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PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Health Omar Ottley swung into action on Thursday evening after a number of patients complained about the service they are receiving from the St. Maarten Medical Center SMMC emergency room.
For weeks, the waiting time at the hospital emergency room. has been hours before receiving care.

The minister called management on the spot trying to find out the reason behind the long waiting periods Read more

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Witu Submits A Letter To Pm And Retells MlkS Reconstruction Origin

— No political agenda —

Philipsburg — ThePresident of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) Stuart Johnson stated, We want to see a genuine effort to truly ensure one of our nations greatest assets, teachers and staff in education are properly taken care of.

Johnson minced no words in expressing that the WITU is not being political, “I understand with our Country seemingly heading into yet another election, I expect some level of rhetoric, but I had hoped that there would be some improvements to the level of discourse and the rhetoric would be less especially from a Member of Parliament.”

The Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) submitted a letter to Honorable Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and the Council of Ministers on Friday, February 10th,2023.

In the letter,the WITU stated, The Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) board attended a meeting with you and the Ministers of ECYS, TEATT, and Finance on Wednesday, February 8th, 2023 Read more

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Samuel: All Kids Start At Regular Schools, Referred To Pwas If Special Needs Noted

Education Minister Rodolphe Samuel during Wednesdays press briefing.

PHILIPSBURG--All children are given an opportunity to start their schooling in mainstream education at a regular school at the age of four, when compulsory education takes effect, and if the child is identified as having special need(s), they are assessed for ref Read more

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Prison Will Do What Is Necessary To Restore Order At Facility If Needed

The Pointe Blanche prison. (File photo)

POINTE BLANCHE--Pointe Blanche prison director Steven Carty and his team will do what is necessary to restore order at the prison if this is deemed necessary as inmates continue to lobby over a number of issues.

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Ministry Of Justice Still In Discussion With Prison Inmate Association.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Justice Anna Richardson in response to questions posed by SMN News regarding the prison and the prolonged strike by prisoners. The Minister said that the prisoners have a number of questions that they have asked and despite the Ministry providing information the prisoners and their representatives are not satisfied Read more

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~30M Euros made available by Dutch Government.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Justice Anna Richardson confirmed on Wednesday during the Council of Ministers press briefing that UNOPS will be returning to St. Maarten sometime this month to continue its discussion on the Pointe Blanche Prison expansion.
Asked by SMN News how much the project will cost and how much will St Read more

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Eight Witnesses To Be Heard In Frans RichardsonS Appeal

Frans Richardson

PHILIPSBURG--Eight witnesses will be heard in connection with the appeal filed by former Member of Parliament (MP) Frans Richardson against his Read more

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Procedural Hearing In Silvio MatserS Tax Case

Silvio Matser

PHILIPSBURG--A procedural hearing took place in the Court of Appeals on Tuesday in the tax case of businessman and former Member of Parliament (MP) Silvio Matser.

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Ottley Address On Construction Work Completed At Smgh Since His Tenure

(Above): What Minister Ottley met when entering office as Minister of VSA in April 2021. (Below): Work accomplished during Ottleys tenure thus far.

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA Omar Ottley says more work has been completed on the new St. Maarten General Hospital (SMGH) during his tenure than Read more

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Witu Submits A Letter To Pm Outlining Expectations

WITU membership in a meeting on February 9.

~ Says theres no political agenda ~

PHILIPSBURG--Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) submitted a letter to Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and the Council of Ministers on Friday, February 10, outlining several areas of concern and the unions expectations, according to a WITU press Read more

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At Least 136 People Waiting To Serve Their Time In Prison

The Pointe Blanche Prison.

~ 24 sitting inmates undocumented ~

PHILIPSBURG--As of October 2022, based on information provided by the Prosecutors Office, at least 136 people are waiting to serve their time in prison, Justice Minister Anna Richardson informed Members of Parliament (MPs) during a meeting last week Thursda Read more

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William Passes Mantle To His Son Cloyd Ohndhae Marlin

NA MP William Marlin, Cloyd Ohndhae Marlin and Terry Peterson.

~ Ohndhae to vie for Parliamentary seat, endorsed by Laveist ~

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament (MP) William Marlin, whose political career spans almost 50 years, on Sunday passed the mantle to his son Cloyd Ohndhae Marlin with a promise to passionately support his impending bid for a seat in the countrys legislature.

  William shared his full confidence in his sons leadership qualities and capabilities to direct a successful campaign to resounding victory and St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- A core group of community leaders came together on Sunday, February 12, to form a powerful 'Committee to Elect Cloyd Ohndhae Marlin to the Parliament of St. Maarten.'

The atmosphere was filled with excitement as cheers were heard from a distance.
Ohndhae Marlin opened the meeting with a word of welcome, followed by Benjamin Bell former St Read more

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-- No political agenda --  

PHILIPSBURG:---  The  President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) Stuart Johnson stated, We want to see a genuine effort to truly ensure one of our nations greatest assets, teachers and staff in education are properly taken care of.

Johnson minced no words in expressing that the WITU is not being political, "I understand with our Country seemingly heading into yet another election, I expect some level of rhetoric, but I had hoped that there would be some improvements to the level of discourse and the rhetoric would be less especially from a Member of Parliament."

The Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) submitted a letter to Honorable Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and the Council of Ministers on Friday, February 10th, 2023.

In the letter, the WITU stated, The Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) board attended a meeting with you and the Ministers of ECYS, TEATT, and Finance on Wednesday, February 8th, 2023 Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- A new board game will teach children about hurricane preparedness and safety through fun scenarios and questions. The game 'HURRYcane Run has been developed by the Student Support Services Division (SSSD) and UNICEF the Netherlands (UNICEF NL).

Representatives Ernika van Putten (SSSD) and Laura Bijnsdorp (UNICEF NL) tested the game with students, teachers, and administrators at Asha Stevens Christian Hillside School in 2022 Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---   Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor (VSA), the Honorable Omar Ottley, has dispelled the politically motivated contrast attempted by some who recently criticized the pace of constructing the new General Hospital in Sint Maarten as "the politricks of misinformation in an election year." Minister Ottley stated, While I share the same sentiments as the general public concerning the pace  of the new hospital, the issues with the hospital started way before my political journey.

Minister Ottley, said on Sunday, "As elections draw closer, it will become increasingly difficult to distinguish between genuine concerns and fraudulent misrepresentations of the truth by those who seek to manipulate the public's perception of reality."

In 2019, members of parliament passed a vote of no confidence firing the then Minister of VSA Emil Lee, with one of the main points of the motion being his inability to start construction for the new general hospital, two and a half years after the contract was signed Read more

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Island Gems Donates Copies Of Stories Of St. Martin To Schools

CUL DE SAC Island Gems Charity Foundation donated copies of the locally published Stories of St. Martinbook to schools on the Dutch side of the island. The book, produced by Association Les Fruits de Mer, tells the story of twelve St. Martiners, the collective name for people on both sides of the island, in their own words.

These stories were recorded on St. Martin between 2016 and 2021. They tell us about salt and salt harvesting, storms and renewal, work and service, and local traditions Read more

Tri-Partite Agreement Signed For Clean-Up Of Grand let

President Louis Mussington (centre), Nature is Key President Juliette Irish (left) and Conservatoire du Littoral representative Anne-Marie Bouill (right) during the signing. Looking on is Collectivit second Vice President Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Last year on August 2nd at 14:00 hrs. a public tender for the reconstruction of the roofs at Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School was opened by the Minister of Education Hon. Rodolphe Samuel.

The bid had three (3) participating companies; Winward Roads, LICCOM NV, and Omega construction. After the bids were evaluated, the bidder with the best price and performance ratio was Windward Roads.

The deliverables for the project are The removal of the existing roof construction and to replace  the existing roofs with concrete roofing.

As the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sport, I am happy to inform the public that the repairs of the Martin Luther King school roof reconstruction are ready to start.

We know that the Management, Staff, Teachers, Parents, and students would certainly like to see their school repaired so that the students can get back into their own environment.

This is also the wish of the entire community Read more

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How realistic are these motions in the view of the CBCS?, the MP questions in a letter to the Central Bank.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- I did this via the Minister of Finance, Mr. Ardwell Irion, just to make sure that the bank does not deny me a response, based on formalities.
It is now more than 3 weeks since 2 motions were tabled in parliament regarding the Mullet Bay property Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---Honourable Member of Parliament and Leader of the United People's Party Rolando Brison says Government and Government Owned Companies must consider out-of-court settlements as a preferred option in legal disputes to avoid high costs and significant loss of production time.
Brison referred to recent developments relating to NV GEBE and one of its former employees who took the Company to Court and reportedly had to put a lien on the Company's accounts to support his position Read more

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More Than 90 Stakeholders Share Their Ideas About Sint MaartenS Solid Waste Future

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten More than 90 stakeholders came out and shared their ideas about Sint Maartens solid waste future during a consultation meeting on Wednesday, February 1.

The meeting presented the draft vision for Integrated Solid Waste Management on Sint Maarten by 2030. Based on previous discussions within government, this document outlines a future in which persons act responsibly and the country is greener and more sustainable. It also sketches a future in which solid waste materials are reduced, reused, and recycled, and where waste management is funded through structural means and executed by a Waste Authority.

After the presentation of the draft vision, attendees participated in a public roundtable discussion Read more

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Trust FundS School Repair Program Completes 3 More Schools

EBENEZER, Sint Maarten With work completed at Milton Peters College (MPC), Methodist Agogic Centre (MAC) Comprehensive Secondary Education, and St. Dominic High School, a total of six (6) schools have now been repaired through the Sint Maarten Trust Fund.

The programs scope of work includes fixing roofs, doors, and windows, as well as mold remediation, plumbing, and minor electrical work. The contractor also installed new aluminum shutters on doors and windows where necessary.

In the case of MAC, additional structural interventions had to be done to improve the schools resilience to natural disasters Read more

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Ambulance Workers Complete Operational And Maintenance Training For New Ambulances

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten Personnel of the Sint Maarten Ambulance Department have successfully completed a five-day training course to familiarize themselves with the four (4) brand new ambulance vehicles that were delivered in late December 2022.

Conducted by ambulance manufacturer REV Group and Zoll, the training sessions focused on the use and maintenance of the ambulances and their operating systems. It also included a train-the-trainer” component to enable local ambulance workers to provide these operational and maintenance training courses in the future.

At a combined cost of approximately US $1.2 million, the new ambulances were procured through the Sint Maarten Trust Fund, which is financed by the Government of the Netherlands, managed by the World Bank, and implemented by the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) on behalf of the Government of Sint Maarten.

Since 2018, the Sint Maarten Trust Fund has invested in equipment for Sint Maartens firefighters and ambulance workers, as well as in repair work to the Philipsburg and Simpson Bay police stations and Fire and Ambulance building to fix damage caused by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria Read more

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