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Collaborative Infectious Disease Control

>Oranjestad:--- In 2014, 25 countries in the Caribbean had recorded cases of chikungunya. Chikungunya is caused by the same vector as dengue fever, the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The circulation of these two viruses has proven itself to be a serious health challenge in the Caribbean. Sint Eustatius is currently working to build its capacity to prevent and control these diseases.

For two weeks, Dr. Joe Wagman, a vector biologist and public health consultant from the Belize Vector Biology Center (BVBC), is visiting the island to assist in developing an early warning system to predict outbreaks Read more

Hit and Run Driver surrendered to Police Thursday Night.(UPDATED)

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The hit and run driver who hit down Ramesh Manek early Thursday morning on the Airport Road surrendered to police around 9pm Thursday night. Police also confiscated the black Hummer  bearing the number plate P-1819 that ran over the local resident who was jogging on the road earlyThursday morning.
Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson confirmed that the driver who was involved in the hit and run accident surrendered to police and his vehicle has been confiscated. Henson said the driver of the vehicle that hit the victim down causing him to lose his life is in his 30's Read more

A Peculiar Request By The Council Of State Of The Dutch Kingdom...

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Much of the past weeks has been spent deliberating the draft national ordinance to establish an integrity chamber for St. Maarten.

While some have argued against this draft ordinance (law), stating to be in favor of our "own thing", fact is that the draft as presented to Parliament and dealt with in central committee meetings of Parliament is "our own".

It is totally up to the Parliament of St. Maarten to reject, amend and or pass this law, if a majority of the 15 members wishes to do so.

The draft ordinance establishing an integrity chamber for St Read more

Visiting Rotarians On Island For Donation Of Fundus Camera To White & Yellow Cross Foundation

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Rotarians from Rotary District 7030 arrived on Sint Maarten to partake in a ceremony for the launch of a screening for the prevention of Retinopathy due to Diabetes Mellitus and the donation of a fundus camera to the White and Yellow Cross Foundation.

The group comprises of the District Secretary from District 7030, Mr Waddy Sowma; the President of Rotary Club Paramaribo Central Mr Rino Tjin Wong Joe; Eye Specialist and Representative of the Rotary Club Paramaribo Residence Dr Jerrel Pawiroredjo and other fellows from the clubs Read more

Carnival 2015 officially open

CARNIVAL VILLAGE--Carnival has started! The official opening by Minister of Culture Rita Bourne-Gumbs, who “unlocked” the door to the village with a large golden key, took place on Thursday evening.

A parade had led the way to the official opening, which saw hundreds of people in the streets of Philipsburg dance to the tunes of bands and deejays in the official opening Jump-up for the 46th St. Maarten Carnival.

The route of the jump-up was lined with people and near to Carnival Village a number of booths were selling snacks and drinks.

The jump-up arrived at the Village shortly before 11:30pm Read more

Sarah calls for govt’s stance on CBCS issue

PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) leader Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams has issued a call to the Marcel Gumbs' Cabinet "to show leadership by providing government's stance" on the halting of renovation work on the Central Bank of Curaçao and St Read more

Court hears appeal in vote-buying case

PHILIPSBURG--The Joint Court of Justice on Thursday heard the Prosecutor's appeal in the case against four persons allegedly involved in selling or buying votes on behalf of United People's (UP) party in the September 2010 election.

In August 2014, the Court of First Instance declared inadmissible the Prosecutor's Office's cases against these men because it had failed to also investigate the roles of UP and its leadership in the scheme Read more

Council of State requests a stay on voting on Integrity Chamber

PHILIPSBURG--The Kingdom Council of State has requested a stay on the voting by St. Maarten's Parliament on the national ordinance establishing an Integrity Chamber for St. Maarten. This was the word from Deputy Prime Minister/Justice Minister Dennis Richardson.

Richardson said at a press conference with Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs in Dr Read more

US lawmakers' bill holds key to Pacific trade deal

WASHINGTON--Senior U.S. lawmakers reached agreement on Thursday on a bill to give the White House "fast track" authority to negotiate a trade pact with 11 other Pacific nations that is central to President Barack Obama's strategic shift toward Asia.
  The agreement, over six months in the making, sets the stage for a tough legislative battle over the rules for Obama's proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The pact would connect a dozen economies by cutting trade barriers and harmonizing standards covering two-fifths of the world economy and a third of global trade.
  The bill gives lawmakers the right to set negotiating objectives, but would restrict them to a yes-or-no vote on trade deals such as the TPP, a potential legacy-defining achievement for President Obama.
  The Obama administration announced in late 2009 that it was entering TPP negotiations with Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams expressed concerns over the saga of the Central Bank of St. Maarten. MP Wescot Williams in a press release posed several questions about the work stop. Below is the press statement issued by MP Sarah Wescot Williams.

"I guess, according to some, it would be "politically incorrect" of me to question the saga unfolding at the Central Bank of Curacao and St Read more

Chuchuchubi Foundation Kings Day Carnival Jam

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Chuchubi Foundation is doing it again! A KINGS DAY Dance is being hosted by the Chuchubi Foundation on Monday April 27th, 2015. This fundraising dance will be held at the Little Well Oasis on the Well Road in Colebay. Chuchubi Foundation well known for their well organized and mostly adult attendance dance is hosting this dance so that all those visitors arriving on the island during this time can come out and meet & party with longtime friends Read more

style="text-align: center;">to meet with Council of State on higher supervision.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson told members of the media on Thursday during a press conference that he will be travelling to the Netherlands this weekend to meet with the Minister of Interior and Foreign Affairs Ronald Plasterk to further discuss the establishment of an integrity chamber on St. Maarten. Minister Richardson will also be meeting with the Raad van Staten (Council of State) to further discuss the current situation where the Kingdom wants to apply article 51 of the Kingdom Charter and impose higher supervision on St Read more

Former Pm, Mp Sarah Wescot-Williams Speaks On Cbs Debattle

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - I guess, according to some, it would be "politically incorrect" of me to question the saga unfolding at the Central Bank of Curacao and St. Maarten (CBCS) here in St. Maarten.

In fact, media reports suggest that this saga is ongoing since last year. Gradually it became clear that the work at the CBCS building in Philipsburg had come to a halt and the rumor mill went in overdrive.

When recently one of the 2 parties finally went public with their side of the story, the questions and insinuations became even more probing and disturbing.

The Central Bank is the monetary authority for Curacao and St Read more

Parliament Adjourns Meeting About Integrity Chamber

Minister Richardson: “Passing this law strengthens our position”

St. Maarten– The parliament is dragging its feet, or at least taking its time, with the handling of the draft ordinance for the establishment of the Integrity Chamber. Yesterday’s continuation of Wednesday’s meeting was adjourned until Monday morning at 10 a.m. at the request of coalition members Tamara Leonard, Cornelius de Weever and Johan Leonard.

Justice Minister Dennis Richardson warned the parliament to move forward with the legislation, Next week Sunday Richardson and Prime Minister Gumbs travel to the Netherlands for discussions with Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Kingdom Relations Minister Ronald Plasterk about the looming instruction.

“It could come to the point that Rutte pushed the instruction, even if we get an advice from the Council of State that is positive for St Read more

Mp Lake Commends Gebe; Urges Seniors To Apply For Relief

St. Maarten –NV Gebe has extended its senior relief program until December of this year and this has led to a verbal commendation from United People’s Party MP Maurice Lake to the company for taking this action.

The relief for seniors began in 2014 while MP Lake—then Minister Lake—was the minister with responsibilities for Gebe Read more

Silvio Matser appeals tax-fraud conviction

PHILIPSBURG--United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) and local businessman Silvio Matser has filed an appeal against his tax-fraud conviction in the Court of First Instance. The hearing of the appeal by the Joint Court of Justice kicked off Wednesday with a so-called preliminary hearing.

During the pro-forma hearing Matser's lawyer, attorney-at-law Cor Merx, requested the hearing of seven witnesses.

The Court of First Instance sentenced the first-term MP on January 7 to 24 months, 18 of which were suspended, with three years' probation and 240 hours of community service Read more

Colombia to resume bombing rebels after deadly ambush

BOGOTA/HAVANA--Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos ordered the resumption of bombing raids against FARC guerrillas on Wednesday after a rebel attack killed 10 soldiers, heating up a war that had seen a tentative cessation of hostilities.

As part of peace talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Santos last month stopped air raids on rebel hideouts in recognition of a unilateral ceasefire declared in December by the insurgent group Read more

NASA probe close to encounter with Pluto

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida--The first spacecraft to visit distant Pluto, a dwarf planet in the solar system's frozen backyard, is still three months away from a close encounter, but already in viewing range, newly released photos show.

The New Horizons probe blasted off from Florida in January 2006 for a 3-billion-mile (5-billion-km) journey to the Kuiper Belt region of the solar system located beyond Neptune Read more

Line honours for Phaedo 3 on day two of Les Voiles

ST. BARTHS--Another serving of clear skies and classic trade winds made it a very good day for promoting racing in the Caribbean, and Les Voiles de St. Barth organizers capitalised on the stellar conditions with a decision to "go big" on the regatta's second day of racing.

Making good on an earlier promise to give the largest, fastest boats here a new marquee race designed for flat-out speed, the race committee sent the Maxi 1, Maxi 2 and Multihull classes on a 42 nm course that started off Gustavia and looped around St Read more

Editorial - Reckless move?

It's always a bit difficult to judge having heard only one side of the story, but Wednesday's news that the Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten (CBCS) terminated its agreement with a local contractor for renovation of the complex in Philipsburg due to "signals" of integrity issues no doubt raises questions. It supposedly regards the construction company's role in a project of St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF), where the managing director was dismissed recently based on perceived irregularities.

However, one has to seriously doubt whether such concerns can be a valid reason not only to break a contract for work that seemingly has nothing to do with the SMHDF-case, but also to withhold payment Read more

Gas and diesel fuel prices down today

PHILIPSBURG--Motorists will pay less for gasoline and diesel fuel at the pumps as of 6:00am today, Thursday.

The price of gasoline will drop from NAf. 1.999 to NAf. 1.936 per litre, while the price of diesel fuel will go down from NAf Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- On Tuesday April 14th, the final meeting before the official opening of the Festival Village between the Sint Maarten Carnival Development Foundation, Department of VROMI, Department of Economic Affairs and the Police Department was held at the Philipsburg Police Station. The main topics of this meeting were the "Vending and No Vending" zones in the Philipsburg area, the road closure during all of the parades and the "Opening Jump-up."
Attached to this announcement is a digital color layout of Philipsburg and surrounding areas Read more

St. Martin Football Association seeking integration with FIFA

MARIGOT—President of St. Martin Football Association (SMFA) Fabrice Baly disclosed Monday St. Martin has applied for membership of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) and is awaiting news since submission of the application on March 17.

At the last General Assembly it was agreed St. Martin Football Association would benefit greatly from integration with FIFA but because St. Martin was not an independent country it needed to receive endorsement from the French Federation of Football (FFF) which was done.

CONCACAF and FIFA member Grenada have also supported St Read more

Editorial - In a bad light

It was interesting to see the picture of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in Panama City with St. Maarten's Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs and Telecommunication Claret Connor and Port of St. Maarten CEO Mark Mingo on Monday's front page. The three men attended a round-table meeting about opportunities offered by the expanded Panama Canal, among other things.

This is noteworthy especially because Members of Parliament (MPs) in The Hague, particularly from Rutte's own VVD party, have been very critical about the Harbour Group of Companies on several occasions Read more