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Pm Jacobs Sees 2022 As Year Of Hope, Continued Progress

Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs

PHILIPSBURG--A year of hope and continued progress was the description used by Prime Minister (PM) Silveria Jacobs to describe 2022.

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Pm: There Is Willingness To Discuss Way Forward

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister (PM) Silveria Jacobs said on Wednesday that there is willingness by caretaker Dutch State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops to discuss the way forward on the current impasse. 

  St. Maarten had requested a postponement of the Kingdom Council of Ministers RMR decision that was scheduled to be taken on Friday last week to approve the deviation from the budgetary norms of Article 15 of the Kingdom Act Financial Supervision RFT.

  The Netherlands made the granting of the deviation conditional on St.  Maartens political approval of the Note of Amendment to the Consensus Kingdom Law on the Caribbean Body for Reform and Development COHO, in an effort to force consensus, Jacobs had said last week.

  Knops also included excerpts of said amendment as decision points for the RMR, thereby circumventing the Parliaments of the Kingdom from debating this aspect of the law, Jacobs had said in a statement last week.

  Furthermore, decision points were included that would give the government of the Netherlands carte blanche to impose further unrelated conditions for future liquidity support.

  While speaking to the media during the live Council of Ministers press briefing on Wednesday this week, Jacobs reported on recent communication from Knops.

  I must say that in recent, lets call it, communication received from the state secretary, there is a willingness to discuss the way forward and we hope that through these discussions, negotiations, that we receive as a country what we deserve, Jacobs told reporters.

  She said there has been quite some uproar about what has been going on in the relations with the Kingdom government.

  Yes, we have been having better relations Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- "We respectfully disagree with the verdict by the Court and appealed. The 68 pages of the verdict barely give any material consideration to the vast core arguments presented. Instead, matters are brushed off with the Court using the well-known language of not sufficiently stated, not sufficiently explained, not argued, and so forth. One had to be there to know different.

These type of generic statements does not suffice and the Court simply neglected to respond to arguments presented, thereby implicitly ignoring these same arguments Read more

Minister Ottley And Simpson Bay Resort Signs Off On Food And Beverages Training Center

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — On Monday December 13th, the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Omar Ottley was invited to deliver a speech at the launching of the Simpson Bay Resort’s food and beverages training center. Minister Ottley signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), with the Simpson Bay resort on Friday December 10th, which branches off of the Ministers incidental work policy with the aim to strengthen the local work force.

The MOU documents the collaboration agreement between the Simpson Bay Resort and VSA’s National Employment Service Center (NESC), to facilitate the proper training for St Read more

Minister Ottley And Simpson Bay Resort Signs Off On Food And Beverages Training Center

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – On Monday December 13th, the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Omar Ottley was invited to deliver a speech at the launching of the SimpsonBay resorts food and beverages training center. Minister Ottley signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), with the Simpson Bay Resort on Friday December 10th, which branches off of the Ministers incidental work policy with the aim to strengthen the local work force.

The MOU documents the collaboration agreement between the SimpsonBayResort and VSA’s National Employment Service Center (NESC), to facilitate the proper training for St Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Monday, December 13th, the Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, Omar Ottley was invited to deliver a speech at the launching of the Simpson Bay Resort's food and beverages training center. Minister Ottley signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), with the Simpson Bay Resort on Friday, December 10th, which branches off of the Ministers incidental work policy with the aim to strengthen the local workforce.

The MOU documents the collaboration agreement between the Simpson Bay Resort and VSA's National Employment Service Center (NESC), to facilitate the proper training for St Read more

King T-Mo, Benjamin Bell To Highlight Philipsburg Becomes Magical Event

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — Philipsburg will come alive this upcoming weekend when the Philipsburg Becomes Magical holiday event is expected to instill special seasonal energy in the capital of St. Maarten. With legendary singer King T-MO highlighting Saturday, December 18 and St. Maarten s crooner Benjamin Bell highlighting the activities on Sunday, December 19, the event is being billed as a come one, come all family event Read more

King T-Mo, Benjamin Bell To Highlight Philipsburg Becomes Magical Event

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The g Philipsburg will come alive this upcoming weekend when the Philipsburg Becomes Magical holiday event is expected to instill special seasonal energy in the capital of St. Maarten. With legendary singer King T-MO highlighting Saturday, December 18 and St. Maarten s crooner Benjamin Bell highlighting the activities on Sunday, December 19, the event is being billed as a come one, come all family event. The event runs from 1pm to 8pm on both days.

Organised by Xtratight Entertainment of Bertaux Fleming, Philipsburg Becomes Magical will give entrepreneurs, local vendors and entertainers the opportunity to display their talent and sell their products to the community. Vending stalls will adorned with Christmas dcor, stores will remain open to the public, entertainment will be constant and the atmosphere will be electric.

Adding to all of this cheer, King T-MO will take the stage on Saturday to perform his famous local Christmas tunes to which residents like to sing along Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Philipsburg will come alive this upcoming weekend when the Philipsburg Becomes Magical holiday event is expected to instill special seasonal energy in the capital of St. Maarten. With legendary singer King T-MO highlighting Saturday, December 18, and St. Maartens crooner Benjamin Bell highlighting the activities on Sunday, December 19, the event is being billed as a come one, come to all family event Read more

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2021 is here. Womens desk in its role to empower women and by extension the family is embarking on Teen Dating Violence (TDV) awareness sessions under the theme: Behind the Mask targeting high school students. This initiative commenced with a kick-off session at the MAC- CSE with the 3rd and 4th form students.

As a result of stress arising by the COVID-19 pandemic there has been a global increase of relational violence Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2021 is here. Womens desk in its role to empower women and by extension the family is embarking on Teen Dating Violence (TDV) awareness sessions under the theme: Behind the Mask targeting high school students. This initiative commenced with a kick-off session at the MAC- CSE with the 3rd and 4th form students.
As a result of stress arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a global increase in relational violence. This campaign aims to prevent relational violence among teens by bringing awareness on the prevalence of TDV, warning signs, healthy ways to cope and respond.
Even as the world has become more virtual, digital abuse has also increased dramatically Read more

Mp Emmanuel: Prime Minister Celebrates While People Suffer

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The lack of empathy knows no boundaries with this Prime Minister, said Independent MP Christophe Emmanuel in reaction to Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs celebratory claim of vindication after the Constitutional Court upheld three income cutting laws that her government imposed on the people of St. Maarten.
The Prime Minister is celebrating being wrong and making people lives harder, the MP said.

MP Emmanuel said it should surprise no one that the Prime Minister would have that sort of reaction considering that her government did not consider the immediate and long term suffering workers would have to endure as a result of the cuts Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Force of St. Maarten KPSM has added thirteen new police officers to its ranks with the graduation of the Basic Police Training BPO Class of 2018 on Friday morning.

The new officers took their oath before Justice Minister Anna Richardson in front of the Walter R. Kramers Building (Police Headquarters) Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- In response to alleged rumors brought forth by a Member of Parliament, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs hereby states the following.
"It is unfortunate that rendering a response to this far-fetched request would lend a semblance of credibility to it. Its clear weve reached a new political low when the peoples represen Read more

Usp To Restructure Party Operations.

PHILIPSBURG:--- With an eye on the future and living up to its founding principles, the United St. Maarten (US) party is in the process of restructuring its board, party platform, and representation in preparations for the upcoming electoral cycle.

The board of the US said that it is vital for any political organization to re-examine and plan for the future, especially in changing times Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- It seems St. Maarten Carnival 2022 is being held to an apparent double standard," remarked Stuart Johnson former Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications (TEATT).
"It is truly commendable the excessive safety plan the St.Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) has created enabling the launch of the 2022 calendar of events Read more

Mp Grisha Heyliger-Marten Suggests Tariff 60 For Seniors

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Faction Leader in Parliament for the United Peoples UP Party the Honorable Grisha Heyliger-Marten has proposed that Government-Owned utility company NV GEBE institute a permanent rate reduction on electricity and water for all seniors ages 60 and older through what she calls a Tariff-60 subsidy program.

She wants this to be a set rate so that seniors never again have to go through the hassle of registering with the Utility Company annually for a periodic decrease in their bills Read more

Prime Minister Jacobs International Day For The Elderly Message

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – A Happy International Day for the elderly is wished to all seniors. After a lifetime of taking care of your homes, families and growing our community, we arehonoredto celebrate you today, though you deserve so much more. Your willingness to pass on your knowledge and your wisdom to the younger generation and the generations to come has led tothegrowth and development of our nation. Keep on living a vibrant life, enjoying every day the blessings of a long life.

We are living in a time, that our senior’s health is most at risk, due to COVID-19 and the way it impacts the elderly Read more

Mp Heyliger-Marten: Much More Needs To Be Done For Older Persons

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten Today is the International Day of Older Persons and we should be reflecting on the strides made to improve the lives of older persons in our community, but so much more needs to be done according to Member of Parliament for the United Peoples UP Party Grisha Heyliger-Marten.

The MP issued a press release on Thursday reflecting on the many times in her life in which older persons imparted wisdom to help her in her new role as Faction Leader for the UP Party in Parliament and politics in general.

I was raised by grandparents who were always there to reason with me whenever I faced challenges and I hope that even today our new leaders and scholars in various fields and industry can gravitate to an older person to learn from their life experiences and tap into their wealth of knowledge.

She lamented that much still needs to be done on St Read more

Is Possibly Ethically Unacceptable Behavior A New Norm?

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — The behavioral ethics of our appointed and elected officials have come under questionable circumstances lately. While there is no regulation against gifts for government officials neither has the code of conduct been passed, which includes a gift registration for Members of Parliament (MPs).

Back on December 13th, 2018, former Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications (TEATT) Stuart Johnson highlighted an embarrassing case our country faced.

Johnson in The Daily Herald newspaper article stated, Government was notified on November 28 of a 451-day past-due bill for a training attended by Member of Parliament Rolando Brison during his stint as St Read more

Heyliger-Marten Plans Justice Committee Tour Of Detention Facilities

Inmates deserve short-time solutions to meet human rights standards

PHILIPSBURG – Following up on her letter of September 1st, 2021, MP and Chairlady of the Justice Committee of Parliament Grisha Heyliger-Marten sent another letter to Justice Minister Anna Richardson last week Read more

Is Possibly Ethically Unacceptable Behavior A New Norm?

PHILIPSBURG:---  The behavioral ethics of our appointed and elected officials have come under questionable circumstances lately.

While there is no regulation against gifts for government officials neither has the code of conduct been passed, which includes a gift registration for Members of Parliament (MPs).

Back on December 13th, 2018, former Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications (TEATT) Stuart Johnson highlighted an embarrassing case our country faced.

Johnson in The Daily Herald newspaper article stated, Government was notified on November 28 of a 451-day past-due bill for training attended by Member of Parliament Rolando Brison during his stint as St Read more

Open Letter To The Prosecutor Of St. Maarten

As a citizen who is being victimized by the Minister of VROMI [Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Ed.], Mr. Egbert Jurendy Doran, I address this public plea to you with the sincere hope that you will stand up for us, the common men and women on this island, and ensure that an impartial investigation is launched into the wrongdoings of Minister Doran, his colleague minister(s) and his subordinates within the Ministry of VROMI in regard to all matters surrounding the so-called Vineyard Heights Project in the Over the Bank area, based on the following:

Prior ministers issued official signed government documents indicating the intention of government to issue specified parcels of land to several citizens; These citizens made payments to the Cadastre upon indication of a former Minister of VROMI, Mr Read more

Erfpact Land Distribution A Known Taboo For Politicians On St. Maarten.

~ A policy is like placing a band-aid over a life sore.~

PHILIPSBURG: --- The distribution of long lease land to voters during an election is a known taboo for politicians on St. Maarten, it is one of the reasons why the Ministry of VROMI is fought for during coalition negotiations. In most cases, the best negotiator wins.

Members of Parliament that were either commissioners or ministers are guilty of receiving parcels of land for themselves their family members, close friends, and party supporters Read more