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PHILIPSBURG:--- Simran Hotwani & Celine Mayeko-Coklee of Creative Hands recently met with President of Parliament, Sarah Wescot Williams, to share their proposal on eliminating the use of plastic bags through the use of individually-designed reusable canvas shopping bags.
The students learned of the MP’s proposal to ban plastic bags and were elated to share their project that supports this initiative with the Chairlady of Parliament.

Creative Hands is a student-developed, non-profit organization that aims to encourage youths to artistically solve some of the island’s current issues, such as pollution.

MP Wescot has been working on a draft initiate law to amend the police ordinance to ban the use of plastic bags Read more

Barbados Pm Defends Controversial National Social Responsibility Levy

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has defended the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) saying the country was dealing “incrementally” with a ‘serious deficit problem”:

Addressing stakeholders to the Barbados Social Partnership meeting here, Stuart defended the near 400 percent increase in the NSRL amid calls from the trade unions and the private sector for either a reduction or a complete repeal of the fiscal measure that came into force at the start of July.

During the budget presentation in May, Finance Minister Chris Sinckler said the NSRL, which was introduced in September last year, would be increased from two to ten percent effective July 1.

According to Sinckler, this increase will result in “increased revenue of $291 million for a full financial year and $218 million for the remaining nine months of the current fiscal year”.

The NSRL was imposed on goods imported into Barbados and on domestically manufactured goods Read more

Message Of Hon. Prime Minister Mr. William Marlin At The Opening Of The Basic Legal Course

St. Maarten, Monday, August 14, 2017.

Our governing program for 2016-2020 is entitled, “Stability for Prosperity”. It is anchored on five strategic objectives, all of which can only be achieved by upgrading our government apparatus.  We are not even one year into this governing period yet and we can see that various initiatives that are geared towards a profound transformation of our society are already taking shape. One of those initiatives is why we are gathered here today. Nobody knows the challenges that this coalition government faces better than the civil servants who do their utmost day in, day out, to give professional support to government Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Our governing program for 2016-2020 is entitled, “Stability for Prosperity”. It is anchored on five strategic objectives, all of which can only be achieved by upgrading our government apparatus. We are not even one year into this governing period yet and we can see that various initiatives that are geared towards a profound transformation of our society are already taking shape. One of those initiatives is why we are gathered here today. Nobody knows the challenges that this coalition government faces better than the civil servants who do their utmost day in, day out, to give professional support to government Read more

Pond Island:--- TelEm Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Kendall Dupersoy, has fulfilled one of his early promises since taking up the top position in the company – to bring TelEm Group’s Helpdesk services back to St. Maarten.

In the CEO’s view, the wrong message was being given to customers, who found themselves speaking to a helpdesk based in Curacao, rather than here on the island Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of VSA Emil Lee said on Wednesday that he is still working diligently on obtaining finance for the construction of the New General Hospital. The Minister said that his hope is SZV and APS are the ones that will finance the New General Hospital. He said the two entities are ensuring that they conduct due diligence before signing off on the financing Read more

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

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

Cal Pilots Raise Safety Concern Over Atr Planes

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad – On the heels of an emergency landing in St Lucia by an ATR aircraft belonging to Caribbean Airlines (CAL), pilots yesterday held a “critical” meeting to discuss safety concerns over the aircraft.

The T&T Guardian was told by a source that the pilots are threatening to ground all flights until CAL rectifies all issues raised by them, including recurring technical problems on aircraft.

Contacted about the meeting held by the T&T Airline Pilots Association (TTALPA) yesterday, CAL communications manager Dionne Ligoure said she was aware but could not comment further on it.

On Sunday, Flight BW434 was forced to make an emergency landing at Hewanorra International Airport in St Lucia after a warning light came on in the aircraft’s cockpit Read more

Pm Confident Of Victory In Upcoming General Election

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada – Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell says he is confident that the ruling New National Party (NNP) will be returned to power in the upcoming general election.

Mitchell, who is also the current chairman of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) urged Grenadians to return the party to power to ensure that there is a smooth transition from one chairman of the CDB to another next year.

He said that in May 2018, Grenada will be hosting the annual CDB meeting and hopes that Grenadians will understand why his Government needs to be the one handing over to the new chairman.

“No changes should take place,” Mitchell said.

No date has been announced for the general election that is constitutionally due by March 2018.

The Parliamentary Elections Office, which is responsible for executing a general election, recently disclosed that it’s ready to ensure free and fear general elections Read more

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

PHILIPSBURG:--- Posh Productions welcomed Mrs. Haiti International Judith “Judy” Leger to an intimate discussion on her platform "Domestic Violence" last Friday at the Carl & Sons Lounge in Philipsburg.

“Mrs. Leger, Mrs. Haiti International 2017/2018 reached out through mutual parties and advised that she was coming to St. Maarten and would like an opportunity to meet with the reigning Queens and or any young ladies who are a part of Posh programs.
I decided to create the opportunity for the queens and those aspiring to compete for the 2018 crowns, an opportunity to meet a Queen who will be competing on an international level” explained Founder and CEO of Posh Productions Mrs Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- On July 1st, Parliament went on a four-week recess and will resume on Monday, July 31st. In December/January upcoming, Parliament will also take a two-week recess. I hope that our MPs are aware of the fact that a parliamentary recess is not a holiday and that they can be called back to work during their recess.

The website of the Dutch Second Chamber or Parliament describes its recess as follows: “during the recess periods, the Second Chamber does not convene. Members of the Chamber can study various files and documents and prepare themselves for the next session of meetings Read more

Funding Climate Resilience Benefits All Nations – Yes, The U.S. Too

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – A leading climate change mitigation and adaptation activist and former climate negotiator in the Caribbean says that the United States could protect its economic and political interest by helping the region to go green.

Further, James Fletcher, a former Minister of Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology in St. Lucia, says that US President Donald Trump’s emphasis on the coal industry is an attempt to increase jobs that no longer exist, while ignoring numerous opportunities in renewable energy.

On June 1, Trump announced that he would withdraw the United States from the global climate change deal reached in Paris in 2015, saying that the non-binding accord imposes draconian financial and economic burdens on the United States.

The US President was referring to the Green Climate Fund, for which advanced economies have formally agreed to jointly mobilise 100 billion dollars per year by 2020, from a variety of sources, to address the pressing mitigation and adaptation needs of developing countries.

Fletcher, who was the 15-member Caribbean Community’s lead negotiator for the Paris accord, told St Read more

GREAT BAY(DCOMM):--- The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA), said goodbye to Dr. Virginia Asin, head of Collective Preventive Services (CPS)/Chief Medical Officer, a department within the Ministry VSA last week Friday.

Both the Minister of Public Health Emil Lee and the Secretary General of Ministry VSA Joy Arnell, thanked Dr Read more

Former Prosecutor Jailed For 17 Years

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – A former police prosecutor has been jailed for 17 years with hard labour after he was found guilty of raping a then 17-year-old girl who had gone to the police station to make a report 16 years ago.

Justice Althea Alexis-Windsor, sitting in the San Fernando Second Criminal Court on Wednesday, said aggravating factors in the case against Harry Ramlochan were that the accused was a person of trust being a police prosecutor and acting sergeant and there was a level of vulnerability as the girl and her mother had gone to make a report about domestic violence.

The judge said she considered the convict’s age and child’s age at the time of the attack, and the fact that it was her first sexual encounter.

Prosecutor Sabrina Dougdeen-Jaglal had told the court the attack had severely scarred the victim for the rest of her life, saying she hoped that through her resilience, the victim will be able to overcome the effects of the incident.

Jurors took 90 minutes to find Ramlochan, who was 50 years old at the time of the crime, guilty of the offence after a month-long trial.

The woman told the court that on Saturday May 5, 2001 she went with her mother to the San Fernando police station to make a report that her mother had been beaten by a relative.

Ramlochan took the mother inside to make the report and then said he wanted to take a statement from her daughter Read more

Pond Islan:--- TelCell’s 2016 Breakthrough Talent Search winners received a thundering round of applause during a preview showing of their brand new music video “Trust and Time” in the TelEm Group Conference Room, Pond Island, on Monday.

The R&B Hip-Hop ballad is all the work of the six winners of last year’s top-rated youth talent search contest, namely: George Woodley, Aesha Gibson, Keeshaun Hodge, Kevin Lambert, Diandra Marlin and Leo Alexander. It is the fourth Breakthrough music video to be produced by Xtratight Entertainment’s Bertaux “Mr Read more

Minister Jacobs: Change Is Not Easy, However, More Accountability, More Efficiency Are Needed

PHILIPSBURG – Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports Silveria Jacobs addressed the media in Wednesday’s, June 21, Council of Ministers Press Briefing.

She first congratulated graduating students saying, “I would like us as a community to recognize and applaud them, but also to encourage them to never stop learning, to become lifelong learners.”

She also informed that the school-leaving ceremonies of each school is now a separate event Read more

Departing Cft Chairman Bakker: “New Curaçao Govt. May Combine Budgetary Balance With Economic Stimulus”

WILLEMSTAD, Cura̤ao РDuring its visit to Cura̤ao, the Board of financial supervision for Cura̤ao and St. Maarten (CFT) indicated that the new government is facing the challenge of having to combine budgetary balance with the need to promote economic growth.

For several years now, Curaçao has complied with the standard of a balanced budget, but up till now the 2017 budget execution is lagging behind compared to the forecast. The new government will need to take the necessary steps to prevent a budget deficit over 2017.

The challenges are the insufficient tax revenues, keeping the social funds balanced and the strengthening of the financial management Read more

What Will Parliament Do With All The Reports?

Last week, yet another annual report was added to the long list of reports that Parliament has in its possession.

The General Audit Chamber, one of the High Councils of State, submitted for the seventh time, its annual report in both the Dutch and English languages. Hence, Members of Parliament, who are not versed in the Dutch language have no excuse about not being able to read or understand the Chamber’s annual report.

I would like to commend the Chamber for producing a very good report Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Last week, yet another annual report was added to the long list of reports that Parliament has in its possession. The General Audit Chamber, one of the High Councils of State, submitted for the seventh time, its annual report in both the Dutch and English languages. Hence, Members of Parliament, who are not versed in the Dutch language have no excuse about not being able to read or understand the Chamber’s annual report. I would like to commend the Chamber for producing a very good report Read more

Smmc Teams Up With Sscf On World Sickle Cell Day

CAY HILL – On World Sickle Cell Day, June 19, the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) held a conference in collaboration with the St. Maarten Sickle Cell Foundation (SSCF) in an effort to create a platform where medical professionals and patients could take part in a discussion about the Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). The theme of the meeting was “Voices of the Community,” which represents the different voices who expressed themselves through the forum.

Present at the event were members of SSCF, Dr Read more

CAYHILL:--- On World Sickle Cell Day, June 19th, the Sint Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) held a conference in collaboration with the Sint Maarten Sickle Cell Foundation (SSCF) in an effort to create a platform where medical professionals and patients could take part in a discussion about the Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). The theme of the meeting was “Voices of the Community”, which represents the different voices who expressed themselves through the forum.

Present at the event were members of SSCF, Dr Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---- Minister of VSA Emil Lee confirmed on Wednesday that several hotels on St. Maarten were tested positive for legionella which can happen based on various causes. Lee made the announcement after SMN News published an article about a number of hotels that tested positive for Legionella and E-coli which was confirmed by the Inspectorate of Health.
The Minister said that the hotels that were tested positive do have a program to follow to ensure that containment and contamination are contained and prevented Read more