SXMElections.com

Cohen, Just win damages after court annuls Sindextour AOTs

MARIGOT--The former tenants of the original Bikini and Kon Tiki Restaurants on Orient Beach, Elisa Cohen and Philippe Just, have been awarded unspecified damages by the Collectivité and Sindextour, represented by Norbert Luftman, following an administrative court ruling in St. Martin on Friday that cancelled the temporary occupation permits (AOTs) for parcel AW33 issued by the Collectivité to Sindextour.

The long-running case against Sindextour saw both Cohen and Just evicted from the two restaurants by bailiffs in September 2013.

The AOTs were issued to Sindextour following a second vote by the Executive Council on September 4, 2012, following a vote on the issue in July of that year Read more

Nepal quake victims still stranded, PM says toll could be 10,000

JHARIBAR/SINDHUPALCHOWK, Nepal--People stranded in remote villages and towns across Nepal were still waiting for aid and relief to arrive on Tuesday, four days after a devastating earthquake destroyed buildings and roads and killed more than 4,600 people.

The government has yet to assess the full scale of the damage wrought by Saturday's 7.9 magnitude quake, unable to reach many mountainous areas despite aid supplies and personnel pouring in from around the world.

Prime Minister Sushil Koirala told Reuters the death toll could reach 10,000, as information on damage from far-flung villages and towns has yet to come in Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- In connection with the upcoming Junior and Grand Parade scheduled for Thursday April 30th, the Police Department is making the following announcement:
The gathering point for the Grand Parade is at the entrance of Sint Johns Estate on the L.B. Scot road. The gathering time is at 10.00 a.m.
Front Street including all streets and alleys leading to this street will be closed on that day from 07.00 a.m.
At 09.00 a.m. L.B. Scot road will be closed at Gladiola road. No traffic allowed towards Sint Peters area Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- I would take to take this opportunity to wish all the workers on St. Maarten and workers in general a Happy Labour Day. Workers all deserve recognition for their input and hard work on a day to day basis, building the future for them and for their children through decent work and the possibilities for them to enjoy and inherit the fruits of their labor.
As President for the second time of the WICLU I feel honored to have been able to select three persons, who have served the workers' organizations wholeheartedly and unselfishly Read more

MNO Spartanz top Prime Pepsi table

CUL DE SAC--MNO Spartanz continued their dominance of the Prime Pepsi Cup with a well-calculated eight wicket win over KFC Twisters at Caribe Lumber Ballpark on Sunday.

The win placed the Spartanz in an unconquerable first place of the PRIME PEPSI cup table with 18 points and still one more match to play. NAGICO United Cricket Club, which has completed the preliminary round, is in second place with 17 points.

The Spartanz convincingly chased 119 for the loss of only two wickets with seven balls to spare against the Twists Read more

Progress Committee to give report to Parliament

PHILIPSBURG--The Progress Committee, monitoring St. Maarten’s development since it became a country within the Dutch Kingdom, is keen to present its report to Parliament. Parliament Chairman Dr. Lloyd Richardson (United People’s party) is “very pleased” about this request of the Progress Committee Read more

Fish Da Megaboss is new Calypso Monarch

CARNIVAL VILLAGE--Fish Da Megaboss was crowned the new Calypso Monarch after ten contestants challenged the reign of 2014 Calypso Monarch Ruminni "The Protége" Rogers in a busy Carnival Village on Saturday night. This is the fourth time Fish Da Megaboss has walked away with this crown. He also went home with the prize money of US $10,000 courtesy of sponsor NAGICO.

The new Monarch had a total of 489 points, with first runner-up and winner of $5,000 King Beau Beau scoring a total of 462 Read more

Preparations underway for National Remembrance Day 2015

>GREAT BAY (DCOMM):---- Preparations are underway to observe National Remembrance Day 2015 on Monday morning 4th May.

Government will again remember the victims who fought during the Second World War and the public are invited to attend the ceremony.

The commemoration and wreath-laying ceremony will take place on Monday, May 4 at 9.00am at the Captain Hodge's Wharf in Philipsburg.

His Excellency Governor Eugene Holiday, President of Parliament Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson, Prime Minister Hon Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:----  President of Parliament Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson, says he was very pleased to learn from the Progress Committee that Sint Maarten has done far better work as it pertains to agreements made at the inception of the committee than has been reported.

The Progress Committee would like to have the opportunity to present their report to the House of Parliament with respect to the accomplishments of agreements made post 10-10-10.

Dr Read more

>CUL DE SAC:----  Seven sixth form students of St. Maarten Academy's CAPE (Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination) programme returned to St. Maarten on Saturday (April 25, 2015) after a week-long field trip to the Commonwealth of Dominica, which culminated with a visit to the Prime Minister, Mr. Roosevelt Skerrit.
The visit to the Nature Isle was aimed at exposing the students and teachers to a myriad of experiences that meet their curriculum goals in Physics and Biology. Led by the school's Vice Principal Mrs Read more

President Of Parliament Richardson Says Progress Committee To Be Given Opportunity To Present Report To Parliament

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – President of Parliament Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson, says he was very pleased to learn from the Progress Committee that Sint Maarten has done far better work as it pertains to agreements made at the inception of the committee than has been reported.

The Progress Committee would like to have the opportunity to present their report to the House of Parliament with respect to the accomplishments of agreements made post 10-10-10.

Dr Read more

Academy Cape Science Students Visit Dominica

CUL DE SAC, St. Maarten – Seven sixth form students of St. Maarten Academy's CAPE (Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination) programme returned to St. Maarten on Saturday (April 25, 2015) after a week-long field trip to the Commonwealth of Dominica, which culminated with a visit to the Prime Minister, Mr. Roosevelt Skerrit.

The visit to the Nature Isle was aimed at exposing the students and teachers to a myriad of experiences that meet their curriculum goals in Physics and Biology.

Led by the school's Vice Principal Mrs Read more

Preparations Underway For National Remembrance Day 2015

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – Preparations are underway to observe National Remembrance Day 2015 on Monday morning 4th May.

Government will again remember the victims who fought during the Second World War and the public are invited to attend the ceremony.

The commemoration and wreath-laying ceremony will take place on Monday, May 4 at 9.00am at the Captain Hodge's Wharf in Philipsburg.

His Excellency Governor Eugene Holiday, President of Parliament Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson, Prime Minister Hon Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- His Excellency Governor Eugene B. Holiday decorated NAGICO Group Chairman Imran McSood Amjad as Officer in the Order of Orange Nassau on Friday evening, April 24th, 2015 during a ceremony held at the Cabinet of the Governor at Harbour View, St. Maarten.

Mr. McSood Amjad was awarded the Royal Decoration for his valuable contributions to St. Maarten's society over the many years Read more

The Evolving View of Cannabis

~ Many opinions expressed at St. Maarten’s first open forum ~

By Lisa Davis-Burnett

Marijuana is seen as a gateway drug, partly because it is illegal, meaning that in order to get it, one must go into situations, where other illegal activities are taking place and associate with dealers of various illegal substances. “If it was structurally controlled and properly distributed, we would eliminate this discussion about it being a gateway to harder drugs.” This opinion was expressed by Dr Read more

President Aline Hanson hurt in assault by well-known musician

President Aline Hanson

~ Security for government officials thrown into question ~

 MARIGOT--President of the Territorial Council Aline Hanson was assaulted by a man brandishing a frying pan moments after she arrived for work at Hotel de la Collectivité Friday morning.

The bizarre incident occurred at 8:30am when the President, who was not with her usual driver, got out of the car and was chatting with a couple of women when the man suddenly appeared and started to inflict blows on her with the pan as she turned to close her car door Read more

The Evolving View of Cannabis

~ Many opinions expressed at St. Maarten’s first open forum ~

By Lisa Davis-Burnett

Marijuana is seen as a gateway drug, partly because it is illegal, meaning that in order to get it, one must go into situations, where other illegal activities are taking place and associate with dealers of various illegal substances. “If it was structurally controlled and properly distributed, we would eliminate this discussion about it being a gateway to harder drugs.” This opinion was expressed by Dr Read more

Chamber lends helping hand to entrepreneurs with Business Centre

PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry (COCI) has set out to lend a helping hand to entrepreneurs with its new Business Centre, which was officially opened on Friday.

The Centre is located adjacent to the Chamber's office on Cannegieter Street and has opened with two staffers, Tytania Archangel and another person. Archangel told The Daily Herald after the opening that the intention is to eventually strengthen the staffing capacity with a receptionist, a marketing manager, finance and budget manager and economist.

The Business Centre is a service centre for business development for entrepreneurs living in St Read more

Appeals filed in Bada Bing case

PHILIPSBURG--All suspects in the Bada Bing case, involving bribery, trafficking of women, tax evasion, money-laundering and forgery, have filed for appeal.

The Prosecutor's Office confirmed that former Member of Parliament (MP) Patrick Illidge (49), Bada Bing brothel owner Jaap van den Heuvel (49), his manager Krijn van der Brug (42) and his company Lunteren NV have all launched appeals against their convictions by the Court of First Instance Read more

Sarah: Coalition ‘suddenly lost interest’ in Integrity Chamber

PHILIPSBURG--It appears, said Democratic Party (DP) leader Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams, that the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet and by extension the governing coalition have "suddenly lost interest" in the establishment of an integrity chamber for the country.

"It is revealing that suddenly the urgency is no longer there for our own 'thing,'" the MP said.

She has drawn this conclusion from the response of Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs to her inquiry Thursday about the timeframe for the tabling of the draft national law to establish the integrity chamber in Parliament.

Gumbs, in an immediate response on Thursday to Parliament President Dr Read more

French side President Hanson attacked with a frypan

MARIGOT--French side President Aline Hanson has allegedly been attacked this morning by man with a frying pan in front of her office in Marigot. She was rapidly transported to the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital for treatment Read more

style="text-align: center;"> "As a Member of Parliament I will not deal with a draft law unless I know what was discussed in The Hague."

PHILIPSBURG: --- Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel is calling on the Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson who travelled to the Netherlands last weekend to meet with the (Raad van State) Council of State and Minister of Interior Affairs Ronald Plasterk to further discuss the draft integrity law that was discussed in parliament and higher supervision that the Kingdom wants to impose on St Read more

style="text-align: center;">The governing coalition parties and their independent affiliates have "suddenly" lost interest in our own integrity chamber.

PHILIPSBURG:---  DP Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams said based on the response she got from the Prime Minister of St Read more

>MARIGOT:--- A local resident on French St. Martin attacked the President of the Collectivity Aline Hanson on Friday morning. According to information reaching SMN News, the resident known to everyone as "Lino" attacked  President Aline Hanson just around 8:45 am in front of the Collectivity as she arrived at the Collectiving to begin her days work Read more