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Notices July 23

First Responder

WIEMS is now registering for the annual First Responder (EMR) course at the Dutch Quarter Community Centre starting Tuesday, September 1, 7:00pm. For more information: www.wiems.org . To register: email \n This e-mail address is being protected from spambots Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:----The St. Maarten National Commission for UNESCO is organizing a five (5) day intangible cultural heritage (ICH) field inventory exercise targeting young people from various youth organizations in the community.
Minister Claret Connor, who delivered the welcome remarks on Monday, July 20th thanked the young people for participating in this important and valuable initiative, and for assisting the Sint Maarten National Commission for UNESCO with this project which will assist with preserving and passing on this knowledge about St Read more

Schoelcher Commemoration In Grand Case: Chance-Duzant Wants “Support For The Little Things We Ask”

Attorney Patricia Chance-Duzant is on a roll during her address. Photo Today / Leo Brown

GRAND CASE, St. Martin – Victor Schoelcher, the 19th-century abolitionist writer who had a large influence on the abolition of slavery in the West Indies, leaves his mark every year in Grand Case when a celebration is held to honor his legacy. Also this year there was the traditional church service, the cultural parade and the speeches on the field next to the village’s cultural center. However, by inviting the chair of Grand Case’s community council Patricia Chance-Duzant to speak, the Collectivité called a lot of criticism upon itself, because the speaker did not mince her words.

“We have a lot of work to do in Grand Case,” Chance-Duzant said Read more

Youth Intangible Cultural Heritage Field Inventory Exercise

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - From July 20 – 24, 2015, the Sint Maarten National Commission for UNESCO is organizing a five (5) day intangible cultural heritage (ICH) field inventory exercise targeting young people from various youth organizations in the community.

Minister Claret Connor, who delivered the welcome remarks on Monday, July 20th thanked the young people for participating in this important and valuable initiative, and for assisting the Sint Maarten National Commission for UNESCO with this project which will assist with preserving and passing on this knowledge about St Read more

Notices July 22

First Responder

WIEMS is now registering for the annual First Responder (EMR) course at the Dutch Quarter Community Centre starting Tuesday, September 1, 7:00pm. For more information: www.wiems.org . To register: email \n This e-mail address is being protected from spambots Read more

I AM SXM arranges zoo cleaning solution

MADAME ESTATE--Garbage collecting and cleaning companies Leonard Enterprise and Soualiga Waste Management, through the intercession of I AM SXM Foundation, have committed to the bi-weekly cleaning maintenance of St. Maarten Zoo. Crews from both companies will work together on a selected day to ensure the zoo is in tiptop shape.

In addition to the bi-weekly cleaning, the two companies will do general maintenance every month. The combination of the cleaning days is expected to keep the zoo in a manageable and beautiful state for its full-time occupants and its visitors.

The cleaning commitment from the two companies to the zoo is for seven months.

St Read more

American residence ruling being applied

WILLEMSTAD--The same admittance requirements for Dutch Europeans when it comes to living and working in Curaçao are now being applied to US citizens, effective June 1.

This means the latter no longer need an employment or residence permit. They may stay there freely for six months and if they find a job or have another means of existence can request a declaration of lawful admittance.

Pending the processing of such they will be allowed to remain on the island and even work. Also US citizens who have been legal residents for 10 years without interruption can obtain the declaration.

In this way the so-called Admittance Organisation (formerly Immigration Department) is following a decision of the Court of Justice of December last year, stating that US citizens must receive the same treatment as Dutchmen when it comes to working and living within the kingdom Read more

Grand Case holds all-day festivities

~ To commemorate Victor Schoelcher ~

GRAND CASE--St. Martin Territorial Council President Aline Hanson and fellow Territorial Council members led a well-attended festive host of activities for the traditional Victor Schoelcher Celebration, also known as Grand Case Fête, in Grand Case on Tuesday morning.

The celebration commemorates both Grand Case and the contributions of Schoelcher against the institution of slavery and towards liberation of the slaves.

Festivities kicked off with a religious service at St Read more

Multi-Annual Plan underlines importance of development

SABA--The Multi-Annual Programme (MAP) underlines the importance of Saba's further development, the Executive Council indicated during the Caribbean Netherlands (CN) Week held in The Hague in June.

Under the MAP umbrella, projects in the area of economic development, children's rights and the reduction of poverty are either in progress or are yet to be launched Read more

Court Rules Reappointment Rennie Maduro Null And Void (Former Gebe C.O.O.)

St. Maarten – Utilities Company Gebe won its lawsuit against its former Chief Operating Officer Rennie Maduro and by extension against the Council of Ministers (CoM) on Thursday. The Court in First Instance ruled that the CoM’s decision Ministers to extend Maduro’s contract by two years is null and void. It banned Maduro from taking management decisions for the company, barred his access to the Gebe-officers and authorized Gebe to de-register Maduro as a director of the company. Gebe does not have to pay Maduro any more salary.

The court ruling brings the rules for the appointment of directors at government-owned companies sharply into focus and sets a clear limit to the CoM’s authority.

On May 29, the CoM signed a decree to extend Maduro’s contract that formally ended on May 31, by two years Read more

Police Honor Justice Minister Richardson

Justice Minister Richardson receives a badge of honor from Commissioner Carl John. Photo Today / Leo Brown

 

International Justice Day commemorated 

St. Maarten – The uniformed services celebrated International Justice Day yesterday afternoon at the Festival Village. Eighteen men and women who dedicated more than 40 years to the justice system were honored.

The VKS stood out during the marching showcase with creative chants and in synch footwork, earning applause from the attendees Read more

Statia Goes Solar

Back row from left: Stuco’s  supervisory board Chairman Ivan Berkel, Managing Director Fred Cuvalay, and Sunshine Real Estate Director Terence Lacle; front row: Stuco representative Jerome Sardine and legal advisor Roland Duncan. Photo contributed

ORANJESTAD –Statia’s power company Stuco signed a contract on Wednesday for the construction of a 2 Megawatt solar energy park that will provide 20 percent of the island’s power needs and at times have a more than 100 percent renewable energy penetration of the grid.

Stuco signed the contract with Sunshine Real Estate for the engineering, procurement and commissioning of the facility, Sunshine partners for the project with Eco Energy, SMA and Schletter Read more

Dutch Police Now Include Internet In Phone Taps

Whatsapp-messages are protected by privacy rules

St. Maarten – Dutch police now automatically intercept internet traffic when setting up a telephone tap, online magazine Computerworld reported yesterday. The news was buried in the justice ministry’s annual report which was published in May and has only now been made public, the website states.

In St. Maarten tapping IP-addresses, for instance to intercept email traffic, is technically possible, press prosecutor Karola van Nie told this newspaper yesterday Read more

Mp George Pantophlet Questions Relevance Of Integrity Chamber

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Member of Parliament of the National Alliance, the Honorable George Pantophlet is questioning the significance of an Integrity Chamber for St. Maarten.

Speaking to our news department he asked whether or not there was a need for such an institution.

According to the MP, several institutions have already been established on the island, and he did not see the need for another one that will further have financial consequences for the country.

He also spoke of the steps being taken by the prosecutor's office to carry out an investigation into activities at the St Read more

Mp George Pantophlet Questions Relevance Of Integrity Chamber

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Member of Parliament of the National Alliance, the Honorable George Pantophlet is questioning the significance of an Integrity Chamber for St. Maarten.

Speaking to our news department he asked whether or not there was a need for such an institution.

According to the MP, several institutions have already been established on the island, and he did not see the need for another one that will further have financial consequences for the country.

He also spoke of the steps being taken by the prosecutor's office to carry out an investigation into activities at the St Read more

I Am Sxm Arranges Cleaning Up Solution For Zoo

MADAME ESTATE, St. Maarten  – I AM SXM Foundation has brought together two of the country's garbage collecting and cleaning companies to assist St. Maarten Zoo with its extensive maintenance and cleaning work.

Leonard Enterprise and Soualiga Waste Management, though the intercession of I AM SXM, have committed to cleaning maintenance of the zoo every two weeks. Crews from both companies will work together on a selected day to ensure the zoo is in tiptop shape.

Adding to the bi-weekly cleaning, the two companies will do a general maintenance every month.

The combination of the cleaning days is expected to keep the zoo in a manageable and beautiful state for its full-time occupants and its visitors.

The current cleaning commitment from the two companies to the zoo is for seven months.

St Read more

I Am Sxm Arranges Cleaning Up Solution For Zoo

MADAME ESTATE, St. Maarten  – I AM SXM Foundation has brought together two of the country's garbage collecting and cleaning companies to assist St. Maarten Zoo with its extensive maintenance and cleaning work.

Leonard Enterprise and Soualiga Waste Management, though the intercession of I AM SXM, have committed to cleaning maintenance of the zoo every two weeks. Crews from both companies will work together on a selected day to ensure the zoo is in tiptop shape.

Adding to the bi-weekly cleaning, the two companies will do a general maintenance every month.

The combination of the cleaning days is expected to keep the zoo in a manageable and beautiful state for its full-time occupants and its visitors.

The current cleaning commitment from the two companies to the zoo is for seven months.

St Read more

Editorial - Jurisprudence

The application of rulings by the Joint Court of Justice regarding the American-Dutch Friendship Treaty of 1956 (see related article) should not go unnoticed. It’s actually a bit ironic that this now takes place in Curaçao, while the related case started in St. Maarten.

Then-Justice Minister Roland Duncan had appealed the original verdict, but reportedly lost Read more

Connor welcomes delegates to Archaeology Conference

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications Claret Connor welcomed delegates to the International Congress for Caribbean Archaeology (IACA) that opened in Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino on Monday. The conference, which ends on Saturday, brought together more than 200 delegates from 23 countries.

Research papers, guest lectures, field trips on island and to Anguilla, and cultural receptions are part of the congress Read more

Escalated fight leads to shots fired near harbour

POINTE BLANCHE--A fight between taxi drivers, most likely illegal drivers, right outside the gates of Port St. Maarten escalated mid-last week and two shots reportedly were fired.

Detectives are working the case, confirmed acting police spokesperson Inspector Steven Carty. However, he said the details were still sketchy and no arrests had been made.

Police were called to the scene after the shots were fired Read more

Ombudsman registered 68 new complaints in 2014

PHILIPSBURG--The Ombudsman Bureau registered 68 new complaints in 2014 while four cases from 2012 and 24 from 2013 were handled last year. A total of 130 investigations were closed in 2014, of which 54 were new complaints registered from that year.

In 30 cases, the Ombudsman issued recommendations, according to the bureau's Year Report 2014. Some 26 to 43 per cent of the 62 recommendations were followed up by the year's end by government.

A highlight for the past year was Ombudsman Nilda Arduin making use of her competence provided for by law to inform Parliament immediately upon closing the investigation of a case regarding the findings and the decision.

By letter of June 10, 2014, the Ombudsman reported, pursuant to article 23 of the National Ordinance Ombudsman, to Parliament regarding the findings in a complaint filed by a resident against Kadaster and Hypotheekwezen (Land Titles and Mortgages) Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- As the uproar continues within the United Peoples Party (UPP) since most Members of Parliament from the UPP faction are in disagreement with their leader Theodore Heyliger, at least two Members of Parliament from the UPP faction and two of their coalition partners have decided to take the bull by its horns to do the work of the people.
SMN News understands that some of the UPP MP’s are saying that their leader is not leading the country instead he is always off island making his business deals which is causing serious problems within the party.
Therefore MP Franklin Meyers who is the deputy leader of the UPP and faction leader took the bull by its horns and decided along with MP Tamara Leonard, coalition partners Independent Members of Parliament Leona Marlin Romeo and Cornelius de Weever and presented their governing program to Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs in the presence of Minister Claret Connor on July 16th 2015 Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:-----  Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunications Hon. Claret Connor, spoke at the opening of the International Congress for Caribbean Archaeology (IACA) at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort.
The IACA is being hosted by St. Maarten from July 19-25. The IACA Congress is the largest gathering of professional archaeologists specializing in Caribbean studies in the world, with representatives from over 23 countries and over 300 delegates; it is the place to be for cutting-edge research information about heritage in the Caribbean.
Minister Connor during his address stated: “It is remarkable to observe that 26 years ago to be exact was the last time since this Congress was held on Dutch soil, and today you are here on St Read more

Cruise Ship Passenger Hospitalized after hitting Taxi on Beacon Hill Road --- Jet Blast Experience leaves visitor with broken collar bone and injured forehead.

style="text-align: center;">Taxi Driver cooperated and settle for less than cost of damages.

Cay Hill:--- A female passenger from Liberty Cruise line that was at the end of the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE) to experience the jet blast from departing aircraft ended up hitting a taxi and broke its front lights. The passenger also suffered injuries to her forehead that had to be stitched while she also suffered with a broken collar bone.
The incident took place sometime on Monday Read more