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Ferrier wants PM to explain how counterpart policy will be applied

~ 'It will stifle economic growth' ~

PHILIPSBURG--Businessman Michael Ferrier is looking forward to an explanation from Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs on how the counterpart policy will be applied in St Read more

>My Fellow Citizens,

Once again another year has come to end and a new year has begun. Over the past year of 2014, it was not without the many challenges, which we had faced. As the people of St. Maarten; we have experienced a lot of setbacks and by speaking out on those issues that had affected us the most; it didn't yield any sort of positive results or outcomes.
The cost of living, here on the island continues to rise with no limit in sight. Those, who are in authority has repeatedly shown no type of effort or indication towards the citizens that any plans would be set in motion for a relief in the coming new year Read more

New Year 2015 Message From The Leader Of The Ospp: Lenny F. Priest

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - My Fellow Citizens, Once again another year has come to end and a new year has begun. Over the past year of 2014, it was not without the many challenges, which we had faced.

As the people of St. Maarten; we have experienced a lot of setbacks and by speaking out on those issues that had affected us the most; it didn’t yield any sort of positive results or outcomes.

   The cost of living, here on the island continues to rise with no limit in sight Read more

A long weekend in…Guyana!

Guyana was not a destination I had ever considered visiting, especially not just for a (long) weekend. But when the opportunity arose, on a Wednesday, to fly to Guyana the next day and stay until the Monday, I didn't have to think about it too long. I was going to take this chance to explore a new country!

Insel Air had kindly invited some journalists on its inaugural flight from St. Maarten, via Curaçao to Georgetown. The schedule was arranged in such a way that the flights connected perfectly, with a minimum waiting time in Curaçao Read more

Editorial - Only together

The choice for Person of the Year may surprise a few. After all, the integrity issue was a big story in St. Maarten in 2014, as were the parliamentary elections and their aftermath plus relations with the Netherlands, each linked in some way and resulting in the additional screening of candidates for the new Gumbs cabinet backed by a UP-led coalition, with five rather than seven ministers taking office in Philipsburg.

However, this newspaper serves both the Dutch and the French sides and they are very much interdependent communities that in practice form one population Read more

Alliance challenges residents to be the change they want to see

PHILIPSBURG--The National Alliance (NA) has issued a challenge to the community to "be the change" that they want to see.

The party also wants to see a renewal in the resolve to collectively take St. Maarten forward. This was expressed by NA Deputy Leader Silveria Jacobs in the party's New Year's message issued before dawn on New Year's Day Thursday.

"I hereby extend gratitude to our father God for safe passage, including all the blessings and challenges of 2014 Read more

Minister Connor: Private sector, NGO’s and service are vital for tangible economic growth.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Tourism & Economic Affairs Claret Connor says that in the first few months of 2015, Government will share many ideas and initiatives to trigger tangible economic growth and that most of these initiatives will be done in collaboration with the Private sector and Non-government organizations (NGOs) with a strong focus on service.

In addressing the public for the first time since being sworn in, the Minister said he looks forward to starting his tenure with renewed passion and vision that will hopefully effect sustainable economic growth for our country and a better quality of life for all.

"As many would agree, any notable advancement for our country and our livelihood, is contingent on our country's economic development Read more

>On behalf of the National Alliance Board and membership, I hereby extend gratitude to our father God for safe passage including all the blessings and challenges of 2014. It is with this same attitude of gratitude that we wish the entire population of St. Maarten a blessed and loving 2015, a year in which we can renew our resolve to collectively take St. Maarten forward.
Heartfelt greetings of Hope, Faith and Perseverance to those who have experienced serious challenges during the past year and praying that the coming year will see us all making strides towards success, happiness, prosperity and the strength to deal with adversity.
May 2015 be deemed the year of Volunteerism, a year in which all persons within our community realizes his/her own responsiblity and ability to affect true change on St Read more

Gumbs: Economy a priority in 2015

PHILIPSBURG--The implementation of "deliberate and integrated policies like the counterpart policy, employability through training and skill building for youth and adults, strengthening workplace compliance and formalization of the informal economy that compliment economic growth and reduce unemployment in order to create sustainable development" are top priorities for the Gumbs Cabinet in 2015.

Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, in his early New Year's message: "The list of priorities is not a short one Read more

Person of the Year

French-side entrepreneur perseveres in difficult times

MARIGOT--For many people Marigot always had the potential to be the more attractive capital of the island and still has, to paraphrase a Kia commercial, "the power to surprise."

After all what could be more enticing to the vacationer than a little corner of France tucked away in the Caribbean, a sea front town with quaint streets, outdoor cafés, markets, shopping, the classic French boulangeries, fine restaurants , the ambiance, the savoir faire? Blend all of this with Caribbean culture and it should be a recipe for success.

The French-side enjoyed its heyday in the 80s and 90s with an up-market clientele, and Americans got a "good bang for their buck" against the franc Read more

Country cannot balance budget yet new staff hired. (UPDATED)

style="text-align: center;">Did Government cancel their contract with Cable TV for Wednesday? Is the media being muzzled?

PHILIPSBURG:--- The newly installed Gumbs cabinet has taken some radical decisions as to how they intend to deal with members of the media in the future. A press release from Gumbs press secretariat states that the Government of St. Maarten is the last county to establish a press secretariat, a department they said all other Caribbean nations such as St. Kitts have.
Having read the press release sent out by the press secretariat makes us wonder if St Read more

Country cannot balance budget yet new staff hired.

style="text-align: center;">Did Government cancel their contract with Cable TV for Wednesday? Is the media being muzzled?

PHILIPSBURG:--- The newly installed Gumbs cabinet has taken some radical decisions as to how they intend to deal with members of the media in the future. A press release from Gumbs press secretariat states that the Government of St. Maarten is the last county to establish a press secretariat, a department they said all other Caribbean nations such as St. Kitts have.
Having read the press release sent out by the press secretariat makes us wonder if St Read more

Suriname lauds US, Cuba on restoration of relations

PARAMARIBO--President Desi Bouterse has complimented Cuban President Raul Castro and US President Barack Obama on the restoration of relations between their countries. "My compliments to you for taking this grand step," Bouterse wrote on Monday in letters that were dispatched to both Presidents.

His letters are in response to announcements from both the White House and Havana on Wednesday last week that they would restore diplomatic relations after 53 years of separation. In his letter to Obama Bouterse wrote: "Today marks a milestone in the shift of the foreign policy of your country Read more

PM: Christmas time to share experiences

PHILIPSBURG--"This is the time of year when families near and far gather to celebrate and share their experiences of the past year in an atmosphere of joy, and when neighbours come together in a spirit of friendliness, peace and unity," said new Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs in his first Christmas message to the country.

"This is also the season when we are reminded that in spite of the general feeling of goodwill, there are persons among us who, for many reasons and circumstances, are unable to participate in any festivities or fellowship Read more

President Of Parliament Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson Christmas Message

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – President of Parliament, Hon. Lloyd Richardson, MD released the following Christmas Message for the nation.

Fellow St. Maarteners, citizens and residents. On behalf of the members of Parliament of St. Maarten and my family I would like to extend our warmest greetings to you during this festive season.

We've been blessed during this year to have been spared serious natural disasters Read more

Tranquillity, stability and civility

Dear Editor,

The new government is hardly in place and already I find myself having to comment on the behaviour of our political leaders during Parliament meetings. Let me say that I cannot say A said so and so when everyone knows that B said it. On Saturday, December 20, 2014, I read in the paper how the newly sworn in Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs said the country needs tranquillity, stability, civility and prosperity Read more

Education for children who urgently need special education

Dear Editor,

Please allow me some space in your newspaper to address the Government and Parliament of St. Maarten and Ronald Plasterk, Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations.

St. Maarten Government, Parliament and Minister Plasterk, my name is Reinder Torrenga and I'm a proud father of a daughter with Down syndrome. This is not the first time I need to use the media to speak about my frustration and make a plea to our Council of Ministers and the parliament of our country St Read more

Russia growls across border as Lithuania readies for euro

KYBARTAI, Lithuania--Geopolitics plague Lithuanians at this frozen Russian border post, where a return trip by car can mean 48 hours of queuing. It is a reminder for some of why the former Soviet republic will cement its move to the West by joining the euro zone next month.

Tensions with Moscow have simmered ever since Lithuania became the first republic to declare independence from the Soviet Union in 1990, although only 6 percent of the population are Russian speakers, far fewer than in its Baltic neighbours Read more

>OYSTER BAY:--- At a ceremony on Friday, three sites on St. Maarten were awarded the Blue Flag eco-label, which is bestowed annually on beaches and marinas throughout the world that meet strict environmental and safety criteria. Oyster Bay Beach Resort, Divi Little Bay Beach Resort, and Yacht Club Isle de Sol were commended for their high standards 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

New Marcel Gumbs Cabinet takes office

~ Governor issues challenge to unify people ~

PHILIPSBURG--"The greatest little country in the world" as St. Maarten has been described by its new Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, finally has a new Council of Ministers. Gumbs, a veteran politician, and the five other ministers were sworn in on Friday afternoon by Governor Eugene Holiday at his office.

The swearing-in ceremony was followed by the first meeting of the Council of Ministers with the governor in A.C Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- NAGICO Insurances through their NAGICO Lend a Hand project executed a massive Food Drive, in which 21 boxes of non-perishable food items were collected, packaged and donated to various members of the community.
The initiative which was spearheaded by the NAGICO Marketing Department and kicked off in September, with collection bins and baskets placed at all NAGICO locations throughout the island and individuals were encouraged to donate whatever non-perishable food item they could spare.
"We wanted this to be a hands-on project where our staff, management, agents and brokers came together to contribute to the community in a tangible way," Paul Dijkhoffz; Executive Marketing Manager of NAGICO said Read more

style="text-align: center;">Marcel Gumbs second Prime Minister since St. Maarten became a country

PHILIPSBURG:--- Five of the seven required Ministers were sworn in on Friday. Former Senator of the Netherlands Antilles Marcel Gumbs was sworn in as the second Prime Minister of Country St Read more

Nagico Food Drive Brings Christmas Cheer To St. Maarten

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - NAGICO Insurances through their NAGICO Lend a Hand project executed a massive Food Drive, in which 21 boxes of non-perishable food items were collected, packaged and donated to various members of the community.

The initiative which was spearheaded by the NAGICO Marketing Department and kicked off in September, with collection bins and baskets placed at all NAGICO locations throughout the island and individuals were encouraged to donate whatever non-perishable food item they could spare.

"We wanted this to be a hands-on project where our staff, management, agents and brokers came together to contribute to the community in a tangible way," Paul Dijkhoffz; Executive Marketing Manager of NAGICO said Read more

Statement From The Honorable Prime Minister Marcel F.A. Gumbs

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with a great sense of pride and honor that I sit before you as Prime Minister of this greatest little country in the world. My entire life has been dedicated to service in one form or the other to St. Maarten. This latest chapter is just a continuation of that service. And now, it's time to work!

We hold no illusions of the task before us. St. Maarten is at a critical stage in its development and growth as a nation.

Our mission is clear: To ensure that St Read more