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PHILIPSBURG:---- I must commend our parliamentarians for raising the budget debate in the Central Committee a notch higher this year. Compared to the debate on the 2016 Budget, Parliamentarians were better prepared to deal with details, to ask critical questions and to consequently carry out one of their very important functions, namely to control and monitor Government.
Parliamentarians were in their right to call out the NA-DP-USP-Lake-Matser caretaker Government and Ministers on the 2016 expenditures of the country Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- At a ceremony on Friday, two sites on St. Maarten were awarded the Blue Flag eco-label for the fifth year in a row. The Blue Flag has bestowed annually on beaches and marinas throughout the world that meets strict environmental and safety criteria. Divi Little Bay Beach Resort and Yacht Club Isle de Sol were commended for their standards of excellence and voluntary efforts towards environmental sustainability.
Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC), which organized the event, is the National Operator for the Blue Flag Program on St Read more

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Resort Calls For Govt. To Pay $1.5 Million Overdue Payment

SIMPSON BAY – Simpson Bay Resort Management Company (SBRMC) employees are calling for a years-long overdue payment in excess of $1.5 million to be paid out to their employer by the government. This is in connection with undue salary payments made to Pelican Resort Management Company workers after the hotel had been sold and its ownership transferred to SBRMC.

More than 100 Pelican employees, under the belief that they were employed by new owner SBRMC, were paid monthly salaries for almost a year pending a court case, while not working at the hotel Read more

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Resort Calls For Government’S $1.5 Million Overdue Payment.

SIMPSON BAY;---- Simpson Bay Resort Management Company (SBRMC) employees are calling for a years-long overdue payment in excess of $1.5 million to be paid out to their employer by the government. This in connection with undue salary payments made to Pelican Resort Management Company workers after the hotel had been sold and its ownership transferred to SBRMC.

More than 100 Pelican employees, under the belief that they were employed by new owner SBRMC, were paid monthly salaries for almost a year pending a court case, while not working at the hotel Read more

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Successful Conference On Bonaire On Political Future Of Dutch-Administrated Caribbean

Kralendijk, BONAIRE – Recently, Foundation Nos Kier Boneiru Bek organized a conference at Plaza Hotel, which addressed a better future for Bonerian people, and for the other sister islands administrated by the Dutch.

After the conference, a gala dinner was held at Eddy’s restaurant with keynote speaker Dr. Corbin. Both events were successful and participants said that the conference was very informative and of international standard.

The Aruba delegation represented by Dr Read more

Successful Conference On Bonaire On The Political Future Of The Dutch Administrated Caribbean

BONAIRE - Recently Foundation Nos Kier Boneiru Bek organized a conference at Plaza Hotel which has put a foundation for a better future for the Bonerian peoples and of our other sister islands which are administrated by the Dutch. Following after the conference a gala-diner was held at Eddy's restaurant with keynote speaker Dr. Corbin. Both events were successful with good attendance and got from the participants and the public which followed the vents through the media that these were very informative and of international standards.

The delegation Aruba represented by Dr Gerrit Croes and of Curacao by Mr Read more

Finance Minister Should Forget About Curbing Online Shopping --- St. Martin Is A Siamese Twin.

Give the people a grace period to regulate their taxes.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel urged the Minister of Finance Richard Gibson Sr to stop is plan in curbing online shopping since there is not much that can be done to curb or stop residents from shopping online Read more

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What’S Up?!” With The Great Salt Pond Ms. Margot Van Malenstein (Bsc.) To Host Series Of Workshops At Usm Related To Her Research On The Great Salt Pond (Gsp.

Pond Island, USM, The Great Salt Pond has a vast history, an interesting and supposedly damaged status quo and undefined potential for the future. As this has been a growing concern of some citizens, USM’s Dean of Academics, Ms. Geneve Phillip has accepted an invitation by Ms. Margot van Malenstein to conduct a series of stakeholder’s workshops. Margot, a Biologist who is deeply interested in environmental sustainability, will kick off the discussion by tackling the issue of how we can best sustain and save the national heritage of the Salt Pond Read more

Victorious Living To Feature Artwork Of Local Artists At Awards

COLE BAY – The countdown is on for Victorious Living’s Leader Worth Following Awards on December 3.

At this first Leader Worth Following Awards, VLF will recognize and award Dame Asha Stevens-Mohabier, Ambassador Alicia Liverpool, and posthumously, Officer Gamali Benjamin as leaders worth following. Mhakeda Shillingford, Jim Housen and Roy Cotton, Jr., who were among the finalists, will also be recognized at this event.

Keynote speaker for is certified John C Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- By the end of November our Members of Parliament would have been on the job for one month and it is good took to take a look at how well they have represented us during their first month in office.
In the first week, seven of our MPs took part in an orientation week. At the end of the orientation, all five, first-time MPs and two former MP’s received a certificate of participation. Special congratulations to the five new MPs, for taking their position and their function seriously Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Hospitality &Trade Association (SHTA) took note of the recent arrest in the Immigration Department and applauds this step toward improved accountability. As a young nation, we must find the way to uphold ethics and accountability in ourselves and our fellow citizens. Unfortunately, there are far too few shining examples of proper accountability. This month, in particular, we are overwhelmed with just the opposite.
Simpson Bay Parking
The soft opening of a parking lot that rumors have cost an extraordinary amount of tax dollars; which seemingly has been built solely for the betterment of a lolo that operates illegally Read more

Complacency, Accountability And Incompetence A Recipe For Disaster.

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The St. Maarten Hospitality &Trade Association (SHTA) took note of the recent arrest in the Immigration Department and applauds this step toward improved accountability. As a young nation, we must find the way to uphold ethics and accountability in ourselves and our fellow citizens. Unfortunately, there are far too few shining examples of proper accountability. This month in particular we are overwhelmed with just the opposite.

Simpson Bay Parking

The soft opening of a parking lot that rumors have cost an extraordinary amount of tax dollars; which seemingly has been built solely for the betterment of a lolo that operates illegally Read more

Sarah Chides Parliament Chair For Not Attending St. Martin Day Event

PHILIPSBURG--“That the NA and UP parties thumbed their noses at the people of St. Maarten/St. Martin on their day with their silly boycott is bad enough; that the Governor would fall for their silliness is highly questionable; but that the chairperson of Parliament, Claret Connor would compromise the office of Chairperson is regrettable,” said opposition Democratic Party leader Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams on Saturday Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- That the NA and UP parties thumbed their noses at the people of St. Maarten/St. Martin on their day with their silly boycott is bad enough; that the Governor would fall for their silliness is highly questionable, but that the chairperson of Parliament, Mr. Claret Connor would compromise the office of Chairperson is regrettable.
The Chairperson of Parliament by law represents Parliament, not any faction or coalition of factions Read more

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Minister Jacobs Attends The Annual Unity Ceremony And Parade

PONDFILL St. Maarten – Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, the Honorable Silveria Jacobs, attended the 5th annual Pre- St. Maarten’s Day Unity ceremony and parade at the L.B. Scot Sports Auditorium on Thursday, November 10th. Every year the Division of Public Education arranges for a public elementary school to host the event Read more

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Servers Gradually Restored In Govt. Offices 

PHILIPSBURG – In the weekly press briefing on Wednesday, November 9, Prime Minister William Marlin made mention of the situation with the servers within government.

The servers were attacked by a virus, however, according to Prime Minister Marlin, the head of IT informed him that things are getting back on track. The Receivers, Census and Inspectorate of Tax offices were online and functioning, as of Wednesday, November 9 Read more

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Formateur Gives Update On Screening Process

PHILIPSBURG – Formateur/Prime Minister William Marlin explained that the screening process of the candidate ministers was once again prolonged due to the disruption in the government network.

“I know everyone was expecting the final reporting on Tuesday, [November] 8, [however] it did not materialize for several reasons, one of them being that we did not receive the final reports on all the candidates, which we hope to receive today from the Public Prosecutor’s office,” the Prime Minister added.

The hope was to receive the final reports Wednesday, November 9, however, some were missing Read more

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Great Bay:--- The business community in St. Maarten was set alight on Friday with the announcement that Dr. Natasha Gittens had resigned as Director of the University of St. Martin’s SCELL program. In a press release published on Friday, the Board of the USM thanked Dr. Gittens for her contribution to the SCELL-USM. This newspaper sought out Dr. Gittens for an exclusive interview as it is yet another departure of yet another director at USM over the past few years in a row and a personal insight into the motivations of this move was felt to be warranted.
“To be honest, I have been saddened by it.” says Dr Read more

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Minister Jacobs Attends Launching Of Baseball Academy

PORT DE PLAISAINCE – On Friday, November 4, Minister of Sport Silveria Jacobs attended the ceremony to launch the St. Maarten Baseball Academy at La Terasse, Princess Port de Plaisance Resort.

The ceremony was opened by Carlos van Heyningen, president of the St. Maarten Baseball Federation, who gave a brief overview of how the federation came about to start the Academy.

He was followed by a presentation by Director of the St Read more

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Prime Minister Requests Urgent Meeting Of Parliament

PHILIPSBURG – Prime Minister William Marlin in his capacity also as Member of Parliament (MP) said on Sunday afternoon, November 6, that he will be requesting that Chairman of Parliament MP Claret Connor convene an urgent meeting of Parliament to discuss the ongoing problems at Captain Oliver’s Marina.

Prime Minister Marlin said that up to Sunday evening no response was received from the Préfet Deleguee of St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister William Marlin said on Sunday afternoon that he will be requesting the Chairman of Parliament MP Claret Connor to convene an urgent meeting of Parliament to discuss the ongoing problems at the Captain Olivers Marina.

Prime Minister Marlin said that up to Sunday evening no response was received from the Prefet Delegue of St Read more

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Hope Estate:--- On Thursday, November 3rd, the Minister of Education, Silveria Jacobs, attended the unveiling ceremony of the bust for the late teacher Marie Genevieve de Weever which was organized by the management of the school, Mrs. Anna Grantham-Halley, Mrs. Sandra Mathew and the committee of dedicated staff members. The ceremony was hosted by Teacher Altagracia Hawley.

Minister Jacobs congratulated the current school staff and all others whom, over time, helped in the development of the institution, including teachers, administrators, and auxiliary workers Read more

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Port de Plaisaince:--- On Friday November 4th, the Minister of Sport, Silveria Jacobs attended the ceremony to launch the Sint Maarten Baseball Academy at La Terasse, Princess Port de Plaisance Resort

The ceremony was opened by Carlos van Heyningen, president of the St. Maarten Baseball Federation, who gave a brief overview of how the federation came about to start the Academy.
He was followed by a presentation by the director of the Sint Maarten Baseball Academy, Coach Tony Rombley, alongside Ms Read more

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Sarah Wants Date Of Next Parliament Meeting

PHILIPSBURG – In a letter addressed to new Chairperson of Parliament Claret Connor, on November 4, Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescott-Williams, requested to be informed of the next meeting of Parliament.

“Kindly inform me when the next (public) meeting of this Parliament will be convened to appoint members to the committees of Parliament, so that subsequently these committees can meet and appoint their (vice)chairpersons,” she stated in her letter.

“I hope this is next week, as I believe that it is of utmost importance that the committee of General Affairs be formed, as this committee should invite the Minister of General Affairs to apprise the Parliament of the escalation of tension between the 2 sides of the island as far as the Oyster Pond boundaries are concerned,” the letter continued.

“Verbiage, used by the Prime Minister of St Read more

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