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>PHILIPSBURG:--- The KeLaHa Projects is now officially listed as a partner of the international organization Globe-athon. Globe-athon To End Women's Cancers Globe-athon is the only international movement focused on the prevention and early detection of all gynecological cancers including uterine (endometrial), cervical, ovarian, vaginal and vulvar. The movement to end women's cancers is supported by international gynecologists, gynecological oncologists and doctors, as well as gynecological cancer survivors Read more

Obama says key allies ready to join military action in Iraq

NEWPORT, Wales--President Barack Obama said key NATO allies stood ready to join the United States in military action to defeat Islamic State militants in Iraq as he vowed to 'take out' the leaders of a movement he said was a major threat to the West.

Obama said the Washington would hunt down and dismantle the organisation, which has seized swathes of Iraq and Syria, in the same way it had tackled al Qaeda since the Sept Read more

Ukraine, pro-Russian rebels reach ceasefire deal

MINSK--Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels reached a ceasefire agreement on Friday, the first step toward ending fighting in eastern Ukraine that has caused the worst standoff between Moscow and the West since the Cold War ended.

The ceasefire deal was struck in the Belarussian capital Minsk along with a deal allowing for prisoner exchanges, deliveries of humanitarian aid and the withdrawal of heavy weapons after five months of a conflict that has killed more than 2,600 people.

Despite some initial shelling in the rebel stronghold of Donetsk after the truce began at 6 p.m., the ceasefire appeared to be holding Read more

Who will lead the pack of hungry wolves?

Dear Editor,

After yesterday's press briefing and statements made by Leona Marlin about coming out victorious on leading the pack of wolves, I am wondering in this coalition partnership, who really is leading the pack?

Oh, and by the way, I must congratulate Mrs. Marlin for her brave statement and conviction. She sounds like a real leader. And talking about "Leader", I believe that Frans Richardson should give her the leadership of the US party for the next election Read more

Editorial - No reason not to

It was obviously well-intended and the objective is clear, but the Windward Islands Chamber of Labour Unions (WICLU) calling the relief afforded by utilities provider GEBE to pensioners "discriminatory" indeed seemed a bit far-fetched (see related stories). While it's undoubtedly true that the government-owned company's concession prohibits discriminatory practices, one also could claim creating special lines for seniors to pay their bills falls in the same category.

What should be taken into account as well as is that the discount is being applied only to people 62 years of age or older and below a certain income level, who in many cases depend on their AOV old age pension to survive Read more

Notices September 6

Saturday, September 6

STORY TELLING,

READING & FUN

Part of Beyond Writing Foundation's Beyond Storytelling-Reading pilot project will continue until the end of October. Children 5-12 years are welcome to participate. There will be a raffle at the end of the programme whereby children can win a book.

Place: St Peters Community Centre.

Time: 5:00-6:00pm

Price: Free of charge

Saturday, September 6

BODYBUILDING AND

FITNESS CHAMPIONSHIP

Presented by St Read more

Minister Lake says GEBE to provide relief across board

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (VROMI) Maurice Lake says he has taken note of Windward Islands Chamber of Labour Union's (WICLU) stance with respect to a reduction in utility bills.

Minister Lake reiterated on Friday that he informed the community more than once that relief will be provided by NV GEBE to household consumers, as well as businesses and that in the meantime a reduction in the utility bills of senior citizens would be implemented.

"Relief is not just being provided to a select few Read more

Cooperating Foundations issues grants to three local foundations

PHILIPSBURG--Recently, Cooperating Foundations, a funding agency assisting non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with social project funding, presented checks to three different foundations.

All three foundations share the common objective of offering projects to the local St. Maarten community, hence creating opportunities and enhancing the well-being of certain groups in our society.

The Foundation Judiciary Institutes Windward Islands SJIB received a grant of NAf Read more

Leona dispels rumours, committed to US Party

PHILIPSBURG--"I am still a candidate...I am a member of the United St. Maarten (US) Party and there I shall stay. There is where the people asked me to be and that's where I am at." This was the firm statement from Member of Parliament (MP)-Elect Leona Marlin-Romeo at a press conference with her party leader, MP Frans Richardson, on Friday in Parliament House.

The press conference was held to curb "the innuendos and stories" being circulated from "living a life of their own" in the community, said Richardson Read more

Hassink: ‘We have to take measures to provide for ourselves in a disaster’

BELAIR--St. Maarten has to take measures to provide for itself in the event of a disaster, Finance Minister Martin Hassink told attendees at the Henderson Insurances Catastrophe Risk Insurance Conference at the Belair Community Center on Friday.

Hassink said "there was some feeling of security" when St. Maarten was part of the former Netherlands Antilles and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, a fall-back position in case of disaster. He said, however, that after 10/10/10, "this security partly disappeared and together with the fact that our mother country sees us more as a burden than as a blessing, St Read more

Seniors grateful for GEBE relief

~ Seniors association hopes for other positive developments ~

PHILIPSBURG--President of the St. Maarten Seniors and Pensioners Association (SMSPA) Patricia Flanders has shared that seniors were very thankful for GEBE NV's recently implemented Senior Relief Programme. GEBE bills, she said, were an issue worth tackling for the seniors who are faced with low pensions and high costs of living.

"The seniors were very happy; some did not have to pay a penny." She said that a few came up to her and hugged her, thanking her for pushing the issue.

The programme has had mixed reactions both before and after its implementation, because it does not benefit everyone Read more

Usp-Candidate Leona Marlin-Romeo: “I Am Not Going Anywhere”

St. Maarten – Leona Marlin-Romeo is firmly committed to the United St. Maarten party. During a press conference at the  Parliament building yesterday morning, the party’s number 2-candidate laid to rest rumors triggered by a baseless article that appeared on a notorious local gossip website on Thursday.

The website insinuated that Marlin-Romeo had “jumped ship” and taken money to join the United People’s party to form a government.

Marlin thanked blogger Bibi Shaw for the publicity the story has generated, but the sarcasm was lost on Shaw, who later acknowledged the “compliment.” Marlin-Romeo, however pointed out the obvious: “Before you slander my name and the name of my campaign manager I think you should get your facts straight Read more

Road Closures In Connection With Opening Of New Parliamentary Year

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The Closure of the parliamentary year 2013-2014 will take place on Monday, September 8 at 10.00am in the House of Parliament.

On Monday, September 8, parts of Front Street and Back Street as well as Cannegieter Street, with street connections to the House of Parliament will be closed to motorized traffic.

A dress rehearsal with respect to the official opening on Tuesday, September 9 will be carried out between 4.00pm and 6.00pm.

On Tuesday, September 9 the new parliamentary year 2014-2015 will be opened by the President of Parliament Hon Read more

Minister Lake Says Nv Gebe To Provide Relief Across The Board

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake says he has taken note of Windward Islands Chamber of Labour Unions (WICLU) stance with respect to a reduction in utility bills.

Minister Lake reiterated on Friday that he informed the community more than once that relief will be provided by NV GEBE to household consumers as well as businesses, and that in the meantime a reduction in the utility bills of senior citizens would be implemented first.

"Relief is not just being provided to a select few Read more

Globe-Athon Partners With The Kelaha Projects In Efforts To End Women’S Cancer

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The KeLaHa Projects is now officially listed as a partner of the international organization Globe-athon. Globe-athon To End Women's Cancers.

Globe-athon is the only international movement focused on the prevention and early detection of all gynecological cancers including uterine (endometrial), cervical, ovarian, vaginal and vulvar. The movement to end women's cancers is supported by international gynecologists, gynecological oncologists and doctors, as well as gynecological cancer survivors.September is Gynecologic cancer awareness month and both the KeLaHa Projects and Globe- athon has joined forces to make an even bigger impact internationally to bring more awareness of not only cervical cancers but all below the belt cancers that affects women.One such effort is through The KeLaHa Projects BIKE / WALK –A-Thon on September 7th starting at 5:00AM at the Government parking lot (University/ Telem) in Philipsburg Read more

Us Say's There Is No Alliance With Up Party, Denies Rumors {Updated}

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Many persons are now breathing a sigh of relief, as the United St. Maarten Party held a press conference on Friday to brushed aside what they described as rumors regarding the formation of the next government.

it was on Sunday, three political parties signed an agreement aimed at the formation of the next government for St. Maarten.

The three parties are the National Alliance who received four (4) seats in the parliamentary election, the Democratic Party two (2) seats and the United St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Information reaching SMN News states that the USp number 2 candidate Leona Marlin Romeo is threatening her party to go independent and join the United Peoples Party to form the next government. According to our sources, Leona Marlin wants to appoint her campaign manager Henry Lynch as a Minister.
It is further understood that during the negotiations with the Democratic Party and the National Alliance Marlin Romeo and her party leader Frans Richardson they accepted the Ministry of TEATT and Finance because Marlin was supposed to appoint Lynch as Minister of Finance Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- In an effort to encourage, motivate, and support fathers in their parenting role, the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, and Labour (VSA) in collaboration with Social Health Insurances (SZV) have centered their 4thAnnual Pregnancy Market's theme on "Pregnancy and Dad's Care: "It's a role we share". The Pregnancy Market kicks off this weekend on Saturday, September 6th 2014 at the National Institute for Professional Advancement (NIPA) in Cay Hill next to the Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School between 10AM -3PM Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Chairman of the Central Voting Bureau denied most of the requests submitted to him to do a total recount of all the votes. Leader of the Social Reform Party Jacinto Mock submitted a written request stating that the Central Voting Bureau did not visit all 20 polling stations, that all voters did not receive their voting cards and that some voters did not speak the English language Read more

>AIRPORT:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams bid farewell to local young promising cricketer Shaquille O'Neil Martina at the Princess Juliana International Airport on Wednesday. Martina is on his way to Barbados where he was offered a full-ride scholarship to play on the University of the West Indies' Combined College Campus Team, one of the premier cricket training teams in the world Read more

‘Janchi’ re-elected, in spite of tie with Buncamper-Molanus

PHILIPSBURG--Incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) Johan "Janchi" Leonard (United People's (UP) party) can be considered the big winner after the validation of the votes from the August 29 Parliamentary Elections by the Central Voting Bureau on Wednesday. Leonard was short two votes to be re-elected to Parliament. He received those votes when the bureau reviewed ballots deemed invalid by the polling station on election night.

Leonard (UP #7) is an MP-elect for UP, in spite of the tie with former Minister Maria Buncamper-Molanus (UP #21), because of his placement on the party's list of candidates Read more

Council approves one tablet per child project

PHILIPSBURG--The Council of Ministers has approved the "One tablet per child" project aimed at providing elementary school pupils with a tablet, starting with those in public education which fall directly under the ministry.

A total of NAf. 4,277,775.46 has been secured from the division of assets from the Antillean Bureau of Telecommunications and Post for the initiative. The St. Maarten Development Fund will manage and supervise the disbursement of the funds for the project.

Education Minister Patricia Lourens-Philip said on August 26, she had presented the Council of Ministers with several policy documents to ensure that the project was embedded in an Information Communication Technology (ICT) Policy in Education in general and in particular in an ICT policy for the schools.

"The preparation of this project took several months to be completed because I wanted to ensure that everything would be in place to guarantee the sustainability and continuity of the project after the transition of government," Lourens-Philip said in a press release on Wednesday Read more

Iran, US meet as search for nuclear agreement intensifies

GENEVA--Iran and the United States met in Geneva for bilateral talks on Thursday as international diplomacy intensifies to end a decade-old dispute over Tehran's atomic activities by a new deadline in late November.

The office of European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton confirmed Iran and six world powers would hold their first negotiating round since they failed to meet a July 20 target date for an agreement in New York on Sept. 18. The deadline was extended until Nov. 24 after six months of talks because wide gaps persisted over the future scope of Iran's uranium enrichment programme, which can have both civilian and military applications.

The six powers - the United States, Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain - aim to persuade Iran to scale back its nuclear programme in exchange for phasing out sanctions that have severely hurt its oil-dependent economy Read more

Ukraine and rebels back peace plan, ceasefire from Friday

NEWPORT, Wales/DONETSK, Ukraine--Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and the main pro-Russian rebel leader said they would both order ceasefires on Friday, provided that an agreement is signed on a new peace plan to end the five-month war in Ukraine's east.

The breakthrough came after a week in which the pro-Moscow separatists scored major victories with what NATO says is the open support of thousands of Russian troops Read more