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>PHILIPSBURG:--- After listening to the last political debate on Sunday night which was organized by AVS News one wonders who really is running the country at this present moment. The two political parties namely the UP and DP tried their utmost best to convince the people that they are the ones most capable of running the country for another four years, yet they did not admit they are the ones in charge right now at least until October 10th, 2014.
SMN News has been bringing you a review of the past four years to remind voters of some of the things that transpired when the three coalitions ran the affairs of the people this great nation.
Early 2011 shortly after the UP/ DP government took office, the biggest scandal that broke and had the country in uproar was when Member of Parliament Jules James who is working for Simpson Bay Resorts Management Company (SBRMC) laid off close to 200 workers that have been working for Pelican Resorts for years Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The board of the United People's Party (UP) has taken note of the Democratic Party's (DP) position on the lawsuit initiated by Zebec NV against Port St. Maarten and Chief Executive Officer Mark Mingo.

"It is very unfortunate that the DP is ready to tear down a local government –owned company which is managed by a local young professional Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake says the indecisiveness within the Council of Ministers is costing government money and sending the wrong message to the youth.

"A case in point is Denicio Richardson, former Head of Postal Services St. Maarten, a national company providing services to the community Read more

Heel Prick Screening Feasibility Study Report Presented to Minister De Weever.

>GREAT BAY:--- Minister Cornelius de Weever thanked Collective Prevention Services for the report of the feasibility for the introduction and sustained implementation of the heel prick screening for new born on St. Maarten.
Discussions on heel prick screening for St. Maarten have been going on for years but were intensified in 2012 after a presentation and discussion of a recent case of a child with a metabolic disorder that was born on St Read more

UP: DP being judge, jury before a harbour verdict

PHILIPSBURG--The board of the United People's Party (UP) has taken note of the position of Democratic Party (DP) on the lawsuit initiated by Zebec NV against St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies and Chief Executive Officer Mark Mingo.

The board said in a press statement: "It is very unfortunate that the DP is ready to tear down a local government-owned company which is managed by a local young professional Read more

Vote buying proven, but election fraud case dismissed

~ Judge accuses Prosecutor of 'class justice' ~

PHILIPSBURG--The Court of First Instance on Monday declared inadmissible the Prosecutor's Office's cases against five persons allegedly involved in selling and buying votes on behalf of United People's (UP) party in the September 2010 election.

The Judge held it against the Prosecutor's Office that it had decided to prosecute only five suspects, but had failed to investigate the roles of UP and its leadership in the scheme.

According to the Court, the Prosecutor's Office had been in default Read more

AG terms e-mailgate scandal ‘diabolical, evil & wicked plot’

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad--Attorney General (AG) Anand Ramlogan says the "e-mailgate" scandal was a "diabolical, evil and wicked plot" aimed at destroying the People's Partnership government after indicating that the US-based search engine, Google, had said no such e-mails existed.

But the main opposition People's National Movement (PNM), whose leader Dr. Keith Rowley brought the e-mails to light during a parliamentary session in May 2013, said the country should await the outcome of the investigation being conducted by the Integrity Commission and the police.

"We do not accept the AG's version as an interested third party as to what has happened in this matter Read more

Mentorship programme for the youth on St. Maarten

Dear Editor,

I see the need for mentoring of our young people, call it a "Big Brother/Sister programme" if you like. The investing of an adult's time, resources, energy, etc. in the life of a young person or persons. I call it "living life" with an impressionable pre-teen, teenager, where they can see and learn the important values of life up-close and personal. Spending an afternoon a week with them, taking them with you as you, for example, go to the supermarket.

The valuable lessons of budgeting, using a shopping list, comparing products and prices, living within your means, etc Read more

Lake says ‘govt legal reps said I did nothing wrong’

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure VROMI Maurice Lake said he has taken note of the recent story by former Minister of VROMI William Marlin regarding how he should be held liable for "wrongdoing" in the Vorst land deal.

"The people of the country can see what is going on with William Marlin and the prime minister constantly hammering on this issue of the Vorst property that will benefit the people of this country by creating jobs and housing for our young professionals," said Lake in a press release.

"If it is not coming from them, then it's nothing good for the country, basically that is what William and the prime minister are saying in between the lines Read more

Integrity Report Presents Scathing Assessment – St. Maarten Parliament Under Fire

St. Maarten – Many within and outside of Parliament doubt whether the important task of this institution is currently executed adequately. That is the mildest remark in the integrity report of the Wit Committee about the functioning of St. Maarten’s Parliament. The report contains a scathing analysis of the way the fifteen parliamentarians do their job. Unnecessary trips abroad and absence from meetings are only a tip of the iceberg.

The Wit Committee notes that evaluating the Parliament is not a specific part of its task, but it adds that integrity in the public administration cannot be discussed in its entirety without involving the Parliament.

“The public debate about the functioning of Parliament is so critical that a serious evaluation in the Parliament would benefit the authority of this institution,” the report states Read more

Dp Wants Risk Assessment By Central Bank – Harbor’S Legal Team Calls Zebec N.V.’S $100M Claim “Frivolous”

 St. Maarten - The Harbor Group of Companies says that the $100 million claim from Zebec NV against it is “wholly without merit” but the Democratic Party said in a press release that it is “seriously concerned” about the matter. Zebec claims damages from the harbor over the Harbor Village project that it was going to develop. The project stalled, according to Zebec, because Harbor CEO Mark Mingo kept throwing up obstacles.

The Harbor stated in a press release this weekend that it would “vigorously” defend itself against the claim in court Read more

Tsis Fully Operational Before January 2015

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The project Tourism Statistical Information System (TSIS) should be fully operational before January 2015.

According to Ministry TEATT Chef de Cabinet Ludwig Ouenniche, after TEATT took over the project from the Ministry of Justice, Minister Hon. Ted Richardson made sure that the SXM Airport PJIAE joins in making the completion of the TSIS project a success by offering to assist where necessary.

The scanning machines are now installed at different locations within the SXM Airport arrival hall and the former is presently finalizing the setting up of the back-office area where the data will be processed.

The TSIS project once operational will facilitate the processing of data information from the Immigration arrival cards filled in by visitors.

The data will then be analysed and share between the different departments such as the Department of Statistics, Immigration and Border Protection Service, the Sint Maarten Tourist Authority and the Tourist Bureau.

This long overdue project was signed off in 2009 Read more

Up Says Dp Being Judge And Jury Before The Verdict Is Out On Harbour Lawsuit

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The board of the United People's Party (UP) has taken note of the Democratic Party's (DP) position on the lawsuit initiated by Zebec NV against Port St. Maarten and Chief Executive Officer Mark Mingo.

"It is very unfortunate that the DP is ready to tear down a local government –owned company which is managed by a local young professional.

The DP is at it again, the same thing they did with Postal Services St Read more

St. Maarten Government Reaction To Wit-Report Still Missing

St. Maarten – Up to yesterday, the government still had not released its reaction to Doing the Right Things Right, the report from the Wit Committee about Integrity in Public Administration. The report’s publication together with the government’s reaction was originally scheduled for Friday, August 15. Prime Minister Wescot-Williams however, informed the committee that the reaction was not ratified yet in the Council of Ministers and that this would take place last week Tuesday Read more

Ministers Are Indecisive, Minister Lake Says

St. Maarten – V.R.O.M.I. Minister Maurice Lake says the indecisiveness within the Council of Ministers is costing government money and sending the wrong message to the youth.

“A case in point is Denicio Richardson, former Head of Postal Services St. Maarten, a national company providing services to the community. This young gentleman has been taken to court by government four times, and during the last case the judge ruled in his favor,” Lake stated in a press release Read more

National Alliance: Hold Minister Lake Liable For Vorst Estate Land Purchase

St. Maarten – National Alliance says UP’s Vromi-Minister Maurice Lake should be held liable for his wrongdoings in the Vorst Estate land deal and for putting the people of St. Maarten in unnecessary expense of having to pay for the significantly overpriced property.

NA-Leader William Marlin pointed to statements made by the judge in his verdict last week indicating that Parliament could call Minister Lake to account for an irresponsible purchase and that Lake could be held personally liable for damages incurred, if these were caused deliberately or by grave neglect.

“It is wrong what Minister Lake did Read more

National Alliance: Focus On Realistic Achievements

St. Maarten – The National Alliance (NA) plans to focus on responsible, attainable and realistic achievements for residents by addressing the issues that directly affect the people of St. Maarten in the next governing period, the party said in a press release yesterday in the wake of its public meeting in Cole Bay on Saturday evening..

Addressing the issues in health care; working towards an increase in the minimum wage and pension; the construction of a Center for the Performing Arts, an initiative first pursued by Deputy NA Leader Silveria Jacobs while she was minister; the creation of affordable housing; reducing the exorbitant utility rates and fast-tracking the party’s draft ordinance to stem the abuse of short term labour contracts are some of the issues NA will be tackling according to the press release.

The NA said its comprehensive approach to resolving the issues in health care in St Read more

Health Observatory Signed

GREAT BAY, St. Martin - Minister of Public Health Social Development & Labor, Cornelius de Weever on Friday, August 22, 2014 signed a partnership commitment between Dutch St. Maarten and French St. Martin to collaborate on the 'Health Observatory'.

"This is really a very important step as an island working jointly towards the needs of the island," said Minister De Weever.

Considering St. Maarten's small scale and the fact that many people live, work as well as make use of medical services on both sides of the island, to get a clear descriptive picture of the general health status of the general adult population it is of utter importance to, this time around, execute the Health Study on both sides of the island.

This will provide more current reliable data as well as bring forth a more accurate picture for the planning of policies and programs and identifying where healthcare changes and education/awareness is necessary.

The purpose of the 'Health Observatory' is to improve general health and well-being of the population, therefore the collaboration on public health related matters.

This observatory will facilitate future endeavors between both sides of the island.

A project has already been identified, which will be executed by the 'Health Observatory', consisting of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labor, the Collectivite and the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital, this is the 'How Healthy is St Read more

Romeo-Marlin Donates Campaign Funds To Gazebo Social Group

GREAT BAY, St. Maarten - The SXM Community Outreach Foundation on behalf of the campaign team to elect Leona Marlin-Romeo to Parliament made a donation to the Gazebo Socials group to assist to assist in preparation for the September 27th Belvedere Community Parade with the tenants of the Red Cross.

The donation Romeo-Marlin said was her way of giving back to the community in a meaningful way.

"I have been crusading for the upcoming elections," she explained Read more

Minister Lourens Embraces Mlk's New Uniform

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Recently the Honorable Minister of Education Mrs. Patricia Lourens-Philip visited the various public schools on St. Maarten including the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School.

The Minister was accompanied by Secretary General for Education Ms. Joireen Wuite, Division Head for Public Education Mrs. Glendaline Davis-Holiday and her support staff.

The Minister took the opportunity to meet with School Management to discuss a variety of concerns and future goals for the school.

Stuart Johnson School Manager of the Dr Read more

Voting Cards Being Delivered To The Deceased, Prompting Questions About The Status Of The Voters Registrar

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Discrepancies with the distribution of voting cards have the attention of the leader of the OSPP party Mr. Lenny Priest.

He told our news room that voting cards are being delivered to the residences of some deceased persons, an occurrence that raises even more questions.

priest who also stated that he was astonished by this development further state Read more

Laser 101 to host 2nd political debate today

MADAME ESTATE--Laser 101 will host its second political discussion today, Monday, with representatives of four political parties contesting the Parliamentary Elections on Friday.

The discussion will be live on Philipsburg Broadcasting Network's radio station Laser 101.1FM from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.

The discussion was originally to feature the leaders of four of the six political parties in the elections. However, two party leaders could not attend due to conflicting schedules.

"We planned the discussion late so it is understandable that not everyone could make it," said Glenn Carty of the radio network Read more

Reggae making a revival in Jamaica, recalling golden era of '70s

KINGSTON--The main event at fight night in Kingston, a popular boxing showcase, was hours away, but the crowd at the National Stadium's indoor arena, from the young and hip to the elderly, was already pumped. When reggae artist Tarrus Riley entered the stage, the screams of the full house were deafening, and the fervour persisted throughout his performance.

A musical and social roots movement called "Reggae Revival" is on the rise in Jamaica, where the raunchier dancehall genre has been king for the last two decades Read more

Party leaders delve into critical matters

BELAIR--Dollarisation, integrity, boosting the economy, and immigration were among the topics the leaders of the six political parties delved into during the third and final Arts Video Studios televised political debate in Belair Community Centre on Sunday ahead of Friday's Parliamentary Elections.

The first question posed to party leaders by moderator Paul De Windt, publisher of The Daily Herald, was the parties' stance on dollarisation of the country.

Social Reform Party (SRP) leader businessman Jacinto Mock, to whom the question was posed, said the country was not ready to make the US dollar its currency; this could only happen when St Read more