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Prime Minister Romeo-Marlin And Minister Ferrier Hold Successful Consultation With Dutch Prime Minister Rutte

SINT MAARTEN/THE NETHERLANDS – “It was a great meeting,” were the sentiments of Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin and Minister of Finance Michael Ferrier following their meeting with Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte on Thursday morning in Den Haag.

Prime Minister Rutte greeted the two Ministers from Sint Maarten warmly at his Cabinet where they discussed a wide range of topics including the progress of the ongoing recovery of Sint Maarten, the reconstruction Fund, progress of arrangements with the World Bank, French & Dutch cooperation, and the overall urgency to address the needs of the people of Sint Maarten.

Minister Ferrier took the opportunity to briefly express his frustrations with the fact that regular, lengthy processes must be followed in order for Sint Maarten to eventually access the fund that will be managed by the World Bank.

While it is understandable that Sint Maarten must comply with international World Bank and International Monetary Fund standards, it is obvious that this too will cause delays Read more

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Vsa To Distribute Water Survival Kits Donated By Rotary

SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND) - The Department of Labor and Social Affairs will coordinate the distribution of seventy (70) water survival kits and four (4) aqua boxes that were donated by the international and regional Rotary Clubs to St. Maarten. The donation offers an alternative for water to displaced families or those without access to clean water.

The water survival kits and aqua water filters will be distributed to families most in need according to the Basic Necessities program database managed by the Department of Labor and Social Affairs Read more

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Telem Group, Regional Telcos Testing Disaster Management App.

SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND) - St. Maarten telecommunication provider, TelEm Group is joining other Telcos in the Caribbean in the testing phase of a disaster management App that could soon hit the global market.

The App, called SONAR, can make it possible for general populations in the region to receive up-to-the-minute information about upcoming storms and natural disasters, view weather patterns and obtain various information from government and disaster preparedness offices including information about shelters and their state of readiness.

It also advises on recovery efforts after a natural disaster by sending targeted information before, during and after a major incident.

Both users and government can benefit from another feature of the SONAR App that focuses on the recovery effort following any natural disaster with contact information for donations and other supplies that might be needed at the time.

The developers say their App is designed for governments and national disaster organizations to serve the population Read more

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Sint Maarten Delegation Meets Klm Reps. Meeting Yields Positive Outcome

SINT MAARTEN/THE HAGUE - Upon arrival in the Netherlands on Wednesday February 14, 2018, the Government of Sint Maarten delegation headed by Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin and Minister of Finance Michael Ferrier, met with executives of KLM at the airline’s head office in Amstelveen.

The KLM invitation to the Sint Maarten delegation was to get a first-hand report on the post Hurricane Irma recovery progress of the island and to discuss flight network development, as they relate to Sint Maarten/Saint Martin.

The KLM delegation was headed by their Senior Vice President, Mr Read more

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Minister Of Tourism De Weever Opens Departure Pavilion At Sxm Airport

SINT MAARTEN (SIMPSON BAY) – Acting Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic & Telecommunications (TEATT), the Honorable Cornelius de Weever officially opened the Departure Pavilion at the Princess Juliana International Airport over the weekend.

Minister De Weever mentioned during the opening ceremony that as acting Minister of TEATT, with the responsibility for the airport, government will do all within its power to facilitate the rebuilding and further development of the facilities, and will also continue to encourage strategic partnerships in this vital sector that will result in a win-win-win situation for all involved.

Hurricane Irma was the first Category 5 hurricane to strike the Leeward Islands on record, followed by Hurricane Maria two weeks later, and is the second-costliest Caribbean hurricane on record, after Maria Read more

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Smcp Candidates Pledge To Reduce Mp Salaries

PHILIPSBURG - On January 30th 2018, candidates of the Sint Maarten Christian Party (SMCP) gathered at the Party’s Headquarters in the Backstreet for their usual Tuesday evening meeting, the SMCP said in a press statement on Wednesday.

“However, on this night, these loyal and enthusiastic candidates were going to do something that had never been done before by a political party or its candidates Read more

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Minister Arrindell-Doncher Outlines Economic Recovery

POND ISLAND - Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs Mellissa Arrindell-Doncher on Tuesday stressed that the economic recovery and development of St. Maarten must be sustainable and based on collaborative initiatives and policies between the public and private sector. “We also have to be daring and step out of comfort zones that do not work for us anymore,” she said.

She said if a better, stronger, smarter and more sustainable St Read more

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Public Prosecution Service Says There Is No Criminal Investigation Against Minister Emil Lee. No Formal Complaint Made Against Lee

PHILIPSBURG – “The Public Prosecutor’s Office Sint Maarten states, regarding the article today (January 9th, 2018) in The Daily Herald, that there is no criminal investigation ongoing against mr. Emil Lee at this moment in relation to abuse of car number plates or theft of gasoline/using government fuel bonds to purchase fuel for personal use in the last months of 2017 after the hurricane Irma,” aforementioned prosecuting agency said in a press statement on Tuesday.

“There is also no formal complaint at the Public Prosecutor’s Office against mr Read more

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Sarah: February 26Th Election Decree A Flagrant Disregard For The Constitution And The People

PHILIPSBURG - The first national decree promulgating the dissolution of parliament was dated November 3, 2017, LB-17/0575) with the first convening of the new parliament on January 31, 2018, Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams said on Tuesday morning in a press statement.

“By decree of November 12th, one day before nomination day (kandidaatstelling), this decree was amended to establish the day of election on February 26th.

“However, in the amended decree (LB-17/0619), the first convening of the new parliament is now set for April 2nd 2018, in gross violation of article 59 of the Constitution of St Read more

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SIMPSON BAY – A delegation consisting of the Chairlady of the First Chamber, Mrs. Ankie Broekers-Knol, and the Chairlady of the Second Chamber, Mrs. Khadija Arib, and their support staff were welcomed at the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) on Saturday, January 6, 2018 by the Chairlady of the Parliament of Sint Maarten, Mrs. Sarah Wescot-Williams and staff members of the secretariat of Parliament Read more

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PHILIPSBURG – The United Democrats (UD) on Friday presented a full slate of 23 candidates for the February 26 polls.  The party is being led by Member of Parliament Theo Heyliger followed by in the number two position Member of Parliament Sarah Read more

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History Made With The Launch Of The United Democrats

PHILIPSBURG - Leaders of the United People's Party (UP) and the Democratic Party (DP) have unified under one banner and founded the United Democrats, a powerhouse political movement formed to take St. Maarten through the critical reconstruction phase the island faces in 2018.

The newly formed party, United Democrats is the historical joining of UP Honorable Member of Parliament Theodore Heyliger and DP Honorable President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams.

"If we take a look at the unaddressed realities since the passage of Hurricane Irma, of our crippled economy and our people desperately needing leadership and hope, all lead to the coming together of the United Democrats."

Leading the United Democrats will be MP Theodore Heyliger, with MP Sarah Wescot-Williams as the number two candidate.

St Read more

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New Year’S Message From President Of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams

PHILIPSBURG – Leader of the Democratic Party (DP) and President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams said in her New Year’s Day message: ‘Don’t let the disaster that befell us get the better of us.’ “It would take more than a few words to adequately describe the year which has become last year and a year we have put behind us Read more

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Sarah: “The Fall Of The Marlin Cabinet Justified By The Horrific Financial And Economic Outlook Of St. Maarten”

PHILIPSBURG - That the financial state of the country is worrisome is a no-brainer. But we all should be alarmed, Leader of the Democratic Party (DP), Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams said on Friday.

“This dismal picture is all the more clear with the presentation of the amendments to the 2017 budget by the minister of Finance Read more

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POND ISLAND - In light of the holidays, Labriska Courtar organized a Christmas Lunch for the Shelterees living in the Festival Village and the Little League Ball Park who lost their homes due to the major hurricanes Maria and Irma.

A lunch was catered for approximately 100 shelterees which consisted of turkey, ham, lasagna, Journey cakes and much more.

“It has always been a plan of mine, to give back to those in need. Hosting this event with my support team was amazing. It was a good feeling to contribute this Christmas season.

“This Christmas season instead of making it just about receiving and giving gifts, I dedicated my time, with my friends and family to putting this charitable event together Read more

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POND ISLAND - On August 8th 2016, the representatives to the Central Voting Bureau of nine (9) political parties have submitted the list of candidates of their respective political parties. As per article 23, paragraph 1 Electoral Ordinance, the lists would need to be endorsed on August 9th 2016, between 09.00hrs and 16.00hrs with an amount of signatures equal to 1% of the valid votes casted during the last Parliamentary Election.

The requisite amount of signature is 146. Those parties that have obtained 1 or more seats during the previous Parliamentary Election are exempted from being endorsed, as per paragraph 4 of the aforementioned article.

Below, please find the result of today’s endorsement:

On Friday, August 12th 2016, the Central Voting Bureau will meet to examine the lists that were submitted and shall also take note of the endorsement list of each political party that needed to be endorsed (Article 28, paragraph 1 Electoral Ordinance) Read more

CAY HILL - Contract negotiations for the design, build and maintenance contract of the new General Hospital of Sint Maarten will commence this month with the nominated bidder, INSO. The construction of the new General Hospital is still on schedule to start in the third quarter of this year.

The new General Hospital will improve and expand the quality of healthcare that is available on Sint Maarten. The new facility will be able to accommodate additional services which are now not available locally, attracting more medical specialists and create new jobs Read more

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PHILIPSBURG - Police Inspector Lyndon Lewis on Sunday, August 7, tendered his resignation from the ABVO-SXM union which clears the way for his venture into the political arena. Lewis will be contesting the September 26 elections as part of the United St. Maarten party (US) list. It will be the first time he will be contesting a political election.

Lewis informed ABVO-SXM President Sharlon Cathalina and ABVO board members that he is moving on to serve the people of St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG - The St. Maarten Christian Party (SMCP) is pleased to announce the candidacy of Mr. Michaël Somersall on the SMCP slate for the upcoming Parliamentary elections.

Son of the soil, Michaël Somersall, husband and father of four, is the third son of Carlos Somersall and Cynthia Wrighton Read more

PHILIPSBURG - “The war on zika is a war on mosquitos, and our experience so far is that the population isn’t as engaged, knowledgeable, and proactive as they should be said Minister of Public health Emil Lee during Wednesdays council of Ministers press briefing.

The Ministry of Health has been regularly publishing articles instructing people on the importance of eliminating breeding sites for disease spreading mosquitos Read more

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Minister Lee Meets With Aruba’S Health Minister And Azv Representatives

SINT MAARTEN/ARUBA - Continuing on his mission to improve cooperation on healthcare issues both within the Kingdom and regionally, Minister of Public Health, Social Development & Labor Emil Lee travelled to Aruba last week to meet with Aruba’s Minister of Health Alex Schwengle.

His first meeting was held with Minister Schwengle in St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG - Prime Minister William Marlin and Minister Richard Gibson Sr. met with Anguilla Government officials on Monday in the Dr. A.C. Legislative Hall at the Government Administration Building.

An agreement has been reached with the Anguilla Government to operate late night ferry services between Sint Maarten and Anguilla, during the high season, after 10pm up until 1am Read more

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PHILIPSBURG—St. Maarten/St. Martin Alliance For Equality (SAFE) Foundation extends best wishes to the island’s population for the new year and hopes to continue dialogues on and for equality for all people in 2016.

SAFE is a L(esbian), G(ay), B(i-sexual) & T(ransgender) organization, which was established in 2013 and focuses on human rights and empowerment. 

According to the SAFE board, 2015 had been a year full of activities geared towards stimulating conversations between the foundation and all segments of society concerning human rights and overcoming stigma & discrimination Read more

PORT ST. MAARTEN – Members of Parliament (MPs) attending this week’s Inter-parliamentary Kingdom Consultation (IPKO) had the opportunity on Thursday afternoon to visit the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facility.

After visiting the Seven Seas Water Desalination Plant, the delegation of MPs from the Netherlands, Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten gathered at the Cruise Terminal Building which overlooks the cruise piers and Great Bay where Port St. Maarten Chief Executive Officer Mark Mingo gave a brief overview of port operations.

In port was the Celebrity Silhouette and Allure of the Seas as well as two giga-yachts.  This provided an opportunity to see cruise operations underway where thousands of passengers and crew were moving around either heading back to the ship or patronizing one of the gift stores at the port or making use of the internet Wi-Fi services.

Mingo explained about the distribution network that is in place in order to get passengers from one point to the next which includes walking to Philipsburg, taxi service, tour busses, and water-taxi.

The delegation which also included MPs Hon Read more

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