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WIFOL wins referendum to represent Divi workers

>PHILIPSBURG:---- WIFOL union won the referendum held at the Divi Little Bay resort on June 26. 94 workers were eligible to vote. According to a press release issued by the union on Sunday, The International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions section 87 state that the "Freedom of Association and the Right to Organise. This establishes the way for all employees to have a collective representation and section 98 state "employees have the power to negotiate their working contract".

By law WIFOL must acquire 48 votes in order to be recognised by management as the representative of the employees Read more

Freedom Run 2015

~ Participate in history ~

This year, we celebrate the 152nd anniversary of St. Maarten's Abolishment of Slavery. Mark the occasion by participating in the re-enactment of Diamond 26 Escape from Slavery – "Run For Freedom." Come in period dress for a midnight run through the hills, dance the Ponum and give thanks for freedom and emancipation!

The Diamond 26 Escape is a historical event that took place on May 28, 1848, when 26 of the enslaved people from the Diamond Plantation in Cole Bay ran into the hills of St Read more

St. Maarten 2015 Emancipation Day activities

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The theme for this years "Emancipation from Within - The Voice of Our People." The festivities will start on June 30 to July 1 Emancipation Day. Minister of Culture Rita Bourne-Gumbs invited all to come out and take part in the celebration, which is promised to be a cultural manifestation at Emilio Wilson Estate.

The Voices Foundation in collaboration with the Culture Department will organize a re-enactment of the Diamond Hill Estate Run on Diamond Hill, in Cole Bay. National Institute of Arts (NIA) co-Founder Clara Reyes and President of the Conscious Lyrics Foundation Shujah Reiph, said the run is historical Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- In connection with work which has to be carried out at Joe’s Jewelry on Wilhelmina straat on Friday June 26th 2015, this road will be closed to motor vehicle traffic from 05.30 a.m. to 07.00 a.m.

In connection with a public event that will be held on Sunday June 28th 2015 from 11.00 a.m. to 05.30 p.m., at the Risen Christ Catholic Church on Carrot road in Reward, this road will be closed to all motor vehicle traffic. In connection with celebration of Emancipation Day organized by the Department of Culture the following:The event will start on Tuesday June 30th at Diamond Estate at 10.00 p.m Read more

‘Voice of our people’ theme of Emancipation Day 2015

PHILIPSBURG--Under the theme "Emancipation from Within-The Voice of Our People" St. Maarten will be observing Emancipation Day 2015 on Wednesday, July 1, culminating in a celebration and cultural manifestation at Emilio Wilson Park in the afternoon.

The Emancipation Day programme, organized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, in conjunction with Voices Foundation, was presented Tuesday afternoon during a press conference at Claude Wathey Legislative Hall.

Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs Rita Bourne-Gumbs called upon all St Read more

Parliament wants islands to improve LGBT rights

THE HAGUE--The Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament on Tuesday adopted a motion which called on the Dutch Government to urge the Governments of Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten to legalise same sex marriages and to improve the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBTs).

The Parliament approved the motion of the liberal democratic VVD party, the Labour Party PvdA and the Democratic Party D66 Read more

Emancipation Day 2015 Schedule

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - All is set for the celebration of Emancipation Day, which will be held this year under the theme, "Emancipation from within, the Voice of Our People."

While the day will be observed for the152nd year, this year, for the 4th consecutive time, the inhabitants of St. Maarten will have the opportunity to officially celebrate the occasion.

Emancipation Day will officially be observed on Wednesday July 1st, however, prior to the celebrations and as is customary in observation of the day, on Tuesday, June 30th, the Diamond Hill Estate Slave Run Reenactment will be held Read more

Supreme Court justices refuse to restore North Carolina abortion ultrasound law

WASHINGTON--The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected a bid by the state of North Carolina to revive its law requiring women seeking an abortion to have an ultrasound of the fetus performed and described to them by a doctor.

The high court let stand a December appeals court ruling that struck down the 2011 law as unconstitutional because it forced doctors to voice the state's message discouraging abortion. The action does not impact similar measures in other states.

North Carolina lawmakers had argued that requiring narrated ultrasounds would provide crucial information to women making an irrevocable decision, even if they chose to avert their eyes and not listen to the explanation of the displayed fetus images Read more

Up Party President To Discontinue Information Being Sent To "Slander Sites"

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The board of the United People's (UP) Party does not support blatant misuse of the noble profession journalism by those who use journalism as a hobby to slander others rather than a profession to factually inform, educate and enlighten.

Journalism requires research, impartiality and care in its execution so that credibility is not questioned.

Operating on the fringe of fantasy, fabricating "news" and using the power of words in a deliberate, destructive manner, does not constitute good journalism and goes against the principle for fair reporting and presenting both sides of the story.

Slander sites do not reveal their sources therefore what is published cannot be considered credible.

Slander sites are being pushed by political forces with an agenda and do not care how it achieves its intended objectives, whether it's causing harm to the image of the country, whatever way possible this is the way they operate.

Many good, solid people of this community continue to have their name or institutions they are part of, slandered simply out of bias and obvious agendas.

These blogs do not enlighten and educate the population of the country, but only focuses on the UP Party Read more

Former model wrestles personal demons to the mat in yoga book

NEW YORK--A former model uses tales of sex, drugs and rock and roll in a book hitting stores on Monday to introduce the healing power of yoga sequences and demonstrate how the ancient practice of breath and meditation can fortify the mind as well as the body.
  In "Yoga for Life: A Journey to Peace and Freedom," Colleen Saidman Yee, a former fashion model turned yoga teacher, recounts how yoga helped her battle a heroin habit, epilepsy and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after she was injured in a car accident when she was 15 years old Read more

Four suspects to go on trial for Atlantis robbery

PHILIPSBURG--Four suspects are to go on trial June 24 for involvement in an attempted armed robbery at Atlantis Casino on November 16, 2014.

Three of these suspects, K.D. (19), C.M.B. (21) and C.A.H. (21), were already called before a Judge on March 25, only to hear the prosecutor and one of their lawyers requesting a delay in the hearing of their cases. A fourth suspect was led before a Judge at the Court of First Instance on Wednesday.

Prosecutor Gonda van der Wulp said in March that a fourth suspect, B.A.E.W (22), was arrested in this case Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- On Sunday June 7th the yearly International Triathlon race organized by the “Friendly Island Cycling Association” will be held. In connection with this race a meeting was held at the Philipsburg Police Station between this association represented by Mr. Juan Pablo Piscione and representatives of the KPSM. The main topic of this meeting was to discuss the route of the race, the alternative routes that can be used when the race is taking place and the safety and security of the participants.
The race will commence at 07.00 a.m Read more

Obama signs bill reforming US surveillance programme

WASHINGTON--President Barack Obama signed into law on Tuesday legislation passed by Congress earlier in the day reforming a government surveillance program that swept up millions of Americans' telephone records.
  Reversing security policy in place since shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, the bill ends a system exposed by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. The spy agency collected and searched records of phone calls looking for terrorism leads but was not allowed to listen to their content.
  Passage of the USA Freedom Act, the result of an alliance between Senate Democrats and some of the chamber's most conservative Republicans, was a victory for Obama, a Democrat, and a setback for Senate Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
  After the Senate voted 67-32 on Tuesday to give final congressional approval to the bill, Obama used his Twitter account, @POTUS, to say he was glad it had passed Read more