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Makhicia Brooks (right) signing her contract with SMDFs Supervisory Board Chairwoman Richelda Rodriguez-Emmanuel, while Keith Franca (standing) looks on.

PHILIPSBURG--The first Managing Director of St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF), Keith Franca, has left the organisation after seven years serving at its helm.< Read more

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St. Maarten professionals trained to spot youth intellectual impairments

MADAME ESTATE--Seventeen Foundation Judiciary Institutes Windward Island SJIB and Court of Guardianship social workers, as well as behavioural specialists and school counsellors, completed a training course aimed at improving their skills in dealing with people, especially the youth, with mild intellectual impairments.

A ceremony took place on Friday during which the participants received certificates for completing the three-day course. The course was made possible by the Ministry of Justice and co-funded by USONA Read more

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Ferrier resigns from DP, against Sarah supporting UP coalition

~ Richelda feels deceived, doesn't support Sarah ~

PHILIPSBURG--Former President of the Democratic Party (DP) and candidate in the August 29 parliamentary election Michael Ferrier has tendered his resignation from DP over the move by party leader Sarah Wescot-Williams to join the United People's (UP) party-led coalition.

DP candidate Richelda Rodriguez-Emmanuel in an email responding to Ferrier's resignation said she still couldn't "get over the feeling of anger, deception, disappointment and disbelief" to put in any form of communication Read more

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Inspectorate investigating physical abuse at Day Care

~ Owner says accusations malicious, false ~

CUL DE SAC--A day care centre in the Cul de Sac area is under investigation for the alleged physical abuse of children in its care, but the centre in question says the accusations are malicious, false and intended to damage its reputation.

Head of the Court of Guardianship Richelda Rodriguez-Emmanuel confirmed that two reports of child abuse had been reported to the Child Protection Services about the day care centre up to last week Read more

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23 cases of child abuse reported from Jan. to Aug

~10 alleged sexual abuse ~

PHILIPSBURG—Twenty-three cases of child abuse have been reported to the Court of Guardianship's Child Abuse Reporting Centre between January to August this year.

The figures were described as "scary" by Court of Guardianship Director Richelda Rodriguez-Emmanuel. Of the total number of cases reported, 10 were alleged sexual abuse of minors Read more

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Government, development fund sign management agreement

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister (PM) Sarah Wescot-Williams and St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) Interim Director Keith Franca signed a Fund Management Agreement Tuesday, August 19, between the St. Maarten government and the SMDF. The agreement formalises their working relationship and outlines their respective responsibilities.

The SMDF was established in May 2012 to ensure the continuity of funding available to local non-governmental organisations (NGOs), as Dutch financing organisation AMFO was in the process of withdrawing.

"Many NGOs in St Read more

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