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Sint Maarten Chairs Caribbean Regional Ministerial Meeting In Brussels

BRUSSELS – Sint Maarten has been the Regional Authorizing Officer (RAO) since 2015 for the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories. As Prime Minister, the Honorable Leona Romeo-Marlin chaired a meeting for this Programme in which next to Sint Maarten 11 other Caribbean islands participate.

The name of the program reveals its focus: “Caribbean OCT’s Sustainable Energy, Coastal Management and Resilience” Read more

Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin Attends 1St Day Of Meetings Before The 16Th Octa–Eu Forum

BRUSSELS – On February 23rd the 16th OCTA – EU Forum will be held in Brussels, leading up to the forum there will be political and technical meetings with the European Commission and other Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) of the EU. The Sint Maarten delegation headed by Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin, attended 2 meetings on Monday Read more

William: Europe Trip Waste Of Taxpayers Monies, 50 Mil Loan Brokered By Na-Led Govt.

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Former Prime Minister William Marlin says the recent trip to Europe by Minister of Finance Michael Ferrier and Interim Prime Minister Leona Marlin Romeo was a total waste of tax payers’ monies as the 50 million guilders loan agreement signed days ago between St Read more

Minister Ferrier And State Secretary Knops Sign 50 Million Guilder Liquidity Support Loan

PRIME MINISTER ROMEO MARLIN & Minister Ferrier WORKING VISIT TO THE NETHERLANDS

THE HAGUE – On Friday afternoon in The Hague Minister of Finance Michael Ferrier and State Secretary Raymond Knops signed off on a 50 Million Guilder loan to Sint Maarten, staving off looming liquidity challenges that Country Sint Maarten would otherwise face sho Read more

La Primera Ministra Romeo-Marlin Y El Ministro Ferrier Sostuvieron Un Exitoso Encuentro Con El Primer Ministro Holandés Rutte

PHOTO: De izq. A der. Primera Ministra Leona Romeo-Marlin, Primer Ministro Mark Rutte, y el Ministro de Finanzas Michael Ferrier

DEN HAAG (LA HAYA) – “Fue una gran reunión”, así expresaron la Primera Ministra Leona Romeo Marlin y el Ministro de Finanzas Michael Ferrier, tras su reunión el jueves en la mañana con el Primer Ministro de los Países Bajos, Mark Rutte, en La Haya.

El Primer Ministro Rutte saludó calurosamente a los dos ministros de Sint Maarten en su oficina, donde discutieron una amplia gama de temas, incluido el progreso de la recuperación actual de Sint Maarten, el Fondo de reconstrucción, el progreso de los acuerdos con el Banco Mundial y la cooperación francesa y holandesa sobre St Read more

Prime Minister Romeo-Marlin & Minister Ferrier Hold Successful Consultation With Dutch Prime Minister Rutte

DEN HAAG – “It was a great meeting” were the sentiments of Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin and Minister of Finance Michael Ferrier following their meeting with Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte on Thursday morning in Den Haag.

Prime Minister Rutte greeted the two Ministers from Sint Maarten warmly at his Cabinet where they discussed a wide range of topics including the progress of the ongoing recovery of Sint Maarten, the reconstruction Fund, progress of arrangements with the World Bank, French & Dutch cooperation on St Read more

Sint Maarten Delegation Working Visit To Klm Headquarters Yields Positive Outcome

DEN HAAG – Upon arrival in the Netherlands on Wednesday February 14, 2018, the Government of Sint Maarten delegation headed by Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin and Minister of Finance Michael Ferrier, met with executives of KLM at The airline’s head office in Amstelveen.

The KLM invitation to the Sint Maarten delegation was to get a first-hand report on the post Hurricane Irma recovery progress of the island and to discuss flight network development, as they relate to Sint Maarten/Saint Martin.

The KLM delegation was headed by their Senior Vice President, Mr Read more

Prime Minister Romeo-Marlin Expresses Condolences On The Passing Of Ruud Lubbers

Former Prime Minister of the Netherlands Ruud Lubbers ANP Photo, Harmen de Jong

DEN HAAG – Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin has expressed her sympathy to the Government of the Netherlands and its people on behalf of Sint Maarten on the passing of former Prime Minister of the Netherlands Ruud Lubbers.

Ruud Lubbers was the longest serving Dutch Prime Minister, who led the Netherlands from 1 Read more

Cba And Oranje School Can Re-Open Friday 

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin in an update regarding the Pond Island landfill fires on Thursday said based on assessments and discussions with the Minister of Education Jorien Wuite, the two remaining schools that were closed on Thursday can re-open onFriday.

The two schools are the Charlotte Brookson Academy (CBA) and the Oranje Primary School Read more

Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin & State Secretary Raymond Knops Visit Roof Repair Program Candidates

Philipsburg – On Thursday afternoon a delegation including Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin, Minister of VROMI Miklos Giterson and State Secretary Raymond Knops visited 2 of the 480 homes that have been selected for reconstruction in the Roof Repair Program that is being executed by the Government of Sint Maarten. “I am confident that we are heading in the right direction as the Government of Sint Maarten continues to develop programs that will assist and bring relief to persons in the community”, said Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin following meetings with State Secretary Knops. The objective of the tour was to have State Secretary Knops witness first hand the severity of the damages caused by Hurricane Irma Read more

Sint Maarten Ministry Of Finance Organized Round Table Conference Sustainable Financial Government

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — On Tuesday February 6, 2018, the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Sint Maarten organized a Round Table Conference “Sustainable Financial Government” with the Netherlands, the World Bank, the IMF and the Cft. The goal of this conference was to get all parties together and have an open dialogue on the way forward to a financial sustainable Sint Maarten and how progress can be achieved in bringing relief to the people of Sint Maarten in the short term.

The main topics discussed was the issue of liquidity support to the government of Sint Maarten, the application of 550 million euro made available by the Netherlands, the benefits of using the professional services offered by the World Bank and the IMF, in collaboration with the Cft Read more

Two Schools To Remain Closed. Daycare Centers In Lower Philipsburg Should Remain Closed  

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin in an update on Wednesday evening says in follow-up assessments on Wednesday, the Charlotte Brookson Academy and the Oranje Primary School will remain closed on Thursday, February 8 due to the persistent smoke from the landfill fire on Pond Island which has been impacting the lower parts of Philipsburg.

The Minister of Education Jorien Wuite has advised that daycare centers located in the lower part of Philipsburg should also remain closed on Thursday.

Additional information will be forthcoming within short with respect the status of the Government Administration Building.

The post Two schools to remain closed Read more

St. Maarten Development Fund Grants 3 Million Guilders In 2017

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Culminating the closure of its financial year 2017, St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) presented its unaudited financial statements and management report for the year 2017 to Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs Leona Romeo-Marlin. In the meeting with Prime Minister Romeo-Marlin, SMDF’s Managing Director Keith Franca and Program and Development Makhicia Brooks presented the Prime Minister with the Fund’s financial statement and also briefed her on activities of 2017 as well as the Fund’s plans for 2018.

The Fund’s financial statements, which showed SMDF’s grant making activities totaling some ANG 3 million between 24 NGO clients was welcomed by the Prime Minister who indicated that she kept abreast of SMDF’s activities Read more

Smcp Candidates Pledge To Reduce Mp Salaries

On January 30th 2018, candidates of the Sint Maarten Christian Party (SMCP) gathered at the Party’s Headquarters in the Backstreet for their usual Tuesday evening meeting. However, on this night, these loyal and enthusiastic candidates were going to do something that had never been done before by a political party or its candidates. The candidates, all of them prospective members of parliament, agreed, that when elected, they will submit a motion in Parliament, to lower the salary of parliament members by 15%.

The SMCP’s prospective parliamentarians are of the opinion that, given the financial predicament that the country finds itself in during the period of post-hurricane Irma, members of parliament ought to be sympathetic towards our citizens who are suffering and in a symbolic gesture of empathy should demonstrate their care and concern for the people of Sint Maarten Read more

Ex Primer Ministro William Marlin Reacciona Ante El Fallo Del Gobierno Del Reino

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – A lo largo y ancho de Sint Maarten, los ciudadanos parecen estar de acuerdo en que el ex primer ministro William Marlin, hizo un correcto al tener un mejor entendimiento del gobierno. Una vez más, William-Marlin ha demostrado que sus decisiones fueron en el mejor interés del pueblo de Sint Maarten. Hoy se escucha a los ciudadanos reprendiéndose unos a otros “: Te dije que William-Marlin hizo lo correcto”.

William Marlin expresó que siempre había confiado en la decisión del Reino, respondiendo a la noticia de que el Gobierno del Reino había rechazado la solicitud de la Primera Ministra interina, Leona Marlin-Romeo, de aplicar el decreto de disolución que había firmado cuando él era Primer Ministro, y que había discutido en una reunión del Consejo de Ministros del Reino con la intención de anularlo.

Fue muy vergonzoso escuchar a nuestra primera ministra interina, Marlin-Romeo, afirmar que ha jurado respetar y defender nuestra Constitución, pero luego ha demostrado claramente a través de sus acciones que ella no comprende nuestra Constitución y probablemente nunca se tomó el tiempo de leerla.

La primera ministra interino, Marlin-Romeo, cree que decir que tiene la obligación de aplicar y defender la Constitución es simplemente una retórica vacía pronunciada por ella, pero que claramente no entiende lo que significa Read more

Former Pm William Marlin Reacts On The Ruling Given By The Kingdom Government

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Across the length and breadth of Sint Maarten citizens are concurring that former Prime Minister William Marlin had it correct and best understands governance.  Yet again William-Marlin has shown that his choices were in the best interest of the people of Sint Maarten. Citizens were heard chiding “I told you William-Marlin know the right thing”.

William Marlin expressed that he was always confident of the ruling given by the Kingdom, responding to the news that the Kingdom Government had turned down the request of Interim Prime Minister Mrs Read more

State Secretary Knops To Pm Marlin-Romeo: Elections Must Go On

Prime Minister of Sint Maarten Leona Romeo Marlin

THE HAGUE/PHILIPSBURG — In a letter dated January 25 addressed to the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Leona Marlin-Romeo, Dutch State Secretary Raymond Knops turned down the request of the Sint Maarten Government to have the dissolution decree discussed in a Kingdom Council meeting with the intention to have it annulled.

On behalf of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Kingdom Relations (BZK), State Secretary Knops writes to PM Marlin-Romeo: “In your letter you express reservations about the legality of the National Decree concerning the dissolution of the States Read more

Video: Fire Department Responds To Two Cole Bay Fires Simultaneously On Tuesday

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A post shared by 721news Gromyko (@721news) on Jan 23, 2018 at 7:41pm PST

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – The Fire Department had its hands full on Tuesday morning having to simultaneously deal with two fires in Cole Bay.

The Fire Department responded with four fire trucks and two water trucks to a fire in a warehouse complex in Cole Bay.  The trucks arrived on the scene around 10.30am shortly after receiving the fire alarm.

The fire sent billowing black smoke into the air.  The cause of the fire after an investigation is a result of welding that was taking place on the roof of the building.  The warehouse belonged to a business and the building contained non-alcoholic beverages, lard (cooking oil), paper and Styrofoam containers.

Residents and businesses in the surrounding area were alerted by the Police to close windows and doors.  Within an hour the fire was brought under control and contained to the immediate warehouse where it started.

A lot of water was required to bring the fire under control.  Fire personnel used fire hydrants in the immediate area as well as two water trucks that it received from The Netherlands after the passing of Hurricane Irma and now forms part of the department’s firefighting assets.

On Tuesday afternoon fire crews remained at the scene to extinguish hot spots within the warehouse.  The department was assisted by the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Management (Ministry VROMI) with heavy equipment, which was used to clear burnt debris within the warehouse in order to reach hotspots.

Fire fighters were not able to enter the warehouse because one of the floors within the structure had partially collapsed, and due to the heat, cracks started to form in the outer walls with the high risk of a possible collapse.

The Fire Department while battling this blaze received another call on Tuesday morning for an electrical fire at Paradise Mall in Cole Bay.  A fire truck and crew responded from the Cay Hill Fire Station and this fire was promptly extinguished.

Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin and Minister of Justice Cornelius de Weever visited the scene of the fire in Cole Bay Tuesday night to get a first-hand view of the situation.

At the same time, the aforementioned would like to thank the Chief of the Fire Department and the staff of the Fire Department (men and women) for their successful actions in keeping the fire under control and preventing it from spreading to other nearby businesses.

The safety of the fire officers was of concern to the Prime Minister as she was informed that a floor in the building had collapsed Read more

Prime Minister Romeo Marlin Welcomes World Bank Team On Sint Maarten

PHILIPSBURG –  On Friday January 19th, Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin welcomed a delegation of the World Bank at the Government Building. During the meeting, the Prime Minister and the head of the World Bank Team, Mr. Doekle Wielinga, discussed how the World Bank can support the recovery and reconstruction efforts of the Government of Sint Maarten Read more

German Ambassador Pays Courtesy Visit To Prime Minister Of Sint Maarten

PHILIPSBURG –  On Friday January 19th the German Ambassador Dirk Brengelmann paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin at the Government Building. During the meeting the two parties discussed briefly the political developments on Sint Maarten, reconstruction efforts, tourism initiatives, higher education and Read more

Prime Minister Romeo Marlin Visits Departments With The Ministry Of General Affairs

PHILIPSBURG –  On Wednesday morning Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin took the initiative to introduce her Cabinet staff to the departments that fall under the Ministry of General Affairs. The Prime Minister accompanied by Secretary General Hensley Plantijn visited Civil Registry, Facility Services, Information & Record Management, Legal Affairs & Legislation, Personnel & Organization, Public Service Center, Interior & Kingdom Relations & Foreign Relations Read more

Prime Minister Romeo Marlin Expresses Sympathy To The Government & People Of The Netherlands

PHILIPSBURG –  Newly sworn In Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin has expressed her sympathy to the Government & people of the Netherlands on behalf of Sint Maarten on the passing of 3 persons during the severe winter storm on Thursday January 18th in the Netherlands.

As a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, our unwavering support and solidarity goes out to the Netherlands, it’s residents and Sint Maarteners living in the Netherlands Read more

Pm Romeo Marlin Expresó Condolencias Al Gobierno Y El Pueblo De Los Países Bajos

Primera Ministra de Sint Maarten Leona Romeo Marlin

PHILIPSBURG – Nueva juramentada Primera Ministra Leona Romeo Marlin, expresó sus condolencias al Gobierno y al pueblo de los Países Bajos en nombre de Sint Maarten por el fallecimiento de 3 personas durante la severa tormenta invernal del jueves 18 de los corrientes ocurrida en los Países Bajos.

Como país del Reino de los Países Bajos, nuestro apoyo y solidaridad inquebrantables se dirigen a los Países Bajos, y a los sanmartinianos residentes en los Países Bajos Read more

Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin 1St Official Address To The People Of Sint Maarten

PHILIPSBURG –  Let me commence by sharing a few of the  lyrics of a song called Not alone for mighty empire. Written by William P. Merrill, in 1911.

Not alone for mighty empire,

Stretching far over land and sea,

Not alone for bounteous harvests,

Lift we up our hearts to Thee.

Standing in the living present,

Memory and hope between,

Lord, we would with deep thanksgiving,

Praise Thee more for things unseen.

God of justice, save the people

From the clash of race and creed,

From the strife of class and faction,

Make our nation free indeed;

Keep her faith in simple manhood

Strong as when her life began,

Till it find its full fruition

In the brotherhood of man!

I want to give thanks for this opportunity presented to me to represent St Maarten as the second female Prime Minister of this young nation Read more