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PHILIPSBURG:---- The ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labor (Ministry VSA) is currently looking for ways to improve labor compliance. In respect to this, Minister of VSA, Emil Lee, along with members of his cabinet, made a visit to the prosecutor’s office on Friday, March 18th, 2016.
According to Minister Lee, “Compliance with the law should be realistic, practical and the path of least resistance” Read more

St. Maarten Represented At Brussels Commemoration

THE HAGUE--St. Maarten Justice Minister Edison Kirindongo and St. Maarten Minister Plenipotentiary in The Hague Henrietta Doran-York attended the commemoration for the Brussels attacks at the Belgian embassy in The Hague on Wednesday.

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Vsa Ministry Intends To Increase Labour Compliance

PHILIPSBURG – The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (VSA) is currently looking at ways to improve labor compliance. In relation to this, Minister of VSA Emil Lee, along with members of his cabinet, made a visit to the Prosecutor’s Office on Friday, March 18.

According to Minister Lee, “Compliance with the law should be realistic, practical and the path of least resistance.” The Ministry is planning a campaign to increase labour law compliance.

In preparation for this campaign to increase compliance, a number of activities are being looked into, including procedures related to issuing an official report or procès-verbal (PV) Read more

Spurned Child Molester Who Admitted To Killing Nephew Gets 26 Years Jail Sentence

GUYANA — A man who admitted to killing his nephew in 2012, was on Tuesday sentenced to 26 years in jail by Justice Franklyn Holder. Roy Lewis, 37, of Glasgow Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice, admitted that he was jealous of his nephew, who had stated an intimate relationship with a young lady. The uncle and the 18-year-old deceased had ‘a relationship’ since the boy was 14.  In 2012, Lewis stabbed him to death. Reports are that on December 27, 2012, at Sisters Village, East Bank Berbice, Devon Lewis, also called ‘Devon DaSilva’ went to Berbice to spend the weekend when his uncle, Roy Lewis, broke into the deceased’s girlfriend’s house and stabbed him to death. Reported that the man inflicted multiple stab wounds on Devon while he was asleep next to his girlfriend at her parents’ home at 112 Sisters Village. After killing the youth, Lewis ingested a poisonous substance in an attempt to take his own life but was rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he was treated and recovered. On Tuesday, Lewis appeared before Justice Franklyn Holder and pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Prime Minister of Sint Maarten William Marlin invites the general public to attend the first law lecture in a series called, “The Law Matters to You,” a joint project between the Department of Communication and the University of St. Martin.

The first lecture is about the “Joint Court of Justice & the Legal System on Sint Maarten” by Judge Mauritsz de Kort Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Information reaching SMN News states that the government of St. Maarten are being ripped off by an auto dealer on the island that have been leasing cars to government. According to the information provided to SMN News is that a number of vehicles were leased to the Ministry of Justice and the lease prices are very high even for old cars that are not in proper working condition.
The source said that at one point some of the vehicles were repossessed because government was not making its payment but the dealer quickly returned the vehicles to the Ministry but did not change the lease prices even though they know that their vehicles were old and not up to par.
SMN News further learnt that the financial controller for government even advised the head of facility management not to continue the agreement as it was because government were being robbed but the head of facility management did not heed the advice of the financial controller.
According to the information SMN News received is that government is paying NAF.2, 430.00 ($1,350.00) per month for one vehicle that is eight years old Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Labor, and Health Emil Lee announced on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers press briefing that inspectors found a business place that was operating without a business license and that business place had 15 persons in their employment, 11 of which are undocumented.
The Minister has issued a call on businesses that are having a hard time getting their licenses because he is more than willing to look into the policies and procedures Read more

Opposition Senator Said To Be In Hiding

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Prime Minister Gaston Browne has called on an opposition politician to spare the country the loss of scare financial resources by withdrawing an allegation he made regarding the disappearance of money from the Citizenship Investment Programme (CIP).

Prime Minister Browne told legislators that opposition Senator Damani Tabor’s claim that EC$500,000 had been missing from the CIP unit is mischievous and that the government could save funds that are being used to pay Canadian-based financial forensic investigator Robert Lindquist.

In February, the government enlisted the Christian Council to select someone to determine if the money was missing as had been claimed by the opposition legislator.

“If it is that the person was being malicious, he can probably spare the nation the trouble and just to say it is not true and that he was being mischievous,” Browne said.

He told Parliament that if the member of the opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) “does not relent and we have to spend tens of thousands of dollars …to do an investigation then clearly that person will be guilty of public mischief if and when found guilty.

“Clearly there could be consequences,” Browne said, adding that he was extending “an olive branch to Mr Read more

Collection of garbage will cost government NAF.32.736.093.74 for the next five years.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The final advice as to which of the contractors that participated in the bidding process to collect solid waste on February 3rd 2016 will be discussed and approved by the Council of Ministers on Thursday announced Minister of VROMI Angel Meyers. Meyers said he received the final advice that was prepared by VROMI on Monday, he said as soon as a decision is taken on the matter the various contractors will be notified by letter Read more

Assaults High Among Youth Crime In Study

PHILIPSBURG--Former Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson commissioned an investigation on juvenile crime on the island because regular concerns have been expressed about the increase in juvenile delinquency in St. Maarten, while the official data from the Prosecutor’s Office and the police does not reflect this increase.

The research was done over a three-month period from December 2014 to February 2015, and was conducted by Emma Merckx and Lieke Buurman, both graduates Master Youth Law Read more

Christian Party Presents Draft Manifesto To Public

GREAT BAY– The St. Maarten Christian Party (SMCP) is inviting the general public to the presentation of its draft Manifesto on Tuesday, April 5, at 7:30pm at the Belair Community Center in Cay Hill.

This presentation will give insight into the problems and issues that the SMCP will be addressing once in government. “We also would like to hear your concerns for our country, and your suggestions as to how to deal with them Read more

AMSTERDAM/PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Justice Mr. Edson Kirindongo started his working visit to the Netherlands on Tuesday by meeting with the Progress Committee for Sint Maarten regarding the Plans of Approach for the Sint Maarten Police Force and the Pointe Blanche Prison. The meeting was hosted by Minister Plenipotentiary Henrietta Doran-York at the Sint Maarten House in The Hague and severed as a follow-up meeting to the meeting which was held between the Justice Minister and the Progress Committee on Sint Maarten in February Read more

Exclusive:- Shake Up In Justice Ministry ---Ruben Thompson Slated To Be Appointed Secretary General Of Justice.

Udo Aaron position in Limbo.

PHILIPSBURG: --- A major shake-up is expected to take place in the Ministry of Justice as early as next week. SMN News have been reliably informed that former head of Central Government information service Stanley Kwidama will be appointed Chef of the Cabinet of the Ministry of Justice In 2018 Kwidama was appointed temporarily at the disposal of the Antillean Prime Minister as quarter master to assist St. Maarten in receiving the Justice entity prior to St. Maarten achieving its country status.
While Irene Simmons will be appointed Human Resources manager and Ruben Thompson will be appointed Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice Read more

Minister Meets With Progress Committee

HOLLAND — Minister of Justice Mr. Edson Kirindongo started his working visit to the Netherlands on Tuesday by meeting with the Progress Committee for Sint Maarten regarding the Plans of Approach for the Sint Maarten Police Force and the Pointe Blanche Prison.

The meeting was hosted by Minister Plenipotentiary Henrietta Doran-York at the Sint Maarten House in The Hague and severed as a follow-up meeting to the meeting which was held between the Justice Minister and the Progress Committee on Sint Maarten in February.

Minister Kirindongo used the opportunity to exchange thoughts with the committee, to inform them of his plans for the Prison and the Police Force and also to present measures taken towards strengthening the organizational capacity, increasing efficiency and further improving the operations of both entities.

Picture: Sint Maarten House Acting-Director Mrs Read more

Government Warned About Granting Cip To Iraqi Nationals

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – The main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) is calling on the Antigua and Barbuda Government to re-think its decision to allow Iraqi nationals to participate in the country’s citizenship by investment programme (CIP).

UPP leader Harold Lovell is also calling on the government to re-think its move to establish diplomatic relations with the country.

“There can be no benefit to the people of Antigua and Barbuda Read more

Great Bay:--- The Sint Maarten Christian Party is inviting the general public to the presentation of its draft Manifesto on Tuesday, April 5th 2016 at 7:30 pm at the Belair Center in Cay Hill.
This presentation will give insight to the problems and issues that the Sint Maarten Christian Party will be addressing once in government. We also would like to hear your concerns for our country and your suggestions as to how to deal with them. This presentation promises to be a very informative session yet one where the audience will be given ample opportunity to have their say.
Party Leader, Wycliffe Smith said that “it is the first time in Sint Maarten that a political party's manifesto is being discussed with the general public prior to its official release” Read more

Uts To Launch Lte In St. Eustatius.

UTS granted mobile concession

UTS has been granted a mobile concession in St. Eustatius, which will allow the company to further develop mobile operations and service offerings to the public on this island. UTS was already offering mobile services on the island as UTS/Radcomm under EUTELs mobile concession. UTS has been offering these services under the Chippie brand-name in partnership with EUTEL; providing GSM service with 2 ½ G mobile internet, better known as EDGE Read more

Fritz Pantophlet Improves Quality Of Life With New Custom Wheelchair

PHILIPSBURG – In line with SZV 3.0, the Health Department of SZV is one of the many departments within the organization that has been making structural changes towards improving the quality of service and customer satisfaction experience. With the introduction of a dedicated ABVZ team last summer, the department has been able to increase efficiency in processing requests from customers with special needs, and acquire exceptional long-term medical expenses.

Fritz Pantophlet, a well-known customer at SZV, was recently presented with a new custom-made wheelchair Read more

Mp Marlin-Romeo Gives Back To St. Maarten Foundation For Psychologists & Orthopedagogen

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – “There are many organizations on the island that are actively trying to make a difference for the overall improvement of Sint Maarten.  Each has their own specialization, and objectives, many however go unrecognized and or get discouraged because of the lack of support,” Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo said on Monday.

The St Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---  â€œThere are many organizations on the island that are actively trying to make a difference for the overall improvement of Sint Maarten. Each has their own specialization, and objectives, many however go unrecognized and or get discouraged because of the lack of support,” Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo said on Monday.

The St Read more

Obama Meets Castro In Cuba

HAVANA, Cuba – “This is a new day between our two countries,” President Obama said after meeting with Cuban President Raúl Castro in Havana.

The two leaders agreed that there are still deep fissures between the two countries and that a healthy relationship between them will take work.

That uneasiness was apparent as soon as journalists began asking questions. Obama and Castro were not supposed to take questions, but a last minute change made that possible.

In Spanish, a journalist asked Castro why his country kept political prisoners.

Clearly miffed, Castro asked the reporter to hand over a list of political prisoners.

“If there are political prisoners, they will be released by nightfall,” Castro said.

Obama was diplomatic when he addressed Cuba’s human rights record Read more

*** Update ***: Man Shot With Pellet Gun

*** UPDATE *** POLICE REPORT

Man shot and assaulted

The Special Robbery Unit is presently investigating a possible armed robbery whereby the victim was shot and beaten. The incident happened on Monday March 21st 2016 just around 05.00 a.m.

This is when the Central Emergency Dispatch received the first called informing them that two unknown men had forced themselves into the residence of the victim which is located in Pointe Pirouette Read more

Over 40 Volunteer To Refurbish Ewp Playground Built In 2004

CUL-de-SAC – The initiative, a collaboration between the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise and the Participant Foundation, is to refurbish the existing playground at Emilio Wilson Park (EWP) to realize a vibrant children’s playground, and family recreational space at the park.

There are currently few public playgrounds, and limited facilities on the island that cater to outdoor activities, which the whole family, particularly children, could enjoy.

There is still so much more to be done, but funds are limited Read more

Mp Marlin-Romeo Seeks Immediate Input Of Minister Of Justice On Insurances For Police Officers

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten -– The President of Parliament Sarah Wescott Williams received a letter from Independent Member of Parliament Leona Marlin-Romeo on Friday, March 18, 2016, to be immediately forwarded to the Minister of Justice.

The Member of Parliament stated during the budget debate and in a letter to the Presiden Read more