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Minister Lake says thank you.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake would like to thank his family, friends, and supporters for the support he received in August 29 parliamentary elections.

"I would like to thank the people who came out firstly to exercise their democratic right to vote Read more

Up Leader And Board Say Thank You Sint Maarten And Especially The 6000+ Voters Who Voted Up

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – United People's (UP) Party Leader and Member of Parliament Hon. Theo Heyliger and the UP Party Board would like to thank the people of Sint Maarten for exercising their democratic right to vote on Friday, August 29th when over 14,800 persons made use of their right to vote, bringing the turnout close to 70 per cent.

"I am overwhelmed by the support received where over 6000 voters placed their confidence in the UP Party, making the UP the largest political party in the country Read more

St. Martin to attend major China tourism conference

MARIGOT--A delegation from the Collectivité will visit China at the beginning of September to participate in the Beijing Fragrant Hills Summit, as part of the Federation of World Tourist Cities Conference (WTCF), which will be held this year under the theme "market and cooperation."

The Chinese authorities invited President of the St. Martin Tourism Office Jeanne Rogers-Vanterpool who will be accompanied by Tourism Office Director Silviane John, Second Vice-President of the Territorial Council Ramona Connor, Ports Director Albéric Ellis, and Tourism Director for the Collectivité Stéphanie Bessière.

Costs of the delegation's visit to China have been entirely paid for by the Summit organisers.

The St Read more

Football Association opens offices in Rue de La Liberté

MARIGOT--St. Martin Football Association (SMFA) inaugurated its new offices at 34 Rue de La Liberté, Marigot, on Saturday, in the presence of Préfet Philippe Chopin, Territorial Councillor Antero de Jesus Santos Paulino (standing in for Alain Gros-Desormeaux), invited Confederation of Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) officials, SMFA board members, sponsors and contractors.
  The location is the former Mission Local office.  The office has a spacious reception area on entry and interior offices at the back Read more

Coalition talks amongst NA, DP, US continue over weekend

CAY HILL--Talks to form a new coalition government for the next governing period continued amongst the Democratic Party (DP), United St. Martin (US) Party and National Alliance (NA) over the weekend.

The Daily Herald understands that parties met on Sunday to hammer out a more detailed agreement on working together in a new government for Country St Read more

Editorial - Top 10

The individual votes-count of Friday's election that only became fully available late Saturday afternoon makes for some interesting reading (see related story). For one thing, UP leader Theo Heyliger confirmed he is by far the most popular politician in St Read more

Holiday starts consultation on formation of new gov’t today

HARBOUR VIEW--Governor Eugene Holiday will start consultations for the formation of a new government as of today, Monday, September 1. The consultations will be held with Vice Chairperson of the Advisory Council; Ombudsman Nilda Arduin-Lynch; outgoing President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell and the leaders of the four political parties that obtained seats in the elections: United People’s (UP) party leader Theo Heyliger, National Alliance (NA) leader William Marlin; Democratic Party (DP) leader Sarah Wescot-Williams and United St Read more

Re-migrant couple caught up in middle of alleged vendetta

GUYANA--The re-migrant couple in whose names the two Lexus vehicles, now at the centre of an alleged US $40 million tax fraud, were imported is maintaining that there was no breach of the tax laws of Guyana.

A family member told the media during an interview that the couple retired and returned to Guyana to live with their son. Their son is the Customs officer, who reportedly prevented Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) enforcement officers from taking possession of the vehicles on Friday night, August 29.

He and his parents are close friends with Kaieteur News' Publisher, Glen Lall, who allegedly drives the vehicles.

When the media visited the Continental Park, East Bank Demerara residence on the weekend to talk to the couple, they made it clear that the vehicles were in their possession as they live with their son, but pointed out that family members along with the Lalls are close friends and would from time to time use the vehicles.

"What wrong have we committed? We haven't sold the vehicles Read more

Libyan armed group takes over annex of US Embassy

WASHINGTON--Members of a Libyan militia have taken over an abandoned annex of the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli but have not broken into the main compound where the United States evacuated all of its staff last month, U.S. officials said on Sunday.

A YouTube video showed the breach of the diplomatic facility by what was believed to be a militia group mostly from the northwestern city of Misrata. Dozens of men, some armed, were seen gleefully crowded onto the patio of a swimming pool, with some diving in from the balcony of a nearby building.

Libya has been rocked by the worst factional violence since the 2011 fall of Muammar Gaddafi, and a Misrata-led alliance, part of it which is Islamist-leaning, now controls the capital.

A takeover of the embassy compound could deliver another symbolic blow to Washington over its policy toward Libya, which Western governments fear is teetering toward becoming a failed state just three years after a NATO-backed war ended Gaddafi's rule Read more

Putin calls for talks on east Ukraine "statehood"

MOSCOW/MARIUPOL, Ukraine--Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Sunday for immediate talks on the "statehood" of southern and eastern Ukraine, although his spokesman said this did not mean Moscow now endorsed rebel calls for independence for territory they have seized.

The Kremlin leader's remarks, two days after a public appearance in which he compared the Kiev government with Nazis and warned the West not to "mess with us", came as Europe and the United States prepared possible further sanctions to halt what they say is direct Russian military involvement in the war in Ukraine.

Germany aired suspicions that Moscow might be trying to create a land corridor to supply Crimea, which it annexed from Ukraine in March, while the four-month conflict moved onto the sea for the first time on Sunday Read more

Grappling with history, EU tests unity, new faces

BRUSSELS--European Union leaders meeting in Brussels this weekend, amid world war anniversaries, did not want for reminders of the continental conflicts that the bloc's founders meant to consign to history.

They took another symbolic step away from the Cold War division of Europe, in choosing a Pole from the ex-communist east to run their Council. But disarray on how to respond to Russia's moves in Ukraine, added to differences over reviving the euro zone economy, left them struggling to match fine words with the decisive action many want their new executive team to deliver.

Meeting in sight of a huge EU banner commemorating the centenary of the outbreak of World War One, and on the eve of the 75th anniversary of Hitler's invasion of Poland, many cited that bloody past to focus minds on halting what Lithuania's president said was already "a state of war" with Russia.

"We know from European history the danger of the territorial integrity of a nation state being threatened and undermined in this way and we have to send the clearest possible signal," said British Prime Minister David Cameron of an agreement to review possible new sanctions on Moscow within the next week if President Vladimir Putin does not pull back forces from Ukraine.

But scepticism over the effectiveness of previous sanctions and concern for flagging national economies, some hugely vulnerable to retaliation if Russia cut off supplies of energy, left it unclear how far and how fast the bloc was ready to act Read more

Legacy vs history

Dear Editor,

My twelve-year-old niece in hearing them speak about what kind of a legacy President Obama will leave, wanted to know more about this; I tried to explain it to her this way. People in their 20s and beyond still refer to me as the police who liked to dance in Carnival. Even though I personally do not consider that part of my legacy it is part of history, which even though not being my intention, also contributed to the attraction of tourism.

Many years ago on stepping into a travel agency in New Haven Connecticut, out of curiosity I asked if they had a brochure or anything on St Read more

Leader Of The Democratic Party Prime Minister Wescot-Williams' Post-Election Message

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Leader of the Democratic Party of St. Maarten Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams released a statement regarding the outcome of the 2014 elections on Monday.

The Prime Minister highlighted the way forward in her statement released amidst ongoing negotiations regarding the formation of Government; "The Democratic Party of St Read more

Political Parties Share Portfolios

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The combination of the National Alliance, Democratic Party and the United St. Maarten Party have decided on the division of seats in the wake of the agreement signed on Saturday morning, August 30th.

According to documents obtained, the National Alliance will be responsible for portfolios of VROMI, Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs.

The party will also be responsible for appointing the new Prime Minister of St Read more

Silveria Jacobs Say's Thank You To Electorate

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - "I am extremely grateful and thankful for the support that I have received from the polls" former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, the number 3 candidate on the slate of the National Alliance, Read more

Minister Lake Says Thank You

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake would like to thank his family, friends, and supporters for the support he received in August 29 parliamentary elections.

"I would like to thank the people who came out firstly to exercise their democratic right to vote Read more

Na Thanks Electorate, Supporters, Says Time To Work For St. Maarten

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The National Alliance (NA) has extended its heartfelt thanks to the electorate and party supporters for peaceful exercising their democratic right to vote and for their confidence in the party and says now that elections are over; the time has come to work in the best interest of the people of St. Maarten.

Leader of the National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament William Marlin said St Read more

New Ambulance Sub Station Opened On Airport Road Thursday

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - A new ambulance substation was opened on Thursday morning on the Airport road in Simpson Bay.

The Ambulance Sub Station was opened by the health minister the honorable Dr. Cornelius de Weever on the grounds of the Red Cross and will immediately go into operation pending their permanent location at the Airport.

Also on hand for the Sub Station opening Thursday morning was the head of the Ambulance Department drs. Cylred Richardson and Paul Martins of the St Read more

Minister Lake Says He Stands For The Protection Of The Great Salt Pond

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake says he stands for the protection of the Great Salt Pond, and looks forward in the new governing period to continue with the community consultation regarding the draft development plans.

Minister Lake said he took note of a petition that was presented more than a year ago which called for a stop to the landfill expansion, dumping and pollution in the Great Salt Pond.

"I agree we have to maintain the current status of the Great Salt Pond Read more

Minister Lake Says New Mental Health Facility To Improve Services For The Community

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake who was very instrumental in securing the last in Madame Estate for a new mental health facility, says he is very pleased with the plans from the Mental Health Foundation.

Minister Lake pointed out that mental health is very important Read more

UP biggest, but NA, US, DP sign accord

PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten will have yet another coalition government after Friday's elections. National Alliance (four seats), United St. Maarten Party (two seats) and Democratic Party (two seats) signed a declaration of willingness before dawn today to work together to form a new government.

DP leader Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams told The Daily Herald about the declaration shortly after the signing took place at the DP election headquarters at Bute Hotel.

The short declaration states that the parties are willing to work together Read more

Frans: Our message was loud and clear!

PHILIPSBURG--United St. Maarten party leader Frans Richardson reaffirmed his party's mission of continuing to make life better for the people of St. Maarten in his speech directly following this year's election's preliminary results. The party earned two seats.

"While some of them had counted us out, our message was loud and clear," Richardson said.

"Our message was clear, our message was loud, our message cannot change in this game Read more

Sarah: DP to evaluate results, open to talk

PHILIPSBURG--The Democratic Party (DP) will be "digesting" and "evaluating" the preliminary parliamentary election results and will determine how to proceed, given the distribution of seats announced early this morning.

"We need to digest the results. That's where we will start. Then we see what needs to be done," DP leader Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams told The Daily Herald at the party's headquarters at Bute Hotel just after the announcement.

"The DP has been in this to give stability to the government of St Read more

Editorial -- Intriguing landscape

The voters have spoken. Compared to four years ago UP replaced NA as the largest party but fell short of a majority, while DP held steady after its setback in 2010 and newcomer US party not only got into Parliament but earned two seats, making for an intriguing new political landscape Read more