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Police Officers Receives Promotions

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - On Friday May 29th 2015 during a well attended ceremony at the Philipsburg Police Station in the presence of the Chief Commissioner Peter de Witte and Acting Chief of Police Commissioner Carl John after quite some delay the Inspectors Carlyle Rogers, Head of the Simpson Bay district and Ricardo Henson Head of t Read more

Power Hour: Boss Edition A Huge Success! Mr. Imran Amjad Inspires Close To 100 Aspiring Leaders To Be Leaders First And Then Be Innovative

GREAT BAY, St. Maarten – Close to 100 aspiring leaders came to the POWER HOUR: Boss Edition on May 27, 2015. Held at the University of St. Martin for the first time, the quarterly networking event for entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial professionals, attracted a variety of participants at different stages of their career.

In the accompanied booklet for the evening, INFOBIZZ defined BOSS to mean Building Others' Success Stories and encouraged all participants to help others to achieve success by becoming extraordinary leaders and by staying innovative.
With a focus on innovative leadership, the program of Boss Edition of POWER HOUR consisted of three main activities: 1) a networking activity facilitated by the founder and director of INFOBIZZ, Ms Read more

Na Congratulates Newly Elected Wicsu/Psu Board

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The National Alliance family hereby congratulates the newly elected board of the WICSU/PSU, Mrs. Henrietta Doran-York (President), Mr. Francisco Mariana (Treasurer) and Mr. Riegnald "Bakari" Arrindell (General Secretary) as you take up this most important task of regulating and protecting the rights of the civil servants and workers in the private sector of St Read more

St. Dominic High School winner Moot Court 2015

PHILIPSBURG--After a Friday afternoon filled with pleadings, arguments and rebuttals in a high-profile and legally highly complicated case involving crimes against humanity and human rights violations, the legal team of St. Dominic High School emerged as winners in the first SXM Moot Court Competition for high school students. They received a trophy from Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs.

Against the opposition of students of Learning Unlimited (LU) Preparatory School, Caribbean International Academy (CIA), St Read more

Henrietta Doran-York elected new WICSU/PSU President

PHILIPSBURG--Seasoned civil servant Henrietta Doran-York was elected as new President of Windward Islands Civil Servants Union/Private Sector Union (WICSU/PSU) on Friday.

Doran-York won with 133 votes, while the other candidate Denisio Conner secured 71 votes. Doran-York, who succeeds Dearie Leonard to take over the helm of the union, declined to comment on winning the presidency on Friday evening, saying she would issue a statement over the weekend.

Also elected to the executive board were new treasurer Francisco Mariana and new General Secretary Riegnald Arrindell, each of whom secured 140 votes.

St Read more

No final agreement yet with SZV or APS

PHILIPSBURG--Government has not yet reached a final agreement with Social and Health Insurance SZV and General Pension Fund APS over outstanding arrears owed.

Finance Minister Martin Hassink told The Daily Herald on Friday that agreements have not yet been sealed. "We did not reach a final agreement yet, but [we are – Ed.] still talking in good cooperation," he said. "We are evaluating the proposals now on the table."

When asked about the approaching Committee for Financial Supervision CFT deadline for these matters to be finalised, Hassink said "I have no deadlines with APS or SZV Read more

Highly successful IPKO closed off

THE HAGUE--A great success, probably the most constructive ever. That is how the leaders of the delegations of Aruba, Curaçao, St. Maarten and the Netherlands perceived the Inter-Parliamentary Kingdom Consultations IPKO, which was closed off in The Hague on Friday, with one major triumph: a dispute regulation for the Kingdom.

Reaching an agreement on the format of a dispute regulation, a higher body where the partners can seek a binding ruling on "strictly legal differences of stipulations of the Kingdom Charter," took years, because the Netherlands was never in favour of a binding dispute arrangement.

"We reached an agreement which I am very proud of Read more

US drops Cuba from list of state sponsors of terrorism

HAVANA/WASHINGTON--The United States formally dropped Cuba from a list of state sponsors of terrorism on Friday, an important step toward restoring diplomatic ties but one that will have limited effect on removing U.S. sanctions on the Communist-ruled island.
  President Barack Obama had said on April 14 he would drop the former Cold War rival from the list, initiating a 45-day review period for Congress that expired on Friday Read more

I voted for improvement yet nothing has changed

Dear Editor,

Please allow me some space in your newspaper to address the United People’s party.

UP party, as a supporter of the united people’s party, I have a request in return for all my hard work and efforts in getting votes for the current government body.

It is only fair and understandable that while some other supporters/campaigners are benefitting from their input; Erno York has only received small but appreciated donations Read more

Editorial - The last say

While concerns remain over the recent sudden announcement that St. Maarten Student Support Services S4 would be discontinued effective July 1, discussions on the move by Education Minister Rita-Bourne Gumbs with a group of those directly impacted and Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Netherlands (see related article) probably will have been at least somewhat reassuring. The intention apparently is to continue the adjustments as planned, so it's good that the person politically responsible for the decision was able to provide an explanation.

Perhaps it was the air in The Hague, because the Inter-Parliamentary Kingdom Consultation IPKO turned out to be a positive encounter as well, leading to consensus among the four delegations on the framework for a kingdom dispute regulation Read more

Current Board Member of GEBE was hired and fired for incompetence.

style="text-align: center;">Now leaking inside information about GEBE current saga.

PHILIPSBURG:--- A member of the supervisory board of GEBE is someone who was hired as a private consultant for quality control and subsequently fired for his incompetence. However, that person ended up being a member of the Supervisory board that is now calling the shots as to who should be fired and or investigated.
This board member who is affiliated with the UPP party was one of the persons that delivered the letter to Romelio Maduro on Wednesday informing him that Friday is his last day on the job Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Former Deputy Minister of Plenipotentiary Henrietta Doran York was elected by majority to be the next president of the Windward Islands Civil Servant and Private Sector Union (WICSU/PSU). Doran York a new comer in the unionism received 133 votes while Denisio Conner who have been a member of the WICSU/PSU for the past 18 years and 10 years on the GOA got 71 votes Read more

Ombudsman Attends Anti-Corruption Training Session In Curacao

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Ombudsman of St. Maarten Dr. Nilda Lynch Arduin is currently heading a delegation to an anti-corruption training.

The session, which is being held on Curacao, is being organized by the International Anti-corruption Institute.

Attendees at the event are dealing with a wide range of topics, including the United Nations Convention of Anti-corruption.

St. Maarten is being represented at the training session by representatives from the Ministry of Justi Read more

Sarah questions Govt on integrity protocol

THE HAGUE--"Does the government consider the maintenance of law and the other judicial parts in the document part of the Integrity Chamber? If not, why are those agreements part and parcel of the protocol regarding an Integrity Chamber?" was one of several questioned posed by Democratic Party (DP) leader Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams in a letter to the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet via Chairman of Parliament Dr Read more

Agreement is reached on dispute regulation format

THE HAGUE--Following intense discussions on Thursday and many years of delay, the Parliaments of Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten finally reached an agreement on the dispute regulation (geschillenregeling) for the Kingdom. Rulings of the body in charge of the dispute regulation will be binding rather than a mere advice, which is a major victory for the islands.

Besides the aspect of a binding ruling, the delegations agreed to give several pointers for the four governments at the Kingdom Conference in Curaçao on June 16 Read more

Shigemoto, GAS director go free in ‘Piranha’ case

PHILIPSBURG--Former Minister of Finance Hiroshi “Hiro” Shigemoto (44) and Global Advisor Services (GAS) BV Director R.A.G. (62) both were acquitted fully by the Judge on Thursday in the so-called “Piranha” case.

The Prosecutor’s Office had accused both men of having committed fraud in connection with invoices sent in for payment for GAS services for the recruitment of highly-skilled staff members for the Department of Fiscal Affairs between January 1 and June 30, 2009. This agreement was renewed in 2011 retroactively from July 1 to December 31, 2009.

GAS also was responsible for managing the one-year project financed by Dutch funding agency USONA to hire staff for the new Tax Department for an all-inclusive fee of NAf Read more

UP board congratulates Hiro Shigimoto

Press release

Philipsburg -- The board of the United People's Party (UP) wishes to congratulate Hiro Shigimoto on his full acquittal from all charges by the Court of First Instance on Thursday. 

 "This is a clear indication of vindication as we know this has been a long judicial journey," the UP board declared. 

 Hiro Shigimoto was a former Minister of Finance Hiro Shigimoto under a UP supported government. 

 "We strongly believe this positive news will be well received by his family and longstanding well-wishers," the UP board added. 

"May Mr Read more

Editorial - Same criteria

Sometimes a point made in this column can lead to misunderstanding. One hardly can be against expanding the number of cabinet members from the current five to the normal seven mentioned in the Constitution, but the fact is that it really would be worthwhile only if the persons involved prove an added value.

Moreover, no obvious objection exists to reappointing parliamentarian Maurice Lake – who apparently is very interested – as VROMI minister, especially as he has held the position before Read more

MP Sarah Wescot Williams asks questions on Integrity Chamber.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- MP Sarah Wescot Williams sent a letter to the chair of Parliament asking several questions about the agreement signed between the government of St. Maarten and the Netherlands. The letter sent to the chairman of Parliament reads:-

Questions Integrity Chamber protocol
Honorable Chairperson of Parliament,

During my stay in the Netherlands, I have been apprised of the protocol agreed upon between the governments of St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---  Hon. Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs Marcel Gumbs expresses his deepest sympathy to the family of Pieter Hooft, a civil servant who worked with the Government of Sint Maarten for more than 25-years.
"My condolences on behalf of the Council of Ministers also go out to civil service corps of country Sint Maarten Read more

EXCLUSIVE: GEBE Management Team plans to use Company’s Statuut to vote a motion of No Confidence against CFO.

style="text-align: center;">Management Team of GEBE in Shambles, No CEO, No COO and now CFO in predicament.

PHILIPSBURG: --- The members of the management team of GEBE is planning to use the company's statuut to vote a motion of no confidence against the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Rene Gartner. That motion might come as early as today (Thursday) an insider at GEBE told SMN News.
The source said that none of the personnel could get along with Gartner and just recently he sent home the head of the finance department because he does not like or agrees with that person Read more

Dp Leader Questions Integrity Chamber Protocol

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - More questions are being asked about the details of the Integrity Chamber agreement which was signed in The Hague last Saturday.

The agreement was signed between St. Maarten's Minister of Justice, the Honorable Dennis Richardson and the Dutch Government.

Many members of Parliament have expressed their disapproval about the manner in which the agreement was signed and the impact it will have on the authority of the island's highest legislative body, the Parliament of St Read more

Emil Lee And Leopold James- Agents Of Change

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Dear Ladies and Gentleman, thank you for attending this ceremony. For many reasons, this is a moment that I wanted to share with family, friends and colleagues.

Without a doubt, being recognized and appreciated as a valued member of the community by a group like the St Martin Grass Roots People's movement is wonderful. Many thanks to Leopold, Jessie and the rest of the movement.

But in my opinion, this isn't the real story here tonight. There is a much more interesting story to tell.
Up to about 3 or 4 years ago, Leopold James and Emil Lee would have been perceived as polar opposites and perhaps even as adversaries or enemies Read more

Prime Minister Gumbs Expresses Condolences To The Hooft Family And The Civil Servant Corps

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Hon. Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs Marcel Gumbs expresses his deepest sympathy to the family of Pieter Hooft, a civil servant who worked with the Government of Sint Maarten for more than 25-years.

"My condolences on behalf of the Council of Ministers also go out to civil service corps of country Sint Maarten Read more