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PHILIPSBURG:--- Today, October 10, 2022, is the first anniversary of the URSM (Unified Resilient Sint Maarten Movement). In the first place, I would like to congratulate the Board, the Advisory Council, the Committee members, the Candidates, and of course all URSM members and the people of Sint Maarten on the first anniversary of the URSM. The URSM is a Party of inclusion that respects and embraces diversity. The URSM believes that inclusion is a method and tool to promote a unified opinion and sentiment of Country identity for Sint Maarten Read more

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Charlotte Brookson Academy Receives Culture Time Proceeds

From left: Culture Time founder and host Fabian Badejo, Charlotte Brookson Academys school manager Tatiana Arrindell and Culture Time co-host Rhoda Arrindell. (Stephen Kleinhuis photo)

 PHILIPSBURG--The organisers of last week Fridays Culture Time 35th Anniversary Show at Philipsburg Cultural Centre donated the proceeds of the event to Charlotte Brookson Academy of the Performing Arts (CBA).

  The cash presentation was made to school manager Tatiana Arrindell on Tuesday, said Fabian Badejo, host of the long-running PJD-2 radio programme Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday, October 5th, the acting Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation & Telecommunication (TEATT) Omar Ottley presented, architectural renderings for the Phillipsburg Market Place. The Market Place has been an ongoing issue since the passing of hurricanes Irma and Maria. The Minister stated that he is elated to be a part of the solution.
Ottley received the final architectural renderings on Wednesday morning which include enhanced structures with removable components to prepare for a possible hurricane and on-site storage for the vendors Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---  After nearly three decades, St. Maarten Academys Key Club was rechartered with budding service boys and girls under the leadership of the schools Vice Principal Joanna Trim. The new Key Club, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Aruba, kicked off its first activity by recognizing World Suicide Prevention Month on the last Wednesday of September.

Donned in orange and black to mark the occasion, Key Club members gathered in the schools courtyard at the break on September 28, 2022, to acknowledge the importance of the mental health of teenagers and honor the memory of those teenagers who lost their struggle to suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic years 2020-2022 Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The organizers of last Fridays Culture Time 35th anniversary show donated the proceeds from the event to the Charlotte Brookson Academy of the Performing Arts (CBA), said Fabian Badejo.
The cash presentation was made to Tatiana Arrindell, the school manager on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, said Badejo, host of the long-running PJD-2 radio program.
The 35th-anniversary show was a resounding success both in terms of the performances and the turnout, said Badejo.
Culture Time co-host, Dr Read more

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Senior citizens from both sides of the island gathered in the Senior Citizens Recreational Center in Hope Estate to celebrate International Day of Older Persons on October 1.

HOPE ESTATE--Senior citizens from both sides of the island gathered in the Senior Citizens Recreational Center in Hope Estate to celebrate International Day of Older Persons on October 1. This large, combined gathering was the biggest since the pandemic waged and seniors were happy to be able to mingle and enjoy a meal together just like old times.

  The lunch was organized by St Read more

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Da De Diversion Comunitaria En Hope Estate

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – El Departamento de Desarrollo Comunitario, Familia y Asuntos Humanitarios (CDFHA) dentro del Ministerio de Salud Pblica, Desarrollo Social y Trabajo (VSA) organiz su tercer Da de Diversin Comunitario gratuito el sbado 24 de septiembre de 2022 para la comunidad Hope Estate y sus alrededores. Bajo el lema “Ponemos la unidad en la comunidad”, los residentes salieron a interactuar de una manera divertida y participar en este alcance comunitario.

Este Da de diversin comunitaria gratuito tena como objetivo reunir a las familias para un da de diversin y espritu comunitario, mientras que el departamento retribuy a la comunidad al brindar una plataforma para que los miembros de la comunidad aprendieran sobre los servicios del departamento y conocieran a sus bomberos Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Department of Community Development, Family, and Humanitarian Affairs (CDFHA) within the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labor (VSA) hosted its third free Community Fun Day on Saturday, September 24, 2022, for the Hope Estate Community and surrounding neighborhoods.
Under the theme We put the unity in the community, residents came out to interact in a fun-filled manner and partake in this community outreach.
This free Community Fun Day was intended to bring families together for a day of fun and community spirit, while the department gave back to the community by giving a platform for community members to learn about the department's services and meet their firefighters Read more

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PHILIPSBURG: ---- Its been five years since Hurricane Irma and Maria impacted St. Maarten/ St. Martin in September 2017, Irma was the largest hurricane that struck the island after Luis in 1995. However, five years later and the destruction caused by Irma is still visible. Many people are still unable to repair their homes, some people are still lodging with friends and families since they lost everything in the monster storm. Life has not been the same since the passing of Irma and Maria while the pandemic kicked off in March 2020 has added more fire to the fury Read more

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Ebenezer. The Forgotten Neighborhood

EBENEZER, Sint Maarten — According to Gromyko Wilson, since the passage of hurricane Irma in 2017 there are a number of neighborhoods that has been neglected.
These include areas such as Dutch Quarter, Fort Willem and most outstanding is the Ebenezer Estate.

During a tour of this area following the recent tropical system which is now tropical storm Earl there are several streets without street lightening and some roads the street poles are still turn since the passing of Hurricane Irma back in 2017.

Surprisingly, some of the main streets doesn’t have LED lightening while some of the cross streets have no lights at all Read more

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Gebe Recovered Data Not Usable, Two Companies Hired Post Ransomware Attack.

~ Information is too sensitive for public debate. ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs told parliament on Friday that many of their questions could not be answered on the floor of parliament since the information is too sensitive.
Jacobs said that based on the information the shareholder received it showed that the management of NV GEBE hired two companies after the March 16th, 2022, ransomware attack Read more

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Witu Demands An Explanation From Doran

Philipsburg — President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) Stuart Johnson met with mainly WITU members of Government subsidized school boards on Wednesday afternoon.

“The reality of their hardship caused by the non-payment of the vacation allowance was brought forward,” Johnson said.

Present in the meeting were union colleagues of the WISCU/PSU, NAPB, SMCU, ABVO and WIFOL in soalidarity.

Johnson before delving into the outcomes of the general membership meeting referenced his concerns about the remarks made by Deputy Prime Minister Egbert Doran.

“I believe the Honorable Minister Doran owes teaching, non-teaching staff and by extension the nation an explanation or an apology,” Johnson stated.

In the spirit of transparency, Minister Doran should explain the outcome of the meeting held with the Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion regarding the solution of the vacation allowance payment which he alluded to during the Council of Ministers Press Briefing on August 10, 2022.

He added, “it seems to be obvious from listening to remarks made in the recent Council of Ministers Press Briefing that he not only misspoke but gave a false hope to educators.”

The WITU President expressed that, “in these challenging and financially difficult times you simply do not make such frivolous statements.”

However, if Minister Doran has a solution we are eager to hear such Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---  President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) Stuart Johnson met with mainly WITU members of Government subsidized school boards on Wednesday afternoon.

"The reality of their hardship caused by the non-payment of the vacation allowance was brought forward," Johnson said.

Present in the meeting were union colleagues of the WISCU/PSU, NAPB, SMCU, ABVO, and WIFOL in solidarity.

Johnson before delving into the outcomes of the general membership meeting referenced his concerns about the remarks made by Deputy Prime Minister Egbert Doran.

"I believe the Honorable Minister Doran owes teaching, non-teaching staff and by extension the nation an explanation or an apology," Johnson stated.

In the spirit of transparency, Minister Doran should explain the outcome of the meeting held with the Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion regarding the solution of the vacation allowance payment which he alluded to during the Council of Ministers Press Briefing on August 10, 2022.

He added, "it seems to be obvious from listening to remarks made in the recent Council of Ministers Press Briefing that he not only misspoke but gave a false hope to educators."

The WITU President expressed that, "in these challenging and financially difficult times you simply do not make such frivolous statements."

However, if Minister Doran has a solution we are eager to hear such Read more

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Documentos Revelan Que Dos Compaas Recolectores De Basura Fueron Descalificados

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – De las cinco empresas adjudicatarias del Gobierno de St. Maarten para la recoleccin de residuos slidos de 2021 a 2026, dos haban sido descalificadas durante el proceso de licitacin. Sin embargo, actualmente estn bajo contrato por una suma total de NAf. 9.689.971,65 en cinco aos.

El Daily Herald tiene una copia de la carta que Melissa Gumbs y Raeyhon Peterson, miembros del parlamento (MP) del Partido para el Progreso (PFP), la cal enviaron el lunes a la presidenta del parlamento, Grisha Heyliger-Marten, solicitndole que revise los documentos adjuntos para verificar su autenticidad.

Los documentos presentados por el PFP fueron filtrados por una fuente annima y comprenden copias de la lista de verificacin de integridad de los documentos de licitacin que cada participante en el proceso de licitacin de contratos de basura deba completar, segn los trminos de referencia (ToR) para esta licitacin.

De los documentos se desprende que alrededor del 60% de los participantes fueron descalificados; al menos 12 de 19 postores no cumplieron.
Los nombres de Avyanna Cleanup and Construction, que actualmente recolecta basura en Cay Hill y el rea circundante, identificada como Parcel 5, y Garden Boyz Cleaning Services BV, actual recolector de basura para Parcel 2, que comprende Pond Island, Over the Pond, Illidge Road, Madame’s Estate , Guana Bay y Hope Estate, estn en la lista de descalificados (DQ) Read more

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South Reward:--- The Haitian Association of St. Maarten (HASMA) lent its support to the bus drivers and their associations during their general meeting with Minister Ottley Sunday afternoon at Milton Peters College.

President of the United Bus Drivers association Mr. Claude Omeus along with his board presented a list of proposals that was submitted to the former Minister of TEATT Mr. Roger Lawrence for an amendment to the public transportation ordinance.

 Present in the meeting were members of the United Buss drivers association, Soaliga Bus Drivers association, Minister of VSA and interim Minister of TEATT Mr Read more

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Brison Lauds The Work Of Former Minister Of Teatt R. Lawrence.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United People's (UP) Party and Member of Parliament Rolando Brison says, "Within less than a year, Minister of TEATT Roger Lawrence made significant strides towards improving the economic reality for St. Maarten."
He said the UP Party was happy to have had the experience Lawrence brought from the corporate world to the Ministry of TEATT (Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation & Telecommunication) Read more

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Shadani Fleming Wins Plate Design Contest, Plate To Be Used From 2023

The winning number plate design

PHILIPSBURG--Local graphic designer Shadani Flemings simple design of a number plate depicting an aircraft, sunrise, and palm trees has won hearts of the public and landed her the winning spot of the number plate design competition. 

  The winning plate design will be used as of 2023 and the following years. Flemings design received more than 1,000 of the popular votes and she was notified and awarded the prize of NAf. 1,000.

  Flemings winning artwork featured a clean design with a red, white, and blue gradient background Read more

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~The public has chosen Shadani Flemings design as the winner.~

PHILIPSBURG:---  For the past few weeks, the Ministry of Finance organized a design competition to choose what will be the artwork used for the Sint Maarten License plate. Three submissions for license plates were posted to the Sint Maarten Government Facebook page and citizens were encouraged to vote for their favorite.

Each submission was posted with a caption explaining the concept of the designs. During the Facebook poll, there were over 2000 votes cast Read more

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Emmanuel: Government Actively Trying To Distract From The Ombudsman Report

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten –– In a democracy, elected officials are accountable to the public they govern. As of late however, a worrying trend has emerged: The Minister of VROMI and the entire government, has made it a political tactic to attack any institution that makes that accountability possible, from the press to Parliament.

Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Wednesday said it is embarrassing, yet telling, that the Minister of VROMI is openly and blatantly trying to de-legitimatize, and disqualify the result of the systemic investigation conducted by the Ombudsman on the tendering process for garbage contracts Read more

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Us Party Leader Gordon Carty Will Be Presenting Some New Laws To Parliament After Recess

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The US Party leader Mrs Pamela Gordon Carty in an interview on Wendell Moore last week made it clear that she will be proposing a law that will not only have a positive ripple effect on the social development of the country, but also on our first time young working class, graduated students seeking for first time jobs and the unemployment rate and to the business community.

As a business owner for 26 years as an Accountant and tax expert I do have understanding of doing business in such an environment as the one St Maarten is facing now Read more

Us Party Leader Gordon-Carty Will Propose New Law To Parliament After Recess

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten —The US Party leader Mrs. Pamela Gordon Carty in an interview on Wendell Moore last week made it clear that she will be proposing a law that will have a positive ripple effect on the social development of the country. The proposed law will focus on recent college graduates and students seeking employment for the first time. The goal is to lower the unemployment rate among young people and give incentives to businesses that hire young adults.As a business owner for 26 years, and as an Accountant and tax expert I have a good understanding of the challenges faced by businesses on St Read more

Fundraising Fair: A Satisfying Success

The Community Outreach Mentorship and Empowerment (COME) Center joyfully hosted a benefit fundraiser earlier this month on July 1st, 2022, on Long Wall Road. The Come Center is a non-profit organization with the main focus of community outreach in Philipsburg and the Fort William area. As one of the attendees described it, it was a pleasant surprise and very fun for sure.

The fundraiser was organized in collaboration with the Freegan Foundation and the John Larmonie Center and offered a diverse line-up of activities, attractions, and booths suitable for all ages Read more

Pop Heyliger-Marten Commends Dutch MpS Wuite And Simons For Presenting Historic Motions

~The path is now clear for finalizing the decolonization process~

In a press release issued on Sunday night, President of Parliament Grisha Heyliger-Marten stated that the die has been cast when it comes to finalizing the decolonization of the six islands in the Dutch Kingdom.

Heyliger-Marten made her comments in relation to the motion passed in the Dutch House of Representatives on July 7th, which called on the Government of the Netherlands to enter into consultations with the Caribbean islands with a view to organizing a Kingdom conference in 2023 between the Governments of the Netherlands and the six Caribbean.
This motion is comparable to one that was passed in the Dutch Senate in 2016, the so-called de Graaf motion of 2016 Read more

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MAHO Sint Maarten:--- Some 19 countries are now part of the Caribbean Safe School Initiative (CSSI) with The Bahamas joining by signing the Sint Maarten Declaration on School Safety on June 30, 2022, at the third Caribbean Safe School Initiative Ministerial Forum held on Sint Maarten.

The Sint Maarten Declaration replaced the Antigua & Barbuda Declaration signed in 2017 and updated in 2019. Thirteen CSSI participating countries also signed the Sint Maarten Declaration on School Safety and other islands are expected to sign later pending approval in their governance structures Read more

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