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Delegation satisfied with outcome of youth meeting

MARIGOT--A delegation led by union representative Cédric André from Union Général des Travailleurs de Guadeloupe (UGTG) said it was “very satisfied” with the outcome of a meeting held Monday with President Aline Hanson and other officials and technicians to resolve issues that sparked a demonstration by some 50 youths in Sandy Ground last week Thursday.

The youths blocked the main road in protest at the lack of sports facilities and activities in Sandy Ground, as well as other issues.

Complaints centred on infrastructure for basketball, volleyball and football, the problem of abandoned cars, garbage situation, inadequate street lighting in the district, sewage and drainage issues, rain water evacuation and stagnant pools of water that encourage mosquito breeding Read more

Collectivité notes 198 cases of violence against children

MARIGOT--The Collectivité recorded 198 cases of violence or abuse against children in 2013, an increase of 141 cases compared to 2012, Second Vice-President Ramona Connor responsible for the Department of Solidarity and Families disclosed Thursday.

Connor disclosed the figures during the official opening ceremony to commemorate International Rights of the Child Day in the new public library in Concordia, adding the figures for 2014 will most likely be higher.

She was joined at the opening by President Aline Hanson, Préfet Philippe Chopin, Senator Guillaume Arnell, St Read more

Minister of Youth Affairs Lourens-Philip: November 20 is International Day on the Rights of the Child.

>GREAT BAY (DCOMM):-- The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sports Hon. Patricia Lourens-Philip would like to wish every child and youth of the nation happy International Day on the Rights of the Child which is observed globally on November 20th.
The day 20 November marks the day on which the Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, in 1959, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in 1989.
Minister Lourens-Philip will be joining President of the Collectivite Saint Martin Aline Hanson on Thursday morning at the Multi-Media Library in Concordia for an official ceremony related to this universal day celebrating the rights of children.
"The world made a promise to children: that we would do everything in our power to protect and promote their rights to survive and thrive, to learn and grow, to make their voices heard and to reach their full potential, and as country, we are committed to this.
"On a global level, in spite of the overall gains, there are many children who have fallen even further behind Read more

Minister Of Youth Affairs Lourens-Philip: November 20 Is International Day On The Rights Of The Child

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sports Hon. Patricia Lourens-Philip would like to wish every child and youth of the nation happy International Day on the Rights of the Child which is observed globally on November 20th.

The day 20 November marks the day on which the Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, in 1959, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in 1989.

Minister Lourens-Philip will be joining President of the Collectivite Saint Martin Aline Hanson on Thursday morning at the Multi-Media Library in Concordia for an official ceremony related to this universal day celebrating the rights of children.

"The world made a promise to children: that we would do everything in our power to protect and promote their rights to survive and thrive, to learn and grow, to make their voices heard and to reach their full potential, and as country, we are committed to this.

"On a global level, in spite of the overall gains, there are many children who have fallen even further behind Read more

Sandy Ground youths protest unfinished basketball court

SANDY GROUND--A crowd of youths blocked the main road in Sandy Ground on Monday afternoon, protesting a still unfinished basketball court that apparently had been promised to be delivered completely renovated in July.

The disturbance began around 3:00pm with barricades of garbage bins placed in the middle of the road, as well as a basketball post and hoop. A section of the road near the Cultural Centre was completely blocked to traffic for a few hours.

Gendarmes and Territorial Police were on the scene immediately to control a gathering crowd, but the Gendarmerie indicated that despite the tension, the situation remained calm and the youths were not aggressive Read more

Report: Turnover tax at 4% earned less revenue than 2%

MARIGOT--The Collectivité recouped less revenue from the increase of Taxe Général sur le Chiffres d'Affaires (TGCA) to four per cent than it did when it was at two per cent, Independent Territorial Councillor Jules Charville has disclosed, citing a 2013 report.

He warned that now the TGCA has been imposed across the board to all services at four per cent the result will be more business closures, more unemployment, and significantly more people applying for the Revenu Solidarité Active (RSA) benefit, potentially bumping its cost to the Collectivité up to 20 million euros per year from 16 million.

"People could either not pay the four per cent for whatever reason or businesses closed because they were in trouble," he explained Read more

Sarah Wescot’s ‘fire in the belly’ speech reaffirms solidarity on St. Martin Day

FRENCH QUARTER--Words such as unity, togetherness, and cooperation have become clichéd over the years in St. Martin Day speeches but while this was still a favourite theme on Tuesday's 66th November 11 celebration, some speakers looked at it in a different context, alluding to derogatory remarks about tearing up the Treaty of Concordia and establishing borders attributed to a French Parliamentarian some months ago. It caused a stir on the Dutch side.

No one dismissed such outside threats more forthrightly than caretaker Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams in a typically rousing and patriotic speech that elicited rounds of applause.

"In the hearts of St Read more

style="text-align: center;">People of St. Maarten need to rise up and protect their heritage and culture – PM

PHILIPSBURG:--- The official and traditional St. Martin's Day celebration that was hosted by the French side did not see much Members of Parliament from the Dutch side. Even the ten seat majority in parliament did not show their faces on Tuesday at the church service that was held at the Methodist Church. In attendance were Member of Parliament Leona Marlin Romeo, Minister/Member of Parliament Maurice Lake and Minister/ Member of Parliament Cornelius de Weever along with Prime Minister/ President of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams Read more

St. Maarten/St. Martin Day Celebrated Tuesday, Celebrations Hosted By St. Martin

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The 66th anniversary of St. Maarten Day was celebrated on Tuesday, November 11th.

This year's celebrations were held on the French side, as it was their turn to host the activities marking the occasion this year.

The day started with an ecumenical service at the Methodist Church in French Quarter. This was then followed by the wreath laying ceremony at the frontier between Dutch Quarter and French Quarter in the morning.

Soon after the wreath laying ritual, dignitaries were transported to in front of the Cultural Center in French Quarter, where they witnessed the parade of the various uniform groups.

After the parade, dignitaries were shuttled to the Thelbert Carty Stadium, where the official ceremony for St Read more

St. Martin/St. Maarten Day message from Collectivité President Hanson

St. Martin and Sint Maarten are once again celebrating another St. Martin Day together, a day that symbolises the union of our people, our culture, our heritage and our fate.

With an eye on history, culture and the future, St. Martiners claimed the right to decide their fate. Love of country and the will to be actively involved in the decisions connected to the future of the island are as vital as the desire for peace and harmony within our community.

This is the way both sides of the island undertook major constitutional changes that correspond better to the reality of our respective territories and the aspiration of the population.

Since the statutory evolution in 2007, the Collectivité now assumes all of the responsibilities granted to us Read more

First workshop held on revitalisation of Marigot

MARIGOT--Third Vice-President Wendel Cocks presided over the first workshop and meeting on Friday, October 31, with the consortium of business partners, including Semsamar, engaged in the study to restructure and revitalise downtown Marigot as announced in early 2014 by President Aline Hanson.

This group of experts will be working with the elected officials and technicians of the Collectivité on the project Read more