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>PHILIPSBURG:--- United People’s (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake wrote a letter to the Acting Minister of the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Marcel Gumbs, addressing the concerns of residents of Marigot Hill regarding the placement of a NV GEBE street light at Soursop Road #42.

“In that specific area at night it’s very dark and is well-known for car stripping by criminal elements Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- While reading the government program 2014 -2018 the section dealing with the adoption of a school program did catch my attention. It was very vague and I was hoping to acquire some more information on this adopt a school program. Both MP’s Marlin-Romeo and Lake came out strong defending this program and while I believe there is nothing wrong with such a program but are they planning to make this mandatory that the business community must adopt these schools. In one scenario MP Marlin-Romeo is talking about the tax breaks that many companies are receiving and that one of the condition to receive such a break is that they must adopt one of the public schools Read more

>SIMPSON BAY:----- The group of international aviation and travel writers that will be arriving here Monday, August 10 for a three-day media tour organized by the Princess Juliana International Airport, SXM, are drawn from nine different destinations in four countries.
The writers will be submitting their stories to more than 30 international media outlets, both print and electronic and should therefore offer an unprecedented exposure for the airport, the entire island, and the hub partners Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---  On Saturday August 8th, 2015 the Minister of Justice the Honorable Dennis Richardson received the disheartening news that Officer Benjamin had passed away at the Sint Maarten Medical Center as a direct result of the severe gunshot injuries he sustained while exercising his duties and protecting the residents and visitors of Sint Maarten. Minister Richardson and Prime Minister Mr. Marcel Gumbs immediately visited the Medical Center to pay their respects to Officer Benjamin and tried to comfort the many family members and colleagues who were clearly in soul wrenching pain from the passing of Benjamin.

The Minister and the entire Ministry of Justice extend their deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the late Officer Benjamin Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs on Sunday, August 9th issued the following statement with respect to the passing of Police Officer Gamali Benjamin.
My fellow St. Maarteners,
“My heart is heavy as I offer, my family’s and Government’s deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Officer Gamali Benjamin. Officer Benjamin was firstly a son, a father and a husband to those who loved and knew him best, and this is a profound loss that no parent, child or spouse should have to suffer.
“Government has sworn that everything within our power will be done to bring those who have perpetrated these crimes to justice.
“I would be remiss, however, if I did not also offer condolences to Officer Benjamin’s colleagues, his second family, at the KPSM (Police Force Sint Maarten) Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- On behalf of the National Alliance family I taken the time to extend deepest sympathy and condolences to the family, colleagues, loved ones and friends of our brave fallen Officer Gamali Benjamin, who was tragically and mercilessly cut down in the prime of his life. Officer Benjamin epitomised the model of the respectable, humble, hardworking and respected officer of the law.
He executed his duty in protecting us and upholding the laws of the land with integrity, passion and compassion for his fellow man, woman and children; therefore Officer Benjamin stands tall in our hearts, minds and the Nation as a Hero.
The loss of such a great person will take a toll on especially his young family and the colleagues with whom he worked daily Read more

Prime Minister Gumbs announces flags at half-mast for Police Officer Benjamin

>PHILIPSBURG:---- Prime Minister Hon. Marcel Gumbs in solidarity with the nation instructed according to protocol to have flags flown at half-mast out of respect after a law enforcement official was killed in the line of duty.
Police Officer G. Benjamin from the Sint Maarten Police Force was seriously wounded on Wednesday, August 5 while attending to a call of a robbery on Front Street Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:----“The Public Service Center (PSC) at Simpson Bay and the one to be established in the New Government Building, is a representation of promoting better service to the community. Strong public services are often society’s most powerful development resource,” Prime Minister/Minister of General Affairs Marcel Gumbs said on Thursday.
Gumbs adds that a strong public service can build institutions that play a huge role in enabling people to fulfil their potential within an environment where their ideas, actions and society as a whole can flourish.
The PSC which falls under the Ministry of General Affairs, should be seen in the light of Government’s first steps in becoming a leader in public service excellence based on the one-stop service provider concept.

“We are in the process of building a professional public service with integrity, diversity and a focus on clients and result oriented Read more

>PHILIPSBURG/MARIGOT:---- The Sint Maarten Sickle Cell Foundation represented by Vanessa Mathew, Kurt Sprott, Leona Marlin-Romeo, and Richard Marlin, all joined the Northern side Sickle Cell Association in its first walk-a-thon to bring about the awareness of the disease on Sunday August 9th.
Over 100 supporters participated in the event which made it quite a success Read more

Prime Minister Gumbs: Strong Public Services Are A Powerful Development Resource

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – "The Public Service Center (PSC) at Simpson Bay and the one to be established in the New Government Building, is a representation of promoting better service to the community.

Strong public services are often society's most powerful development resource," Prime Minister/Minister of General Affairs Marcel Gumbs said on Thursday.

Gumbs adds that a strong public service can build institutions that play a huge role in enabling people to fulfil their potential within an environment where their ideas, actions and society as a whole can flourish.

The PSC which falls under the Ministry of General Affairs, should be seen in the light of Government's first steps in becoming a leader in public service excellence based on the one-stop service provider concept.

"We are in the process of building a professional public service with integrity, diversity and a focus on clients and result oriented Read more

Prime Minister Gumbs Endorses The Start Here Campaign To Tackle Employment Challenges

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – "As Prime Minister it's my distinct honor to extend my support to the staff of the Department of Labor Affairs and Social Services for the upcoming Start Here Campaign, which as I understand aims to boost the jobseekers database to meet the very diverse needs of the local labor market," Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs pointed out recently.

"It is an initiative that I fully encourage as we have made tackling employment challenges an important part of the governing program 'Ready to Work for You' Read more

Mp Tamara Leonard Calls For 'Straight Outta Compton' To Not Be Screened Here

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Do not screen the biopic "Straight Outta Compton" in St. Maarten. This was the message communicated to Caribbean Cinemas and the Censorship Committee of St. Maarten by United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Tamara Leonard Read more

Up Mp Lake Commends Act. Minister Of Vromi Gumbs And Gebe For Quick Action In St. Peters Community

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – United People's (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake wrote a letter to the Acting Minister of the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Marcel Gumbs, addressing the concerns of residents of Marigot Hill regarding the placement of a NV GEBE street light at Soursop Road #42.

"In that specific area at night it's very dark and is well-known for car stripping by criminal elements Read more

Na Extends Condolences

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - On behalf of the National Alliance family I taken the time to extend deepest sympathy and condolences to the family, colleagues, loved ones and friends of our brave fallen Officer Gamali Benjamin, who was tragically and mercilessly cut down in the prime of his life.

Officer Benjamin epitomised the model of the respectable, humble, hardworking and respected officer of the law.

He executed his duty in protecting us and upholding the laws of the land with integrity, passion and compassion for his fellow man, woman and children; therefore Officer Benjamin stands tall in our hearts, minds and the Nation as a Hero.

The loss of such a great person will take a toll on especially his young family and the colleagues with whom he worked daily Read more

Prime Minister Gumbs Announces Flags At Half-Mast For Police Officer Benjamin

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Prime Minister Hon. Marcel Gumbs in solidarity with the nation instructed according to protocol to have flags flown at half-mast out of respect after a law enforcement official was killed in the line of duty.

Police Officer G. Benjamin from the Sint Maarten Police Force was seriously wounded on Wednesday, Read more

Prime Minister Gumbs Statement On The Passing Of Police Officer Gamali Benjamin

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs on Sunday, August 9th issued the following statement with respect to the passing of Police Officer Gamali Benjamin.

My fellow St. Maarteners,

"My heart is heavy as I offer, my family's and Government's deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Officer Gamali Benjamin Read more

Minister Offers Condolences, Mourns Passing Of Officer Benjamin

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - On Saturday August 8th, 2015 the Minister of Justice the Honorable Dennis Richardson received the disheartening news that Officer Benjamin had passed away at the Sint Maarten Medical Center as a direct result of the severe gunshot injuries he sustained while exercising his duties and protecting the residents and visitors of Sint Maarten.

Minister Richardson and Prime Minister Mr. Marcel Gumbs immediately visited the Medical Center to pay their respects to Officer Benjamin and tried to comfort the many family members and colleagues who were clearly in soul wrenching pain from the passing of Benjamin.

The Minister and the entire Ministry of Justice extend their deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the late Officer Benjamin.

Officer Benjamin's shooting and his subsequent passing have come as a severe shock to his family, the Sint Maarten Police Force and the Community at large and will undoubtedly have an effect on many lives for a very long time to come Read more

After Trump and Bush's stumbles, will Fiorina ride to the rescue?

CLEVELAND--Donald Trump's caustic confrontation with Fox News Channel presenter Megyn Kelly at Thursday's Republican presidential debate couldn't have come at a less opportune time for a party trying to increase its appeal to women voters.

Kelly, a debate moderator, grilled Trump on his history of debasing statements about women. Trump appeared unapologetic, dismissing the critique as "political correctness," and accused Kelly of mistreating him.

Democrats were quick to try and seize advantage Read more

Frenchwoman aid worker hostage released in Yemen

PARIS--A Frenchwoman abducted in Yemen in February has been freed, French authorities said on Friday, adding that her captors had been about to kill her.

Development worker Isabelle Prime and her translator Shereen Makawi were abducted by gunmen in the capital Sanaa on Feb. 24 while on their way to work. Yemeni tribal sources said in March Prime would be released, but only Makawi was freed at the time.

"We have indications that her death was not far off," Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on iTele television on Friday Read more

Privileges threatened, days may be numbered for Greece's 'everyman' farmers

NAXOS, Greece--A jovial potato farmer whose family has tilled the fertile land on the island of Naxos for over 200 years, Stelios Vathrokilis is unfazed by all that he believes a farmer must inevitably face: God, inclement weather and natural disasters. But mention tax hikes on farmers demanded by Greece's creditors and Vathrokilis' face darkens with anger.

"With the new taxes we will turn the clock back to 1970 when my mother cooked on a wood stove," the portly 50-year-old says Read more

GEBE launches information campaign and issues updates

PHILIPSBURG--GEBE has launched an information-sharing campaign for August, aimed at building a healthier relationship with its customers.

The campaign is the initiative of Iris Arrindell, who has been with the company for 25 years and who, as of July 1, became the first woman to become a manager at GEBE in its 55-year existence, in her new capacity as Commercial Manager Read more

Solemn atmosphere as Benjamin returns home

~ Officer ‘brain dead,’ but on life support ~

CAY HILL--A solemn atmosphere took over several areas of St. Maarten on Friday as shot officer Gamali “Benji” Benjamin was flown back home after being declared brain dead at a trauma centre in the Dominican Republic.

Scores of vehicles stopped and pulled to the side of the road and spectators stood and watched along the route as the ambulance with Benjamin and the procession of police vehicles snaked its way from Princess Juliana International Airport SXM to St Read more

style="text-align: center;">Air Ambulance with Officer Benjamin landed on St. Maarten at 12:20pm -- Taken to SMMC where family and colleagues will spend last moments before removing life support.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC/ PHILIPSBURG:---- Bike Patrol Gamali Benjamin who was shot by armed bandits on Wednesday is brain dead and non-responsive but is kept alive on life support his father Gilbert Benjamin told his contact on St. Maarten early Friday morning. The father of the wounded officer who travelled to the Dominican Republic Thursday evening with his son said that the news on his son is not at all good after a complete evaluation was done in the Dominican Republic Thursday night.
Businessman Michael Ferrier who is in contact with Mr Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- A silent march organized by NAGICO Insurances was held Friday afternoon in honor of Sergeant  Gamali Benjamin who was gunned down on Wednesday afternoon on Front Street while on duty.
The walk begun in front of the Post Office saw more than two hundred persons participating, including all members of staff from NAGICO, members of various sectors of the Justice Department and scores of other members of the community.
Wearing blue ribbons; as a sign of peace, the marchers walked slowly two by two making their way to Front Street; to the now revered spot where Sergeant Benjamin fell after been hit by bullets Read more