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Editorial - It’s about time

Increasing the pensionable age from 60 to 62 was mentioned again, this time by DP leader Sarah Wescot-Williams (see Friday paper). All over the world similar steps are being taken to safeguard the funds in question.

With today's advanced medical treatment folks are simply living longer Read more

Editorial - Wide open

The urgent Central Committee meeting on crime after the recent
fatal shooting of Police Offi cer Benjamin by armed robbers
on Front Street that started on Monday is scheduled to
continue today, Friday. It was still a closed-door session up to
Thursday night, despite criticism on that aspect from various
quarters, including opposition members.
What’s more, the Council of Ministers said it had not requested
that the encounter be confi dential, but this is how the invitation
from the legislature came Read more

Gumbs apologises for suicide comments

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs has issued an apology Friday for comments he made about suicide at the Council of Ministers Press Briefing on Wednesday. The Cabinet's Press Secretariat attributed "his outburst to frustration with what he has called the ongoing destructive conduct of certain media and community elements."

An emotional Gumbs on Wednesday heavily condemned persons, who he believes continue to paint the island black with negative comments Read more

Impressed journalists already creating a buzz

AIRPORT--The international aviation and travel writers brought to St. Maarten by Princess Juliana International Airport SXM for a media tour this week have started to create a buzz in media coverage, even before leaving. The whirlwind trip has left them with plenty of material to write about what they have experienced personally as unique traits of travel in St. Maarten and hub partners Saba and St. Barths.

The 11 hand-picked journalists will be submitting their stories to more than 30 international media outlets and while some story ideas were pre-planned, others will be based on where the wind took them.

One highlight, an impromptu and unscripted one-minute video of Domino's Pizza being delivered to Saba on Winair, already has gone viral Read more

Jamaica phases out use of ozone-depleting compound in foam-manufacturing industry

KINGSTON, Jamaica--Jamaica has successfully phased out the use of a key ozone-depleting substance that was being used in the foam-manufacturing industry.

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) were being used by SEAL Sprayed Solutions Limited to make spray-in-place insulation that controls moisture and temperature within buildings. The climate-friendly and ozone-friendly alternative methyl formate is now being used in the manufacturing process.

Most HCFCs have a high global-warming potential Read more

Kerry urges "genuine democracy" at US flag ceremony in Cuba

HAVANA--U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry declared a new era in relations as he celebrated restored diplomatic ties in Havana on Friday, but he also urged political change in Cuba, telling Cubans they should be free to choose their own leaders.

The first U.S. secretary of state to visit the Caribbean island in 70 years, Kerry presided over a ceremony raising the U.S. flag over the newly reopened American embassy.

His comments drew a firm riposte from Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, who defended his Communist government at a joint news conference and criticized the United States' own record on rights Read more

Myanmar gags media linked to ousted ruling party leader

NAYPYITAW--Myanmar has gagged media linked to parliamentary speaker Shwe Mann after he and his allies were purged from the ruling party leadership by President Thein Sein on Thursday months ahead of a historic general election.

The media crackdown comes after a heavy-handed involvement of security forces in Shwe Mann's ouster this week and will add to concern about the progress of democratic reforms, given the government's use of tactics reminiscent of military-era purges Read more

Chef Dino takes St. Maarten flavours to South America

CUPECOY--Colombia will experience the culinary excellence for which St. Maarten is known when the island’s Iron Chef Dino Jagtiani of Temptation restaurant demonstrates his culinary alchemy at the 2015 Sabor Barranquilla gastronomic event in South America, August 21-23.

Jagtiani is only international chef at the event from the Caribbean. Other invited international chefs include Chefs Mikel Alonso of Spain, Narda Lepes and Marcelino Gómez of Argentina Read more

Plenary Session of Parliament set for Monday about Protocol Signed between Sint Maarten and the Netherlands and Integrity

>PHILIPSBURG:---- The House of Parliament will meet in a public plenary session on August 17th. The Minister of General Affairs Marcel Gumbs and the Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson, have confirmed to be present for the parliamentary session.

The plenary session is set for Monday at 10.00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.

This meeting was adjourned on June 22, 2015.

The agenda is the draft national ordinance to establish the Integrity Chamber.

The next agenda point is the protocol signed between the Governments of the Netherlands and Sint Maarten and the apparent unilateral decision by the Netherlands/Dutch Police Agencies regarding the Justice System on Sint Maarten.
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

NA and DP Requested that second agenda point be added to Monday's Public Meeting.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Democratic Party Faction and National Alliance submitted a request to the chairman of Parliament requesting that he place a second agenda point be placed on Monday's meeting. In a joint press release issued by both factions states the following they submitted a  request was made today (Friday) by the opposition factions NA and DP Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- Prime Minister Hon. Marcel Gumbs offered some clarification for statements he made at the bi-weekly Council of Ministers press briefing on Wednesday, 12 August.
The Prime Minister said that certain terms he used were indeed not necessary nor were they entirely representative of his own personal beliefs. He attributed his outburst to frustration with what he has called the ongoing destructive conduct of certain media and community elements.
The Prime Minister had the following message for the country:
“Indeed, my life has been touched by the tragedy of suicide Read more

Prime Minister Gumbs Clarifies Statements And Stands By Message

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Prime Minister Hon. Marcel Gumbs offered some clarification for statements he made at the bi-weekly Council of Ministers press briefing on Wednesday, 12 August. The Prime Minister said that certain terms he used were indeed not necessary nor were they entirely representative of his own personal beliefs. He attributed his outburst to frustration with what he has called the ongoing destructive conduct of certain media and community elements.

The Prime Minister had the following message for the country:

“Indeed, my life has been touched by the tragedy of suicide Read more

Emotional Pm Marcel Gumbs: “Don’T Destroy Our Country”: “If You’Re Suicidal Do It; Jump Off A Plane Or Something”

The Council of Ministers during yesterday’s press briefing. From left Ministers Connor, Gumbs, Richardson, Hassink and Bourne-Gumbs. Photo Today / Hilbert Haar

St. Maarten – It was supposed to be a solemn press briefing by the Council of Ministers yesterday morning but in the end, Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs turned up the heat and let all his frustrations fly Read more

Condolence Book – Gamali Benjamin

Citizens, colleagues and politicians flocked to the police station yesterday to sign the condolence register for the late Officer Gamali Benjamin. Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, and the ministers Hassink, Rita Bourne-Gumbs and Claret Connor were among those to sign the book.

Tomorrow from noon until 1.45 p.m Read more

Dp Reflects On The What To Do Next: “Crime Has Broken This Island”

From left: Hasani Ellis, Sarah Wescot-Williams and Emil Lee at yesterday’ press conference Read more

Erna Mae Francis Contributes To “Amazing” Book: Success From The Heart Comes With Stunning Bonus Offer

Erna Mae Francis co-authored Success from the Heart. Photo contributed

St. Maarten – Success from the Heart is a book published by a company called New Peaks. It contains a chapter written by Erna Mae Francis-Cotton of the Victorious Living Foundation. In many ways this is, as the email we received about the publication described it, an “amazing book,” if only because the authors give away bonuses they claim to be worth a stunning $15,078. The book itself is for sale at amazon.com for just $18.95 Read more

In the Hotseat with D'shany York

D'shnay Mathew York outshone five other young ladies from the six Dutch Caribbean islands at the Miss Caribbean Islands Pageant held at Festival Village in The Bottom, Saba, on July 30. The 18-year-old speaks about herself and her experience in this week's Hot Seat.

Who D'shnay York?

I am outgoing, vivacious, a little goofy, regular teenager who enjoys dancing, modelling, acting, singing and of course nurturing my biggest love, which is pageantry.

Education?

I am currently attending the academic section of St Read more

The final salute, massive crowd turns out to pay last respects to Benjamin

By Judy H. Fitzpatrick

PHILIPSBURG--A massive crowd turned out to pay their last respects to murdered bike patrol leader Police Officer Gamali "Benji" Kwasi Benjamin, who was laid to rest on Thursday in a ceremony fit for a hero.

Scores of persons converged in Philipsburg to witness the ceremony, which attracted mourners from all over the island, including the disciplined services and dignitaries of both Dutch St. Maarten and French St. Martin, and from Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St Read more

Teachers train to ‘create positive climate in schools’

ST. PETERS--Primary and secondary public school teachers attended informative professional development sessions on "creating a positive climate in schools" August 10 and 11 at St. Dominic High School.

The event was part of the annual teachers' conference hosted by St. Maarten Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD). The first day focused on primary educators, and the second on secondary educators.

Participants were welcomed by ASCD President Juliana Hodge-Shipley and received a keynote address by Tracelyn Hamilton of Anguilla, a primary school principal who graduated from University of Bristol with distinction with a Masters in Education for Teaching English and has previously held roles as classroom teacher, reading recovery teacher, numeracy coordinator, English as a second language (ESL) teacher, and a tutor for Differentiated Instruction.

Hamilton focused on the conference theme "creating a positive climate in schools" by honing in on practical tips which she termed "reflectors" for creating and maintaining a positive school environment Read more

Ministers to visit FCCA, discuss tourism, security

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Claret Connor and Justice Minister Dennis Richardson plan to meet soon with Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) officials in Florida, United States, to update them on new security measures resulting from the fatal shooting of Police Officer Gamali Benjamin, as part of efforts to curb further negative impacts the tragedy can cause to the tourism industry.

Minister Connor said during Wednesday's press briefing that he, Richardson and Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs had been continuously discussing steps to take in following up on the "life-changing" and "historic" incident.

Connor was on his way back to the island on the day of the shooting, but he contacted FCCA President Michele Paige the next day to inform her that Government "was doing everything within its power to apprehend, in first instance, those responsible, in addition to trying to save the officer's life .. Read more

DP: Govt misleading MPs, public on pension age hike

PHILIPSBURG--The Democratic Party (DP) has sent a letter to Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs on the increase of the pension age to 62.

In a press release on Wednesday, DP Leader Sarah Wescot-Williams said the party believes government is misleading parliament and the people of St Read more

CHATA Hoteliers to Reap Benefits of Chief’s Professional Development Sessions

style="text-align: center;">Workshops Designed To Develop Analytics, Leadership Skills

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) is offering two professional development courses for CHATA hotel employees designed to develop their performance analytics and leadership skills and add value to overall hotel marketing and operations. CHATA members and non-members can register for the Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA) workshop, which is jointly offered by the American Hotel & Lodging Education Institute (AHLEI) and STR (Smith Travel Research), and Florida International University’s (FIU) Leadership for Service Excellence workshop Read more

style="text-align: center;">St. Maarten Community Turned out in large numbers to pay tribute the fallen cop who died in the line of his duties.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Hundreds of persons gathered in front of the Philipsburg Police Station to witness the military funeral service that was held on Thursday for fallen bike patrol Gamaili Kwasi Benjamin. Large buses were used to transport members of KPSM and officers from the other justice department to the Royal Funeral Home for those persons to pay their last respects to their fallen colleague Read more

Chata Hoteliers To Reap Benefits Of Chief’S Professional Development Sessions, Workshops Designed To Develop Analytics, Leadership Skills

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao - The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) is offering two professional development courses for CHATA hotel employees designed to develop their performance analytics and leadership skills and add value to overall hotel marketing and operations.

CHATA members and non-members can register for the Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA) workshop, which is jointly offered by the American Hotel & Lodging Education Institute (AHLEI) and STR (Smith Travel Research), and Florida International University’s (FIU) Leadership for Service Excellence workshop Read more