SXMElections.com

Breaking News: Remains Found In Galisbay And Belair Are Identified

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Reliable information reaching 721news reported that the two remains found in Galisbay and Belair belongs to two missing persons in the “Mars” case. According to information reaching 721news, families were notified by police about the findings.

The body found in a container on the port of Galisbay on the French side, and the one in Belair have been positively matched – through DNA identification – to the two missing men Luis Diaz-Sarante and Edwin Rosario in the “Mars” case.

On Monday, December 5, 2016, Luis David Sarante-Diaz also known as “Blanco” and Edwin Rosario Contreras also known as “Eggy,” were last seen during the afternoon in the vicinity of Simpson Bay Resort.

In a previous press release, Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson said, “These two men were never seen or heard from since the disappearance Read more

THE HAGUE:--- On Monday, July 31st, 2017, Minister Doran-York addressed the 34 Sint Maarten students after their in The Netherlands.
The same as last year, the Minister saw to it that the Cabinet was well represented while forming part of the welcoming team at the Airport.
Also present from the Cabinet were Deputy Minister Hasani Ellis, Cabinet Director Irene Simmons along with other members of the Cabinet waiving the Sint Maarten's Flag as the students exited the arrival hall.
Minister Doran-York addressed the students during an introductory meeting at the Steinberger Hotel, where they were transported to, immediately after their arrival.
The Minister and her staff are looking forward towards officially welcoming the students to the Cabinet upcoming Friday, August 4th where they will be addressed by Deputy Minister Hasani Ellis.
Below is the text of the address of the Minister Plenipotentiary Henrietta Doran-York to the students on Monday.

"First of all, I would like to thank the organizing body of this event, the USC, (Unified Sint Maarten Connection) for the invitation to address you here today Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Pond Island - St. Maarten’s incumbent telecommunication provider, TelEm Group, has posted a profit for the year 2016. The actual figures have been presented to the company’s Supervisory Board of Directors and the Government shareholder in recent weeks for their consideration and review and are not being made public at this time.
The announcement was made to TelEm Group personnel in a brief internal announcement Friday, in which Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Kendall Dupersoy, and Chief Financial officer (CFO) Mrs Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Telem Group Ceo Cautions Against “Free Wi-Fi” Idea For St. Maarten

Pond  Island –  TelEm Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Kendall Dupersoy, is advising “caution” to an idea coming out of a recently concluded telecommunication conference in the Dominican Republic, that St. Maarten can enhance its telecommunication services to residents and visitors by offering free Wi-Fi throughout the island.

The idea was put forward by Minister of TEATT, Melissa Arrindell-Doncher during the recently ended 33rd annual Conference and Trade Exhibition of CANTO, in the Dominican Republic, and repeated in at least one online media outlet this week.

“I am all for making telecommunication services affordable for TelEm Group customers, however I cannot see how we can benefit by offering free wi-fi “spots” to the millions of visitors who come to the island each year, who are currently paying for this service,” said Mr Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Pond Island:---TelEm Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Kendall Dupersoy, is advising “caution” to an idea coming out of a recently concluded telecommunication conference in the Dominican Republic, that St. Maarten can enhance its telecommunication services to residents and visitors by offering free Wi-Fi throughout the island.

The idea was put forward by Minister of TEATT, Melissa Arrindell-Doncher during the recently ended 33rd annual Conference and Trade Exhibition of CANTO, in the Dominican Republic, and repeated in at least one online media outlet this week.

“I am all for making telecommunication services affordable for TelEm Group customers, however, I cannot see how we can benefit by offering free wi-fi “spots” to the millions of visitors who come to the island each year, who are currently paying for this service,” said Mr Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

History Of The Concrete Road Divider At Maho Beach

Firstly, my deepest condolences to the family of the lady that tragically lost her life last week attempting to “surf the jet blast.” It is hoped that their loss will serve as a reminder to all who HAVE ventured and to those who undoubtedly WILL venture to participate in this dangerous “sport,” that this can be deadly!

Standing on the actual beach sand West of the road according to me, will give you the same “rush” and if you get “blown,” you will fall on sand. In a worst case scenario, you may get blown into the Caribbean Sea.

So all you Jet Blast Surfers that cannot swim, WEAR A WATER LIFE JACKET before attempting the jet blast thrill.

I am not a lawyer (obviously) and certainly not an “ambulance chaser,” but for the life of me I cannot understand how anybody else except the adult that engages in the “sport “ is responsible for such an accident, taking into consideration all the signs and precautions put in place by the SXM Airport PJIA Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Situation At Nipa Not Conducive To Education --- No Threats Took Place In My Presence --- Andrea Gibson.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Job Coach Coordinator of NIPA Andrea Gibson said in a statement to SMN News on Monday that RN teacher Farrah Busby Richardson did not make any threats to anyone last week Tuesday while she was in her office. Gibson said she cannot say if threats were made anywhere else however, she said that the teacher and the Social Worker Ms. Peterson were in her office for a period of time and at no time either of them threatened each other. Mrs. Gibson said that from her office Busby-Richardson left the school premises.
Gibson who has been working at NIPA for the past three years said the current state of affairs at the learning institution is not conducive to education.
SMN News tried to reach the social worker Mrs Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Students cried as board tried to sabotage their examination.

PHILIPSBURG:--- An RN teacher at NIPA Farrah Busby Richardson had to face police on Tuesday whose students were taking their final examinations in order to graduate.
Police showed up at the school when they were called by the chairman of the supervisory board Antonio Aventurin to escort the teacher out of the school because she submitted her resignation letter to the school stating that her resignation goes into effect as of July 8th after her students finalize their examination on July 7th.
According to information provided to SMN News when police reached the school, they met with Aventurin and was asked why he wanted the teacher removed, after given full explanation police informed Aventurin that he has no grounds to remove the teacher from the school and they left.
The situation on Tuesday created a huge turmoil for the students that were busy taking their examinations, some even called their parents, one parent even went to NIPA screaming saying that the board of NIPA is busy ruining her child’s examination Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Panos Caribbean Disappointed By Us Move To Exit Paris Agreement

KINGSTON, Jamaica – PANOS Caribbean has expressed deep disappointment at news that the United States is to turn its back on the historic Paris Agreement.

“There is no question that Panos Caribbean — an organisation that has worked tirelessly in the interest of advancing public education on climate change and enabling communities to have an informed response to the phenomena — is deeply disappointed at the U.S Read more

Is Parliament Boycotting The Code Of Ethics?

In addition to boycotting the establishing of the Integrity Chamber, Parliament appears to also be boycotting the formalization of a code of conduct.

Last week, the Chairlady of Parliament had to cancel the meeting of the Central Committee because there was no quorum when the second agenda point, namely a parliamentary code of conduct, was to be discussed. Isn’t it odd that there was a quorum for the first agenda point i.e. the Anti-Poverty Platform, but after a short break, only seven members of parliament remained for the continuation of this meeting!

Despite the Chairlady’s request for at least one member to come back inside the meeting hall and despite the official thirty minutes wait to see if any of the MPs outside of the meeting hall would adhere to her request, the meeting had to be called off, due to a lack of quorum Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- In addition to boycotting the establishing of the Integrity Chamber, Parliament appears to also be boycotting the formalization of a code of conduct. Last week, the Chairlady of Parliament had to cancel the meeting of the Central Committee because there was no quorum when the second agenda point, namely a parliamentary code of conduct, was to be discussed. Isn’t it odd that there was a quorum for the first agenda point i.e. the Anti-Poverty Platform, but after a short break, only seven members of parliament remained for the continuation of this meeting! Despite the Chairlady’s request for at least one member to come back inside the meeting hall and despite the official thirty minutes wait to see if any of the MP’s outside of the meeting hall would adhere to her request, the meeting had to be called off, due to a lack of quorum Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Court Acquits Robbery-Suspect

Source Today Newspaper

GREAT BAY – His mother shed tears of happiness after the Common Court of Justice acquitted Diandro Luciano M. of participating in an armed robbery at Island Water World in Cole Bay on May 16 of last year.

The Court in First Instance sentenced the 21-year old in November to 40 months of imprisonment, with 10 months suspended and 2 years of probation; he appealed the verdict with success and was released from prison yesterday afternoon.

The robbers took $2,500 during this robbery and a mobile phone during the robbery Read more

Leadercast: A Phenomenal Success! Over 160 Registrants At Leadercast Victorious Livingsxm 2017.

BELAIR:--- “Awesome.” “Wonderful.” “Inspiring.” “Exceptional.” “Well Organized;” are a few of the words attendees at Leadercast Live 2017, used to describe their experience. Leadercast, the largest one-day global leadership conference, hosted locally by Victorious Living Foundation via live simulcast for the fifth consecutive year, attracted over 165 registrants.
The theme for Leadercast 2017 was “Powered by Purpose.” Attendees from all walks of life, ages, and ethnic backgrounds gathered at the Belair Community Centre to be empowered, enlightened and inspired Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Pm Marlin Congratulates Scdf On Successful Carnival

PHILIPSBURG – Prime Minister William Marlin addressed the media in Wednesday’s, May 3, Council of Ministers Press briefing.

He first congratulated the Carnival Committee for hosting another successful event, and “I think standing on the sidelines this year I was able to witness sort of a transformation of Carnival for the past couple of years,” he said.

“Those my age, a little older, a little younger, have been complaining and yearning for the days of the past…these are things of the past, which were good, which we enjoyed, but are no longer there and will never come back, so we can hope for Carnival the way it used to be, but I don’t think it will return no matter how much we may want to, no matter how much effort we would put into it, because we would in essence be in the minority,” the Prime Minister reflected.

PM Marlin also noted, “We have seen a lot of young people in the troupes, we have seen a lot of young people in the J’ouvert, we have seen a lot of young people in the jump-ups leading up to the Carnival, but this year we have also seen quite some young people taking part in Carnival, which means that it is a step in the right direction Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Caribbean Rolls Out Plans To Reduce Climate Change Hazards

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Climate change remains inextricably linked to the challenges of disaster risk reduction (DRR). And according to the head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), Robert Glasser, the reduction of greenhouse gases is “the single most urgent global disaster risk treatment”.

Glasser was addressing the Fifth Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in the Americas Read more

BONAIRE:--- In connection with the circulation of false news via various (social) media, on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2017 a press conference was held by the Triangle Bonaire on developments in the investigation into the death of Adriana Morales de Florencio. The case has been given the name Saturnus.
Lead Investigator, A. Braaf, gave an explanation on the time line from when Adriana Morales de Florencio was reported missing Read more

Exclusive:-- Belvedere Residents Suffers While Minister Of Vromi Falls Asleep

Is there mass corruption at St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation? Where is the foundation money and how an employee gets a home over other residents?

PHILIPSBURG:--- Residents of Belvedere housing project that is managed by the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF) have to run for shelter during this rainy season while the Minister of VROMI Christopher Emmanuel falls asleep after requesting the government appointed board members to resign and they blatantly refused, even though they are civil servants.
Several of the residents that contacted SMN News states that the management of SMHDF refused to meet with them, one of which is an 89-year old homeowner even though their homes are in deplorable conditions, they said there are water leakage, mold, electrical problems and other very dangerous situations at the homes in Belvedere but the Director Helen Solomon and even the board members refused to meet with them to find solutions to their living conditions.
While the management of SMHDF is running from their responsibilities and the board believes their appointment are lifetime, SMN News learned that there is gross mismanagement of the foundation and monies have disappeared, documents are being shredded, certain employees managed to get promotion and at least one employee also obtained a home before the hundreds of persons that are on the list for years now waiting for a home.
SMN News further learned that Solomon crashed a vehicle belonging to the foundation and even went as far as taking another vehicle and transferred the insurance to the vehicle she is now driving Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Detained Casino Owner Francesco Corallo: “One Day I Will Be Acquitted”

By Hilbert Haar (Today Newspaper)

GREAT BAY – When de sun goes down today, casino owner Francesco Corallo will have spent 111 days in a cell of the House of Detention at the police station in Philipsburg. That’s 2,664 hours. Each day he is let out of cell for an hour – 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the afternoon. That leaves 2,553 hours of staring at the walls and wondering why on earth he has to be there.

On Friday morning I got access to Corallo – also for thirty minutes, after a battle with the bureaucracy that took more than six weeks and ended with a lawsuit against Minister of Justice Rafael Boasman and interim prison director Steven Carty that would have played out in court on the same morning if Minister Boasman has not made the arrangement two days earlier to accommodate my visit.

A police officer guided me to the back of the police station – the part of the building that faces the Pondfill Road – where the cells of the House of Detention are located Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Update: Two Lifeless Bodies Were Found This Afternoon And Have Been Positively Identified As Samuel Blaise And Jeff Stephane.

UPDATE:

MULLET BAY, Sint Maarten – The search for Samuel and Stephane started after 6:00am today. Family members and friends joined the Police and Coast Guard in search of the two young men who went for a swim on Saturday; and for unknown reasons got into difficulty, which resulted in their drowning.

After 13:00 pm, a visitor of Mullet Bay beach saw what looked like a body in the water and the Coast Guard and Police were immediately notified Read more

Casablanca Human Trafficking Case: Prosecutor Demands 8 Years Against Brothel Director

Source Today Newspaper

GREAT BAY – The public prosecutor demanded 8 years of imprisonment and a fine of 200,000 guilders against McQuincy R. the 39-year old director of the Casablanca brothel. Jessy R., 45, goes to prison for 7 years if it is up to the prosecution and she’ll have to pay also a 200,000 fine. The prosecutor wants to fine Casablanca NV an additional 30,000 guilders for fiscal fraud.

Carmen P., the 67-year old owner of the Casablanca building is facing 5 years of imprisonment and her son David E Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Dutch Election: Pm Rutte Sees Off Anti-Eu Wilders Challenge

BBC —  Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s party has won the most seats in parliamentary elections, exit polls say.

Early results confirmed the exit polls, with his centre-right VVD Party on course for 31 out of 150 seats.

Three parties are projected to win 19 seats each: Geert Wilders’ anti-immigration Freedom Party (PVV), the Christian Democrats and the D66 party.

Mr Wilders’ party had been leading in opinion polls but support for the party appeared to slip in recent days.

With 10.9% of votes counted early on Thursday, the VVD had polled 17.8%.

Voter participation in the general election was high; the 81% turnout was the highest for 30 years.

Analysts say a high turnout may have benefited pro-EU and liberal parties.

“Today was a celebration of democracy,” Mr Rutte said, adding that the Netherlands had said no to the “wrong kind of populism”.

Although the VVD had lost several seats since the last election, many had expected the party to lose much more ground to the Freedom Party.

Many had been watching the vote in the Netherlands closely, as an indication for how populist parties may fare in other elections in EU countries.

France goes to the polls next month to elect a new president, while Germany is due to hold a general election in September.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called Mr Rutte to congratulate him, while Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel has also tweeted his congratulations.

Martin Schulz, president of the European Parliament until earlier this year, said he was “relieved” Mr Wilders’ party had lost.

“We must continue to fight for an open and free Europe!” he added on Twitter (in German).

However, Mr Wilders warned that Mr Rutte “has not seen the last of me”.

He previously said that the “patriotic revolution” would continue to take place, and “the genie will not go back into the bottle”.

Pharrell Williams’ song Happy pumped out across a conference hall converted to host the victorious VVD.

“Of course he’ll still be prime minister,” a loyal party member with black rimmed glasses told us Read more

Police Using Whatsapp To Tackle Sexual Exploitation Of Children

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is using WhatsApp to tackle the sexual exploitation of children via social media.

Speaking at a JIS ‘Think Tank’ on February 27, Head of the Corporate Communications Unit of the JCF, Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay, said the WhatsApp group was created to encourage citizens to send all sexual videos and images of children directly to the police, in order to prevent undesirable sharing.

“Once the content is sent to the police, we will use our electronic devices to track the source and the persons who share the information and make our arrests Read more

Attorney Found Guilty Of Professional Misconduct – Disbarred

KINGSTON, Jamaica  –  A well-known attorney, who is also a senior member of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Harold Brady, has been disbarred from practicing in the country.

The decision that was made on Saturday by the disciplinary committee of the General Legal Council (GLC), resulted in Brady being struck from the list of licensed legal practitioners in Jamaica.

Brady was disbarred after he was found guilty of professional misconduct last week in relation to allegations that he misappropriated funds belonging to his client – the state-owned entity – the Factories Corporation of Jamaica.

Brady, who represented himself at the hearing, has strongly denied the allegations.

Brady was ordered to pay restitution to the complainants in a sum exceeding J$110 million.

He is among several attorneys now under investigation by the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council Read more

721News General Notification

Due to the moving from the previous company to the new company server, which is handling our website at this moment, we have encountered some minor technical issues resulting in some of our readers being unable to access our website via a mobile device (phone or tablet). Accessing via laptop and PC was never an issue. This minor problem has now been resolved.

The decision for us to move to a different company was to get better service, and most importantly to secure our website against hackers, who do not have anything to do than to attack people’s websites on a daily basis Read more