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PHILIPSBURG:---The Government of St. Maarten has been informed of a series of manifestations that have been ongoing this week. Permission for these manifestations was requested and they have been granted. The government was also informed concerning the willingness of union members to partake in these meetings and manifestations. During the past two days, Prime Minister Jacobs responded to two emails received in relation to the manifestations, including requesting a meeting to follow up and clarify any pending questions.

Prime Minister Jacobs commends the unity being displayed by the workers across the board Read more

Pfp Submits Old, And New, Questions To Doran

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) On June 16, 2020, Party for Progress (PFP) Members of Parliament (MP) Melissa Gumbs and Raeyhon Peterson have submitted questions to the Honorable Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) Egbert C Read more

Usm To Hold Webinar On Human Rights In The Face Of Coivd-19.

PHILIPSBURG:0--- On Saturday, 20 June 2020, the University of St. Martin (USM) in collaboration with the Sint Maarten Anti-Poverty Platform will hold the first-ever webinar with local and international guest experts. The full-day event, open to the public via Zoom and broadcasted via Facebook, will be dedicated to various topics that fall under the theme Human Rights in the Face of COVID-19.

According to USM President Dr. Antonio Carmona Bez, the purpose of this webinar is to create a space for critical reflection and in-depth analysis into the state of human rights since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation on 11 March 2020.

Following lockdown, schools were closed and thousands of formal and informal workers were left without an income Read more

Heyliger-Marten Repeats Demand For Decolonization Following Ipko

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten Whether the recently held IPKO Meeting with the Kingdom Partners will yield fruit is too early to say but departing Members from The Netherlands are now sure that Member of Parliament and Faction Leader for the United Peoples Party Grisha Heyliger-Martens mission to right the wrongs of the Kingdom Charter are only just beginning.

On Sunday Heyliger-Marten issued a statement in which she confirmed that partners within the Kingdom had, and continue to have unresolved disputes since the inception of the Kingdom Charter (het Statuut) in 1955.
Since then, Holland has been using its size and power to impose its will on its Caribbean partners within the Kingdom Read more

POND ISLAND, Sint Maarten – Dear SMCU,
I fail to understand why the correspondence sent to you on Monday June 1st, 2020 is considered disrespectful.

The company simply forwarded a proposal for cost-cutting measures and explained why this is required. We were clear and transparent in our communication as to why we need to proceed in this manner and also as to what costs we need to cut/are looking at cutting, in an attempt to safeguard the company and all the employees. No disrespect was meant, we are merely looking for a way in which we can cooperate to achieve what we must.

In that respect, the fact that the Unions president went to the media and made several untrue and unfounded accusations about management mismanaging the company, does not contribute to such a cooperation between parties Read more

Group Of Teachers Willing To Accept Proposed Cuts, Says W.I.T.U Does Not Speak For Entire Teaching Population.

PHILIPSBURG:--- A group of teachers that Franklin Jeffers is representing has penned a letter to the Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion informing that they are ready to accept the proposed cuts for the years 2020 and 2021. The teachers in their letter said they are ready to accept their full salaries, and the proposed 50% cut in vacation pay for both years, while they envisioned having their vacation pay reimbursed by 200% in the year 2022.
The group of teachers also explained that they stand in solidarity with the entire island in these trying times and also made clear that while the Windward Islands Teachers Union (W.I.T.U) is a respectable organization they do not represent the entire teaching population.
The letter reads below.
Dear Honorable Minister Ardwell Irion,

We are a group of concerned teachers who have taken note of the proposed cuts by the government Read more

Open Letter To Minister Irion

Dear Honorable Minister Ardwell Irion,

We are a group of concerned teachers who have taken note of the proposed cuts by the government. While everyone would love for our finances to be stable, we acknowledge the limitations of our coffers.

Therefore, it is reasonable to accept our current salaries as we move forward and half of our vacation pay for 2020 and 2021 Read more

Government To Honor Frontline Workers, Parents Ask For Children Participation.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The -Government will be honoring Frontline Heroes on Friday announced Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs at the Council of Ministers Press Briefing on Wednesday. Parents are hereby informed that children with frontline career day costume to send it by email to the government of St. Maarten. Emails should be sent to pmtalks@sintmaartengov.org, the names of the child must also be included in the email Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Year eight indeed shaped up to be a great one for the regions largest cancer fundraiser across the English and Dutch Caribbean CIBC FirstCaribbeans Walk for the Cure.

Partnership with the Positive Foundation and Adtalem Global Education on St. Maarten heightened the awareness, raising a grand total of USD $16,000 for the benefit of the Positive Foundation.

The donation supports the foundations endeavors which are geared towards stimulating, educating and activating the consciousness of the community on aspects of self-responsibility towards overall health improvement, and in particular, towards breast cancer Read more

Second Chamber Fully Supports Loan Conditions

THE HAGUE – The Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament is in full support of setting conditions to the financial assistance for Aruba, Curaao and St. Maarten, it became clear during a plenary debate on Wednesday. Above all, Dutch funding should help the large group of needy persons on the islands and certainly not benefit the small group of the rich elite.

The poor man should not suffer. They need our help in this crisis situation. The broadest shoulders should carry the biggest weight, said Member of Parliament (MP) Nevin ztok of the green left party GroenLinks, who pointed out like many of her colleagues in the Second Chamber that the humanitarian urgency was high, and that a swift start of the reforms by the countries was needed to increase resilience and to realise growth.

In that sense, there was full support for the proposal of State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops to link the second tranche of liquidity support to Aruba, Curaao and St Read more

Pfp Questions Samuel Over Mpc Exam Class Letter

PHILISPBURG On 18 May 2020, the Party for Progress faction has submitted questions to the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sports, the Honorable Drs. Rudolph Samuel, related to an open letter to the Minister by students of the Milton Peters Colleges HAVO 5 and VWO 6 exam classes.

The faction begins with questions specifically related to the students letter, inquiring if Minister Samuel had reviewed and read the open letter and what, if any, spot-assessments had been made at MPC and other schools that have been using e-learning as a solution to the physical closure of schools.

The letter caught us off-guard, PFP MP Raeyhon Peterson says Read more

Cost Cutting Measures Discussed With Unions Government Awaiting Further Feedback From Ccsu

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – On Wednesday, May 13th, the Council of Ministers met with the unions for a second time, to discuss the proposed cost-cutting measures for Government. Some of these suggestions directly influence Civil Servants, thus deeming it necessary to discuss these measures with the spokespersons of the Committee of Civil Servants Unions (CCSU). This was the second meeting held with the Unions to discuss cost-cutting measures. During the first meeting, Government made the following proposal: cut its own salary by another 5% which is a total 20% cut 10% off salaries over NA 8,000 Cut of vacation pay 2020 off salaries over NA 4000 Also included in the proposal is freezing or postponement of bonuses etc.

None of the proposed cost-cutting measures would apply to anyone making under NA 4.000, -, which the Minister of Finance stressed in his opening remarks during the press briefing earlier that Wednesday Read more

Cost Cutting Measures Discussed With Unions.

Government awaiting further feedback from CCSU

PHILIPSBURG:---  On Wednesday, May 13th, the Council of Ministers met with the unions for a second time, to discuss the proposed cost-cutting measures for Government. Some of these suggestions directly influence Civil Servants, thus deeming it necessary to discuss these measures with the spokespersons of the Committee of Civil Servants Unions (CCSU). This was the second meeting held with the Unions to discuss cost-cutting measures. During the first meeting, Government made the following proposal:
cut its own salary by another 5% which is a total 20% cut
10% off salaries over NA 8,000
Cut of vacation pay 2020 off salaries over NA 4000
Also included in the proposal is freezing or postponement of bonuses etc.

None of the proposed cost-cutting measures would apply to anyone making under NA 4.000, -, which the Minister of Finance stressed in his opening remarks during the press briefing earlier that Wednesday Read more

Prime Minister & Chair Of The Eoc Silveria Jacobs National Address On Covid-19 Developments May 11, 2020

National Address

People of St. Maartenhere and abroad, I hereby address you as Prime Minister and Chair of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), in anupdate for today, Monday,May11, 2020,as part of the process to keep the community of St. Maarten informed about the latest developments and the Governments COVID-19 containment, mitigation and response measures.

I would like to take this time, one day post Mother’s Day, to wish each and every mother, mother figure and a person who makes an impact on our youth. Know that you are appreciated every day and that I’m very happy we had the opportunity yesterday, to relax and be put in the sunshine and receive our due as mothers Read more

 People of St. Maartenhere and abroad, I hereby address you as PriPrime Minister & Chair of the EOC Silveria Jacobs National Address on COVID-19 Developments May 11, 2020me Minister and Chair of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), in an update for today, Monday,May11, 2020,as part of the process to keep the community of St Read more

St Maarten Anti Poverty Platform / St Maarten Consumers Coalition.

1. What is the governing program of this NA-UP government?
2. Will the Kingdom Council of Ministers amend the St Maarten Support and Relief Plan ?
3. What are the measures the Council of Ministers will present to Parliament next week?
4. Preliminary thoughts as union leader on the measures proposed by the Minister of Finance
5. How many homes have been build back better and stronger?
Topic 1. What is the governing program of this NA-UP government?
For us as Anti-Poverty Platform we are of the opinion that one of the objectives of a governing program and of the annual budgets should be that the more than 13,000 households have to be taken out of poverty Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister and Chair of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Silveria Jacobs hereby updates the general public for today, Thursday, April 30, 2020, as part of the process to keep the community of St. Maarten informed about the latest developments and the Governments COVID-19 containment, mitigation and response measures.

COVID-19 Cases

Based on the latest available data, as updated by CPS Epidemiologist Eva Lista-de Weever, the counts for April 30, 2020 as of4:00 PM are as follows:

Self-Quarantine:         145Self-Isolation:             104Number Hospitalized:     7 (-1) Number Tested:          329Number Positive:          76 Male:                             54Female:                         22Number Negative:      251 (+20)Number Pending:            1(-1)Inconclusive:                  1Deceased:                      13 +1Recovered:                    44Active Cases:                19

This week, CPS launched an educational video on proper mask usage featuring Hygiene and Infection Control Practitioner Glenda Severin Read more

COLE BAY:--- As a long-standing corporate citizen, Motorworld Group stands with the community of St. Maarten/ St. Martin, and the world, during these trying times in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Our commitment to the community has remained steadfast through the highs and lows of life. Therefore, Motorworld has gone above and beyond to purchase these masks and give them away free of charge to these major organizations that are working on the frontlines in order to protect their workers, our Frontline Heroes, and also, the community that they serve Read more

Solidarity Is A Two-Way Street, Says Mp Van Dam

THE HAGUE – Solidarity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands is a lovely principle, but it needs to be mutual and equally invested in by all partners, according to Member of the Second Camber of the Dutch Parliament Chris van Dam of the Christian Democratic Party CDA.

One of the most beautiful articles in our Charter is article 36 which states that the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaao and St Read more

Caribbean Covid 19 Update

ST. KITTS & NEVIS

St. Kitts and Nevis Government to Extend 24-Hour Curfew from 6:00am Saturday, April 18, 2020 at 6:00am to Saturday, April 25, 2020 at 6:00am

Basseterre, St. Kitts (April 16, 2020) There are currently 14 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis. A total of 239 persons have been tested, 14 of whom were confirmed positive with 188 persons confirmed negative, 37 test results pending and 0 deaths. 0 persons are quarantined in a government facility while 111 persons are currently being quarantined at home and 14 persons are in isolation Read more

Usm Holds First-Ever Virtual Town Hall Assembly

Pond Island —-With an attendance of 78 students and instructors, the University of St. Martin (USM) held its first ever virtual town hall assembly on Tuesday, April 14, 2020. The purpose of said event was to provide an opportunity for administration to receive feedback from the academic community on the temporary transition to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the electronic platform Zoom, popular among colleges and universities worldwide, participants were able to see each other, have their questions answered,express their appreciation for this alternative and share their concerns about the challenges to working and studying from home.

We can all feel proud of ourselves and what we have achieved until now, said USM President Dr Read more

Pond Island: ----With an attendance of 78 students and instructors, the University of St. Martin (USM) held its first-ever virtual town hall assembly on Tuesday, April 14, 2020. The purpose of the said event was to provide an opportunity for the administration to receive feedback from the academic community on the temporary transition to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the electronic platform Zoom, popular among colleges and universities worldwide, participants were able to see each other, have their questions answered, express their appreciation for this alternative and share their concerns about the challenges to working and studying from home.
We can all feel proud of ourselves and what we have achieved until now, said USM President Dr Read more

Compels New Strategies, Urgent Need To Deputizing Core Tasks.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Gracita Arrindell said we keep all our First Responders including law enforcement agencies in our Prayers.
Our Nation follows their orders as our people continue to prepare to emerge a healthier and wiser after this COVID-19 world pandemic is behind us. In order to be successful at our recovery, it requires an evaluation of our current state of affairs, adjusts where needed in order to move forward triumphantly

Arrindell states: Sint Maarten people deserve to know how we are prepared for the upcoming hurricane season while, our fight to mitigate - ultimately get a grip on the pandemic continues Read more

Tzu Chi Donates Masks To Critical Organizations

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – In an effort to help protect front line workers and vulnerable groups against the highly infectious coronavirus COVID-19 disease, the St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation has donated a number of masks to a number of critical organizations for the added protection of their workers and clients.

In recent days, a large quantity of masks was donated to representatives of the St. Maarten Police Force, Pointe Blanche Prison, Miss Lalie Center Youth Detention Facility, Home Away from Home Taking Care of the Elderly Foundation, Hope Estate Recreational Center for the elderly, Hurricane Irma Integration Shelter as well as to individual volunteers and community leaders, who are constantly out assisting persons in the community.

Tzu Chi St Read more