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Emotional Pm Marcel Gumbs: “Don’T Destroy Our Country”: “If You’Re Suicidal Do It; Jump Off A Plane Or Something”

The Council of Ministers during yesterday’s press briefing. From left Ministers Connor, Gumbs, Richardson, Hassink and Bourne-Gumbs. Photo Today / Hilbert Haar

St. Maarten – It was supposed to be a solemn press briefing by the Council of Ministers yesterday morning but in the end, Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs turned up the heat and let all his frustrations fly Read more

Condolence Book – Gamali Benjamin

Citizens, colleagues and politicians flocked to the police station yesterday to sign the condolence register for the late Officer Gamali Benjamin. Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, and the ministers Hassink, Rita Bourne-Gumbs and Claret Connor were among those to sign the book.

Tomorrow from noon until 1.45 p.m Read more

Dp Reflects On The What To Do Next: “Crime Has Broken This Island”

From left: Hasani Ellis, Sarah Wescot-Williams and Emil Lee at yesterday’ press conference Read more

Erna Mae Francis Contributes To “Amazing” Book: Success From The Heart Comes With Stunning Bonus Offer

Erna Mae Francis co-authored Success from the Heart. Photo contributed

St. Maarten – Success from the Heart is a book published by a company called New Peaks. It contains a chapter written by Erna Mae Francis-Cotton of the Victorious Living Foundation. In many ways this is, as the email we received about the publication described it, an “amazing book,” if only because the authors give away bonuses they claim to be worth a stunning $15,078. The book itself is for sale at amazon.com for just $18.95 Read more

In the Hotseat with D'shany York

D'shnay Mathew York outshone five other young ladies from the six Dutch Caribbean islands at the Miss Caribbean Islands Pageant held at Festival Village in The Bottom, Saba, on July 30. The 18-year-old speaks about herself and her experience in this week's Hot Seat.

Who D'shnay York?

I am outgoing, vivacious, a little goofy, regular teenager who enjoys dancing, modelling, acting, singing and of course nurturing my biggest love, which is pageantry.

Education?

I am currently attending the academic section of St Read more

The final salute, massive crowd turns out to pay last respects to Benjamin

By Judy H. Fitzpatrick

PHILIPSBURG--A massive crowd turned out to pay their last respects to murdered bike patrol leader Police Officer Gamali "Benji" Kwasi Benjamin, who was laid to rest on Thursday in a ceremony fit for a hero.

Scores of persons converged in Philipsburg to witness the ceremony, which attracted mourners from all over the island, including the disciplined services and dignitaries of both Dutch St. Maarten and French St. Martin, and from Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St Read more

Teachers train to ‘create positive climate in schools’

ST. PETERS--Primary and secondary public school teachers attended informative professional development sessions on "creating a positive climate in schools" August 10 and 11 at St. Dominic High School.

The event was part of the annual teachers' conference hosted by St. Maarten Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD). The first day focused on primary educators, and the second on secondary educators.

Participants were welcomed by ASCD President Juliana Hodge-Shipley and received a keynote address by Tracelyn Hamilton of Anguilla, a primary school principal who graduated from University of Bristol with distinction with a Masters in Education for Teaching English and has previously held roles as classroom teacher, reading recovery teacher, numeracy coordinator, English as a second language (ESL) teacher, and a tutor for Differentiated Instruction.

Hamilton focused on the conference theme "creating a positive climate in schools" by honing in on practical tips which she termed "reflectors" for creating and maintaining a positive school environment Read more

Ministers to visit FCCA, discuss tourism, security

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Claret Connor and Justice Minister Dennis Richardson plan to meet soon with Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) officials in Florida, United States, to update them on new security measures resulting from the fatal shooting of Police Officer Gamali Benjamin, as part of efforts to curb further negative impacts the tragedy can cause to the tourism industry.

Minister Connor said during Wednesday's press briefing that he, Richardson and Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs had been continuously discussing steps to take in following up on the "life-changing" and "historic" incident.

Connor was on his way back to the island on the day of the shooting, but he contacted FCCA President Michele Paige the next day to inform her that Government "was doing everything within its power to apprehend, in first instance, those responsible, in addition to trying to save the officer's life .. Read more

DP: Govt misleading MPs, public on pension age hike

PHILIPSBURG--The Democratic Party (DP) has sent a letter to Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs on the increase of the pension age to 62.

In a press release on Wednesday, DP Leader Sarah Wescot-Williams said the party believes government is misleading parliament and the people of St Read more

CHATA Hoteliers to Reap Benefits of Chief’s Professional Development Sessions

style="text-align: center;">Workshops Designed To Develop Analytics, Leadership Skills

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) is offering two professional development courses for CHATA hotel employees designed to develop their performance analytics and leadership skills and add value to overall hotel marketing and operations. CHATA members and non-members can register for the Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA) workshop, which is jointly offered by the American Hotel & Lodging Education Institute (AHLEI) and STR (Smith Travel Research), and Florida International University’s (FIU) Leadership for Service Excellence workshop Read more

style="text-align: center;">St. Maarten Community Turned out in large numbers to pay tribute the fallen cop who died in the line of his duties.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Hundreds of persons gathered in front of the Philipsburg Police Station to witness the military funeral service that was held on Thursday for fallen bike patrol Gamaili Kwasi Benjamin. Large buses were used to transport members of KPSM and officers from the other justice department to the Royal Funeral Home for those persons to pay their last respects to their fallen colleague Read more

Chata Hoteliers To Reap Benefits Of Chief’S Professional Development Sessions, Workshops Designed To Develop Analytics, Leadership Skills

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao - The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) is offering two professional development courses for CHATA hotel employees designed to develop their performance analytics and leadership skills and add value to overall hotel marketing and operations.

CHATA members and non-members can register for the Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA) workshop, which is jointly offered by the American Hotel & Lodging Education Institute (AHLEI) and STR (Smith Travel Research), and Florida International University’s (FIU) Leadership for Service Excellence workshop Read more

Prime Minister Gumbs: Officer Benjamin Know That Your Legacy Will Remain As A Beacon For A Country That Needs One

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Prime Minister Hon. Marcel Gumbs delivered the following speech on Thursday, 13 August at the funeral of Police Officer G. Benjamin.

“Good afternoon family, in the past week, we as a country have felt anger, despair, sorrow and confusion over the untimely and tragic death of Officer Gamali Benjamin. Law enforcement, much like the fire brigade or the military, comes with the willingness to risk one's life each and every day, in the pursuit of doing the right thing. 

“Today, as we lay him to rest and begin the healing process, I am hopeful that we remember to reflect on Officer Benjamin's character and conduct, and that we do our utmost to always do the right thing Read more

Gumbs says Govt did not ask for crime meeting to be closed door

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs made it clear on Wednesday that no member of the Council of Ministers had requested that Parliament have the urgent Central Committee meeting on crime on Monday convened behind closed doors.

Gumbs told reporters at the biweekly Council of Ministers press briefing which resumed yesterday that Parliament invited the council to a closed door session Read more

Bouterse sworn in for second term as Suriname’s president

PARAMARIBO--President Desi Bouterse was sworn in for a second term in office on Wednesday. Shortly after accepting the presidential sash from National Assembly chair Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, the president swore in his fifteen-man team of Ministers. “For the first time in our political history, the people of Suriname have given Government to a political belief that considers ethnicity as a source of wealth and not as the basis for disparity and powerlessness,” the President said in his maiden speech afterward Read more

Harper unaware of payment made to quiet ethics scandal

OTTAWA--Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper did not know that in order to quiet an ethics scandal his former chief of staff had secretly repaid expenses claimed by the senator at the heart of the affair, the ex-aide testified on Wednesday.
  The trial of Conservative Senator Mike Duffy, who is accused of receiving a bribe and abusing expense claims, comes as Harper campaigns ahead of Canada's Oct. 19 election. Opposition parties say the affair shows voters should end the Conservatives' near 10-year grip on power.
  Nigel Wright, Harper's former chief of staff, told an Ottawa courtroom that he decided in early 2013 that the only way to kill a raging scandal about Duffy's expense claims was to secretly give the senator his own personal check for C$90,000 ($69,400) so Duffy could repay the money Read more

Benjamin’s funeral will be streamed live online

~ UP: stores should close half day ~

PHILIPSBURG--Today’s funeral services for bike patrol Police Officer Gamali “Benji” Benjamin will be streamed live via the World Wide Web and can be followed at

www.vidmedia.tv .

Police spokesperson Chief Inspector Ricardo Henson said in a press release on Wednesday that a decision had been made to have the funeral streamed live given “the magnitude of the event.”

The live streaming is being done by the Department of Communication DComm in collaboration with VID Media Solutions.

Henson said persons in St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- In a letter dispatched to Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, the Democratic Party points out what in the party’s belief is a case of misleading parliament and the people of St. Maarten.
The decision to raise the pension age to 62 has been taken quite some time ago by the
(former) government of St Read more

>Pond Island:---TelEm Group kicked off its Back-to-School annual promotion Tuesday with a donation to a Fun/Sports day for kids taking place at the Melford Hazel, sports complex, Sucker Garden, this Friday.

The Fun/Sports Day is the initiative of the “Your Voice Your Choice Foundation” and aims to provide kids in foster homes with a great day out, filled with fun activities.

Volunteer, Nichelle van der Mark, accepted a cash donation from TelEm Group, Manager Marketing & Sales, Mr Read more

>Dutch Civil Servant Bouman wants to control Justice on St. Maarten Illegally --- St. Maarten Justice Minister will stand up to him.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson commended the officers of the Police Force who managed to control their emotions and worked endless hours to capture the suspects believed to be involved in the armed robbery and shooting death of bike patrol Gamali Benjamin who would be laid to rest on Thursday. Minister Richardson who became obviously emotional when speaking about the officer’s death said it’s the first time in St Read more

style="text-align: center;">Says his cabinet was busy putting out fires, cleaning up mess and dealing with the Dutch for the past seven months

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs became somewhat agitated and straight forward on Wednesday during the live Council of Ministers press briefing when SMN News posed several questions to the Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- NAGICO is helping The Your Voice Your Choice Foundation (YVYC) with the hosting of its second annual Fun Sports Day in efforts to give residents of various foster homes the opportunity to take part in a variety of fun games and sport activities. All participants will be awarded with a certificate for having taken part in the fun filled sports day.
On behalf of YVYC, Ms Read more

Up Family Extends Condolences To Officer Benjamin's Family And Police Force. Calls On Businesses To Show Solidarity And Close Half Day

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The board of the United People's Party (UP) conveys its deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Police Officer Gamali Benjamin who will be laid to rest on Thursday.

"We mourn with the entire country the passing of our local hero who proudly served with humility and honour.

We call on the business community as a move of solidarity once again to close their businesses half day on Thursday as a mark of solidarity with the family of Office Benjamin and the Police Force of Sint Maarten.

At the same time it would allow employees an opportunity to pay their respects to our hero," the UP Party Board said on Wednesday.

"On behalf of the UP family, supporters, myself and family, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of Officer Benjamin, his colleagues in the Sint Maarten Police Force, his friends, and the population of Sint Maarten.

"Officer Benjamin is a national hero Read more

Democratic Party Questions Government On The Pension Age Increase To 62 Years

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - In a letter dispatched to Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, the Democratic Party points out what in the party's belief is a case of misleading parliament and the people of St. Maarten.

The decision to raise the pension age to 62 has been taken quite some time ago by the (former) government of St Read more