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Caribbean Netherlands: More Leeway, Less Poverty

The Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament in session.

THE HAGUE--Parties that have published their election programme indicated that they want more manoeuvring space for Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, but also more attention for the social minimum and poverty eradication.

We set a social minimum that secures a decent existence. Access to basic necessities such as medical care, drinking water and electricity are guaranteed, stated the green left party GroenLinks in its election programme Time for new realism.

The Labour Party PvdA wants the eradication of poverty to become a priority, and for rent and groceries to become affordable again Read more

13 More Recover From Covid-19

~ Two new cases ~

PHILIPSBURG--The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA has reported two new active cases of COVID-19 and thirteen additional recoveries, reducing the total active cases to 70.

The total number of confirmed cases for St. Maarten is 910.

Of the active cases, Collective Prevention Services (CPS) is currently monitoring 63 persons who are in home isolation. Seven patients are hospitalised at St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC). The total number of deaths due to COVID-19 remains at 23.

The number of persons recovered since the first case surfaced in St Read more

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Pupils of Bethel Methodist School in St. Eustatius showing copies of the book Storm by author Loekie Morales

ST, EUSTATIUS--Gertrude Judson Bicentennial Library assisted Beyond Kultura Events (BKE) Foundation in delivering copies of Loekie Morales childrens book Storm to elementary schools in St Read more

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Was Zero Poverty The Wellbeing Objective Of Our Decolonization Process?

Topic 1: Was ZERO Poverty the wellbeing objective of our decolonization process?
Topic 2: The United Nations is already aware of the poverty in this part of the Kingdom!

Topic 1: Was ZERO Poverty the wellbeing objective of the decolonization process?
The discussions by this newly elected parliament, about the finalization of the decolonization process, have concentrated on their dissatisfaction with the degree of self-governance of our people, realized so far within the Kingdom of the Netherlands Read more

Remains Committed to Health & Wellness

PHILIPSBURG:--- In recognition of World Diabetes Day, which is celebrated this Saturday, November 14th, the Sint Maarten Lions Club has made use of the clubs neighborhood signs to send out an island wide message: Together We Can Stop Diabetes.

The billboards were recently revamped post-Hurricane Irma and reflect Lions colors of yellow and blue on a white background. With the support of local corporate partners across all sectors of industries, the billboards will continue to be used throughout each Lionistic year to send positive messages that would encourage our communities to act towards improving our daily lives Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The United Democratic Party (UDP) is thrilled by the confirmation of its member and former Minister contesting the Dutch election in March 2021 on the slate of D66. While Jorien had to resign from the UDP, we support her all the way with this courageous endeavor.
Jorien Wuite in our opinion will be an asset to the D66 Read more

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Letter To The Editor: Know Better?

Michael Ferrier: Know Better? Do Better. Most of the questions you ask, you should ask yourself or the same people you endorse:

1. Fix the potholes in our roads.

Perhaps if you paid the NAF 1.4 millionyou owe to the government we wouldn’t have an issue of potholes. You really think people forgot about this, and you begging the Council of Ministers back then to right it off?

2 Read more

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Home Repairs Continue, Enters Into Accelerated Pace

Philipsburg Now firmly in its third phase, the Private Home Repair Program of the Sint Maarten Trust Fund is steadily moving along with repairs to homes damaged by Hurricane Irma in 2017. It is anticipated that when the program wraps up in mid-2021, repairs to the roofs, doors, and windows of approximately 200 private homes will be completed. To date, fifty-one homes have been finalized and another ten homes are slated to be done before the years end.

The pilot project and minor works homes took a lot longer than anyone anticipated Read more

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Jacobs: Officials Committed To Join Platform And Dialogue To Resolve Issues Of Contention

Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs

PHILIPSBURG--The councils of elected officials in St. Maarten/St. Martin are committed to join in a platform to dialogue with European colleagues in quadripartite meetings to resolve several pending areas of contention for the island, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs said in her message commemorating St Read more

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Covid, Q4, Borders And United Congress Themes For Gibbs St. Martin Day Speech

President of the Collectivit of St. Martin Daniel Gibbs

MARIGOT--President Daniel Gibbs talked on a number of themes for his St. Martin Day speech, which this year was given in a Read more

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Wuite To Run On D66 Slate

Former St. Maarten minister Jorien Wuite is running number 19 on the slate of the Dutch Democratic Party D66. She hopes to bring colour to the Second Chamber.

THE HAGUE--Former St. Maarten minister Read more

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The Decolonization Noise.

Endorsing the comments and observations by Sarah Wescot Williams and Melissa Gumbs regarding all the noise about De-Colonization, I ask Grisha Heyliger, Rolando Brison, George Pantophlet and all other noisemakers: What, according to your coalition, are Governments immediate plans to:

1 Read more

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Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs Congratulates President-Elect Joe Biden And Vice-President-Elect Kamala Harris

PHILIPSBURG:--- On behalf of the Government of Sint Maarten, I hereby congratulate Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on their election victory as the next President and Vice-President of the United States of America. This election is particularly important given that the outcome has resulted in not only the first female Vice-President but also the first person of Caribbean and Asian descent, and the first woman of color to hold this office. St. Maarten remains committed to working with this new adm Read more

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Traffic Alert: Heavy Rainfall/Flood Warning - Drive With Caution. Hazardous Road Conditions Due To Heavy Rainfall.

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- National Disaster Coordinator Clive Richardson, calls on residents, pedestrians, and in particular motorists to monitor weather reports in connection with a Heavy Rainfall/Flood Warning that has been issued by the Meteorological Department of Sint Maarten (MDS) which is in effect until Wednesday, November 11 - 6.00 AM.

Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs, as chair of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), advises motorists to drive with caution due to potentially hazardous road conditions throughout the country caused by potential persistent rain showers up until Wednesday at 6.00 AM Read more

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Jacobs Holds Info Session On Cost- Cutting Measures With Civil Servants

Silveria Jacobs

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of General Affairs Silveria Jacobs on November 6, held a virtual information session for civil servants to provide an update concerning governments cost-cutting measures as per the conditions for further liquidity support from the Netherlands.

The conditions, among other things, are a 12.5 per cent per cent reduction on the total salary package and employment benefits of civil servants, as well as a 25 per cent reduction on the total salary package and employment benefits of Members of Parliament and Ministers.

In its efforts to meet the second tranche conditions set by the Dutch government, St Read more

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Spanner Wants End To Proxy Voting In Statia

Clockwise from left: State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops, a member of his delegation, DP leader and Island Council Member Adelka Spanner and Government Commissioner Marnix van Rij.

ST. EUSTATIUS--Democratic Party (DP) leader and Island Council Member Adelka Spanner wants to see an end to proxy voting in St. Eustatius. She conveyed her sentiments on this during a meeting with Dutch State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops during his recent visit to St Read more

Parliament Supports Aid For Islands, Asks If It Is Enough

Second chamber (file picture)

THE HAGUE--The VVD, CDA, D66 and GroenLinks parties in the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament are content with the financial support the Dutch government is giving Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, but wondered whether the assistance is sufficient.

While the parties stated it was good to see that there is active support for the governments, entrepreneurs and dismissed employees in the Caribbean Netherlands, they did have a number of questions for State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops Read more

Mp Heyliger-Marten Clarifies ParliamentS Approach Towards Decolonization

Understanding the process requires extensive reading and understanding of international law

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — In a statement issued on November 9th, the Faction Leader of the UPP and Second Vice-Chair of Parliament, MP Grisha Heyliger-Marten responded to statements from the opposition parties in Parliament regarding the decolonization process.

In the first place, MP Heyliger-Marten stated, I would like to point out that, to a certain extent, I can understand the confusion that the UD and PFP factions are referring to Read more

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Brison: Presidium Has Right To Engage Legal Support

Rolando Brison

~ Thats their opinion, he says of MPs concerns ~

PHILIPSBURG--Chairperson of Parliament Rolando Brison says the presidium of Parliament has th Read more

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Grisha Says Decolonisation Process Does Not Require Mandate From People For Approval

Grisha Heyliger-Marten

PHILIPSBURG--United Peoples (UP) party faction leader Member of Parliament (MP) Grisha Heyliger-Marten responded on Monday to statements made by Party For Progress (PFP) and United Democrats (UD) regarding the decolonisation process Read more

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Public Weather Forecast For St. Maarten

DATE ISSUED: Monday, November 09, 2020 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)

VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) November 10, 2020

WEATHER:

This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Generally cloudy and breezy with isolated showers and possible isolated thunderstorms.

Forecast High:30C / 86FForecast Low:25C / 77F

Sunset Today:5:37 P.M.Sunrise Tomorrow:6:16 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS:
This afternoon through Tuesday midday: East northeasterly to east southeasterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 09 to 18 mph and occasional higher gusts Read more

Balanced Budgets Unrealistic At This Time

Articles 100 and 101 of St. Maartens State Regulation (Constitution) regulates how St. Maartens Budget has to be established. The procedures are laid out in the compatibility regulations. In my opinion the following articles 15,16 and 25 of the Kingdom Law on Financial Supervision should also be suspended.

Another article which is article 25 of the Kingdom Charter (Statuut van Het Koninkrijk Der Nederlanden) which requires the approval of the Kingdom government should also be suspended Read more

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Pfp Questions Whether Country Can Afford Washington Law Firm

Melissa Gumbs

~ Parliament has no authority to commit country to agreements ~

PHILIPSBURG--Party For Progress (PFP) is questioning whether St. Maarten can afford the costs associated with securing the services of a Washington DC-based law firm (see related stories) to assist with the completion of the decolonisatio Read more

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Sarah Questions Matter With Dc Law Firm, Says Criminal To Tie Govt.S Hands

PHILIPSBURG--United Democrats (UD) Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams says the Parliamentary meeting to propose the establishment of a Permanent Committee for Constitutional Affairs and Decolonisation for the Parli Read more

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