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Govt. Invests Naf. 225,000 In Led Lighting System

PHILIPSBURG--The Government of St. Maarten plans to invest NAf. 225,000 on a full-fledged LED lighting system for the new Government Administration Building, according to Minister of General Affairs William Marlin on Thursday. The s Read more

Mlk Jr. Primary Receives 10 Tablets

PHILIPSBURG – On Thursday morning, December 8, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School received a contribution of 10 tablets.

The 10 tablets will be utilized throughout the student population instead of granting it to 10 specific students. This approach will ensure the tablets are utilized to their maximum potential by more students.

“I am extremely grateful for this contribution to our school as we continue to promote technology usage throughout the school. Technology is the way forward and it’s time we embrace it in every classroom,” said Stuart Johnson, School Manager of the Dr Read more

Minister Jacobs Attends “I Am King” Youth Forum

BELAIR – The Youth Department in collaboration with the Division Educational Innovation (DEI) is coordinating and executing a series of events falling under the “I Am King” project.

The “I Am King” project was launched in 2015, and the “I Am King” Youth Forum was held on Wednesday December 7, at the Belair Community Center, where Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Silveria Jacobs was in attendance Read more

Copppal Rejects Possible Attempt To Recolonize Dutch Caribbean

SANTO DOMINGO/ KRALENDIJK РThe Permanent Conference of Political Parties of Latin America and the Caribbean COPPPAL, rejected by a communiqu̩, the possible attempts to recolonize the so-called Dutch Antilles as a violation of the agreement signed at the United Nations in 1954, urging the Netherlands to initiate a process of decolonization and self-determination of the people under its control.

“In a meeting led by Manolo Pichardo, president of the entity, in Bonaire, the islanders expressed their fear of what they define as redeployment actions such as: Financial Supervision, Judicial and the massive entry of European Dutch to the islands with the right to vote, because this could have a decisive impact on matters concerning the natives,” said the document.

Also present at the meeting was Rudy Croes, vice president and coordinator of the COPPPAL decolonization commission, where Statia and Bonaire rejected – by referendum – the current status of the Dutch colonial municipality.

According to the statement, COPPPAL, demands to put Bonaire, Statia and Saba on the list of the Committee of Decolonization of the United Nations of Non-Self-Governing Territories that do not have its own government Read more

Attempted Robbery At Prime Distributers

Prime Distributors on Thursday.

COLE BAY--A group of men attempted to rob Prime Distributors in Cole Bay on Thursday just after 4:00pm. Acting police spokesman Inspector Steven Carty stated that patrols were dispatched to Prime Distributors for the robbery in progress.

  The robbers however left before patrols arrived. A search was done of the surrounding areas but to no avail Read more

Resort Calls For Government’S $1.5 Million Overdue Payment.

SIMPSON BAY;---- Simpson Bay Resort Management Company (SBRMC) employees are calling for a years-long overdue payment in excess of $1.5 million to be paid out to their employer by the government. This in connection with undue salary payments made to Pelican Resort Management Company workers after the hotel had been sold and its ownership transferred to SBRMC.

More than 100 Pelican employees, under the belief that they were employed by new owner SBRMC, were paid monthly salaries for almost a year pending a court case, while not working at the hotel Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---- On Thursday morning the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School received a contribution of ten tablets.

The ten tablets will be utilized throughout the student population instead of granting it to ten specific students. This approach will ensure the tablets are utilized to their maximum potential by more students.

"I am extremely grateful for this contribution to our school as we continue to promote technology usage throughout the school. Technology is the way forward and it's time we embrace it in every classroom," Stuart Johnson School Manager of the Dr Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Ambulance and police rushed to Gladiola Road Mary’s Fancy on Thursday afternoon when a construction worker fell and died on the spot. Even though police and ambulance personnel was on the scene, interim police spokesman Steven Carty said he was not aware of the incident.
Based on information SMN News received from bystanders is that some construction workers were working on a property located at Gladiola Road and one of the workers who was busy mixing cement across the street fell down and died on the spot Read more

Ministra Jacobs Asistió A Feria De Salud Y Bienestar En El Vocacional

Traducido por Máximo Castro

SOUTH REWARD – Bajo el lema “Dependiendo el uno del otro para crear un futuro saludable”, la Escuela de Formación Profesional de St. Maarten (SMVTS) celebró el lunes su tercera feria anual de Salud y Bienestar.

La Ministra de Educación Silveria Jacobs, así como la Jefa de la División de Educación Pública, Glenderlin Davis-Holiday estuvieron presentes.

La Ministra Jacobs, animó a todos los estudiantes a aplicar toda la información obtenida en la feria de salud y bienestar Read more

Barbados Told To Repair Leaky Mains To Ease Water Woes

KINGSTON, Jamaica  –  A Trinidadian scientist has a very simple message for Barbados as the country grapples with chronic water shortages brought on by a prolonged drought: fix the pipes!

Professor of Tropical Island Ecology at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine John Agard said before the authorities here worry about the possible impact of climate change on the water supply, they should first seek to curtail the amount of water being lost through leakage.

“Why don’t they fix the pipes? Do that first before you worry about climate change, because with that alone you are losing more water than you will lose from the decrease in precipitation,” Agard said at an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) outreach event for the Caribbean held last week in Jamaica.

He cited a European Union-funded Global to Local Socio-Economic Climate Change Project which states that the anticipated ten to 11 per cent decline in precipitation due to the effect of climate change was far less than the amount of water being lost through leaky mains.

“Water leakage from pipes underground in Barbados is more than 40 per cent, and therefore they can manage climate change very well by saving water leakage underground.

“These are the kinds of lessons that we should act upon,” said Agard, a lead author of the fifth assessment report on the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

He said the EU-funded study also placed Barbados on the list of the ten most water-impoverished countries in the world, adding that in addition to being in this grouping, a decrease in precipitation for the island would naturally “be terrifying”.

Agard explained that “Barbados has very good numbers to run models” because every house and every factory is metred.

“They know exactly how much water is
produced and how much water is used, because in Barbados they send everybody a bill for their water, so they measure everything.”

But he said the leakage of water underground due to old and rotting pipes was not unique to Barbados.

“I would be shocked if it’s any different in Jamaica or in Trinidad Read more

$80,000 Spent On Govt. Christmas Decorations

PHILIPSBURG--During the handling of the draft 2017 budget discussion in the Central Committee meeting on Monday, Member of Parliament (MP) Tamara Leonard requested information on the amount spent by Government for Christmas decorations this year.

Read more

Naf. 10 Departure Tax Pending For Country

PHILIPSBURG--A departure tax of NAf. 10 is pending for the country. This tax, when implemented by Government, will affect all passengers leaving the country, except cruise ship passengers. Finance Minister Richard Gibson anticipates this tax will raise some NAf Read more

Minister Jacobs Attends Health And Wellness Fair At Vocational

SOUTH REWARD – Under the theme “Depending on Each Other to Create a Healthy Future,” the St. Maarten Vocational Training School (SMVTS) held its 3rd annual Health and Wellness fair on Monday, December 5.

Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs as well as Head of Division Public Education Glenderlin Davis-Holiday were in attendance.

Minister Jacobs encouraged all students to apply all the information gained at the health and wellness fair Read more

Successful Conference On Bonaire On Political Future Of Dutch-Administrated Caribbean

Kralendijk, BONAIRE – Recently, Foundation Nos Kier Boneiru Bek organized a conference at Plaza Hotel, which addressed a better future for Bonerian people, and for the other sister islands administrated by the Dutch.

After the conference, a gala dinner was held at Eddy’s restaurant with keynote speaker Dr. Corbin. Both events were successful and participants said that the conference was very informative and of international standard.

The Aruba delegation represented by Dr Read more

Successful Conference On Bonaire On The Political Future Of The Dutch Administrated Caribbean

BONAIRE - Recently Foundation Nos Kier Boneiru Bek organized a conference at Plaza Hotel which has put a foundation for a better future for the Bonerian peoples and of our other sister islands which are administrated by the Dutch. Following after the conference a gala-diner was held at Eddy's restaurant with keynote speaker Dr. Corbin. Both events were successful with good attendance and got from the participants and the public which followed the vents through the media that these were very informative and of international standards.

The delegation Aruba represented by Dr Gerrit Croes and of Curacao by Mr Read more

Minister Jacobs Attends The 3Rd Annual Health And Wellness Fair At The St. Maarten Vocational Training School

SOUTH REWARD, St. Maarten – Under the theme “Depending on Each Other to Create a Healthy Future,” the St. Maarten Vocational Training School (SMVTS) held its rd annual Health and Wellness fair on Monday, December 5th, 2016. The Minister of Education, Ms. Silveria Jacobs as well as the Head of Division Public Education, Mrs. Glenderlin Davis-Holiday were both in attendance Read more

SOUTH REWARD:---  Under the theme “Depending on Each Other to Create a Healthy Future,” the St. Maarten Vocational Training School (SMVTS) held its 3rd annual Health and Wellness fair on Monday, December 5th, 2016. The Minister of Education, Ms. Silveria Jacobs, as well as the Head of Division Public Education, Mrs. Glenderlin Davis-Holiday, were both in attendance.
Minister Jacobs encouraged all the students to apply all the information gained at the health and wellness fair Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Finance Richard Gibson Sr made clear during the budget hearing on Tuesday that Parliament should hire a legal translator to translate the budget and other documents for Members of Parliament. He said government paid for the translation of the 2016 budget and this year the request to translate the 2017 budget was submitted late and the translation is in the process Read more

Port Registers Loss Of Us $9 Million

PHILIPSBURG--Port St. Maarten has registered a US $9 million loss, a shortfall Government will have to cover, disclosed Finance Minister Richard Gibson.

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Parliament And The Budget

Wycliffe Smith Leader of the St. Maarten Christian Party

Parliament’s website states that Parliament has two main tasks, namely to act as co-legislator and to exercise control over Government’s policies. The budget is an excellent example of co-legislation. It is drafted by the Government, but must be approved by Parliament in order for it to become a law.

On Monday, December 5, the Central Committee of Parliament, which consists of all fifteen members of Parliament, will meet to discuss the 2017 Budget of Country St Read more

Vlf’S Leader Worth Following Awards Left Lasting Impact On Attendees

COLE BAY – “In the spirit of joy and thanksgiving, heartfelt congratulations must be expressed to The Victorious Living Foundation team for hosting the first VLF Leader Worth Following Awards 2016,” stated one of the awardees, Ambassador Alicia Liverpool, founder of the David Company.

Liverpool added: “Leaders Worth Following who lead with integrity of heart are much needed in the world today. Giving recognition to such leaders is equally honourable. As a recipient of this award on December 3, the esteem has been rewarding and will always be deeply regarded.”

The sentiments echoed from the 85 attendees at this event were: “powerful, fantastic, wonderful, and empowering experience.” Awardees were: Dr Read more

The gathering outside the new Government Administration Building on Sunday for the 18th annual Thanksgiving Service and Lighting Ceremony. (Andrew Dick photo)

 ~ ‘St. Maarten is truly blessed,’ says Marlin ~

PHILIPSBURG--Giving thanks with a grateful heart was the order of the day on Sunday when persons gathered in front of the new Government Administration Building celebrating the eighteenth annual Thanksgiving Service and Lighting Ceremony

  The Service usually takes place at the old Government Building, but Government decided to move the ceremony to the new building.

  Prime Minister William Marlin said St Read more

Victorious Living’S Leader Worth Following Awards Left Lasting Powerful Impact On Attendees

Cole Bay, St. Maarten - “In the spirit of joy and thanksgiving, heartfelt congratulations must be expressed to The Victorious Living Foundation team for hosting the first VLF Leader Worth Following Awards 2016,” stated one of the awardees, Ambassador Alicia Liverpool, founder of the David Company. Liverpool added: “Leaders Worth Following who lead with integrity of heart are much needed in the world today. Giving recognition to such leaders is equally honourable. As a recipient of this award on December 3rd, the esteem has been rewarding and will always be deeply regarded."

The sentiments echoed from the 85 attendees at this memorable event were: “powerful, fantastic, wonderful, and empowering experience.” Awardees were, Dr Read more

PHILIPSBURG – Parliament’s website states that Parliament has two main tasks, namely to act as co-legislator and to exercise control over Government’s policies. The budget is an excellent example of co-legislation. It is drafted by the Government but, must be approved by Parliament in order for it to become a law.
On Monday, December 5th the Central Committee of Parliament, which consists of all fifteen members of Parliament, will meet to discuss the 2017 Budget of Country Sint Maarten Read more