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“Back And Forth Bickering Between Na And Upp Over Gebe, But No Solution In Sight!”

PHILIPSBURG – It is the people of St. Maarten who are continuing to suffer while the heated debate over who is most responsible for the current GEBE woes continues between the National Alliance (NA) and the United Peoples Party (UPP), noted leader of the One St. Maarten People Party (OSPP) Lenny Priest, who opined that workable solutions are what the country needs and not “high school antics from elected officials.”

Priest was reacting to recent media statements on the situation at GEBE from the board of NA who alleged “it seems every time that government or government-owned companies needs to make a significant purchase some family or friend is involved in some way or the other,” and to statements by the UPP alleging that it was the NA who stopped the purchase of the engine needed by GEBE.

“This constant back and forth between the largest political parties over what has happened at GEBE under their tenure with accusations of nepotism and the like levied against each other is in no way a solution to the problem Read more

Ministry Vsa Receives 3 Bids For Construction Of The New Hospital

PHILIPSBURG – St. Maarten is one step closer to the realization of the construction of the new St. Maarten Hospital. “As the Ministry of VSA, we continue working towards providing a high quality medical system that is affordable and easily accessible for the people,” said Minister of VSA Emil Lee.

During Wednesday’s, July 20, Council Of Ministers Press Briefing, Minister Lee stated that the Ministry of VSA, along with SZV, and SMMC received 3 completed bids for the new St Read more

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Health Minister Lee Announces Interim Work Permit Policy For Adult Entertainers

PHILIPSBURG – During Wednesday’s, July 20, Press Briefing, Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor Emil Lee stated, “Adjustments to the old work permit policy for adult entertainers were made in order to prevent any abuse, and to ensure that Government doesn’t facilitate human trafficking.”

He also mentioned that “the policy will serve until the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, and Transportation develops their permanent policy/solution for the adult entertainers.”

Due to a memo received from the Prosecutor’s Office earlier this year, the Council of Ministers agreed that the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, and Transportation would develop and present a new policy for commercial sex workers.

In the interim, the court ruled that Ministry VSA needed to accept requests for adult entertainers and process within 2-3 weeks Read more

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Ministry Vsa Receives 3 Bids For The Construction Of The New Smmc

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - St.Maarten is one step closer towards the realization for the construction of the New St.Maarten Hospital. “As the Ministry of VSA, we continue working towards providing a high quality medical system that is affordable and easily accessible for the people” said Minister of VSA Emil Lee.

During Wednesdays Council Of Ministers Press briefing, Minister Lee stated that the Ministry of VSA, along with SZV , and SMMC received 3 completed bids for the New St.Maarten Medical Center on Monday July 18 by 2 PM.

12 original interested bidders were narrowed down by preselection criteria to a total of 5 bidders and of those 5, 3 submitted their bids by the cut off time.

In order to guarantee transparency, the bids were received at the Tjon A Jong Civil Law Notary office located on Frontstreet, and was received in the presence of the awarding team consisting of representatives of the Ministry of VSA, SZV, SMMC, KPMG (projectleader), and Royal HaskoningDHV who is an engineering consultant Read more

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The Hague, The Netherlands, Incumbent Kingdom Ambassador the Hon. Mr. Norbert Braakhuis , well known to Sint Maarten, who was previously stationed in Havana, Cuba will be taking up his new post in Venezuela as per August 12th, visited the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary accompanied by Mrs. Jacinda Hofland from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs..
He was received by the Cabinet’s Director, Perry Geerlings and acting Director of the Cabinet, Margie van Gijn Read more

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Sarah Wescot: New Hospital On Gov’T’S Agenda

St. Maarten News —The construction of a new hospital is one of several projects in the pipeline for the current government, according to President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams. At press conference yesterday, Mrs. Wescot-Williams explained that there will be an announcement of the names of the companies who have won the bid for the new hospital Read more

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Up Mp Franklin Meyers Blasts Gov’T On Gebe

St. Maarten News—United People’s Party (UP) member of Parliament Franklin Meyers blasted the government for what he terms a mismanagement of power company GEBE in light of the latest string of power outages on the island. “This is unbelievable! The mismanagement of GEBE goes beyond party politics Read more

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Ppa Introduces New Candidate Anique Liu

St. Maarten News —People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA) leader Gracita Arrindell announced on Sunday that Anique Liu will be contesting the September 26 parliamentary elections. “We are pleased to have Anique join the P.P.A Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- St.Maarten is one step closer towards the realization for the construction of the New St.Maarten Hospital. “As the Ministry of VSA, we continue working towards providing a high quality medical system that is affordable and easily accessible for the people” said Minister of VSA Emil Lee.
During Wednesdays Council Of Ministers Press briefing, Minister Lee stated that the Ministry of VSA, along with SZV , and SMMC received 3 completed bids for the New St.Maarten Medical Center on Monday July 18 by 2 PM.
12 original interested bidders were narrowed down by preselection criteria to a total of 5 bidders and of those 5, 3 submitted their bids by the cut off time.
In order to guarantee transparency, the bids were received at the Tjon A Jong Civil Law Notary office located on Frontstreet, and was received in the presence of the awarding team consisting of representatives of the Ministry of VSA, SZV, SMMC, KPMG (projectleader), and Royal HaskoningDHV who is an engineering consultant Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- -During Wednesdays Press Briefing, Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor Emil Lee stated that “Adjustments to the old work permit policy for adult entertainers, were made in order to prevent any abuse, and to ensure that Government doesn’t facilitate human trafficking”. He also mentioned that “the policy will serve until the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, and Transportation develops their permanent policy/solution for the adult entertainers”.
Due to a memo received from the prosecutor’s office earlier this year, the Council of Ministers agreed that the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, and Transportation would develop and present a new policy for Commercial sex workers.
In the interim, the court ruled that Ministry VSA needed to accept requests for adult entertainers and process within 2-3 weeks Read more

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Back And Forth Bickering Between Na And Up Over Gebe But No Solution In Sight.

PHILIPSBURG: --- It is the people of St. Maarten who are continuing to suffer while the heated debate over who is most responsible for the current Gebe woes continues between the National Alliance and the United People Party, notes leader of the One St. Maarten People Party Lenny Priest who opined that workable solutions are what the country needs and not “high school antics from elected officials.”
Priest was reacting to recent media statements on the situation at Gebe from the board of the NA who alleged ‘it seems every time that government or government owned companies needs to make a significant purchase some family or friend is involved in some way or the other’ and to statements by the UP alleging that it was the NA who stopped the purchase of the engine needed by Gebe.
“This constant back and forth between the largest political parties over what has happened at Gebe under their tenure with accusations of nepotism and the like levied against each other is in no way a solution to the problem Read more

Frans: Usp Is About ‘True Leadership’ For St. Maarten.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United St. Maarten Party (USP) Frans Richardson on Wednesday stressed that while he is the political leader of the party, any good leader must embrace the fact that leadership is more about moving forward together than thinking and acting individually Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United St. Maarten Party (USP) Member of Parliament Frans Richardson dismissed jabs against his party as a party for “ship jumpers” by focusing on the fact that the individuals targeted still have lots to contribute to the country Read more

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PHILIPSBURG: --- MP Christopher Emmanuel is calling on the Temporary Manager of GEBE Andrew Zaggers to step down from his post immediately simply because he is out of touch and has no consideration for the employees of GEBE. He said that Zaggers has no feelings for the moral of the workers, and their ability to function under this HR manager Read more

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The Hague Netherlands:---On July 19th, 2016 the Director and acting Director welcomed the Minister Councillor at the Belgian Embassy in The Hague, Mrs. Emmanuelle De Foy, to the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary .
The Director of the Cabinet, Mr. Perry Geerlings, gave a brief synopsis of the role Sint Maarten plays within the Kingdom since obtaining its autonomous status Read more

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Former Vdsm Head Detained In Tarpon Investigation

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The former head of the St. Maarten National Security Service VDSM J.A.J.R. (41) has been arrested on Tuesday, July 19 by members of the National Detective Agency assisted by officers of the St. Maarten Police Force KPSM. His house in Ebenezer, Cul de Sac was also searched in connection with the ongoing investigation concerning embezzlement and money laundering called Tarpon, led by the National Detective Agency.

A search was also done in a hotel room and at a moving company Read more

Former Vdsm Head Detained In Tarpon Investigation.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The former head of the St. Maarten National Security Service VDSM J.A.J.R. (James Richardson) (41) has been arrested on Tuesday, July 19 by members of the National Detective Agency assisted by officers of the St. Maarten Police Force KPSM. His house in Ebenezer, Cul de Sac was also searched in connection with the ongoing investigation concerning embezzlement and money laundering called Tarpon, led by the National Detective Agency.

A search was also done in a hotel room and at a moving company Read more

Ceremonies Held To Remember Victims In St. Martin, France

MARIGOT--Two ceremonies were held in St. Martin on Monday to remember the victims of the wave of violence that swept through St. Martin last week and the latest terrorist attack in Nice, France, where 84 persons lost their lives.

  There was a gathering in the garden of Hotel de la Collectivité at midday, where Territorial Council President Aline Hanson, Préfète Anne Laubies and Police aux Frontières (PAF) Commandant Jean-Luc Deras lit candles Read more

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Minister Jacobs Awards Winners Of Heritage Essay Competition

PHILIPSBURG--The winners of the first Intangible Heritage Interscholastic Essay Competition, hosted by the Department of Culture, received their awards from Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs at the Government Administration Building on Friday, July 15.

  The purpose of this initiative was to stimulate the young minds, inspire intellectual and creative thought and acknowledge the impact of African heritage on St Read more

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Ospp Congratulates I Can And Carl John

PHILIPSBURG – Congratulations were extended to the I Can Foundation on the occasion of their 20 year anniversary by the One St. Maarten People Party (OSPP) and to Police Chief Carl John on being officially inaugurated.

“We congratulate the I Can Foundation and particularly president and founder Cassandra Gibbs. She is a clear example of putting others before self, putting country before self Read more

Gendarmes Search For Evidence To Break Pierrick Briere Murder Case Monday

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – The Gendarmes, who were assisted by the GREEN BRIGADE, conducted further searches to find evidence that can lead to the conclusion of the murder case of “Pierrick BRIERE.”

The body of Briere was discovered early July and was believed to have been murdered on the night of 2nd to the 3rd of July 2016.

It is said that someone gave him a lift during the evening hours just before his death.

Captain of the Gendarmes Emmanuel MAIGNAN told our news room on Monday that they would love to talk with the driver who gave the victim a lift Read more

MARIGOT:--- Officials on St. Martin joined France on Monday for a moment of silence for the 84 victims that were killed on night of July 14th as they were celebrating Bastille Day.
Those that attended the moment of silence in the Garden (the war memorial) of the Collectivity were the President of the COM Aline Hanson, Prefet Anne Laubies and the Commandant of Police aux Frontieres Jean-Luc Deras Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---- On Tuesday, July 12, 18 civil servants were sworn into the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports during a ceremony held at the A.C. Wathey Legislative Hall. The 18 civil servants were sworn in by Honorable Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Silveria Jacobs, in the presence of Secretary General Jorien Wuite and various Department/Division heads.
Minister Jacobs congratulated the civil servants after the ceremony, explaining that the power of the oath comes for those who takes it Read more

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Nature Foundation Starts Tagging Endangered Shark Species On St. Maarten

St. Maarten News —The St. Maarten Nature Foundation initiated their shark tagging program as part of the DCNA Save Our Sharks project funded by the Dutch National Postcode Lottery. According to the Nature Foundation in a press release, this research is aimed to better understand the life characteristics of sharks in St Maarten waters including population structure, abundance and migration. 

Jillian Morris and Duncan Brake from Sharks4kids assisted the Nature Foundation with building gear, catching, handling and tagging the sharks Read more