~ School board investigating ~ SOUTH REWARD--The actions of a Milton Peters College (MPC) teacher, who allegedly spat on a girl student, called her a “wh***” (prostitute), used profanity to describe her and threatened to harm her physically, has enraged a number of educators at the institution as well as youth magazine Teen Times. In an invited comment on Sunday, School Board for Secondary Education...
SIMPSON BAY--Friday night saw the first-ever Causeway Jump-up, the first Carnival parade of the season, which started off at Kim Sha Beach before making its way to the causeway, turning on to Union Road, before completing its circle back to the causeway. The event, which started and finished on time, was well attended by many revellers and spectators, and marked a historic moment when the parade entered...
POND ISLAND--Due to the dry and hot weather the country has been experiencing and on water quality sampling, Nature Foundation has issued an alert for medium to high potential for tilapia fish die-off in Great Salt Pond. Nature Foundation has tested the water quality in the pond and has measured a decrease in oxygen levels and an increase in salinity due to the ongoing weather conditions. These factors...
SIMPSON BAY-- Inner Harmony Wellness Centers honoured two of its team members who completed an advanced healthcare training, on Thursday. It also celebrated the appointment of Palmida Connor to the position of Office Manager, Communications Director and Inventory Control Specialist. Connor has many years experience in business in Canada, Holland and the US. Also honoured was team member Sandra Young,...
THE HAGUE--Participants in the Kingdom Youth Parliament came together with members of the National Committee 200 Years Kingdom and the Committee Kingdom Relations in The Hague on Friday in preparation for the Kingdom Youth Parliament event in St. Maarten in May. Members of the Dutch, Curaçao, Aruba and Caribbean Netherlands teams were welcomed by Chairperson of the National Committee 200 Years Kingdom...
~ All residents in need should get relief ~ PHILIPSBURG--A "political statement" being made during the election climate was how National Alliance (NA) leader Member of Parliament (MP) William Marlin described the recent announcement that seniors in the country would be given a "temporary" still-to-be-ironed-out relief in their utility bills, which will become effective at a still-to-be-announced date....
CUPECOY--Emil Lee, St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) President the past thirteen years, tendered his resignation as President and his position on the board at the monthly SHTA mixer hosted by Blue Mall in Cupecoy last night. The announcement was made during his closing remarks, with his resignation taking effect today, March 28. His role as President will be filled by Eveline Henriquez-Dijkoffz,...
POINTE BLANCHE--The marines have started planning early for this year’s Hurricane Season. The Hurex, an annual hurricane exercise held in St. Maarten for all the Windward Islands, involving the emergency services and all stakeholders, will be held in June this year. A main planning conference is scheduled for April 16, at Divi Little Bay Resort. Commander of the Netherlands Royal Marines in St. Maarten...
PHILIPSBURG--The Council of Ministers has agreed to a "conservative estimate" of NAf. 88 million in capital projects, which include the buyout of the still-incomplete government administration building and the purchase of Industry and Golden Rock Plantation (commonly called Emilio Wilson estate) under the 2014 budget. A budget amendment will be made to reflect those and other projects. Prime Minister...
PHILIPSBURG--Separating the Mediator and his team from the Labour Department and giving them their own Bureau was one of several conclusions in the first Mediator's Report, presented to Labour Minister Cornelius de Weever on Wednesday. The first annual report of the Mediator is a requirement as laid down in the National Decree on Labour Peace I. This decree states that the Mediator must submit an...
~ With ‘aerotropolis’ vision as future structure ~ By Michael R. Granger AIRPORT--With the mobilisation of demolition equipment on Friday, March 28, the management of Princess Juliana International Airport SXM will move to a significant stage in its capital improvement programme, as it moves to push SXM airport to the top of the region’s jet-set hierarchy. The US $132-million bond acquired in January...
THE HAGUE--The movement of persons between the different parts of the Kingdom will have to be arranged, with or without the Bosman initiative law proposal, but the best way to go about this controversial issue would be through a joint solution in the form of a Kingdom Law. Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk said this during a debate in the Second Chamber of the Dutch...
PHILIPSBURG--Nationals of Colombia, China, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who hold a multi-entry visa for the United States, Canada or the Schengen countries will not require a specific St. Maarten visa to visit the country, thanks to some changes to the visa requirement regulation. The Cabinet of the Prime Minister, in a press statement issued Tuesday, stated that new visa regulations...
~ Committee to iron out details ~ PHILIPSBURG--A Memorandum of Intent (MOI) was signed on Tuesday to provide temporary relief in utilities cost for senior citizens ages 62 and over. The temporary relief is part of a pilot programme that aims to reduce the electricity cost of seniors who qualify. Seniors will have to apply and meet certain criteria to qualify for the relief. The relief granted will...
PHILIPSBURG--The Nature Foundation marked an historic moment on Monday, when it signed a service level agreement (SLA) with the Ministry of Housing, Spacial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI. The SLA states that the Nature Foundation will manage Marine and Terrestrial Ecosystems of the territory of St. Maarten. The Nature Foundation will be authorised to make and execute all necessary...
POINTE BLANCHE--The St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies is interested in acquiring Fort Amsterdam where it can be restored allowing for its sustainable use by school children, residents and tourists to tour and sample the heritage experience of the country. According to a press release from the company on Monday evening, the acquisition falls into the draft ports master plan for the Greater Great...
PHILIPSBURG--Health Minister Cornelius de Weever has instructed Social Health and Sickness Insurance SZV to "facilitate the financing of the renovations and expansion" of St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC). De Weever signed the instruction on Monday in the presence of Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams. This instruction is required by law based on article three of the National Ordinance SZV. The...
PHILIPSBURG--The sixth annual Lion Rudy Hoeve Health and Wellness Fair organised by the St. Maarten Lions Club at the Festival Village on Saturday, March 22, was deemed to be a great success, according to organisers and visitors to the fair. The Lions saw a record attendance of around 1,000 visitors at the fair, most of whom had tests done and received vital information, while any children in attendance...
~ Meyers elected UP Deputy Leader ~ PHILIPSBURG--A "clear mandate" is what United People's (UP) party leader Theo Heyliger said he received from the party's membership to pursue general elections as soon as possible. Heyliger told the press after the party's congress in Celebration Palace, Sunday, he and UP Deputy Leader Franklin Meyers will meet with the party's newly elected board, headed by UP...
PHILIPSBURG--The Foundation for Academic and Vocational Education (FAVE) has admitted that an error had occurred resulting in a deduction of 4.2 per cent from their workers' salaries in January and February. The board said its employees at the two sections of St. Maarten Academy will be reimbursed. "We would like to inform you that due to an error in our payroll system, 4.2 per cent was deducted from...