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Jamaica expanding cassava industry with Colombian help

KINGSTON, Jamaica--Government is moving to expand the cassava industry through partnerships with the private sector and the University of the West Indies, with support from the Colombian government.

Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller said the partnership between government and the manufacturer of Jamaican beer Red Stripe, which is using the tuber as part of its brewing process, has shown that the industry can grow.

Her administration is now eyeing other possibilities.

“As this new industry develops, I look forward to the opening, soon, of a new cassava processing plant in Elim, St Read more

Notices August 6

School Uniforms and Books

Sundial School makes known that parents/guardians can pass by Caribbean Embroidery and Screen Printing (542-7362) on the Cannegieter Street to have their child(ren) fitted for uniforms and place orders for the 2015/2016 school year. School books for the upcoming school year 2015/2016 can be picked up on August 10 and 11(1 and 2 Forms) and August 12 and 13 (3rd&4th Forms).

MAC Store

Methodist Agogic Resource Centre is open daily from 9:00am to 4:00pm Read more

Officer critical after being shot in neck responding to robbery

~ One robber shot, caught; other on the run ~

By Judy H. Fitzpatrick

PHILIPSBURG--Bike patrol Police Officer Gamali “Benji” Benjamin was shot in the neck and reportedly also the head while responding to an armed robbery at Oro Diamante on Front Street around 1:00pm Wednesday.

Benjamin was in critical condition and clinging to life at SMMC up to late last night andreports indicated that efforts were being made to fly him abroad for further medical attention.

One robber was shot and captured and a second is on the run Read more

Laws Commission gives green light to reform RSA

~ Collectivité owes CAF 1.3M euros per month for RSA benefit ~

MARIGOT--The Laws Commission verbally approved reform of the social benefit Revenu Solidarité Active (RSA) presented by the Overseas Ministry for St. Martin in the National Assembly on July 17 and written confirmation should be received from Parliament in due course, Second Vice-President Ramona Connor said Wednesday.

With President François Hollande endorsing its reform during his official visit here in May, the Collectivité is already proceeding with adapting RSA to the fiscal revenues of the Collectivité and modifying the criteria to apply for it.

As it stands, RSA is based on fiscal law and revenues of France but the Collectivité argues it cannot realistically apply figures used in France for St Read more

style="text-align: center;">Bullets remains in Officer Benjamin brain, he is currently in a comatose state at SMMC.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Members of Parliament ran for their lives on Wednesday when a bicycle patrol identified as officer Gamali Benjamin was shot in the vicinity of the Parliament Building in Philipsburg on Wednesday morning. Bystanders said some MP's tried to find cover as they beleive that the gunmen were coming after Members of Parliament. MP Sarah Wescot Williams, MP Theodore Heyliger, MP Franklin Meyers and MP Lloyd Richardson ran for cover in one of the private rooms of parliament SMN News was told Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs on Wednesday said the nation was shocked with the callous act carried out by an individual resulting in law enforcement Officer G. Benjamin being shot while performing his duty to protect and serve the people of Sint Maarten.
On behalf of the Council of Ministers, our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Officer G Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:----  Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, and Transport & Telecommunications Hon. Claret Connor, recently attended the 31st Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition (CANTO 2015) of the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication (CANTO) in Miami, Florida.
The conference and exhibition was held under the theme “Improving Lives through Broadband Innovation.”
The key note speaker, the Hon Read more

President Of Parliament Condemns Attack On Law Enforcement Official. Mps Prayers With Officer And Family

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The President of Parliament Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson on Wednesday condemned the attack on a Police Officer while he was carrying out his duty to the community.

The police officer was shot and seriously wounded as he and a colleague were responding to a call of an armed robbery at a jewellery store on Front Street Read more

Mp Franklin Meyers: Fighting Crime A Priority, But Financing A Hurdle

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Police Officer Gamali Benjamin is a credit to the St. Maarten Police Force and deserves commendation for his bravery in facing the robbers on Front Street on Wednesday afternoon, says United People's (UP) party Deputy Leader Member of Parliament Franklin Meyers.

He wished the young officer speedy recovery and strength and sent words of comfort to the officer's family, colleagues in the Police Force and his friends.

~Wishes Police Officer Benjamin speedy recovery~

"The shooting of the young, brave police officer is, to say the very least, heart wrenching Read more

Minister Of Telecommunications Connor Attends 31St Canto 2015 About Improving Lives Through Broadband Innovation

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, and Transport & Telecommunications Hon. Claret Connor, recently attended the 31st Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition (CANTO 2015) of the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication (CANTO) in Miami, Florida.

The conference and exhibition was held under the theme "Improving Lives through Broadband Innovation."

The key note speaker, the Hon Read more

Les Fruits De Mer Share Media Expertise At 20Th International Meeting Of Birdscaribbean In Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Every two years, bird educators, scientists and conservationists from throughout the Caribbean and beyond gather for BirdsCaribbean's International Meeting.

At this year's meeting in Kingston, Jamaica, over 200 international delegates from 33 countries/islands gathered to share the latest in Caribbean bird science, conservation and education. Representing St. Martin, Les Fruits de Mer co-founder Mark Yokoyama facilitated two media-related workshops during the meeting and released a free ebook, Look Sharp! Promote Your Organization with Great Photography.

Birds—Connecting Communities and Conservation was the theme for the meeting, and the event photography workshop presented by Mark Yokoyama focused on forging that emotional connection through the power of great images Read more

Hype School Agenda Released Wednesday

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Hype agenda is now out, just in time for the start of the new school year.

On Wednesday morning the locally produced agenda was presented to the Governor of St. Maarten his Excellency Eugene B. Holiday and the Minister of Education the Honorable Rita Bourn-Gumbs and well as corporate sponsors of the agenda such as WIB, Telem, NAPA, RBC Bank and others Read more

Parliament Meet On Health Care Wednesday

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Central Committee of Parliament met in public session on Wednesday.

Members of Parliament received a presentation on the National Ordinance on Public Health Care.

The presentation was made by a team from the department of Health headed by Drs. Fenna Arnell.

However members of Parliament had several questions as well as expressed areas of concern within health care. MP the Honorable Leona Romeo-Marlin was particularly concerned about the spread of infectious diseases.

DP leader the honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams in her remarks spoke about the complexities of the ordinance and its importance.

She also noted that the execution and monitoring of the legislation has been placed on a lower level in some cases, even below the legislation itself.

MP the Honorable Janchie Leonard also had various questions particularly in the area of control and enforcement.

As a former Police Officer the MP stated that this forms an integral part of the overall execution of the ordinance Read more

Police arrest armed restaurant robbers

COLE BAY--Police on Monday arrested three men who had just committed an armed robbery at a restaurant on Wellington Road in Cole Bay minutes earlier.

The men were detained around 5:00pm on August 3. Acting Police spokesperson Steven Carty said two masked men brandishing firearms had robbed the restaurant. The men stormed into the establishment, grabbed money from the cash register and ran outside where a vehicle had been waiting.

The description of the vehicle and its plate number were given to the police central dispatch and the culprits were spotted and stopped on Union Road where they were arrested Read more

Elshot says education issues are not addressed in governing programme

PHILIPSBURG--The recently submitted governing programme failed to address some critical issues in the country's education system, according to Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) President Claire Elshot.

She said on Tuesday that the governing programme "is lacking" when it comes to addressing issues in education. She said "a lot" had not been "dealt with" in the programme, particularly with regard to personnel.

"What they outlined was with regard to the infrastructure and buildings, but nothing with regard to the care of the students and teachers," Elshot said.

She said the union and its members were concerned about the constant "deterioration" and "weakening" of educators' health care package, whereby medication was being substituted with generic ones.

The union is also concerned about the elimination of the early retirement or VUT package for retirement and authorities' failure to increase teachers' vacation allowance equal to the amount paid in other parts of the Dutch Kingdom Read more

Notices August 5

Wednesday, August 5

HEART LECTURE

Organised by JCI St. Maarten and the Methodist church

Place: Methodist church Front-street

Time: 7:30pm

Lecturer: Cardiologist Mrs Emiko Bird –Lake.

NOTICES

Writing Session

Samenwerkende Fondsen (Cooperating Foundations) invites interested persons to a project writing session, Friday, August 7 at Philipsburg Jubilee Library, from 3:00 – 5:00pm. For more information on see the website of the Samenwerkende Fondsen or call your local project advisor 586-0808).

Female Soccer Team

FC Soualiga is looking for ladies to join their female soccer team Read more

Holding Public Office is indeed a family Affair on St. Maarten.

style="text-align: center;">Former Purchasing Officer of GEBE to take over Ministry of TEATT.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Ernest Sams the uncle in law of Member of Parliament Leona Romeo Marlin will be taking over the Ministry of TEATT as Minister Claret Conner moves over to the Ministry of VROMI. SMN News published months ago that Sams is the candidate that was selected and will be appointed by Member of Parliament Leona Marlin Romeo who is now an independent member of parliament Read more

>PHILIPSBURG (PARLIAMENT/Independent Faction):--- – Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo on Tuesday said that much have been said about the Adopt a School program, some negative and others positive.

“Irrespective of the feedback it is imperative for all to start thinking outside the box and embrace creative solutions to assist in remedying the challenges that we face in Sint Maarten.

“Hence, by no means does this imply that government is relinquishing its responsibility to the education system of the country Read more

Mp Leona Marlin-Romeo Says We Need To Think Outside Of The Box And Embrace Creative Solutions In Solving Country Problems

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten– Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo on Tuesday said that much have been said about the Adopt a School program, some negative and others positive.

"Irrespective of the feedback it is imperative for all to start thinking outside the box and embrace creative solutions to assist in remedying the challenges that we face in Sint Maarten.

"Hence, by no means does this imply that government is relinquishing its responsibility to the education system of the country Read more

The Future Beckons You Back To St. Maarten, Sxm Airport Managing Director Tells Holland-Bound Students

SIMPSON BAY, St. Maarten — "You are leaving home as teenagers, and will be returning as adults in a few years. Between now and then, you will experience life in a manner you have never done before," Regina LaBega, Managing Director of Princess Juliana International Airport, SXM Airport, told about 30 students who left the island Sunday, August 2, to further their studies in the Netherlands.

SXM Airport, in collaboration with Domino's Pizza, continued a tradition began four years ago, by organizing a "Bon Voyage" party for the students who were joined by their families and friends who came to bid them farewell.

"That moment has arrived to show that you are grown up; that you can stand on your own feet; that you don't need anybody to tell you what to do, when to study or when to come back home from the disco.

Free at last! But it is what you do with that freedom that will determine your success Read more

Transparency International Presents Integrity Assessment: “Political Parties Are Weak In Representing Social Interests”

Transparency International’s regional director for the Americas Alejandro Salas and lead researcher Cora de Voit. Photo Today / Leo Brown

GREAT BAY – At 7 p.m. local time last night, Transparency International’s National Integrity System assessment for St. Maarten came online. The company presented the report at the same time at the university on Pond Island. St. Maarten has now come full circle with probing its integrity issues. There are four reports on the table: the Baseline Study Institutional Integrity from the General Audit Chamber, the integrity-reports from the Bob Wit-committee and PricewaterhouseCoopers and now the transparency assessment.

It contains three core recommendations, of which the third one is the most concrete Read more

Mp Lake Went Shopping At French-Side Super U “A Plus For The Community”

St. Maarten – United People’s (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake says it is high time government sits down with supermarkets and distributors of food products to get a grasp on why consumer prices on the Dutch side are so high compared to the French side.

“The cost of living on St Read more

Notices August 4

Wednesday, August 5

HEART LECTURE

Organised by JCI St. Maarten and the Methodist church

Place: Methodist church Front-street

Time: 7:30pm

Lecturer: Cardiologist Mrs Emiko Bird –Lake.

NOTICES

Pool Closure

Carib Swim Team, Cole Bay will be closed for renovation during the month of August 2015. Practice re-starts on Monday August 31. Registration and try-outs for Swim Team and Swim Lessons will take place on Saturday August 29, from 10:00am-2:00pm Read more

Minister to sidestep foundation to create Tourism Authority

PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten Tourism Authority (STA) Foundation has been declared obsolete. Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Claret Connor now says the STA will be established without the intermediary foundation due to stagnation in progress caused by delays and lack of common vision on how to move forward.

Minister Connor reacted on Monday to requests for comment in light of last week Friday’s front page story describing the foundation as being in limbo Read more