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Coci: Land Granted By Lake, Not Connor

PHILIPSBURG--It was former Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Maurice Lake, who granted St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry (COCI) a parcel of land in the vicinity of the ring road, and not former Minister < Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Chief Commissioner of Police Carl John, Head of the Detective Department Commissioner Denise Jacobs and Acting Head of the Uniform Division Chief Inspector Benjamin Gout received a courtesy visit on Wednesday July 20th at the Police Head Quarters from Mr. Claret Connor Executive Director of the St Maarten Chamber of Commerce, Mr Read more

Coci Concerned About The Decisions Taken Not To Issue Hurricane Passes To Businesses.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Board of directors of the St Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry (COCI) has taken keen notice of Government’s decision to discontinue the issuance of the Hurricane passes to the St Maarten Business Community..
COCI, has pooled its membership, there in a number of hotels and guest house properties owners and managers, in an effort to obtain their sentiments on the decision of the government, ( published via the local media on May 3rd 2016, In its press release stating: “hurricane pass application process starts May 3rd, no passes for business owners and hotel staff”) to suddenly cease the issuance of Hurricane Passes for the 2016.
In recent years the Government issued photo ID “hurricane” passes to business owners and key hotel personnel, upon approved request, but decided to drastically change this policy, without any prior consultation on the matter.
COCI Board, through its Executive Director Mr Read more

Meyers To Pursue Parking Garage On Kim Sha Beach In Spite Of Lien

SIMPSON BAY--Infrastructure Minister Angel Meyers said Wednesday he intends to proceed with the development of a parking garage on the former Kim Sha property on Simpson Bay Beach in spite of the existing lien levied by Tesi N.V., a part of the Port de Plaisance Group.

 Meyers said in the Council of Ministers Press Briefing that he will also look into holding former Infrastructure Minister Claret Connor "liable" for "any obstruction" to the parking garage project and for "reckless conduct" for signing an agreement with Tesi N.V Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- From February 3-8, 2016, youth baseball clinics will be held on St. Maarten for youngster and coaches. The clinics are an initiative of Jeffrey Richardson together with Representatives of the Board of Directors and Executive board of the Piper Davis National Youth Baseball League.
The clinics will be facilitated by former MLB players Tom McGraw, Andrew Dixon, Rafael Skeete along with the league’s team of athletic directors and coaches Read more

Scell’S Journalism Course Starts At Usm.

PHILIPSBURGL--- On February 2nd 2016 The University of St.Martin’s School of Continuing Education & Life-Long Learning, (SCELL)’s, Journalism course commenced.

The course, “Journalism, Understanding What’s New About News” had started out as a vision of the Member of Parliament, Hon. Tamara Leonard and the “I AM SXM” foundation, and through a collaborative initiative between the former Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic & Telecommunications (TEATT), Mr Read more

Here are the basics about Ms. LaToya Lake.

PHILIPSBURG:--- A ‘daughter of the soil’ this married mother of one is a certified lab technician who is also a qualified pharmacist assistant. Her free time is spent playing basketball and commentating for the LBC (Ladies Basketball Championship) the island’s newly developed women’s basketball league, who just happen to be in their second season!
And unless you’ve been living under a rock and didn’t hear about it, she wrote the book ‘It’s Like Déjà Vu with You,’ which was launched and overwhelmingly well received.
“The feedback has been amazing Read more

Six Awarded Scholarships To Attend Scell’S Journalism Course Starting February 1St At Usm

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten —When B. Hassel, Nzinga Lake, Charity Dunker, Cornelius Marie, Morenika Arrindell and Merlyn Williams attended what was slated to be an orientation and informative session on Journalism on December 21, a specialized certification program course, offered by the University of St. Martin (USM) under its newest division SCELL, they received an early Christmas gift of having been recipients of scholarships to cover tuition costs.

They are only required to pay significantly low costs for the textbooks required for instruction Read more

Six Awarded Scholarships To Attend Scell’S Journalism Course Starting February 1St At Usm.

PHILIPSBURG:--- When B. Hassel, Nzinga Lake, Charity Dunker, Cornelius Marie, Morenika Arrindell and Merlyn Williams attended what was slated to be an orientation and informative session on Journalism on December 21, a specialized certification program course, offered by the University of St. Martin (USM) under its newest division SCELL, they received an early Christmas gift of having been recipients of scholarships to cover tuition costs. They are only required to pay significantly low costs for the textbooks required for instruction.The course will be facilitated by Ms.Wendie Brown and coordinated by Dr Read more

Minister Sams Provides Public Transportation Sector With Copies Of Draft National Decree

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – On October 23rd at the Stafbureau of the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT), Minister Ernest Sams made good on part of his promise and presented to representatives of various taxi and bus associations on the island a translated version of the draft national decree on public transportation.

This draft national decree being worked on currently serves the purpose of providing a bridge between the existing ordinance which is more than 40 years old and a new national ordinance on public transportation slated to be sent to parliament in 2016. 

The draft national decree was distributed to those present and they were requested to review it and provide their feedback as part of the stakeholder consultation process within four weeks.

In the two hour meeting with public transportation stakeholders, Minister Sams and his Cabinet, Secretary General of Ministry TEATT and the Head of the Inspection Department TEZVT held an interactive discussion with the various association board members on the challenges faced by the industry including the influx of unsanctioned operators, industry trends and changes, areas of potential mutual collaboration.

What was also stressed in the meeting by Minister Sams and his team was the need for individual accountability, teamwork and professionalism by all Read more

Sxm Airways Gets Support From Parliamentarians

SXM Airways Managing Director Rolando Brison during his presentation to Parliament. Photo contributed

Upstart airline SXM Airways received encouraging words of support from Members of Parliament on Tuesday as management and shareholders briefed the Central Committee on the airline’s plans and vision. The MP’s urged management to “keep pushing” and not to be afraid of competing with other airlines including Winair.

Managing Director Rolando Brison and shareholders Elvis Queeley, Michel Carter and Jeff Oliver, gave a comprehensive presentation about everything from the origins of the idea for the on-demand airline, to educational initiatives, market analysis, market share, share availability for local purchase and operational perspectives Read more

Port St. Maarten Congratulates Incoming Nation’s Top Cop on Appointment

>POINTE BLANCHE:----  Port St. Maarten Supervisory Board and Management would like to congratulate Carl John who has been appointed the nation’s top cop to become Chief of Police of the Sint Maarten National Police Force.
Port St. Maarten has a very good working relationship with the Police Force and with Carl John in particular. John was part of a delegation a few months ago that participate in a Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL) security conference where a strategic security alliance had been formed.
RCCL allowed a team of security and law enforcement professionals from country St Read more

Port St. Maarten Congratulates Nation’S Top Cop On Appointment

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Port St. Maarten Supervisory Board and Management would like to congratulate Carl John who has been appointed the nation’s top cop to become Chief of Police of the Sint Maarten National Police Force.

Port St. Maarten has a very good working relationship with the Police Force and with Carl John in particular.  John was part of a delegation a few months ago that participate in a Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL) security conference where a strategic security alliance had been formed.

RCCL allowed a team of security and law enforcement professionals from country St Read more

University Reminds Government Of Promise To Increase Subsidy

St. Maarten – On May 20 the Board of the University of St. Maarten Foundation, assisted by its management team, discussed the developments of the University with the parliamentary committee of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport Affairs. During that meeting, which was chaired by MP Silveria Jacobs, Minister of Education Rita Bourne-Gumbs made two public promises Read more

Government promised to increase USM subsidies.

>PHILIPSBURG:---- On the 20th May 2015 the Board of the University of St. Maarten Foundation (BUSMF), assisted by its management team, discussed the developments of the University of St. Martin (USM) with the parliamentary committee of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport Affairs. During that meeting, which was chaired by the Honorable Member of Parliament, Ms. Silveria Jacobs, the Honorable Minister of Education, Mrs Read more

Usm And Partners Discuss Development

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - On the 20th May 2015 the Board of the University of St. Maarten Foundation (BUSMF), assisted by its management team, discussed the developments of the University of St. Martin (USM) with the parliamentary committee of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport Affairs.

During that meeting, which was chaired by the Honorable Member of Parliament, Ms. Silveria Jacobs, the Honorable Minister of Education, Mrs Read more

style="text-align: center;">Minister Claret Connor still Director of the Chamber of Commerce – Is this a conflict of interest?

PHILIPSBURG:--- The ousted Minister of VROMI Claret Connor is hell bent on getting certain things done before he is forced out of office Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The seven members making up the Gumbs cabinet on St. Maarten showed up at a press conference on Wednesday where they each laid out the projects they have been working on since taking office in December 2014. Minister Claret Connor spoke of the road patches, and road repairs that will soon begin while he also shed light on the sea water that is pumped from the sea into the Great Salt Pond.
Minister of Finance Maarten Hassink spoke of the 2016 budget he presented to the Council of Ministers and also sent to the CFT Read more

Workshop Focuses On Energy Efficiency

St. Maarten – Under the umbrella of the European Union funded COSME Program, the Department of Economy, Transportation and Telecommunication hosted an interactive workshop for small hotel property owners throughout the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories last Thursday. It was one of many initiatives hosted under the COSME Program that seeks to strengthen the competitiveness of small and medium sized enterprises throughout the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories.

As tourism remains the main economic industry throughout the region, organizers thought it appropriate to find ways to support small property owners via the COSME Program Read more

Evt Hosts Successful Cosme Renewable Energy Workshop

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Under the umbrella of the European Union funded COSME Programme, the Department of Economy, Transportation and Telecommunication (EVT) hosted an interactive workshop for small hotel property owners throughout the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs).

The workshop, which was held on Thursday October 15, 2015, was one of many initiatives hosted under the COSME Programme which seeks to strengthen the competitiveness of small and medium sized enterprises throughout the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories Read more

Home in Belvedere housing project reaches highest point

BELVEDERE--St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF) celebrated another milestone in its on-going social housing construction project, reaching the highest point of a dwelling-in-construction with a rafter-wetting ceremony on Friday afternoon. Construction began in August.

During the short ceremony, it was also announced that the project is two-and-a-half weeks ahead of schedule and that in addition to the eight planned houses which will go up for sale, another building will be added, which will be made available for rent.

The newly announced plan entails a building with four modern one-bedroom apartments, aimed at students returning home to St Read more

EXCLUSIVE: APS and Government signed off on sweetheart deal ---- Corruption continues as current government tries to tell the people they want to end ship jumping

style="text-align: center;">APS got VORST land for a symbolic Guilder for housing development.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Gumbs cabinet proclaim they are doing all they can to stop ship jumping and to control the instability of government on St. Maarten by calling for new elections and not working on election reform which will be the only tool to curb the ship jumping. Certain Ministers told SMN News that what they are doing is not for their own interest instead they are protecting St. Maarten’s image.
SMN News is well known for exposing what takes place in government and while politicians are focusing on the bridge loan the Harbor obtained from SZV to settle the ZEBEC deal SMN News got something better Read more

Protest against ministers draws only small crowd

PHILIPSBURG--The angry sentiments expressed on radio and in some quarters of the community against the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet for not resigning in the face of the September 30 motion of no confidence passed by the new National Alliance (NA)-led coalition did not translate into a big turnout for the protest in front of the Government Administration Building on Wednesday morning Read more

Protest against Ministers draws only a small crowd

PHILIPSBURG--The angry sentiments expressed on radio and in some quarters of the community against the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet for not resigning in the face of the September 30 motion of no confidence passed by the new National Alliance (NA)-led coalition did not translate into a large turnout for the protest in front of the Government Administration Building on Wednesday morning.

Some people on the scene are planning to return to the site again today, Thursday, for similar action Read more