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St. Maarten Citizens even Politicians not cooperating with Investigators.

style="text-align: center;">Too many leaks and alignment with possible suspects and politicians.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Some departments of the justice chain on St. Maarten are now trying to investigate cases that surfaced days ago while they have several cases of alleged corruption lying on their desks taking dust. Even a judge accused the prosecution of "class justice" something the local population on St. Maarten have been crying out loud for years. The Landsrecherche that has been established on St Read more

Princess Heights Wins Leading Hotel Award

St. Maarten – For second year in a row, Princess Heights Luxury Boutique Hotel has been named “the Leading Hotel in St. Maarten”, by the World Travel Awards (WTA) in its 2014 Caribbean & North America Gala Ceremony 2014, at the CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa in Anguilla.

Heralded by The Wall Street Journal as the “Oscar’s of the travel industry,” the WTA has developed into the most prestigious and comprehensive awards program in travel and tourism, and is known worldwide as the hallmark of industry excellence that recognizes the commitment to excellence that hospitality businesses worldwide have demonstrated in the last twelve months.

“This latest award, combined with our fourth straight year TripAdvisor certificate of excellence, proves once again that only through hard work, consistency and real commitment to customer service, we can ensure that our guests enjoy lavish accommodations with world class personalized service Read more

St. Maarten Government Issues Ebola Travel Ban

St. Maarten – The government has issued a travel ban to everyone who has traveled within the past 21 days to, from and through the countries of Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The ban is related to the outbreak of the ebola virus in West Africa. Public Health Minister Cornelius de Weever addressed the situation in a press statement that explains the scope of the outbreak and the reason for the travel ban.

The ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe, often fatal illness in humans Read more

Other Parties Stay Away From Protest Against Kingdom And Plasterk – Green March Against Instruction

St. Maarten– Between 300 and 400 people took part in the march People United for True Democracy organized yesterday afternoon in protest against the instruction from the Kingdom Council of Ministers to Governor Holiday for a stricter screening of candidate ministers – a handsome turnout with one flaw: only supporters of the United People’s party showed up.

UP party leader Theo Heyliger was there, as were his faction leader Franklin Meyers, MP Tamara Leonard and MP Lloyd Richardson Read more

Cps Reminds Persons To Get Their Flu Vaccine

St. Maarten—Persons, especially persons that fall into the high risk category, are urged by minister of public health and the Collective Preventative Services(CPS) to get their annual flu shots. Influenza is an acute viral infection that spreads very easily from person to person, and can affect anybody in any age group.

“Check with your physician to see whether or not you are part of the high risk group and be proactive.  Get vaccinated and apply strict and consistent preventive measures to stop you from getting the flu,” Minister of Public Health, Cornelius de Weever said.  Influenza is a serious public health problem that causes severe illnesses and deaths for higher risk populations.  Vaccination (flu shot) is the most effective way to prevent infection.

Persons who form part of the risk groups are: pregnant women who are in the last six months of pregnancy or second trimester – from their fourth month onwards;  persons with pulmonary disease: asthma (when maintenance medication is given; this also holds true for children), COPD, carcinoma of the lung, anthracosilicosis, lungfibrosis , mucoviscidosis, severe kyfoscoliosis, status after resection of a lung, breathing difficulties;  with cardiac disease: having experienced a myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, arrhythmias, valve dysfunction, cardiac failure; with diabetes mellitus, even if not on medication;  with chronic kidney disease/failure: dialysis, kidney transplant; after a recent bone marrow transplant;  with HIV-infection; with an intellectual disability in an intramural setting; with a diminished resistance to infections: livercirrosis, (functional) asplenia, auto-immune illnesses, chemotherapy, immunosuppressive medication; 60 years and older.

Front-line workers as well as health care workers who may be in contact with patients pertaining to the medical risk groups (personnel in nursing homes, senior citizen home, hospital, outpatient clinics and general practitioner/specialist practices), are also encouraged to get their flu vaccination Read more

Lake: “Dutch Instruction Is Part Of The Hidden Agenda To Take Over St. Maarten”

St. Maarten —The Dutch instruction to Governor Holiday is being interpreted by Vromi minister Maurice Lake as part of a hidden agenda to take over St. Maarten.

Lake, who was a successful candidate on the UP list in the last election noted that the country already has screening laws for candidates proposed to become a member of the Council of Ministers.

“This whole thing is not about that anybody is afraid of being screened.  We have nothing to hide.  Those who have served within the past four years as Ministers, going back to 2010, 2012 and 2013 and still do so today have passed the screening process to become a minister Read more

Dei Present Newly Developed Caf Curriculum

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Late last year, DEI launched the Cultural Artistic Formation (CAF) adaptation project which entailed the development of lesson plans that reflect the local situation.

Imbrace Group LLC was contracted to steer the project, assemble a curriculum writing team and work with the writing team to develop the materials.

The need for this project was identified in a retraining trajectory where it became evident that there were no existing materials for CAF that reflect our local situation.

The new CAF curriculum promotes knowledge and understanding of the historical and cultural contexts of the arts within St Read more

Editorial - Pound-foolish

The minimum wage in St. Maarten is being indexed for the third consecutive year (see related article). Granted, 19 guilder cents may not seem like much, but on the current hourly amount of NAf. 8.56 it is still a hike of about 2.2 per cent.

It also should not be forgotten that many making perhaps just a little more probably won't even get a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), most likely because the company or other entity for which they work simply can't afford it Read more

Christian right will still turn out for Republicans in US midterms

SPRINGDALE, Arkansas--If Republicans win control of the Senate in the midterm elections they should say a prayer of thanks for Christian conservatives.

Although they get little attention from candidates, white evangelical Christian voters are likely to be fundamental to any Republican victories in the key Senate races, especially in the South. Reuters/Ipsos polling data shows evangelicals are more enthusiastic than the general population about the midterms.

The religious right's influence may be much reduced since the days of Moral Majority leader Jerry Falwell's alliances with Republican presidents Read more

Emmanuel ‘asked’ to make statement

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel said he was asked last week by "authorities" if he wanted to make a formal statement about being offered money to switch political parties.

He said on St. Maarten Radio Network's radio programme "The People's Voice" on Monday that he told the authorities he stood by his statements in Parliament a week ago Read more

Sarah: DP fraction of two MPs intact

PHILIPBSURG--The Democratic Party (DP) fraction comprises two Members of Parliament (MPs): Sarah Wescot-Williams and Cornelius de Weever, with De Weever serving as the party's fraction leader in Parliament Read more

St. Maarten issues Ebola travel ban

~ For travellers from West Africa ~

PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten has issued an Ebola travel ban and will deny entry or transit to persons who have travelled in the past 21 days to, from and through countries where the outbreak is not contained.

Persons who have travelled to, from or through Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo will not be allowed to enter or transit St. Maarten.

The decision was made based on an advice from health officials of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour VSA, Health Minister Cornelius de Weever said in a statement last night.

"This travel ban will also apply to persons who have been in contact with a suspected or confirmed Ebola case from affected Ebola countries Read more

Minimum wage to be indexed per Jan. 2015

PHILIPSBURG--The minimum wage will be indexed from NAf. 8.56 per hour to NAf. 8.75 per hour as of January 1, 2015.

A press release issued by Labour Minister Cornelius de Weever's Cabinet stated that consultation had been held with the Social Economic Council SER, which advised in December 2012 that with De Weever's vision coupled with the minimum hourly wage policy it had been agreed to index the minimum wage annually.

The Bureau of Statistics also had indicated that the price indices for household consumption "show that the figure for the month of the preceding year changed, thus a new minimum hourly wage."

Employers were requested to take note of the indexation and have it properly adjusted on their employees' pay-slips Read more

Parliament to meet Wednesday on Wit-Samson integrity report

PHILIPSBURG--Parliament is set to meet in a Central Committee meeting on Wednesday, starting at 10:00am, to discuss the findings and recommendations of the Wit-Samson integrity report, titled "Doing the right things right."

Chairwoman of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams said the meeting agenda also includes the handling of an invitation from the Netherlands for her as head of Parliament to attend the Kingdom Concert in December Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- While attending a recent function in benefit of the Mental Health Foundation, caretaker Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams again stressed the importance for the Mental Health Foundation; "As I have expressed in the past we have a Mental Health Foundation doing extremely good work but one that is faced with its challenges Read more

Prime Minister Wescot-Williams Attends Opening of the Oualichi Women’s Soccer Association Female High school competition.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Caretaker Prime Minister the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams attended the opening of the all-female high school competition organized by the Oualichi Women's Soccer Association on Saturday at the Raoul Illidge Sport's Complex. The Prime Minister opened the matches and wished the students much success and further encouraged the Women's Soccer association to build the sport of Women's Soccer on the island Read more

Princess Heights Hotel Named St. Maarten’s Leading Hotel for second year in a row by World Travel Awards.

>DAWN BEACH:--- For second year in a row, Princess Heights Luxury Boutique Hotel has been named "the Leading Hotel in St. Maarten", by the World Travel Awards (WTA) in its 2014 Caribbean & North America Gala Ceremony 2014, which was held at the CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa in Anguilla. Heralded by The Wall Street Journal as the "Oscar's of the travel industry," the WTA has developed into the most prestigious and comprehensive awards program in travel and tourism, and is known worldwide as the hallmark of industry excellence that recognizes the commitment to excellence that hospitality businesses worldwide have demonstrated in the last twelve months.
Emil Lee general manager stated "This latest award, combined with our fourth straight year TripAdvisor certificate of excellence, proves once again that only through hard work, consistency and real commitment to Customer service, we can ensure that our guests enjoy lavish accommodations with world class personalized service Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Caretaker Prime Minister the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams joined the Indian Community in attending the Diwali Celebrations held this past Saturday at the Belair Community Center. Diwali or Divali also known as Deepavali and the "festival of lights" is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in autumn every year. Wescot-Williams stated that it was a pleasure for her to be able to share a cultural experience with the Indian Community of St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- On Sunday October 26th, 2014 a peaceful march that was organized by People United for True Democracy took place. This march started at approximately 2:00pm and lasted until 5:00pm. The march was attended by approximately two hundred persons and ended in front of the Government Administration Building on the Clem Labega Square. The Community Police Officer/Inspector Felix Richards used this opportunity at the end of the march to approach the onlookers and the participants attending the march, including prominent politicians such as Franklin Meyers, Dr Read more

style="text-align: center;">All Members of the Democratic Party did not support her decision but respected it as Leader of DP

PHILIPSBURG:--- Almost three weeks after signing an agreement with formateur Theodore Heyliger, leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams finally broke her silence on Monday at a press conference held at the House of Parliament Read more

Cpo Takes "Stop, Drop & Go" Projects To The Streets

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - On Sunday October 26th a peaceful march that was organized People United for True Democracy took place.

This march started at approximately 02.00 p.m. and lasted until 05.00 p.m.

The march was attended by approximately two hundred persons and ended in front on the Government Administration building on the Clem Labega Square.

The Community Police Officer/ Inspector Felix Richards used this opportunity and the end of the march to approach the onlookers and the participants attending the march, including prominent politicians such as, Franklin Meyers, Dr Read more

Prime Minister Wescot-Williams Stresses The Need To Support Mental Healthcare At Mental Health Foundation Function

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - While attending a recent function in benefit of the Mental Health Foundation, caretaker Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams again stressed the importance for the Mental Health Foundation; "As I have expressed in the past we have a Mental Health Foundation doing extremely good work but one that is faced with its challenges.

Government subsidizes the Foundation but indeed the needs of the organization are great.

"There are a lot of issues that are faced by people on a daily basis; some persons can conceal this state but others not.

More can be done on St Read more

Prime Minister Wescot-Williams Attends Diwali Celebrations

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Caretaker Prime Minister the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams joined the Indian Community in attending the Diwali Celebrations held this past Saturday at the Belair Community Center.

Diwali or Divali also known as Deepavali and the "festival of lights" is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in autumn every year.

Wescot-Williams stated that it was a pleasure for her to be able to share a cultural experience with the Indian Community of St Read more

Mosquito Fogging Moved Forward; Commences October 28

St. Maarten – The fogging of mosquitoes originally carded for November 1 has been moved forward to October 28, according to the Collective Preventive Services (CPS).

Residents are asked to bear in mind that fogging is not a total solution to eliminate mosquitos and that fogging activity is kept to a minimum in order to prevent the mosquito population from developing immunity to the chemicals that are deployed.

Fogging is one intervention of several, and the main measure is for every household and business to take action by removing potential mosquito breeding spots in and around their premises on a daily basis Read more