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Humility overrides arrogance and plastic intelligence

Dear Editor,

Staying connected to the people is an art and by extension, a bond that is fastened by true love, planted deep within the fibre of a human being. This is the principle that governs the conduct of a real politician, a standard that cannot be fabricated because he is dedicated to and is educated in knowing the needs of his constituents.

How many politicians can relate to this criterion personally, and are privileged to maintain it, regardless of criticism or political upheavals? Not many! It takes a politician who is genuine, one who is humble, an elected official, who is spontaneous in serving and a politician, who avoids the demands of public accolades Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Democratic Party faction in Parliament continues to express its concerns regarding the so called Vorst land deal. While the judge in the court of first instance has ruled against the government in this particular case the Democratic Party faction in Parliament considers the behavior of the UP minister Maurice Lake irresponsible Read more

2nd Laser 101 Political Debate to be aired on Monday from 7 - 9pm.

>MADAME ESTATE:--- The 2nd and last Political Discussion that will be hosted on Laser 101, will be aired live on Monday, August 25th from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. The leaders of the political parties that have representation in the present parliament have been invited to attend.

In first instance, Frans Richardson from the United St.Maarten Party, Sarah Wescot-Williams from the Democratic Party, and William Marlin from the National Alliance have all three confirmed their attendance by email to management of Philipsburg Broadcasting Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The National Alliance's (NA's) last public meeting, which will be held at the Scott's Property at the entrance of St. Peters next to the gas station. on Wednesday, August 21st will be televised live on St. Maarten Cable TV channel 120 as well as broadcast on PJD2 1300am from 6pm.

While the party encourages the community come out in large numbers to watch the meeting live in person, individuals who for some reason or another will be unable to attend can watch the proceedings on television and those without cable television can listen to it live on radio.

Leader of the National Alliance Member of Parliament William Marlin said in a press release on Sunday that the party chose to broadcast live to make it possible for persons who are unable to come out to still be able to follow the meeting and listen to the issues raised

"This public meeting will be a last chance for the public to hear the plans of the National Alliance before going to the polls on Friday," Marlin said Read more

Prime Minister Wescot-Williams Gives Update on Vorst Property Deal.

style="text-align: center;">Raises Questions As to How Far an Individual Minister Can Commit Government

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams on her radio program One on One with the Prime Minister gave an update on the developments as they relate to the Vorst property case. The PM stated that with the Court Verdict and that there is some concern with regards to the implications this will have for the country; "The Vorst case has culminated into a verdict that has been made known Read more

UPP #22 Candidate Julian Rollocks Responds to his brother’s Allegations.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The number 22 candidate on the United Peoples Party slate Julian Rollocks provided SMN News with a copy of a cashiers' check that he had a bailiff deliver to Cimmeran Marlin's lawyer. Rollocks admitted that he went to the radio station when his brother was on air doing an interview, he said he wanted to give his side of the story Read more

style="text-align: center;">Focusing on responsible, realistic goals

PHILIPSBURG:--- National Alliance NA plans to focus on responsible, attainable and realistic achievements for residents by addressing the issues that directly affect the people of St. Maarten in the next governing period, the party said in a press release on Sunday.

Addressing the issues in health care; working towards an increase in the minimum wage and pension; the construction of a Center for the Performing Arts, an initiative first pursued by Deputy NA Leader Silveria Jacobs while she was minister; the creation of affordable housing; reducing the exorbitant utility rates and fast-tracking the party's draft ordinance to stem the abuse of short term labour contracts are some of the issues NA will be tackling.

The NA said its comprehensive approach to resolving the issues in health care in St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- As the countdown for the 2014 Parliamentary Elections begins with just four more days before voters of this great nation head to the polling station to cast their votes for the country's first Parliamentary Election. SMN News thought it fitting to remind the voters of some of the things that transpired within the last four years since St. Maarten obtained its country status, most of which caused the Dutch to use their power and microscope to force an integrity investigation on St Read more

Democratic Party Concerned about Zebec Claim.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Democratic Party is seriously concerned about the claim of US 100 million dollars, filed recently against the harbor group of companies. The risks associated with this claim can pose a serious threat to the survivability of this group of companies. When a company like the harbor has litigation claims pending against it, its bond holders, which includes the Central Bank of Curaçao and St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- National Alliance NA says UP's Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure VROMI Maurice Lake should be held liable for his wrongdoings in the Vorst Estate land deal and for putting the people of St Read more

Political Discussion On Laser 101

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The 2nd and last Political Discussion that will be hosted on Laser 101, will be aired live on Monday, August 25th from 7:00 to 9:00 PM.

The leaders of the political parties that have representation in the present parliament have been invited to attend.

In first instance, Frans Richardson from the United St.Maarten Party, Sarah Wescot-Williams from the Democratic Party, and William Marlin from the National Alliance have all three confirmed their attendance by email to management of Philipsburg Broadcasting.

Theo Heyliger of the United People's Party sent an email indicating that he could not confirm his attendance due to his agenda.

Eventually William Marlin informed Philipsburg Broadcasting officials that there was a double booking as he has to attend an interview on a TV program on the same day and time, thus making it impossible for him to attend.

The National Alliance will therefore be sending Silveria Jacobs, and the United People's Party will be sending Frankie Meyers to represent the leader of the UP.

As the two candidates that will be attending this formal discussion are veteran members of their respective parties, the vision and sentiments of their leaders, and their party should be well represented.

The topics will be of a general nature, however integrity, will be the main driver.

The program will be retransmitted on radio stations on St.Martin, St.Barths and Saba Read more

Na Gives Insight Into Its Plans For Several Areas, Focusing On Responsible, Realistic Goals

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - National Alliance NA plans to focus on responsible, attainable and realistic achievements for residents by addressing the issues that directly affect the people of St. Maarten in the next governing period, the party said in a press release on Sunday.

Addressing the issues in health care; working towards an increase in the minimum wage and pension; the construction of a Center for the Performing Arts, an initiative first pursued by Deputy NA Leader Silveria Jacobs while she was minister; the creation of affordable housing; reducing the exorbitant utility rates and fast-tracking the party’s draft ordinance to stem the abuse of short term labour contracts are some of the issues NA will be tackling Read more

Prime Minister Wescot-Williams Gives Update On Vorst Property Deal, Raises Questions As To How Far An Individual Minister Can Commit Government

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams on her radio program One on One with the Prime Minister gave an update on the developments as they relate to the Vorst property case.

The PM stated that with the Court Verdict and that there is some concern with regards to the implications this will have for the country; "The Vorst case has culminated into a verdict that has been made known.

The issue here is that at some point the colleague Ministers were made aware of an agreement signed by the Minister of Vromi with the Vorst Family for the purchase of a property in Cay Hill Read more

Na: Maurice Should Be Held Liable For Wrongdoings With Vorst Deal

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - National Alliance NA says UP's Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure VROMI Maurice Lake should be held liable for his wrongdoings in the Vorst Estate land deal and for putting the people of St Read more

Pm: Integrity Commission And Monitoring Comity To Be Established

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams gave an update on the release of the Integrity Report and the reaction of Government on the content of the report.

The PM also explained what the next steps with respects to the integrity investigations will be and the consequences it will have for all parties involved, including the establishment of a so-called integrity commission within Government; "It is important to state that this report is the report that has been compiled by the commission that has been established by the Government of St Read more

Minister Lake Says Political In-Decisiveness Costing Government And Sending Wrong Message To Youth

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake says the indecisiveness within the Council of Ministers is costing government money and sending the wrong message to the youth.

"A case in point is Denicio Richardson, former Head of Postal Services St Read more

Ministry Of Health To Establish Ebola Incidence Management Team. Meetings With Stakeholders Continues

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA) is in the process of establishing a "Sint Maarten Ebola Virus Disease Incidence Management Team" (SXM EVD IMT), and is continuing to meet with stakeholders as part of national preparedness according to international health regulations and requirements for every country around the world.

Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans.
This EVD outbreak has a fatality rate of 54% Read more

US moves to ensure birth control access

WASHINGTON--The Obama administration will ensure access to birth control coverage for employees of closely held companies that object on religious grounds to contraception, one of the health benefits mandated by the Affordable Care Act.

The move follows a Supreme Court ruling in June that allowed certain for-profit companies to refuse to cover contraceptives due to the religious beliefs of their owners. It provides for insurers to offer contraception to employees through separate coverage.

President Barack Obama's healthcare reform law requires companies to provide free birth control coverage as a preventive service included in their health plans Read more

Colombia army, rebels meet face-to-face at talks in Cuba

HAVANA--Colombian military officers and leftist guerrillas met face-to-face on Friday for the first time in their 50-year war, starting talks on a ceasefire that would take hold should the government and the rebels reach a comprehensive peace agreement.

The government of President Juan Manuel Santos and the Marxist-inspired Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have been engaged in peace talks in Cuba for nearly two years, reaching three partial agreements on their five-point agenda.

The two sides recently opened talks on another key point, that of reparations for war victims, and began hearing testimony from those who have lost loved ones or been displaced by Latin America's longest-running conflict, which has killed more than 200,000 people since 1964 Read more

Atletico's Mandzukic strikes early to clinch Super Cup

SPAIN-- Atletico Madrid striker Mario Mandzukic's early goal secured a 1-0 win over Real Madrid and a 2-1 aggregate success to clinch the Spanish Super Cup and gain some revenge for last season's Champions League final defeat.
  Croatia striker Mandzukic, who joined Atletico in the close season from Bayern Munich, fired into the corner of the net from the edge of the area after Read more

Galisbay Port bidding process ‘legal and fair’

GALISBAY--A bidding process for the restructuring of the Port of Galisbay was legal and fair, managers of the port stated yesterday.

They called the press conference in response to allegations that were made by a company that appeared on a local radio station, claiming that the opportunity to bid had not been published sufficiently in the media in French St. Martin, not offering local companies a good enough chance to compete for the contract, and suggested that a bribe may have been accepted before the contracts were given out.

Only one of the three companies bidding to complete the restructuring was based in French St Read more

Court orders government to purchase Vorst property

PHILIPSBURG--The Court of First Instance on Thursday ordered Country St. Maarten to honour the agreement closed between Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure VROMI Maurice Lake and members of the Vorst family to purchase their property in Cay Hill against payment of US $5.5 million.

Six members of the Vorst family had initiated summary proceedings against government on June 5, because it had failed to adhere to several agreements to purchase their property.

The Vorst family, represented by attorney-at-law Jairo Bloem, had requested the Court to order Country St Read more

Judge to decide Tuesday on Bada Bing witnesses

PHILIPSBURG--Judge Koos van de Ven decided on Thursday to adjourn the preliminary hearing in the so-called "Orca" trial until next week Tuesday, to consider requests of the defence for additional investigations and the hearing of witnesses.

It is not yet known when the actual court case will be heard, but in any case not before mid-January 2015; most likely in March or April 2015.

In the trial, Member of Parliament (MP) Patrick Illidge (48) will be charged with accepting bribes from Bada Bing and Lunteren N.V Read more

Arnell receives Knight of National Order of Merit

MARIGOT--Territorial Council First Vice-President Guillaume Arnell was the latest recipient of the Knight of the National Order of Merit medal at a ceremony held in his honour at the Chamber of Commerce, Concordia, Thursday evening.

As has been customary at these ceremonies, a number of speeches were made before the award was bestowed upon Guillaume Arnell by Préfet Philippe Chopin.

President of the Association of the National Order of Merit in St Read more