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PHILIPSBURG:--- As the high tourist season is here and Christmas is just around the corner, I would like to advise both the Dutch and French Governments to start implementing short and long-term solutions to ease the traffic situation on both sides of the island.
I think it is high time we address our traffic bottlenecks with quick wins to ease the traffic congestion for the Tourist during the Christmas season.
On the Dutch side, a short term solution is to make the Ring road drivable by fixing the road all around the pond and put proper signs from the Soualiga Roundabout, behind Ketty's Snack to inform motorists they can use this alternative route to ease the traffic flow on the Pond fill.
You will be amazed a lot of motorists don’t know the road is open for vehicular traffic but the road needs to be fixed as soon as possible of potholes for the Christmas season.
Another short term solution is to make a filter lane by the intersection by Zagersgut before you reach the bridge by the Seventh Day Adventist Church Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- As a former Member of Parliament, I must say that our ancestors must be turning over in their graves with the type of leadership and cooperation we displayed during our St. Martin Day Celebration by boycotting the people’s celebration.
France and Holland must be smiling to see the recent dispute between the French and Dutch local Government where they fighting over the border lines in which is documented and written in the Dutch Side cadastre registry. There is a court case decision on this.
The Captain Oliver dispute where the judge based on the French documents said that the water rights is owned by the Island Government of St Read more

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Lack Of Unity Apparent On St. Martin’S Day.

MARIGOT/PHILIPSBURG:----The annual St. Maarten/St. Martin day celebration was this year blighted by a marked lack of unity as the absence of members of the St. Maarten Executive Council was apparent at the usually joint commemoration activity on November 11th.

A decision was taken by the afore mentioned Executive Council not to attend the celebratory activities which were held this year on the French St. Martin. Both sides of the island alternate the hosting of activities to observe St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Maurice Lake would like to see the University become our National University and for Government and the Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the SHTA and the entire community to support their regular classes and culture classes.

When I heard the University was offering to the general public classes about our own culture and history, I said that this is a great opportunity for Government and the Chamber of Commerce to assist the University by sending our civil servants in the Hospitality field, Ambassadors of our island and representatives of the business community to such a course to enhance our hospitality product and to better promote culture of our beautiful island.

We just had the Minister of Economics Affairs informing the public about 450 plus directors licenses that were given out during her term Read more

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Another Coalition Government For St. Maarten --- Stability Not Guaranteed With New Elections.

Alleged vote buying rampant on Monday.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The early elections called by the Governor St. Maarten, when it was requested by former Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, did not change anything for St. Maarten, instead it opens the door for more instability. Another very unfortunate situation the election called on September 26th created was vote buying by at least one particular political party who also even refused to comply with the laws laid down by the Minister of Justice Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---- Independent MP Maurice Lake is not surprised by Weymouth Hill news article that aimed to discredit a good public-private initiative for the residents which was supported by the other two property owners in the area.
“Just to set the record straight, the two property owners Prima Vista and Valley Estate approach myself and the Minister of VROMI Angel Meyers to do a public-private partnership to help fix the deplorable road for the residents in the area and to also enhance the value of their property Read more

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SUCKER GARDEN:---The simple things make the biggest difference in a community and this why independent Member of Parliament (MP) and United St. Maarten Party USP candidate Maurice Lake has taken the need for two speedbumps on Arch Road in Sucker Garden to VROMI Minister Angel Meyers.

“Sucker Garden is a forgotten area which needs Government’s full attention to upgrade and beautifies Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party MP Frans Richardson on Monday night urged Prime Minister of St. Maarten William Marlin to finally "put to bed and shut up" Minister of Finance Richard Gibson who, according to Richardson, is "becoming rude and bold in this country."

Richardson tore into Gibson during the USp's public meeting on Monday night, chastising him for not taking care of workers in his places of business for many years, but quick to talk down colleague MP's of the current coalition government Read more

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Election tricks back in action--- MP Maurice Lake jumps ship with UPP baggage.

PHILIPSBURG: --- The Minister of VROMI Angel Meyers jumped into election mode to assist MP Maurice Lake who appointed him to office by committing some 50 parcels of land located on the over the bank to potential voters Read more

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NA can accomplish

PHILIPSBURG:--- All 23 candidates that postulated on the National Alliance slate for the September 26th, 2016 parliamentary elections called on the voters of St. Maarten to give them a majority in parliament and full mandate in order for them to bring about stability in St. Maarten. Most of the candidates, when presented to the sizeable gathering at the National Alliance headquarters in Sucker Garden, pleaded with the people of St Read more

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Mp Maurice Lake Commends Meyers On Sewage Connection And Trench Work.

PHILIPSBURG:---Independent Member of Parliament Maurice Lake commends Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Angel Meyers for executing the very important project of connecting the homes on St. Peters Road to the sewage line and for upgrading the trench behind St. Maarten Academy School.
Sewage has been a big issue in St Read more

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NA looking for 10 seats and four years in office to complete the work they started.

Dawn Beach:--- The National Alliance congress held at the Westin Dawn Beach was packed to capacity as their supporters turn out in large numbers.
At the congress several awards  were  given out to long standing supporters who stood beside the party ever since it was established in 1975 Read more

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Exclusive: Labor Mediator Held Illegal Referendum At Gebe --- Boasman Missing In Action --- Wifol/ Aswe Contemplating Court Case.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Former Minister of Labor and now labor mediator Raphael Boasman may soon find himself in hot water for holding a referendum at GEBE on Friday without inviting or even informing the WIFOL/ ASWE who signed a Collective Labor Agreement (CLA) of the rank file (non- managerial) employees of the company.
According to the President of WIFOL/ ASWE Theophillus Thompson the union he heads signed a Collective Labor Agreement (CLA) at the end of 2013 and it is still valid.Thompson said several articles of that CLA did was not executed by the Human Resource Manager Clifford Sasso.
Thompson further explained that the company’s HR had to establish a labor management committee, salary scales had to be properly adjusted and executed, the job description of the workers  also had to be put in place but up to this day none of that was done Read more

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Exclusive: Gebe Has Over Half A Million In Court Fees To Pay.

Power Plant in total shambles, causing all day outages.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The government owned utility company GEBE has over half a million dollars in court fees to pay lawyers while the power plant is in a total mess causing constant power outages throughout the Dutch side of the island. The court fees also includes retainers fee for the attorney that represented the former board of directors that were contesting their dismissal from the company.
SMN News learnt that the Supervisory Board of Directors are being accused of dragging their feet and playing games when it comes to the appointment of persons to the operational board.
Besides that the Supervisory Board is also accused by workers and certain politicians for not acting swiftly enough to solve the problems that are causing the constant power outages throughout the Dutch side of the island Read more

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Lake: The Coalition Didn’T Leave Me Out In The Cold.

PHILIPSBURG:--- I know it is an election year and the opposition is trying very hard to twist a lot of stories to confuse the people. I have taken note of the UP Faction Leader in Parliament MP Franky Meyers saying that the coalition left me out in the cold, which is far from the truth.

The Coalition of Eight has a lot of confidence in the Minister of VROMI and supports the draft ordinance law to put a sustainable balance between the environment and development.

Based on climate change we need to be careful how we excavate the hillside to prevent mudslides Read more

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PHILPSBURG:---, St. Maarten (June 23, 2016) – Member of Parliament Maurice Lake and his appointed VROMI Minister were left totally out in the cold on Thursday afternoon when the majority of Lake’s coalition members failed to show up for a parliament meeting to pass a law brought by the MP’s minister, says United People’s (UP) party deputy leader MP Franklin Meyers.
“This is a very clear case of actions speak louder than words and the action in this case is a resounding vote of no confidence in MP Lake’s minister and a total lack of support for the MP himself Read more

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POINTE BLANCHE:---  Port St. Maarten Management met with Sir Richard Branson on Wednesday. Sir Branson is one of Great Britain’s highest profile billionaires with his Virgin Group holding more than 60 companies serving more than 60 million customers worldwide. Branson was accompanied by Virgin Executives Tom Mc Alphin and Craig Milan as well as other staff members.
Sir Branson plans to launch his own cruise line called Virgin Cruises in 2020. Virgin Cruises aims to deliver a unique and differentiated approach to cruise tourism for the millennial traveler.
The first three ships will set sail from Port of Miami in 2020 and offer a true Virgin experience with multiple entertainment spaces, advanced customer technology and Virgin-designed cabins.
Port St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Saturday, Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake, who is also a resident of St. Peters, came back from Holland attending the IPKO meetings and as my brother picks me up from the airport, I read in the front page of the Daily Herald's newspaper about the garbage situation at Genip Road St. Peters. I decided to go directly to Genip Road straight from the airport to speak to the residents about the situation.
As I spoke to the residents, it was about cutting down of an aki tree which grows in the trench on Genip Road, obstructing a resident drive way in which the person who planted the tree was very upset that VROMI instructed the local cleaning company in the area to cut down the tree which was full of aki fruit.
The person stated he didn't mind if they would have trimmed the tree or let the aki ripe first and then trim the tree Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake, who just returned from the IPKO Meetings in Holland would like to congratulate the new board members of NV GEBE, and is looking forward for the new board members to hit the "ground running" this week and bring back stability and a sense of direction to get things done in order for the utility company to move forward.
“GEBE is in dire need of leadership and a sense of direction to start getting the company back on track to start serving the people of St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Maurice Lake has put all rumors to rest at a press conference on Sunday when he joined the leader and members of the United People’s Party (USP) and announced that he will be contesting the September 26th elections on the USP slate Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- “As a Member of Parliament (MP), I have a responsibility towards the people of St. Maarten who I represent. And this responsibility also includes passing on my observations to the Government that I support with the result of action being taken to remedy situations in the general interest of the people.
“I have been observing the transition phase of the five waste haulers where it concerns picking up the garbage for the past weeks. I also have been walking around in the different districts, talking to the residents, communicating with some waste haulers about the garbage situation, and listening to the different radio/ television programs, and especially taking note of the resident’s comments and concerns.
“I also have heard of the comments on Facebook and have taken note of these as well, about the garbage situation Read more

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Remembering What We Share In Common: A Past In The Making.

PHILIPSBURG:--- What past do St. Martiners (Sint Maarteners & Saint Martinoise) long for, when they talk about the good old days? St. Martiners have been described as those Born Here and those Born to be Here. This non- ethnic and non-racial definition, brilliantly introduced by the honourable governor of the island, Drs. Eugene Holiday, is meant to be both accommodating and normative. St Martiners are those who put the island first. They are patriots, persons who love the island. Dr. Louis Jeffry who can trace back his ancestry to the time of slavery, and Father Charles, the island’s revered Catholic priest, who was born on Saint Lucia, equally qualify.

I found this definition rather inclusive until I spoke to my long-time friend, Ruford Serrant, who I dare say was one of the first St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---  Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake says Minister in charge of GEBE Angel Meyers to call a general assembly of all GEBE workers at Belair Community Center to update them about the developments at the company.
Lake says workers and the public have a right to up to date information about their company Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---- “We need to step up to the plate now and start practicing what we preach in our National Energy Policy. We are two steps behind because of the constant changes in Government and GEBE's sense of direction and leadership,” says independent Member of Parliament Maurice Lake.
“One of my priorities of supporting this Coalition of Eight is finalizing the Waste-to-Energy Project to address the huge landfill situation, and recycling of garbage Read more

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