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Education, St. Maarten’s primary emergency

Dear Editor,

Allow me to first of all inform you that I am not an educator nor do I pretend to have all the answers. I will try as much as possible to steer clear of the clichés and any semblance of personal attacks, however, should some feathers be ruffled so be it.

We have all heard or read in the wisdom of our forefathers the adage "those who fail to prepare, prepare to fail." This seems almost prophetic looking at the St. Maarten experience in the building of a nation. The narrative and the actions coming from the halls of power in Philipsburg are ambiguous and sometimes wilfully puzzling.

Government in justifying its lack of a policy on immigration declares that we don't have or haven't created what we need to move our economy forward Read more

Sweden's Zelmerlow wins Eurovision Song Contest

VIENNA--Sweden's Mans Zelmerlow won the final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna on Sunday, beating Russia and Italy in the world's biggest international music show.
  The 28-year-old singer and TV presenter, who had been a bookmakers' favourite, performed the winning electro-pop ballad "Heroes," dancing in front of a black screen with animated gnomes.
  Sweden has won the 60-year-old competition six times, more than any other nation apart from Ireland Read more

Economic framework ‘good’ although not yet convincing

PHILIPSBURG--Stakeholders are still digesting the content of the newly-presented draft National Economic Framework. While the initiative is lauded to various extents, a common sentiment amongst private-sector stakeholders approached by The Daily Herald is that the outlook on follow-through is not entirely convincing, given that past initiatives have been very similar and have not necessarily delivered results.

Some participants were left feeling that once again they were going through the motions, not hearing anything new, and as though past initiatives such as the Tourism Master Plan simply had been left on the shelf.

The framework was presented to private- and public-sector officials by the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) at a National Economic Summit on Friday and has been a year in the making by the Department of Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunication EVT.

Stakeholders were presented a 53-page document and their input will be considered by the ministry, which highlighted the need to achieve a "shared comprehensive vision." Private-sector stakeholders told this newspaper that cooperation indeed was essential to moving forward.

Oyster Bay Resort General Manager Ricardo Perez said it was a good initiative, but it would be more useful if the previous initiatives were to be "dusted off" and put to action, or that they should have been updated on what progress had been made on those recommendations.

Princess Heights Hotel General Manager Emil Lee shared the sentiments, although he said the goals were admirable Read more

Princess Heights added to TripAdvisor Hall of Fame

DAWN BEACH--Princess Heights Luxury Boutique Condo Hotel announced on Sunday that it has been recognised as a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame winner, and that there would be special rates available in June for residents of St. Maarten and neighbouring islands.

TripAdvisor's Hall of Fame was created to honour businesses that have earned a Certificate of Excellence for five consecutive years; the recognition is only issued to establishments that consistently achieve great traveller reviews.

This is the latest in a number of customer service and quality-related recognition awards granted to Princess Heights Read more

Sarah queries hold-up of labour law changes

PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) leader Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams has enquired about the status of the draft law to amend the Civil Code and other ordinances to better regulate labour agreements.

She has written to Parliament Chairman Dr Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---  "The country is now moving into the second half of 2015 within the next five weeks, and I am hoping that within that period of time we will have the two ministerial positions filled by competent persons in order to continue moving forward.

"We got to start putting the right people in the right positions. Don't tell me we can't find persons out of the 23 candidates of the United People's party to fill one or both of these two positions. Why can't MP Dr. Lloyd Richardson be the minister of health or other persons within the coalition, fill one or both of these ministerial positions?

"We need to raise the bar and start working in the best interest of this country Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---  Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Claret Connor received a very important guest at his Cabinet to discuss some national issues. Giomari Hodge was accompanied by his mother Yosaira Ramos.

Giomari wanted to meet with Minister Connor and to ask some questions regarding his portfolios along with some personal questions such as, what are the areas of responsibility under the minister Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- MP Sarah Wescot Williams sent a letter to the chairman of parliament regarding the draft national ordinance on the change of the civil code and other ordinances in connection with the labor agreements or short term labor contracts. The letter can be viewed below:-

Honorable Dr. Richardson, Chairperson of Parliament,

Close to 6 months ago, the Parliament of St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- Last week thirty-three Asha Stevens Christian School (ASCS) teachers received a certificate from Foresee Foundation. Management and staff participated in four 2-hour workshops while being trained in the use of Promethean Digital Boards and the integrated use of technology in teaching content. The training was facilitated by consultant, Marcus Nicolaas, certified Promethean Board Trainer.
Over the last years traditional chalk boards are being replaced by digital interactive boards, which allow students and teachers to share a wealth of information in an interactive and engaging way Read more

Princess Heights Hotel Inducted Into 'Hall Of Fame' Of Tripadvisor.Com And Launches Last Minute Special For Area Residents

DAWN BEACH, Sint Maarten – Princess Heights Luxury Boutique Condo today announced that it has been recognized as a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame winner.

This certificate was created to honor those businesses that have earned a Certificate of Excellence for five consecutive years. This recognition is only issued to establishments that consistently achieve great traveler reviews on TripAdvisor.

Marc Charron, President of TripAdvisor for Business. "By putting a spotlight on businesses that are focused on consistently delivering great service to customers, TripAdvisor not only helps drive an improvement to hospitality standards around the world, it also gives businesses both large and small the ability to shine and stand out from the competition."

This is the latest in a number of customer service and quality related recognition awards granted to Princess Heights Read more

Hillside Teachers Received Digital Board Training Certificates From Foresee Foundation

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Last week thirty-three Asha Stevens Christian School (ASCS) teachers received a certificate from Foresee Foundation.

Management and staff participated in four 2-hour workshops while being trained in the use of Promethean Digital Boards and the integrated use of technology in teaching content. The training was facilitated by consultant, Marcus Nicolaas, certified Promethean Board Trainer.

Over the last years traditional chalk boards are being replaced by digital interactive boards, which allow students and teachers to share a wealth of information in an interactive and engaging way.

Foresee Foundation, the initiative taker of the DigiKidz project, views the increased use of Technology in classrooms as a very important step towards offering innovative 21st century education.

In addition to providing schools with equipment, the leading foundation in promoting educational technology on St Read more

Minister Connor Meets With Six-Year Old Giomari Hodge Of The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School Who Wanted To Discuss National Issues

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Claret Connor received a very important guest at his Cabinet to discuss some national issues. Giomari Hodge who is a student of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School, was accompanied by his mother Yosaira Ramos.

Giomari wanted to meet with Minister Connor and to ask some questions regarding his portfolios along with some personal questions such as, what are the areas of responsibility under the minister Read more

Stretched Afghan army falls back on militias to help defend Kunduz

KUNDUZ, Afghanistan--The Afghan government has enlisted hundreds of militia fighters controlled by local commanders to battle Taliban militants near the northern city of Kunduz, officials said, underlining how the armed forces are struggling to tackle the insurgency alone.

The recruitment of unofficial armed groups in Kunduz is on a larger scale than previous attempts by the government and NATO forces to recruit militias in the fight against the Taliban Read more

IMF says Japan overly optimistic on prospects

TOKYO--The International Monetary Fund warned the Bank of Japan will take longer than it expects to hit its inflation target even with more monetary easing, and said "bolder" structural reforms are required to shake off an entrenched deflationary mindset.

In a statement after "Article 4" consultations with Japanese policymakers released on Friday, the IMF urged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to speed up fiscal reform and not rely on "overly optimistic" estimates in fixing the country's finances.

The value of the yen on a real, effective basis has broadly stabilised after weakening somewhat during the second half of 2014, it said Read more

Campbell-Brown ready to run faster than ever

KINGSTON--Veronica Campbell-Brown, the first lady of Jamaican sprinting, believes she will run faster than ever after enduring an ordeal she trusts no other athlete will have to suffer.

The triple Olympic champion turned 33 last week but said her "best days are still ahead" now she has recovered from the traumatic episode which saw her pilloried as a drugs cheat before she was cleared of a potentially career-ending doping offence.

"It was very unfair and I hope no athlete will ever go through what I went through," Campbell-Brown reflected in an interview with Reuters after starting her 2015 campaign in impressive form in China Read more

Stakeholders give input in draft economic framework document

PHILIPSBURG--The drafting and updating of new economic legislation to promote economic growth in St. Maarten and the increasing of efforts by Government to ensure fiscal and business compliance are among the many proposed measures included in the draft National Economic Framework document.

The 53-page document was presented to private and public sector officials at the National Economic Summit held at Sonesta Great Bay Beach Hotel on Friday. The document was discussed and stakeholders present gave their input.

According to the working-document, a country's legal system and its approach to economic growth are most important factors that determine a country's economic success or failure.

"A legal system that fosters economic innovation and growth while simultaneously protecting the rights of the citizens is essential to any form of economic growth Read more

Editorial - Less is more?

Parliamentarian Maurice Lake has a point (see related story). The Gumbs cabinet has been short of two members for more than five months now.

Along with the lack of a governing programme, missing two ministers of what would normally be seven conceivably hampers the functioning of this government backed by a UP-led coalition Read more

Ground broken for MLK’s playground

DUTCH QUARTER--A fully fledged playground for Martin Luther King (MLK) School pupils is that much closer to being realised; a symbolic ground-breaking ceremony was held at the heart of the school Friday morning to mark the occasion, amongst school management, staff and pupils, Division for Public Education (DPE) representatives and Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs Rita Bourne-Gumbs.

The playground is meant for the school's Cycle 1 pupils and was largely made possible through the Parent Teacher Fellowship (PTF) and through fundraising at last year's pre-Father's day Bingo in particular, amongst some other initiatives.

School Manager Stuart Johnson proudly shared that the initiative was supported by staff, pupils and the community at large and that the playground will be the largest in the district and the first of its kind amongst the public schools.

The next project in line will be a multi-functional basketball court meant for the Cycle 2 pupils Read more

Lake: ‘High time’ for two missing ministers

PHILIPSBURG--United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake has issued a call to his coalition partners that it is "high time" the two missing ministers be appointed to the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet "to get this country moving."

The Gumbs Cabinet, sworn in in December 2014, has had two ministers carrying double portfolios Read more

CFT asked to keep eye on full compliance with law

THE HAGUE--Committee for Financial Supervision CFT will be asked to keep a close eye on the full compliance with criteria set in the Kingdom Financial Supervision Law and the financial situation of government-owned companies, before it approves loans of Curaçao and St. Maarten.

Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk promised during a general debate with the Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament on Thursday that he would relay the request of Member of Parliament (MP) André Bosman of the governing liberal democratic VVD party to CFT.

Bosman is highly concerned about the recent approval of loans by CFT Read more

Willemsberg reports progress being made in talks with Govt on arrears

PHILIPSBURG--Social and Health Insurance SZV and Government are making progress on their talks to hammer out an agreement on the outstanding arrears owed to the insurance service provider by the deadline set by the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT.

The deadline is this month, which ends next Friday. The progress of talks with APS could not be ascertained. Government and SZV have been engaged in talks and have had several meetings to reach an agreement.

In an invited comment on Thursday on the progress of the talks, SZV official Reginald Willemsberg told The Daily Herald that parties had come to “some concrete proposals” during meetings held so far Read more

Tehillah Ministries International Hosts Impact Network Caribbean Gathering 2015, St. Maarten

>These services promise to be life changing, it will challenge current paradigms and cause an effectual shifts to take place. , empowering Caribbean leaders to understand and embrace Apostolic and Prophetic convergence, it will bring clarity on the functions of the collaborative work of the Apostolic and prophetic offices. It will foster unity among Caribbean people within the body of Christ.

Event name: Impact Caribbean Gathering, 2015 St. Maarten
Dates: July 30th - August 2nd (July 30, 31, August 1, 2)

Venue: Belair Community Center

Sessions we will have a combination of day sessions and evening

Speakers: Apostle and Dr Read more

style="text-align: center;">General Meeting to be held on Tuesday.

Cul de Sac: --- Parents and several residents of Cul de Sac gave the directress, workers and the other parents a surprise Friday morning when they placed huge locks at the Cul de Sac Elementary school, blocking access to the school. As the parents arrived at the school with their children they were all left outside wondering what was happening since they claim not to know that there are grievances among the school population Read more

Willemsberg reports progress being made in talks with Govt on arrears

PHILIPSBURG--Social and Health Insurance SZV and Government are making progress on their talks to hammer out an agreement on the outstanding arrears owed to the insurance service provider by the deadline set by the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT.

The deadline is this month, which ends next Friday. The progress of talks with APS could not be ascertained. Government and SZV have been engaged in talks and have had several meetings to reach an agreement.

In an invited comment on Thursday on the progress of the talks, SZV official Reginald Willemsberg told The Daily Herald that parties had come to "some concrete proposals" during meetings held so far Read more