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style="text-align: center;">OSPP ISSUES INSTRUCTION TO THE LEADER OF THE UPP, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT MR. Theodore Heyliger TO FORM A DELEGATION OF THE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT TO VISIT THE FIRST AND SECOND CHAMBERS IN THE NETHERLANDS TO PRESENT THEIR CASE TO THEM Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake is calling on mariners whose vessels were damaged during the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo three weeks ago to remove the vessels from inland waterways and lagoons, and to also clean-up debris.

"I've observed some of the vessels that partially sunk or were blown ashore, have been removed within the Simpson Bay Lagoon, however, there are still a number of vessels that are partially underwater or sitting onshore Read more

Ospp Issues Instruction To The Leader Of The Upp, To Form A Delegation Of The Members Of Parliament To Visit The First And Second Chambers To Present Their Case

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – It is the first time in the history of St. Maarten that it has taken such a long time to form a government.

Nevertheless, we are at a point where the country is in serious need of a government that will work in the interest of the people. The campaigns are over and now it is time to work for the people.

Since the instruction was given to the Governor of St. Maarten on October 17, 2014 the parliament of St. Maarten has met on numerous occasions to debate this issue Read more

Cps Apprises French Health Officials About Sint Maarten Ebola Preparedness Plan And Travel Ban

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – A delegation from the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA) Collective Prevention Services (CPS) met with French colleagues (St. Martin) in Hope Estate last week to discuss preparations related to the Ebola virus disease (EVD).

CPS apprised French officials about the Sint Maarten Ebola Preparedness Plan and the travel ban that was officially announced by the Minister of Public Health on Monday, October 27.

French health department officials apprised the CPS that for the French territories to date, there was no travel ban in effect, and the French Ebola national preparedness plan has three levels when dealing with a suspected case of EVD.

After the discussion about the various scenarios, levels and possible collaboration, it was decided that there is a need for an additional meeting where all counterparts can meet and discuss associated logistics.

It was also decided that both sides will be working together to ensure an effective response and will seek the intervention of their respective supervisors and political leaders to ensure the effectiveness of the travel ban in protecting the borders of Sint Maarten/St Read more

Upnext Planning Its "Christmas Cheer Up" Project

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten — UPNext, the youth movement of the United People (UP) party is gearing up for its "Christmas Cheer UP" activities for the upcoming Christmas season.

It is the first project the group of youngsters will embark on following the Parliamentary Elections of August 29.

The Christmas Cheer UP project will ultimately result in UPNext "doing something special" for the less fortunate in the community in the season of giving.

To support this initiative, the group will be holding two fundraising bake sales at two different public locations in the month of November Read more

Black music, white culture and a legendary US highway

BOSTON--Author Dennis McNally accompanied the Grateful Dead as a publicist and historian on the band's "long strange trip," and he chronicled Jack Kerouac, the Beat Generation author of "On the Road".
  For his latest book, "On Highway 61: Music, Race and the Evolution of Cultural Freedom," McNally twice drove every mile of U.S. Route 61, the legendary Mississippi River road, to document the influence of black music on white America Read more

Voters contend with new voting rules in 14 states

WASHINGTON--U.S. voters in 14 states are navigating new laws that critics say make it harder for lower-income and minority voters, who typically back Democrats, to cast ballots in the midterm elections.

Advocacy groups across the country are gearing up to help voters contend with cutbacks in early voting and new state requirements for voter identification, which the mostly Republican sponsors say are necessary to combat voter fraud. Democrats and civil rights groups counter there is scant evidence of fraud, and say the measures are a Republican effort to depress turnout by Democratic-leaning demographic groups such as the young, poor and minorities.

The laws are the latest in a wave of voting restrictions instituted by Republican-controlled legislatures and Republican governors since the party's big election gains in 2010 Read more

Lake: Chin Cactus Dr. promise will be kept

PHILIPSBURG--In response to an article published in the Friday, October 31 edition of The Daily Herald based on a complaint letter received by this newspaper about the continued, deplorable state of Chin Cactus Drive, Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure VROMI Maurice Lake announced that his promise will be kept, but that additional procedures need to be followed, including presenting the project to the Council of Ministers.

"A promise made is a promise kept," was the first point stated in the VROMI press release Read more

Minister Lake says work to start soon on Chin Cactus Drive. Procedures have to be followed first before work can begin.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake says a promise made is a promise kept.

Minister Lake took note of a newspaper story on Friday about the paving of Chin Cactus Drive in Sucker Garden which is in a deplorable state after the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo.

"The project will start soon Read more

Minister Lake Says Work To Start Soon On Chin Cactus Drive. Procedures Have To Be Followed First Before Work Can Begin

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake says a promise made is a promise kept.

Minister Lake took note of a newspaper story on Friday about the paving of Chin Cactus Drive in Sucker Garden which is in a deplorable state after the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo.

"The project will start soon Read more

Pm Wescot-Williams Expresses Condolences To The Family Of Crash Victims

St. Maarten – Care taker Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams yesterday expressed her condolences to the victims of the fatal Skyway Airways flight which crashed on Wednesday evening. The one confirmed deceased and one missing pilot were the only two souls on board. “I would like to express my sincerest condolences to the victims of the Skyway Airways crash Read more

Chin Cactus Road Residents Implore Minister Lake To Fix Road

St. Maarten – In a petition signed by some 20 plus persons, residents of Chin Cactus Road in the Sucker Garden area voiced their discontent with the dilapidated condition of the road, which has been in a state of disrepair for some years now, imploring Minister of Vromi Maurice Lake and Department Head of Infrastructure Management Claudius Buncamper to fulfill their promise and pave the road Read more

Power of "France Inc" on display in Sanofi boardroom coup

PARIS--Events at Sanofi this week cost a high-flying German-Canadian boss his job and global investors billions. They are also a reminder that corporate France carries the national interest in its DNA, and neglects its family duties at its peril.

Chris Viehbacher, sacked by a unanimous vote of his board on Wednesday, made the group into a multinational, a top five global drugmaker with a footprint in over 100 countries Read more

Crisis fuelled resurgence of horse-drawn carriages

HAVANA, Cuba--Up and down the streets of towns and cities in Cuba go horse-drawn carriages with black leather tops and large back wheels, alongside more simple carts, operating as public transportation.

This ancient means of transportation can be seen throughout this country, in urban, suburban and rural areas, where motor vehicles are expensive and there are not enough cars and buses Read more

RSA beneficiaries to be taxed 30 per cent on aid

MARIGOT--The Territorial Council passed a number of tax increases on Thursday that, although controversial and vigorously opposed by the Opposition and former President of the Territorial Council Alain Richardson, will bring in extra income for the Collectivité to execute essential projects.

Beneficiaries of the much-maligned social aid Revenu Solidarité Active (RSA), that has become a thorn in the side of the Collectivité due to its exorbitant cost will see a 30 per cent flat rate levy deducted from their compensation as of January 1, 2015 Read more

Stop, Drop and Go campaign extended, supported by tip line

~ 50 firearms handed in on Dutch side ~

PHILIPSBURG--The Stop, Drop and Go campaign has been hailed as a success and will be extended to November 14, the Ministry of Justice announced Thursday, October 30. Adding to the campaign is an anonymous tip-line initiative with a reward system which launches today, where illegal firearm possession can be reported.

Former Lt. Governor of the Island Territory of St. Maarten Max Pandt gave in three firearms on Thursday, in the presence of Ministry and Police officials Read more

Residents want road repaired ‘as promised’

SUCKER GARDEN--Residents of Chin Cactus Drive are expressing frustration over its continued deplorable state and calling on Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure VROMI Maurice Lake to honour a promise they say he made during a public meeting in the midst of the election campaign and give the matter immediate attention.

A letter signed by some 22 residents, as well as a copy of a 2012 letter issued by VROMI, tells of official complaints filed as far back as 2008 and VROMI's continued stated intentions to address the issue.

The residents' letter says that most recently, in a public meeting in Sucker Garden in August "during the election campaign, the Minister of Public Works announced that the paving of Chin Cactus Drive will begin the very next day Read more

style="text-align: center;">Praises Search and Recovery Efforts

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams expressed her condolences to the victims of the fatal Skyway Airways flight which crashed on Wednesday evening. The one confirmed deceased and one missing pilot were the only two souls on board: "I would like to express my sincerest condolences to the victims of the Skyway Airways crash Read more

Businessman Brother of MP convoked in Bribery Allegations made by MP Christopher Emmanuel.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Landsrecherche convoked a well known businessman who is also the brother of a Member of Parliament who was elected in the 2014 Parliamentary Elections. SMN News learnt that the businessman met with investigators 8am on Wednesday morning where he also filed a counter complaint against MP Christopher Emmanuel for slander and defamation.
Sources alleged that MP Emmanuel called the businessman's name as the person who approached him and a relative and offered him a $2M bribe to declare himself independent Read more

>GRAND CAYMAN:--- The fifth annual Cayman Islands Healthcare Conference will welcome a range of exceptional healthcare professionals from all over the world to speak at this year's event, taking place from 20th to 22nd November at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.
Presenting on subjects pertinent to this year's theme: 'Winning the war against chronic non-communicable diseases', overseas and local specialists will discuss some of the biggest challenges to our health today. As a result, the audience will hear important and timely updates and discussions on diseases such as diabetes, cancer, obesity, cardiovascular disease and mental health.
The Hon Read more

Prime Minister Wescot-Williams Expresses Condolences To The Family Of The Victims Of The Skyway Crash, Praises Search And Recovery Efforts

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams expressed her condolences to the victims of the fatal Skyway Airways flight which crashed on Wednesday evening.

The one confirmed deceased and one missing pilot were the only two souls on board: "I would like to express my sincer Read more

Acs Workshop Results In The Establishment Of A Regional Network Of Artisans Of The Greater Caribbean

CARTAGENA, Colombia - The acclaimed colonial city of Cartegena de Indias, a UNESCO World Heritage site situated in the north of Colombia, along Colombia's Caribbean Coast, was host to the Regional workshop Entrepreneurial Strengthening in the Tourism Sector:

Opportunities for Women, organised by the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) in collaboration with the Regional Port Society of Cartagena and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism of Colombia, with the support of the Office of Culture and Tourism of the Organisation of American States.

This workshop had as its main objectives to identify the needs and challenges affecting Women Artisans and Entrepreneurs with micro, small and medium enterprises operating in the Tourism Sector and also deliver training and capacity-building tools to develop and/or enhance their business.

Twenty-one (21) women Artisan Entrepreneurs participated in the workshop, representing a cross-section of 15 ACS Member Countries from the four geographic sub-regions.

The keynote presentation was delivered by Mr Read more

A Minute With: Sean Hannity on 'disconcerting' election, matchmaking

LOS ANGELES--Sean Hannity, the longtime Fox News Channel anchor and strong voice for American conservatives, is used to taking criticism from all comers, but it was his own unhappiness with his flabby self last year that pushed him to take up a new fight - that of "street" martial artist.

"It's a tough, tough workout," the 52-year-old said of his regimen of jiu-jitsu, blade and firearm training. "It's also really great self-defense ... I'm building muscles that I've never had before."

Hannity, whose eponymous weeknight show averages 1.7 million viewers and ranks in the top five of cable news programs, spoke to Reuters about the upcoming U.S Read more

Why US green groups are talking about abortion this election

DENVER--Green billionaire Tom Steyer vowed to make the November congressional elections about climate change. Now he's talking about abortion and the economy to get his candidates across the finish line.

Steyer, a hedge fund manager turned environmentalist, launched a state-of-the-art operation to push voters to elect governors and senators willing to confront global warming. His NextGen Climate Action political committee is on track to spend more than $55 million in this election - an unprecedented amount for an environmentalist group.

But NextGen and other green groups are not talking about climate change as much as one would expect Read more