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Sxm Airways Gets Support From Parliamentarians

SXM Airways Managing Director Rolando Brison during his presentation to Parliament. Photo contributed

Upstart airline SXM Airways received encouraging words of support from Members of Parliament on Tuesday as management and shareholders briefed the Central Committee on the airline’s plans and vision. The MP’s urged management to “keep pushing” and not to be afraid of competing with other airlines including Winair.

Managing Director Rolando Brison and shareholders Elvis Queeley, Michel Carter and Jeff Oliver, gave a comprehensive presentation about everything from the origins of the idea for the on-demand airline, to educational initiatives, market analysis, market share, share availability for local purchase and operational perspectives Read more

“Saying That Elections Will Stop Ship Jumping Is Lying To Voters”

St. Maarten – Parliamentarians bitched and moaned about rules and regulations yesterday all the way until the final vote on the two motions the new majority presented yesterday morning. It was a losing battle for the opposition UP and its faithful independents and in the end, it did not change anything at all.

Independent MP Cornelius de Weever started with an attack on the new president of parliament, Sarah Wescot-Williams Read more

Motion adopted in Parliament to annul the LB to dissolve the Parliament of St. Maarten. PM Refused to attend meeting of Parliament and to submit documents.

style="text-align: center;">Motion to instruct Council of Ministers not to make decision that will affect the country passed.

PHILIPSBURG:--- After some severe resistance from the now minority in Parliament the new majority managed to pass two motions that they presented on Wednesday.
MP William Marlin tabled a motion to annul the Landsbesluit sent by Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs to the Governor of St Read more

University Reminds Government Of Promise To Increase Subsidy

St. Maarten – On May 20 the Board of the University of St. Maarten Foundation, assisted by its management team, discussed the developments of the University with the parliamentary committee of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport Affairs. During that meeting, which was chaired by MP Silveria Jacobs, Minister of Education Rita Bourne-Gumbs made two public promises Read more

Government promised to increase USM subsidies.

>PHILIPSBURG:---- On the 20th May 2015 the Board of the University of St. Maarten Foundation (BUSMF), assisted by its management team, discussed the developments of the University of St. Martin (USM) with the parliamentary committee of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport Affairs. During that meeting, which was chaired by the Honorable Member of Parliament, Ms. Silveria Jacobs, the Honorable Minister of Education, Mrs Read more

Usm And Partners Discuss Development

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - On the 20th May 2015 the Board of the University of St. Maarten Foundation (BUSMF), assisted by its management team, discussed the developments of the University of St. Martin (USM) with the parliamentary committee of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport Affairs.

During that meeting, which was chaired by the Honorable Member of Parliament, Ms. Silveria Jacobs, the Honorable Minister of Education, Mrs Read more

>ST. PETERS:---- I have stated time and time again that at some point "somebody has to make a stand somewhere," to raise the bar and stop making decisions in the best interest of politics and self. Instead we need to start MAKING firm decisions in the best interest of our people and St. Maarten.
This was a very challenging three weeks for me personally with my family as my rock, where I ask God for strength and wisdom and his guidance to move St. Maarten forward. What I have learnt within these weeks is if you kneel before God you can stand before any man and speak the truth Read more

De Weever seeks legal advice, suspends Parliament meeting

PHILIPSBURG--Second Deputy Parliament Chairman Cornelius de Weever took charge of one of the shortest Parliament meetings in the country's history on Tuesday and effectively thwarted the new coalition's move to appoint a new chairperson and two deputy chairpersons of Parliament.
  The meeting for which nine Members of Parliament (MPs) signed in, lasted approximately a minute and nine seconds Read more

University Makes Deal With I Am Sxm Foundation

USM President Francio Guadeloupe (center) signs the agreement together with I Am SXM Foundation president Solaika Serbony and director Julian Lake, while Minister Bourne-Gumbs, MP Tamara Leonard and foundation members look on. Photo Today / Andrew Bishop

St. Maarten — The University of St. Martin and the I am SXM Foundation/Education for all of us signed a memorandum of understanding in the university’s boardroom yesterday afternoon Read more

I Am Sxm, Education For Us All Foundation Launches Scholarship Project

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - A new opportunity for higher education is now available for the islands students.

Scholarships have been made available through the I Am SXM, Education for us all Foundation.

The project is the brain child of MP Tamara Leonard who gave an outline of the requirements which are to be met by the students who are desirous of obtaining a scholarship Read more

MOU to bring second-chance tertiary education opportunity

PHILIPSBURG--An initiative by I Am SXM Foundation/Education For Us All that aims to bring education opportunities to the youth, in particular those who are hard workers but are disadvantaged through circumstance, achieved a milestone on Friday with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with University of St. Martin (USM).

The MOU was signed in the presence of Education Minister Rita Bourne-Gumbs, the initiative’s first applicant Angela Brown and a number of representatives of each party.

The aim is to address a gap between students who may well be top performers and access to higher education, in particular when lack of the Dutch nationality gets in the way Read more

St. Maarten Government Falls Again: Fifth Cabinet In Five Years In The Making

UP-leader Theo Heyliger (left) and MP Silvio Matser on 10-10-14 when they were still political allies. Now the political marriage is over: “I cannot take the internal abuse anymore,” Matser said yesterday Read more

St. Maarten Government Falls – Three Coalition Members Defect

Picture: St. Maarten Parliament

NEWSFLASH!! St. Maarten– The Gumbs government fell shortly after 12.30 p.m. today (Wednesday, September 30, 2015) after the parliament passed a motion of no-confidence submitted by Democratic Party MP Sarah Wescot-Williams with an 8-7 vote Read more

Talented youths win TelCell Breakthrough competition

MAHO--The Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino’s Theatre Royale exploded with talent on Saturday for the third annual TelCell Breakthrough Talent Show Competition.

Winning the various categories were Aldi Farrell for instruments; Rumari Rogers for rapping; Lian Borsje for dance, Kyanni Atmpawiro for vocals and Paul Brown for “beatboxer.” Special awards were presented to Rogers for Best Team Spirit; Lisha Maduro for Most Punctual; Aldi Farrell for Producers Pick; Celina Monsanto for Most Creative Performance and SMS Campaign winner Leann Richardson.

The TelEm Group said the competition was successfully managed through collaboration of a team of volunteers from TelEm Group and promoter Xtratight Entertainment.

Xtraight Entertainment representative Berteaux “Mr Read more

TelCell Breakthrough winners announced following Saturday’s exciting finals

>Pond Island:--- The 3rd annual TelCell Breakthrough talent show at the Theatre Royale, Maho, has been hailed another runaway success by event organizers and Minister of Education Youth & Sports, Mrs. Rita Bourne-Gumbs.

At the end of a grueling night of performances, the judges were very candid in their assessment of all the performers and named the following winners on the night:
Aldi Farrell - Instruments
Rumari Rogers - Rapping
Lian Borsje - Dance
Kyanni Atmpawiro - Vocals
Paul Brown – Beatboxer

Awards were also presented to the finalists for:

Best Team Spirit: Rumari RogersMost Punctual: Lisha MaduroProducer’s Pick: Aldi FarrellMost Creative Performance: Celina MonsantoSMS Campaign Winner: Leann Richardson

According to show organizers, Saturday’s event played to a full house with many persons unable to get into the show where they would have witnessed an impromptu singing performance from Member of Parliament, Tamara Leonard and VIP guest for the night.

Also an honoured guest was Minister of Education, Culture, Sport and Youth Affairs, Mrs Read more

MPs question Dennis on Zebec settlement at Port

~ Sarah’s call for more speaker’s time voted down ~

PHILIPSBURG--Members of Parliament (MPs) fired off numerous questions seeking clarity on the Harbour’s settlement with Zebec Development during an emergency meeting on Monday.

The meeting was adjourned after the first round of questions to give Deputy Prime Minister Dennis Richardson a chance to obtain answers. The meeting will continue at 2:00pm today, Tuesday.

A proposal by Democratic Party (DP) MP Sarah Wescot-Williams at the start of the meeting for the speaking time to be increased to 30 minutes in the first round and 20 minutes in the second round was voted down with eight MPs voting against the proposal and six voting for it.

The vote was called after United People’s (UP) party MP Franklin Meyers said he opposed Wescot-Williams’ proposal Read more

Members of Parliament wanted more speaking time in Zebec/Harbor debate.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Members of Parliament were called to vote on Monday when a member of the opposition asked for speakers time to be extended and a member of the coalition opposed the extension. MP Frans Richardson who supports the government voted in favor of the extension citing that he believes that Members of Parliament should be given extra time if they need when debating certain topics Read more

Agreement About Crash Course In Journalism

St. Maarten – The Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the university and Bureau Telecommunication and Post (BTP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly support the “I AM SXM” initiative of MP Tamara Leonard whereby St. Maarten students interested in journalism and seeking a career in this field, will be educated at t Read more

Editorial - Social accountability

The decision to implement age restrictions for adult-oriented shows in Carnival Village during the 2016 Carnival season (see related story) was the right thing to do. Member of Parliament Tamara Leonard (UP) had touched on the issue in Saturday’s paper.

She pointed to the Children Act of 2012 in Trinidad and Tobago, and called for fining neglectful parents whose offspring are out on the street without adult supervision Read more

SCDF to implement age restrictions for Village

PHILIPSBURG--The board of St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) has taken a decision to implement age restrictions for Carnival Village. As of Carnival 2016, no one fourteen years old or younger will be allowed entrance to adult-oriented shows in Carnival Village without adult supervision.

The decision was made as part of new operational changes the foundation has been rolling out over the past few weeks.

The only exception to this new regulation will be for the Youth Extravaganza and other youth-oriented shows that are held in Carnival Village Read more

MP Tamara calls for youth regulations during Carnival

PHILIPSBURG--As preparations for Carnival 2016 are already taking shape, addressing the much-talked-about involvement of young people in adult-oriented festival events must be dealt with for their best interest and development, says United People’s (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Tamara Leonard.

“We have all seen very young children out all hours of the night, mothers pushing babies in strollers behind Carnival trucks Read more

Achievements and lack thereof highlighted as MPs close year

PHILIPSBURG--The achievements or lack thereof in the first Parliamentary year of the second Parliament came into focus as Members of Parliament (MPs) closed off the 2014-2015 legislative year in Parliament House on Monday. The 2015-2016 year opens today, Tuesday, with much pomp and ceremony.

The call to work together was issued by fraction leaders representing the coalition partners while the two opposition fraction leaders MP William Marlin (National Alliance) and Sarah Wescot-Williams (Democratic Party) were straightforward with their criticism about lack of action by the United People’s (UP) party-led coalition.

Destiny impaired

UP fraction leader MP Franklin Meyers laid the blame for the country’s stagnated growth and development in the past year at the door of The Hague saying that government and Parliament have spent the past year battling instructions and financial constraints due to financial supervision Read more

Tamara urges SZV to work on local specialists referral

PHILIPSBURG--"It is unacceptable for a visiting specialist, who benefits from the needs of St. Maarten patients, to treat those patients like they are less than human," said United People’s (UP) party Member of Parliament Tamara Leonard in a press statement on Sunday.

The MP said she was outraged about reports she has received from patients, who had appointments with visiting specialist Dr Read more

Mp Tamara Leonard Call On Szv To Work On Local Specialists Referral As Soon As Possible

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – It is unacceptable for a visiting specialist, who benefits for the needs of St. Maarten patients, to treat those patients like they are less than human, says United People’s (UP) party Member of Parliament Tamara Leonard.

The MP is outraged about reports she has received from patients who had appointments with visiting specialist Dr Read more