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Wrecks removed in lagoon cleanup

SIMPSON BAY--Nature Foundation focused on the removal of wrecks and major garbage from Simpson Bay lagoon during Saturday’s lagoon cleanup organised by the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI together with St. Maarten Marine Trades Association (SMMTA).

With the assistance of the Maritime Affairs Department many wrecks were removed within the lagoon, including those which were damaged by Hurricane Gonzalo and were wrecked to the side of t Read more

style="text-align: center;">Nature Foundation Hopes Cleanup Will be a Yearly Event

SIMPSON BAY:--- The St. Maarten Nature Foundation took part in the wide-scale cleanup of the Simpson Bay Lagoon which took place on Saturday. The Minister of VROMI the Honorable Maurice Lake spearheaded the cleanup and the Ministry, the St. Maarten Marine Trades Association and the Nature Foundation jointly organized the logistics.

  During the cleanup the Nature Foundation focused on the removal of wrecks and major garbage on the lagoon Read more

Plans Little Bay Include Open Beach-Access

St. Maarten – Karis Development NV obtained a building permit for the construction of seven apartment buildings in Little Bay, between Little Bay Pond and the beach. The permit department at the Vromi-Ministry approved the permit on October 20. The building site became the center of a controversy earlier this week, after the landowner closed off public access to the beach. The gate has since then been reopened, but public concerns about free access to the beach persisted.

Vromi-Minister Maurice Lake showed the building plans yesterday to reporters Read more

Harbour fails to halt construction of Dock Maarten ultra-yacht pier

~ Files for appeal against permit ~

POINTE BLANCHE--St. Maarten Harbour Holding Company (SHHC) NV has failed in its efforts to put a halt to plans of Dock Maarten NV to construct a marina with a pier to accommodate ultra- and giga-yachts with lengths of more than 100 metres.

SHHC had filed an injunction with the Court of First Instance on November 17 in its efforts to halt construction of the pier at the marina at Battery Point in Pointe Blanche.

The Dock Maarten extension started in October with the initial phase of expanding a breakwater originally built in 1984 Read more

Minister Lake says Belair Pond Storm Drain Clearance Progressing Well. Nature Foundation monitoring and assisting.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake says the current activities at the Belair Pond are related to the clearance of the storm drain channel and mouth area into the pond. The mouth of the drain channel became overgrown with brush as well as clogged with debris and garbage.

Nature Foundation is observing the activities and is assisting with the removal of bird nests in that particular area where the drainage channel to the Pond is located Read more

Belair beach property plans include paved beach access

PHILIPSBURG--A site plan of the future residential complex on the property directly in front of the Belair beach, detailing the development plans which include paved public access to the beach, and a copy of the permit were made available to the press for viewing on Thursday, December 4.

The press conference was called to address widespread property development questions – brought to the foreground due to the December 1 blocking of the entryway to the beach ¬– by Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure VROMI Maurice Lake.

VROMI Secretary General Louis Brown and Permit Department head Angel Meyers also were on hand to explain the plans Read more

SMMTA Simpson Bay Clean up this Saturday.

>SIMPSON BAY:--- The St. Maarten Marine Trades Association (SMMTA) would like to remind all interested parties that this Saturday December 6th is the general clean-up of the Simpson Bay lagoon. The President of the SMMTA Brian Deher stated "the clean-up was originally spearheaded by the Minister Maurice Lake and the SMMTA is happy to take part in this initiative which has been organized and funded by both the public and private sector." The SMMTA would like to echo The Ministers call for "everyone to get involved, and clean-up our environment." The clean-up and removal of hurricane related debris and other refuse within the lagoon will start at 8am on Saturday and all volunteers are asked to meet at The Yacht Club Isle de Sol in Simpson Bay Read more

Minister Lake Says Belair Pond Storm Drain Clearance Progressing Well. Nature Foundation Monitoring And Assisting

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake says the current activities at the Belair Pond are related to the clearance of the storm drain channel and mouth area into the pond.

The mouth of the drain channel became overgrown with brush as well as clogged with debris and garbage.

Nature Foundation is observing the activities and is assisting with the removal of bird nests in that particular area where the drainage channel to the Pond is located Read more

Minister Lake says he will regulate public access to all beaches in zoning plans.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake says that every so often the access to public beaches becomes an issue, and he plans to have his ministry start making preparations to have this regulated in the national zoning plans of the country.

"Direct and specific access to all beaches has to be taken up in our Zoning Plans Read more

style="text-align: center;">Was an Election Deal Made with SBL for Building Permit?

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Maurice Lake who is also the caretaker Minister of VROMI will have a lot of explaining to do as to why he signed a building permit that bears the number 176/14 that was signed off on October 20th, 2014.
The building permit granted to SBL Management Company N.V Read more

Lake Calls For Volunteers For Simpson Bay Lagoon Clean Up

St. Maarten—A clean up of the Simpson Bay Lagoon is scheduled to take place this Saturday December 6 and Vromi Minister Maurice Lake is calling on the marine community, organizations, businesses, volunteers and students to come out and support this clean-up.

 

Minister Lake’s initial appeal for a coastal clean-up of hurricane related debris in the lagoon due to the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo, was publicly stated early November and the St Read more

Beach entry technically reopens, need for legislation highlighted

BELAIR--Property development representatives technically have reopened the entryway to the Belair beach after it had been closed off on the morning of December 1, preventing public access to the beach.

However, the “No trespassing” and “Private property” signs remain, and another one even has been added since Tuesday, on a tree directly in line with the only entryway, a footpath (see Tuesday edition of The Daily Herald).

The newly-fixed fence has been drawn back to technically allow foot access, although this can be considered a “mental barrier,” according to the Beach Access Policy Read more

Access to Belair Beach shut over disagreement

A shut and repaired gate and fence closing off access to the Belair beach is clearly marked with “No trespassing” and “Private property” signs.

 BELAIR--The entryway to the Belair beach was shut off yesterday, December 1, in a move spurred by the owners upset about the planting of palm trees on the beach.

It would appear, based on the “For sale” signs up until recently and the newly-repaired fence and gate, that the property directly in front of the shore was sold to new owners who did not know the rule that beaches have to be accessible to the public.

However, the property was taken off of the market and is still under the same ownership, as confirmed by Tendal Real Estate which had advertised the property for sale.

The owners, the Pavan family, live in Venezuela Read more

style="text-align: center;">Can Caretaker Minister sign off on new requests?

PHILIPSBURG:--- A post on Facebook by one of the founding members of St. Maarten Pride Foundation directed especially to St. Maarten media personnel to seek clarity on a building permit that was submitted by Simpson Bay Yacht Club developer Miti Katz to develop a plot of land including the Belair Pond (Little Bay Pond). The writer of the post said that based on information she received, the owner of the land died but his son inherited the property and that person identified as Johnny Pavan made an agreement with one Miti Katz to develop the property Read more

Minister Lake calls on Marine community, volunteers and students to support clean-up of Simpson Bay Lagoon on December 6th.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake is calling on the marine community, organizations, businesses, volunteers and students to come out on Saturday, December 6 and support the clean-up of the Simpson Bay Lagoon.

Minister Lake's initiative appeal for a coastal clean-up of hurricane related debris in the lagoon due to the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo, was publicly stated early November and the St Read more

Minister Lake Calls On Marine Community, Volunteers And Students To Support Clean-Up Of Simpson Bay Lagoon On December 6Th

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake is calling on the marine community, organizations, businesses, volunteers and students to come out on Saturday, December 6 and support the clean-up of the Simpson Bay Lagoon.

Minister Lake's initiative appeal for a coastal clean-up of hurricane related debris in the lagoon due to the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo, was publicly stated early November and the St Read more

Usm Presents Psn Project At 25Th Anniversary Celebration

St. Maarten – During the University of St. Martin’s (USM) 25th Anniversary celebration ceremony, which took place on Friday, November 28, USM Foundation President Valerie Giterson-Pantophlet and USM Foundation Vice President Wycliffe Smith gave a presentation of the university’s new project, called Project Serving our Nation (PSN), which aims to improve the quality of life in every household in St. Maarten.

“The project is based on the ethic of care,” said Smith Read more

Lake Wants More Emphasis On Usm Degrees

St. Maarten —MP Maurice Lake wants more emphasis placed on promoting degrees and academics at the University of St. Martin by the incoming government. Lake said on Sunday that “as an educator and a Member of Parliament” one of his priority areas is higher education for the people of St. Maarten.

“USM should be the University of higher learning on the island Read more

USM honours faculty and staff at 25th anniversary celebration

~ Special award for Danny's parents, Smith ~

PHILIPSBURG--University of St. Martin (USM) honoured a long list of staffers and faculty for their efforts in moulding students over the years during its 25th anniversary celebrations on Friday evening.

A special award was presented to Vice President of USM Foundation and the institution's first Director Pastor Wycliffe Smith, as well as to the parents of Treasurer of USM Foundation Danny Ramchandani, for allowing their only son to come to St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- As an educator and a Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Maurice Lake, says one of his priority areas is higher education for the people of Sint Maarten.
"I would like the incoming Government to work on promoting degrees and academics at the University of St. Martin (USM). USM should be the University of higher learning on the island Read more

Mp Lake Would Like To See Next Government Promote Degrees Offered By Usm

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – As an educator and a Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Maurice Lake, says one of his priority areas is higher education for the people of Sint Maarten.

"I would like the incoming Government to work on promoting degrees and academics at the University of St. Martin (USM). USM should be the University of higher learning on the island.

The incoming Government has to promote and send more students to USM Read more

Editorial - Not unthinkable

That outgoing Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure VROMI Maurice Lake wants the Council of Ministers to get on with approving the much-discussed purchase of the Vorst land in Cay Hill (see Friday paper) is to a certain extent understandable. After all, the family has been waiting since the days of former Minister Roland Duncan and his plans for a Justice Park on that location.

Not only that, but they have agreed to lower the price at least twice Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Caretaker Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams did not waste any time on Friday after she read the press statement issued by caretaker Minister Maurice Lake. In a letter sent to the various media house Wescot Williams outlined what she said on Tuesday to Minister Lake in the Council of Ministers meeting and what she stated on Wednesday during the weekly press conference, below is the letter from caretaker Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams.

Dear Minister Lake/Dear Maurice,

In my opinion, we have arrived at a sad state of affairs when persons can not express their own view(s) Read more

Dp Leader Responds To Minister Lake Request Concerning Planned Purchase Of Vorst Property

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - DP leader the Honorable MP Sarah Wescot-Williams responded Friday to a press statement from the Honorable Minister Maurice Lake on the subject of the Vorst property.

Minister Lake in his press statement which was also carried on this website, stated that he would like the Council of Ministers to take a vote on the planned purchase of the Vorst property.

In his statement Minister lake stated that "I was not surprised by the comments of our Prime Minister about the Vorst and Emilio Wilson land purchases Read more