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Editorial - Hit the ground running

After all the political turmoil over the last few months the installation of the Gumbs cabinet can be seen as a welcome Christmas present. Of course, it regards a smaller-than-usual Council of Ministers due to screening issues, but at least this ends the undesirable situation of having a caretaker government in office since September, of which two members also became parliamentarians in the meantime.

The two remaining cabinet members will be added later, but there is no reason to believe the current five plus the plenipotentiary minister in The Hague won't be able to do a good job Read more

Majority adopts Urban Code at Council meeting

MARIGOT--The majority party adopted the new Urban Code at the year’s last Territorial Council meeting on Thursday despite the Opposition voicing several concerns before abstaining on the vote. The Code will now come into effect on March 1, 2015.

The vote followed the public meeting and presentation on December 4 with the specialist and editor of the Code, Philippe Baffert. On December 5 technicians correlated the Urban Code project with the Plan Local Urbanisme (PLU) and on December 9 the urbanism commission harmonised further aspects of the Code.

Since April 2012 St Read more

New Marcel Gumbs Cabinet takes office

~ Governor issues challenge to unify people ~

PHILIPSBURG--"The greatest little country in the world" as St. Maarten has been described by its new Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, finally has a new Council of Ministers. Gumbs, a veteran politician, and the five other ministers were sworn in on Friday afternoon by Governor Eugene Holiday at his office.

The swearing-in ceremony was followed by the first meeting of the Council of Ministers with the governor in A.C Read more

Samenwerkende Fondsen gives mini-grants to 4 organisations

PHILIPSBURG--Four non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have received small grants, up to NAf. 5,000, for special, social projects from Samenwerkende Fondsen.

Receiving the funds are Council of Cultural and Artistic Expressions (COCAAE) Drums, No Kidding with our Kids Foundation, St. Maarten Alliance for Equality (SAFE) and the Turning Point Foundation.

Urmay Dormoy of COCAAE said the funds give his drum group the "outlet" to do the job with his kids.

Merlyn Schaminee of No Kidding with Our Kids Foundation said the money will be used to replace the foundation's stove and fridge Read more

We need a reduction in the fuel clause now

Dear Editor,

Please allow me some space in your newspaper to share OSPP’s written request, on December 19, 2014, to President of Parliament Dr. Lloyd Richardson, that a meeting be called with NV GEBE to discuss a reduction of the fuel clause in our energy bills. The fact that a new government was sworn in Friday and a new minister will assume the responsibility of energy is no excuse to delay a reduction in the fuel clause.

The cost of living on St Read more

style="text-align: center;">Marcel Gumbs second Prime Minister since St. Maarten became a country

PHILIPSBURG:--- Five of the seven required Ministers were sworn in on Friday. Former Senator of the Netherlands Antilles Marcel Gumbs was sworn in as the second Prime Minister of Country St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- NAGICO Insurances through their NAGICO Lend a Hand project executed a massive Food Drive, in which 21 boxes of non-perishable food items were collected, packaged and donated to various members of the community.
The initiative which was spearheaded by the NAGICO Marketing Department and kicked off in September, with collection bins and baskets placed at all NAGICO locations throughout the island and individuals were encouraged to donate whatever non-perishable food item they could spare.
"We wanted this to be a hands-on project where our staff, management, agents and brokers came together to contribute to the community in a tangible way," Paul Dijkhoffz; Executive Marketing Manager of NAGICO said Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The cost of living on St. Maarten is amongst one of the highest within the region and the cost of energy is one of the main proponents of that cost. A reduction of the cost of energy will result in food prices as well as many other prices on the island to drop, and thus providing the consumers a much needed relief. Every political party and all the candidates during the last campaign have promised the people some type of relief. Today, we have a golden opportunity to make good use on at least one of those promises and that should be by reducing the fuel clause on our energy bills Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Outgoing Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake in one of his final activities on Friday prior to the swearing in of the new Council of Ministers, enjoyed Christmas lunch with senior citizens organized by Home Away from Home Foundation at the John Larmonie Center.

"The seniors are very close to my heart Read more

Outgoing Minister Lake Has Christmas Lunch With Senior Citizens Organized By Home Away From Home

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Outgoing Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake in one of his final activities on Friday prior to the swearing in of the new Council of Ministers, enjoyed Christmas lunch with senior citizens organized by Home Away from Home Foundation at the John Larmonie Center.

"The seniors are very close to my heart Read more

Nagico Food Drive Brings Christmas Cheer To St. Maarten

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - NAGICO Insurances through their NAGICO Lend a Hand project executed a massive Food Drive, in which 21 boxes of non-perishable food items were collected, packaged and donated to various members of the community.

The initiative which was spearheaded by the NAGICO Marketing Department and kicked off in September, with collection bins and baskets placed at all NAGICO locations throughout the island and individuals were encouraged to donate whatever non-perishable food item they could spare.

"We wanted this to be a hands-on project where our staff, management, agents and brokers came together to contribute to the community in a tangible way," Paul Dijkhoffz; Executive Marketing Manager of NAGICO said Read more

Statement From The Honorable Prime Minister Marcel F.A. Gumbs

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with a great sense of pride and honor that I sit before you as Prime Minister of this greatest little country in the world. My entire life has been dedicated to service in one form or the other to St. Maarten. This latest chapter is just a continuation of that service. And now, it's time to work!

We hold no illusions of the task before us. St. Maarten is at a critical stage in its development and growth as a nation.

Our mission is clear: To ensure that St Read more

Speech Of The Governor Given At The Appointment And Swearing-In Ceremony Of The New Cabinet Of Ministers

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten - Chairman of Parliament, Prime-Minister, President of the Collectivity of Saint Martin,
Parliamentarians, Ministers Invited Guests, My fellow Sint Maarteners Good Afternoon.

The August 29, 2014, parliamentary elections set the stage for the transfer of executive responsibility for the governance of our beautiful country from one team of ministers to a new team of ministers. Today, 3 months and three weeks, later we have before us a new team of ministers.

It is the culmination of the official formation process amidst complex and tensed domestic and Kingdom circumstances.

During the formation which concluded today I consulted with various persons and named and worked with formateur Mr Read more

Ospp Leader Sends Letter To President Of Parliament Seeking Meeting To Discuss Gebe Fuel Clause

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – The cost of living on St. Maarten is amongst one of the highest within the region and the cost of energy is one of the main proponents of that cost.

A reduction of the cost of energy will result in food prices as well as many other prices on the island to drop, and thus providing the consumers a much needed relief.

Every political party and all the candidates during the last campaign have promised the people some type of relief. Today, we have a golden opportunity to make good use on at least one of those promises and that should be by reducing the fuel clause on our energy bills Read more

Chamber Election Results

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The results of the Chamber elections for the period 2015-2017 are as follows:

Kleinbedrijf: (Small Business)

Ajay Rawtani................................65 (due to a three way tie, a pulling of a lot by the election committee chair was done* see excerpt of law below)

Ann Meyers .................................46

Anna Rabess-Richardson...........65

Basil Richardson..........................15

Keoma Hamer..............................33

Nkomo Lake.................................65

Pamela Annuska Illis-Friday......122

Vinod Kotai...................................57

Grootbedrijf: (Large Business)

Ann Meyers..................................5

Anna Rabess-Richardson...........3

Louis Bute....................................15

Nkomo Lake.................................2

Pamela Annuska Illis-Friday......6

*Election Regulations for the Chambers of Commerce and Industry

Artikel 56

· 2 Read more

Preventing Holiday Tree Fires This Season

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – Many homes on the inside and outside have been decorated with Christmas lights, stockings, banners, wreaths and the most popular of these decorations is the Christmas tree.

As part of Ministry of Public Health's Collective Prevention Services (CPS) Safe Holiday Season Observances, in collaboration with the Department of Communication, residents are advised to keep the season safe by following a few helpful tips.

Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius de Weever as part of his 'Get Checked' campaign, is calling on the community to check their Christmas tree lighting to make sure is operating safely in order in order to avoid any hazards this holiday season.

These are some life-saving steps you can take to ensure a safe and happy holiday:

Preventing Holiday Tree Fires

* Holiday tree fire hazards

Special fire safety precautions need to be taken when keeping a live tree in the house Read more

Seven cruise ships in today

POINTE BLANCHE--Today, Thursday, December 18, will be one of the busiest days of St. Maarten's cruise tourism season, a Port St. Maarten press release stated. Seven cruise vessels in port will translate to a combined estimated 18,000 cruise passengers and another 8,000 crew members.

The smallest vessel will be Windstar Cruises' Wind Surf with more than 300 passengers and the largest Freedom of the Seas with more than 3,600 Read more

Finally, the truth has revealed itself

Dear Editor,

No matter how much a person tries to dodge the truth, his conscience always finds a way to expose it, and most certainly, at a time when he least expects. It was an incredible moment to hear the USP leader spoke so passionately about the importance of team effort, and that, the catalyst behind him obtaining a Parliamentary seat, is solely credited to the input of his entire party Read more

Leona calls for meeting about Housing Foundation suspensions

PHILIPSBURG--Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo wants to get to the bottom of the issues at St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation that led to the supervisory board suspending with pay three members of the management team, including Foundation Director Henry Lynch.

Marlin-Romeo called on fellow MPs on Wednesday to help her convene a meeting of parliament with the three suspended members Read more

Sarah: Governor should answer to Parliament

PHILIPSBURG--Governor "should answer to Parliament regarding the formation of the next government, if only to stop the rumour mill," says Democratic Party (DP) Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams.

She shared this opinion in a press statement issued on Wednesday Read more

Christmas Follies starts in Marigot on Saturday

MARIGOT--Merchants Association of Marigot (ACM) announced its Christmas Follies programme, now in its fifth year, starts Saturday, December 20, and continues through December 23.

This year, ACM has been joined by partners Chamber of Commerce (CCISM), the Collectivité, Semsamar and St. Martin Tourism Office. The Christmas spirit is already evident in Marigot with some 30 small illuminated Christmas trees placed by ACM on the main shopping streets in the town and in Marina Royale. The trees are complementing the decorations put up by shop keepers in their windows.

Another initiative has been to suspend giant decorative paintings on canvas in front of shops that have closed down, such as the empty Little Europe and Raisonnable shops to improve their appearance Read more

Bute, Friday-Illis, Rawtani elected to Chamber Board

PHILIPSBURG--Louis Bute, Pamela Annuska Friday-Illis and Ajay Rawtani were elected to the Chamber of Commerce Board during what was referred to as a "smooth" and uneventful election on Friday.

Bute was elected as representative of large businesses, while Friday-Illis and Rawtani were elected to represent small businesses on the Board. Friday-Illis amassed 122 votes. However, there was a three-way tie between Rawtani, Anna Rabess-Richardson and Nkomo Lake, all of whom secured 65 votes Read more

New Gumbs Cabinet to be sworn in on Friday

HARBOUR VIEW--St. Maarten finally will have a new cabinet as of 3:00pm Friday when six new ministers are sworn in by Governor Eugene Holiday at his office.

The cabinet will be headed by veteran politician Marcel Gumbs as Prime Minister. He will also be ad interim Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI.

Current Justice Minister Dennis Richardson will continue in his post as well as serving as ad interim Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour.

Finance Minister Martin Hassink also will continue in his post.

School Manager Rita A Read more

Pascal Averne takes up new post in Guadeloupe

~ Leaves Collectivité after 10 years' service ~

MARIGOT--The Collectivité's Director General of Services (DGS) Pascal Averne is to leave St. Martin on December 23 after ten years at the helm of the administration, to take up a new posting in his native Guadeloupe.

As of January 1, 2015, he will serve as Chef de Cabinet for UMP politician Marie-Luce Penchard who is the Maire of Basse-Terre and daughter of former Regional Council of Guadeloupe President Lucette Michaux-Chevry.

The Collectivité bid a fond farewell to Averne at a function held in his honour in the Sandy Ground Cultural Centre cinema on Tuesday evening attended by colleagues with whom he worked, the four presidents who held office during his tenure and former Mayor Albert Fleming during the Commune era.

Such was the scope of his function – he needed to be fully conversant with not only the running of the Collectivité, but also the issues of the day concerning State, Department, Region and the new untested organic law that ushered in the new status – that he was the most-sought-after official for clarification or consultation on any topic and acted as adviser to the former Mayor, the first President Louis-Constant Fleming, subsequent Presidents Frantz Gumbs and Alain Richardson, and Aline Hanson today.

He was in regular contact with sectors such as health, education, justice, Gendarmerie, Chamber of Commerce, district councils, economic council, etc Read more