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PHILIPSBURG:--- Acting Minister of TEATT Omar Ottley announced on Wednesday that an RFP for the cannabis legislation has been signed off. For this project, there will be a collaboration between the justice ministry and the ministry of education.
Ottley said to begin the process a workgroup will be formed to start the studies on the use and production of cannabis locally Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of VSA Omar Ottley confirmed on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers press briefing that SZV has opted to pull away from Panama and resume sending its patients to Colombia since that country has since reopened its borders.
Ottley said in 2020 when Colombia closed its borders due to the pandemic St. Maarten had to seek alternatives for its patients that needed further medical care overseas and Panama was their only option Read more

PHILIPSBURG: --- It has been rumored that the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) candidate of NV GEBE George Willems received a negative report from VDSM the body that has been conducting the screening since February 2022. Six months later and the Council of Ministers kept saying that they have not received a final report on the screening process.

SMN News learned that Willems received a letter from VDSM where they posed more questions to the candidate while leaning towards a negative report.

One of the concerns VDSM seems to have is what transpired between APS and Willems where he once worked Read more

Witu Makes An Urgent Plea To Pm Jacobs Via Letter

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — On Tuesday, August 9th,2022 the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) submitted a letter addressed to the Honorable Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs titled, Discrimination created among the teachers with non-payment of vacation allowance to subsidize school.

President of the WITU Stuart Johnson stated in his letter, As President of the WITU, I would like to bring the following to your attention requesting your intervention in this matter to bring equality, peace, and tranquility among the teaching fraternity in our beloved country.

As we stand at the beginning of the new school year 2022-2023, the board of the WITU is deeply concerned about the fact that to date the teaching and non-teaching staff employed at the various Government-subsidized schools boards with the exception of the Protestant Christian Schools (3%), have not received their vacation allowance as yet.

Johnson continued in his letter stating, In representing and looking after the best interest of all concerned, WITU held various meetings with the stakeholders to come to a consensus and solution as it pertains the vacation allowance that was paid since June 15th, 2022 to civil servants and employees of the public education.

Needless to say that this has created a sense of discrimination and lack of equality in the education field to teaching and non-teaching staff.

Even though WITU can empathize with the school boards, the fact is that one school board has paid 3% Read more

Witu Host Creative Exchange Event

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — The Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) hosted a creative exchange for its members on Friday, August 5th. President of the WITU Stuart Johnson said, “Assisting our members in any way possible will remain one of the primary goals for our members.” Members of the WITU had the opportunity to make educational posters for their classrooms or offices with resources made available by the WITU. The event took place at the WITU’s office from 12 pm until 6 pm with complimentary snacks and drinks. “Preparing classrooms for the start of each school year is a costly out-of-pocket expense many teachers face; this has not gone unnoticed by WITU Read more

MARIGOT:--- Over 12 cultural groups, plus a throng of poets, dancers, and speakers have already signed up for Ruby Bute The Tribute on August 14, 2022.
The Sunday concert takes place at We Agree with Culture Gardens, Bellevue, from 3 pm 8 pm, said Sabrina Charville, president of the Coffee & Soda Biscuits Association (CSB).
Ruby Bute is best known as a senior painter and owner of Silk Cotton Grove Art Gallery; her storytelling about old-time customs is regaling; and her poetry is spread across three books, including the bestseller Golden Voices of Smaatinall of which has endeared her island-wide to St Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Over the weekend, the Le Sommet Foundation in collaboration with the Haitian Association of St. Maarten partnered with the Dr.J foundation to further aid with their back-to-school initiative drive.

Dr.J foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of VSA operates a transitional shelter for individuals affected by hurricane Irma and the covid19 pandemic.

Their goal is to provide support and sustainable pathways for the reintegration of affected persons back into society.

"It is truly an honor to be able to contribute to this back-to-school initiative Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---  On Tuesday, August 9th, 2022 the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) submitted a letter addressed to the Honorable Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs titled, Discrimination created among the teachers with non-payment of vacation allowance to subsidize school.

President of the WITU Stuart Johnson stated in his letter, As President of the WITU, I would like to bring the following to your attention requesting your intervention in this matter to bring equality, peace, and tranquility among the teaching fraternity in our beloved country.
As we stand at the beginning of the new school year 2022-2023, the board of the WITU is deeply concerned about the fact that to date the teaching and non-teaching staff employed at the various Government-subsidized school boards with the exception of the Protestant Christian Schools (3%), have not received their vacation allowance as yet.
Johnson continued in his letter stating, In representing and looking after the best interest of all concerned, WITU held various meetings with the stakeholders to come to a consensus and solution as it pertains to the vacation allowance that was paid since June 15th, 2022 to civil servants and employees of the public education Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Under the Sint Maarten Trust Funds Emergency Recovery Project (ERP-1), repairs to private homes are making steady progress, as evidenced by the turning over of yet another home to a Sint Maarten resident.

In attendance at the handover ceremony on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, was Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs, Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) Egbert Doran, Dutch representative in Sint Maarten Chris Johnson, and National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) Director Claret Connor.

During this ceremonial gathering, NRPB Director Connor, with the assistance of Minister Jacobs and Minister Doran, handed over the keys to a newly repaired home to the beneficiarys son, who accepted the keys on behalf of his mother.

The beneficiarys home was one of the many damaged during 2017s destructive hurricane season, which affected between 70 and 80% of Sint Maartens local housing sector Read more

Ombudsman Urges Justice Minister To Resolve Backlog

PHILIPSBURG--A total of five complaints filed with the Ombudsman in 2018 against the Ministry of Justice about the way this ministry handled the immigration process in respective cases, are still awaiting resolution. The Ombudsman urges Minister of Justice Anna Richardson to view these four-year-old cases post-haste.

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Keys To Repaired Home Handed Over, Home Repairs To Continue Into 2023

 Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs (front row, centre), VROMI Minister Egbert Doran (front row, second left), and NRPB Director Claret Connor (front row, right) handing over the keys of a repaired home to the beneficiarys son (front row, second right) with Dutch Representative in St Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- President of the WITU Stuart Johnson said, "Assisting our members in any way possible will remain one of the primary goals for our members."

Members of the WITU had the opportunity to make educational posters for their classrooms or offices with resources made available by the WITU.

The event took place at the WITU's office from 12 pm until 6 pm with complimentary snacks and drinks.

"Preparing classrooms for the start of each school year is a costly out-of-pocket expense many teachers face; this has not gone unnoticed by WITU Read more

~Fifty schoolbags with supplies and gift vouchers delivered to various schools & students~

PHILIPSBURG:---  Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs, Silveria Jacobs, paid visits to Prince Willem Alexander School, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr school staff and St. Martin Vocational Training School on a tour to deliver school supplies on the first day of school Read more

El Partido Democrtico Felicita A St. Kitts Y Nevis Por Las Elecciones

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – El Partido Democrtico de St. Maarten (DP) extiende sus felicitaciones al pueblo de la Federacin de Saint Kitts y Nevis, quienes el viernes 5 de agosto de 2022 ejercieron su derecho democrtico y eligieron un gobierno, a ser presidido por St Kitts y Nevis Partido Laborista (SKNLP), que con su victoria captur 6 de los 8 escaos en St. Kitts, Los dos escaos restantes fueron para el Movimiento de Accin Popular (PAM) y el Partido Popular del Trabajo (PLP). El Movimiento de Ciudadanos Preocupados (CCM) captur los 3 escaos en Nevis.

Felicitaciones sinceras y calurosas al recin elegido Primer Ministro de St Read more

Academy Schools Stagger Reopening

~Academic section Aug. 15; PSVE Aug. 22~

CUL DE SAC St. Maarten Academy is preparing for an exciting new school year as it gears up to welcome 80 new students at the academic section, and 50 at the PSVE campus with registration still continuing. Both schools, which fall under the Board of the Foundation for Academic and Vocational Education (FAVE) will also be reopening at different times, with the academic section starting instruction on August 15 and PSVE, on August 22.

FAVE schools saw major changes this year both at the Board and Management levels, with Mr Read more

Dp Extends Congratulations To The People Of The Federation Of Saint Kitts And Nevis

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Democratic Party of St. Maarten (DP)extends congratulations to the people of theFederation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, who on Friday, August 5th, z022 exercised their Democratic right and elected a government,to be lead by theSt Kitts and Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP), who with their victorycaptured6 ofthe8 seats in Saint Kitts. Theremaining two seats wenttothe Peoples Action Movement (PAM) and the Peoples Labour Party (PLP).The Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) captured all 3 seats in Nevis.

Heartfelt and warm congratulations go out to the newly elected Prime Minister of St. Read more

26 Students Depart For Netherlands Sunday

ECYS Minister Rodolphe Samuel (centre) poses for a photograph with departing students before their departure on Sunday.

AIRPORT--A group of 26 students departed from Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) on Sunday, to further their studies in the Netherlands.

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Jacobs Wishes All Students A Safe And Productive Year

PHILIPSBURG--Be safe, productive and blessed. In her Back to School Message 2022, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs wished blessings on all children who are starting school today. I pray the Lord extends us His mercy and keeps them under a shroud of protection.

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Brison Lauds The Work Of Former Minister Of Teatt R. Lawrence.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United People's (UP) Party and Member of Parliament Rolando Brison says, "Within less than a year, Minister of TEATT Roger Lawrence made significant strides towards improving the economic reality for St. Maarten."
He said the UP Party was happy to have had the experience Lawrence brought from the corporate world to the Ministry of TEATT (Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation & Telecommunication) Read more

Academy Schools Stagger Reopening.

~Academic section Aug. 15; PSVE Aug. 22~

CUL DE SAC:--- St. Maarten Academy is preparing for an exciting new school year as it gears up to welcome 80 new students in the academic section, and 50 at the PSVE campus with registration still continuing. Both schools, which fall under the Board of the Foundation for Academic and Vocational Education (FAVE) will also be reopening at different times, with the academic section starting instruction on August 15 and PSVE, on August 22.

FAVE schools saw major changes this year both at the Board and Management levels, with Mr Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Democratic Party of St. Maarten (DP) extends congratulations to the people of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, who on Friday, August 5th, z022 exercised their Democratic right and elected a government, to be led by St Kitts and Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP), who with their victory captured 6 of the 8 seats in Saint Kitts. The remaining two seats went to the Peoples Action Movement (PAM) and the Peoples Labour Party (PLP) Read more

Sky High Aviation Services Dominicana Realiza Un Vuelo Inaugural Con Su Aeronave Embraer 190

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – El 6 de agosto de 2022, a las 5:33p.m., la Aeronave Embraer 190 perteneciente a Sky High Aviation Services Dominicana, aterriz en Princess Juliana International Airport recibiendo un saludo con los caones de agua.

Con aproximadamente 40 personas a bordo, incluyendo la tripulacin, y una capacidad de 100 pasajeros, esta Aeronave se une a la flotilla de servicios de Sky High Aviation services Dominicana para dar un servicio con clase ejecutiva los das: martes, jueves, sbado y domingo, desde y haca la Repblica Dominicana.

A su llegada al aeropuerto PJIA los pasajeros y la tripulacin fueron recibidos por la Manager en la Isla de Sint Maarten la Sra Read more

El Ministerio Del Teatt Lanza Programa De Desarrollo De Mipymes

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten – El Ministro interino de Turismo, Asuntos Econmicos, Trfico y Telecomunicaciones (TEATT), Omar Ottley, firm un acuerdo de nivel de servicio con la entidad local, A&A Accounting, Business Support & Training Center para lanzar un programa de capacitacin y soporte comercial. El programa esta orientado al desarrollo de las micro, pequeas y medianas empresas en la Isla (MIPYMES).

El programa de capacitacin y apoyo empresarial, que est programado para comenzar en septiembre de 2022, fue conceptualizado con base en el Marco de Poltica Nacional MIPYMES y est diseado como una solucin sostenible para ayudar a fortalecer y hacer crecer a las MIPYMES y superar problemas temporales de liquidez, proteger empleos y al mismo tiempo permitir la continuidad del negocio y las operaciones eficientes con miras a posicionar mejor a las MIPYMES para hacer frente a las consecuencias econmicas.

El programa, que se espera que dure un ao en la primera instancia permitir la formacin de 25 existentes y aspirantes MIPYMES y cubrir dos componentes:

El componente 1 se basa en el apoyo a travs del Proyecto de Recuperacin de Sint Maarten Empresarial Read more

Constitutional Courts Dismissed Daniel Gibbs Requests To Annul National Assembly Elections

MARIGOT: --- On August 5th, 2022, the constitutional court rendered its decision in the case presented by Daniel Gibbs to annual the elections of the national assembly held on June 11th and 18th on St. Martin and St. Barthelemy.
According to the decision rendered by the court, Gibbs did not provide any evidence to the court to substantiate his claims Read more