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Court orders minister to take decision on beach-chair affair

OYSTER POND--The Court of First Instance has given the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT) six weeks to make a decision in a dispute about the placement of chairs and umbrellas on the beach in Oyster Bay, which has already been dragging on for years.

The "beach-chair affair" involves three parties: Oyster Bay Beach Resort's owner Pearl Development NV, owner of Mr. Busby's beach bar Low Road to Heaven NV and Laissez Faire NV on behalf of The Great House apartment complex.

All parties claim rights to place beach chairs and umbrellas on the beach, but despite several court rulings up until now government has failed to make a decision on the matter.

During the hearing of this case, which was filed in November 2014 and heard by the court on February 2, 2015, lawyer Hedy Kocks claimed Oyster Bay Beach Resort is in possession of a permit to place 130 chairs on the beach since 2008.

By contrast, Kocks said Mr Read more

Ratification of police cooperation treaty ‘imminent’ Préfet discloses

MARIGOT--The long-awaited ratification of the police cooperation treaty between The Netherlands and France is "imminent," Préfet Philippe Chopin disclosed in a press release on Monday in answer to merchant's concerns over security, increase of violence and random assaults on tourists in St. Martin.

The cooperation treaty, signed already by the Dutch, was one item of good news presented to a delegation of merchants at a closed meeting in the Préfecture following the march earlier in Marigot to protest the crime situation.

The Préfecture's Chef de Cabinet Emmanuel Effantin further confirmed ratification will be completed "before the end of the year" and that MP Daniel Gibbs is the "rapporteur" for the ratification process Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- As part of our commitment to give back to the community, through our NAGICO Lend a Hand program; a group of staff from NAGICO Insurances visited the Sister Basillia Center in St. Johns Estate on Saturday morning, where they created a vegetable garden for the residents and staff of the center, to aid in their healthy eating food program.
More than a dozen staff of NAGICO arrived at the Center's head Quarters in St Read more

Kooyman & Laser 101 launch Makita Week

>PHILIPSBURG:--- In light of the upcoming Kooyman Home Improvement Fair, Kooyman and Laser 101 have teamed up to bring you MAKITA Week. Laser 101 will give away a number of MAKITA branded prizes all week long.
Tune into to laser 101 for your opportunity to WIN and be sure to check out Kooyman on Saturday February 28th for their Home Improvement Fair, where you will get a chance to experience professional grade products such as MAKITA, MAPEI, GLOBAL PROFESSIONAL PAINT, AIR MASTER & CASTELL Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication Claret Connor (first on the right), met with the Policy Department of the Ministry – Economy, Transport and Telecommunication February 18th,2015. The Minister met with the general staff, followed by a meeting with the Secretary General, Miguel De Weever, department head, Lucy Richardson along with members of his Kabinet Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Chinese Consul General Chen Qiman (second from left) paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister the Hon. Marcel Gumbs on Sunday, February 22, 2015. The Consul General was joined by St. Maarten Chinese Association President Steven Huang and Head of the Department of Foreign Relations Khalilah Peters. General topics of cooperation Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- With a government in office for just over 60 days, a feeling of discontentment with government is discernible. While part of this can be attributed to a feeling of ever-present political apathy, the fact cannot be denied that a government formed without even an indirect approval by the electorate; an uneasy composition of coalition "partners" with very diverse manifestos and philosophies, and the absence of a governing accord contribute in no small measure to the feeling of dissatisfaction or inquietude one can sense daily in the community.
The Democratic Party is also of the belief that the talk of transparency, but in reality the often times disregard for such, only exacerbates the situation outlined above.
Partial information is even more damaging, as then all sorts of stories are conjured up.
There are many small steps that government can take as measures to promote transparency as part of the bigger objective of promoting integrity Read more

Kooyman & Laser 101 Launch Makita Week

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - In light of the upcoming Kooyman Home Improvement Fair, Kooyman and Laser 101 have teamed up to bring you MAKITA Week. Laser 101 will give away a number of MAKITA branded prizes all week long.

Tune into to laser 101 for your opportunity to WIN and be sure to check out Kooyman on Saturday February 28th for their Home Improvement Fair, where you will get a chance to experience professional grade products such as MAKITA, MAPEI, GLOBAL PROFESSIONAL PAINT, AIR MASTER & CASTELL.

As well quality products and services by local companies such as RollFix, GreenFingers, Paradise Pools, Ayman Mattress Factory, ICE/Valley Estates, WIB, City Funiture, FunMiles and more.

"MAKITA is the leading manufacturer of Industrial Power Tools with 100 years of service to the industry," said Kooyman Commercial Officer, Evencia Carty-Seabrookes "We are very proud retailer of MAKITA and are even more honored to have company spokes model, Miss MAKITA Maria Alejandra Montoya, join us for the first time on the island."

The event is a free event to the public of St Read more

Nagico Staff Plants Garden For Sr. Basillia Center

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - As part of our commitment to give back to the community, through our NAGICO Lend a Hand program; a group of staff from NAGICO Insurances visited the Sister Basillia Center in St. Johns Estate on Saturday morning, where they created a vegetable garden for the residents and staff of the center, to aid in their healthy eating food program.

More than a dozen staff of NAGICO arrived at the Center's head Quarters in St Read more

Cooperation Discussed Between Prime Minister And Chinese Consul General

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Chinese Consul General Chen Qiman (second from left) paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister the Hon. Marcel Gumbs on Sunday, February 22, 2015.

The Consul General was joined by St. Maarten Chinese Association President Steven Huang and Head of the Department of Foreign Relations Khalilah Peters.

Gene Read more

Conference On The Last Colonies In The Caribbean Slated For March

GREAT BAY, St. Martin – The Independence for St. Martin Foundation will be organizing an international conference here under the theme, "The last colonies in the Caribbean," from March 6 – 8, 2015.

Invitations have been sent to individual scholars and organizations in the region engaged in the decolonization of the remaining territories in the region, and according to ISM Foundation President, Jose Lake Jr., the response has been "quite encouraging so far."

The aim of the conference, he explained, is to bring together those in St Read more

Minister Of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport And Telecommunication Still Defining Departmental Priorities

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication Claret Connor (first on the right), met with the Policy Department of the Ministry – Economy, Transport and Telecommunication February 18th,2015.

The Minister met with the general staff, followed by a meeting with the Secretary Ge Read more

Dp Leader Say Coalition Govt. Does Not Even Have The Indirect Approval Of The Electorate

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - With a government in office for just over 60 days, a feeling of discontentment with government is discernible.

While part of this can be attributed to a feeling of ever-present political apathy, the fact cannot be denied that a government formed without even an indirect approval by the electorate; an uneasy composition of coalition "partners" with very diverse manifestos and philosophies, and the absence of a governing accord contribute in no small measure to the feeling of dissatisfaction or inquietude one can sense daily in the community.

The Democratic Party is also of the belief that the talk of transparency, but in reality the often times disregard for such, only exacerbates the situation outlined above.

Partial information is even more damaging, as then all sorts of stories are conjured up.

There are many small steps that government can take as measures to promote transparency as part of the bigger objective of promoting integrity Read more

Integrity’s power grab

Dear Editor,

For many years now, the various governments in The Hague have had concerns and misgivings about the administration in Philipsburg, at least for as long as I can remember. In the nineties, we were placed under Higher Supervision with the collaboration of the then central government, and the same issues we had then are prevalent today. They even promised to implement a counterpart system, so that when they leave, our people could take over the running of the apparatus properly and smoothly Read more

Oyster Pond works attract inspections, warning letter

OYSTER POND--Excavation and clearance works that have included the pushing of excavated soil into Oyster Pond and the clearance of an estimated 100 square metres of mangroves have warranted inspection by the authorities and a warning letter calling for those responsible to either produce the relevant building permit or request one.

Further decisions will be taken after the building permit status becomes clear. The Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI is looking into the situation Read more

Claire Gioun-Firmin appointed Riu Palace Assistant Director

MARIGOT--Claire Javois Guion-Firmin was recently appointed to the position of Assistant Director of the Riu Palace Hotel in Anse Marcel, St. Martin Tourism Office President Jeanne Rogers-Vanterpool disclosed Read more

style="text-align: center;">People of St. Maarten should take the time to read the document Issued by the Dutch Regarding Integrity on St. Maarten.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Ethelwoldus Josepha, President of the NAPB Police union has issued a strong call on the people of St. Maarten, mainly civil servants and politicians to take their time and read the document sent to St. Maarten Government regarding the higher supervision placed on St Read more

Wescott-Williams: “New Tax System Cannot Be Introduced Overnight”

St. Maarten —A new tax system cannot be introduced overnight, notes leader of the Democratic Party faction in Parliament MP Sarah Wescott-Williams, who said she intends to discuss this new tax system in a meeting with the Minister of Finance. MP Wescott-Williams pointed out that the need for introducing a new tax system has been in discussions for years but there must be consultations and there are a lot of different aspects to take into consideration.

While acknowledging that the new tax system cannot be introduced overnight, the DP leader said a start must be made Read more

Princess Heights Awarded Green Key Eco-Label

St. Maarten -The Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) awarded Princess Heights Luxury Boutique Condo Hotel with the first and only Green Key Eco-Label certification in St. Maarten, solidifying St. Maarten’s reputation as a destination that is serious about the environment.

“Here at Princess Heights, we’ve been using Green Key guidelines as a model for best practices for many years,” said Emil Lee, General Manager of Princess Heights.  “If ‘being green’ translated to higher prices, it would not be sustainable for businesses to make green choices Read more

Dp Wants Answers From Gebe

St. Maarten -A list of pertinent questions will be forwarded to Gebe by the Democratic Party faction in parliament following a recent meeting between the company representatives and the parliament.

Leader of the Democratic Party faction in parliament Sarah Wescott-Williams noted that there is a government endorsed energy plan for the Country St Read more

Are we in Cuba or St. Maarten --- Prime Minister allegedly running a booth camp in Government Building.

style="text-align: center;">Civil Servants disgusted and ready to take action.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Several civil servants working at the Government Administration Building are disgusted and are ready to take action if Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs continues with what they consider as 'dictatorship" attitude. The civil servants who prefer to remain anonymous said that if they are seen in the corridor talking to a colleague or going to the kitchen the Prime Minister will come up to them and say "get back to work, it's not yet happy hour." Those who spoke to SMN News said that the Prime Minister would go as far as checking to see if civil servants are at their desk working Read more

Shujah’s pick of books for “the ‘readingist’ month” of the year

by Shujah Reiph

When I first glanced at the Facebook post from Nehesi House at the end of January, about February being "the readingist month" of the year, I had to laugh, because that is a big statement to make without any backup information.

I was about to call Lasana right away, for proof, since he always drills me about evidence and having "multiple sources" when I find some new historical information. Nehesi House is the Facebook page of House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP). Lasana Sekou is a poet and projects director of HNP Read more

Chikungunya thrives in climate variability of the Caribbean

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad--Jenny had gone to bed feeling well, but an hour into her sleep she suddenly awoke with a "stiff, cramping pain" behind one knee. Within the next hour the pains had multiplied and both knees began to lock, followed by stiffened fingers and pains in her chest, along with a fever.

Jenny Gittens (61) described her experience with chikungunya over the next two weeks as marked by excruciating pain Read more

Caravanserai owners unique amongst victims of takeover

BEACON HILL--A California couple who cashed in part of their retirement fund to invest in buying a unit at the former Caravanserai Beach Resort have been thrown into the same basket as approximately 2,200 timeshare owners who had their rights at the same property annulled when it was taken over by Alegria Real Estate BV. The couple received an eviction order earlier this month, after a trial of which they reportedly had not been informed took place.

Chasing ownership

John and Shandrea Degen signed the relevant paperwork with Caravanserai in 2007 Read more