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Wescot-Williams About Tourism Authority: “Government Believes It Can Fool All The People, All Of The Time”

St. Maarten – Is a letter Tourism and Economic Affairs Minister Claret Connor sent to parliament on June 22 “a scam”? Democratic Party MP Sarah Wescot-Williams asks that question in a press statement about the fledgling St Read more

Mike Ferrier About The Aftermath Of The Shooting: “Hopefully, Parliament Will Get A Grip On Reckless Spending”

Michael Ferrier. File photo Today / Leo Brown

St. Maarten – Businessman Michael Ferrier, a former president of the Democratic Party – as party he left in disgust last year – analyzes in this article the situation the country finds itself in in the wake of the shooting that cost sergeant Gamali Benjamin his life.

Last week’s shooting of a police 0fficer by a coward with a gun has brought our once tranquil “Friendly” Island to an all-time new low in societal behavior Read more

Pm Marcel Gumbs About Officer Benjamin’S Passing: “This Country Is A Dimmer Place Without Him”

Composite photo celebrating the life of police Officer Gamali Benjamin. Photo Facebook

St. Maarten – “Never in our island’s history have we seen our local law enforcement forced to say farewell to one of their own, taken from us in the line of duty,” Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs said yesterday in a statement after the passing of police Officer Gamali Benjamin Read more

Matser’S Energizer Gets Distress Warrant

St. Maarten – The bailiff has served a distress warrant to Energizer NV, the construction company of United People’s party MP Silvio Matser. The company was established at an address on the Chameleon Drive, but is now, according to a publication in yesterday’s edition of the National Gazette, “without a known address in Sint Maarten or elsewhere.”

The bailiff delivered the distress warrant at the request of the Receiver on July 7 and Energizer had to comply with its content within two days.

The Court in First Instance sentenced Matser in January to 24 months of imprisonment (with 18 months suspended) with 3 years of probation and 240 hours of community service for a string of fiscal offenses Read more

Silent March Honors Officer Benjamin

Workers and officers take part in a silent march to show their solidarity with Officer Gamali Benjamin. Photo Today / Milton Pieters St. Maarten – More than 200 people marched the streets of Philipsburg yesterday in solidarity with the injured police Officer Gamali Benjamin. Nagico Insurances closed its doors at 3 p.m. and staff members walked with police officers and supporters to the spot on the Front Street were Benjamin was gunned down on Wednesday.

Emotions ran high and people were weeping and consoling each other on their way to the location Read more

Council Of Ministers Saddened By Senseless Killing Of Police Officer Benjamin

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Council of Ministers of St. Maarten Wednesday resumed their press conferences, providing information to the community from the seat of government in Philipsburg.

The resumption of the information sessions comes at a time when the St. Maarten community is mourning, mourning the violent death of a young police officer who served the community of St. Maarten well, at the hands of young bandits.

Minister responsible for Justice the Honorable Dennis Richardson was obviously broken at the senseless killing of Officer Benjamin who was gunned down last Wednesday during a Philipsburg robbery.

He died on Saturday at the St Read more

Editorial - Perfect occasion

Today’s news that St. Maarten will host the 2015 Caribbean Sailing Association (CSA) conference is most welcome. Visiting yachts have become important contributors to the local tourism economy, due in part to the annual Heineken Regatta, construction or expansion of various marinas and the widening of the drawbridge channel.

The last few years have seen some less-than-positive developments like losing the boat charter show, but overall the destination remains relatively strong in terms of its marine industry Read more

Officer Benjamin’s funeral schedule released, road closures announced

PHILIPSBURG--Slain bike patrol Police Officer Gamali “Benji” Kwasi Benjamin will be laid to rest at the Methodist Cemetery in Philipsburg after a ceremony with honours tomorrow, Thursday.

At 10:30am his body will depart Royal Funeral Home to the Philipsburg police station.

At 10:45am a brief ceremony will be held at the Philipsburg police station while the uniformed departments will stand in front of the police station.

At 10:55pm the procession of uniformed departments will leave the police station and head to Front Street where it will stop for a brief moment in front of Oro Diamante, where the Benjamin shot on Wednesday, August 5.

At 11:30am, the procession will arrive at the Philipsburg Methodist Church.

At 12:00pm the official part of the ceremony will start at the church.

The viewing of the body will take place at the Methodist Church on Front Street from 12:00 to 1:45pm Read more

DP and NA say meeting on crime should not have been closed door

~ Concerned about financing for proposals ~

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) and the Democratic Party (DP) said in a joint statement on Tuesday that the information shared during Monday’s urgent meeting of the Central Committee of Parliament on crime did not warrant a closed-door session.

NA and DP said they had not immediately protested the calling of the meeting in a closed door session to give Government “the benefit of the doubt” as it pertains to the sensitivity of the information being shared and possible ramifications it might have on the outcome of the case.

The parties noted that the “information shared by the Council of Ministers, however, was not such that the public needed to be sheltered from the reality.”

The two parties said there had been repeated calls on Government for open communication with the public to put an end to speculation Read more

DP supports call for statue of slain cop

~ Weighs in on crime ~

PHILIPSBURG--The Democratic Party (DP) supports a call made by the general police union NAPB for a statue to be erected of bike patrol officer Gamali “Benji” Benjamin, who was gunned down at the scene of a robbery at a Front Street jewellery store on Wednesday, August 5 Read more

Miami 2 St. Maarten schedule announced

PHILIPSBURG—Boxing card Miami 2 St. Maarten will feature Roy Jones Jr. against Danny Santiago at Festival Village August 29. Tickets start at US $50 with ringside seating set at $100 and a VIP table that seats 10 goes for $2,500.
 The schedule for events leading up to the fight and the after match concert were announced at a press conference at the Claude Wathey Legislative Hall yesterday.  Attending the conference were Erno Labega from the St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- On Friday August 7th 2015, the Department of Community Development, Family & Humanitarian Affairs (CDFHA) honored members of various NGOs and Community Councils that successfully completed the Capacity Building Program that took place in 2014, with a continuation in 2015 with accredited courses at the University of St. Martin.

Sixty Four (64) participants successfully completed the program which was originally sponsored by USONA and the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labor.

The primary objective of the Capacity Building Program is to offer support and to enhance the skills and performance of NGOs and Community Councils Read more

NA & DP Faction not satisfied with Central Committee meeting on Crime.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Central Committee meeting of Parliament held on Monday was convened as a closed meeting by the Chair of Parliament to discuss with the Council of Ministers the rise in crime on the island culminating in the shooting and subsequent death of Officer Gamali Benjamin by alleged robbers of a jewelry store.
Faction members of the NA and DP did not immediately protest this in order to give Government the benefit of the doubt as it pertains to the sensitivity of the information being shared and possible ramifications it may have on the outcome of the case.
Information shared by the COM, however, was not such that the public needed to be sheltered from the reality.
Many MPs touched on preventative measures and made recommendations, especially in the area of regulations for scooters, measures for communities outside Philipsburg, parenting, labour situation, the economy and other societal ills plaguing the community.
We were quite concerned about the financing for many of the proposed changes, including hiring some 30 police officers needed to bring the force up to the minimum level of functioning.
We firmly believe that we are very late in reacting to violent crimes now, while we should have seen this coming 10/15 years ago.
A neglected society will surely breed ill will, lack of compassion, blatant disrespect and the types of behaviour we have come to accept as "normal".
Some questions asked were:
Do we really want change?
Are we going to demand transparency and accountability from our government owned companies and foundations?
Are we going to finally get answers as to how we plan to increase tax compliance now?
Are we going to be told yet again there is no money while our teachers, social workers, nurses and police continue to cry, and the "have nots" see it floating all around? Where will the money to fund these immediate changes come from? How can we better train and protect the officers? What kind of benefits exist for next of kin if an officer is maimed or killed in the line of duty.
There were repeated calls on government for open communication with the public to put an end to speculation Read more

Mp Lake Supports Chamber Of Commerce Initiative

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – United People's (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake MP Lake supports the Chamber of Commerce statement that the community won't be safe if labour issues are left unaddressed.

"As a community spirited person and always in contact with the people and young people, I fully agree with the Chamber of Commerce statement that the country cannot have a healthy and safe community if education, health, poverty, immigration and labour issues, such as unemployment and abuse of the labour laws are not addressed.

"The only way we can address these issues is together as stakeholders and come up with an immediate, short term and long term plan of action that will benefit everyone the business and the community Read more

Condolence Book For Officer Gamali Benjamin Being Signed

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - On Tuesday many persons were seen in the Philipsburg Police Station signing the Condolence book for the late Gamali Benjamin.

The Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, Minister Rita Bourne Gumbs, Minister Read more

Cdfha Hosts Award Ceremony For Ngos & Community Councils

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten — On Friday August 7th 2015, the Department of Community Development, Family & Humanitarian Affairs (CDFHA) honored members of various NGOs and Community Councils that successfully completed the Capacity Building Program that took place in 2014, with a continuation in 2015 with accredited courses at the University of St. Martin.

Sixty Four (64) participants successfully completed the program which was originally sponsored by USONA and the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labor.

The primary objective of the Capacity Building Program is to offer support and to enhance the skills and performance of NGOs and Community Councils.

The training was given free of charge and focused on "Financial Management", "Subsidy Ordinance", "Governance", "Tax administration for NGOs", "Program Development", "Marketing & Public Relations" and "Strategic Alliance Formation".

Reverend Baptiste did the Invocation and Ms Read more

President Of Parliament Congratulates Police On Latest Arrest Of Robbery Suspect

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - President of the Parliament of St. Maarten Dr. Lloyd Richardson Tuesday morning stated that he is elated to hear about the success with the investigation into last Wednesday's fatal robbery of a jewelry store on Frontstreet which led to the death of police of police officer Gamali Benjamin.

On Monday the Parliament met behind closed doors to deliberate on possible solutions to address the problem of crime on the island.

Dr Read more

Gebe Moves Towards Providing Electronic Payment Of Bills For Customers

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - GEBE, the islands water and Electricity Supply Company is now moving to provide their customers with the opportunity to pay their bills in a more efficient manner.

The company is now placing a lot of effort in providing opportunities for electronic payment and the issuance of a receipt.

This is already possible through the use of GEBE's website noted the Commercial Manager Iris Arrindell.

CFO of GEBE, Mr Read more

Sarah raises concerns about Tourism Authority

PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) leader Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams has raised concerns about Tourism and Economic Affairs Minister Claret Connor’s apparent plans to disband the existing foundation governing the St Read more

NA, DP call on Government to rework Governing Programme

PHILIPSBURG--Opposition National Alliance (NA) and Democratic Party (DP) have called on Government to rework the “Ready to Work for You” Governing Programme of the United People’s (UP) party-led coalition into “an executable and accountable programme.”

Debating the Governing Programme in Parliament would “inevitably lead to much rhetoric, but little substance,” said the two parties Read more

Notices August 11

Kickboxing Classes

Kickboxing is offered for Adults (Age 15+) Tuesday and Thursday 7:00-8:15pm at Renzo Gracie St Maarten. For more information call 559-7852 or email \n This e-mail address is being protected from spambots Read more

MP’s claim that Police Officers want Minister of Justice out of Office.

>PHILIPSBURG: --- At least two Members of Parliament namely Leona Marlin Romeo and Christopher Emmanuel advised the Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson to go and speak with the regular police officers in order for him to know how they feel about him Read more

The Up-Coalition Governing Program 2014-2018 Is Definitely Not A Program For The People Of St. Maarten, So Who Is The Government Really Working For?

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Opposition parties National Alliance and Democratic Party met recently to discuss the governing program presented to parliament by the current United People's Party-led coalition.

The first impressions of this program leave a lot to be desired and much more was expected, not only after the long wait, but especially after the many promises that were made by the United People's Party, leading up to and during the 2014 electoral campaign.

However, more disturbing than that is the fact that the program as presented provides no basis for a constructive discussion in Parliament about government's plans, its priorities, available and needed resources.

The people of St Read more

Dp Leader; Sta, On/Off

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Something is NOT right again with the latest face-off between government and the private sector, now on the St. Maarten Tourism Authority (STA).

The matter of the St. Maarten Tourism Authority (STA) has been one of ongoing concern for the faction of the Democratic Party.

This has been so, because there is no tourism plan currently in place and the lack of such a plan has been always put as due to the incomplete progress to come to a STA.

This process has been ongoing for at least 10 years, some even say 15 years.

From " commissioners' time to consecutive ministers, there have been constant differing visions for this authority, with as result that nothing happened.

Agree with the current proposed organization or not, it did bring the establishment of this badly needed "authority" a step closer to realization.

It was therefore noted with much concern, that not yet one month in office, the Minister of TEATT, Claret Conner's tongue slipped it appeared, and he divulged that he intended to (re)evaluate the STA.

This prompted several questions from the DP faction, verbally and subsequently in writing Read more