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Abolition of slavery celebrated with speeches, song and dance

MARIGOT--The 167th anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery was commemorated Wednesday at the Agrément roundabout with Lady Liberty looking on approvingly as the scourge of slavery was re-enacted in dance, music and the spoken word by various performers.

Despite an overcast sky threatening rain, only a little came down from time to time but umbrellas were ready.

The audience comprising the entire Territorial Council, Préfet Philippe Chopin, MP Daniel Gibbs, former Mayor Albert Fleming, Economic and Cultural Council President Georges Gumbs, and representatives from the district councils were all seated under a tent to watch the activities.

The ceremony was opened by Malaïka Maxwell singing the song "when you believe" by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston before Percussionist Hélier Coquillas called out the freedom fighters with a conch shell and remained to provide the drumming for the different segments.

President of the Territorial Council Aline Hanson said in her address the commemoration is an opportunity to remember the big sacrifices made by the ancestors for freedom.

"Today we celebrate this freedom and all the people who fought body and soul to liberate our islands and get this precious freedom Read more

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Collectivité addresses grievances after unrest at Cul-de-Sac School

MARIGOT--A delegation of Collectivité and education officials met with parents at the Cul-de- Sac Primary School on Tuesday morning in an attempt to explain the reasoning and functioning of the “carte scolaire”, the system of allocating a school based on where the child lives.

A collective of some 15 angry parents, who claim the system is not managed properly, locked the school gates with a padlock on Friday. Parents cannot understand that if their children live in Cul-de Sac why they are sent to school in Grand Case, or why children in Orient Bay are sent to school in Marigot instead of French Quarter etc.

Some parents had also accused the principal of the school of slapping misbehaving children and reported this to the Gendarmerie, which subsequently opened an investigation and interviewed some of the pupils Read more

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Abolition of Slavery to be celebrated on Wednesday

MARIGOT--The 167th anniversary of the abolition of slavery will be celebrated this coming Wednesday at the Agrément roundabout, the site of the Lady Liberty statue, from 9:00am to 10:30am.

The Emancipation celebration this year will focus on the 226-year-old Hameau du Pont Bridge.

"The bridge was built back in 1789 during the evil period of slavery and the ancestors were never paid or recognised for their labour," noted President of Conscious Lyrics Foundation, Shujah Reiph.

The bridge was built on the orders of Jean Sebastien de Durat who also built Fort Louis and the old jail Read more

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SNSM sea rescue RIB christened at marina

MARIGOT--The volunteers of French-side sea rescue service SNSM savoured an uplifting moment Friday evening when their second-hand semi-rigid inflatable boat (RIB) was christened officially at a ceremony on the shore next to Marina Fort Louis in front of elected officials and many invited guests.

The yellow RIB came into view with its crew just before the ceremony began, followed by the lifeboats SNSM 269 from St. Barths and Rescue 2 from the St. Maarten Sea Rescue Foundation, both vessels sounding their horns for the celebratory occasion before tying up to the entrance dock.

The 12-metre-long 3.62-metre-wide RIB named Rescue Star is powered by two 275-horsepower outboard engines and in calm sea conditions can reach speeds of 35-40 knots Read more

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Hanson urges citizens to pay their income tax

MARIGOT--President of the Territorial Council Aline Hanson reminded citizens that the 2014 Income Tax Return forms will be delivered to every household shortly.

"As well as being an administrative formality, paying taxes is a citizen act that directly impacts the future of our territory in terms of implementation of development projects," she said Read more

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Hanson re-confirms decisions of President Hollande during visit

MARIGOT--In her first reaction to President François Hollande's official visit on Friday, President Aline Hanson first thanked the population for giving the Head of State a cordial welcome. Many people had lined the roads from Grand Case, La Savane, Rambaud and Cripple Gate to wave to the motorcade as it passed.

The President in turn reciprocated by chatting with well-wishers on his arrival at Hotel de la Collectivité.

Hanson said she was pleased with the outcome of the Presidential visit Read more

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Hollande declares Court of First Instance will open January 2016

MARIGOT--President of the French Republic François Hollande made a number of sweeping announcements in his speech to the population of St. Martin at the end of his whirlwind visit to St. Martin last night. Among them were assurances that the social benefit (RSA) would be reformed to be more adaptable for St. Martin with help given to pay off the Collectivité's debt.

He also said a Court of First Instance and a rehabilitation centre for the youth (foyer educatif) would be established, and the number of Gendarmes in the territory would increase this July.

Hollande appeared to be decisive and up to speed on the issues plaguing St Read more

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Unprecedented security in place for President François Hollande

MARIGOT--Practically the entire law enforcement detachment of the French side will be on duty for President François Hollande's very brief official visit today, the first for a French President since Jacque Chirac's visit in 2000.

According to reports, 198 Gendarmes will be assuring security assisted by the Territorial Police and officers from Police aux Frontières (PAF). The President will also no doubt have his own security detail close to him.

The Presidential plane is due to touch down at Princess Juliana International Airport at 3:30pm where President Hollande will be welcomed by Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, Governor Eugene Holiday and Chairman of Parliament Dr Read more

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Regional health authority marks five-year milestone

MARIGOT--Agence Regional de Santé (ARS) of Guadeloupe, St. Martin and St. Barths celebrated a five-year milestone on Friday, with a summary of five main achievements since April 1, 2010.

Délégué Territorial for St. Martin Pascal Godefroy, and Stanley Hanson in charge of vector control, talked to reporters at a press conference.

It was noted the chikungunya virus that arrived on the island December 6 and 30, 2013, in St. Martin and St. Barths affected 13 to 15 per cent of the population of both islands Read more

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