SXMElections.com

Urgent Plenary Session Scheduled For Wednesday About Closure Of Food Establishments.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will meet in an urgent plenary public session on February 24th. The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Emil Lee will be present for the session.

The plenary public meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday at 2.00pm in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda point is a discussion on the issue of the closure of food establishments; hindrance of inspectors, while granting preferential treatment to some establishments and unfair treatment to other businesses.

This urgent plenary session was requested by Members of Parliament (MPs) Leona Marlin-Romeo, MP Cornelius de Weever and MP F Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Ministry Of Vsa Congratulates New Health Care Professionals

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten –– The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Emil Lee and by extension the entire Ministry would like to congratulate Devlin Alexander and Angeli Balani on being sworn in as Health Care Practitioners on St. Maarten.

Alexander took the oath as a Pharmacist’s Assistant and will be working at the Simpson Bay Pharmacy Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Emil Lee and by extension the entire Ministry would like to congratulate Devlin Alexander and Angeli Balani on being sworn in as Health Care Practitioners on Sint Maarten. Mr. Alexander took the oath as a Pharmacists Assistant and will be working at Simpson Bay Pharmacy Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Armand Meda Writes: Running Sewage And Mosquitoes

Dear Editor,

You’ve got to give honor to whom honor is due. The Honorable Minister Emil Lee stepped out from the comfort zones of his air conditioned office and upscale neighborhoods and visited one of the homes in Middle Region that has been experiencing hell when it comes to running sewage and mosquitoes. Though I applaud his visit to that one location, I am curious as to what steps are being taken or even considered to bring an end to that deplorable situation Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Engineer Firm For New Hospital Being Selected

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Recent news headlines have alluded to the perception that bids for the development of the new hospital had already been received. Contrary to that, this process is currently still at the first phase of the bidding process, where engineer firms were presented the opportunity to submit proposals for the development of the terms of reference for interested turn-key developers (design-build and maintain), who will construct a new and sustainable hospital for country St Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Ministry Of Vsa And Auc Sign Collaboration Agreement

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – As part of the Ministries approach to developing partnerships, the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA) signed off on a collaboration agreement with the American University of the Caribbean, School of Medicine (AUC) on February 11.

Although the Ministry has been collaborating with AUC since 2012, this agreement formalizes and enhances the current relationship by creating the VSA-AUC Platform. This platform, will allow continued collaboration among representatives of the university, the ministry, health care institutions and the community for the common good of St Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

New St. Maarten Hospital Construction To Begin In Third Quarter

SZV receives bids from engineering companies

St. Maarten News – Social insurance agency SZV received bids from four engineering companies to develop terms of reference for the new hospital. SZV says that construction could begin in the third quarter of this year and that the new facility would be ready in 2019.

Lievense, Independent Consulting Engineers (ICE), Arcadis and Royal HaskoningDHV have submitted bids and SZV accepted them on Monday for consideration.

Interim SZV-director Glen Carty thanked Henk de Zeeuw, managing director of KPMG for his help with the process so far Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

*** Breaking News *** First Confirmed Zika Case On Sint Maarten

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Reports in at the Department of Collective Prevention Services (CPS) have indicated that the first case of Zika has been confirmed. At this point in time it cannot be confirmed that the virus was locally transmitted, as the person did travel outside St. Maarten shortly before being tested.

“The focus for the Ministry and community at this time should remain on working together to eradicate breeding sites and to take precautions against mosquito bites Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Immigration Officers had to shackle female Employee at Maho due to her disorderly behavior.

PHILIPSBURG: --- The Ministry of Justice is busy preparing a protocol on how joint controls should be conducted confirmed Minister of Justice Edison Kirindongo when asked about the investigation regarding the controls that were conducted at MAHO Hotel.
The Minister of Justice also confirmed that the immigration officers had to shackle an employee who had no form of identification on her when they visited the establishment Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Szv Receives Bids For Engineer Firm To Develop Terms Of Reference For New National Hospital.

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – In keeping with the principles of openness and transparency, Social and Health Insurances SZV has received four bids for the first phase of the plans to construct a new and sustainable hospital for country St. Maarten.

SZV appointed KPMG to assist in the bidding process where four local and international engineering companies were requested to bid. On Monday, February 15, the bids of Lievense, ICE, Arcadis and Royal HaskoningDHV were accepted for consideration.

Interim Director of SZV Glen Carty thanked Managing Director of KPMG Henk de Zeeuw, for his efforts thus far in assisting with the bidding and development process of the new hospital Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Dutch-French St. Martin Cooperation To Boost Healthcare Service

St. Maarten News – Last week Minister Emil Lee (Public Health) initiated a stepped up level of cooperation between the Dutch and French sides of the island with regards to health care. “As St. Maarten continues with its plans for the development of a new hospital, determining the level of cooperation between the Dutch and French sides is a critical element of our development strategy,” Minister Lee states.

“Our hope is that instead of two independent hospitals, struggling to provide quality care in a sustainable manner, that we synchronize our strategies.”

A formal cooperation agreement has existed since 2014 and is known as the Observatory St Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

1,300 Food Safety Controls In 2015

PHILIPSBURG--A total of 1,300 food safety inspections were conducted at food establishments in St. Maarten in 2015, Health Minister Emil Lee told Members of Parliament (MPs) during the continuation of the meeting of the Central Committee of Parliament on the draft 2016 budget on Thursday.

---

Candidates in this article:

Government Reviewing Consultancies

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten -The government of St. Maarten has reiterated its intention to review all consultancies to government and government-owned companies to ascertain whether the public resources (financial and human) are properly utilized.

Prime Minister William Marlin and Minister Emil Lee reinforced this point during the Council of Ministers Press Briefing on Wednesday, February 10 Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

No Reported Cases Of Zika On (Dutch) St. Maarten

PHILIPSBURG-Minister of Health Emil Lee said there are no reports of persons with the Zika virus in St. Maarten. However, he has received reports from within the hospitality sector of persons cancelling their trips to St. Maarten due to the advisories relating to the virus.

“I think the French side has one or two (cases of Zika) and as far as I know these are not cases that were contracted in St Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Hospital Faced With Bed Shortage In High Season

CAY HILL--St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) has a shortage of beds, but only in the high season, Public Health Minister Emil Lee told the Central Committee of Parliament on Wednesday afternoon.

The Medical Center has 66 beds, which are sufficient for needs in the low season. More than 80 beds are needed to cater to demand in the high sea Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Lee Seeking Cooperation With French St. Martin

PHILIPSBURG--Health Minister Emil Lee is seeking cooperation in the area of healthcare with French St. Martin.

---

Candidates in this article:

Minister Lee Strengthens Structural Solutions With French Side Health Care

PHILIPSBURG – Last week Minister Emil Lee initiated a stepped up level of cooperation between the Dutch and French sides of the island with regard to health care.

Left to right: Ramzy Dennaoui, Arnauld Benet, Jim Rosen, Sidiane Laker, Iris Blokpoel, Dr. Louis Jeffrey, Minister Emil Lee, Kees Klarenbeek, Fenna Arnell, Joanne Dekker

“As St Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:---- Last week Minister Emil Lee initiated a stepped up level of cooperation between the Dutch and French sides of the Island with regards to health care. “As St. Maarten continues with its plans for the development of a new hospital, determining the level of cooperation between the Dutch and French sides is a critical element of our development strategy” Minister Lee states.
“Our hope is that instead of two independent hospitals, struggling to provide quality care in a sustainable manner, that we synchronize our strategies.”
A formal cooperation agreement has existed since 2014 and is known as the Observatory St Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of VSA Emil Lee did not hesitate to inform the Members of Parliament on Tuesday when he reported to the Central Committee meeting to answer questions that the slashed budget that is being debated in parliament is what the current government inherited. Minister Lee said even though the Ministry of VSA is the Ministry that deals mostly with the lives of people they too had to suffice with the 10% cuts proposed by the Minister of Finance in order for him to be able to provide a balance budget for the year 2016, prior to the deadline while complying with the instructions given to former Government.
The Minister gave Parliament the figures of the unemployed, those figures he said came from statistics done in the year 2013 and at that time there were 1,900 people unemployed Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Health Inspectorate To Continue Controls

~ Lee clarifies misconceptions ~

PHILIPSBURG--The Public Health, Social Development and Labour VSA Inspectorate will continue its inspections relating to compliance with food safety, Health Minister Emil Lee said in a press release on Monday.

---

Candidates in this article:

Inspectorate Of Health Will Continue Inspections

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten –  On behalf of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor (VSA) there are a few misconceptions that need to be clarified. The Inspectors of VSA will continue as normal to conduct their inspections as it pertains to compliance to food safety, however the joint inspections are currently under review by the Council of Ministers.

“As Minister responsible for the safety of the health of the population and the visitors to our country, ensuring restaurants and business that are handling food are in compliance remains a  priority.

Although I do understand the concerns of the business community as it pertains to the negative effect it may have on the economy during the height of our tourist season, compliance is essential toward securing the well-being of our population” said Minister Emil Lee in an invited statement on Tuesday.

In reference to stopping the operations where food was being handled by the Point Restaurant at Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, as of Monday morning the restaurant still remains closed Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Na Board Says Up Has Awaken From Slumber

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) Board said in a press statement it is happy to see United People’s (UP) party leader Member of Parliament (MP) Theo Heyliger and the UP Board “have awaken from their slumber” and have expressed concerns about the people of St Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Inspectorate Of Health Will Continue Inspections

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - On behalf of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor (VSA) there are a few misconceptions that need to be clarified.

The Inspectors of VSA will continue as normal to conduct their inspections as it pertains to compliance to food safety, however the joint inspections are currently under review by the Council of Ministers.

“As Minister responsible for the safety of the health of the population and the visitors to our country, ensuring restaurants and business that are handling food are in compliance remains a priority Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- On behalf of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor (VSA) there are a few misconceptions that need to be clarified. The Inspectors of VSA will continue as normal to conduct their inspections as it pertains to compliance to food safety, however the joint inspections are currently under review by the Council of Ministers. “As Minister responsible for the safety of the health of the population and the visitors to our country, ensuring restaurants and business that are handling food are in compliance remains a priority Read more

---

Candidates in this article: