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Minister Sams Provides Public Transportation Sector With Copies Of Draft National Decree

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – On October 23rd at the Stafbureau of the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT), Minister Ernest Sams made good on part of his promise and presented to representatives of various taxi and bus associations on the island a translated version of the draft national decree on public transportation.

This draft national decree being worked on currently serves the purpose of providing a bridge between the existing ordinance which is more than 40 years old and a new national ordinance on public transportation slated to be sent to parliament in 2016. 

The draft national decree was distributed to those present and they were requested to review it and provide their feedback as part of the stakeholder consultation process within four weeks.

In the two hour meeting with public transportation stakeholders, Minister Sams and his Cabinet, Secretary General of Ministry TEATT and the Head of the Inspection Department TEZVT held an interactive discussion with the various association board members on the challenges faced by the industry including the influx of unsanctioned operators, industry trends and changes, areas of potential mutual collaboration.

What was also stressed in the meeting by Minister Sams and his team was the need for individual accountability, teamwork and professionalism by all Read more

Sxm Airways Gets Support From Parliamentarians

SXM Airways Managing Director Rolando Brison during his presentation to Parliament. Photo contributed

Upstart airline SXM Airways received encouraging words of support from Members of Parliament on Tuesday as management and shareholders briefed the Central Committee on the airline’s plans and vision. The MP’s urged management to “keep pushing” and not to be afraid of competing with other airlines including Winair.

Managing Director Rolando Brison and shareholders Elvis Queeley, Michel Carter and Jeff Oliver, gave a comprehensive presentation about everything from the origins of the idea for the on-demand airline, to educational initiatives, market analysis, market share, share availability for local purchase and operational perspectives Read more

Port St. Maarten Congratulates Incoming Nation’s Top Cop on Appointment

>POINTE BLANCHE:----  Port St. Maarten Supervisory Board and Management would like to congratulate Carl John who has been appointed the nation’s top cop to become Chief of Police of the Sint Maarten National Police Force.
Port St. Maarten has a very good working relationship with the Police Force and with Carl John in particular. John was part of a delegation a few months ago that participate in a Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL) security conference where a strategic security alliance had been formed.
RCCL allowed a team of security and law enforcement professionals from country St Read more

Port St. Maarten Congratulates Nation’S Top Cop On Appointment

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Port St. Maarten Supervisory Board and Management would like to congratulate Carl John who has been appointed the nation’s top cop to become Chief of Police of the Sint Maarten National Police Force.

Port St. Maarten has a very good working relationship with the Police Force and with Carl John in particular.  John was part of a delegation a few months ago that participate in a Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL) security conference where a strategic security alliance had been formed.

RCCL allowed a team of security and law enforcement professionals from country St Read more

University Reminds Government Of Promise To Increase Subsidy

St. Maarten – On May 20 the Board of the University of St. Maarten Foundation, assisted by its management team, discussed the developments of the University with the parliamentary committee of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport Affairs. During that meeting, which was chaired by MP Silveria Jacobs, Minister of Education Rita Bourne-Gumbs made two public promises Read more

Government promised to increase USM subsidies.

>PHILIPSBURG:---- On the 20th May 2015 the Board of the University of St. Maarten Foundation (BUSMF), assisted by its management team, discussed the developments of the University of St. Martin (USM) with the parliamentary committee of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport Affairs. During that meeting, which was chaired by the Honorable Member of Parliament, Ms. Silveria Jacobs, the Honorable Minister of Education, Mrs Read more

Usm And Partners Discuss Development

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - On the 20th May 2015 the Board of the University of St. Maarten Foundation (BUSMF), assisted by its management team, discussed the developments of the University of St. Martin (USM) with the parliamentary committee of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport Affairs.

During that meeting, which was chaired by the Honorable Member of Parliament, Ms. Silveria Jacobs, the Honorable Minister of Education, Mrs Read more

style="text-align: center;">Minister Claret Connor still Director of the Chamber of Commerce – Is this a conflict of interest?

PHILIPSBURG:--- The ousted Minister of VROMI Claret Connor is hell bent on getting certain things done before he is forced out of office Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The seven members making up the Gumbs cabinet on St. Maarten showed up at a press conference on Wednesday where they each laid out the projects they have been working on since taking office in December 2014. Minister Claret Connor spoke of the road patches, and road repairs that will soon begin while he also shed light on the sea water that is pumped from the sea into the Great Salt Pond.
Minister of Finance Maarten Hassink spoke of the 2016 budget he presented to the Council of Ministers and also sent to the CFT Read more

Workshop Focuses On Energy Efficiency

St. Maarten – Under the umbrella of the European Union funded COSME Program, the Department of Economy, Transportation and Telecommunication hosted an interactive workshop for small hotel property owners throughout the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories last Thursday. It was one of many initiatives hosted under the COSME Program that seeks to strengthen the competitiveness of small and medium sized enterprises throughout the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories.

As tourism remains the main economic industry throughout the region, organizers thought it appropriate to find ways to support small property owners via the COSME Program Read more

Evt Hosts Successful Cosme Renewable Energy Workshop

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Under the umbrella of the European Union funded COSME Programme, the Department of Economy, Transportation and Telecommunication (EVT) hosted an interactive workshop for small hotel property owners throughout the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs).

The workshop, which was held on Thursday October 15, 2015, was one of many initiatives hosted under the COSME Programme which seeks to strengthen the competitiveness of small and medium sized enterprises throughout the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories Read more

Home in Belvedere housing project reaches highest point

BELVEDERE--St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF) celebrated another milestone in its on-going social housing construction project, reaching the highest point of a dwelling-in-construction with a rafter-wetting ceremony on Friday afternoon. Construction began in August.

During the short ceremony, it was also announced that the project is two-and-a-half weeks ahead of schedule and that in addition to the eight planned houses which will go up for sale, another building will be added, which will be made available for rent.

The newly announced plan entails a building with four modern one-bedroom apartments, aimed at students returning home to St Read more

EXCLUSIVE: APS and Government signed off on sweetheart deal ---- Corruption continues as current government tries to tell the people they want to end ship jumping

style="text-align: center;">APS got VORST land for a symbolic Guilder for housing development.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Gumbs cabinet proclaim they are doing all they can to stop ship jumping and to control the instability of government on St. Maarten by calling for new elections and not working on election reform which will be the only tool to curb the ship jumping. Certain Ministers told SMN News that what they are doing is not for their own interest instead they are protecting St. Maarten’s image.
SMN News is well known for exposing what takes place in government and while politicians are focusing on the bridge loan the Harbor obtained from SZV to settle the ZEBEC deal SMN News got something better Read more

Protest against Ministers draws only a small crowd

PHILIPSBURG--The angry sentiments expressed on radio and in some quarters of the community against the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet for not resigning in the face of the September 30 motion of no confidence passed by the new National Alliance (NA)-led coalition did not translate into a large turnout for the protest in front of the Government Administration Building on Wednesday morning.

Some people on the scene are planning to return to the site again today, Thursday, for similar action Read more

Protest against ministers draws only small crowd

PHILIPSBURG--The angry sentiments expressed on radio and in some quarters of the community against the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet for not resigning in the face of the September 30 motion of no confidence passed by the new National Alliance (NA)-led coalition did not translate into a big turnout for the protest in front of the Government Administration Building on Wednesday morning Read more

style="text-align: center;">Uninsured Police Officers called to protect Ousted Council of Ministers

PHILIPSBURG:--- Heavy equipment’s were used early Wednesday morning to block the entrance of the Government Administration Building. The drivers of three heavy equipment arrived in the area of the Government Administration Building shortly before 5am where they parked their vehicles blocking the entrance towards the Government Administration Building and left.
Around 6:30 am the night watch- commander Officer Gomes along with some police officers walked towards the Government Administration and began questioning bystanders and the security guards as to who parked the heavy equipment’s that were blocking the streets Read more

Sams, Connor have no plans to resign

Ernest Sams and Claret Connor

PHILIPSBURG--Tourism and Economic Affairs Minister Ernest Sams says there’s “no truth whatsoever” to the rampant talk in the community on Tuesday about his supposed plan to resign from his post. 

  His colleague Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Claret Connor has also batted down similar talk saying: “I respect this office and I will not get into any public debate” on “public melee.”

  The country, he continued, is “already dealing with the impasse” between Parliament and the

  Connor, who has been a minister since December 2014, added, “I was born and raised in Philipsburg Read more

Student launches two new recycling collection points

DAWN BEACH--In a cheerful unveiling ceremony, Bodine Beentjes, accompanied by Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Claret Connor, celebrated the opening of two new recycling collection points on Saturday morning.

These will directly benefit residents of Dawn Beach Estates and Ocean View Terrace Read more

BREAKING NEWS: At least one Minister Agreed to Resign on Tuesday to avoid Unrest – Reliable Sources.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- At least one of the eight Ministers that are part of the Gumbs cabinet has agreed to submit his resignation on Tuesday to the Governor of St. Maarten. SMN News learnt that Minister Claret Connor who was removed from the Ministry of TEATT and placed at the Ministry of VROMI has agreed to break the stand-off in order to avoid an unrest by the people of St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, headed the Council of Ministers delegation that attended an Ecumenical Church Service in commemoration of Constitution Day, 12 October, which took place at St. Simon & St. Jude Anglican Church on Back Street, Philipsburg, on Monday.
Also in attendance was His Excellency Governor Eugene Holiday and Mrs Read more

Who will be paying for Minister Connor trip to the Dominican Republic? Minister got motion of no confidence he has no right spending tax payers monies.

style="text-align: center;">GEBE not paying for Minister’s ticket.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of VROMI who is also responsible for Government owned company GEBE Claret Connor is expected to travel to the Dominican Republic this weekend with a delegation from GEBE. According to information provided to SMN News GEBE was invited by Watsilla to travel to the Dominican Republic on a fact-finding mission on the waste to energy plant Read more

New Elections For St. Maarten Possible December 8

From left: Ministers Rafael Boasman, Rita Bourne-Gumbs, Marcel Gumbs, Dennis Richardson, Martin Hassink and Claret Connor during what could be their last press conference. Photo Today / Hilbert Haar

Council of Ministers hits back and dissolves parliament

St Read more

Gumbs cabinet seeking to dissolve Parliament, call new election Dec. 8

~ PM: NAf. 150,000 available for new elections ~

PHILIPSBURG--One day after Parliament passed a motion of no confidence against the Gumbs Cabinet, the Council of Ministers is seeking to dissolve Parliament and have new elections called on Tuesday, December 8.

Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs announced at a press conference on Thursday that based on legal advice received the Council had decided to use Article 59 of the Constitution to dissolve Parliament by resolution and call new elections Read more

Gumbs cabinet seeking to dissolve Parliament and call new elections

~Gumbs: NAf. 150,000 available for new elections~

PHILIPSBURG--One day after Parliament passed a motion of no-confidence against the Gumbs Cabinet, the Council of Ministers is seeking to dissolve parliament and have new elections called on Tuesday, December 8.

  Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs announced at a press conference on Thursday that based on several legal advices received last night, the Council made a decision to use Article 59 of the constitution to dissolve parliament Read more