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Gov’T Seeking Permanent Solution To Landfill Fires

PHILIPSBURG – Minister of VROMI Angel Meyers and Prime Minister William Marlin have assured the public that all is being done to ensure that the fire at the landfill is contained.

“Monday we had an emergency meeting and I indicated that all resources would be made available to contain the fire. Since yesterday, the contractor has been hauling some 1,000 cubes of dirt to use as coverage of the landfill to curb the burning,” Minister Meyers said at Wednesday’s, April 20, Council of Ministers Press Briefing Read more

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Cft Approves 2016 Budget

PHILIPSBURG – The Committee for Financial Supervision CFT has approved St. Maarten’s 2016 budget. Minister of Finance Richard Gibson said the CFT also commended him for making “significant improvements” in the budget.

Speaking at the Council of Ministers press briefing on Wednesday, April 20, the Minister said he had received a letter from CFT on Tuesday informing him of the approval and mentioned that it had “taken note of the significant improvement to the draft budget of St Read more

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Mp Franklin Meyers Question The Process Leading To The Sale Of Government Projects

PHILIPSBURG – Member of Parliament (MP) Franklin Meyers on Tuesday commended the chairlady of Parliament Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams, for her contributions made over the past eight years to the country.

MP Meyers added that for the record, he has known Wescot-Williams for more than 20 something years, and had the opportunity to serve and work with her in Government in the past.

“In connection with when we question the process leading to the sale of government projects, it still boils down that the new government building, the harbors, the airports, and the causeways were products of our imagination, Those were not just done on paper but are actual living feeling things that you can touch today and you can say that we have a harbour, we have an airport, we have a boardwalk, we have the beautification of different parts of the island, and we have the causeway.

“As I told parliament on Tuesday, the causeway did not have to come to parliament for parliament’s approval, because the causeway was not government property Read more

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St. Maarten Parliament Debates Sale New Government Building

Plenty of questions but no new insights

St.  Maarten News – Parliament debated the purchase of the new government administration building in a meeting yesterday afternoon but it did not provide any new insights. Minister of General Affairs William Marlin answered a plethora of questions that mostly covered issues so far in the past that they have lost their significance or that addresses issues that are already public knowledge.

Marlin said that at this moment there is no accurate assessment of the office space the government will still need outside of the new building after departments have moved in by September Read more

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St. Maarten Nectar Launches Zika-Campaign In Schools

St. Maarten News – St. Maarten Nectar, local producer of natural cosmetics and Bug 0% repellents launched its fight against the Zika virus – and specifically its mosquito bite prevention campaign. This is an island-wide program which encourages children to develop healthy bite prevention habits.

The campaign was launched with the placement of over 100 posters in public areas around the community like supermarkets and drugstores on the island. The company stressed its “Protect-Repel-Eliminate” message at various schools and playschools and donated diffusers as part of its social corporate responsibility program.

The management of St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---  Every budget over the last ten years and beyond shows that education consumes the greatest part of it. But instead of things getting better our education product is lagging far behind. We have been reading about so many problems within our public educational system that it makes us hold our head and bawl. All indications are that our private schools are being better managed. We are therefore; somewhat surprised that after so many years of talking about it no decision has been made to date to privatize public education Read more

Up And Na, Shadowboxing About Education On The Move!

Every budget over the last ten years and beyond shows that education consumes the greatest part of it. But instead of things getting better, our education product is lagging far behind. We have been reading about so many problems within our public educational system that it makes us hold our head and bawl.

All indications are that our private schools are being better managed. We are therefore, somewhat surprised that after so many years of talking about it, no decision has been made to date to privatize public education.

Our largest secondary school, if media reports are correct, is planning to establish an English curriculum because we are not having sufficient students stream into the Dutch system at that school Read more

St. Maarten Nectar Launches Campaign In Schools Against Zika

SIMPSON BAY – St. Maarten Nectar, local producer of natural cosmetics and Bug Off repellents launched its fight against the Zika virus, and specifically its mosquito bite prevention campaign. This is an island-wide program, which encourages children to develop healthy bite prevention habits.

The campaign was launched with the placement of over 100 posters in public areas around the community like supermarkets and drugstores on the island. The company stressed its “Protect-Repel-Eliminate” message at various schools and playschools and donated diffusers as part of its social corporate responsibility program.

Management of St Read more

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Gobierno Ahorrará Miles De Florines Al Mes Al Mudarse A Nuevo Edificio

Traducido por Máximo Castro

PHILIPSBURG – El gobierno espera ahorrarse NAf. 360.000 al mes, cuando mude sus departamentos al nuevo edificio administrativo que está ubicado en Pond Island.

El primer ministro William Marlin dijo el martes a los miembros del Parlamento (MP), durante una reunión del Comité Central que el Gobierno tenía una deuda considerable con el Fondo General de Pensiones APS y del Seguro Social y Salud SZV, y había recibido una instrucción que le obligaba a pagar esta deuda Read more

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Los Miembros Del Parlamento (Mp) Piden Reunión Urgente Sobre La Situación Financiera Del País

Traducido por Máximo Castro

PHILIPSBURG .– La Coalición de Miembros del Parlamento (MP) solicitó a este hemiciclo una reunión urgente sobre el tema de la situación financiera del país.  En la solicitud, los parlamentarios: George Pantophlet, Frans Richardson y Sarah Wescot-Williams, presentaron el siguiente punto para la agenda del orden del día: “perspectiva financiera de St Read more

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Wib Bank Md Is A Disgrace To The St. Maarten Culture And People

~Downes orders removal of ATM machine ~

PHILIPSBURG – In the peak of Carnival 2016 season, WIB managing Director Derek Downes ordered the removal of the WIB ATM machine. The removal of the ATM signaled Downes’ refusal to pay the donation of US $15,000 (not $50,000 as was previously stated) the SCDF had asked as a contribution to Carnival activities.

He also made it clear that he would not pay “Stichting Overheids Gebouwen” (SOG), which presides over the Carnival activities, the US $750 for 2 weeks rental of the space where the ATM machine is located in the Festival Village.

A source close to the saga, who asked to remain anonymous, told 721news that Downes prefers to spend more money to remove the ATM machine, and the structure that houses it, because those were past investments made by WIB.

“This is a clear sign of this man’s arrogance, and a clear sign that he doesn’t want anything to do with Carnival or SOG in the near future,” the source stated Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister William Marlin announced on Wednesday that the draft amendments to be made on electoral reform has been completed and it will be sent to the Council of Advice for their perusal.
He said the Council of Ministers took the decision to dispatch the draft changes on Wednesday to the Council of Advice then it will be formerly sent to the Council of State for them to prepare their advice for the Kingdom Government Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime William Marlin told members of the media during the Council of Ministers press briefing on Wednesday that he was invited to Parliament to discuss the agreement government signed with SZV regarding the sale of the government administration building.
Marlin said when the meeting was first convened the deputy Prime Minister sat in for him since he was off island and the opposition MPs of Parliament who called for the meeting asked a barrage of questions Read more

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St. Maarten Nectar Launches Campaign In Schools Against Zika.

Simpson Bay :---- St. Maarten Nectar, local producer of natural cosmetics and Bug O% repellents launched its fight against the Zika virus - and specifically its mosquito bite prevention campaign. This is an island-wide program which encourages children to develop healthy bite prevention habits.
The campaign was launched with the placement of over 100 posters in public areas around the community like supermarkets and drugstores on the island. The company stressed its “Protect-Repel-Eliminate” message at various schools and playschools and donated diffusers as part of its social corporate responsibility program.
The management of St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The IB Diploma Class of 2016's CAS Presentation and Pinning Ceremony marked the end of their two-year journey to discover the answer to the question: "What can I be?” On Friday, April 15, the Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs, The Catholic School Board, The Department of Inspection, School Manager Ms. Gianne Wilson-DeWeever, representatives of several NGO's, community stakeholders, parents, and teachers were part of this celebratory event.

The program opened with the students highlighting the skills and experiences they cultivated by engaging in the Creativity, Action and Service component of their academically rigorous IB Diploma Programme Read more

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St. Maarten Residents Call For Action To Solve Dump Problems

Minister Emil Lee (second from right) listens to the concerns about the landfill. To the left is Andy Wescot; Wycliffe Smith of the Christian party is just visible next to him. Photo contributed

St Read more

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Mussington: New Prison Not The Way Forward For Our Young People

MARIGOT--Long-standing educator and former Territorial Councillor Louis Mussington said Tuesday he disagrees with MP Daniel Gibbs’s attempts to get the prison discussion for St. Mart Read more

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Mps Request Urgent Meeting On Country’S Financial Status

PHILIPSBURG – The Coalition Members of Parliament (MPs) sent a request to Parliament for an urgent meeting on the topic of the financial status of the country. In their request, MPs George Pantophlet, Frans Richardson and Sarah Wescot-Williams submitted the following agenda point: “Short, medium and long-term financial outlook of St Read more

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Final Phase Of Emergency Repairs On Front Street Start Wednesday

PHILIPSBURG – The Government of St. Maarten, represented by the Council of Ministers, would like to update the general public with regard to the second and final phase of the emergency repairs, which are being carried out on Front Street.

The project is being financed by the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) and coordinated by the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI).

“We are pleased to inform you, as promised, that the first phase of this project is now completed and traffic through Front Street from Sea Palace can continue up until the Court House Read more

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Brown Pelican Sports Award Winners Receive Their Checks

PHILIPSBURG – Two winners of the top prizes for the St. Maarten Brown Pelican Sports Awards (BPSA) received their checks on Wednesday, April 13, at the conference room of the Department of Sports.

Shakeba Pink (Athletics) and Desmond Patterson (Bodybuilding), winners of the Female and Male Athlete of the Year respectively, were informed of their achievements during the first ever BPSA ceremony, honoring local athletes and sporting legends, on Sunday, November 22, 2015 at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort Convention Center.

The checks were presented to the athletes, in front of family and staff of the Department of Sports, by Department Head Jonelle Richardson and National Sports Institute (NSI) Chairman Daniel Berry Read more

Mp Marlin-Romeo Receives Response From U.S. Embassy On U.S. Visa Requirements.

PHILIPSBURG"--- Member of Parliament Leona Marlin-Romeo received an answer directly from the US Embassy on the issue of visa requirements for citizens of the former Netherlands Antilles.

Clarification was given by the Embassy located in Curacao after the Member of Parliament called and emailed the office on Monday April 18th, 2016.

Persons from the former Netherlands Antilles are eligible to participate in the Visa Waiver Program "VWP", according to the representative Read more

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Landfill Fire Out, But Still Smoking

On Sunday afternoon, the smoldering landfill fire still sent toxic smoke towards residential areas. Photo Today / Hilbert Haar

St. Maarten News – The fire that broke out on the landfill on Friday afternoon may be “under control” but on Sunday afternoon the site was still emitting toxic smoke. That smoke contains dioxins, carcinogenic substances that could cause cancer but also a severe form of acne, known as chloracne. At high dose levels, dioxin could furthermore cause abnormalities to the enamel of children’s teeth; it could affect the central and peripheral nervous system, cause thyroid disorders, damage immune systems and cause endometriosis (tissue growth outside the uterus that could in turn lead to (chronic) pelvis pain and infertility) and – last but not least – diabetes.

High exposure to dioxins also changes the male/female birth ration in favor of females.

Significant is the observation that small concentrations of dioxins in water could accumulate to dangerously high levels, because the substance does not dissolve easily in water.

The Collective Prevention Services advised this weekend to people living downwind from the landfill fire to close their windows and doors Read more

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Minister Jacobs Launches Education On The Move

Minister Jacobs (center) with the team involved in Education on the Move. Photo Today / Andrew Bishop

St. Maarten News – Education Minister Silveria Jacobs launched her Education on the Move initiative on Friday. The program aims to stimulate participation of all stakeholders in education. “There are comments about what is happening in education, but some fail to realize that education is everyone’s business,” the minister said.

The ministry wants to use the campaign to make the necessary changes Read more

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Coalition Mps Request Meeting To Discuss Country’S Financial Status.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On behalf of the Coalition members of Parliament, a request has been sent to Parliament for an urgent meeting on the topic of the financial status of the country. In their request, the members Pantophlet, F. Richardson and Wescot-Williams submitted the following agenda point:

Short, medium and long term financial outlook of St Read more

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