

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COLOMBIA/PHILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday afternoon, Prime Minister William Marlin paid a visit to a number of patients from Sint Maarten who are in Cali Colombia. The Prime Minister himself is there for a medical checkup.
The Prime Minister dropped in on the patients who are staying at the Bela Nova Hotel, made up of a complex of four buildings totaling some 88 rooms.
Marlin said the patients were all full of praise for the facilities where they were staying and also very impressed with the care at the medical facilities.
Some patients are there for several months already and others for a couple of weeks now.
The Prime Minister was given a tour of the facilities by owner, Lina, who was very proud of her services she provides Read more

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Upp: The Newest Political Party In Barbados

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Barbadians will have five political parties from which to choose when they go to the polls in the next general election, constitutionally due next year.

This morning the United Progressive Party (UPP) led by former Barbados Labour Party (BLP) senator Lynette Eastmond, announced its presence during a press conference at the Courtyard by Marriott.

The < Read more

Chairlady Of Parliament Sets The Stage For Handling Draft Laws.

From the outset of the Central Committee meeting of Parliament on Friday, dealing with the draft law "Rules for Administrative Enforcement", the Chairlady Mrs. Wescot-Williams made it clear that members of Parliament will be given the time and opportunity to delve into the depth and width of this necessary, but very technical piece of draft law.
The handling will not be delayed, but neither will Parliament rush through this draft law.
Already the Chairlady has pointed out that she will break down the law in main parts, making the deliberations more manageable and constructive.
The meetings, in the Chair's view, should, in addition to providing the MPs the opportunity to apply debate draft laws and topics, also serve as informational exchanges for the public at large.
During today's initial deliberations on the "Rules for Administrative Enforcement", the Chairlady explained the gist of the law as follows:
How does the government administration enforce compliance with existing laws? Who makes up the reports of such? How are persons notified that they are or that they have acted in contravention of a law or rule? How far can the government go with sanctions against citizens?
A plus point in this respect, she pointed out, is that the draft eliminates bias in handling such cases.
Secondly, where such is possible, infringements will be dealt with administratively (by the government) rather than criminally.
The draft law was initiated by the government, hence the presentation of such by the Minister of Justice, Mr Read more

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Mp Heyliger: Laws Should Be In English For People To Know Rights

PHILIPSBURG--The laws and amendments, in particular the ones with immediate and direct impact on the lives of the people of St. Maarten, must be presented to Parliament by Government in English, the language of the people of St. Maarten, says United People’s (UP) party leader Member of Parliament Read more

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 Roy Cotton Jr. Celebrates 10 Years Of Love & Inspiration

PHILIPSBURG – Roy Cotton Jr., host of the well-loved and most listened to inspirational radio show, Love and Inspiration is grateful to God during the past decade in taking the radio show to where it is today.

“To God be the Glory for great things he has done through me and Love & Inspiration from February 11, 2007 to date, therefore I am eternally grateful to God for what he has done for me. I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart all listeners and well-wishers both on St Read more

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Boasman: Priorities Are Very Clear On What Needs To Be Done

PHILIPSBURG – Acting Prime Minister Raphael Boasman updated the press and public in Wednesday’s, February 8, Press Briefing.

Last weekend, he had “discussions with the Chief of Police Mr. Carl John on the situation and early Monday morning I met with him, and the police management team to further discuss the situation. At that point I was presented with an immediate plan of action to deal with the situations with the robberies.”

Minister Boasman mentioned that there are other investigations that are taking place, and other actions that have been initiated like the search of the prison where a weapon was found.

“We discussed thoroughly the plan of action Read more

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Jacobs: Putting Our Money Where Our Mouths Are

PHILIPSBURG – At Wednesday’s, February 8, Press Briefing, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports Affairs Silveria Jacobs gave an update on several issues her Ministry was dealing with.

In regard to the Leonald Conner School, funding had been secured and there was a meeting with the contractors. “The critical upgrades to Leonald Conner School are slated to start as of yesterday Read more

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Gibson: Budget 2017 Approved By Cft

PHILIPSBURG – Minister of Finance Richard Gibson announced in Wednesday’s, February 8, Press Briefing that he’d received the official word in the form of a formal letter from the CFT that the Budget 2017 had been approved.

CFT would now advise the Kingdom that the budget is in order. “When we look back to 2017, and see what the state we were in at that time, and compare that with today, it’s tangible progress that we’re making,” Minister Gibson reported.

The Budget 2017 has a substantial sum of NAf Read more

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Emmanuel Calls Businesses To Donate To Government

POND ISLAND--Businesses need to step up their responsibility and assist government by donating, said Infrastructure and Environment Minister Christophe Emmanuel. 

  The need for donations to get, for example, needed vehicles came up in the Council of Ministers Press Briefing on Wednesday. The minister said this ministry has been trying to tackle sewage issues around the country, but the bottleneck has been the lack of vehicles.

  Businesses have a responsibility, he said, adding, “I will be coming to you to ask for donations … it is time for you to contribute.”

  Also in the press conference, Emmanuel commended Police for hauling in contractors to clean up the spilled cement on Naked Boy Hill Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Roy Cotton Jr. the host of the good love and listened to the inspirational radio show, Love and Inspiration are ecstatic and grateful to God for his faithfulness towards him during the past decade in taking the radio show to where it is today."To God be the Glory for great things he has done through me and Love & Inspiration from Feb 11th, 2007 to date, therefore I am eternally grateful to God for what he has done for me. I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart all listeners and well-wishers both on Sint Maarten, the Caribbean, USA, England, The Netherlands for all their support and commitment towards my radio show, Love & Inspiration since it premiered on August 7th, 2011 on Youth Radio 92.5FM and transferred to The Voice of Sint Maarten Power 102.7FM on March 8th, 2015 Read more

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Minister Lee Wants To Develop Airlift From Cayman Islands

PHILIPSBURG--Public Health, Social Development and Labour Minister Emil Lee discussed the possibility of developing weekly flights to the Cayman Islands in an effort to develop medical referrals to that destination during his recent visit to the Bahamas for the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Marketplace.

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Mjp To Present Their List Of Election Candidates

Marigot--The Movement for Justice and Prosperity (MJP) will present its list of candidates to contest the 2017 Territorial Council elections on Friday, February 10, announced MJP President Louis Mussington on Wednesday.

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Lee Orders Independent Audit Of Medical Center

PHILIPSBURG--Public Health, Social Development and Labour Minister Emil Lee has asked the Inspectorate of the Netherlands IGZ to conduct an independent audit on St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC).

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of VROMI Christopher Emmanuel thanked the police management for calling in the various contractors that deliver cement and make them aware of their responsibilities. The Minister said that contractors that deliver cement would litter the roads one being Naked-Boy Hill while delivering cement and would not clean it up leaving other drivers and pedestrian in danger Read more

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** Update **: Missing Girl Search Called Off

UPDATE (3:00PM): POLICE REPORT February 08, 2017

~ a school teacher found her on the road and brought her to the police station ~

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Missing 17 year old girl Junette Pierre Louis Theodule, for whom a “Missing Person” Report was filed with the Police Department, has returned home.

She and her Guardian Lilly Harrison reported to the Juvenile Department to give a statement as to why left home and did not returned.

Junette is in good health and the search to find has officially ended.

POLICE REPORT February 07, 2017:

PHILIPSBURG, SInt Maarten — On Tuesday February 7th 2017 a report of “Missing person” was filed at the Philipsburg Police Station by the sister and guardian of Junette Pierre Louis Theodule, born on Saint Martin F.W.I.  August 29th 1999 Read more

Excess Feral Cats Continue To Endanger Saba’S Tropicbird

By Suzanne Koelega

AMSTERDAM/SABA--Continuation of the monitoring of the nests of the red-billed tropicbird in Saba and the removal of feral cats is of vital importance to prevent future extinction. Despite these recommendations by scientists, not enough is currently being done to protect the local breeding sites of this extraordinary seabird.

The message of Dutch biologist Michiel Boeken is clear in his scientific article on the breeding success of the red-billed tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus mesonauta) in Saba, which has been published in Ardea, the official journal of the Netherlands Ornithologists’ Union: as a major breeding place for this bird, Saba needs to continue past efforts to protect this species.

During his stay on the island as the Director of the Saba Comprehensive School SCS, Boeken in his free time monitored the breeding success of the red-billed tropicbirds in 2011 and 2012 Read more