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Grégoire Ratchel honoured in traditional Fish Day ceremony

MARIGOT--Retired fisherman Grégoire Ratchel was honoured by the Collectivité for his lifelong contribution to the community at the opening of the 13th Annual Fish Day celebration in French Cul-de-Sac on Sunday.

He was presented with a plaque by First Vice-President Guillaume Arnell and Vice-President Wendel Cocks Read more

Public invited to ceremony today

PHILIPSBURG--The public is invited by government to attend the Remembrance Day ceremony on Captain Hodge Wharf today, Monday, at 9:00am. Governor Eugene Holiday, Parliament President Dr. Lloyd Richardson and Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs are slated to lay wreaths in remembrance of those who fought and died in World War II.

Government will again remember all those – civilians and soldiers – who have been killed or murdered in the Kingdom of the Netherlands or anywhere else in the world in war or during peace-keeping operations since the outbreak of the World War II.

The Kingdom of the Netherlands marks Remembrance Day on May 4 Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- Sunday 3rd of May marks World Press Freedom Day. Prime Minister Hon. Marcel Gumbs would like to congratulate the nation's journalist as well as those from the North side of the island (St. Martin) on this internationally renowned day.

The theme this year is "Let Journalism Thrive! Towards Better Reporting, Gender Equality, & Media Safety in the Digital Age."

"The right to freedom of expression allows journalist to inform about what us going on in order for civil society to be informed of developments taking place here and abroad Read more

Prime Minister Gumbs Congratulates Sint Maarten/St. Martin Journalists On World Press Freedom Day

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Sunday 3rd of May marks World Press Freedom Day. Prime Minister Hon. Marcel Gumbs would like to congratulate the nation's journalist as well as those from the North side of the island (St. Martin) on this internationally renowned day.

The theme this year is "Let Journalism Thrive! Towards Better Reporting, Gender Equality, & Media Safety in the Digital Age."

"The right to freedom of expression allows journalist to inform about what us going on in order for civil society to be informed of developments taking place here and abroad Read more

Survivors triumphant in Children, Grand Parade

Winning adult troupe Jasmine Philips’ Survivors dance their way through Front Street. (Darlene Hodge photo)

PHILIPSBURG--Survivors by Jasmine Philips won in both sections of the Children and Grand Carnival Parade held Thursday and the Labour Day Parade on Friday. Brightly coloured troupes in elaborate and diverse costumes once again danced their way to Carnival Village in the season’s annual highlights.

“The SCDF [St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation – Ed.] is very happy with the turnout of the Grand Carnival Parade 2015 Read more

WWII victims to be remembered May 4

CYRUS WATHEY SQUARE--Those who fought and gave their lives in World War II (WWII) so we may live free will be remembered in a solemn ceremony on Captain Hodge Wharf on Monday, May 4, starting at 9:00am. The wreath-laying ceremony is open to the public.

Slated to attend the observance are Governor Eugene Holiday, Parliament Chairman Dr. Lloyd Richardson and other Members of Parliament, Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs and other ministers.

An honour guard comprising uniformed officials from various parts of the justice chain will be inspected at the wharf by Governor Holiday, Dr Read more

Preparations underway for National Remembrance Day 2015

>GREAT BAY (DCOMM):---- Preparations are underway to observe National Remembrance Day 2015 on Monday morning 4th May.

Government will again remember the victims who fought during the Second World War and the public are invited to attend the ceremony.

The commemoration and wreath-laying ceremony will take place on Monday, May 4 at 9.00am at the Captain Hodge's Wharf in Philipsburg.

His Excellency Governor Eugene Holiday, President of Parliament Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson, Prime Minister Hon Read more

Preparations Underway For National Remembrance Day 2015

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – Preparations are underway to observe National Remembrance Day 2015 on Monday morning 4th May.

Government will again remember the victims who fought during the Second World War and the public are invited to attend the ceremony.

The commemoration and wreath-laying ceremony will take place on Monday, May 4 at 9.00am at the Captain Hodge's Wharf in Philipsburg.

His Excellency Governor Eugene Holiday, President of Parliament Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson, Prime Minister Hon Read more

Sarah: Coalition ‘suddenly lost interest’ in Integrity Chamber

PHILIPSBURG--It appears, said Democratic Party (DP) leader Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams, that the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet and by extension the governing coalition have "suddenly lost interest" in the establishment of an integrity chamber for the country.

"It is revealing that suddenly the urgency is no longer there for our own 'thing,'" the MP said.

She has drawn this conclusion from the response of Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs to her inquiry Thursday about the timeframe for the tabling of the draft national law to establish the integrity chamber in Parliament.

Gumbs, in an immediate response on Thursday to Parliament President Dr Read more

style="text-align: center;"> "As a Member of Parliament I will not deal with a draft law unless I know what was discussed in The Hague."

PHILIPSBURG: --- Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel is calling on the Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson who travelled to the Netherlands last weekend to meet with the (Raad van State) Council of State and Minister of Interior Affairs Ronald Plasterk to further discuss the draft integrity law that was discussed in parliament and higher supervision that the Kingdom wants to impose on St Read more

style="text-align: center;">The governing coalition parties and their independent affiliates have "suddenly" lost interest in our own integrity chamber.

PHILIPSBURG:---  DP Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams said based on the response she got from the Prime Minister of St Read more

Lake calling for MPs to ‘get on board’ with integrity chamber

PHILIPSBURG--"Get on-board" to approve the "home-grown" draft ordinance to establish an integrity chamber for St. Maarten "after certain changes are made." This was the call issued by United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake to his "fellow colleagues" in Parliament.

He said in a press statement if the ordinance is left hanging ".. Read more

Dutch-side French-side governments discuss topics during ‘meet and greet’

MARIGOT--Harmonisation of taxes, rooting out abusers of social benefits, and controlling immigration were among topics marked for high importance at a meeting between the two island governments in Hotel de La Collectivité on Wednesday morning.

It was the first courtesy visit organised between the two administrations since Marcel Gumbs became Prime Minister of Country St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- President of Rotary Club St. Martin Sunrise Virginia Asin, members and visiting Rotarians from Suriname, last Friday, April 17, paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Hon. Marcel Gumbs and Acting Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Hon. Rita Bourne-Gumbs.

The visit took place at the Government Administration Building in the Dr Read more

Sarah opts out of Parlatino meetings

PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) leader Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams has "opted out" of attending meetings of the Latin American Parliament Parlatino slated for May.

Wescot-Williams said at a DP press conference at Parliament House on Monday that she had decided not to attend the meetings.

She called for Parliament "to discuss the effectiveness of the meetings" and the benefit to the country Read more

Rotary Club Of St. Martin Sunrise Pays Courtesy Call On Prime Minister And Acting Minister Of Public Health

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - President of Rotary Club St. Martin Sunrise Virginia Asin, members and visiting Rotarians from Suriname, last Friday, April 17, paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Hon. Marcel Gumbs and Acting Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Hon. Rita Bourne-Gumbs.

The visit took place at the Government Administration Building in the Dr Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Rotarians from Rotary District 7030 arrived on Sint Maarten to partake in a ceremony for the launch of a screening for the prevention of Retinopathy due to Diabetes Mellitus and the donation of a fundus camera to the White and Yellow Cross Foundation.

The group comprises of the District Secretary from District 7030, Mr Waddy Sowma; the President of Rotary Club Paramaribo Central Mr Rino Tjin Wong Joe; Eye Specialist and Representative of the Rotary Club Paramaribo Residence Dr Jerrel Pawiroredjo and other fellows from the clubs Read more

Visiting Rotarians On Island For Donation Of Fundus Camera To White & Yellow Cross Foundation

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Rotarians from Rotary District 7030 arrived on Sint Maarten to partake in a ceremony for the launch of a screening for the prevention of Retinopathy due to Diabetes Mellitus and the donation of a fundus camera to the White and Yellow Cross Foundation.

The group comprises of the District Secretary from District 7030, Mr Waddy Sowma; the President of Rotary Club Paramaribo Central Mr Rino Tjin Wong Joe; Eye Specialist and Representative of the Rotary Club Paramaribo Residence Dr Jerrel Pawiroredjo and other fellows from the clubs Read more

Sarah calls for govt’s stance on CBCS issue

PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) leader Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams has issued a call to the Marcel Gumbs' Cabinet "to show leadership by providing government's stance" on the halting of renovation work on the Central Bank of Curaçao and St Read more

Council of State requests a stay on voting on Integrity Chamber

PHILIPSBURG--The Kingdom Council of State has requested a stay on the voting by St. Maarten's Parliament on the national ordinance establishing an Integrity Chamber for St. Maarten. This was the word from Deputy Prime Minister/Justice Minister Dennis Richardson.

Richardson said at a press conference with Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs in Dr Read more

style="text-align: center;">to meet with Council of State on higher supervision.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson told members of the media on Thursday during a press conference that he will be travelling to the Netherlands this weekend to meet with the Minister of Interior and Foreign Affairs Ronald Plasterk to further discuss the establishment of an integrity chamber on St. Maarten. Minister Richardson will also be meeting with the Raad van Staten (Council of State) to further discuss the current situation where the Kingdom wants to apply article 51 of the Kingdom Charter and impose higher supervision on St Read more

MPs still have reservations about Integrity Chamber

~ Meyers: Independence only choice ~

PHILIPSBURG--Several Members of Parliament (MPs) made it crystal clear on Monday that if the proposed Integrity Chamber stagnates the growth of the country and hampers St. Maarteners from prospering, the law to establish the chamber will not receive their support.

Chief among those speaking out about the draft law was coalition member MP Franklin Meyers (United People's (UP) party) Read more

St. Maarten should seek to have its own Attorney General --- Current Attorney General does not work in the interest of St. Maarten --- Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson.

style="text-align: center;">Ruling Majority totally against draft ordinance.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson did not mingle with words on Monday morning when he was responding to questions regarding the draft ordinance to establish the integrity chamber on St. Maarten.
On the question as to who is responsible for justice on St. Maarten, Minister Richardson said that the Minister of Justice is responsible for justice in each country, however, he made clear that St Read more

“I will prefer dying on my feet than living on my knees, It’s time for Independence” --- MP Franklin Meyers.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Franklin Meyers who was off island on medical travelled back to St. Maarten over the weekend to ensure he got the opportunity to inform Parliament that at no point he will support the draft ordinance to establish an integrity chamber on St. Maarten presented by the Prime Minister and Minister of Justice of St Read more