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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Democratic Party would like to extend a warm welcome home to those who spent the summer abroad and extends best wishes to all students, teachers, staff of learning institutions islandwide, and surely to parents too, for the new academic year.
We believe that parents play an important, perhaps the most important role in this equation. We do so with genuine appreciation and respect for all that parents must sacrifice and do to ensure their children's success, sometimes working two, even three jobs to pay school fees, books, uniforms and more; not to mention after-school care and activity costs, which increase if the child engages in some sport or form of art (sports gear, musical instruments etc.).
Of the expressions of God’s steadfast and abiding love here on earth, that of a parent is surely one of them Read more

Minister Of Education, Culture, Youth And Sport, The Honorable Silveria Jacobs’ Back To School Message.

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — On  Monday August 14, the school bells will be ringing, children will be walking to school, being dropped off by excited parents, and otherwise doing their usual, but it will be the dawning of a new day for many entering the school gates for the very first time. All across Soualiga, there will be children ready for the next step.

As the school year 2017-2018 commences,  I would like to wish each and every student, teacher, parent, school management, and all who make school possible, a happy and productive 2017-2018 Read more

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Smmc Hosts Appreciation Celebration Event For Oncology Patients

CAYHILL- On Saturday August 5th, the SMMC hosted an appreciation celebration event for their heroes, current and former oncology patients. The theme of the event was an ‘Appreciation Celebration; Surviving the Odds’.

The purpose of this celebration was to commemorate their patients and all that they have overcome. A small team of the Outpatient department felt a great need to celebrate their patients by involving all those that they have helped along the journey. The preparations for this event begun earlier in the year, with the initial idea brought forth almost two years previously.

Coincidentally, this year marks 20 years since the hospital first started oncology treatments for patients in need Read more

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Condolence Message Of Prime Minister William Marlin On The Demise Of Queen Maxima’S Father.

Philipsburg – Your Royal Highness, It is with great sorrow that we received the sad news of the passing of your father, the late Mr. Jorge Horacio Zorrequiete Stafanini in Argentina on Tuesday August 9th, 2017.

We pray that God will grant you the strength to bear this irreplaceable loss Read more

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Condolence Message Of Prime Minister William Marlin On The Demise Of Queen Maxima’S Father.

Your Royal Highness,
It is with great sorrow that we received the sad news of the passing of your father, the late Mr. Jorge Horacio Zorrequiete Stafanini in Argentina on Tuesday August 9th, 2017.
We pray that God will grant you the strength to bear this irreplaceable loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and the Royal Family.
We join millions in the Kingdom and beyond in praying that his soul may rest in eternal peace and wish you much strength and divine co Read more

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Students Send Social Message Through Movement

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Dance has long been a potent force among the arts in Jamaica, with pioneering companies such as Rex Nettleford’s National Dance Theatre Company holding a mirror up to society and promoting Caribbean culture.

Now students are taking the genre to a whole new level with powerful, socially relevant performances.

The island’s top high school, Campion College, is one of the institutions leading the way Read more

I would like to commend Member of Parliament, the Honorable Ardwell Irion, for presenting a proposal to Parliament that would make MPs more accountable and transparent, particularly towards their voters and the public in general. In the next Annual Parliamentary Report, we should be able to see how each MP voted on a law or a motion.

I also concur with MP Irion that Parliament’s website also needs upgrading Read more

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MIAMI:--- The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is partnering with travel associations around the world to strengthen the tourism sector in the region.

President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Karolin Troubetzkoy disclosed that under the stewardship of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), CHTA has joined forces with close to a dozen regional and national travel organizations to advocate for the sector among governments, legislators and economists.

The National Travel Association Coalition (NTAC), which comprises travel associations from Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, Egypt, Europe, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States, provides a forum for national travel associations to support each other and ensure the sustainable growth of travel and tourism Read more

CAYHILL:--- On Saturday, August 5th, the SMMC hosted an appreciation celebration event for their heroes, current, and former oncology patients. The theme of the event was an ‘Appreciation Celebration; Surviving the Odds’.
The purpose of this celebration was to commemorate their patients and all that they have overcome. A small team of the Outpatient department felt a great need to celebrate their patients by involving all those that they have helped along the journey. The preparations for this event begun earlier in the year, with the initial idea brought forth almost two years previously.
Coincidentally, this year marks 20 years since the hospital first started oncology treatments for patients in need Read more

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Opening Remarks Of Prime Minister William Marlin At General Meeting Of Teachers Of The St. Maarten Academy

President of the St. Maarten Academy School Board, Principal,

Fellow teachers,

Good morning.

Wow, where did time go? It feels like it was just a few weeks ago, that I stood here, addressing many of you and welcoming you to the new academic year and welcoming several of you to our new Country St. Maarten.

Once a teacher, ALWAYS a teacher, they say. I know this to be the gospel truth, at least, in my own case. As some of you may already know, I have been a teacher most of my life; actually, I dare say, all my life.

And although politics has consumed most of my time and energy in the latter part of my still rather young existence, I can say without doubt that nothing gives me more satisfaction than to run into one of my former students and be called “Meneer Marlin.” Just yesterday in the evening I ran into one of them with not only her daughter, but with her grandchildren as well.

I am sure some of you know that feeling Read more

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Inmates And Guards Fed-Up With Situation At Pointe Blanche Prison

Dear Editor,

Inmates and guards are fed-up with the current situation at the Pointe Blanche prison.

The prison is facing a great number of issues: lack of guards, malfunctioning locks, showers and toilets that are not functioning, rusted gates, poor health care, no dentist, no phone calls, all falling under this new management team, who seem incapable for the job.

Steven Carty and Wilfred Williams have been placed at the prison since February 2017, as the interim directors for a period of three months in order to have the situation at the prison “normalized,” which has been very unsuccessful.

The situation is very worrisome at the prison Read more

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Climate Scientists Use Forecasting Tools To Protect Caribbean Ways Of Life

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Since 2013, Jamaica’s Met Office has been using its Climate Predictability Tool (CPT) to forecast ‘below average’ rainfall or drought across the island. The tool has allowed this northern Caribbean island to accurately predict several dry periods and droughts, including its most destructive episode in 2014 when an estimated one billion dollars in agricultural losses were incurred due to crop failures and wild fires caused by the exceptionally dry conditions.

In neighbouring Cuba, the reputation of the Centre for Atmospheric Physics at the Institute for Meteorology (INSMET) is built on the development of tools that “provide reliable and timely climate and weather information” that enables the nation to prepare for extreme rainfall and drought conditions as well as for hurricanes.

Regional scientists believe the extended dry periods are one of several signs of climate change, now being experienced across the region Read more

SIMPSON BAY:--- Ms. Shanice Powell returned home on Tuesday evening after participating in the Miss Caribbean Culture Queen Pageant held in Nevis.

Shanice represented St. Maarten to the best of her ability and won “Best Promotional Video (produced by Soualiga Media)”, Best Interview and Best Talent and ultimately placed 2nd Runner-up. The regional pageant was held during the Culturama Festival in Nevis and consisted of contestants from 11 islands and was won by Miss Dominica, Jade Romain.

Mrs Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- At the Department of Communication, Business Outreach and Placement Program (BOPP) student interns Julianne Robert(16) and Omari Philips(18) took part in hosting a TV Program that will play on Cable TV for the next 3 weeks.

Julianne, of the Charlotte Brookson Academy, and Omari, of the St. Maarten Academy—PSVE division, were trained in several areas at the DCOMM, from administrative tasks to video production to media communication.

The student interns worked along with DCOMM staff members to contribute their part of an information program, called “Inside Government.”

The two students interviewed the Prime Minister William Marlin, Minister Silveria Jacobs, the BOPP coordinator Faye Arnell, and a couple of BOPP students interns.

Julianne and Omari said that interning at DCOMM was a learning experience and productive Read more

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Pond Island:--- TELEMGroup workers and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Kendall Dupersoy, took part in an impressive Toastmasters induction and Chartering ceremony at the company’s main building on Pond Island, Tuesday evening.

A total of 18 workers, including Mr. Dupersoy were inducted into the ranks of the prestigious leadership training and public speaking organization with a worldwide reach - becoming the third corporate group on St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister William Marlin told members of the media on Wednesday that his government has a number of priorities they are working on including the establishment of an integrity chamber. The statements came after the Ministers were asked when they will appoint a director to the office of the cadaster. Marlin said that the cadastre office falls under the Minister of Finance, he said that there is a process to recruit someone to take up the vacant post Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Justice Rafael Boasman made clear on Wednesday that he will stand by his statements when he said the Justice Academy was not established. The Minister said that indeed the former Minister of Justice Roland Duncan and Roland Tuitt went to notary Mingo to register the Justice Academy as a foundation and while the articles of incorporated were drafted the process was not finalized Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Health Emil Lee is almost sure that SZV will give him a letter of guarantee which will guarantee that the health insurance entity will finance 50% of the construction cost of the New General Hospital.
SMN News asked the Minister if there is tension between the Supervisory Board of SZV and the Managing Director? since the Supervisory Board clearly outlined some of the misgivings from the management team of SZV Read more

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Jamaican Woman Wins $.2 Million After Detention In Trinidad

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – A Jamaican woman has been awarded more than $200,000 in damages by the courts for unlawful detention by Immigration authorities in Trinidad and Tobago.

Her lawyers said it was unlawful for police and Immigration authorities to round up foreigners and detain them at the Immigration Detention Centre, Aripo, where they are denied fundamental human rights.Read more

Mp Ardwell Iron Wants To See Revise Voting Record In Annual Report Of Parliament.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Ardwell Irion recently brought forward an initiative through Parliament’s Griffier (Secretary General) to revise the voting record in the annual report of Parliament. The report is published every September and the MP calls his initiative “a small but significant step.” MP Irion stated that he wanted to see an extensive record of how he and his colleagues vote in the house of parliament Read more

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Guyana’S Model Green Town Reflects Ambitious National Plan

BARTICA, Guyana – At the head of Guyana’s Essequibo River, 50 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean, you will find the town of Bartica. Considered the gateway to Guyana’s interior, the town has a population of about 15,000 and is the launching point for people who work in the forests mining gold and diamonds.

Under a new project, Bartica is to benefit from the installation of a 20Kwp grid connected Solar Photovoltaic (PV) system at the 3-Mile Secondary School along with the installation of energy efficient lighting, as well as light-emitting diode (LED) street lighting.

The Ministry of the Presidency (MotP), through the Office of Climate Change, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), launched the Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership (J-CCCP) in Bartica earlier this month.

The Partnership, which is being funded by the Government of Japan to the tune of 15 million dollars, supports countries in advancing the process of improving energy security planning for adaptation to climate change.

Head of the Office of Climate Change within the Ministry of the Presidency Janelle Christian said the partnership comes at an opportune time as it helps to advance the vision of President David Granger for Bartica to be developed as a model ‘green’ town.

“The J-CCCP project and the support that Guyana has been benefiting from and continues to benefit from is set within the framework of the ‘Green’ State Development Strategy (GSDS)… The pilot initiative that will be implemented in Bartica is a direct response to the President’s pronouncement on Bartica becoming the first model ‘green’ town,” she said.

The GSDS provides a framework for national development plans and policies for climate action.

Christian said that the implementation of the J-CCCP supports the government’s commitment to transitioning to the use of 100 percent renewable energy in public institutions by 2025.

“These initiatives have to date, through budgetary support and also resources that we have been able to leverage through our development partners, already started taking effect,” she said.

“The project here in Bartica is not unique to Bartica but it is part of that national programme where we would’ve already seen through the leadership of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) some schools being installed with photovoltaic system (PVs).

“Further, under the Ministry of Communities, I believe as part of the initiative for all of the townships, there is and has been budgeted resources for installation of LED street lighting and we felt that those projects must align with those national plans with respect to our achievement and implementation of those commitments that we have made,” Christian added.

United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Mikiko Tanaka said that the launching of the Partnership is in line with Guyana’s ‘green’ development trajectory Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- "My day was made", to use a colloquial expression, with the announcement by our Finance Minister that my proposal as approved in 2 unanimous motions of Parliament regarding the English language was being followed up upon by the government of St. Maarten.

The first motion on this topic was of September 17, 2015, and instructs the government to come up with "a plan to establish English as the first and 'mother tongue' language for St. Maarten.
The motion continued to ask for a plan to accomplish the aforementioned, with specific attention for the promotion of the English language in the civil service of St Read more

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Breaking News: Remains Found In Galisbay And Belair Are Identified

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Reliable information reaching 721news reported that the two remains found in Galisbay and Belair belongs to two missing persons in the “Mars” case. According to information reaching 721news, families were notified by police about the findings.

The body found in a container on the port of Galisbay on the French side, and the one in Belair have been positively matched – through DNA identification – to the two missing men Luis Diaz-Sarante and Edwin Rosario in the “Mars” case.

On Monday, December 5, 2016, Luis David Sarante-Diaz also known as “Blanco” and Edwin Rosario Contreras also known as “Eggy,” were last seen during the afternoon in the vicinity of Simpson Bay Resort.

In a previous press release, Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson said, “These two men were never seen or heard from since the disappearance Read more

MARIGOT:---The French Carnival committee (FCDSM) members held elections for a new Executive Board during their annual general meeting on Monday, June 26th, 2017.

Luciana RASPAIL, who has been the General Secretary of the committee from 2013-2017, has been elected as the incoming President of FCSM for the next 3 years. The incoming Executive Board Members are President; Luciana RASPAIL, Vice-President; Alex PIERRE, General Secretary; Maeva JAMES, Assistant Secretary; Rosine FRANCILLETTE, Treasurer; Claudine MINGAU, Assistant Treasurer; Serge WEINUM, Children Parade Commission; Kathy AFRICA and Adult Parade Commission; Ricardo GUMBS.

The incoming executive board comprises of mainly past board members who have a vase knowledge of culture with years of experience Read more

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