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>PHILIPSBURG:--- The seven members making up the Gumbs cabinet on St. Maarten showed up at a press conference on Wednesday where they each laid out the projects they have been working on since taking office in December 2014. Minister Claret Connor spoke of the road patches, and road repairs that will soon begin while he also shed light on the sea water that is pumped from the sea into the Great Salt Pond.
Minister of Finance Maarten Hassink spoke of the 2016 budget he presented to the Council of Ministers and also sent to the CFT Read more

Workshop Focuses On Energy Efficiency

St. Maarten – Under the umbrella of the European Union funded COSME Program, the Department of Economy, Transportation and Telecommunication hosted an interactive workshop for small hotel property owners throughout the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories last Thursday. It was one of many initiatives hosted under the COSME Program that seeks to strengthen the competitiveness of small and medium sized enterprises throughout the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories.

As tourism remains the main economic industry throughout the region, organizers thought it appropriate to find ways to support small property owners via the COSME Program Read more

Evt Hosts Successful Cosme Renewable Energy Workshop

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Under the umbrella of the European Union funded COSME Programme, the Department of Economy, Transportation and Telecommunication (EVT) hosted an interactive workshop for small hotel property owners throughout the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs).

The workshop, which was held on Thursday October 15, 2015, was one of many initiatives hosted under the COSME Programme which seeks to strengthen the competitiveness of small and medium sized enterprises throughout the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories Read more

Home in Belvedere housing project reaches highest point

BELVEDERE--St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF) celebrated another milestone in its on-going social housing construction project, reaching the highest point of a dwelling-in-construction with a rafter-wetting ceremony on Friday afternoon. Construction began in August.

During the short ceremony, it was also announced that the project is two-and-a-half weeks ahead of schedule and that in addition to the eight planned houses which will go up for sale, another building will be added, which will be made available for rent.

The newly announced plan entails a building with four modern one-bedroom apartments, aimed at students returning home to St Read more

EXCLUSIVE: APS and Government signed off on sweetheart deal ---- Corruption continues as current government tries to tell the people they want to end ship jumping

style="text-align: center;">APS got VORST land for a symbolic Guilder for housing development.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Gumbs cabinet proclaim they are doing all they can to stop ship jumping and to control the instability of government on St. Maarten by calling for new elections and not working on election reform which will be the only tool to curb the ship jumping. Certain Ministers told SMN News that what they are doing is not for their own interest instead they are protecting St. Maarten’s image.
SMN News is well known for exposing what takes place in government and while politicians are focusing on the bridge loan the Harbor obtained from SZV to settle the ZEBEC deal SMN News got something better Read more

Protest against ministers draws only small crowd

PHILIPSBURG--The angry sentiments expressed on radio and in some quarters of the community against the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet for not resigning in the face of the September 30 motion of no confidence passed by the new National Alliance (NA)-led coalition did not translate into a big turnout for the protest in front of the Government Administration Building on Wednesday morning Read more

Protest against Ministers draws only a small crowd

PHILIPSBURG--The angry sentiments expressed on radio and in some quarters of the community against the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet for not resigning in the face of the September 30 motion of no confidence passed by the new National Alliance (NA)-led coalition did not translate into a large turnout for the protest in front of the Government Administration Building on Wednesday morning.

Some people on the scene are planning to return to the site again today, Thursday, for similar action Read more

style="text-align: center;">Uninsured Police Officers called to protect Ousted Council of Ministers

PHILIPSBURG:--- Heavy equipment’s were used early Wednesday morning to block the entrance of the Government Administration Building. The drivers of three heavy equipment arrived in the area of the Government Administration Building shortly before 5am where they parked their vehicles blocking the entrance towards the Government Administration Building and left.
Around 6:30 am the night watch- commander Officer Gomes along with some police officers walked towards the Government Administration and began questioning bystanders and the security guards as to who parked the heavy equipment’s that were blocking the streets Read more

Sams, Connor have no plans to resign

Ernest Sams and Claret Connor

PHILIPSBURG--Tourism and Economic Affairs Minister Ernest Sams says there’s “no truth whatsoever” to the rampant talk in the community on Tuesday about his supposed plan to resign from his post. 

  His colleague Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Claret Connor has also batted down similar talk saying: “I respect this office and I will not get into any public debate” on “public melee.”

  The country, he continued, is “already dealing with the impasse” between Parliament and the

  Connor, who has been a minister since December 2014, added, “I was born and raised in Philipsburg Read more

Student launches two new recycling collection points

DAWN BEACH--In a cheerful unveiling ceremony, Bodine Beentjes, accompanied by Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Claret Connor, celebrated the opening of two new recycling collection points on Saturday morning.

These will directly benefit residents of Dawn Beach Estates and Ocean View Terrace Read more

BREAKING NEWS: At least one Minister Agreed to Resign on Tuesday to avoid Unrest – Reliable Sources.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- At least one of the eight Ministers that are part of the Gumbs cabinet has agreed to submit his resignation on Tuesday to the Governor of St. Maarten. SMN News learnt that Minister Claret Connor who was removed from the Ministry of TEATT and placed at the Ministry of VROMI has agreed to break the stand-off in order to avoid an unrest by the people of St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, headed the Council of Ministers delegation that attended an Ecumenical Church Service in commemoration of Constitution Day, 12 October, which took place at St. Simon & St. Jude Anglican Church on Back Street, Philipsburg, on Monday.
Also in attendance was His Excellency Governor Eugene Holiday and Mrs Read more

Who will be paying for Minister Connor trip to the Dominican Republic? Minister got motion of no confidence he has no right spending tax payers monies.

style="text-align: center;">GEBE not paying for Minister’s ticket.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of VROMI who is also responsible for Government owned company GEBE Claret Connor is expected to travel to the Dominican Republic this weekend with a delegation from GEBE. According to information provided to SMN News GEBE was invited by Watsilla to travel to the Dominican Republic on a fact-finding mission on the waste to energy plant Read more

New Elections For St. Maarten Possible December 8

From left: Ministers Rafael Boasman, Rita Bourne-Gumbs, Marcel Gumbs, Dennis Richardson, Martin Hassink and Claret Connor during what could be their last press conference. Photo Today / Hilbert Haar

Council of Ministers hits back and dissolves parliament

St Read more

Gumbs cabinet seeking to dissolve Parliament, call new election Dec. 8

~ PM: NAf. 150,000 available for new elections ~

PHILIPSBURG--One day after Parliament passed a motion of no confidence against the Gumbs Cabinet, the Council of Ministers is seeking to dissolve Parliament and have new elections called on Tuesday, December 8.

Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs announced at a press conference on Thursday that based on legal advice received the Council had decided to use Article 59 of the Constitution to dissolve Parliament by resolution and call new elections Read more

Gumbs cabinet seeking to dissolve Parliament and call new elections

~Gumbs: NAf. 150,000 available for new elections~

PHILIPSBURG--One day after Parliament passed a motion of no-confidence against the Gumbs Cabinet, the Council of Ministers is seeking to dissolve parliament and have new elections called on Tuesday, December 8.

  Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs announced at a press conference on Thursday that based on several legal advices received last night, the Council made a decision to use Article 59 of the constitution to dissolve parliament Read more

style="text-align: center;">Motion of No Confidence against Gumbs Cabinet passed, Eight MPs voted in favor --- UPP/ De Weever/LRM/USP Government falls

PHILIPSBURG:--- The government of St. Maarten is now in shambles. The UPP/ De Weever/ LRM and USP Government fell on Wednesday when three Members of Parliament supporting the current coalition voted in favor of a motion of no confidence against the Gumbs cabinet which was presented by MP Sarah Wescot Williams Read more

Port Attends Security Conference

GREAT BAY – Port St. Maarten Security and several law enforcement agency representatives from St. Maarten recently attended a Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL) security conference where a strategic security alliance has been formed.

RCCL allowed a team of security and law enforcement professionals from St. Maarten to speak at the conference held by Global Security for the company’s security staff. This conference is held twice a year, and this is the first time that a port destination has been included as speaker.

The St Read more

Scell Officially Opened At Usm : “Develop Commitment To Lifelong Learning”

St. Maarten – The University of St. Martin (USM) officially opened its new school named “The St. Martin School of Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning (SCELL)”, which was launched on August 1, this year. Ministers Rita Bourne-Gumbs and Claret Connor represented the Council of Ministers at the reception while Managing Director of the Windward Islands Bank Derrick Downes is the first official donor of the programs the school offers.

Master of Ceremonies Rolando Tobias gave an introduction giving insight about the many programs SCELL offers: professional trainings for organizations, organizational event planning, Women Island Network, AHLEI certified hospitality & restaurant training, community personal development workshops, young professionals network, forward action mentoring program for youth, educational workshops for schools, motivational presentations and business power networking.

USM Board President Valerie Giterson-Patophlet called the SCELL program the new vehicle to move the university forward Read more

>POINTE BLANCHE:---  Port St. Maarten Security as well as several law enforcement agency representatives from St. Maarten recently attended a Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL) security conference where a strategic security alliance has been formed.
RCCL allowed a team of security and law enforcement professionals from country St. Maarten to speak at a security conference held by Global Security for the company’s security staff. This conference is held twice a year, and this is the first time that a port destination has been included as speaker at the conference.

The St Read more

Garbage Meeting Fizzles: Many Questions, No Answers And No Solutions

St. Maarten – At the end of a long meeting, finally there were some fireworks when opposition MP asked Vromi-Minister Claret Connor to answer one question: “Is there a contract with a company to build the waste-to-energy plant and how does this jive with your visit to a project in Miami?”

Minister Connor, who had just said that he would be able to inform the parliament on Monday when he would be able to answer the more than one hundred questions MPs had asked, did not bite Read more

Gebe’S 55Th Anniversary: Laptops For Students

St. Maarten –  At a special ceremony held on the parking lot of Gebe’s main office in Philipsburg, the utility provider demonstrated that they are not only known for providing water and light, they also recognized and equipped five students at the elementary level that have attained exceptional grades.

The event that coincides with Gebe’s 55th anniversary was just one way of giving back to the community. Each of the students was presented with a Dell laptop. The recipients are Jaidev Nainani from the St Read more

Minister to answer MPs’ dump questions by Friday

PHILIPSBURG--New Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Claret Connor has confirmed with Parliament that answers to the pertinent questions about the landfill, as discussed in the urgent plenary session on Friday, can be expected on Friday, September 25.

Therefore, another follow-up plenary session scheduled tentatively for Thursday, October 1, depending on the status of these answers, should be able to go forward as planned Read more

Your reputation is on the line

Dear Editor,

Permit me to express a word of caution to our new Minister of VROMI, Claret Connor. I write this article with such a heavy heart, because I know that you are not in the right place but as much as I would like the situation to be different, only you have the authority to choose the direction of your life. However, it is the prerogative of any individual to make comments that could generate further thought Read more