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Ipko Parliamentarians Receive Seven Seas Water Presentation

POINT BLANCHE, St. Maarten – Members of delegations attending last week’s IPKO meetings in St. Maarten, were also treated to a presentation hosted during a visit visited to the Seven Seas Water PB plant in Point Blanche.

During the event, held on Thursday, a power presentation was provided by Frederick Hung (VP-Business Analysis of SSW) and Lester Brian (local Operations Manager).

During that occasion, Franklyn Richards, managing director of Seven Seas Water (St. Maarten) highlighted the role of the company as a good corporate citizen, characterized among others by its regular donation program Read more

Theo Gives Away 60.000 Pencil Cases

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Leader of the United People’s Party (UP) and Member of Parliament (MP) Theodore “Theo” Heyliger once again visited several elementary schools this week.

MP Heyliger is giving away pencil cases to students who annually look forward to this kind gesture. As customary a motto is printed on the pencil cases which serves as a motivation for the students Read more

Ipko: No Time For Debate About Dispute Regulation

St. Maarten News – The Inter-parliamentary Kingdom Consultation (Ipko) did not get around to a discussion about the dispute regulation yesterday. Due to time constraints, chairlady Sarah Wescot-Williams closed the meeting shortly after 4.30 p.m. to allow members of the Dutch delegation to meet unspecified commitments outside of the meeting.

St Read more

St. Maarten Prime Minister Wants Voting Rights For Students In Holland

Prime Minister William Marlin with Education Minister Silveria Jacobs at yesterday’s press briefing. Photo Today / Hilbert Haar

St. Maarten News – Prime Minister William Marlin will travel to the Netherlands on Sunday for a week-long visit where he will meet with Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Kingdom Relations Minister Ronald Plasterk and the vice-chair of the Council of State, Piet Hein Donner Read more

New Parking System At Clem Labega Is Ready

St. Maarten – The new parking system at Clem Labega square should be operational soon but the seemingly simple project has a long history, Prime Minister William Marlin explained yesterday. Motorists will have to pull a ticket from a machine at the entrance opposite the Windward Islands Bank before the beam goes up to allow them to enter.

Access is only allowed on a right hand turn, coming from the direction of the police station and the Government Administration building Read more

Central Bank Helps With Employment Fund

St. Maarten News – The cabinet has called in the help of the Central Bank to set up the Employment Fund for young job seekers. Today Prime Minister William Marlin meets with a two-strong support team from the Central Bank to discuss the issue. Previously, the PM discussed his options with the President of the bank, Emsley Tromp.

“The government is a shareholder in the central bank,” Marlin said yesterday Read more

Marlin Foresees Lively Debate About Reform Proposals

St. Maarten News – Prime Minister William Marlin disagrees with the opinion of political analyst Julio Romney that his proposal for electoral reform will result in a dictatorship. “That’s unfortunate. I don’t agree with his take on it but his contribution adds to a lively debate,” Marlin said yesterday.

The three-strong committee tasked with the fine-tuning of electoral reform proposals had its first meeting on Tuesday and it will present its plan of approach and a timeline to Marlin today.

:In the past Romney has proposed that MPs who leave their party should give up their seat and walk away Read more

Szv And Aps Buy Government Building “Civil Servants Move In By July”

St. Maarten News – Social insurance agency SZV and pension fund APS think it is feasible for civil servants to move into the government administration Building on Pond Island by the end of July, Prime Minister William Marlin said at yesterday’s council of Ministers press briefing.

SZV and Aps will buy the building for around 45 million guilders and complete it Read more

PHILIPSBURG—St. Maarten/St. Martin Alliance For Equality (SAFE) Foundation extends best wishes to the island’s population for the new year and hopes to continue dialogues on and for equality for all people in 2016.

SAFE is a L(esbian), G(ay), B(i-sexual) & T(ransgender) organization, which was established in 2013 and focuses on human rights and empowerment. 

According to the SAFE board, 2015 had been a year full of activities geared towards stimulating conversations between the foundation and all segments of society concerning human rights and overcoming stigma & discrimination Read more

Dp Dance Salsa Festival At Sonesta Maho January 14-17

MAHO – Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino is the venue for the DP Dance Salsa Festival, the biggest Salsa event in the North-Eastern Caribbean. The Salsa Festive featuring the world champion of salsa dancing will take place at the Resort fromThursday, January 14, untilSunday, January 17.

A large number of internationally renowned Salsa experts will attend the Salsa Festival. Expert Salsa dancers from Cuba, Colombia, Italy, the United States, and St Read more

PORT ST. MAARTEN – Members of Parliament (MPs) attending this week’s Inter-parliamentary Kingdom Consultation (IPKO) had the opportunity on Thursday afternoon to visit the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facility.

After visiting the Seven Seas Water Desalination Plant, the delegation of MPs from the Netherlands, Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten gathered at the Cruise Terminal Building which overlooks the cruise piers and Great Bay where Port St. Maarten Chief Executive Officer Mark Mingo gave a brief overview of port operations.

In port was the Celebrity Silhouette and Allure of the Seas as well as two giga-yachts.  This provided an opportunity to see cruise operations underway where thousands of passengers and crew were moving around either heading back to the ship or patronizing one of the gift stores at the port or making use of the internet Wi-Fi services.

Mingo explained about the distribution network that is in place in order to get passengers from one point to the next which includes walking to Philipsburg, taxi service, tour busses, and water-taxi.

The delegation which also included MPs Hon Read more

St. Maarten Lions Club Donated $10,000 To 5 Schools For Their 45Th Anniversary

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The St. Maarten Lions Club on the occasion of celebrating forty five (45) years during the month of December donated $10,000 total or $2000 each to five government subsidized schools on  St. Maarten.

The schools receiving the donations were based on urgent needs that they had for the purchase of items specifically for the school.

Sister Regina School received monies to purchase one(1) mobi pad and thirty (30) clickers response program for the Smart Board Read more

Up Leader And Board Wishes Populace A Healthy, Safe And Prosperous New Year. Formidable Opposition Role Forthcoming In 2016

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – The United People's Party (UP) Leader Theodore Heyliger and board, extend best wishes to all Sint Maarteners/Saint Martiners for a healthy, safe and prosperous New Year.

“The Year 2016 should be a year where the community and business sector work together for a better Sint Maarten.  Significant progress must be made on a number of fronts in order to balance the 2016 budget, reduce crime, create jobs, improve health care, re-align education, youth welfare and much more.  Government has its responsibility and we will hold them accountable.

“Preparations were well underway for the people to go to the polls in February Read more

Timeshare, The Sick Cousin Of The Tourism Industry

After many years, legislation remains in limbo

St. Maarten – Trouble in the timeshare industry probably dates back further than December 2010, when the controversial sale of the Pelican Resort caused uproar among employees and timeshare owners alike, but it is a good starting point for getting an impression of the state of this industry and the lack of action on the part of successive governments.

When the Pelican Resort changed ownership in December 2010, the jobs of 182 employees were suddenly on the line Read more

Jakisha Brooks On Student Athlete Visit In Miami

MIAMI/ ST. MAARTEN – Jakisha Brooks is ending the year on a high note. The 18-year old 5’ 11” starting forward for the Learning Unlimited team in the Ladies Basketball Championship is on an official NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) student athlete visit at the St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida.

Brooks is the reigning ‘LBC Defensive Player Of The Year’ for 2014-2015 and was selected to the LBC All Star Game 2014, LBC All First Team and as a top-20 player for the 2014-2015 season Read more

Mp Lake: Taking The Issues Affecting The People In 2016 To Another Level

ST. PETERS, St. Maarten - “I would like to wish the people of St. Maarten a Happy New Year.  I have to say 2015 was a good learning experience for St. Maarten. St. Maarten is at a crossroad, so the decisions we make today will affect the next generation of tomorrow. 

“That's why I am looking to 2016 to take the issues affecting our local people to another level in an open and transparent manner to better serve the people of St. Maarten. I know it's going to be a short challenging year with a lot of manmade obstacles to keep me back from achieving for the people, but that won't keep a good man down,” Member of Parliament Maurice Lake said."Once I give it my best for 2016, and work along with the people, I believe the LORD will do the rest for his people. I am a firm believer in my principles of Philippians Chapter 4:13, ‘I can do all things with Christ which strengthen me.’ I have set some goals and I can't wait to execute them in the general interest of the people.“I am not going to get in the old way of politics with tic for tac, planning against each other, or predicting like some of our leaders that I would never be elected again, but I am going to focus on the issues and come with a plan of action in an open and transparent manner. Last election, some of our leaders within taught the same that my team was all rookies and I wasn't going to get elected. I would like the people to judge me on the upcoming election in September 2016 based on my work, performance and accomplishments for the people.“It's high time we stop saying or working behind the scenes in self-interest and start being open with the people’s business and focus on providing a stable economy and putting our people first and creating work for them. Parliament and Government needs to start putting our people first, and focus and communicate better with our local people and bring priority projects, quick wins or laws that are going to empower our people for the betterment of the island.“The Coalition of Eight main focus should be reform, balancing the draft Budget 2016, stimulating the Economy, creating jobs and developing a plan of action for the Crime situation.“As an Independent MP, my main focus would be in 2016 on passing the amended initiative law to make the processing or application fee for residence permits non-refundable; recognizing the University of St Read more

Academy Closes Year By Graduating 81

CUL DE SAC, St. Maarten - St. Maarten Academy’s academic campus closed the calendar year with a bang by graduating 81 of its students who successfully completed their CSEC examinations, offered by the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) in May/June.

The ceremony was held on December 16, 2015 at the Belair Community Centre under the theme, “Education: The Passport to Our Future”.

Clifford Francois emerged as valedictorian and recapped the years of hard work that brought him and his fellow graduates the successes they have achieved Read more

Open Government

Our government wishes to be open and transparent. We have seen some examples of this given by Public Health Minister Emil Lee and only last week, Education Minister Silveria Jacobs confirmed that she is on the same page – actually, that the whole government is on the same page.

Well, let’s test those statements against an initiative that came up in the Netherlands and that seems to fit St Read more

Former Pm Marcel Gumbs Reacts To Dr. Martha “Not Possible To Revoke Dissolution Decree”

St. Maarten / By Hilbert Haar – “I think that not all the facts were presented to him,” former Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs told this newspaper yesterday in a reaction to the interview with Dr. Rutsel Martha. “He is a good friend and very clever, though somewhat controversial, but his specialty is not in constitutional law.”

Gumbs said that he had acquired advice from three constitutional experts – professors Arjen van Rijn, Tijn Kortmann and Joop van den Berg Read more

Christmas Village Can Now Be Viewed At Starz City & Casino

CUPECOY, St. Maarten – The Island’s Christmas activities and decorations this year have really been amplified versus the previous years in St. Maarten.

The Starz City & Casino did not hesitate to partner with the Dominican Roots Foundation to add their magic touch to the Island’s Christmas Spirit.

The Christmas Village became a reality and in order to give back to the community, various groups of less privileged children were invited free of charge to the event Read more

“Governor Holiday Made Gumbs Look Like A Fool”

Dr. Rutsel Martha: revoking dissolution decree perfectly legal

By Hilbert Haar – LONDON / GREAT BAY – The decision by the Marlin-cabinet to withdraw the October 29 dissolution decree and to replace it by another one that pushed the elections back to September of next year is perfectly legal. That is the opinion of Dr. Rutsel Martha, a former Minister of Justice in Curacao who is now based in London as an international legal consultant. From a distance, Dr. Martha has followed the political developments in St Read more

Maho Group Appreciates Dedicated Team Members

St. Maarten – The Maho Group recognized its outstanding and dedicated team members as Stars of the Hospitality and Tourism Industry this week at Sonesta Resorts’ End of the Year Team Appreciation evening.

The resort group singled out a number of team members in various categories such as Employee of Year and Supervisor of the Year and in novelty categories like Best Smile and Punctuality and Grooming. All team members were observed throughout the year as they conducted their regular assignments and when they went above and beyond the call of duty.

Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Emil Lee, who was very active in the field of hospitality and tourism prior to his current post, was a guest at the appreciation evening. 

The awardees were pulled from Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino, Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort Casino and Spa, Ocean Point, Casino Royale, Diamond Casino, and Golden Casino.

The recognition of Employee of the Year was received by Diane Burnett and Maria Mercedes (Sonesta Maho), Soledad Van Lamoen Rivera and Pierre Banno Charles (Ocean Point), Ruby Coby and Marie Philippe (Sonesta Great Bay), Elmira Hodge and Richard Renjifo-Tinini (Casino Royale), Juan Nunez and Maria Bryson (Diamond/Golden Casinos). 

The Best Smile Award were presented to Anna Nelson (Sonesta Maho), Clarissa Clement (Ocean Point), Jonathan Puente (Sonesta Great Bay), Karoll Gil-Huertes (Casino Royale), and Celine Oliente (Diamond/Golden Casinos)

The Supervisor of the Year nod was given to Preciosa Teleisi (Sonesta Maho), Alma Harry (Ocean Point), Miguel Felix (Sonesta Great Bay), and Daniel Ottley (Diamond/Golden Casino).

The Leadership Award went to Irene Correa (Sonesta Maho), Damion Bailey (Ocean Point), Unelta Cherry (Sonesta Great Bay), Yacqueline Rivera (Casino Royale), and Rosa Isaac (Diamond/Golden Casinos).                                                    

The resorts have also paid keep attention to punctuality and grooming of team members and those who have exceeded the ordinary were commended for their commitment to being on time and being well put together Read more

Minister Of Education Jacobs Tells St. Dominic’S High School Graduates That Sint Maarten Needs Them In Order To Grow

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – The Honorable Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs Silveria Jacobs, was recently present for the graduation ceremony at the St. Dominic’s High School (SDHS).

The theme of the SDHS graduation was: “Some people drink from the fountain of knowledge, while others just gargle” - Robert Anthony.

Minister Jacobs during her speech congratulated the graduates on behalf of the Government of Sint Maarten and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports which continuously strives to meet the needs of the youth in these very important areas Read more

Mp Lake Wants Update On Emilio Wilson Estate

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake has sent a letter to Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Angel Meyers, via the President of Parliament seeking an update about plans for Emilio Wilson Estate. 
 â€œThe Estate is of invaluable natural, cultural, historical and social significance Read more