SXMElections.com

Catalan independence hopes high after symbolic vote

BARCELONA--Millions of Catalans voted on Sunday in a symbolic referendum on independence from Spain that supporters hope will propel the issue further despite opposition from Madrid.

The "consultation of citizens" in the wealthy northeastern region follows a legal block by the central government against a more formal, albeit still non-binding ballot which regional leaders had been pushing for originally Read more

St. Maarteners in the Netherlands unite to celebrate their national day

THE HAGUE--For the fourth time, St. Maarteners, joined by friends from Aruba, Curaçao, St. Eustatius, Saba, the Netherlands and France, celebrated St. Martin/St. Maarten Day in Wassenaar, close to The Hague on Friday evening.

The event, held at the Van der Valk Hotel, had a low political profile: there were no members of the Second and First Chamber of the Dutch Parliament or of the Dutch Caribbean governments, except for the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the three islands.

Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk didn't attend either despite his promise made earlier that week during a debate in the Second Chamber about financial supervision in the Dutch Caribbean and the financial situation in Aruba.

The Minister had other commitments as he was the guest on the popular TV talk show Pauw that same night Read more

Aircraft wreckage located, pilot’s body not in cockpit

PHILIPSBURG--The Daily Herald understands that although the remains of the cockpit of the crashed Skyways aircraft have been located, the missing pilot and his seat were not found inside.

The wreckage of the missing Skyways plane was located by the search and rescue team in cooperation with the Coast Guard off the coast of St. Maarten on Sunday at a depth of some 75 feet.

Civil Aviation and Maritime Department head Louis Halley confirmed the find of the wreckage during a press conference held together with Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication Ted Richardson, Secretary-General Miguel De Weever and members of the search and rescue team.

Search efforts continued on Sunday and will continue today, Monday Read more

Notices November 8

Saturday, November 8

FOOD SALE

Organised by Scouting Antiano

Place: upper princes quarter community center, lions building, in sucker garden. Located between the gas station and the royal funeral home.

Time 12:00-2:00pm

Roti for NAF 10.00 / $ 5.00

Wednesday, November 12

FILM FESTIVAL

Organised by Love of Kids Foundation

Topic: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder/Attention Deficit Disorder

Film: ADHD & ADD: Powerful Teaching Strategies & Accommodations

Place: University of St Martin Campus - 2nd Floor-Rm202

Time: 7:00pm

Cost : Free

Annual Educational Film Festival Read more

St. Maarten professionals trained to spot youth intellectual impairments

MADAME ESTATE--Seventeen Foundation Judiciary Institutes Windward Island SJIB and Court of Guardianship social workers, as well as behavioural specialists and school counsellors, completed a training course aimed at improving their skills in dealing with people, especially the youth, with mild intellectual impairments.

A ceremony took place on Friday during which the participants received certificates for completing the three-day course. The course was made possible by the Ministry of Justice and co-funded by USONA Read more

Notices November 7

Friday, November 7

LADIES NIGHT

Organised by Clay Montessori Academy Foundation

Place: Rock House, Port De Plaisance

Time: 7:00 - 11:00pm

Price: US $30.00 per person, $20.00 children 13 and under

Tickets available at Indulgence By the Sea (Divi Little Bay), Edible Bouquets (Cole Bay), Yves Rocher (Marigot) and Clay Montessori Academy (L.B. Scot Road). For information call 721-527-4449 or email \n This e-mail address is being protected from spambots Read more

Aruba instruction causes standoff

THE HAGUE--The debate with Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk in the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament on Thursday to discuss the financial supervision in the Dutch Caribbean resulted in a clash with the governing parties VVD and PvdA, the Socialist Party (SP) on one side and the Democratic Party D66 on the other side.

The meeting called for by the Second Chamber’s Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations focused on the July 2014 instruction of the Kingdom Council of Ministers to Aruba’s Governor Fredis Refunjol not to sign the 2014 budget until it had been thoroughly screened by outside experts Read more

Mps Unable To Give Update On Government Formation To Youth Parliament 

St. Maarten – As President of the St. Maarten Youth Parliament, Dwayne Griffith submitted to St. Maarten Parliament a motion, requesting an update on the current situation with government and the steps being taken to establish the new Council of Ministers. However, the MPs present were unable to give any information on the developments to the Youth Parliament, as many were not privy to what was taking place. Members of the Youth Parliament met with Parliament members at the Central Committee meeting on Tuesday to discuss the developments in government formation with regard to the instruction for the screening of candidate-ministers from the Kingdom Council of Ministers in The Hague.

“Our faction cannot provide any insight as to whether a list of ministers has been put forward… neither do we know the standards by which they will be screened,” said MP William Marlin Read more

European Commission cuts forecasts

BRUSSELS--The euro zone will need another year to reach even a modest level of economic growth, the European Commission said on Tuesday, calling on Germany to help as Chancellor Angela Merkel again rejected a spending spree.

The EU executive cut its forecasts, saying the euro zone economy would expand by 0.8 percent this year, 1.1 percent next year and by 1.7 percent in 2016 -- a level the Commission said six months ago would be achieved next year. The delay in the upturn was due to drag on the economy from France and Italy.

"There is no single and simple answer Read more

No Ebola Travel Ban In Place On French St. Martin

St. Maarten –No ebola travel plan has been put in place on French St. Martin, although officials there have said they have three levels when dealing with a suspected case of ebola. Dutch St. Maarten issued an ebola travel ban on October 27.

Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a delegation from the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), met with French side officials in Hope Estate last week to discuss preparations related to the ebola virus disease (EVD) and inform them of the St Read more

Upnext Planning Its “Christmas Cheer Up” Project

St. Maarten —Two fund raising bake sales are carded to be held this month by the —UPNext, the youth movement of the United People (UP) party—as they gear up their “Christmas Cheer UP” activities for the upcoming Christmas season Read more

>GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- A delegation from the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA) Collective Prevention Services (CPS) met with French colleagues (St. Martin) in Hope Estate last week to discuss preparations related to the Ebola virus disease (EVD).

CPS apprised French officials about the Sint Maarten Ebola Preparedness Plan and the travel ban that was officially announced by the Minister of Public Health on Monday, October 27.

French health department officials apprised the CPS that for the French territories to date, there was no travel ban in effect, and the French Ebola national preparedness plan has three levels when dealing with a suspected case of EVD.

After the discussion about the various scenarios, levels and possible collaboration, it was decided that there is a need for an additional meeting where all counterparts can meet and discuss associated logistics.

It was also decided that both sides will be working together to ensure an effective response and will seek the intervention of their respective supervisors and political leaders to ensure the effectiveness of the travel ban in protecting the borders of Sint Maarten/St Read more

Cps Apprises French Health Officials About Sint Maarten Ebola Preparedness Plan And Travel Ban

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – A delegation from the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA) Collective Prevention Services (CPS) met with French colleagues (St. Martin) in Hope Estate last week to discuss preparations related to the Ebola virus disease (EVD).

CPS apprised French officials about the Sint Maarten Ebola Preparedness Plan and the travel ban that was officially announced by the Minister of Public Health on Monday, October 27.

French health department officials apprised the CPS that for the French territories to date, there was no travel ban in effect, and the French Ebola national preparedness plan has three levels when dealing with a suspected case of EVD.

After the discussion about the various scenarios, levels and possible collaboration, it was decided that there is a need for an additional meeting where all counterparts can meet and discuss associated logistics.

It was also decided that both sides will be working together to ensure an effective response and will seek the intervention of their respective supervisors and political leaders to ensure the effectiveness of the travel ban in protecting the borders of Sint Maarten/St Read more

Upnext Planning Its "Christmas Cheer Up" Project

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten — UPNext, the youth movement of the United People (UP) party is gearing up for its "Christmas Cheer UP" activities for the upcoming Christmas season.

It is the first project the group of youngsters will embark on following the Parliamentary Elections of August 29.

The Christmas Cheer UP project will ultimately result in UPNext "doing something special" for the less fortunate in the community in the season of giving.

To support this initiative, the group will be holding two fundraising bake sales at two different public locations in the month of November Read more

Stop, Drop and Go campaign extended, supported by tip line

~ 50 firearms handed in on Dutch side ~

PHILIPSBURG--The Stop, Drop and Go campaign has been hailed as a success and will be extended to November 14, the Ministry of Justice announced Thursday, October 30. Adding to the campaign is an anonymous tip-line initiative with a reward system which launches today, where illegal firearm possession can be reported.

Former Lt. Governor of the Island Territory of St. Maarten Max Pandt gave in three firearms on Thursday, in the presence of Ministry and Police officials Read more

Christian right will still turn out for Republicans in US midterms

SPRINGDALE, Arkansas--If Republicans win control of the Senate in the midterm elections they should say a prayer of thanks for Christian conservatives.

Although they get little attention from candidates, white evangelical Christian voters are likely to be fundamental to any Republican victories in the key Senate races, especially in the South. Reuters/Ipsos polling data shows evangelicals are more enthusiastic than the general population about the midterms.

The religious right's influence may be much reduced since the days of Moral Majority leader Jerry Falwell's alliances with Republican presidents Read more

Sarah: DP fraction of two MPs intact

PHILIPBSURG--The Democratic Party (DP) fraction comprises two Members of Parliament (MPs): Sarah Wescot-Williams and Cornelius de Weever, with De Weever serving as the party's fraction leader in Parliament Read more

It’s just us!

Dear Editor,

After hearing the many varying opinions on our stance against continuous meddling and intervention by the Dutch in our affairs without any legal basis, I wondered and asked why the silence in Philipsburg is so deafening. And the thought came to me then of the prayers of our forefathers, especially their cry for divine intervention in times like these.

It was rather ironic that our country was hit by a hurricane and we heard no enquiries or queries from the Dutch on the damages or state of affairs on the island Read more

Minister praises ‘quick’ recovery efforts on visit

MARIGOT--French Minister of Overseas Territories George Pau-Langevin has praised the "very quick" efforts of the territory to get back on its feet following the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo, on her visit to St. Martin and St. Barths on Sunday.

She especially thanked law enforcement, SNSM sea rescue, EDF and all service providers for working flat out to assist the population in getting back to normal daily routines.

"As the tourist season is starting shortly, it was important for us to see areas like Orient Beach that depend on tourism," she said before departing for St Read more

Marchers call for ‘respect’ and end to Dutch ‘insult’

PHILIPSBURG--"We didn't vote for Bosman or Van Raak" and "Enough is enough. This is our country" were some of the messages on the placards carried by an estimated 200 marchers who took to the street Sunday afternoon to express their discontent with the Kingdom Council of Ministers' instruction to Governor Eugene Holiday to carry out what has been deemed an invasive, boundless screening into the lives of minister candidates.

The march started off from the ring road with the sizable group heading down W.J.A Read more

Cuban economists press for deeper reforms

HAVANA--Some of Cuba's best-known economists are openly questioning the very core of the Soviet-style command economy and saying market reforms under way are too modest to boost weak growth.
  Emboldened by freer debate in the country, they are increasingly vocal in criticizing rigid instructions coming down from the top and the uneven management of policies across the economy, from banking to agriculture Read more

Hopefully a new trend

Dear Editor,

Anyone who follows what happens in the world of politics would be surprised if Theo Heyliger is really serious about becoming Prime Minister or, for that matter, holding any position of which he is not in complete control. That move that he made to publicly ridicule the Prime Minister in the paper of August 27, 2014, was as if he was testing to see how far the Dutch would go as a consequence of his behaviour towards the sitting Prime Minister Read more

St. Maarten Parliament Is Convinced That Screening Process Is Working: Motion Will Ask Governor To Reject Kingdom Instruction

St. Maarten – The United People’s party announced that it would table a motion that asks Governor Holiday not to go along with the instruction from the Kingdom Council of Ministers to execute additional screening of candidate-ministers for the new government. However, parliament adjourned until Wednesday morning after the first round. UP-leader Theo Heyliger told this newspaper that he had not delivered his final report about the new cabinet yet, even though yesterday was the deadline for his task as formateur.

A one-man protest action by Etienne Toochie Meyers – a representative of the movement People United for True Democracy – preceded the first meeting of the new parliament yesterday afternoon Read more

North Korea unexpectedly releases US citizen Fowle

WASHINGTON--North Korea has freed Jeffrey Fowle, one of three Americans detained by the country, and he is being flown home to his family in Ohio, the White House said on Tuesday.

Spokesman Josh Earnest said the United States welcomed the move, but pressed Pyongyang to free the two remaining Americans. "While this is a positive decision ... we remain focused on the continued detention of Kenneth Bae and Matthew Miller and again call on the DPRK to immediately release them," Earnest said, referring to the country's official name of Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The United States will continue to work actively on those cases, he added.

Fowle, 56, a street repair worker from Miamisburg, Ohio, was arrested in May for leaving a Bible at a sailor's club in the North Korean city of Chongjin, where he was traveling as a tourist Read more