SXMElections.com

Teachers From Psve And Academy Questioned Stuart Johnson, President Of Witu, On His Support For Witu Members.

Cay HILL:--- On Thursday, December 7th, 2023, teachers of the FAVE school board requested a meeting with the WITU to discuss a few pressing issues. Among the issues were the COLA, the matter of the policy, as it pertains to legal support for which a 10% is now required as payment to the WITU, provided that the client supported by WITU has won the court case, and an unresolved matter concerning a few members that has been dragging on for almost a year now.
During the meeting, Mr. Mcwilkin, a former member of the WITU board, raised the question of the 10% remuneration fee associated with legal representation which the WITU has added Read more

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Witu Expresses Deep Disappointment In Government's Handling Of Public Education

PHILIPSBURG:--- Stuart Johnson, President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU), has voiced profound disappointment in the Government of St Maarten regarding the handling of matters within Public Education and the broader education sector.

President Johnson had anticipated that the commitment made to sign an agreement with the Government of St Maarten would have been prioritized, reflecting the collaborative efforts necessary for the advancement of education in St.Maarten.

Johnson drafted the agreement and repeatedly sought to have it signed by the Government of St.Maarten in anticipation that the mutual understanding would have been adhered to.

The agreement highlights the electrical works, air-conditioning in all classrooms/offices, and other infrastructural works necessary for all public schools.

Moreover, Johnson has diligently pursued resolutions to several unresolved matters in education, utilizing platforms such as the Committee for Civil Servants Unions (CCSU) to address these issues.

President Johnson emphasized, "Some might perceive my approach as an immediate recourse to the media Read more

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~ Statements made against Ottley were made to harm Ottley. Ordered to rectify or face penalty ~

PHILIPSBURG: --- A packed courtroom with relatives and supporters of Minister of VSA Omar Ottley witnessed as the judge ruled against Olivier Arrindell on Friday morning.
Arrindell was ordered to make specific rectifications within 24 hours of the verdict being served to him or face a penalty of USD Read more

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~ Rectification must be made within 24 hours or face a penalty of USD 5000.00 per day with a maximum of USD 1M.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The court of First Instance has condemned Olivier Arrindell on all counts brought against him by Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs in an injunction case that was before the court on November 3rd, 2023. The courtroom was packed to capacity with supporters who attended the session Read more

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PHILIPSBURG: --- Minister of VSA Omar Ottley tells the court on Friday morning that he will not be a scapegoat or posterchild for corruption on St. Maarten, corruption that took place in the past or present Ottley addressed the court in the defamation case he brought against businessman Olivier Arrindell for slander and defamation. In addressing the court, he said the only thing he had was his name and he worked very hard for the assets he obtained in life Read more

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Cole Bay Hill Flag.

PHILIPSBURG:---  The Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs would like to inform the public that due to unforeseen technical challenges associated with the flagpole on Cole Bay Hill, we are unable to raise the St. Maarten Flag on St. Maarten Day, November 11, 2023.
Given the situation, and considering the safety of the workers, it will not be possible to address the needed repairs.
I understand that this may be disappointing, given that this weekend is a day to celebra Read more

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~ Maingrette is yet to resign from his politically appointed job in the cabinet of TEATT.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The board of the United Peoples Party gave their former member and candidate Kevin Maingrette the opportunity to apologize to the people of St. Maarten especially the Prime Minister of St. Maarten Silveria Jacobs or resign from the United Peoples Party (UPP) when they realized that he was one of the persons leaking false information to his friend and compatriot businessman Olivier Arrindell.

SMN News learned from reliable sources that the UPP board members told Maingrette to do an interview on one of the islands radio stations and apologize for his role in causing several persons in government to be defamed and slandered by Arrindell Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---  Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunications, the Honorable Leo Lambriex, is reassuring the public that the Inspectorate of TEATT is out in full force checking prices against the recently published Hurricane maximum price list and updated price list for the Basket of Goods.
Both lists were approved and published earlier today by the Minister of TEATT, given the possibility of suppliers increasing prices, as a result of increased demand due to storm preparations Read more

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Allegations Of Mismanagement At Nipa, Students Are Forced To Leave Due To The Lack Of Teaching Staff, 2023 Graduates Still To Receive Their Diplomas.

~ WITU refused to represent its teachers at NIPA. ~

PHILIPSBURG: --- Several students at the National Institute of Professional Advancement (NIPA) have been left in limbo since the management of NIPA has refused to hire core teachers who would teach them level 3 in their career path. Many of the students found out this school year that they do not have the teachers to teach night classes or even some day classes.
The students who contacted SMN News said that while they were taught general subjects such as mathematics and English during the day classes, they do not have teachers to teach level 3 in the evenings Read more

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Napb President Lending Support To Customs Workers.

PHILIPSBURG:--- President of the NAPB, Rogerrel Mauricia, has responded to a recent article circulating on social media and in newspapers in Sint-Maarten. The article highlights the concerns raised by customs officers regarding their working conditions and salaries. The president of NAPB Sint-Maarten was also contacted by his counterpart from Curacaos union S.T.R.A.F.F., which represents customs officers and police when the news broke.

During the meetings held by NAPB Sint-Maarten in early August 2023, this union leader visited the customs office and observed that the current structure of the customs department is problematic, potentially leading to issues Read more

Fake News On Social Media Ignited Protest In Sandy Ground Says Prefet.

MARIGOT:--- On Tuesday evening into early Wednesday morning violence broke out in Sandy Ground after a video was posted on social media and various WhatsApp groups implicating the Gendarmes in a motorcycle accident that injured a young man that was riding a scooter.
The video that was posted accused the gendarmes of running over the young man it also went on to state that the young rider was in a coma, all of which were false information. All of the false information posted on social media is the cause of the violence in Sandy Ground.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Prefet Vincent Berton said because of the false information he said that four vehicles were burned, three businesses vandalized, and two vehicles belonging to the Gendarmes were also damaged while a senior officer was also injured.
The rioting started in Spring, Concordia, where a number of gendarmes responded to the scene and began controlling scooters Read more

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MARIGOT:--- Former Mayor Albert Fleming passed away on Wednesday at the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital.
A close family member of Fleming confirmed to SMN News that he passed today after being flown back from Guadeloupe.
According to the relative the former Mayor suffered a heart attack on Monday and was flown to Guadeloupe for further medical treatment Read more

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Sxmnba Says Smbf New Board Is Illegal.

PHILIPSBURG:-- The St. Maarten National Basketball Association (SXMNBA) would like to make it clear that the new board of the St. Maarten Basketball Federation (SMBF) is illegal and was formed without proper procedures being conducted based on the articles of the St Maarten Basketball Federation (SMBF). We will explain the grave errors and lack of understanding about proper procedures. For subtext the SMBF has 3 associations under it: the Soualiga Youth Basketball Association (SYBA), St Maarten National Basketball Association (SXMNBA), and Walichi Female Basketball Association.

The SXMNBA would like to make it clear that basketball has been suffering due to many reasonings one of which is due to the lack of a functioning Basketball Federation but procedures must be upheld based on the rule of law and the articles of the SMBF.

Articles of the SMBF highlighting the lack of procedurally due diligence:

MEMBERSHIP
Article 5
1 Read more

Sxmnba Says Smbf New Board Is Illegal.

PHILIPSBURG:-- The St. Maarten National Basketball Association (SXMNBA) would like to make it clear that the new board of the St. Maarten Basketball Federation (SMBF) is illegal and was formed without proper procedures being conducted based on the articles of the St Maarten Basketball Federation (SMBF). We will explain the grave errors and lack of understanding about proper procedures. For subtext the SMBF has 3 associations under it: the Soualiga Youth Basketball Association (SYBA), St Maarten National Basketball Association (SXMNBA), and Walichi Female Basketball Association.

The SXMNBA would like to make it clear that basketball has been suffering due to many reasonings one of which is due to the lack of a functioning Basketball Federation but procedures must be upheld based on the rule of law and the articles of the SMBF.

Articles of the SMBF highlighting the lack of procedurally due diligence:

MEMBERSHIP
Article 5
1 Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- "I honestly find the level of complaints from employees at the Princess Juliana International Airport disheartening," says the Leader of the United People's UP Party and Member of Parliament, the Honourable Rolando Brison.
After hearing again from employees, Brison remarked that they feel victimized and that their jobs are always at risk if they do not "bow to the powers that be", as some employees said.
"According to various employees, it's become a situation where it is more about pleasing your bosses or being a part of 'cliques', as opposed to the level of work the employee produces."
In a Sunday press release, Brison recalled when he visited the Airport and heard the employees' grievance Read more

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People Living With Dementia And Their Carers Deserve Better Than This Who Global Dementia Plan Fails To Meet Target As Dementia Crisis Looms.

Only around 20 percent of World Health Organization (WHO) Member States have followed through on their 2017 National Dementia Plan (NDPs) promise ahead of the looming 2025 deadline
Alzheimers Disease International (ADI) is calling for an extension to the Global Action Plan on the public health response to dementia at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, as progress has gone backward in some WHO Member States, including England and France
Over 100 new NDPs need to be created in two years to reach Global Action Plan goals, a feat ADI says is impossible
Dementia prevalence is on the rise with 55 million people living with the disease, and up to 85 percent of them not receiving treatment
CARIBBEAN 24 May 2023: Three-quarters of World Health Organization (WHO) Member States have failed on their promise to prioritise dementia, leading to an urgent call for an extension on the Global Action Plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia at the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva today by Alzheimers Disease International (ADI) Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---  Le Sommet Foundation announces new Craft and Farmers Market dates at the Wifold Building in Philipsburg. President of Le Sommet Foundation, Mr. Fabio Doralice, and his team have been hard at work organizing this event, and the new dates are May 13th & 27th, June 10th & 24th, and July 8th & 22nd. The Craft and Farmers Market is part one of a three-part project aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture in Sint Maarten.

Following the launch, We will seek to engage the schools, there are two ways we wish to approach this Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Justice Anna Richardson informed The St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) on April 14 by way of an extensive letter that well-known artist Rich Kalashh is not allowed to perform for the international Hip Hop night set for April 21, 2023, due to an analyst by the police department KPSM.
The letter is as follows by the Minister of Justice, "I am writing to you in response to the request made on February 7, 2023, by the St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- I have taken a hiatus to observe if there were any changes happening or if the intent of the change was put in the plan. Many movements were made by the Ministry of Justice, which I appreciate although we still have a lot of work to do.
I attended the court hearing in Philipsburg on the 17th of February 2023 at 3 pm, Prison Association vs Land Sint Maarten. (Kortgeding= summary Judgement)
The prison association was present and accompanied by their legal representative, Miss Rosenburg Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, Honorable Omar Ottley visits the Elderly at the Gaston Boasman Community Helpdesk for the Elderly and Disabled at Hope Estate during their SMART Tech training.
It is impossible to succeed in the modern world without the ability to utilize a personal electronic device such as a computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone Read more

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Duncan, Gumbs And Heyliger-Marten Call For Urgent Public Meeting On Heritage Preservation.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday, January 25, 2023, Independent Members of Parliament S. Ludmila Duncan and Grisha Heyliger-Marten, as well as Party for Progress (PFP) Member of Parliament Melissa Gumbs submitted a request for an urgent public meeting on the matter of heritage protection.

Following the recent demolition of the ruins at Diamond Estate in Cole Bay and the outrage by persons in the community, the Members have moved quickly to request a public meeting to discuss the incident but more importantly the regulations that would prevent such from occurring again in the future.

The Minister of ECYS and the Minister of VROMI have been requested to come to Parliament to debate the current legislation and policies regarding the preservation and management of heritage as well as to provide updates on the current work of the Monument Council and the long-awaited Monument Fund.

What is extremely disappointing is that this year marks the 160th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Emancipation Read more

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Exclusive: At Least Three Politicians Duped Nrpb Through Esp Program. (Updated)

PHILIPSBURG: --- At least three known politicians will soon have to appear in courts as the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) tries to recover monies
that was given to them for specific investment projects.
SMN News learned that each of the politicians received between one hundred to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to invest through the Enterprise Support Project (ESP) and they never invested the monies for which it was secured.
According to the information SMN News received the three politicians were asked to repay the NRPB but they opted not to do so as such the NRPB is now moving to courts to recover the money that was loaned to them.
The politicians that requested money for investment purposes are United St Read more

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Exclusive: At Least Three Politicians Duped Nrpb Through Esp Program. (Updated1)

PHILIPSBURG: --- At least three known politicians will soon have to appear in courts as the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) tries to recover monies
that was given to them for specific investment projects.
SMN News learned that each of the politicians received between one hundred to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to invest through the Enterprise Support Project (ESP) and they never invested the monies for which it was secured.
According to the information SMN News received the three politicians were asked to repay the NRPB but they opted not to do so as such the NRPB is now moving to courts to recover the money that was loaned to them.
The politicians that requested money for investment purposes are United St Read more

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~Seven teams pitch to win ANG 10 000 at the Finals of the National Youth Pitch Competition on Nov. 20~

PHILIPSBURG:---  Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is the largest entrepreneurship campaign in the world with national hosts in more than 180 countries and 20 000 local partner organizations. Powered by the Global Entrepreneurship Network and with the support of Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, GEW 2022 celebrates 15 years of promoting entrepreneurship around the world. This year, throughout November 14 - 20th, countries will host activities under the key themes: of ecosystems, inclusion, education, and policy.

As a part of the GEW Dutch Caribbean, St Read more

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