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Speech Of The Governor Given At The Appointment And Swearing-In Ceremony Of The New Cabinet Of Ministers

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten - Chairman of Parliament, Prime-Minister, President of the Collectivity of Saint Martin,
Parliamentarians, Ministers Invited Guests, My fellow Sint Maarteners Good Afternoon.

The August 29, 2014, parliamentary elections set the stage for the transfer of executive responsibility for the governance of our beautiful country from one team of ministers to a new team of ministers. Today, 3 months and three weeks, later we have before us a new team of ministers.

It is the culmination of the official formation process amidst complex and tensed domestic and Kingdom circumstances.

During the formation which concluded today I consulted with various persons and named and worked with formateur Mr Read more

“The People Have Had Enough”: Priest Demands A Firm Discount On Utility Bills

St. Maarten – According to media reports, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has announced that oil prices have fallen to an all-time low of $58 a barrel. Governments and energy companies all over the world have passed on this savings to their consumers,” Lenny Priest, leader of the extra-parliamentary political party OSPP writes in a press release. “What will it take for our government and Gebe to provide relief to the people in the form of a 40 to 50 percent reduction in the fuel clause on our electricity bills? After all, our monthly electricity bill consists of energy consumption and the fuel clause Read more

>GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sports Hon. Patricia Lourens-Philip would like to say thank you to the people of Sint Maarten and all participating groups for bringing the true spirit of Christmas to Philipsburg on Sunday, December 14th.
Philipsburg will come alive with sounds of music, laughter, joy, hope and good will to all mankind.
"They brought joy, peace and showed the love one to another and for the traditions of this country by making such a tremendous effort to portray the true meaning of Christmas such as togetherness, family and gratitude.
"The Department of Culture and the Caribbean Professionals in Intangible and Tangible Cultural Heritage PITCH - IT Foundation, must be applauded for putting this together.
"I will encourage them to establish it in our intangible heritage profile and have it become a tradition that will continue for many years to come," Minister Hon Read more

Erdogan defends media raids as a response to "dirty" plot

IZMIT, Turkey--Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Monday defended weekend raids on media outlets close to a U.S.-based Muslim cleric as a necessary response to "dirty operations" by the government's political enemies, and told a critical European Union to mind its own business.

Sunday's raids on the Zaman daily and Samanyolu television marked an escalation in Erdogan's battle with former ally Fethullah Gulen. The two have been in open conflict since a corruption probe targeting Erdogan's inner circle a year ago, which Erdogan blamed on Gulen.

He accuses the cleric of establishing a 'parallel' structure in the state through his supporters in the judiciary, police and other institutions, and of wielding influence through the media Read more

Minister Of Culture Lourens-Philip Says Thank You For A Great Traditions Of Christmas Celebration

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sports Hon. Patricia Lourens-Philip would like to say thank you to the people of Sint Maarten and all participating groups for bringing the true spirit of Christmas to Philipsburg on Sunday, December 14th.

Philipsburg will come alive with sounds of music, laughter, joy, hope and good will to all mankind.

"They brought joy, peace and showed the love one to another and for the traditions of this country by making such a tremendous effort to portray the true meaning of Christmas such as togetherness, family and gratitude.

"The Department of Culture and the Caribbean Professionals in Intangible and Tangible Cultural Heritage PITCH - IT Foundation, must be applauded for putting this together.

"I will encourage them to establish it in our intangible heritage profile and have it become a tradition that will continue for many years to come," Minister Hon Read more

US spending bill likely to pass Senate, may take a few days

WASHINGTON--The U.S. Senate looked set to pass a $1.1 trillion spending bill but it might need a few days to overcome procedural hurdles before voting on legislation that averts a government shutdown and ends jitters over major budget standoffs until next fall.

After the House of Representatives narrowly approved the bill late on Thursday following a battle that exposed fraying unity in President Barack Obama's Democratic Party, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid hoped the bill would pass on Friday to spare Americans the drama of yet another budget crisis.

Reid and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell labored to steer the massive spending bill toward passage late Friday but it was unclear whether they could get it done without delay.

Any senator can hold up the vote Read more

‘Will you be back tomorrow?’

~ Foster parents needed ~

By Laura Bijnsdorp

A few months ago, I was sifting through the newspaper. Besides reading the humbling island news, humorous political twists and horrifying world events, I always take a bit of extra time sifting through the classifieds of properties I can't buy, horoscopes that I only believe if they are positive and the notices that promote sports, culture and foundations asking for participants and/or volunteers. One ad caught my eye: "Foster Parents Needed."

"Stichting Justitiele Instellingen St Read more

Cameron leaves Northern Ireland without agreement to end deadlock

BELFAST--British Prime Minister David Cameron left Northern Ireland on Friday without a deal he hoped would end months of political deadlock over financial and cultural disputes in the province.

The nationalist Sinn Fein party branded efforts by Britain and Ireland to help negotiate an accord as "amateurish".

Britain called all-party talks nine weeks ago aimed at breaking an impasse over budget cuts among Belfast's power-sharing government and settling other divisive issues like parading and the flying of flags Read more

Lenny Preist Questions Impact Of Gas Price Reduction On Electricity Bills

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – According to all media reports, the international energy agency (IEA) has announced that oil prices have fallen to an all-time low with a barrel of crude oil going at the rate of U.S. $ 58.00 a barrel.

Governments and energy companies all over the world have passed on this savings to their consumers.

What will it take for St. Maarten government and NV GEBE to provide relief to the people in the form of a 40% to 50% reduction in the fuel clause on our electricity bills? afterall, our monthly electricity bill is made up of energy consumption and the fuel clause.

The fuel clause in most cases makes up approximately 60% of the monthly bill.

The people of St Read more

>CAY BAY:--- They made it! As agreed on Wednesday December 10th the official opening ceremony of the Miss Lalie Center, the first Caribbean Youth Care and Rehabilitation Center, took place.
All people have been working so hard to make this possible, and they've succeeded. The Miss Lalie Center is good to go from this day. The building that's situated on Venus Drive in Cay Bay is totally prepared for the intake of a maximum of 20 boys between the ages of 12 to 18.
The official opening ceremony started off with a warm welcome to all the guests from Mrs Read more

Minister Of Culture Lourens-Philip Invites Public To Sunday Christmas Celebration

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sports Hon. Patricia Lourens-Philip is inviting the public to come out on Sunday December 14, 2014 at 4:00 pm where the streets of Philipsburg will come alive with sounds of music, laughter, joy, hope and good will to all mankind.

At center of the parade is compassion and joyfulness- what Christmas means to each of us Read more

Opening Ceremony Miss Lalie Center

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - They made it! As agreed on Wednesday December 10th the official opening ceremony of the Miss Lalie Center, the first Caribbean Youth Care and Rehabilitation Center, took place.

All people have been working so hard to make this possible, and they've succeeded.

The Miss Lalie Center is good to go from this day. The building that's situated on Venus Drive in Cay Bay is totally prepared for the intake of a maximum of 20 boys between the ages of 12 to 18.

The official opening ceremony started off with a warm welcome to all the guests from Mrs Read more

Youth Care Centre has opened its doors

CAY BAY--The eagerly anticipated Miss Lalie Youth Care Centre was officially opened December 10 by Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson in the presence of a number of dignitaries, invited guests and members of the Meyers family, in commemoration of Eulalie Meyers who the Centre is named after. The Centre is set to start receiving youths as of next week.

The modern Cay Bay building had been designed as a boarding school-type facility meant for foster care, and was then restructured for use as a closed facility for boys ages 12 to 18, who are to be detained whilst receiving counselling, treatment, guidance and education, in order to enable them to have the best possible chance of succeeding in society.

A closed institution, it provides 10 places for boys sentenced by the criminal court and another 10 for boys with severe behavioural issues who have not been sentenced but who have received a placement order by a civil court.

Until now, there has been no such facility available locally for this demographic, as explained by Angela Dekker of Dutch financing institution USONA who said that the lack of a youth rehabilitation centre was questioned over a decade ago by a Geneva committee during a conference on the Rights of the Child.

Team Leader Natasha Carty acted as Master of Ceremonies for the opening event, introducing various key decision makers and dignitaries, the Center's team comprising social and security workers, and guiding a tour of the facility.

The Centre was financed by the Ministry of Justice and USONA Read more

Nature Foundation Helps Remove Wrecks From Lagoon

GREAT BAY–The St. Maarten Nature Foundation took part in the wide-scale cleanup of the Simpson Bay Lagoon spearheaded by Vromi Minister Maurice Lake and his ministry, in collaboration with the St. Maarten Marine Trades Association. The logistics were jointly organized by the Nature Foundation and the SMMTA.

During the cleanup the Nature Foundation focused on the removal of wrecks and major garbage on the lagoon Read more

Wrecks removed in lagoon cleanup

SIMPSON BAY--Nature Foundation focused on the removal of wrecks and major garbage from Simpson Bay lagoon during Saturday’s lagoon cleanup organised by the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI together with St. Maarten Marine Trades Association (SMMTA).

With the assistance of the Maritime Affairs Department many wrecks were removed within the lagoon, including those which were damaged by Hurricane Gonzalo and were wrecked to the side of t Read more

style="text-align: center;">Nature Foundation Hopes Cleanup Will be a Yearly Event

SIMPSON BAY:--- The St. Maarten Nature Foundation took part in the wide-scale cleanup of the Simpson Bay Lagoon which took place on Saturday. The Minister of VROMI the Honorable Maurice Lake spearheaded the cleanup and the Ministry, the St. Maarten Marine Trades Association and the Nature Foundation jointly organized the logistics.

  During the cleanup the Nature Foundation focused on the removal of wrecks and major garbage on the lagoon Read more

SXM Autism Association

~ Training to better understand autism ~

SXM Autism Association is continuing to work to fill a need in our community. They have organized training on autism designed for the general public, in partnership with National Education, General Social Security Fund (SSTC) in Guadeloupe and SESSAD (Service d'Education Spéciale et de Soins à Domicile) in France. The training was held in late November and early December.

Understanding autistic people is the focus of the training, and it is based on applied analysis of their behavioural cues Read more

Editorial - Improved compliance

Today's news that the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT has given St. Maarten until January 31 to establish the 2015 budget is most welcome. The original December 15 deadline had clearly gotten out of reach, in part due to the recent political developments and issues with the screening of candidate ministers.

Affording the incoming UP-led coalition more time to present amendments bringing the draft in line with CFT's advice and the Kingdom Consensus Law on Financial Supervision shows the necessary respect for the Gumbs Cabinet that – after all – will have to work with it Read more

Lake Calls For Volunteers For Simpson Bay Lagoon Clean Up

St. Maarten—A clean up of the Simpson Bay Lagoon is scheduled to take place this Saturday December 6 and Vromi Minister Maurice Lake is calling on the marine community, organizations, businesses, volunteers and students to come out and support this clean-up.

 

Minister Lake’s initial appeal for a coastal clean-up of hurricane related debris in the lagoon due to the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo, was publicly stated early November and the St Read more

Central Asian migrants feel the pain of Russia's economic downturn

DUSHANBE/BISHKEK--Vali Salimov quit his job at a Moscow supermarket last month after his salary was halved, and returned home to Tajikistan another migrant victim of Russia's economic downturn whose family livelihood now looks precarious.
  Salimov, like millions of other migrants, used to send much of his salary back home. So as he and others leave Russia, the economies of their home countries - poor former Soviet republics like Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan - are also feeling the pinch.
  "I was paid 25,000 roubles (536 dollars) a month Read more

Objections in Parliament to commonwealth proposal

~ Parties say decision is up to islands ~

THE HAGUE--The Labour Party PvdA, Democratic Party D66, Christian Democratic Party CDA and ChristianUnion (CU) turned down on Monday idea of the liberal democratic VVD party and the Socialist Party (SP) to establish a Dutch commonwealth construction with an independent position for Aruba, Curaçao and St Read more

Minister Lake calls on Marine community, volunteers and students to support clean-up of Simpson Bay Lagoon on December 6th.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake is calling on the marine community, organizations, businesses, volunteers and students to come out on Saturday, December 6 and support the clean-up of the Simpson Bay Lagoon.

Minister Lake's initiative appeal for a coastal clean-up of hurricane related debris in the lagoon due to the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo, was publicly stated early November and the St Read more

Minister Lake Calls On Marine Community, Volunteers And Students To Support Clean-Up Of Simpson Bay Lagoon On December 6Th

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake is calling on the marine community, organizations, businesses, volunteers and students to come out on Saturday, December 6 and support the clean-up of the Simpson Bay Lagoon.

Minister Lake's initiative appeal for a coastal clean-up of hurricane related debris in the lagoon due to the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo, was publicly stated early November and the St Read more

“The Initiative Is Up To The Caribbean Islands” – Dutch Parliament Divided About Commonwealth

THE HAGUE – The Netherlands cannot force the Caribbean islands to change the Kingdom into a Commonwealth. In spite of this, the Second Chamber reflected yesterday on a plan (from the Socialist Party and the VVD) to do this, Jamila Baaziz reports on Caribisch Netwerk.

VVD and SP say that they are in particular after ‘clarity and a vision’ and that they want to kick-start the discussion with their initiative memorandum. But PvdA, Christian Union, CDA and D66 do not want to exclude any option Read more