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PHILIPSBURG:---  The Honorable Minister of Justice, Anna E. Richardson, and the Honorable Minister of Finance, Ardwell Irion, accompanied by their support staff, recently concluded a significant milestone by presenting computed calculations for Justice employees to His Excellency Ajamu Baly, the Governor of Sint Maarten.

This presentation marks the final stage in the comprehensive process led by the Minister of Finance, leading up to the submission of a budget amendment to the Parliament of Sint Maarten.

The legislative journey encompasses several vital steps Read more

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BONAIRE:--- With regards to The Dutch government uses internetconsultatie https://www.internetconsultatie.nl/wolbesfinbes/b1 to collect ideas from residents and organizations, including NGOs, about legislative proposals. That these so-called consultations would be your chance to have your say on new laws before they become final.
The call for organizations to react or give input to the Law change WolBES and FinBES process, please find Bonaire Human Rights Organization's reaction and objection hereunder to the intention to legitimize the illegal BES laws:
Unjust acts do not create law.
The BES laws with respect to Bonaire in particular were created on an unjust unlawful base, as the democratic power and responsibility of the Bonaire people were reversed and subordinated back under The Hague overseas colonial rule on October 10, 2010 Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---  Minister Silveria Jacobs engaged in a productive meeting with the President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Mr. Hyginus Leon, to discuss the potential benefits of Sint Maartens membership in the esteemed regional financial institution.

The meeting highlighted the shared vision of both parties to foster greater regional collaboration and towards achieving sustainable development in the Caribbean Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Department of Sport & Culture is excited to announce its continued partnership with NAGICO Insurances to host the Annual Health, Sport & Culture EXPO. The event will take place at the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex on Saturday, August 26th, from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm and admission is free.

We want to applaud NAGICO Insurances for their continued partnership in this event, and for seeing the importance of such a collaboration with the Sports & Culture Departments, Drs Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Today Claudius Buncamper generously lends his support to the group of VWO 5 students, who will visit the Anne Frank Realschule in Ahaus Germany in October of this year. Students of that school had visited Sint Maarten and MPC last schoolyear and the VWO 5 students will pay them a return visit just after the October break Read more

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~Increase in the interest rates, if conditions are not met, is exacerbating the already precarious situation of the countries and AGAINST our development.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- In assessing where we are financially and economically, the DP leader did not mince any words when she first directed her view to the Dutch government: Even though they are in a caretakers state, I continue to remind the Dutch government of their responsibility to assist in our countrys sustainable growth Read more

United People's Party Extends Gratitude For Successful 2023 Convention, Recognizes Outstanding Contributions.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The United People's Party (UP Party) has expressed heartfelt gratitude to the general public and the more than seven hundred attendees who made the UP Party's 2023 Convention an unparalleled success. Held on Sunday, August 13, at the esteemed Aleeze Convention Center, the event was a remarkable display of unity, strength, and meticulous organization.
Distinguished by an impressive parade, the convention saw the dynamic leadership duo of Member of Parliament, the Honorable Rolando Brison, securing his reelection as the UP Party leader, and Minister Omar Ottley officially being elected as the Deputy Leader Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- This Saturday, August 12, 2023, Ms. Tefari Prevoo Francisco, returned from a five-week summer intensive music program at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. She successfully completed this preliminary course to the Bachelor program and received a glowing introductory letter from Mr. Witness Matlou, a South African Jazz Pianist and a music theory professor at Berklee. Ms. Tefari Prevoo Franciscos participation in the course was made possible through assistance by the Division of Study Financing, the Department of Culture, and the Cabinet of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sport (MECYS) Read more

Rogerrel Mauricia Concern By Custom Officers Working Conditions

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — President of the NAPB, Rogerrel Mauricia, has responded to a recent article circulating on social media and in newspapers in Sint-Maarten. The article highlights the concerns raised by custom officers regarding their working conditions and salaries. The president of NAPB Sint-Maarten was also contacted by his counterpart from Curacaos union S.T.R.A.F.F., which represents custom officers and police, when the news broke.

During the meetings held by NAPB Sint-Maarten in early August 2023, this union leader visited the custom office and observed that the current structure of the custom department is problematic, potentially leading to issues Read more

Napb President Lending Support To Customs Workers.

PHILIPSBURG:--- President of the NAPB, Rogerrel Mauricia, has responded to a recent article circulating on social media and in newspapers in Sint-Maarten. The article highlights the concerns raised by customs officers regarding their working conditions and salaries. The president of NAPB Sint-Maarten was also contacted by his counterpart from Curacaos union S.T.R.A.F.F., which represents customs officers and police when the news broke.

During the meetings held by NAPB Sint-Maarten in early August 2023, this union leader visited the customs office and observed that the current structure of the customs department is problematic, potentially leading to issues Read more

Customs Officers Are Calling On The Minister Of Justice To Address Their Concerns.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Customs workers on St. Maarten have reached their limit and have made a public call to the Minister of Justice Anna Richardson to address their concerns as well as their working conditions.
The Customs officers that reached out to SMN News said they held a meeting with the Minister of Justice and the ABVO union where they expressed their grievances but to date, the Minister has not taken any action to resolve the issues and she did not reach out to them.
The customs officers claim in a letter said they need working dogs since the trained working dogs play a vital role in detecting contraband while safeguarding the countrys borders Read more

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~ The UPP was not formed to benefit one individual or their families Franklyn Meyers.~

PHILIPSBURG: --- Despite the infighting and political backstabbing, the United Peoples Party led by Rolando Brison is back as their supporters showed up in large numbers showing their support for the new and reformed UPP the green machine.
On Sunday evening persons within the St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sport, drs. Rodolphe Samuel extends heartfelt condolences to the community of St. Maarten, friends, and family of the late Roberto Celestino Arrindell.

It is safe to say that the community of Sint Maarten has lost a community advocate, educator, and cultural icon that exemplifies what it means to be a true St Read more

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Us Party: The Abuse Of Our Most Vulnerable Must Stop

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Leader of the US party Mrs. Pamela Gordon-Carty on Sunday expressed great displeasure in how the citizens of country St. Maarten are being treated, especially senior citizens. In her opinion the same rhetoric is used every election to capture the vote of senior citizens after which they are forgotten while their cries continue to fall on deaf ears. I want to publicly convey my disgust with the behavior of promising in vain and using the weaknesses of this vulnerable group to roll in votes, it is a total disgrace, said Gordon-Carty.

The US party leader insisted that too many political games are played instead of dealing with what she termed low hanging fruit Read more

Attorney At Law Sjamira Roseburg Inspires & Motivates St. Dominics Fifth Formers

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — On Tuesday, August 8th, URSM Candidate, Ms Sjamira Roseburg, was invited to St Dominic High School to speak to their current Fifth Formers. The topic of her speech incorporated the theme Preparation For the Real World with International Sights. Ms. Roseburg commenced by sharing her inspirational journey towards becoming a successful attorney which in turn led to the establishment of her very own law firm Consider It Solved by Roseburg and Partners Read more

Policy Needed To Curtail Drug And Alcohol Abuse.

PHILIPSBURG: --- The Minister of Justice has decided to start a public campaign in order to bring awareness about the high level of alcohol and drug abuse among young people in St. Maarten.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Dr. Tasheena Maccow Thomas of Turning Point said that there has been an increase in the use of drugs among young people in St. Maarten. Over the past two years, there has been an increase in drug and alcohol abuse, Young people are not only using marijuana, but they are also using cocaine and popping pills Read more

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WASHINGTON, D.C:---  The World Bank has approved a US$8 million grant that will exclusively focus on improving mental health services in Sint Maarten.

The Improving Mental Health Services Project is the twelfth project to be approved as part of the Sint Maarten Trust Fund Program. First proposed in 2021, the team led by World Bank experts made great strides over the last year to strategically design a project that brings sustainable, transformative benefits for the Sint Maarten population Read more

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~ Internal protocols discussed ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- "I am truly surprised by the recent public remarks made by a member of the Teaching fraternity of St.Maarten. Even more surprising is these remarks are from an educational assistant, Ms. Glenda Mussen who also is the General Secretary of WITU," said Stuart Johnson President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) Read more

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Foresee Secures Funding For Its 3Rd Season Of Soualichi Stories

Part of the Soualichi Stories season three team, from left: Claudette Forsythe-Labega, Ralph Cantave, Jose Sommers, Kevin Suppa Petrona and Julia Grigg during one of their planning sessions.

PHILIPSBURG--Foresee Foundation announced on Sunday that it has secured funding for its third season of Soualichi Stories, which has the subtitle, Keeping Oral History Alive.

The money for Foresees project comes from the two million euros in funding that the Dutch government granted to the Dutch Cultural Participation Fund for the Memorial Year of Slavery, which runs from July 1, 2023, to July 1, 2024 Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- As part of the SMILE Jobseeker Course Program in the run-up to the St. Maarten Innovations, Initiatives and Industries Link-Up Event (SMILE), St. Maarten-born entrepreneur John A.M. Sandiford presented his "Personal Finance" Masterclass, 6-INGS. The masterclass is intended to coach financial literacy & planning on the often-tough road toward a dream job, taking into account the need for saving, investing, and personal growth development.

Based on his own previous struggles to make amends as a student in the Netherlands as well as his first steps as an entrepreneur, Sandiford created a personal finance framework that grew into a course that has helped out many students and young professionals in both the Caribbean as well as the Netherlands Read more

~Crisis Management Trainers Equipped to Safeguard St Maarten~

PHILIPSBURG:---  The Ministry of General Affairs recently achieved a significant milestone with the successful completion of the Training of Trainers course of the Fostering Resilient Crisis Management Project (FRCM-Project). The FRCM-Project facilitated by RESEMBID, and funded by the European Union, was an intensive training aimed at assembling and educating a group of competent crisis management trainers. These trainers will now play a crucial role in delivering crisis management training, workshops, and information sessions to internal as well as external parties in St Read more

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Mp Grisha Heyliger-Marten Reminds Ministers Of Growing Backlog Of Responses

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — During a joint press briefing with her colleague MP Sarah-Wescot Williams on July 18th, MP Grisha Heyliger-Marten, expressed her concerns about numerous pending meetings and the lack of timely responses from letters to Government within the legal timeframes set out in the Rules of Order of Parliament.

Just last week alone, my office sent out reminders to three individual Ministers, Heyliger-Marten stated in a press release issued on Tuesday afternoon.

According to Heyliger-Marten, the Hon Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- We did not stumble into the present, and are not stumbling into our future, said Prof. Hillary Beckles to the CARICOM and African Union (AU) representatives at one session of the Reparations and Racial Healing Study Tour in Barbados, July 24 28, 2023.
The CARICOM-AU conference brought together perspectives from government and civil society leaders and Reparations advocates from the Caribbean, Africa, and African Diaspora communities on developing a unified front on Reparations from historical crimes Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---  Fabio Doralice, is excited to announce the relative success of the pilot project for the Craft & Farmers Market. The market, held under the banner of Le Sommet Foundation, aimed to gauge community interest and support for local farmers and artisans. The results have been promising, and we are thrilled to continue the project with some notable enhancements.
Throughout the pilot period, the Craft & Farmers Market garnered net positive feedback from both vendors and patrons Read more

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