SXMElections.com

Gebe To Commence Trench And Road Work As Of Monday August 7Th.

PHILIPSBURG:--- NV GEBE announces that starting on Monday the 07th August 2017, there will be trench and road work activities taking place at the Yrausquin Boulevard and Buncamper Street starting at the Point Blanche cargo terminal to the Freedom Fighters roundabout near Sundial School.
The works will be carried out by Windward Roads and will be executed in collaboration with The Ministry of VROMI, Cable TV, Telem, and UTS to install the main water line, sewerage, high voltage cables and other utilities.
The project has been divided into sections which are as follows:

• Easement to Water Tank Point Blanche.
• Trenching Phase 1: Cargo Entrance – Dock Maarten (Chesterfields) - (Total 742 m)
• Trenching Phase 2: Dock Maarten (Chesterfields) – Emmaplein (total 508 m)
• Trenching Phase 3: Emmaplein – Freedom Fighters round-About (Total 409 m)
• Trenching Phase 4: Sewerage from W.G Read more

Pond Island:--- TelEm Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Kendall Dupersoy, has fulfilled one of his early promises since taking up the top position in the company – to bring TelEm Group’s Helpdesk services back to St. Maarten.

In the CEO’s view, the wrong message was being given to customers, who found themselves speaking to a helpdesk based in Curacao, rather than here on the island Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prior to the election on September 26, 2016, two expressions dominated politics and the news, namely “ship-jumping” and “electoral reform”. Electoral reform was the reason for the fall of the Marcel Gumbs Government in 2015. Electoral reform led to the snap election that was scheduled for February 9, 2016. Electoral reform was also the reason why this election was cancelled, because the honorable Prime Minister William Marlin insisted that his government needed more time to be able to initiate legislative reform in order to address the phenomenon of ship-jumping that was so prevalent among our parliamentarians Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- Mr. Rumari “King Rumer” Rogers will be competing in the upcoming Soca Monarch competition to be held in Tortola, BVI. Rogers traveled on August 2nd, and the competition will be held on August 3rd. He is currently the 3-peat Road March King of St. Maarten, and was selected to represent St. Maarten. The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, the Honourable Silveria Jacobs and Government of Sint Maarten, would like to wish Mr Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of VSA Emil Lee said on Wednesday that he is still working diligently on obtaining finance for the construction of the New General Hospital. The Minister said that his hope is SZV and APS are the ones that will finance the New General Hospital. He said the two entities are ensuring that they conduct due diligence before signing off on the financing Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister responsible for Housing and Spatial Planning Christopher Emmanuel confirmed on Wednesday that he is still busy working on getting some members that were appointed to the board St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF) to vacate their positions.
The Minister said he is making progress slowl Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Duncan says Justice Minister should do proper research.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Justice Rafael Boasman confirmed on Wednesday that the Justice Academy is not a registered entity within the Justice Ministry. Minister Boasman was asked by SMN News to clarify his statements on the establishment of the Justice Academy. Asked if the diplomas issued from the institution of the years are valid and are recognized the Minister said that the establishment of the institution has nothing to do with the diplomas since the curriculum that are followed are from recognized institution Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG: --- The chairman of NIPA supervisory board Antonio Aventurin buckled to severe pressure from members of the community on Wednesday and submitted his letter of resignation. Teachers at the learning institution were informed of Aventurin’s resignation on Wednesday. Aventurin and other members of the NIPA board are under severe criticism on social media after the board of NIPA terminated several local teachers, while they chose to grant a three-year contract to the daughter of the Minister of EYS at NIPA.
Several members of the community went directly after Aventurin after he dismissed the female Culinary and Arts teacher Renata De Weever who recently took students of NIPA to Miami and they did extremely well.
Minister of EYS Silveria Jacobs said on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers press briefing that she was highly criticized by the social media the past days for the dismissal of the teachers Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Haiti To Cut International Missions Due To Economic Crisis

UNITED NATIONS – In a series of cuts made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Haiti announced its plans to reduce its diplomatic missions by 60 percent.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Rodrigue confirmed the decision Tuesday, citing the country’s budgetary issues. The minister reported that the government’s contractual staff from around the world will be the first to be cut, with more than 40 missions closing due to the economic crisis.

“For now, we spend US$4.2 million a month on missions and we want to reduce it to US$2.5 million,” the minister said in a statement.

“We are aware of the economic situation of the country and we have to act according to reality.”

The administration’s plan is to reduce its diplomatic presence worldwide and concentrate on constructing missions only where large numbers of Haitians reside Read more

Ccj Orders Release Of Men On Death Row In Barbados

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The Trinidad based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), on Tuesday quashed the convictions of the two men – Vincent Edwards and Richard Haynes  â€“ who were sentenced to death for murder committed in Barbados in 2006.

The men were set free on Tuesday, after being imprisoned since 2007.

They were charged for the murder of Damien Alleyne on July 21, 2007, almost a year after Alleyne’s death on August 11, 2006.

The court records stated that Alleyne was discovered by his girlfriend not far from her residence on the night of August 11, 2006.

She told the police that she heard explosions, which sounded like gunshots and later found him lying on the road Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---- On Tuesday afternoon, August 1st, The Counsel General of The People’s Republic of China stationed in Curacao, paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister William Marlin.
Counsel General Mr. Zhang was accompanied by Mr Sun Li who works at the consulate and Mr. Cengiz Cucuk, The President of The St. Maarten China People Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

THE HAGUE:--- On Monday, July 31st, 2017, Minister Doran-York addressed the 34 Sint Maarten students after their in The Netherlands.
The same as last year, the Minister saw to it that the Cabinet was well represented while forming part of the welcoming team at the Airport.
Also present from the Cabinet were Deputy Minister Hasani Ellis, Cabinet Director Irene Simmons along with other members of the Cabinet waiving the Sint Maarten's Flag as the students exited the arrival hall.
Minister Doran-York addressed the students during an introductory meeting at the Steinberger Hotel, where they were transported to, immediately after their arrival.
The Minister and her staff are looking forward towards officially welcoming the students to the Cabinet upcoming Friday, August 4th where they will be addressed by Deputy Minister Hasani Ellis.
Below is the text of the address of the Minister Plenipotentiary Henrietta Doran-York to the students on Monday.

"First of all, I would like to thank the organizing body of this event, the USC, (Unified Sint Maarten Connection) for the invitation to address you here today Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Good Day Welcome To Announcements From The Of The Collectivity.

MARIGOT:--- On Tuesday, August 1st, 2017, the Collectivity will start the 3rd and final phase of the rehab works at the Jean-Louis Vanterpool stadium. During this time, the intersection of Rue de Holland and the intersection of Paul Mingau Street will be closed to vehicle traffic. The deviation will be via Rue de Concordia.
The objective is to move back the wall to widen the sidewalk for the safety of pedestrians. Work will be completed August 31, 2017, before the opening of the new school year.
The Collectivity apologizes in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.
The return to the four-day school week, implemented by the Education Department and officially validated by the Executive Council on Wednesday, July 26, will be implemented as of September 2017 in the schools of Saint Martin.
School hours will now be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 am to 11.30 am and from 1:30 pm to 4 pm
This return of the four-day week is accompanied by an increase in the number of extracurricular activities and supervision, in line with the commitments made by the new majority of the Collectivity.
With a contribution of 50 euros per child for the school year 2017-2018, the partnership set up with the CTOS of Saint-Martin, which has increased the training of its animators, which will guarantee students a better experience.
Various games will be offered to the children every day of the week on their lunch break; homework help will be set up every evening from 4 pm to 5 pm Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Pond Island - St. Maarten’s incumbent telecommunication provider, TelEm Group, has posted a profit for the year 2016. The actual figures have been presented to the company’s Supervisory Board of Directors and the Government shareholder in recent weeks for their consideration and review and are not being made public at this time.
The announcement was made to TelEm Group personnel in a brief internal announcement Friday, in which Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Kendall Dupersoy, and Chief Financial officer (CFO) Mrs Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Prime Minister Tells Investors, “We Are Open To Partnerships”

Below is the speech of Prime Minister William Marlin at the 21st Annual International African-American Hotel ownership and investment summit and trade show. This event was organized by the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers (NABHOOD)

Honorable Mr Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Tobago Gears Up To Fight Sargassum Invasion

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – As Tobago’s tourism industry struggles to repel the sargassum invasions that have smothered its beaches with massive layers of seaweed as far as the eye can see – in some places half a metre thick – and left residents retching from the stench, the island’s government is working to establish an early warning system that will alert islanders of imminent invasions so they can take defensive action.

The Deputy Director of Trinidad and Tobago’s Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA), Dr Read more

Persons Insured By Szv Has To Pay Cash At Lfc. Lack Of Payment By Obs.

PHILIPSBURG/Marigot:--- Patients that are ensured by SZV St. Maarten will not be able to see a doctor even in emergency cases at the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital (LCF) unless they pay the 75 Euros consultation fee cash or 100 Euros as an initial deposit if they are to be hospitalized. Management of LCF implement the new rules as of July 24th, 2017 after they were not paid by the Association Observatoire de la Santé of Saint Martin (OBS) Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

The 2017 Study Financing Recipients Head To The Netherlands

PHILIPSBURG – On July 30th, the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE), co-sponsored by Dominos Pizza, will host the 6th annual ‘Bon Voyage’ ceremony for all 2017 study financing recipients. The ceremony begins at 1:00p.m. and will be stationed in the departure hall. The ceremony will include dj’s, food, and drinks. Family and friends are also invited to attend this joyous ceremony.

Thirty-three (33) students will be traveling to the Netherlands to further their tertiary level education Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

The 2017 Study Financing Recipients Head To The Netherlands.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On July 30th, the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE), co-sponsored by Dominos Pizza, will host the 6th annual 'Bon Voyage' ceremony for all 2017 study financing recipients. The ceremony begins at 1:00p.m. and will be stationed in the departure hall. The ceremony will include dj’s, food, and drinks. Family and friends are also invited to attend this joyous ceremony.
Thirty-three (33) students will be traveling to the Netherlands to further their tertiary level education Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Organized by the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers, NABHOOD
Miami, Florida, July 26 -28, 2017.

Honorable Mr. Andy Ingraham,
Founder, President, and CEO of the National Association
Of Black Hotel Owners, Operators, and Developers,
Mr. Ken Fearn,
Chairman of NABHOOD,
Board members,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and gentlemen.

I bring you greetings from the Friendly Island of St Read more

Witu Being Left Out Of Social Dialogues

MADAME ESTATE – The Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) held a press conference, via phone, with the different media outlets, at their office in Madame Estate, on Thursday, July 27, after another failed attempt to meet with Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs.

According to WITU President Claire Elshot-Aventurin, the purpose of the press conference was to inform members about the ongoing issues they come to the union with, and let them know how talks with the Education Minister were progressing.

Initially, WITU first requested a meeting with Minister Jacobs on June 16 Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Telem Group Ceo Cautions Against “Free Wi-Fi” Idea For St. Maarten

Pond  Island –  TelEm Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Kendall Dupersoy, is advising “caution” to an idea coming out of a recently concluded telecommunication conference in the Dominican Republic, that St. Maarten can enhance its telecommunication services to residents and visitors by offering free Wi-Fi throughout the island.

The idea was put forward by Minister of TEATT, Melissa Arrindell-Doncher during the recently ended 33rd annual Conference and Trade Exhibition of CANTO, in the Dominican Republic, and repeated in at least one online media outlet this week.

“I am all for making telecommunication services affordable for TelEm Group customers, however I cannot see how we can benefit by offering free wi-fi “spots” to the millions of visitors who come to the island each year, who are currently paying for this service,” said Mr Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Pond Island:---TelEm Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Kendall Dupersoy, is advising “caution” to an idea coming out of a recently concluded telecommunication conference in the Dominican Republic, that St. Maarten can enhance its telecommunication services to residents and visitors by offering free Wi-Fi throughout the island.

The idea was put forward by Minister of TEATT, Melissa Arrindell-Doncher during the recently ended 33rd annual Conference and Trade Exhibition of CANTO, in the Dominican Republic, and repeated in at least one online media outlet this week.

“I am all for making telecommunication services affordable for TelEm Group customers, however, I cannot see how we can benefit by offering free wi-fi “spots” to the millions of visitors who come to the island each year, who are currently paying for this service,” said Mr Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Caribbean Must Equalise To Grow And Grow To Equalise, Says Eclac

KINGSTON | NEW YORK – If they are to meet commitments agreed under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its sustainable development goals (SDGs), the countries of the Caribbean must focus on closing the structural gaps they still have – particularly with regard to gender equality and financial and fiscal sustainability (due to their high debt level) – and mitigating the effects of climate change, .

Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary for the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), spoke in this regard during the ‘African-Caribbean Cross-Regional Exchange’ at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) which ended July 19 at United Nations headquarters in New York.

“The current development model is unsustainable in that it has led to a decrease in trade and growth, greater inequality, excessive financialisation, and has fallen into the greatest market failure of all: climate change,” she said.

“The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have thus come about as an aspirational response with a view to the long term … [and] “in order to meet the SDGs, ECLAC proposes a great environmental push, a change in productive structures via industrialisation, innovation and the incorporation of greater knowledge.”

The New York event, which focused on dialogue around proposals related to debt, climate change and gender equality in Africa and the Caribbean, was organised by the Regions Refocus initiative of the Dag Hammarskjold Foundation (with headquarters in Sweden), the German Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) foundation and the Jamaica Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

Participants in the dialogue included Ambassador Courtenay Rattray, Representative for the Jamaica Permanent Mission to the United Nation; Ambassador Pennelope Beckles of Trinidad and Tobago; Ambassador Keith Hamilton Lewellyn Marshall of Barbados and other Caribbean and African ambassadors to the United Nations, Anita Nayar of Regions Refocus, and Caecilie Schildberg of FES, among others.

In her remarks, the ECLAC Executive Secretary said that in order to implement the 2030 Agenda, develop their national institutional frameworks to follow it and mainstream the SDGs into their plans and policies, it is essential that the countries of the Caribbean know the challenges they face in the current global context in terms of trade flows and accords, access to financing and mobilisation of resources, and technology.

“We must equalise to grow and grow to equalise, fostering investment and gender equality,” said Bárcena.

On this last point, she stated that the main issue is assuring women’s autonomy in its three dimensions: economic, physical and political.

In the Caribbean, women tend to be over-represented in the lowest sectors of the labour market – especially in the service sector – and under-represented in areas that require higher qualifications, she explained.

Furthermore, the unemployment rate is higher among women, who also suffer lower levels of social protection and have lower salaries compared with men (in similar positions).

“Much more needs to be done to completely capitalise on women’s potential, requiring methods that encompass their access to education and quality training, to economic resources and financial services, and to new forms of financing,” Bárcena said Read more