SXMElections.com

PHILIPSBURG:---  Every budget over the last ten years and beyond shows that education consumes the greatest part of it. But instead of things getting better our education product is lagging far behind. We have been reading about so many problems within our public educational system that it makes us hold our head and bawl. All indications are that our private schools are being better managed. We are therefore; somewhat surprised that after so many years of talking about it no decision has been made to date to privatize public education Read more

Up And Na, Shadowboxing About Education On The Move!

Every budget over the last ten years and beyond shows that education consumes the greatest part of it. But instead of things getting better, our education product is lagging far behind. We have been reading about so many problems within our public educational system that it makes us hold our head and bawl.

All indications are that our private schools are being better managed. We are therefore, somewhat surprised that after so many years of talking about it, no decision has been made to date to privatize public education.

Our largest secondary school, if media reports are correct, is planning to establish an English curriculum because we are not having sufficient students stream into the Dutch system at that school Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The landfill (dump) in Philipsburg is on fire again and the perils with the new garbage collection contracts in general have only added to the frustration.
Some might feel that this is open political season and we could now point fingers at the persons who were in charge of areas like Public Works etc. for many years, and under whose responsibility this matter fell.
We could use the lack of visible action by those persons as political ammunition and start to "shoot" at these persons who over the years and for mainly selfish reasons have stalled, turned back, reversed or whatever the case might have been, any plan that had to do with arriving at a solution for the Philipsburg landfill.
However, this blame game will not get us any closer to a solution at this time.
The people of St Read more

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Happy St. Maarten Carnival To All

St. Maarten News – The Minister of Culture Silveria Jacobs extends to the entire community of St. Maarten as well as to our visitors a happy and safe Carnival in a brief press statement.

“48 Years of evolving Carnival celebrations have kept segments of our culture alive and it is the hope of the Minister that even more core cultural aspects receive the recognition they deserve during this our largest cultural celebration of the year and years to come.

All stakeholders in Carnival, from the SCDF, the promoters and sponsors, booth-holders, the participants, the spectators and law enforcement are key to the success of this three week event Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---  The One St. Maarten People Party has taken note of the statements of the Minister of Finance, the Honourable Mr. Richard Gibson to impose a 6% tax on goods purchased on line and his concerns about a 30% reduction of business reported by the business community. As a political party we are also very concerned when we hear about such a reduction in business because most of the time this also results in the loss of jobs, a very scarce commodity now in St Read more

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Health Insurance On St. Maarten For Less Than 3 Dollars A Day

From left: Jim Rosen (executive advisor, cabinet VSA), Eric Ellis (executive manager of claims Dept. Nagico), Ash Hodge (taxi driver), Ellen Benjamin (Manager Medical Dept. Nagico) and Minister of Public Health Emil Lee. Photo contributed

St. Maarten News – One of the Ministry of VSA’s top priorities is to ensure that everyone has access to affordable and quality healthcare Read more

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Remembering What We Share In Common: A Past In The Making.

PHILIPSBURG:--- What past do St. Martiners (Sint Maarteners & Saint Martinoise) long for, when they talk about the good old days? St. Martiners have been described as those Born Here and those Born to be Here. This non- ethnic and non-racial definition, brilliantly introduced by the honourable governor of the island, Drs. Eugene Holiday, is meant to be both accommodating and normative. St Martiners are those who put the island first. They are patriots, persons who love the island. Dr. Louis Jeffry who can trace back his ancestry to the time of slavery, and Father Charles, the island’s revered Catholic priest, who was born on Saint Lucia, equally qualify.

I found this definition rather inclusive until I spoke to my long-time friend, Ruford Serrant, who I dare say was one of the first St Read more

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St. Maarten / St. Martin Parties Sign Sea Border Demarcation Treaty

Préfète-Déléguée Anne Laubies and Prime Minister William Marlin sign the treaty. Photo contributed

Quadripartite meeting

St. Maarten News – The Government of Sint Maarten hosted the third annual Quadripartite Meeting last Wednesday. The meeting was formulated in 2014 as a forum for representatives of the governments of the French Republic (led by the Ambassador for Regional Cooperation for the Antilles-Guyana Veronique Bertile), the Kingdom of the Netherlands (led by Director of the Western Hemisphere Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Joost Reintjes), Saint-Martin (led by President of the Collectivity Aline Hanson), and Sint Maarten (led by Prime Minister William Marlin) to discuss issues of mutual interest.

The agenda of the 50-delegate strong meeting touched on issues related to military cooperation between both the French and Dutch state on the island and the police cooperation treaty, which will regulate the manner in which armed forces exercise their authority in instances of transnational policing Read more

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Health Insurance For Uninsured Less Than $3 A Day

PHILIPSBURG – One of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA’s top priorities is to ensure that everyone has access to affordable and quality healthcare. Having affordable health insurance is a critical part of having access to healthcare. Besides being a barrier to accessing healthcare, being uninsured can also place huge financial strains on the family.

Unfortunately, during the time in office, Minister of Health Emil Lee had already signed off for a few uninsured persons to be evacuated for emergency medical reasons Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- One of the Ministry of VSA’s top priorities is to ensure that everyone has access to affordable and quality healthcare. Having affordable health insurance is a critical part of having access to healthcare. Besides being a barrier to accessing healthcare, being uninsured can also place huge financial strains on the family.

Unfortunately, during the time in office, Minister Lee has already signed off for quite a few uninsured people to be evacuated for emergency medical reasons Read more

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Prosecutors Demanded Lifetime Sentence For Kilo Gotti And 25 Years For Second Accomplice.

Philipsburg:--- The prosecutor that handled the Menam murder case (Gamali Benjamin) asked the court to punish the main suspect DAMISSE
Ridge aka Kilo Gotti, while they asked the judge to sentence the second suspect LEON
Jovanny to 25 years imprisonment. The prosecution took the time to give the court detal explanation as to how Officer Gamali Benjamin life was taken when he responded to armed robbery at the Ore Diamante Jewelry store in Philipsburg.
The complete presentation to the court by the prosecution follows.
On Thursday the trial will continue with the other two suspects.

“Vigilant and committed to serve and protect all, in a decisive and professional manner” Read more

St. Maarten Hosts 3Rd Annual Quadripartite Meeting

PHILIPSBURG– On Wednesday, April 6, the Government of St. Maarten hosted the 3rd annual quadripartite meeting.

The meeting was formulated in 2014 as a forum for representatives of the governments of The French Republic (led by Ambassador for Regional Cooperation for the Antilles-Guyana Veronique Bertile), The Kingdom of the Netherlands (led by Director of the Western Hemisphere Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Joost Reintjes), St. Martin (led by President of the Collectivity Aline Hanson), and St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday, 6th April, the Government of Sint Maarten hosted the 3rd Annual Quadripartite Meeting. The meeting was formulated in 2014 as a forum for representatives of the governments of The French Republic (led by the Ambassador for Regional Cooperation for the Antilles-Guyana Mrs. Veronique Bertile), The Kingdom of the Netherlands (led by Director of the Western Hemisphere Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Joost Reintjes), Saint-Martin (led by President of the Collectivity Mrs Read more

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Minister Lee Visits St. Maarten Patients During Trip To Colombia

PHILIPSBURG – As part of Health Minister Emil Lee’s self-financed visit to Coomeva and medical facilities in Colombia, he made a point of visiting as many patients as possible from St. Maarten who were in the cities of Cali, Bogota and Medellin at the time.

As part of the Minister’s hands-on approach, he felt that it was important to get direct feedback from patients as to the quality of service and of the medical treatment being received by St Read more

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St. Maarten Civil Servants Move To New Building On July 1

St. Maarten News – The signing of the necessary documents to initiate the start of the completion of the new Government Building situated on Pond Island is certainly a step in the right direction and according to Minister of Finance Richard Gibson Sr, such a move will save the Government 300,000 guilders per month.

The signing of the agreement between the contractors, Windward Electric Company, Windward Roads, Lievense CSO and the SZV was a big moment in the history of St Maarten; it was the first time that all the ministers in the government converged in the still to be completed facility.

The Interim Director of SZV, Glen Carty was the first to address the gathering Read more

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Know Your Community Police Officer

Know your Community Police Officer

~ Philipsburg CPO Steven Carty ~

By Andrew Dick

PHILIPSBURG--The term Community Police Officer (CPO) has been used by police management for some time now, but do you know every CPO on the Police Force? And do you know which one represents your district? These are the questions we hope to answer during this series of articles as we get to know each officer in the CPO programme.

Inspector Steven Carty is the CPO of district Philipsburg, which includes the areas of Pointe Blanche, Over the Bank, Hope Estate, Guana Bay and Pond Island Read more

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Minister Jacobs Congratulates Windies Champs 2016

PHILIPSURG – Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Silveria Jacobs, on behalf of the Government and people of St. Maarten, congratulated the West Indies female and male cricket teams, who both emerged victorious in their respective final matches held in the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 finals held in India.

“Congratulations also goes out to the St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---- The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Silveria Jacobs, on behalf of the Government and people of St.Maarten, hereby extends congratulations to the West Indies Female and Male Cricket Teams which both emerged victorious today in their respective final matches held in the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 finals held in India today Read more

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Education Minister Hopes That After Meeting, Sboa Has Clarity On New Busing System

PHILIPSBURG – Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs expressed the hope that after meeting with the St. Maarten School Bus Owners Association (SBOA) that they will better understand government’s thrust behind the school busing system re-evaluation

“It is not the intention of government to take the bread out of anybody’s mouth, but we must be very realistic Read more

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On the occasion of the first CBCS Central Banking Conference Caribbean Central Banking since the Financial Crisis

Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Sint Maarten
March 31st, 2016

Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening.

It gives me great pleasure to join you this evening at the welcome dinner for the first central banking conference of the Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten.

Firstly, on behalf of the government of Sint Maarten, allow me to extend a warm welcome to all the speakers and participants who have travelled to Sint Maarten for this conference Read more

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Karaoke With Your Carnival Queen

PHILIPSBURG – Posh Productions in collaboration with Cactus Diner in Sucker Garden, will be hosting a Karaoke evening on March 31.

Anna Rabbess-Richardson and Martha Thewet have partnered and hope to make this a memorable event for everyone who attends.

“The idea came out of brain storming with different partners in the private sector business, where we all thought it would be a great idea to provide these ladies with an event that will add some fun ambience. It goes without saying that pageantry comes with a level of stress as these courageous ladies prepare themselves to give it their best performance during the upcoming carnival season,” said the partners in a statement.

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Up next!!!!!!!!!!??????????????????

Posted by Anna Rabess-Richardson on Monday, March 28, 2016

“We are happy to have partnered up with local companies like Medicosmetics, Manrique Capriles & Sons, T’s Closet, Eagle Tours, Purrfect Bath & Body Essentials, and of course the hosting venue: Cactus Bar & Restaurant Read more

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Mp Marlin-Romeo Gives Back To St. Maarten Foundation For Psychologists & Orthopedagogen

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – “There are many organizations on the island that are actively trying to make a difference for the overall improvement of Sint Maarten.  Each has their own specialization, and objectives, many however go unrecognized and or get discouraged because of the lack of support,” Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo said on Monday.

The St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---  â€œThere are many organizations on the island that are actively trying to make a difference for the overall improvement of Sint Maarten. Each has their own specialization, and objectives, many however go unrecognized and or get discouraged because of the lack of support,” Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo said on Monday.

The St Read more

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 It felt like a party walking into Educare’s SXMDOET project. Volunteers assisted in making the foundations playground child friendly, safe, fun and colorful. (Photo credit: Claudia Vingatama-Arrindell)

(more pictures below)

PHILIPSBURG – Sint Maarten’s community came out in full force for the second annual SXM DOET event held on March 11th and 12th. Around 1000 volunteers successfully completed 43 projects registered by 30 various organizations from all around the Dutch side of the island Read more

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