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Princess Heights Hotel, St. Maarten, Awarded With Certificate Of Recognition By Hotels.Com

DAWN BEACH, St. Maarten – Last month, Princess Heights Luxury Boutique Hotel (www.princessheights.com) in St. Maarten was officially awarded the "Certificate of Recognition for Exceptional Guest Ratings and Reviews" by the international online travel agency Hotels.com, part of Expedia Inc., one of the most important online travel corporations in the world.

This certificate recognizes accommodation properties which receive the highest guest reviews and ratings as part of the feedback that guests leave at Hotels.com regarding the service provided by the property they booked.

"This latest award is an affirmation of the commitment and dedication of every staff member at Princess Heights Read more

Mp Wescot-Williams Seeking Response From Government To Questions Asked

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Government remains unresponsive to questions from the members of Parliament and from the public at large.

Given this fact, I have now turned to the Chair of the Parliament for his intervention. Make no mistake, the Chairperson of Parliament was appointed to serve in that position as part of the political agreements between those parties and factions that support the government. That is an acceptable practice.

However, once in that position, the chairperson represents the entire parliament and should in my opinion act as a bridge between Parliament and the Government Read more

Four suspects to go on trial for Atlantis robbery

PHILIPSBURG--Four suspects are to go on trial June 24 for involvement in an attempted armed robbery at Atlantis Casino on November 16, 2014.

Three of these suspects, K.D. (19), C.M.B. (21) and C.A.H. (21), were already called before a Judge on March 25, only to hear the prosecutor and one of their lawyers requesting a delay in the hearing of their cases. A fourth suspect was led before a Judge at the Court of First Instance on Wednesday.

Prosecutor Gonda van der Wulp said in March that a fourth suspect, B.A.E.W (22), was arrested in this case Read more

Abattoir in Grand Case is finally inaugurated

MARIGOT--After false starts, debates and long periods of dormancy when the file was shelved, the long-awaited abattoir in Mill Run, Grand Case, finally reached the finish line and was inaugurated Tuesday in the presence of elected officials and the operators of the facility.

President of the Territorial Council Aline Hanson in her address noted the then Municipal Council in 2001 first voted in favour of the construction of an abattoir before chronicling a time-line of events where the project frequently stalled over the years.

Although the building was completed in 2009 one of the main setbacks was the delay in obtaining sanitation and hygiene certification and various modifications had to be made, particularly in terms of the building's proximity to the adjacent Central Kitchen, which in itself was a point of controversy.

The 1,070,000 euro cost of the building was financed by Europe, the State, the Region and the Department, and in part by the then Commune of St Read more

Speeches, humour and anecdotes mark Préfet Chopin’s departure

MARIGOT--Tributes were paid to Préfet Délégué Philippe Chopin for dedicated service to St. Martin and St. Barths during his near-five-year tenure as the State’s highest representative, at a cocktail party in the Préfecture on Tuesday evening where he was presented with numerous gifts as tokens of appreciation.

Chopin takes on a new posting as a fully-fledged Préfet for the Region of Creuse in Central France.

As usual on such occasions, the Préfecture’s conference room was packed with representatives of all of the institutions, Gendarmerie, Police Territorial and border police (PAF) among them, with whom the Préfet worked.

The guest list included Dutch-side dignitaries Governor Eugene Holiday, Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs and Justice Minister Dennis Richardson while from the French side former Senator Louis-Constant Fleming and former Presidents of the Collectivité Frantz Gumbs and Alain Richardson were present Read more

USP to discuss possible removal of minister today

PHILIPSBURG--The possible removal of Justice Minister Dennis Richardson by the United St. Maarten Party (USP) will be discussed in a special meeting of the party’s board and advisors in the Parliament Building today, Thursday, at 6:30pm.

USP has been in control of the Justice portfolio since earlier this year, but is yet to place its own minister Read more

Editorial - Not allowed

The new Penal Code that went into effect June 1 (see related story) contains some important matters of which the general public should be aware. For one thing, the sale and serving of alcoholic beverages to minors under the age of 18 is now officially prohibited, with a maximum penalty of six months in prison or a NAf. 7,500 fine.

However, the National Licence Ordinance still has 16 as the minimum drinking age, a discrepancy the local Lions Club recently requested that Parliament eliminate Read more

style="text-align: center;">COO working without contract, promised contract till 2017.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The legal rumble and deal making continues at GEBE while the COO Romelio Maduro does not have a contract but signed a check on Tuesday June 2nd for over $60,000.00 for Alfred Harley who got a contract from GEBE which was not approved by the Supervisory board. Based on information SMN News received is that Alfred Harley a former journalist on St. Maarten secured a contract with GEBE through his company “St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- On Sunday June 7th the yearly International Triathlon race organized by the “Friendly Island Cycling Association” will be held. In connection with this race a meeting was held at the Philipsburg Police Station between this association represented by Mr. Juan Pablo Piscione and representatives of the KPSM. The main topic of this meeting was to discuss the route of the race, the alternative routes that can be used when the race is taking place and the safety and security of the participants.
The race will commence at 07.00 a.m Read more

Long Term Plans For Public Transportation To Be Revealed During Transportation Meeting Set For Thursday Night

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Stake holders in the island public transportation industry will have the opportunity to get first hand information about upcoming improvement within the sector.

The Minister of Transportation Claret Connor is also expected to be present for the meeting on Thursday evening at the Cultural Center on the back Read more

At least two donors exceeded donations

PHILIPSBURG--At least two donors to political parties have exceeded the legally stipulated financial donations to political parties.

Electoral Council Chairman Bert Hofman told The Daily Herald excess donations were made on at least three occasions.

Hofman declined to give the political parties that received the excess donations and the names of the donors. He explained that the parties and donors have not yet been officially informed by the council. That notification will be sent out this week.

In any calendar year based on Article 41 of National Ordinance on the Registration and Financing of Political Parties, donations made to the same political party by a person, company or institution shall not exceed a total sum or value of NAf Read more

Taliesin charged less, scored better for airport FBO project

AIRPORT--According to a trusted source, Taliesin Construction was chosen over the competition – Windward Roads and Designer’s Choice – for Princess Juliana International Airport’s fixed-base operations (FBO) project because the company charged less and scored more points according to evaluation reports by both an airport operating company team and Studio Acht, the project’s designing company.

This question was answered in response to enquiries by Prime Minister (PM) Marcel Gumbs as he sent a notice of delay in early May in regard to building permits for the temporary office for the Meteorological Office, the Fire and Rescue Building and the FBO building Read more

Obama signs bill reforming US surveillance programme

WASHINGTON--President Barack Obama signed into law on Tuesday legislation passed by Congress earlier in the day reforming a government surveillance program that swept up millions of Americans' telephone records.
  Reversing security policy in place since shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, the bill ends a system exposed by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. The spy agency collected and searched records of phone calls looking for terrorism leads but was not allowed to listen to their content.
  Passage of the USA Freedom Act, the result of an alliance between Senate Democrats and some of the chamber's most conservative Republicans, was a victory for Obama, a Democrat, and a setback for Senate Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
  After the Senate voted 67-32 on Tuesday to give final congressional approval to the bill, Obama used his Twitter account, @POTUS, to say he was glad it had passed Read more

Writers flock to St. Maarten for 13th annual Book Fair

MARIGOT/PHILIPSBURG--A host of international authors, writers and poets from all over the world, including countries such as Brazil, India, Panama, France, the United Kingdom and United States, will be travelling to the island for the thirteenth annual St. Martin Book Fair.

The Book Fair, to be held June 4-6, will be officially opened at Territorial Media Tech Centre in Spring Concordia, Marigot, Thursday, at 8:00pm. President of the Collectivité of St. Martin Aline Hanson and Prime Minister of St Read more

Asjes part of royal US visit

WILLEMSTAD--Curaçao Prime Minister Ivar Asjes was in Arlington, Virginia. He travelled together with his counterparts of Aruba and St. Maarten Mike Eman and Marcel Gumbs respectively to accompany the Dutch King Willem Alexander and Queen Maxima in laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Arlington National Cemetery.

With this ceremony the Kingdom of the Netherlands thanked the Americans for the liberation of Europe.

The royal couple is on an official visit in the United States Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---  A delegation from Sint Maarten's Parliament is currently in Aruba attending the Health Care Conference Aruba (HCCA) which is being held from June 1-3 at the Renaissance Convention Center.

President of Parliament Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson, Vice President MP Hon. Cornelius de Weever, MP Hon Read more

Mps Representing Sint Maarten At Health Care Conference Aruba

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – A delegation from Sint Maarten's Parliament is currently in Aruba attending the Health Care Conference Aruba (HCCA) which is being held from June 1-3 at the Renaissance Convention Center.

President of Parliament Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson, Vice President MP Hon. Cornelius de Weever, MP Hon Read more

St. Martin Book Fair Program June 4 – 6, 2015

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten -  Pre-Book Fair Activities;

Tuesday, June 2

8pm – 11pm
The Poets Lounge
Guest poets: Rosabelle Illes (Aruba), Fola Gadet (Guadeloupe). Magueda Jackson (St. Martin/Anguilla), reads her poetry from the new anthology Where I See The Sun – Contemporary Poetry in Anguilla
Place: Q Lounge (Upstairs, McDonald's Restaurant)
Simpson Bay

Wednesday, June 3

6 pm – 7:30 pm
Economic Models in the Caribbean
Presentation/discussion with business and political leaders
Guest speaker: Luiz Bernardo Pericás (Brazil)
Historian, social critic, translator
Author of Che Guevara e o debate econômico em Cuba
(Che Guevara and the economic debate in Cuba)
Cambridge University Press

Place: Mr Read more

Usp Submits Some Documents To Electoral Council Monday, Penalties Now Being Studied

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The political party headed by MP the Honorable Frans Richardson, the USP has submitted some of the documents requested by the electoral council of St. Maarten.

Chairman Attorney Bert Hoffman told o Read more

USP submits report to Electoral Council

~ Fine still to be paid ~

PHILIPSBURG--The United St. Maarten Party (USP) submitted its overdue annual report and financial statements to the Electoral Council on Monday, bringing to a possible end the council's imposed NAf. 1,000 daily penalty for non-compliance.

Party President Cecil Nicholas told The Daily Herald the documents were submitted to the council's office, but the fine incurred so far of NAf Read more

Sapphire will not be sold, resort to rebrand, renovate

CUPECOY--After a period of quiet following the news in late January that timeshare exchange network RCI had suspended its relationship with Sapphire Beach Club and Resort, some Sapphire timeshare owners were informed via newsletter over the weekend that the resort would be going through renovations and had signed a preliminary agreement at the end of 2014 "initiating the process of affiliation to a prestigious hotel chain" that remained unnamed.

The newsletter item also disclosed that the property would not be sold, which had been a subject for speculation by many.

RCI had not disclosed any reasoning for the suspension in its notice, but it was understood to be tied to the property's multiple maintenance issues Read more

MPs have not yet received harbour security answers

PHILIPSBURG—Members of Parliament (MPs) have not yet received the "sensitive answers" about the St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies' security contract, despite the receipt of these by Parliament's Secretariat since May 26. The delay in the dissemination is due to "administrative reasons," according to Democratic Party (DP) leader MP Sarah Wescot-Williams.

Speaking at a DP press conference in Parliament House on Monday, Wescot-Williams said she is patiently awaiting the answers to see if they satisfy her burning questions Read more

High scoring games mark start of School Water polo

CAY HILL--The annual Primary School Water  polo Competition kicked off with six games at Raoul Illidge Sports Complex pool Monday.
   In the first game, Hillside Christian School crushed Sister Magda 11-5 with Riley netting seven goals.
  Frans Richardson fired in three goals as Learning Unlimited blasted past Seven Day Adventist 8-3.
  In game three Dr Read more

Editorial - Status quo

Readers may have been surprised to note in Monday's paper that Government as sole shareholder of water and electricity company GEBE had rejected a request by the Supervisory Board not to extend the contract of Chief Operations Officer and Managing Board Chairman Romelio Maduro. After all, government-owned companies were put "at arms' length" in the first place to prevent political meddling.

Moreover, a Corporate Governance Code was introduced by law to stipulate rules on how to deal with these public entities operating in the private sector and a council with the same name has been established to regulate such Read more