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Wellness on Wheels (WOW) Programme Officially Launched.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- In celebration of the Wellness on Wheels Programme that is expected to kick off in 2015 on January 28th, Collective Prevention Services at the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA) hosted a short ribbon-cutting ceremony last week Wednesday in front of the Government Administration Building.

A few words were given by Dr. Virginia Asin Department Head of CPS, R.M. Willemsberg Deputy Director/Chief Operations Officer, and Honourable Minister of VSA Cornelius de Weever Read more

SMHDF Meeting of Parliament to continue early next year.

style="text-align: center;">MPs want documentation and clarity the suspension of Henry Lynch and Emilio Kalmera

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Parliament of St. Maarten called an emergency meeting on Monday to seek clarity on what exactly transpired at the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF) where two members of the management team were suspended pending the outcome of an investigation that was to be commissioned by the SOAB. However, former Minister of Housing Maurice Lake who was also a former board member of SMHDF stopped the SOAB from conducting the investigation claiming that legal procedures were not followed and that the board of SMHDF does not have a full board Read more

style="text-align: center;">Marcel Gumbs second Prime Minister since St. Maarten became a country

PHILIPSBURG:--- Five of the seven required Ministers were sworn in on Friday. Former Senator of the Netherlands Antilles Marcel Gumbs was sworn in as the second Prime Minister of Country St Read more

Preventing Holiday Tree Fires.

>GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Many homes on the inside and outside have been decorated with Christmas lights, stockings, banners, wreaths and the most popular of these decorations is the Christmas tree.

As part of Ministry of Public Health's Collective Prevention Services (CPS) Safe Holiday Season Observances, in collaboration with the Department of Communication, residents are advised to keep the season safe by following a few helpful tips.

Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius de Weever as part of his 'Get Checked' campaign, is calling on the community to check their Christmas tree lighting to make sure is operating safely in order in order to avoid any hazards this holiday season.

These are some life-saving steps you can take to ensure a safe and happy holiday:

Preventing Holiday Tree Fires

Holiday tree fire hazards
Special fire safety precautions need to be taken when keeping a live tree in the house Read more

>GREAT BAY:--- Minister of Public Health Social Development & Labor, Cornelius de Weever has notified the leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot-Williams that he has now officially resigned from the party.
Minister De Weever informed the leader that due to the manner in which she and/or the DP publicly tried to portray me in a negative light, I have decided to reconsider my future with the DP and hereby RESIGN my affiliation with the Democratic Party Read more

EXCLUSIVE: More Trouble for UPP/De Weever/LRMarlin Coalition.

style="text-align: center;">Fifth Minister has problem with screening --- Three years of taxes were not paid. De Weever to appoint his sister as Minister of VSA --- Reliable Sources.

PHILIPSBURG:--- As the days go by there seems to be more trouble for the UPP/De Weever/LRMarlin coalition government when it comes to forming a government.
SMN News understands that a fifth candidate that was submitted to the governor did not fully pass the screening because that person who is currently acting as a caretaker Minister did not pay his taxes for at least three years Read more

Ministry of Public Health calls on Garage Owners and Tire Repair Shops to take Steps to Eliminate Mosquito Breeding Sites.

>GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Collective Preventive Services (CPS), a section at the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, is appealing to garage owners and tire repair shops to take measures to remove mosquito breeding sites from their establishments and to maintain on a daily basis control measures to eliminate any standing water on their premises.

Accumulation of rainwater in tires provides breeding space for mosquitoes that carry the dengue/chikungunya-causing virus.

Minister of Public Health Hon Read more

>GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- International Day of People with Disability is a United Nations (UN) sanctioned day that aims to promote an understanding of people with disability and encourage support for their dignity, rights and well-being.
The theme for 2014 is: "Sustainable Development: The Promise of Technology."
Rapidly developing technology has changed the way people with disability can access entertainment, work, communication and basic information seeking.
The theme focuses on the role of technology as a way to break down barriers for people with disability and how devices are becoming faster, cheaper and more accessible.
The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA) as part of its Calendar of Health Observances commemorates this international day with the provision of information regarding the international theme.
As part of the Minister of Public Health Hon Read more

Parliament Bloopers continue, Country’s constitution not respected --- MP Lloyd Richardson voted on his own appointment as Chairman of Parliament.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The bloopers in the Parliament of St. Maarten continue as the MPs that are elected fail read and comply with the country's constitution. This is the second time a Member of Parliament violated article 53 of the country's constitution.
On Monday MP Lloyd Richardson voted in favor of his own appointment where he was appointed the chairman of Parliament Read more

Safety tips for holiday shopping spree.

>GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- As part of the Minister of Public Health's Hon. Cornelius de Weever 'Get Checked' campaign, every parent's number one concern this holiday season should be to make sure that whatever it is you buy for your child this year, it's safe. Therefore, make sure you check the safety information of toys before you purchas Read more

style="text-align: center;">UPP candidates fuming because they got no Ministerial Positions

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United Peoples Party (UPP) and formateur Theodore Heyliger has shuffled the deck of cards again as he tries to form the next government Read more

style="text-align: center;">DP Expelled MP De Weever from Democratic Party

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams sent an official letter to the leader of the UPP Theodore Heyliger informing him that she has withdrawn her support from his coalition government.
The letter sent to Heyliger is dated November 18th, 2014 Read more

Collective Prevention Services Appeals for Action to Prevent an Increase in Dengue and Chikungunya Cases due to daily rainfall.

>GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Section Collective Prevention Services (CPS) within the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour is appealing to the community to step-up mosquito prevention measures in order to prevent an increase in dengue and chikungunya cases due to the daily rainfall that the country has been confronted with.

CPS uses this opportunity to also commend the Dutch Quarter Community Council in conjunction with the organizes of the OASIS project for carrying out a clean-up effort within the district about two weeks ago.

Minister of Public Health Hon Read more

>GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA) Collective Prevention Services (CPS) Dr. Virginia Asin said on Sunday that the 30th meeting of the Caribbean Immunization Managers hosted by Sint Maarten was a success, and resulted in the review and finalization of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) plan of action for 2015.

"I think it is very important as a region that we continue in our efforts to learn best practices from each other, and this setting was a great way to do that," Minister of Public Health Hon Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- "The Ebola situation is one that we are all taking very seriously. Although the possibility of the Ebola Virus Disease reaching St. Maarten is very low, given the recent and past global health emergencies such as HINI, Swine Flu, Bird Flu, etc, the Ministry of Public Health along with key stakeholders are taking the opportunity to review the preparedness plans which are already in place and revitalize the system", said Minister of Public Health Cornelius de Weever Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake said on Thursday that Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius de Weever brought it to his attention about tilapia fish in the Rolandus Canal.

Ministry VROMI officials met with the Nature Foundation to find a possible solution with respect to the fish in the canal Read more

Central Committee Meeting of Parliament about August 29th parliament election discrepancies postponed until further notice.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament Central Committee session that was rescheduled for November 24th about election discrepancies has been postponed until further notice.
The agenda point for discussion was the Main Voting Bureau and the Civil Registry Department concerning discrepancies that occurred during and in preparation of the August 29th parliamentary elections.
The discrepancies noted are: at the Prison polling station; usage of foreign identification for voting purposes; discrepancies at specific polling stations in ballot counting; discrepancies of the lack of privacy during the supporting of the candidate list; discrepancies in the information given to political parties as it related to placement of campaign material.
Other points to be brought forward in the Central Committee meeting are: changes in the Electoral Law as it relates to having a structured chronological order; Increase of polling stations in 2014 in comparison to 2010; Implementation of electronic voting; If there any articles that are conflicting with each other?; and if there any articles wrongfully written?
This meeting was been requested by Members of Parliament (MP) Hon Read more

>GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Recently Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA) Collective Prevention Services (CPS) met with the Customs Department and Coast Guard to discuss preparations related to the Ebola virus disease (EVD).

Customs and the Coast Guard were appraised about the Sint Maarten Ebola Preparedness Plan being worked on by Ministry VSA, the travel ban that was officially announced by the Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius de Weever on Monday, October 27, as well as the various screening layers that exist prior to a person entering country Sint Maarten.

The levels of screening entail, exit screening measures from countries affected by Ebola; entry screening measures in the United States of America and Europe and Sint Maarten.

The Customs Department has drafted its response plan since the meeting was held at the end of October and a draft a preparedness plan along with what resources would be required is being awaited from the Coast Guard for CPS to review with respect to how their respective agency would deal with a suspect Ebola case.

All stakeholders were updated about the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) protocols that are in place for cruise passengers and crew.

Another issue touched upon during the meeting was the inspection of shipping manifest prior to a vessel docking at one of the country's ports.

Present for the meeting were representatives from SXM Airport, Port St Read more

Bloem goes after Bosman for his response to letters.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Attorney at Law Jairo Bloem dispatched another letter by email to MP Andre Bosman, based on article that appeared in the Antillians Daglad on November 11th, 2014. In that newspaper article Bosmas was quoted as saying he is not obliged to respond to letters sent to him by email and that he only has to respond to letters that are sent to him by registered mail. Below is the contents of the letter sent again by email to MP Bosman.

"Dear Mr. Bosman,

You were quoted in an article that appeared in Antilliaans Dagblad on Tuesday, November 11, 2014 first and foremost disputing that you received the first open letter directly, admitting that you did receive a second letter per email, contending that you are not bound, or do not feel bound, to respond to letters that are not delivered to you by registered mail Read more

Central Committee Meeting of Parliament about August 29th parliament election discrepancies rescheduled for November 24.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament Central Committee session scheduled for November 18th about election discrepancies has been rescheduled to November 24th.
The committee meeting is now set for Monday at 10:00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.
The agenda point is a discussion with the Main Voting Bureau and the Civil Registry Department concerning discrepancies that occurred during and in preparation of the August 29th parliamentary elections.
The discrepancies noted are: at the Prison polling station; usage of foreign identification for voting purposes; discrepancies at specific polling stations in ballot counting; discrepancies of the lack of privacy during the supporting of the candidate list; discrepancies in the information given to political parties as it related to placement of campaign material.
Other points to be brought forward in the Central Committee meeting are: changes in the Electoral Law as it relates to having a structured chronological order; Increase of polling stations in 2014 in comparison to 2010; Implementation of electronic voting; If there any articles that are conflicting with each other?; and if there any articles wrongfully written?
This meeting has been requested by Members of Parliament (MP) Hon Read more

Central Committee Meeting of Parliament scheduled for Tuesday surrounding August 29th parliament election discrepancies.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will meet in a Central Committee session on November 18th.
The committee meeting is set for Tuesday at 2:00pm in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.
This meeting has been requested by Members of Parliament (MP) Hon. Leona Marlin-Romeo, MP Hon Read more

Chairlady of Parliament Wescot Williams Resigns from Parliament effective immediately --- MP Lloyd Richardson heading to become an Independent Member of Parliament.

style="text-align: center;"> Is there still a Government in Place? Where does MP Leona Marlin stand?

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams read her letter of resignation from the position as chairlady of Parliament which she said is effective immediately Read more

style="text-align: center;">Formateur Shuffled the pack again this time appointing Petrus Leroy De Weever as Minister of VSA, the Doc was fooled.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams was fully played by formateur Theodore Heyliger and Democratic Party member Cornelius de Weever 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