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Gumbs apologises for suicide comments

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs has issued an apology Friday for comments he made about suicide at the Council of Ministers Press Briefing on Wednesday. The Cabinet's Press Secretariat attributed "his outburst to frustration with what he has called the ongoing destructive conduct of certain media and community elements."

An emotional Gumbs on Wednesday heavily condemned persons, who he believes continue to paint the island black with negative comments Read more

Emotional Pm Marcel Gumbs: “Don’T Destroy Our Country”: “If You’Re Suicidal Do It; Jump Off A Plane Or Something”

The Council of Ministers during yesterday’s press briefing. From left Ministers Connor, Gumbs, Richardson, Hassink and Bourne-Gumbs. Photo Today / Hilbert Haar

St. Maarten – It was supposed to be a solemn press briefing by the Council of Ministers yesterday morning but in the end, Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs turned up the heat and let all his frustrations fly Read more

Erna Mae Francis Contributes To “Amazing” Book: Success From The Heart Comes With Stunning Bonus Offer

Erna Mae Francis co-authored Success from the Heart. Photo contributed

St. Maarten – Success from the Heart is a book published by a company called New Peaks. It contains a chapter written by Erna Mae Francis-Cotton of the Victorious Living Foundation. In many ways this is, as the email we received about the publication described it, an “amazing book,” if only because the authors give away bonuses they claim to be worth a stunning $15,078. The book itself is for sale at amazon.com for just $18.95 Read more

Gumbs says Govt did not ask for crime meeting to be closed door

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs made it clear on Wednesday that no member of the Council of Ministers had requested that Parliament have the urgent Central Committee meeting on crime on Monday convened behind closed doors.

Gumbs told reporters at the biweekly Council of Ministers press briefing which resumed yesterday that Parliament invited the council to a closed door session Read more

Officer Benjamin’s funeral schedule released, road closures announced

PHILIPSBURG--Slain bike patrol Police Officer Gamali “Benji” Kwasi Benjamin will be laid to rest at the Methodist Cemetery in Philipsburg after a ceremony with honours tomorrow, Thursday.

At 10:30am his body will depart Royal Funeral Home to the Philipsburg police station.

At 10:45am a brief ceremony will be held at the Philipsburg police station while the uniformed departments will stand in front of the police station.

At 10:55pm the procession of uniformed departments will leave the police station and head to Front Street where it will stop for a brief moment in front of Oro Diamante, where the Benjamin shot on Wednesday, August 5.

At 11:30am, the procession will arrive at the Philipsburg Methodist Church.

At 12:00pm the official part of the ceremony will start at the church.

The viewing of the body will take place at the Methodist Church on Front Street from 12:00 to 1:45pm Read more

Kerry warns US will not accept restrictions in South China Sea

KUALA LUMPUR--U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday accused China of restricting navigation and overflights in the disputed South China Sea, despite giving assurances that such movements would not be impeded.
  Addressing a regional meeting in Kuala Lumpur that has been dominated by the South China Sea, Kerry said China's construction of facilities for "military purposes" on man-made islands was raising tensions and risked "militarisation" by other claimant states.
  Kerry's blunt criticism of Beijing, in front of his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, is likely to lift the South China Sea up the agenda when Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Washington next month, some experts said Read more

Julius Garvey Speaks At Tribute To His Father

St. Maarten – The Freedom Fighters Foundation welcomes Julius Garvey, son of Marcus Garvey as one if its prominent guests on August 16 at its 16th annual tribute to Marcus Garvey. The Jamaican attorney Michael Lorne and French-side historian Daniela Jeffrey are also part of the lineup.

Marcus Garvey is considered the pioneer of Black Nationalism. He founded the United Negro Improvement Association (Unia) in 1914 Read more

Pm Gumbs: “Your Island Needs You” Tearful Goodbyes To 27 Students At The Airport

St. Maarten -The ceremony to mark the departure of 27 students who left St Maarten yesterday to further their studies in the Netherlands is a timely reminder of what must be done to encourage them to come back and take up responsible positions in the public and private sector.

For the fourth straight year, it was a time for parents, guardians, siblings and close friends bid Bon Voyage, something that is not easy to do under the circumstances. It was a time for emotions that were in some cases uncontrollable Read more

The Future Beckons You Back To St. Maarten, Sxm Airport Managing Director Tells Holland-Bound Students

SIMPSON BAY, St. Maarten — "You are leaving home as teenagers, and will be returning as adults in a few years. Between now and then, you will experience life in a manner you have never done before," Regina LaBega, Managing Director of Princess Juliana International Airport, SXM Airport, told about 30 students who left the island Sunday, August 2, to further their studies in the Netherlands.

SXM Airport, in collaboration with Domino's Pizza, continued a tradition began four years ago, by organizing a "Bon Voyage" party for the students who were joined by their families and friends who came to bid them farewell.

"That moment has arrived to show that you are grown up; that you can stand on your own feet; that you don't need anybody to tell you what to do, when to study or when to come back home from the disco.

Free at last! But it is what you do with that freedom that will determine your success Read more

Religious man attacks Jerusalem Gay Pride parade, wounding six

JERUSALEM--An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man stabbed and wounded six participants, two of them seriously, in the annual Gay Pride parade in Jerusalem on Thursday, with police saying the suspect was jailed for a similar attack 10 years ago.
  About 5,000 people celebrating the event were marching along an avenue when a man jumped into the crowd, apparently from a supermarket, and plunged a knife into some of the participants, witnesses said. "We heard people screaming, everyone ran for cover, and there were bloodied people on the ground," Shai Aviyor, a witness interviewed on Israel's Channel 2, said.
  It was the worst attack in years on the event in Jerusalem, a divided city where the religious population is more prominent than in other parts of Israel and highlighted the tension nationwide among disparate social groups Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation and its volunteers assisted Key to Freedom drug and alcohol rehabilitation center during its first graduation ceremony at Celebration Palace on Sunday, July 26.

The seven Key to Freedom graduates were Gerard Chirlias, Rafael Venon, Cyril Williams Melvin Hous, Etnaldo Benders, John Samuel and Jacob Alexander Read more

Tzu Chi Helps Key To Freedom At First Graduation Ceremony

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation and its volunteers assisted Key to Freedom drug and alcohol rehabilitation center during its first graduation ceremony at Celebration Palace on Sunday, July 26.

The seven Key to Freedom graduates were Gerard Chirlias, Rafael Venon, Cyril Williams Melvin Hous, Etnaldo Benders, John Samuel and Jacob Alexander.

Those who graduated successfully completed the programme at the center and are ready to be reintegrated into society.

As part of its continued efforts to inspire with vegetarian delights, the Tzu Chi donated a number of vegan treats, a Key to Freedom graduation cake, water and non-alcoholic champagne for the event.

A total of 13 Tzu Chi volunteers dedicated part of their Sunday to help prepare the vegetarian items and serve guests.

The vegetarian treats included croquettes, vege chicken sate slice, vege pepper steak slice, bread with tomato brouchette and fruit, cucumber/tuna quiche and journey cakes with cassava cheese.

After serving guests in an organised and uniformed Tzu Chi manner, volunteers remained on hand to help clean up after the event.

Key to Freedom Foundation and its Director Elvison Adamus is a fervent supporter of Tzu Chi Foundation and is usually present to lend a helping hand during Tzu Chi events.

Tzu Chi Commissioner Sandra Cheung said Tzu Chi and its volunteers were more than happy to be able to return the kindness to Key to Freedom.

Key to Freedom Foundation is located at Marigot Hill Road #3 and currently has 12 clients.

Its rehabilitation programme covers drug and alcohol abuse.

The Foundation has five board members Read more

Schoelcher Commemoration In Grand Case: Chance-Duzant Wants “Support For The Little Things We Ask”

Attorney Patricia Chance-Duzant is on a roll during her address. Photo Today / Leo Brown

GRAND CASE, St. Martin – Victor Schoelcher, the 19th-century abolitionist writer who had a large influence on the abolition of slavery in the West Indies, leaves his mark every year in Grand Case when a celebration is held to honor his legacy. Also this year there was the traditional church service, the cultural parade and the speeches on the field next to the village’s cultural center. However, by inviting the chair of Grand Case’s community council Patricia Chance-Duzant to speak, the Collectivité called a lot of criticism upon itself, because the speaker did not mince her words.

“We have a lot of work to do in Grand Case,” Chance-Duzant said Read more

Dutch Police Now Include Internet In Phone Taps

Whatsapp-messages are protected by privacy rules

St. Maarten – Dutch police now automatically intercept internet traffic when setting up a telephone tap, online magazine Computerworld reported yesterday. The news was buried in the justice ministry’s annual report which was published in May and has only now been made public, the website states.

In St. Maarten tapping IP-addresses, for instance to intercept email traffic, is technically possible, press prosecutor Karola van Nie told this newspaper yesterday Read more

Dutch Police Phone Taps Now Automatically Include Internet

HOLLAND - Dutch police now automatically intercept internet traffic when setting up a telephone tap, online magazine Computerworld reports on Thursday.

The news was buried in the justice ministry's annual report which was published in May and has only now been made public, the website states.

In the report, the ministry says officials placed more than 25,181 taps last year, down around 1,000 on 2013.

However, the ministry says in a report footnote that it no longer gives separate figures for internet taps because they are now 'technically and procedurally standard'.

In 2013, investigators placed 17,800 taps on IP addresses.

Privacy group Bits of Freedom (BoF) said the change breaks government pledges to improve transparency Read more

Coalition to outsource schools to private sector

PHILIPSBURG--The private sector soon will be asked to adopt public schools in an effort by the United People's (UP) party-led coalition "to reallocate responsibility to the business community."

This outsourcing seeks to persuade businesses to contribute to the community "in a productive, structured, visible manner," according to the UP-led coalition's "Ready to Work for You" 2014-2018 Governing Programme submitted to the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet on June 9.

It is now up to the cabinet to formulate an execution policy for the "Adopt-A-School" programme in which the private sector will have to participate Read more

Emotional Freedom Techniques (Eft)

ST. PETERS, St. Maarten - St. Maarten's society and many other societies have seen a drastic increase in the stress levels of our citizens. Among the signs of one's body's response to stress, are difficulty sleeping, increased alcohol and other substance use, being easily angered, feeling depressed, and having low energy.

Considering the increasing stress levels among members of our community, recently, over thirty persons attended a free information session on Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), organized by Victorious Living Foundation at the Rupert I Read more

Governing Programme presented to Gumbs

PHILIPSBURG--The United People’s (UP) party-led coalition submitted its 2014-2018 Governing Programme, titled “Ready To Work For You” to Government on Thursday. The presentation comes one day ahead of the coalition’s ninth month in office and almost seven months after the Marcel Gumbs cabinet took office.

UP deputy leader Member of Parliament (MP) Franklin Meyers, MP Tamara Leonard (UP) and independent MPs Leona Romeo-Marlin and Cornelius de Weever presented the Governing Programme to Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs and Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Minister Claret Connor on behalf of the UP/De Weever/Marlin-Romeo/United St Read more

Critical blogger imprisoned and intimidated

Dear Editor,

Mafia figures can have their way, politicians seem to get away anywhere, but a critical blogger intimidated and put in prison. Judith Roumou says what she thinks. And that’s not good — for politicians and other leaders in St. Maarten.

Sometimes rash, rarely nuanced, but always with conviction and humour, she sketches the abuse of power in this part of our Kingdom. Now she is possibly herself the subject of abuse of power. Roumou was arrested last Tuesday for libel, insult and slander Read more

Mp Lake Supports Mp Marlin's Stance On Promoting Nationalism, Patriotism And Cultural Retention

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Today's youth take signals from our generation, United People's (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake said on Tuesday.

This is in connection with fellow MP Hon. Leona Marlin-Romeo call for the promotion of nationalism, patriotism and cultural retention.

"If it is important to us then it becomes important to them Read more

St. Maarten's Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs: "Reparatory Justice Is Gaining Momentum"

GREAT BAY, St. Martin - St. Maarten Prime Minister, Hon. Marcel Gumbs, has made what might be the first direct statement here on Reparations by a leader of government on either part of the island, at the recent Emancipation Day Lecture.

"The movement for reparatory justice is gaining momentum and greater focus than ever before in the Caribbean region," said Prime Minister Gumbs at the University of St Read more

Emotional re-enactment Diamond Estate escape

By John van Kerkhof

COLE BAY--“Early Wednesday, around midnight, a group of people identified as runaway slaves, could be seen crossing the road, hurrying up the slopes of Diamond Hill, rapidly vanishing between the trees and bushes. Only the meagre lights of lanterns assisted them on their way. Shortly after, a man on horseback approached, accompanied by two men with hounds. Several gunshots were fired as the men tried to prevent the group from crossing the border between the Dutch and French sides of the island,” thus could have read the first paragraph of a newspaper report on July 1, 1848, on the escape of 26 slaves from Diamond Estate in Cole Bay running to freedom on the French side.

This historic event, known as the Run for Freedom, was re-enacted on this scenario early Wednesday with much passion and enthusiasm by a group of approximately 100 persons, who took on the roles of fleeing Dutch slaves and their freed peers of the French side.

Like the short but perilous journey of the slaves in 1848, when slavery had just been abolished on the French side, but still existed on the Dutch side, the journey of the “runaway slaves” began at midnight at the Caribbean Auto parking lot to usher in Emancipation Day 2015.

The group, costumed in nineteenth-century clothing trekked barefooted or on sandals through the bushes from Diamond Estate to Bellevue.

Coordinator Clara Reyes said this may very well have been the last possibility to organise a re-enactment on this location, as ongoing development in the area may block off access to hillside paths in the future Read more

Emancipation celebrated at historic Emilio Wilson Estate

CUL DE SAC--St. Maarten's families, dignitaries and artistes gathered for the main Emancipation Day Celebration and Cultural Manifestation, celebrating 152 years since the emancipation proclamation, under the theme “Emancipation from Within-The Voice of Our People” at Emilio Wilson Park on Wednesday, July 1.

The day’s commemorations and celebrations started with an Ecumenical Service at St. Martin of Tours Roman Catholic Church and two Symbolic Wreath Laying Ceremonies by the country’s leaders at the One Tete Lohkay and Freedom Fighters monuments Read more

US, Cuba formally restore diplomatic ties

HAVANA/WASHINGTON--The United States and Cuba formally agreed on Wednesday to restore diplomatic relations on July 20, setting up a trip to Havana by John Kerry, who would become the first U.S. secretary of state to visit the country in 70 years.

Sealed by an exchange of letters between U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro, the deal fulfills a pledge the former Cold War enemies made six months ago Read more