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Sarah: No 'earth-shattering' plans in governor's speech

PHILIPSBURG--There was "nothing earth-shattering" in Governor Eugene Holiday's speech about government's plans for the 2015-2016 parliamentary year, but it was heartening to see that the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet is "making use of the goodwill and leadership" created by the former government in the region and further afield, said Democratic Party (DP) leader Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams on Monday.

The former prime minister and her fraction's advisor Emil Lee called on government at their bi-weekly press briefing to continue with the National Development Plan (NDP) and were happy to note that government, based on the governor's speech, was still keeping the plan for which a lot of time and money has already been invested.

While the governor's speech was "short on specific," Wescot-Williams hopes to gain more insight into the plans for tax reform, when Finance Minister Martin Hassink is in Parliament this week to meet with Parliament's Permanent Committee for Finance.

DP has "ideas for changes" to the tax system, beginning with the often talked about simplification of the tax system, she said.

The party plans to put emphasis on an "economic reform agenda" that is necessary and that is needed to make tax reform workable.

Wescot-Williams expressed satisfaction that Parliament's Permanent Committee for Finance will finally handle the 2013 annual accounts of government-owned companies this week Read more

Minister: Further action against NIPA board if ultimatum not met Wednesday

PHILIPSBURG--Minster of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Rita Bourne-Gumbs warned on Monday that "further action" will be taken against the board of National Institute for Professional Advancement (NIPA) if an "ultimatum" given is not met in a meeting set for tomorrow, Wednesday.

The minister did not divulge the details of the ultimatum to which she referred. She told Members of Parliament (MPs) during an urgent public plenary session of Parliament on Monday that she did not want to give certain details before meeting with the board.

She painted a grim picture of the situation at NIPA in her response to several questions and concerns MPs raised in the meeting Read more

Two million euros invested in courses for the unemployed

MARIGOT--The Collectivité has committed to investing 2 million euros in vocational training for the unemployed in keeping with its Youth Policy with 85 per cent of its financing coming from European Social Funds (ESF).

The recent two information days for its 2015-2016 territorial job training programme, supported by the Human Development Department under the portfolio of President Aline Hanson, was deemed a great success with a record attendance, the Collectivité noted in a release Read more

Collectivite invests 2 million Euros for unemployment training

>MARIGOT:---- As part of its dedicated Youth policy, the Collectivite of St. Martin has organized two days of information for its 2015-2016 territorial job training program, supported by the Human Development department under the portfolio of President Aline Hanson.

French Quarter and Sandy Ground, both considered priority areas in the new City contract, have successfully hosted the two days of information with record attendance.

The Collectivite agreed to invest 2 million euros this year in which the European Social Fund (ESF) in vocational training funds 85% Read more

Cay Hill Community Council invites Community to Meeting on Wednesday.

>GREAT BAY:--- The Cay Hill Community Council (CHCC) invites Cay Hill residents and other interested persons to a public meeting on Wednesday, September 16 at 7.30pm at the Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School.

The CHCC would like to discuss a number of issues relevant to the Cay Hill Community, and all residents and other stakeholder Read more

Minister Connor and others thanked by Dominica Coach of the Senior Female Soccer Team for Assisting Stranded Group

>PHILIPSBURG:---- Minister Hon. Claret Connor has been thanked by Dominica Coach of the Senior Female Soccer Team Kenneth Esprit, for the hospitality rendered by the community of Sint Maarten to the group who got stuck in transit from the Dominican Republic to the Commonwealth of Dominica on the day that Tropical Storm Erika passed near the country.
One of the team members lost five family members.
Coach Esprit in his email message to Minister Connor states: “Allow me therefore, to express my deepest gratitude to the various persons and institutions who played their parts in ensuring that we were cared for and able to ensure we reunited with our families in this time of crises.
“First and foremost, allow me to five thanks to Almighty Yahweh for his continued blessings, strength and protection during this time Read more

Minister of Education could not make full discloser to Parliament on NIPA saga due to meeting she has scheduled with NIPA board.

style="text-align: center;">Ministry is at its last straw --- Wednesday meeting Government will give NIPA Board ultimatum, situation gotten worst.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Education Rita Bourne Gumbs told Members of Parliament on Monday afternoon that her hands are tied while her lips have to remain sealed until Wednesday since she has a meeting scheduled with the board members of NIPA. The National Alliance Faction of Parliament called the Minister of Education to Parliament in an urgent meeting to get further information on what is happening at NIPA.
Minister Bourne Gumbs told Parliament that it is not ethical for her to divulge information to the public prior to sharing the Ministry’s decision on how they intend to move forward with NIPA Read more

style="text-align: center;">Landfill and Harbor and Zebec meetings will not be held this week.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams representing the Democratic Party faction in parliament told reporters during their bi-monthly press conference on Monday that they are pleased with the acknowledgement of the Governor who mentioned the progress the former government had with the OCTA regional meetings and the preparation on obtaining EU funding along with the French side Read more

Editorial - Social accountability

The decision to implement age restrictions for adult-oriented shows in Carnival Village during the 2016 Carnival season (see related story) was the right thing to do. Member of Parliament Tamara Leonard (UP) had touched on the issue in Saturday’s paper.

She pointed to the Children Act of 2012 in Trinidad and Tobago, and called for fining neglectful parents whose offspring are out on the street without adult supervision Read more

Quality of service standards set up for telecom players

PHILIPSBURG--New service standards for the local telecommunications industry can now officially be implemented, which will allow telecom regulator Bureau Telecommunications and Post (BTP) St. Maarten to quantitatively measure the Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) of telecommunication services being rendered to residents of St. Maarten.

Claret Connor, who was Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) until recently, signed off on Quality of Service (QoS) documents that set clear guidelines and standards for St Read more

Prime minister’s travel plans halt meeting about Zebec settlement

PHILIPSBURG--The “urgent” meeting of Parliament requested by opposition parties – National Alliance (NA) and Democratic Party (DP) about the out-of-court settlement reached by St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies and developer Zebec has stalled before it could get started.

The meeting cannot be held this week, an official Parliament meeting week, because of an already packed Parliament schedule and due to the travel of Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs from Wednesday, September 16, until Sunday, September 27, 2015.

DP leader Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams is not amused that yet another urgently requested meeting of Parliament has not been scheduled by Parliament Chairman Dr Read more

Eviction drama exposes failings in French law to protect landlords

MARIGOT--French Quarter resident Daniella Chance Glasgow and her brother Marcel never could have imagined six years ago how difficult it would be to evict a tenant from one of their properties. If they had, they undoubtedly would have changed their minds.

Despite landlord Marcel Glasgow following procedures under French law to evict tenant Daphne Doyle (38), a Trinidad national, her companion and eight children from a two-bedroom house at #62 Around the Pond after the landlord/tenant relationship deteriorated three years ago, it took a mobilisation of neighbours, a blocked road and the intervention of Gendarmes to finally remove Doyle on Friday.

Frustration and concern for the property boiled over after a series of fires were lit over the space of a few days, allegedly by the tenant’s 14-year-old son, causing extensive damage Read more

SCDF to implement age restrictions for Village

PHILIPSBURG--The board of St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) has taken a decision to implement age restrictions for Carnival Village. As of Carnival 2016, no one fourteen years old or younger will be allowed entrance to adult-oriented shows in Carnival Village without adult supervision.

The decision was made as part of new operational changes the foundation has been rolling out over the past few weeks.

The only exception to this new regulation will be for the Youth Extravaganza and other youth-oriented shows that are held in Carnival Village Read more

Omarco unstoppable as 73 start second Red Cross Run

SIMPSON BAY—Omarco Robinson is setting his sights on the overall points win after winning Sunday’s 10.3K Run, the second of three in the Red Cross “3 For Life “ series  to add to his win in the 7K race on August 9.
  Robinson crossed the finish line in 39:51, a minute ahead of Alain Boucaud while third placed AUC student Chris Robertz finished in 42:05.
  Leading triathlete Gregory Pigeon was fourth in 42:33 and trail runner Anthony Durand took fifth place in 45:09.
  There was another outstanding run by Kai Piscione to win the Junior category in 47:35 to take ninth place overall Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:----  Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams in a press release questions the motives of the Parliament of St. Maarten. MP Wescot Williams was referring to meetings the oppositon factions of parliament requested and are not being called on a timely basis.  Wescot  Williams said if any-one is holding his or her breath for answers regarding the harbor's pay-out to the Zebec company, these answers will not be forthcoming any time soon.

"At least not in a meeting of Parliament Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Telecommunications & Transport (TEATT), Honorable Mr. Claret Connor, singed off on Quality of Service (QoS) documents that sets clear guidelines and standards for St. Maarten Telecommunication providers to comply with, for the further enhancement of Telecommunication services in St Read more

Minister Of Teatt Implements Quality Of Service Standards In The Telecom Industry

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Telecommunications & Transport (TEATT), Honorable Mr. Claret Connor, singed off on Quality of Service (QoS) documents that sets clear guidelines and standards for St. Maarten Telecommunication providers to comply with, for the further enhancement of Telecommunication services in St Read more

Chta Holds Agm In Barbados

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) wrapped up their Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Barbados last week.

President Emil Lee told our news room that a number of issues affecting the industry were discussed including the mitigation of the Sargasso Sea Weed problem and the devastation to the tourism industry of Dominica Read more

Editorial - A promise made …

Governor Eugene Holiday gave a solid commitment for the deployment of a security camera system during the opening of the legislative year on Tuesday. He was speaking on behalf of the Gumbs cabinet at the time, of course.

The term “country-wide” was used, but this probably should not be taken too literally. After all, it’s almost inconceivable to fully cover every nook and cranny of every neighbourhood.

More plausible is that the main roads will be targeted, along with crime-sensitive locations like downtown Philipsburg and areas frequented by visitors such as Pelican/Simpson Bay, Oyster Pond/Dawn Beach and Maho/Cupecoy Read more

New judge welcomed

PHILIPSBURG--Judge Sander van Rijen was welcomed officially as a member of the Joint Court of Justice on Friday, amongst an array of Justice officials and dignitaries, including Acting Governor Reynold Groeneveldt, Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, Justice Minister Dennis Richardson and President of Parliament Lloyd Richardson.

Van Rijen was introduced to the assembly by President of the Common Court of Justice Evert van der Poel.

Van der Poel, Attorney General Guus Schram and St Read more

Ambassador Braakhuis discusses Cuba developments, possibilities

PHILIPSBURG--Dutch Ambassador to Cuba Norbert Braakhuis addressed a full room of attendees at University of St. Martin on Thursday night in an informative lecture focussing on the economic and political facets that have shaped Cuba, and what the cumulative changes the country has been experiencing and those it is expected to experience can mean for the Caribbean region.

A diverse group of stakeholders was in attendance, including ministers, Government officials, lawyers and key private sector leaders and representatives.

Braakhuis also announced that a Kingdom trade mission was planned and that he would facilitate local stakeholders in making connections there Read more

MP Tamara calls for youth regulations during Carnival

PHILIPSBURG--As preparations for Carnival 2016 are already taking shape, addressing the much-talked-about involvement of young people in adult-oriented festival events must be dealt with for their best interest and development, says United People’s (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Tamara Leonard.

“We have all seen very young children out all hours of the night, mothers pushing babies in strollers behind Carnival trucks Read more

Sabnani: Carrefour products more cost-effective and available in LGM

PHILIPSBURG--It is “unfortunate” that National Alliance Member of Parliament (MP) Christophe Emmanuel opted to compare a national brand like Frisian Flag with Super U milk, a private label, instead of with a comparable product such as private label Carrefour milk, said Le Grand Marché (LGM) Managing Director Anil Sabnani as he countered Emmanuel’s claims that LGM’s prices are higher than those of French-side-based Super U.

Sabnani told The Daily Herald on Friday that Emmanuel “did not make a correct comparison Read more

style="text-align: center;"> Rene Gartner trying to get his subordinates to cover up for him with the SAP Deal.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of GEBE Rene Gartner has suspended the Financial Auditor of GEBE Sharine Daniel on Wednesday claiming that she went out of line when she conducted a forensic audit at the company and it is there she found out he was misusing his rights on the operational cost for management employees. According to information reaching SMN News Gartner claimed that the financial auditor of GEBE has no authority to conduct such audits without his consent Read more