SXMElections.com

International Launch ‘Welkom Op Sint Maarten!’ In The Sint Maartenhuis, The Hague, The Netherlands

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The launch of the second edition of ‘Welkom op Sint Maarten! The Friendly Island’ edition 2016-2017, took place on the 17-th of November in the Sint Maartenhuis in the Hague, the Netherlands. Mr Perry F.M. Geerlings, Director of the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary of Sint Maarten, received the first copy of this second edition.

In 2014 the international launch took place at Sint Maarten when former Minister President Mrs. S. Wescot-Williams received the first copy of the first edition (edition 2014-2015).

Meanwhile ‘Welkom!’ has become a standard book for newcomers and travellers from the Netherlands who want to come to Sint Maarten for a short or longer period, and who want to know all kinds of practical information about the island, like moving, finding a place to stay, electricity, finding a car, telecom providers, insurances, health care issues, leisure activities, etc Read more

Wycliffe Smith About Separation Of Church And State: “Distinct Yet Inseparable”

St. Maarten – Ever since the Sint Maarten Christian Party announced its participation in the upcoming elections the issue of separation of church and state became debatable. Opinions range from strict separation to a close association between church and state.

“People wonder where the Sint Maarten Christian Party’s stands on this controversial issue. People can rest assured that the party is not about establishing a religious state,” party leader Wycliffe Smith wrote in a press statement Read more

St. Maarten Port Inaugurates Gottwald Crane

On the left is the boom of the Terex Gottwald Model 6 Crane and the CMA CGM Container Vessel, the largest to dock at Port St. Maarten, MV Marseille. Photo contributed

St. Maarten – During the inauguration on Saturday of the newly acquired Terex Gottwald Model 6 Crane, and the welcome ceremony for the CMA CGM Marseille Container Cargo Vessel – the largest vessel to operate at Port St. Maarten Cargo Facility – the buzz coming from various stakeholders was about the strategic investments that have been made by Port St Read more

New Parties Urge Governor To Hold February Elections

St. Maarten – The five newly established political parties have, as they announced last week, sent a protest letter to Governor Drs. Eugene Holiday, demanding that the elections on February 9 of next year take place and will not be postponed. The letter is dated November 30, but its authors are still awaiting an answer from the Governor.

“We are hearing rumors that the new government will first seek a decision from parliament on the postponement of the elections,” the five parties write in their letter Read more

Up Leader And Board Congratulates Saba On 40Th National Day

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – The United People's Party (UP) family, Leader and board extends congratulations to the people of Saba and the Government on their national ‘Saba Day’ celebration which is being celebrated today, Friday, December 4th, and over the Saba Day weekend, the UP Party Board President Sylvia Meyers said on Friday.

Leader of the UP Party and Member of Parliament Theodore Heyliger, has strong family ties with Saba.

“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the people and Government of Saba on their 40th Saba Day celebration.  This is indeed a milestone for the little five square mile which is the highest point in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

“There are strong family bonds that exist between Saba and Sint Maarten.  Those bonds could never be broken because of the aforementioned.  The islands should continue to work together and develop.

“Sint Maarten already works closely together in the tourism field with the smaller islands such as Anguilla, St Read more

Un Strategic Planning Retreat

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago - On the 3th of December the Strategic Planning Retreat (SPR) for the UN Multi Country Sustainable Development Framework (UN MSDF) for the Caribbean was held in Trinidad and Tobago.

The event brought together UN senior officials and representative from the government across the region.

The SPR was held on the 3rd of December under the theme “leave no one behind”, underlining the importance of inclusion in all the priorities for the Caribbean region Read more

U.S. Ambassador To The Kingdom Of The Netherlands Visits The Dutch Caribbean

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao - U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands Timothy M. Broas, accompanied by Acting U.S. Consul General Hormazd Kanga, visited Curac¸ao, Sint Maarten, Saba, and Bonaire this week.

In Curac¸ao, Ambassador Broas met with Prime Minister Bernard “Ben” Whiteman and other government officials. His visit coincided with Curac¸ao Baseball Week, an event that brings local superstars of America’s national pastime back to Curac¸ao to inspire and train young baseball players on the island Read more

2015 Thanks Giving Day Service Themed “Give Thanks At All Times!"

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Under the theme, “Give Thanks At All Times!,” the 17th Annual Thanksgiving Service will be held Sunday, December 6, 2015 in front of the Government Administration Building.

The ecumenical service will begin at 4:30 PM with Praise and Worship led by the New Testament Baptist Church.

The Honorable Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs Read more

Caribbean Hotel And Tourism Association Urges United Nations Conference To Support Caricom Position On Climate Change

THE CARIBBEAN - The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is calling on the global community to support CARICOM's position advocating for a cap on the world's temperature rise at 1.5 degrees Centigrade as part of their deliberations during the United Nations Climate Change Conference, taking place in Paris from Nov. 30 - Dec. 11, 2015.

In a letter to the Hon. Dr. James Fletcher, Chairman of CARICOM Task Force on Climate Change, CHTA Acting President Karolin Troubetzkoy strongly supported CARICOM's call for a binding agreement on climate change.

"Considering the significant research conducted to demonstrate trend lines and forecasted impact of climate change on the world's most vulnerable countries, CHTA fully supports the position being advanced by the CARICOM Task Force," Troubetzkoy said.

Many developed and newly industrialized countries are prepared to settle for a 2025 climate change of a two-degree increase which would negatively impact CARICOM countries and the broader Caribbean basin.

CHTA cites research that points to the devastating consequences for the Caribbean from a two-degree rise in temperature Read more

Cutting Edge Therapy For Psoriasis Patients Now Available In The Caribbean

PANAMA CITY - Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that affects around 140 million people worldwide.  It's more frequent between the ages of 15 and 25, but may develop at any age and highly impacts the quality of life.

Several types of psoriasis exist, which range from mild to severe and disabling. Plaque psoriasis is the most common form and is known for producing inflammation and scaly patches of thickened skin called "plaques" Read more

Dutch Quarter Upgrade Has Again Priority

St. Maarten – On June 2012 current Prime Minister William Marlin, then minister of Vromi. promised Dutch Quarter that the district would be “brand new” by the end of 2014. Why nothing happened? “The wrong people were in government,” Marlin said at yesterday’s Council of Ministers press briefing. “Right now, this project has priority again.”

St Read more

New Political Parties Balk At Postponement Of Elections

From left Peter Gittens, Daniel Ortega, Loekie Morales, Mercedes van der Waals-Wyatt and Wycliffe Smith. Photo contributed

St Read more

Christian Party Hosts General Meeting

The Sint Maarten Christian Party (SMCP) hosts a general meeting tomorrow at Belair Community Centre at 7.30 p.m. This general meeting serves to inform the public about the objectives and goals of the party. Also, it is an opportunity to ask questions and engage directly with the faith-based political party.

Founded by Wycliffe Smith, former Lt. Governor of Saba, policy advisor, and retired pastor, and James Edwin Arrindell, pastor of Christian Faith Ministries, the St Read more

Minister Emil Lee: “Up To Parents To Regulate And Guide Their Children”

St. Maarten – Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Emil Lee, addressed a packed room at Port de Plaisance during the Women’s Desk awareness event and cultural display focusing on “the impact and influence of Music and Media on Violence against Women and Girl”

Minister Lee touched on how the internet is radically changing the way we access information, evolving media continues to increase its influence and penetration into our societies Read more

Nipa High On Education Ministers Agenda

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, the Honorable Silveria Jacobs told journalists on Wednesday that the National Institute for Professional Advancement (NIPA) is one of her priorities.

The Ministers statement came during the Council of Ministers press briefing.

The Minister Read more

Women’S Desk Hosts Succesful Event On “The Impact Of Media On Violence Against Women And Girls”

COLE BAY, St. Maarten - Women's desk in the observation of the sixteen days of activism for the elimination of violence against women held an Awareness Ensemble at the Rock House Port de Plaisance under the theme "the impact and influence of music and media on violence against women & girls.

The theme was demonstrated through the art form with moving and heart-stirring performances from the Charlotte Brookson Academy, Funtopia and the National Institute of Arts.

Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Emil Lee, addressed a packed room focusing on “the impact and influence of Music and Media on Violence against Women and Girls” Read more

Smcp Invites Public To Its General Meeting

GREAT BAY, St. Maarten – The Sint Maarten Christian Party (SMCP) will be hosting a general meeting on December 1, 2015 at Belair Community Centre at 7:30 pm.

This general meeting serves to inform the public about the objectives and goals of the party. Also, it is an opportunity for the public to ask questions and engage directly with the faith- based political party.

Founded by Mr. Wycliffe Smith, former Lt. Governor of Saba, policy advisor, and retired pastor, and Mr Read more

Prime Minister Marlin Meets With Vromi Personnel

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Prime Minister Hon. William Marlin met with Secretary General Luis Brown and representatives of the Ministry of VROMI on Wednesday November 25th, 2015.

This introductory meeting was held to further discuss the location of the sewage plant in Cole Bay among other matters of priority within the Ministry. Read more

Prime Minister Marlin Meets With Dutch Representative

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Prime Minister of Sint Maarten Hon. William Marlin on Friday November 27th, 2015, met with Head of the establishment of the Dutch Representation in Sint Maarten, drs. Gert Versluis.

The meeting was an introductory one, focused on current developments and other relevant matters. Read more

Education Minister Attends International Day Of The Child Activities

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Minister with the responsibility for Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, the Honorable Silveria Jacobs has been reflecting on some of the activities that she has been engaged in, since taking office on Thursday of last week.

One of those activities was the International Day of the child.

< Read more

Health Minister Getting Up To Speed On Hospital Development Plans

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - It is still early to come with ultimate plans for the St. Maarten Medical Center, stated Minister with the responsibility for Health, Social Affairs and Labor, the Honorable Emil Lee.

The Minister was at the time, responding to a question put to him during the weekly press conference on Wednesday regarding the subject Read more

Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Member of Parliament Maurice Lake commends the Marlin Cabinet for looking into projects that during the last minute before the swearing in of the new Cabinet, were signed off by the former Minister VROMI without a plan being in place. â€œThe new Minister of VROMI will also pay attention to these matters. As a representative of the people and a former Minister of VROMI, I was very amazed by the outgoing Minister of VROMI list of accomplishments in his thank you letter to the people since being Minister of TEATT and Minister of VROMI Read more

St. Maarten Parliament Represented At Parlatino Meetings

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - A parliamentary delegation, headed by the President of Parliament, MP Sarah Wescot-Williams left St. Maarten for Panama on Tuesday.

In Panama, the respective committee members will be attending meetings of these committees and join the President of Parliament at the General Assembly of Parlatino on November 27th and 28th.

The Parliament of St Read more

Pm Marlin: “First Electoral Reform” No Elections In February

Ministers Silveria Jacobs, William Marlin and Emil Lee (l.t.r.) at the first press briefing of the new cabinet Read more