SXMElections.com

Island Initiatives To Restore Coral Reefs

Each of the six islandsAruba, Bonaire, Curaao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maartenhas taken unique and proactive measures to address the challenges facing their reefs. The restoration efforts by local nature conservation organizations were presented during the recent Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) Reef Restoration Workshop and are critical in ensuring the health and longevity of these underwater treasures for many years to come.

Aruba: Building a Future for Coral Reefs

Arubas reef restoration efforts are spearheaded by the Aruba Conservation Foundation (ACF), which has been actively working to revive and sustain the island’s coral ecosystems Read more

Gumbs Asks Cbcs To Correct Controversial Billboard In Town

The CBCS billboard near the Salt Pickers roundabout in Philipsburg.

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Finance Marinka Gumbs has requested that Central Bank of Curaao and St. Maarten (CBCS) President Richard Doornbosch have what she referred to as the controversial billboard promoting the new Caribbean guilder, which is placed near the Salt Pi Read more

Film Director Joel Ayuk: I Like To Think IVe Opened Doors For Film-Making In St. Martin

Joel Ayuk (right) with Nigerian actor Enyinne Nwigwe who plays policeman husband Mike in the film with their respective Best Screenplay and Best Male Actor awards at the Cameroon International Film Festival.

 

By Robert Luckock

MARIGOT--Joel Ayuk, director, writer and producer of the well-received domestic violence drama Chokehold, is set to depart for the 77th Cannes Film Festival in France, the most prestigious of all the film festivals, joining an array of international film directors, judges, revered actors and A-list celebrities.

The full-length movie Chokehold was filmed entirely in St Read more

Carnival Restructuring Policy Released In National Gazette

PHILIPSBURG--The Ministry of Justice, under the guidance of former Minister Anna Richardson, has published a new policy aimed at restructuring St. Maarten Carnival.

As stated in the recent publication of the National Gazette, the decision followed in response to a number of challenges currently facing the annual event, including inconsistent management structures, financial instability, under-representation of local culture, safety concerns and the need for better integration of technological advancements Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- A new project aims to assess key land areas for biodiversity in St. Maarten. The foundation Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) has been selected to conduct the terrestrial baseline biodiversity assessment, as part of the CORENA project. The CORENA project (Coastal Resilience and Needs Assessments) was initiated by the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) and is being executed in partnership with the Nature Foundation, through the European Union-supported RESEMBID grant programme.

The objective of the CORENA project is to provide information to guide sustainable management of various habitats found in Sint Maarten, with several components Read more

Ursm Unveils 10-Year Vision For Country St. MaartenS Autonomy

Candidates and supporters of Unified Resilient St Maarten Movement

PHILIPSBURG--Unified Resilient St. Maarten Movement (URSM) has laid out an ambitious roadmap for the next decade, presenting a comprehensive manifesto that addresses key sectors and outlines transformative projects for the future of Country St Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---  Sint Maarten will work to advance its progress towards sustainable and resilient management of the islands coastal and marine environment through a 633,000 research-based project supported by the RESEMBID grant programme.

The Coastal Resilience Needs Assessment (CORENA) project is a partnership between the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure (VROMI), and the non-profit conservation organization Nature Foundation St Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---: An extraordinary display of engagement and collaboration by a group of civil servants who submitted a letter with 116 questions to Minister Omar Ottley, highlighting their concerns and questions regarding the eagerly awaited Ottley Care (SAAHA), was met with enthusiasm and appreciation at the Government Administration Building on Tuesday, October 10th Read more

Climate Scenarios And A Climate Impact Atlas For Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, And Saba.

BONAIRE:--- The (Dutch) Caribbean islands are facing unprecedented challenges posed by climate change, including rising sea levels, intensifying hurricanes, heat waves, and heavy rainfall. In response to these threats, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) has published climate scenarios for the BES islands. In addition, a collaborative effort is underway to develop a Climate Impact Atlas for the BES islands, providing a crucial foundation for informed decision-making and sustainable development Read more

~ November 6 -8 Symposium: The Future of Sustainable Healthcare in Sint Maarten ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of VSA, in collaboration with SZV Social & Health Insurances, is thrilled to announce an unprecedented symposium with the goal of formulating a five-year vision on sustainable healthcare in Sint Maarten. The event will take place from November 6 8, 2023, at the Belair Community Center and seeks to harmonize the efforts of all key players in the local health sector to navigate the numerous challenges and carve a path toward a robust and sustainable healthcare future.
Minister of VSA, Mr Read more

Mr. Chairman, Members of Parliament, Good Morning,

As stipulated in our constitution, I now stand before you on this second Tuesday in September, to set out the policy to be pursued by the Government in the coming parliamentary year 2023-2024.

Since 2021, reform measures have been established as part of the mutual agreement with the Netherlands in exchange for financial support, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Structural reforms for the improvement and restructuring of government are in the areas of Financial Control, Cost and Effectiveness of the Public Sector, Taxes, Financial Sector, Economic Reforms, Health, Education, and Strengthening the Rule of Law.

From the very beginning, the Government of Sint Maarten has stressed the importance of the National Development Vision as instructions for all of Sint Maarten's development, including these reform measures Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Justice, under the leadership of Minister Anna E. Richardson, marked a groundbreaking milestone in event planning efficiency with an insightful seminar aimed at enhancing the event permit application process. On August 3rd, 2023, Minister Richardson spearheaded a comprehensive session designed to foster transparency, regulatory compliance, and harmonious collaboration between event organizers and government authorities.
The seminar addressed a pressing concern within the event-organizing community, where events were frequently conceptualized and marketed prior to obtaining the necessary permits Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for 81% of all deaths in the region of the Americas, of which 34% befall prematurely in people below the age of 70 years. The main NCDs that affect the region as well as St Maarten are cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and respiratory diseases. The PAHO/WHO STEPwise approach to NCD risk factor surveillance (STEPS) is a simple, standardized method for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data on key NCDs and their risk factors Read more

Ccrif Launches 2023 Scholarship And Internship Programmes For Caribbean Nationals Supporting TomorrowS Leaders Today.

~Supporting young people to do their part on the journey to making the Caribbean the first climate-resilient region in the world!~

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands:---CCRIF invites Caribbean nationals to apply for its scholarship and internship programmes for 2023 (https://www.ccrif.org/scholarship and https://www.ccrif.org/ccrif-uwi-scholarships for scholarships and https://www.ccrif.org/regional-internship-programme for internships). Since 2010, CCRIF has been providing undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships to Caribbean nationals in areas related to disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, meteorology, environmental management, and civil engineering among others Read more

~ Working committee will be established to work on better cooperation.~

PHILIPSBURG/MARIGOT:--- Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs Honorable Ms. Silveria Jacobs announces the successful conclusion of extensive discussions related to the border between Sint Maarten and Saint-Martin. The dialogues were aimed at fostering mutual understanding and cooperation and after diplomatic negotiations, an agreement was reached on a new treaty that will define the shared border on the island Read more

Political Parties Smcp And Map Will Contest Upcoming Elections One

GREAT BAY – After much discussion, the Millennial Advancement Party (MAP) under the leadership of Peter J. Gittens, and the St. Maarten Christian Party (SMCP) led by Wycliffe Smith, have decided to contest the Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Two of five political parties that registered to contest the parliamentary elections slated for Monday September 26th 2016 plans to merge in order to capture the Christian population in one group. SMN News learnt from well-placed sources that the St. Maarten Christian Party (SMCP) headed by Pastor Wycliffe Smith and the Millennial Advancement Party” (MAP) headed by Peter Gittens intends to merge and they will be making the announcement next Tuesday when the SMCP presents its manifesto.
While Pastor Smith is well known in the Christian community Gittens is also known in the Adventist Church where he plays music Read more

New Political Parties Balk At Postponement Of Elections

From left Peter Gittens, Daniel Ortega, Loekie Morales, Mercedes van der Waals-Wyatt and Wycliffe Smith. Photo contributed

St Read more

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

Seven New Political Parties Report For 2016 Elections

St. Maarten – An astonishing number of seven new political parties reported to the offices of the Electoral Council yesterday to submit their request to be registered for the February 9 elections. Among them is the St. Maarten Christian Party, led by Pastor Wycliffe Smith. On the other hand, the party of European Dutch residents did not show up, reportedly because they did not have enough time to prepare their documentation.

With the seven new parties – if they get all their formalities in order – the field for the elections will consist of eleven and possibly twelve parties Read more