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People’S Progressive Alliance Banned From 2016 Elections

St. Maarten – The People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA) of Don Hughes will not be allowed to contest the February 9 elections. This appears from a decision by the electoral council.

Already in the day Hughes came to the council’s offices on Back Street to register the party it appeared that there was a problem Read more

Samuel And Richardson Return To Parliament

Rodolphe Samuel and Hyacinth Richardson (third and second from right) wait to be sworn in. Photo Today / Milton Pieters

St. Maarten – Rodolphe Samuel and Hyacinth Richardson took the empty seats of National Alliance faction leader William Marlin and Silveria Jacobs yesterday afternoon in parliament, after a small committee of three, consisting of MPs Leona Marlin-Romeo, Dr Read more

Up-Board Slams Coalition “The Dp Membership Is In Shambles”

St. Maarten – “History surely repeats itself and it seems more so in the formation of the coalition of eight,” United People’s Party (UP) President Sylvia Meyers said in a press statement on behalf of her party’s board yesterday. 

“Imagine the UP-led coalition was heavily criticized for not having a full council of ministers appointed and today the coalition of eight is greeted with the same reality.  Out of seven ministerial positions, they were only able to fill five.” 

“The National Alliance should have led with the same collective responsibility any coalition faces and not hide behind a press release only promoting their minister nominees having passed the screening,” the release states. 

“We are closely monitoring the inconsistencies and political rhetoric which clearly indicates of a weak new majority government.  It is quite obvious there is an apparent weakness in the new coalition and further testimony is the new recruitment effort of the Democratic Party led-ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor with the placement of an advertisement in the daily newspapers looking for persons to join the cabinet.” 

According to the UP-board it is “unheard of when the DP cannot find individuals within its own ranks to join its cabinet.  It’s a crying shame that they have to resort to this route.  It’s widely known the DP membership is in shambles and it seems no better way to recruit new members than by promising cabinet jobs.” 

“We will continue to be the eyes and ears of the people who undoubtedly continue to support us knowing all the trials and tribulations we’ve faced during the past 11-months,” the statement continues Read more

Doctors And Lawyers Leaving T&T To Join Isis

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago - They come from all walks of life, united by religion.

A scholar, a lifeguard, a boxer, a doctor, an engineer, a lawyer.

These are some of the jobs that Trinidadian Muslims held before joining the cause of the Islamic State.

Continuing investigations by the Sunday Express into what prompted an emigration of about 100 Muslims from T Read more

Former Minister Ernest Sams: “This Country Still Has Great Potential”

St. Maarten – “My brief term in office has been an accelerating learning experience as well as one of recognizing that there is an urgent need for Government to restructure and optimize its organizational processes to become more effective and efficient, and above all eliminate waste,” former Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication Ernest Sams said in a statement he issued this weekend.

“Entering with an energetic team of a tourism expert, a transportation expert, an economist, a junior policy adviser and secretary our hopes were high to accomplish many of the existing, shelved projects and some of our own ideas-one main one being developing a sound strategy to market St Read more

Emil Lee Accepts Minster Position In St. Maarten, Steps Down As Chta President As Of Nov. 18, President-Elect Karolin Troubetzkoy Begins Journey As Leader For The Association

MIAMI, FL - Emil Lee, Immediate Past President of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA), has "passed the torch" to First Vice President and President-Elect Karolin Troubetzkoy eight months earlier than initially scheduled, as Lee has accepted the opportunity to serve as Minister of Labor, Health and Social Affairs for the country of St Read more

Quotable Caribbean

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - "The path of violence and hatred does not solve the problems of humanity, and using the name of God to justify this path is blasphemy." - Pope Francis (New York Times)

 "Terrorism is a scourge upon our common humanity. The people of all countries have a right to live in freedom within the laws that govern our international system. In our 21st Century world, which has become inextricably interlinked, terrorism in all its forms, particularly directed at innocent civilians, must be halted by global action Read more

Usm Among Priorities For New Education Minister

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - New Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, Silveria Jacobs, took the oath of office on Thursday afternoon.

Jacobs who is a former Minister of the National Alliance, took the oath of office on Thursday afternoon at the Governor’s office in Harbor View.

Speaking to our news department and in outlining the tasks ahead, the now former Member of Parliament of the National Alliance spoke of some of the priority areas that she was forced to leave behind in the past and her new priorities as well.

Former National Alliance MP's Jacobs and Marlin vacated their seats in Parliament to serve in the Executive of Government and they will be replaced in Parliament by former MP's of the National Alliance Hyacinth Richardson and drs Read more

City Manager Announces Retirement Date, Service To Tallahassee Spans 25 Years

SISTER CITY TALLAHASSEE, united States of America - Tallahassee City Manager Anita Favors Thompson announced that she will retire effective November 20, 2015.

“When I became City Manager in 1997, I made the commitment to always put people first and to focus on providing the best services possible to meet the needs of our community,” Favors Thompson said.

“Through my 25 years working for the city and through challenges and accomplishments, I’ve never wavered in my belief that a city’s greatest asset is its people Read more

Emil Lee, New Minister Of Labor, Health And Social Affairs, Wastes No Time

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - In a bid to attract the best and brightest candidates in St. Maarten to the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs, the newly appointed minister Emil Lee has taken the unconventional step of opening a public recruitment process and advertising for the different positions at his cabinet in the ministry.  Breaking the unwritten but time-honored rule of incoming ministers picking a cabinet mostly from their pool of political supporters, Lee has reasserted his commitment to making the country of St Read more

Scell: A Big Hit Amoungst Hospitality Professionals

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - On Wednesday November 18th 2015, SCELL, The St. Martin School of Continuing Education and Life-Long Learning, conducted the Certified Guest Service Professional (CGSP®) training course in association with the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI). The training was facilitated by Dr. Natasha J. Gittens, Ph.D., CHE, who is a certified Hospitality Educator and SCELL’s Director.

Dr Read more

Governor Receives Final Report William Marlin

Harbour View, Sint Maarten – On November 18th, 2015, His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday, received the final report of formateur W. Marlin.

The formateur has accepted the commission to form a new government supported by a majority in Parliament comprised of the NA-fraction, the DP-fraction, the USP-fraction, independent Member of Parliament S Read more

Dp Announcement - Emil Lee To Be Next Minister Of Vsa

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Democratic Party would like to announce the swearing in of DP candidate Emil Lee as the next Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA).  

Emil will be sworn in tomorrow Thursday, November 19th, 2015 Read more

Minister Sams Provides Public Transportation Sector With Copies Of Draft National Decree

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – On October 23rd at the Stafbureau of the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT), Minister Ernest Sams made good on part of his promise and presented to representatives of various taxi and bus associations on the island a translated version of the draft national decree on public transportation.

This draft national decree being worked on currently serves the purpose of providing a bridge between the existing ordinance which is more than 40 years old and a new national ordinance on public transportation slated to be sent to parliament in 2016. 

The draft national decree was distributed to those present and they were requested to review it and provide their feedback as part of the stakeholder consultation process within four weeks.

In the two hour meeting with public transportation stakeholders, Minister Sams and his Cabinet, Secretary General of Ministry TEATT and the Head of the Inspection Department TEZVT held an interactive discussion with the various association board members on the challenges faced by the industry including the influx of unsanctioned operators, industry trends and changes, areas of potential mutual collaboration.

What was also stressed in the meeting by Minister Sams and his team was the need for individual accountability, teamwork and professionalism by all Read more

Mini Symposium And Expo On Suriname Independence At The Library

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - This Friday at 7 pm a mini symposium will be held in the Philipsburg Jubilee Library in honor of the anniversary of the independence of Suriname.

Suriname became an independent country on November 25th, 1975 and this year will mark the fortieth anniversary of its independence.

Under the slogan “Celebrating 40 years republic of Suriname : sharing lesssons learned with St Maarten”, the symposium will focus on how Sint Maarten, as a young nation, can learn from Suriname Read more

Up Board Extends Deepest Condolences To The People And Government Of The Republic Of France

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – The United People's Party (UP) family, Leader and board extends its deepest condolences to the people and Government of the Republic of France who experienced the worse terrorist attack on continental Europe in recent history, UP Party Board President Sylvia Meyers said on Monday.

“The UP family joins with our brethren on the north side of the island (Saint Martin) and the entire Sint Maarten community, in prayer for all those who have lost loved ones and to those who were injured, may the Almighty give them strength during this difficult period,” the UP Party Board President Sylvia Meyers concluded Read more

Message Of Condolence From The Democratic Party

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Our prayers and thoughts are with the government and people of the French Republic as they try to put the pieces together after the horrendous attacks throughout the French capital on Friday, November 13th.

Their personal and collective loss is immeasurable and we  hope and pray that they will find strength, peace and comfort in the coming days and weeks.

We look closer to home and extend words of comfort to our French St. Martin brothers and sisters.

This is not only an attack on the French capital, but one on humanity itself Read more

Mp Leona Marlin-Romeo Congratulates Minister Of Culture Bourne-Gumbs And Organizers On Sint Maarten’S Day Theme And Celebrations

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo, congratulates outgoing Minister of Education Culture Youth Affairs and Sports Rita Bourne-Gumbs and organizers for a well thought out theme for the 2015, Sint Maarten’s Day Celebration.

“It was a pleasure to see the display of diverse cultures unified to celebrate Sint Maarten’s Day in a dignified way Read more

Mp Lake Is Awaiting Answers From The Caretaker Government For The Landfill, Cadastre, And Usm

ST. PETERS, St. Maarten - MP Lake has sent letters through the President of Parliament to the Caretaker Government to get the long awaited answers that was promised to Parliament. â€œThe first request for answers is from the meeting with the outgoing Minister of VROMI Claret Conner. The first meeting was called on Wednesday, September 9, 2015 but couldn't proceed due to illness of the Minister but the next day he was on a flight to Miami looking at another company for the Waste to Energy Facility Read more

Position Airport Director Labega Under Pressure

Managing director Regina Labega at her desk at Princess Juliana International Airport. File photo SXM

Court rejects suspension of government-decision

St. Maarten – Starting tomorrow, Regina Labega is no longer authorized to function as the managing director of Princess Juliana International Airport, but it is at this moment uncertain whether she will be removed from her position, her attorney Cor Merx told this newspaper yesterday. “It is unclear what is going to happen on November 13.”

Labega’s position requires a certificate of no objection, but Minister of General Affairs Marcel Gumbs refused to give this to her, based on the result of a screening by the national security service VDSM.

The airport risks a fine of 1,000 up to 500,000 guilders – per violation – if it allows Labega to stay on as managing director Read more

St. Maarten Day Speeches Focus On Cooperation

From left: Collectivité President Aline Hanson, Préfète Délégué Anne Laubies, Governor Eugène Holiday, Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, Chief Inspector Denise Jacobs, Franklin Richards, MP Sarah Wescot-Williams, MP Cornelius de Weever, Justice Minister Dennis Richardson and Education Minister Rita Bourne-Gumbs at the border monument in Cole Bay Read more

Sxm Airways Gets Support From Parliamentarians

SXM Airways Managing Director Rolando Brison during his presentation to Parliament. Photo contributed

Upstart airline SXM Airways received encouraging words of support from Members of Parliament on Tuesday as management and shareholders briefed the Central Committee on the airline’s plans and vision. The MP’s urged management to “keep pushing” and not to be afraid of competing with other airlines including Winair.

Managing Director Rolando Brison and shareholders Elvis Queeley, Michel Carter and Jeff Oliver, gave a comprehensive presentation about everything from the origins of the idea for the on-demand airline, to educational initiatives, market analysis, market share, share availability for local purchase and operational perspectives Read more

Conference Gets To The Roots Of Mental Illness

Workshop at the mental health conference in progress. Photo contributed

Belair, St. Maarten – The Mental Health Foundation (MHF) facilitated a resonating conference on community and person-centered treatment planning at the Belair Community Centre last Thursday and Friday.

The 2015 Mental Health Conference was held in collaboration with The Institute for Progressive Living and Empowerment (IPLE), a New York based organization of mental health clinicians that promote culturally sensitive, evidenced based interventions within communities Read more

Unity, Theme Word For St. Maarten/St. Martin Day 2015

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - President of the Collectivite of St. Martin Madame Aline Hanson told her peers and those gathered to celebrate St. Maarten/St. Martin Day 2015 that their aim is to go forward, as they look towards developing the island.

She also spoke of the areas of cooperation between St. Maarten/St. Martin.

Outgoing Prime Minister, the Honorable Marcel Gumbs of St Read more