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Children’S Camp At New Cultural Venue, “A Blessing” And “A Blast”

Betty’s estate, St. Martin —The annual children camp organized by teacher Shanna Cornet-de Riggs was “a blessing of children’s laughter and activities at our new venue at Betty’s Estate,” said educator Rhoda Arrindell.

The cultural facility at Alamanda Drive 1 and LB Scot Road is called Source of Inspiration and Learning (SoIL), and was opened by Arrindell on July 1 Read more

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Donald Trump – The Lie Of ‘Truthful Hyperbole’

By Sir Ronald Sanders – CNS Contributor

WASHINGTON, DC – For anyone following the US Presidential campaigns, it has been a volatile voyage with great uncertainty about whether Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton will eventually emerge triumphant.

We still aren’t into the season of direct debates between the two and the unleashing of their denigration of each other, although throughout the primaries we had a good sense of just how nasty it will become, mostly from Trump who has verbally assaulted just about everybody except himself and his family.

But this week the tide began to surge away from Donald Trump.   The Republican Party Convention was a spectacle of division, pettiness, racism and lynch-mobbing when it wasn’t Trump trotting out his tiresome one-liners.  Meanwhile, the Democratic Party Convention was sizzling with ideas; vibrant with new directions (fashioned by Bernie Sanders and now integral to the Party’s platform); and energised by powerful argument, analysis and values spoken with conviction and magnetism by Sanders, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

No one listening to Trump declaring himself ‘the greatest’; claiming that he knows just about everything better than everyone else; and that he will fix everything that he alleges is wrong with America, can help to wonder, as Bernie Sanders did, whether he is running ‘to be President of the United States or to be a dictator’.  There is no doubt, given the personalities he admires, such as Saddam Hussein and Kim Jong-un, that the dictator style appeals to him.  It also seems to come very easy to him to attach demeaning terms to his opponents.  Thus, ‘little Marco’ (Rubio); ‘lying Ted’ (Cruz) and ‘corrupt Hillary’ (Clinton).

For some time, there seemed to be a reluctance to call him out by his political opponents, especially those he beat for the Republican Party nomination.  The one exception to that general pattern has been President Barack Obama, who, even before he took to the hustings in support of Hillary Clinton, had been unhesitant – even determined – to expose Trump as an ill-informed braggart who posed a real danger to the ethos of the American nation.

Here’s the passage from Obama’s speech at the Democratic Party Convention that pigeon-holes Trump and lays him intellectually and morally bare: “America is already great Read more

“St. Martin Culture Is The Unifying Factor In Establishing The Island’S Identity” – Michael Esposito Reviews Rhoda Arrindell’S Book

ST. MARTIN, Caribbean — Rhoda Arrindell’s book Language, Culture, and Identity in St. Martin is an important step toward filling a void in defining the vernacular and its value as a manifestation of the culture of the island of St. Martin. This distinction is important because English-based vernaculars are not uniform across the Caribbean, with its great variety of historical experiences. 

To establish a foundation for the discussion, a good deal of the book is spent defining what constitutes a creole, and the lack of agreement that exists about exactly what it is Read more

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Minister Jacobs To Students: Life’S Journey Is Always An Adventure

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs offered words of encouragement to students departing the country for study overseas.

“Life's journey is always an adventure, a path filled with decisions and actions that affect the hills and valleys of success and challenges. As you students embark on a new step on your path of life I offer you words of encouragement, strength, courage and determination to persevere Read more

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Alexander, Usp To Distribute Constitution To Population

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Lisa Alexander, who will be contesting the upcoming September 26 Parliamentary Elections with the United St. Maarten Party (USP), has committed herself to distributing printed copies of the Constitution of St Read more

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Minister Jacobs To Students: Life’S Journey Is Always An Adventure

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs offered words of encouragement to students departing the country for study overseas.

“Life’s journey is always an adventure, a path filled with decisions and actions that affect the hills and valleys of success and challenges. As you students embark on a new step on your path of life I offer you words of encouragement, strength, courage and determination to persevere.

“Many tiny steps have brought you to this point, with encouragement from parents, teacher’s family and friends, or maybe despite lack of same – Yet you are here.

“As you embark on this next leg, remember to stay focused on your end goal while enjoying the journey Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Rotary Club of Sint Maarten is pleased to announce that it has continued its support to the Education for Us All Foundation with the sponsorship of two scholarships for the new academic year. The Rotary Club of Sint Maarten President Henna Budhrani recently presented a check for US $6,000 to Tamara Leonard of the Education for Us All Foundation Read more

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GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs issued a tribute with respect to civil servant Chantal Schaminee-Ringeling who worked at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports.

“Chantal Schaminee-Ringeling was a bright light full of energy, motivated with a bubbly and positive attitude, always ready to help everyone she could, with the ability to light up a room.

“Husband John, daughter Thalia, mom Carmen and brothers, her live spirit and positive energy could no longer be contained in this frail human form we inhabit, she now lives in the vast expanse of time and space and lives within each and everyone she has loved or touched in some special way.

“Today I'd like to offer words of comfort and hope through these words of scripture.
2 corinthians 4: 16-18
16 Therefore we do not lose heart Read more

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Education is Emancipation 

Lisa Alexander, who will be contesting the upcoming September 26 Parliamentary Elections with the United St. Maarten Party (USP), has committed herself to distributing printed copies of the Constitution of St Read more

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Minister Jacobs To Students: Life’S Journey Is Always An Adventure.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs offered words of encouragement to students departing the country for study overseas.

“Life's journey is always an adventure, a path filled with decisions and actions that affect the hills and valleys of success and challenges. As you students embark on a new step on your path of life I offer you words of encouragement, strength, courage and determination to persevere.

“Many tiny steps have brought you to this point, with encouragement from parents, teacher’s family and friends, or maybe despite lack of same - Yet you are here.

“As you embark on this next leg, remember to stay focused on your end goal while enjoying the journey Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Nature Foundation initiated their coral reef monitoring program according to the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Protocol GCRMN-Caribbean baseline scientific monitoring methods last week. Staff of the Nature Foundation attended a Coral Reef Monitoring Workshop hosted by the Regional Activities Center of the SPAW Protocols of the Cartagena Convention on Biodiversity in the Caribbean in Jamaica in April and is now applying the methods here on Sint Maarten Read more

United St. Maarten Party (Usp) Happy With Minister Of Justice Edson Kirindongo

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Leader of the United St. Maarten Party (USP) Frans Richardson on Friday congratulated Minister of Justice Edson Kirindongo for yet another accomplishment for the departments that fall under the Justice Ministry.

The inauguration of the building to house a new Forensics Lab and Shooting range is “the latest in our efforts to give the police force of St Read more

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Nature Foundation Conducts Coral Reef Monitoring According To Global Standards In Man Of War Shoal Marine Park

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Nature Foundation initiated their coral reef monitoring program according to the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Protocol GCRMN-Caribbean baseline scientific monitoring methods last week.

Staff of the Nature Foundation attended a Coral Reef Monitoring Workshop hosted by the Regional Activities Center of the SPAW Protocols of the Cartagena Convention on Biodiversity in the Caribbean in Jamaica in April and is now applying the methods here on Sint Maarten Read more

Shooting Range and Forensic Lab, and dog brigade now available to investigators.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Korps Politie St. Maarten (KPSM) is moving forward as the current Minister of Justice Edison Kirindongo along with his colleagues in the Council of Ministers work tirelessly to get the police the necessary tools they need to better solve crimes on St. Maarten.
On Friday, several dignitaries and invited guests were invited to the former Soremar Building located in Orange Grove Cole Bay where the Minister of Justice officially handed over the keys to the building which will house the police shooting range and the Forensic lab where a team of forensic technicians will be able to do much needed forensic work on St Read more

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Dp To Start Radio Program ‘Voice Of Dp’

PHILIPSBURG – Voice of DP can be heard weekly on 98.1 Pearl FM, starting Tuesday, August 2, from 5:30pm-6:30 pm

Voice of DP will provide the St. Maarten electorate with vital information on the electoral process, and give them an opportunity to ask questions on a variety of issues Read more

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Usp: Alexander Marlin Was A Wonderful Human Being.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The board of the United St. Maarten Party (USP) and its leader Member of Parliament Frans Richardson extend heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Alexander Marlin.

“In such times there are no perfect words of comfort to extend Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---- Minister Plenipotentiary Henrietta Doran-York, although very pleased with the quantity of Security officers that are in the public as well as the private sector throughout Sint Maarten, is also of the opinion that it is widely noticeable that the quality of many of these officers, is way below par.

It is therefore that on Tuesday July 26th, 2016, the Minister Doran-York met with Mr Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- At the Government Administration Building, Prime Minister William Marlin welcomed a field trip group of children on Wednesday, July 28, from Teacher Shanna's Annual Summer Camp 2016.

The camp attendees as well as their leaders were all special guests of The Department of Communication Council of Minister’s Live Pr Read more

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The Democratic Party(Dp) Will Be Again Starting Its Radio Program, This Time Around, Named Voice Of Dp. Voice Of Dp Can Be Heard Weekly On 98.1 Pearl Fm, Starting Tuesday, August 2, From 5:30-6:30 Pm

PHILIPSBURG:--- VOICE OF DP will provide the St. Maarten electorate with vital information on the electoral process and give them an opportunity to ask questions on a variety of issues.. Interviews will be conducted with stakeholders as well as DP candidates.
“My aim is the same as it was when airing a similar program going into the election of 2014 Read more

124 Students Approved For Government Scholarships

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs says some 34 students will be travelling to The Netherlands on Sunday, July 31, to further their studies. The Ministry of Education received 182 requests for study financing this year, of which 124 were granted, 51 were denied and seven are pending.

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Arrindell, Chittick Proposed As Ceo And Coo Of Gebe

PHILIPSBURG--GEBE’s supervisory board made a surprise move and proposed its Commercial Manager Iris Arrindell as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and Power Plant Manager Kenrick Chittick as Chief Operations Officer (COO) of the company.

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One Hundred And Twenty Four Students Receive Study Financing

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — One hundred and twenty four study financing applications have been granted out of a 182 submitted applications this year, disclosed Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs at the Council of Ministers Press briefing. She noted some of these cases have been appealed and 60% of these appeals have already been dealt with, but she was unable to provide the results of those appeals.

Seven of the plications are pending exam results, considering CXC results are published at a later time Read more

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Work At Vocational School Stalling, Minister Not Pleased

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs has disclosed that construction work on the St. Maarten Vocational Training School will not be finished in time for the new school year. “Four classrooms not being finished. We have been recently been made aware that the contractor has slowed down the works, even though he has had several opportunities…was supposed to finish since February,” Minister Jacobs said.

The four classes have been housed in Belvedere and later back to the school and this has been quite tedious Read more

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Sarah: French-Side Szv Pension Recipients Shortchanged, Problem To Be Fixed By Szv

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Following the establishment of SZV, as the successor of SVB, I have alerted successive directors of SZV of my assertion that the reductions in the AOV pension of pensioners living on French St. Martin were not correct.

What is being applied currently is that former workers of St. Maarten (South), who earned a pension due to their years of work over here and now living on French St. Martin, would get a reduced amount in pension, solely because they reside "across the border".

Somewhat understandable, SZV management had a lot on their plate and this issue was not a priority.

I persisted and finally got the attention for the point I have been making all along Read more