SXMElections.com

St. Maarten Nectar Launches Campaign In Schools Against Zika.

Simpson Bay :---- St. Maarten Nectar, local producer of natural cosmetics and Bug O% repellents launched its fight against the Zika virus - and specifically its mosquito bite prevention campaign. This is an island-wide program which encourages children to develop healthy bite prevention habits.
The campaign was launched with the placement of over 100 posters in public areas around the community like supermarkets and drugstores on the island. The company stressed its “Protect-Repel-Eliminate” message at various schools and playschools and donated diffusers as part of its social corporate responsibility program.
The management of St Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- The IB Diploma Class of 2016's CAS Presentation and Pinning Ceremony marked the end of their two-year journey to discover the answer to the question: "What can I be?” On Friday, April 15, the Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs, The Catholic School Board, The Department of Inspection, School Manager Ms. Gianne Wilson-DeWeever, representatives of several NGO's, community stakeholders, parents, and teachers were part of this celebratory event.

The program opened with the students highlighting the skills and experiences they cultivated by engaging in the Creativity, Action and Service component of their academically rigorous IB Diploma Programme Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

St. Maarten Residents Call For Action To Solve Dump Problems

Minister Emil Lee (second from right) listens to the concerns about the landfill. To the left is Andy Wescot; Wycliffe Smith of the Christian party is just visible next to him. Photo contributed

St Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Mussington: New Prison Not The Way Forward For Our Young People

MARIGOT--Long-standing educator and former Territorial Councillor Louis Mussington said Tuesday he disagrees with MP Daniel Gibbs’s attempts to get the prison discussion for St. Mart Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Mps Request Urgent Meeting On Country’S Financial Status

PHILIPSBURG – The Coalition Members of Parliament (MPs) sent a request to Parliament for an urgent meeting on the topic of the financial status of the country. In their request, MPs George Pantophlet, Frans Richardson and Sarah Wescot-Williams submitted the following agenda point: “Short, medium and long-term financial outlook of St Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Final Phase Of Emergency Repairs On Front Street Start Wednesday

PHILIPSBURG – The Government of St. Maarten, represented by the Council of Ministers, would like to update the general public with regard to the second and final phase of the emergency repairs, which are being carried out on Front Street.

The project is being financed by the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) and coordinated by the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI).

“We are pleased to inform you, as promised, that the first phase of this project is now completed and traffic through Front Street from Sea Palace can continue up until the Court House Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Brown Pelican Sports Award Winners Receive Their Checks

PHILIPSBURG – Two winners of the top prizes for the St. Maarten Brown Pelican Sports Awards (BPSA) received their checks on Wednesday, April 13, at the conference room of the Department of Sports.

Shakeba Pink (Athletics) and Desmond Patterson (Bodybuilding), winners of the Female and Male Athlete of the Year respectively, were informed of their achievements during the first ever BPSA ceremony, honoring local athletes and sporting legends, on Sunday, November 22, 2015 at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort Convention Center.

The checks were presented to the athletes, in front of family and staff of the Department of Sports, by Department Head Jonelle Richardson and National Sports Institute (NSI) Chairman Daniel Berry Read more

Mp Marlin-Romeo Receives Response From U.S. Embassy On U.S. Visa Requirements.

PHILIPSBURG"--- Member of Parliament Leona Marlin-Romeo received an answer directly from the US Embassy on the issue of visa requirements for citizens of the former Netherlands Antilles.

Clarification was given by the Embassy located in Curacao after the Member of Parliament called and emailed the office on Monday April 18th, 2016.

Persons from the former Netherlands Antilles are eligible to participate in the Visa Waiver Program "VWP", according to the representative Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Landfill Fire Out, But Still Smoking

On Sunday afternoon, the smoldering landfill fire still sent toxic smoke towards residential areas. Photo Today / Hilbert Haar

St. Maarten News – The fire that broke out on the landfill on Friday afternoon may be “under control” but on Sunday afternoon the site was still emitting toxic smoke. That smoke contains dioxins, carcinogenic substances that could cause cancer but also a severe form of acne, known as chloracne. At high dose levels, dioxin could furthermore cause abnormalities to the enamel of children’s teeth; it could affect the central and peripheral nervous system, cause thyroid disorders, damage immune systems and cause endometriosis (tissue growth outside the uterus that could in turn lead to (chronic) pelvis pain and infertility) and – last but not least – diabetes.

High exposure to dioxins also changes the male/female birth ration in favor of females.

Significant is the observation that small concentrations of dioxins in water could accumulate to dangerously high levels, because the substance does not dissolve easily in water.

The Collective Prevention Services advised this weekend to people living downwind from the landfill fire to close their windows and doors Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Minister Jacobs Launches Education On The Move

Minister Jacobs (center) with the team involved in Education on the Move. Photo Today / Andrew Bishop

St. Maarten News – Education Minister Silveria Jacobs launched her Education on the Move initiative on Friday. The program aims to stimulate participation of all stakeholders in education. “There are comments about what is happening in education, but some fail to realize that education is everyone’s business,” the minister said.

The ministry wants to use the campaign to make the necessary changes Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Coalition Mps Request Meeting To Discuss Country’S Financial Status.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On behalf of the Coalition members of Parliament, a request has been sent to Parliament for an urgent meeting on the topic of the financial status of the country. In their request, the members Pantophlet, F. Richardson and Wescot-Williams submitted the following agenda point:

Short, medium and long term financial outlook of St Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- Two winners of the top prizes for the Sint Maarten Brown Pelican Sports Awards (BPSA) received their checks on Wednesday, April 13 at the conference room of the Department of Sports.
Shakeba Pink (Athletics) and Desmond Patterson (Bodybuilding), winners of the Female and Male Athlete of the Year respectively, were informed of their achievements during the first ever BPSA ceremony, honoring local athletes and sporting legends, on Sunday, November 22, 2015 at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort Convention Center.
The checks were presented to the athletes, in front of family and staff of the Department of Sports, by Department Head Jonelle Richardson and National Sports Institute (NSI) Chairman, Daniel Berry Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The landfill (dump) in Philipsburg is on fire again and the perils with the new garbage collection contracts in general have only added to the frustration.
Some might feel that this is open political season and we could now point fingers at the persons who were in charge of areas like Public Works etc. for many years, and under whose responsibility this matter fell.
We could use the lack of visible action by those persons as political ammunition and start to "shoot" at these persons who over the years and for mainly selfish reasons have stalled, turned back, reversed or whatever the case might have been, any plan that had to do with arriving at a solution for the Philipsburg landfill.
However, this blame game will not get us any closer to a solution at this time.
The people of St Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Leona Says Clarity Needed On Us Visa Requirements

PHILIPSBURG--Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo on Monday wrote President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams regarding visa requirements for persons from the former Netherlands Antilles entering the USA Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Up Criticizes Jacobs’ Education Campaign, But Minister Says Record ‘Speaks For Itself’

PHILIPSBURG--United People’s (UP) Party on Monday, levelled criticism against Government for its recently launched “Education on the Move (EOM)” campaign, an initiative focussed on literacy and geared towards raising awareness about education and its importance.
UP said t Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

The Minister Of Education Is Always An Educator At Heart 

PHILIPSBURG – The Minister of Education is, and always has been an educator at heart, and is solely motivated by this fact to work together with others to bring improvements to education in order to meet the needs of our population.

It is rather disappointing that an initiative such as Education on the Move (EOM), aimed at bringing much needed awareness about education and collaboration within the community, is being touted by the opposition as a political move, especially seeing their recent, obvious interference in ongoing discussions in education, as well as the school bussing issue.

The Minister’s record speaks for itself Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Minister Jacobs Raises Awareness On World Heritage Day

PHILIPSBURG – World Heritage Day also commonly known as International Day for Monuments and Sites is focused on celebrating the world’s built cultural heritage every year on April 18.

UNESCO established April 18 as the International Day for Monuments and Sites in 1983. It aims to raise public awareness about the diversity and vulnerability of the world’s built monuments and heritage sites and the efforts required to protect and conserve them. Each year has a different theme and this year’s theme is “The Heritage of Sport.”

Sport is part of every man and woman’s heritage and its absence can never be compensated for– Pierre de Coubertin

The Olympic Games will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in August Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:---  The Government of St Maarten, represented by the Council of Ministers, would like to update the general public with regards to the second and final phase of the Emergency repairs which are been carried out on Front Street. The project is being financed by the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) and coordinated by the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI).
We are pleased to inform you, as promised, that the first phase of this project is now completed and traffic through Front Street from Sea Palace can continue up until the Court House Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Mp Lake Calls For Action Regarding Waste Haulers, And Landfill Management

As a Member of Parliament (MP), I have a responsibility towards the people of St. Maarten who I represent. And this responsibility also includes passing on my observations to the Government that I support with the result of action being taken to remedy situations in the general interest of the people.

I have been observing the transition phase of the five waste haulers where it concerns picking up the garbage for the past weeks. I also have been walking around in the different districts, talking to the residents, communicating with some waste haulers about the garbage situation, and listening to the different radio/television programs, and especially taking note of the residents’ comments and concerns.

I also have heard of the comments on Facebook and have taken note of these as well, about the garbage situation Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Plenary Session Of Parliament About The Sale Of The New Government Administration Building Reconvenes On Tuesday.

PHILIPSBURG:---  The House of Parliament will sit in a plenary public session on April 19. The Minister of General Affairs will be present for the session.
The plenary public meeting reconvenes on Tuesday at 2.00 pm in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg.
The agenda point is the sale of the new government administration building.
This plenary session of the House was requested by Members of Parliament (MPs) MP Franklin Meyers, MP Leona Marlin-Romeo and MP Van Hugh Cornelius de Weever.
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

---

Candidates in this article:

Happy St. Maarten Carnival To All

St. Maarten News – The Minister of Culture Silveria Jacobs extends to the entire community of St. Maarten as well as to our visitors a happy and safe Carnival in a brief press statement.

“48 Years of evolving Carnival celebrations have kept segments of our culture alive and it is the hope of the Minister that even more core cultural aspects receive the recognition they deserve during this our largest cultural celebration of the year and years to come.

All stakeholders in Carnival, from the SCDF, the promoters and sponsors, booth-holders, the participants, the spectators and law enforcement are key to the success of this three week event Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Hypnotic Brothel Under Fire

Sign of the Hypnotic brothel in Sucker Garden. Photo Today / Hilbert Haar

Permit holder demands payment

St. Maarten News / By Hilbert Haar – “Duncan, Duncan, Duncan. I am not the defendant here, I stand here as an attorney for my clients,” former Minister of Justice Roland Duncan muttered yesterday morning during the handling of a lawsuit Richbenzwan NV initiated against Hypnotic Hotel and Entertainment, JMC Investments and Holdings NV and Mayoline Joan Peterson, the director of the Hypnotic brothel in Sucker Garden.

Richbenzwan holds the permit for the Seaman’s Club that has now been renamed Hypnotic Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Early Childhood Development Conference Works On Policy

Minister Jacobs (left) listens attentively during the conference. Photo contributed

St. Maarten News  – The launch of the early childhood development participatory policy planning conference took place at the Nipa last Wednesday. The two day conference discussed the topics needed to form this policy for St. Maarten and the benefits of expanding investments in it. Education Minister Silveria Jacobs made welcome statements and introductions.

The Department of Youth Affairs is responsible for monitoring the Rights of the Child and therefore assumed the responsibility for the role of ensuring that laws and policies for early childhood development are established Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Taxing Online Purchases Will Not Deter Consumers

PHILIPSBURG--One St. Maarten People Party (OSPP) says taxing online purchases will not deter consumers from purchasing their necessities via the Internet as it will still be cheaper than purchasing from stores in St. Maarten.