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Eclac Expresses Solidarity And Offers Support To Caribbean Countries Affected By Storms.

Executive Secretary of the UN organization, Alicia Bárcena, sent a letter to Heads of States of all islands struck by the storm season in the last two weeks.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago:--- The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) expressed today its solidarity to all the countries affected by the unprecedented devastating storms that have marched across the Caribbean in the space of two weeks.

In a letter sent to the Heads of States of all Caribbean islands, the Executive Secretary of this United Nations regional Commission, Alicia Bárcena, also offered support and assistance to critical post disaster assessment using ECLAC’s established Damaged and Loss Assessment (DaLA) methodology.

The complete text of Alicia Bárcena’s letter appears below:

Excellencies,

The welfare of your countries and the safety of your peoples remain uppermost in our minds at this time of great uncertainty and distress Read more

National Address Of Prime Minister William Marlin On The Passing Of Hurricane Irma.

St. Maarten, September 5, 2017

My fellow St. Maarteners,

Residents and Visitors of our beautiful island,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Good afternoon

Today is exactly 22 years ago when Hurricane Luis struck St. Maarten and left a trail of destruction in its wake. Normally, on a day like this, we would be looking back and reflecting on how that incredible storm changed our lives.

But today is not a normal day. In a matter of hours, we are expecting another monster storm, Hurricane Irma, to come calling Read more

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Candidates in this article:

My fellow St. Maarteners,
Residents and Visitors of our beautiful island,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

Good afternoon.

Today is exactly 22 years ago when Hurricane Luis struck St. Maarten and left a trail of destruction in its wake. Normally, on a day like this, we would be looking back and reflecting on how that incredible storm changed our lives.
But today is not a normal day. In a matter of hours, we are expecting another monster storm, Hurricane Irma, to come calling. While the lessons we learned from Luis may give us some measure of comfort to face the dangers Irma poses, I want to assure each and every one of you that the most important thing we must safeguard is life itself.
By now, you should have completed all the necessary preparations, including taking care of your pets Read more

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Candidates in this article:

Exclusive: An Assessment On Healthcare On St. Maarten.

SZV funds being drained; Bricks and Blocks will not improve the Quality of Care on St. Maarten.

PHILIPSBURG:--- In this article SMN News will go into details to highlight the current status on quality of Healthcare on St. Maarten and what the Minister of Public Health Emil Lee has done thus far to change the gloom and doom facing the people of St Read more

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Candidates in this article:

St. Maarten National Basketball Association Season Opens In September

~ Because of the weather basketball season will start on the 12 of September ~

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The 2017/2018 basketball season officially kicks off on September 12th, 2017 and the St. Maarten National Basketball Association plans on streaming many of the games live, and is encouraging the community to visit them on the worldwide web at www.sxmnba.com.  Games will be played over a six month period on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays mainly.

721 News spoke with Alex Ferdinand, President of the St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- United Telecommunications Services (UTS) has sponsored 150 HYPE Agendas 2017-2018 for the students of the Charlotte Brookson Academy (CBA) for the Performance Arts. Thanks to the UTS sponsorship each student at the school will receive a complimentary copy of the Agenda to use for this academic year.

UTS Marketing and Communication Officer Ivy Lambert officially handed over the Agendas to the school on Monday, August 28.

CBA Director Claudette Forsythe-Labega said an Agenda is essential to the school life of students and she urged students to make good use of the HYPE Agendas and to ensure that they note down their school assignments and reminders.

Lambert said UTS is pleased to sponsor the Agendas for the students and expressed hope that it is put to good use Read more

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Sundial Turns 50 & Mpc Turns 40 Celebrations Come To A Close

SOUTH REWARD, Sint Maarten — As the new school year commences the Sundial School and Milton Peters College both look back at a successful celebration of their 50th and 40th anniversary respectively.

The celebrations kicked off in October 2016 with a formal reception for key community and governmental partners and continued in February 2017, with a MPC school reunion where approximately 500 past students came out to a meet and greet with past teachers. Though it was tricky to see all your past classmates, those in attendance agreed that it was great fun.

Next a fundraising gala was organized in March in an effort to raise money for the IT projects currently taking place at both schools Read more

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Mp Wescot Inquires About Gebe’S Electricity Supply And Load Shedding

PHILIPSBURG – With the recent spikes (again) in electricity outages/load shedding and GEBE’s statements regarding same, such as regular maintenance, unexpected stoppages, safety concerns, overheating and such, Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams urgently requested Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Development, Environment and Infrastructure Christophe Emmanuel to answer the following questions:

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Human Remains Discovered After 12-Year Search For American Student In Aruba

ORANJESTAD  –  There is another twist to the mystery surrounding the disappearance of American high school graduate Natalee Holloway following the discovery of human remains in this Dutch Caribbean territory.

Holloway, 18, was with friends on a post-high school trip to Aruba in 2005 when she vanished, leaving her loved ones wondering for years what happened to her.

For years, speculation has swirled around Joran van der Sloot, a Dutch national last seen with the Alabama teen at a tourist bar on the island.

With the discovery of the remains, Holloway’s father, Dave Holloway, and private investigator T.J Read more

Mp Wescot Inquires About Gebe’S Electricity Supply And Load Shedding. Questions Initiatives For Alternative Forms Of Energy.

PHILIPSBURG:---With the recent  spikes (again) in electricity outages/load shedding and GEBE's statements regarding same, such as regular maintenance, unexpected stoppages, safety concerns, overheating and such, MP Wescot urgently requested Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Development, Environment and Infrastructure, the Honourable Mr. Christophe Emmanuel to answer the following questions:

nt spikes (again) in electricity outages/load shedding and GEBE's statements regarding same, such as regular maintenance, unexpected stoppages, safety concerns, overheating and such, MP Wescot urgently requested Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Development, Environment and Infrastructure, the Honourable Mr Read more

A Report Card For Members Of Parliament

At the end of every school year, students are evaluated and promoted or not promoted based on their performance during the year. Conversely, at the end of a parliamentary year, Members of Parliament are not evaluated yet they continue in parliament without anyone questioning their achievements, their performance or their competency to function as a parliamentarian.

I have observed that in several countries around the world, political and interest groups are developing report cards for parliamentarians Read more

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Candidates in this article:

Woman Set Ablaze After Refusing To Have Sex With A Man

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent – Police say a man is assisting their investigations as they probe the circumstances that led to a 44-year-old woman being set ablaze in a bed on Sunday.

Relatives of Monique Clarke of Biabou, a town east of here, said that they have been told by hospital officials that if she survives, she will have a very long road to recovery.

Media reports here said that the woman was set ablaze reportedly after she refused to have sex or give money to a man with whom she has had an abusive relationship for the past two years.

Clarke’s sister, Iesha Richardson, said that her sister told her that she was set ablaze as she was lying wrapped in a sheet in her bed.

“If I didn’t know her, I wouldn’t be able to recognise her,” Richardson said, adding that medical personnel at Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) met with relatives on Monday to outline her condition.

“They told me it’s a mixture [of 3rd- and 2nd-degree burns] and if she survives, she has a long, long — as in they [emphasised] the word ‘long’ — way to go, if she survives the ordeal.

“She is swollen, her left eye is burnt, so she is not seeing out of that eye,” Richardson said, adding “they (the doctors) are kind of tight-lipped but I am not stupid.

“I am not a stupid person Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- At the end of every school year, students are evaluated and promoted or not promoted based on their performance during the year. Conversely, at the end of a parliamentary year, Members of Parliament are not evaluated yet they continue in Parliament without anyone questioning their achievements, their performance or their competency to function as a parliamentarian.

I have observed that in several countries around the world, political and interest groups are developing report cards for parliamentarians Read more

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Candidates in this article:

President Of Parliament Sarah Wescot Presented With Reusable Canvas Bags Proposal By Creative Hands.

~ Students learn of Plastic Bag ban initiative. ~

Philipsburg, St. Maarten, August 15th, 2017 – Simran Hotwani & Celine Mayeko-Coklee of Creative Hands recently met with President of Parliament, Sarah Wescot Williams, to share their proposal on eliminating the use of plastic bags through the use of individually-designed reusable canvas shopping bags.

The students learnt of the MP’s proposal to ban plastic bags and were elated to share their project that supports this initiative with the Chairlady of Parliament.

Creative Hands is a student-developed, non-profit organization that aims to encourage youths to artistically solve some of the island’s current issues, such as pollution.

MP Wescot  has been working on a draft initiate law to amend the   police ordinance to ban the use of plastic bags Read more

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Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- Simran Hotwani & Celine Mayeko-Coklee of Creative Hands recently met with President of Parliament, Sarah Wescot Williams, to share their proposal on eliminating the use of plastic bags through the use of individually-designed reusable canvas shopping bags.
The students learned of the MP’s proposal to ban plastic bags and were elated to share their project that supports this initiative with the Chairlady of Parliament.

Creative Hands is a student-developed, non-profit organization that aims to encourage youths to artistically solve some of the island’s current issues, such as pollution.

MP Wescot has been working on a draft initiate law to amend the police ordinance to ban the use of plastic bags Read more

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Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- Simran Hotwani & Celine Mayeko-Coklee of Creative Hands recently met with President of Parliament, Sarah Wescot Williams, to share their proposal on eliminating the use of plastic bags through the use of individually-designed reusable canvas shopping bags.
The students learned of the MP’s proposal to ban plastic bags and were elated to share their project that supports this initiative with the Chairlady of Parliament.

Creative Hands is a student-developed, non-profit organization that aims to encourage youths to artistically solve some of the island’s current issues, such as pollution.

MP Wescot has been working on a draft initiate law to amend the police ordinance to ban the use of plastic bags Read more

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Candidates in this article:

Barbados Pm Defends Controversial National Social Responsibility Levy

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has defended the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) saying the country was dealing “incrementally” with a ‘serious deficit problem”:

Addressing stakeholders to the Barbados Social Partnership meeting here, Stuart defended the near 400 percent increase in the NSRL amid calls from the trade unions and the private sector for either a reduction or a complete repeal of the fiscal measure that came into force at the start of July.

During the budget presentation in May, Finance Minister Chris Sinckler said the NSRL, which was introduced in September last year, would be increased from two to ten percent effective July 1.

According to Sinckler, this increase will result in “increased revenue of $291 million for a full financial year and $218 million for the remaining nine months of the current fiscal year”.

The NSRL was imposed on goods imported into Barbados and on domestically manufactured goods Read more

Message Of Hon. Prime Minister Mr. William Marlin At The Opening Of The Basic Legal Course

St. Maarten, Monday, August 14, 2017.

Our governing program for 2016-2020 is entitled, “Stability for Prosperity”. It is anchored on five strategic objectives, all of which can only be achieved by upgrading our government apparatus.  We are not even one year into this governing period yet and we can see that various initiatives that are geared towards a profound transformation of our society are already taking shape. One of those initiatives is why we are gathered here today. Nobody knows the challenges that this coalition government faces better than the civil servants who do their utmost day in, day out, to give professional support to government Read more

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Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- Our governing program for 2016-2020 is entitled, “Stability for Prosperity”. It is anchored on five strategic objectives, all of which can only be achieved by upgrading our government apparatus. We are not even one year into this governing period yet and we can see that various initiatives that are geared towards a profound transformation of our society are already taking shape. One of those initiatives is why we are gathered here today. Nobody knows the challenges that this coalition government faces better than the civil servants who do their utmost day in, day out, to give professional support to government Read more

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Candidates in this article:

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

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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

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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

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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

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Cal Pilots Raise Safety Concern Over Atr Planes

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad – On the heels of an emergency landing in St Lucia by an ATR aircraft belonging to Caribbean Airlines (CAL), pilots yesterday held a “critical” meeting to discuss safety concerns over the aircraft.

The T&T Guardian was told by a source that the pilots are threatening to ground all flights until CAL rectifies all issues raised by them, including recurring technical problems on aircraft.

Contacted about the meeting held by the T&T Airline Pilots Association (TTALPA) yesterday, CAL communications manager Dionne Ligoure said she was aware but could not comment further on it.

On Sunday, Flight BW434 was forced to make an emergency landing at Hewanorra International Airport in St Lucia after a warning light came on in the aircraft’s cockpit Read more