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I am not a medical expert of any kind. I am hardly a travel expert as there are many more people who have traveled more than I have in my entire lifetime. I am however a travel sales consultant and many of you are clients of mines in one form or the other and therefore I feel compelled to write about dealing with the threat of ebola when traveling as I will undoubtedly get questioned about this as more travel warnings are being issued in regards to curtailing the spread of the ebola virus.

For a detailed description of the Ebola virus and a clinical analysis of the Ebola virus as a disease you can visit the Wikipedia webpage on the Ebola virus disease. Important is to note that... "The virus is acquired by contact with blood or other body fluids of an infected human or [..] animal. This may also occur by direct contact with a recently contaminated item. Spread through the air has not been documented in the natural environment."

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebola_virus_disease

The chances of you contracting the Ebola virus is infinitely smaller than the chances of you getting run over by a car while crossing the street. With that being said, it does not mean that I don't think you should not be careful about contracting this disease, especially if you are traveling in general or traveling specifically to a region affected by the Ebola virus. It pays to be careful and it pays to be aware of your surroundings and to take adequate measures to limit your chances to exposure in whatever form that may be prevalent at your travel destination.

But I certainly would not advise to actively participate in nor perpetuate the mass hysteria that is currently spreading around the globe into certain countries like a virus on to itself. Over the years we have had all kinds of diseases spread faster via word of mouth, the media and through the world wide web, from the Mad Cow Disease to SARS to Chikungunya and now Ebola.

The fact of the matter is that - whether we are traveling or not - we all should remain calm and be rational about this virus and the disease it causes. Adding fuel to the flames of mass hysteria will not help anyone and it certainly will not bring aid any quicker to those who need it most of all. The last thing we need is an isolationist movement that in my opinion will only lead to a quicker spread of the virus and the disease. Aid workers and medical people must be afforded the time to work diligently in peace, with focus and energy in combating the disease and the unbridled spread of the virus. What we are presently seeing in the mass media is simply a distraction from the real issue. And that is that, much like Polio in its heyday, Ebola is another virus for which I am certain a vaccine can be developed - if not already - and effectively deployed to stop the spread of this virus dead in its tracks.... if we just stay calm!

So how do we deal with the threat of Ebola when traveling? My answer is simply to go about your everyday business and plan your travels according to your needs. Be mindful of the places you travel to and pay attention to your surroundings, your personal hygiene, and that of others, and most of all, stay healthy! And remember... you need to have a ticket in order to travel. You know where to book your next travel ticket.... Online at http://www.lets-travel.com.

Terrance Rey

My Fellow Sint Maarteners:

The Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. The current outbreak it is believed originated in Guinea in December 2013. The outbreak has reached community transmission and impacts two additional countries, namely, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

In August 2014, the Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the Ebola outbreak in West Africa constitutes an extraordinary event and a public health risk to other countries; that the possible consequences of further international spread are particularly serious; Ebola is considered a public health emergency of international concern.

The Government of Sint Maarten has been working to put the necessary plans and protocols in place along with our stakeholders and partners, in order to protect the public health of the Sint Maarten community. These plans are in line with our international obligations to the World Health Organization with respect to International Health Regulations.

On October 23, the West African country of Mali reported its first confirmed case of Ebola. Senegal and Nigeria have officially been declared by the WHO as Ebola free. This is a reminder that this disease can be contained and defeated.

The situation surrounding Ebola is fluent and one must be prepared to take the necessary measures deemed necessary to keep Sint Maarten safe.

"Per advice of the health officials of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, Sint Maarten hereby issues a travel ban (entry and transit) to all persons that have travelled in the past 21 days to, from and through the following countries where the outbreak is not contained, namely: Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"This travel ban will also apply to persons who have been in contact with a suspected or confirmed Ebola case from affected Ebola countries.
"The travel ban will remain in effect until the areas and countries are declared Ebola free by the World Health Organization.
"In addition: for boats and cruise ships coming in: no boat or ship that has a person or persons on board that fit the profile will be allowed to come to shore;
"No passenger on the boat or ship will be allowed to come off the ship;
"Incoming flights with suspect cases will be allowed to land, refuel and return to the country of origin.
"A person or persons returning from Ebola affected countries that are registered on Sint Maarten will be allowed to enter Sint Maarten under the condition that they are quarantined for at least 21 days upon arrival."
In conclusion, you cannot get Ebola easily. Ebola is not an airborne disease spread by breathing air. You can't get it through casual contact with someone. The only way you can get this disease is by coming into direct contact with the bodily fluids (eg. blood, bodily secretions) of someone with symptoms. The incubation period from time of infection to symptoms is two to 21 days.

This measure taken is to ensure that the people of Sint Maarten are protected and that the economy of the country is not impacted negatively in any form or fashion with respect to the Ebola virus disease.

Thank You
God Bless the Sint Maarten nation

Monday, October 27, 2014
Sint Maarten, West Indies

Step up to the plate now- chart your own future and save our island shame and more intervention.

At the time that I am busy writing this letter, it is of course not yet known what a 'smashing success' the march organized by the 'People United for True Democracy (PUTD) later will turn out to be – if any at all.
So - all I can say, at this time is; Guys - wish you luck.
However - at this time, I will take the calculated risk to doubt it becoming a really, popular, non-political 'uprising' against 'neo-colonial Dutch' intervention.
Nevertheless, whatever the outcome of the 'March' , it will not fundamentally change the position of the Dutch Government towards the overall political situation of the 'Friendly-Island'.
If any change in that regards can be expected - I again put my reputation on the line by saying – it will NOT be for the better for the 'Old-guard' politicians – period.
The reason in fact is very simple.
Our current 'body politic' has reached an absolutely all-time low level of trust and confidence - not only among the Dutch Government in general – but worse yet – among our own St. Martin native population, residents and key-institutions as well.
Now, for sure there will be those, who would want to also blame the Dutch for being 'corrupt' and who would want to argue all the day long, who is/are to blame for this very serious crisis and breach of trust in the body politic across the board.
Not to mention those, who are trying ever so hard to even convince themselves, that 'We can solve our own corruption practices ourselves'.
Really ? Like firing all prison-guards and management, of point-Blanche so that the prisoners can guard themselves and guarantee the public that they will not escape to commit some of the very same crime they are now sitting for.
SO, let's now get serious and face reality and facts.
Fact is - it is a fact that - yes very unfortunately – there is a very great distrust among all involved in our society and far beyond in the 'Old-Guard' politicians across the board.
To make matters worse - those who have resorted - in recent times to 'jump ship'- in total disregard of the trust they received from voters - have significantly contributed towards the explosion of distrust in all politicians.
The most relevant question therefore now is - ' St. Maarten Quo vadis ?
Where do we as a society, as a people and as proud, conscious 'New-Guard'- politicians go from here.
Here being the place and time, where and when the Dutch Government has decided to take a more active role in guaranteeing better governance on St. Maarten – which some now- conveniently and opportunistically- term 'neo-colonialism'.
Also, the place and time, where and when the trust and confidence in the 'Old-guard' politicians by the local community, as well as international bodies has taken a severe 'beating' as never before.
The place and time, being also where and when ALL St. Marten people, locally as well as in the Netherlands and elsewhere have to endure shame and disgrace of being associated with all things corrupt.
The place and time, where and when also our young, 'New Guard'- politicians and young professionals , are being in many cases - UNJUSTLY connected with presumed acts of corruption and criminal activities they never actually were responsible for
And so, we can go on and on...
One thing is for sure.
Whether the 'Dutch' really had any 'colonial' agenda that would lead them to intervene or not – by us not starting to define ourselves as a people and starting to chart a new course for ourselves – they will AUTOMATICALLY get far more grip on everything on the island than if there was an alternative a 'fire-wall'.
For that reason, last week on Facebook, I made an appeal to all 'New Guard'-politicians across all party-lines to come together is an effort to start charting a new and more responsible way of Governing their country.
The response on Facebook was truly humbling to me.
Many young people responded incredibly positive.
Although, we do not want in any way to influence their possible thinking, we feel that as seniors, we have a responsibility towards empowering and inspiring our youngsters and young professionals to take control of their own destiny and of the destiny of their won country.
It can not be so - that because of the attitude of my generation of people and politicians in which we have created a situation of distrust and of negativity for our next generation, that they should become the victims.
Therefore, the least we of the St. Martin grassroots People Movement feel we can do, is to take the initiative to bring interested youngsters/politicians from North and South St. Martin together.
The idea would be to encourage them and where and when requested by them to assist in setting themselves up as the ' New Guard'- leaders of this country.
Eventually, they should work towards regaining the lost trust and confidence in politics and Government by our won people I the first place.
Also, eventually, they should put together a very professional delegation to go to the Netherlands, France, the UN, the Caricom, schools and other institutions on the island etc.
To us, this is the sensible action to take now, as opposed to allow the credibility and future career of our youngsters to be 'tainted' by them being used in a useless 'tit-for- tat' against the 'Dutch' – that is a lost proposition.
Needless to emphasize, that our St. Martin Grassroots People Movement is more than willing to assist our next generation of political leaders in the process.
Who knows, if The Governor, The UN, The Dutch Parliament and others, would also be willing to assist in this process of reconciliation and in regaining and rebuilding trust and hope in the future for all on the island.
In ending, allow me to thank the very many bloggers on Facebook for their very positive and encouraging response and we look forward contributing to our young people being able to be the best they can and to define themselves as such, as opposed to be associated with corruption, nepotism and the like.
God bless and guide our 'New-guard'- Politicians, young professionals and youngsters in general.

With respect,
Drs. Leopold James
President of the St. Martin Grassroots People Movement

Many of St. Maarten's timeshare owners either are affected directly or indirectly by the letter sent by the new owning company of what was known as the Caravanserai , which letter stated that their timeshare rights would be annulled. This goes on in a domino effect to also exert a negative influence on the lives of every St. Maarten person as the major source of money in our pockets is courtesy of our main pillar tourism economy.

The St. Maarten Timeshare Association is doing everything it can to encourage our government to become engaged in this issue. We have a confirmed meeting with the Minister of Tourism and Economy, Ted Richardson, the new owner and the SMTA set for October 28th. While draft legislation was prepared by MP Leroy de Weever that would offer the St. Maarten government the ability to actively protect the interests of the timeshare owners, the current law does not offer this tool to help our tourism product.

Although we do not currently have a lot of timeshare specific laws, there are plenty of laws to protect our timeshare owners' interests. As St. Maarten is a Civil Code jurisdiction this means people must hire legal representatives to plead their case before a judge.
The government of St. Maarten can exert its influence to see if cooperation can be obtained, but it has no way to force a private entity to comply in a private matter under the current law.

The SMTA would like to outline several possible options for Caravanserai timeshare owners. The options listed are not recommendations, but rather are put out so that informed choices can be made.

1.  Sign the Agreement sent out as is by Alegria.
2.  Hire a law firm to represent you to enforce your timeshare rights. You can do this individually or join a group. Two law firms have communicated to SMTA their interest in providing timeshare owners seeking assistance local legal advice ‎on the matter; Lexwell Attorneys at Law and Bermon Law Offices. Individuals would pay more than if they went as a group. Contacting one of these offices should give a clear indication of the strength of any action.
3.  Another option would be to do nothing and see what develops. Whichever way you decide, the SMTA will continue to work to make the St. Maarten timeshare product the best it can be for both our valued tourists and our society alike.

Ever since the Dutch Minister Of Overseas Affairs and Kingdom Relations, Mr. Ronald Plasterk, issued an instruction for the screening of the new ministers for St. Maarten to the Governor of St. Maarten, the island finds itself in a state of pandemonium.
To be clear however and judging from comments and reactions coming from bloggers and from the working-class people, it appears that this very far-reaching measure from the Dutch Government mainly has its effects on politicians, who seem to be very nervous, upset and scrambling for cover, sympathy and popular support.
In other words, while particularly the politicians and their political 'operatives', are the ones screaming the loudest about colonialism, racism and of 'fighting back' - the 'man and woman on the street', are much more neutral, if not outright open-minded to and in favor of the decision by the Dutch to 'intervene' in the screening process in order to stamp out nepotism, corruption and the like.
As far as our St. Martin Grassroots People Movement is concerned - what is happening now, was a long time in coming and was predicted on so many occasions by us as well.
But then again, who was interested in what we have been saying for some 30 odd years now ?
Certainly not those screaming the loudest – our 'honorable' politicians.
And while in recent times, our movement had decided to simply let events take their course, so that people and politicians would be forced to realize that the island is on a collision course – in the midst of this 'melee', we were contacted by a number of politicians from various political parties, looking forward to us giving them support against the Dutch instruction on the new screening measures for ministers.
For this reason, we have decided to publicly address the powers that are - of the following and hope it will suffice - for now.
The St. Martin Grassroots People Movement will - at this time - not get involved in any actions against the decision of the Dutch to give instructions to the Governor on the screening process.
For the record.
Our decision not to get involved against the 'Dutch' under the current circumstances is NOT based on our movement being 'pro-Dutch'.
Whosoever - for their own agenda – would want to believe otherwise – such will not be our concern.
The records all show unequivocally, that we have always been - an independently-minded, non-partisan, non-racial, non- national, very outspoken, 100% pro- grassroots St. Martin People Movement - without apologies - to be clear.
Many times, we have been the proverbial 'lone wolf in the desert' - a position we felt very comfortably with, as a matter of fact for the simple reason that we passionately believe in our vision and mission for this island.
Therefore, our movement, is not one that can easily - if at all - be fooled, intimidated, coerced and manipulated into thinking that the 'Dutch' - or any other people for that matter - are the real problem for the native, indigenous St. Martin people and for the country in general.
They are NOT – our own ignorance, lack of principles, lack of knowledge of- and love for 'Self' are our greatest enemies.
Our position in this regards, has been very clear, simple, logical and consistent over the years.
A monumental and historical case in point is the following;
When in the past, our own local St. Maarten politicians - NOT the Dutch - did EVERYTHING possible to break up the Antilles in order to get separate-status - I, Leopold James, along with the late Eldrige van Putten and with Elco Rosario, former notary went to the extreme to warn the politicians and the people, that it was NOT in the best interest of us as a people.
We were ridiculed and systematically denied access to many talk-shows on the island.
Consequently, the politicians had a 'field-day', 'spoon-feeding' the public with their specific and biased agenda.
In that process, the politicians deliberately 'set up' the St. Martin people against 'Curacao' and promised that with the new status, we would be able to do 'We own ting' (= the politicians filling their own pockets based on deals at the expense of the people).
We (= the politicians ) would eliminate the 'middle man' (= the Central Government/Curacao) and deal directly with Holland.
Our brilliant politicians were so 'bloody' eager and greedy for getting complete power at home, that they swallowed 'hook, line and sinker' the legal implications of being in the Kingdom as a 'country' within the Dutch Kingdom.
Consequently, they took completely for granted (= not to mean much) the 'Guarantee- function' of the Kingdom-Government for good governance and along with the Dutch SIGNED OFF to these provisions.
Now, that the Dutch Government is simply executing, what it is legally bound to do and to which our politicians agreed upon with their signatures - this action of the Dutch is now being construed by our local politricians, to be some form of 'colonial interference', racism etc.
Oh really ?
If, that really is the case, then who are the greatest fools for having agreed to those 'colonial' intervention provisions for the new and highly coveted 'Country status' dream to become a reality ?
As a matter of fact, we always stated, that the day of 'reckoning' would come and that the politicians would have to give an account to the people of St. Maarten for what they did to the people of the island.
For one, Why is it, that since they broke up the Antilles, we are no longer protected (as Antilleans were in the former Antilles) and why we are currently being completely overrun by hordes of bold, illegal, exploding numbers of non-added value, immigrants.
In ending - we the St. Martin Grassroots People Movement - once more state the following.
Unless and until, our politicians correct the deliberate 'mistake' and betrayal of the native, indigenous St. Martin people by refusing to recognize us and to protect our rights in the constitution – we consider those politicians the greatest problem and threat to the very existence of our people and NOT the Dutch.
Had our own politicians not thrown us under the proverbial bus - but had recognized us as a people and had protected our rights in the Constitution never to become marginalized and threatened to become victims of genocide by substitution – our position would have been completely different today.
Therefore - until such time - our 'honorable' politicians, should not hold their breath on any support from our side - they are free to 'suck their blows' all by themselves – it's all about the law of Karma.

Drs. Leopold James
President of the St. Martin Grassroots People Movement.
Copies
St. Maarten Parliament
Dutch Parliament
UN etc.

Bloem Bonapart & Aardenburg Ill
Attorneys at Law 1 Advokaten

OPEN LETTER TO MR. A. BOSMAN Present
St. Maarten, October 19th, 2014

Re: Erroneous, slanderous and defaming statements

Dear Mr. Bosman,

On behalf of the Minister of Public Health Social Development and Labor, Mr. V.H.C. de

Weever, client, I request your urgent attention for the following.

I refer to the following media publications:

1. The Daily Herald in Sint Maarten on, Tuesday, September 30th, 2014: " According to VVD Member of the Second Chamber Andre Bosman, De Weever was "simply bought" by Heyliger" 1;
2. The Today Newspaper Sint Maarten, published on September 30th, 2014: POSTED:

09/30/14 10:55 PM : "According to WD-MP Andre Bosman "Heyliger simply paid De
Weever.2";

3. The Telegraaf, Netherlands, published on Monday, September 29th, 2014: "Volgens

VVD-Kamerlid Bosman is De Weever 'gewoon betaald' door Heyliger. 3
4. Amigoe, Cura<;ao, published on Tuesday, September 30th, 2014: "Volgens WD­ Kamerlid Bosman is De Weever 'gewoon betaald' door Heyliger"

1 http://www.thedailyherald.com/index.php?option=com content&view=article&id=50543:second­

chamber-calls-for-intervention-in-st-maarten&catid=1:islands-news<emid=54

2 http://www.todaysxm.com/2014/09/30/reaction-to-pwc-integrity-report-dutch-want-criminal -investiqation­
into-the-government-of-st-maarten/

3 http://www.teleqraaf.nllbinnenland/23136875/ Onderzoek naar corruptie Si nt-Maarten .html

Juancho Yrausquin I St. Maanen
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Attorneys at Law I Advokaten

To date you did not repudiate these statements that consequently appear to have indeed been made by you. If this is incorrect, please inform me accordingly. The remaining part of this letter is based on the likely premise that you indeed made referenced statements that by the way were quoted in exactly the same manner in at least four different newspapers.

The contentions that you made lack factual basis and are moreover slanderous and/or defamatory towards client. Your publications and/or public statements are untruthful, grievous and deliberately slanderous as per article 6 :167 of the Sint Maarten Civil Code. Moreover, the verbiage used violates the honor and good reputation of client which constitutes slander as per our Penal Code.

The expressions furthermore violate the duty of care that must be safeguarded in respect to other persons in society. By expressing yourself in the manner described, you have moreover committed a tortuous act against client.

I furthermore note in this respect that your contentions do not serve any -general- interest. They intend to deliberately jeopardize the good name and reputation of client and because
of this alone there cannot be any objective justification for the disputed actions caso quo

publications.

Your unfounded and untruthful comments actually cause severe damage to the reputation of country Sint Maarten and consequently in a broader sense also reflect negatively on the Dutch Kingdom. Within the International Community credence might be unjustly given to your untruthful, defaming statements, made with seemingly no regard or concern for
the financial, economic and social ramifications for client and country Sint Maarten, and for

latter's position within the Dutch Kingdom.

Client has reasons to believe that you will continue to deliberately tarnish his good name and reputation by means of untruthful, grievous and deliberate slanderous expressions. The fact that to this date you did not make any effort to distant yourself from the disputed statement(s) or otherwise provide any evidence therefor, only further strengthens client in his belief.

Attorneys at Law 1 Advokaten
By law you are obliged to verify the sources and accurateness of the contention(s) you make, even if you perceive this source to be correct. The thoroughness of that investigation must be proportionate to the severity of the accusations made. In the underlying case it is highly unlikely that you performed any investigation. Please note that by law you cannot hide behind alleged rumors or public statements which may have been made by others.

In light of the severity of the accusations made, your lack of -proper- investigation constitutes a violation of your duty to act diligently, which makes the statement(s) illegal. Your accusations were so severe that you were not entitled to make them, at least not without a thorough research and/or thoughtful reflection/consideration, concerning accurateness.

Client expresses the sincere hope that you will not attempt to hide behind your Parliamentary Immunity. Please note that a possible claim by you on Parliamentary Immunity would in any case not protect you from your civil and criminal liability in this matter, since you -also- made the disputed statements outside of Parliament. Invoking Parliamentary Immunity would instead reflect on your willingness to accept responsibility for the truthfulness of the statements that you made and as such reflect on your person and personality.

It would honor you, certainly in view of the manner in which you portray yourself as a straightforward, equitable and honorable person, to retract your incorrect and unsubstantiated statements out of your own volition. Moreover, since this would limit the damages suffered by client and country Sint Maarten to date.

You are hereby summoned to refrain from making any further factually incorrect, grievous and slanderous comment about client and notified that client reserves the right to start legal actions against you. Please also note that client holds you personally and severally responsible for the monetary equivalent of all damages he suffered and will suffer as a consequence of your illegal actions. You are hereby given notice of the legal interest on the monetary equivalent of client's damages as of today.

Bloem Bonapart & Aardenburg II
--AttoJneys at Law I Advokaten
Sin ererV, '

I salute you and I wish you God's guidance as you go about doing the people's work, defending and representing Country St. Maarten and her people.

You are Honorable Members of Parliament. You are NOT MP's.
For the salary that we are paying you, the chairpersons as well as each one of you must take the extra time and refer to each other as Honorable Members of Parliament.

There are two clichés that I want you to dispel so that you would not use them nor pay attention to them.
To go independent:
In our political terminology this applies to a Member of Parliament who leaves one party or grouping to stand on his/her own.
To jump ship:
In our political terminology, this means leaving one party or grouping to join another party or grouping.

You took an oath and based on that, all 15 of you are Independent Honorable Members of Parliament. The only grouping that is recognized is the grouping that agrees to appoint the ministers. After the ministers have been appointed by a minimum of 8 Members of Parliament, the majority, in Parliament, gives directions to the ministers.
This means that each of you can support or reject any idea or motion that comes to the floor, regardless to who presents it.
We want to hear WHY you support or reject every idea or motion that comes to the floor.
No more simply voting for or against, along party lines. For the salary we are paying you, we deserve an explanation/motivation and not just a 'for or against'.
We do not believe that the group of 8 or more is always right and the others are always wrong.

There is this crazy idea that the executive branch does its own thing and the legislative does its own thing.
That must be a thing of the past.
The most important law, that you have to legislate on, is the BUDGET.
That is the law that the ministers have to comply with, as per your instructions.
Every minister must come to Parliament to present and defend his/her budget.
The minister of finance must act as a controller to advise ministers and Parliament when monies are not being used properly, what monies are received, not received and spent. His/her duty is also to set fiscal policies, with the approval of Parliament.
There must a limit to the amount that a minister can commit the country to, without approval of parliament.

These ministers must be appointed for 4 years. Changing alliances, is no reason for changing a minister. If a minister does not perform properly, there must be a possibility to dismiss him/her. This should be done in a Parliamentary meeting, at which time the minister must be given the opportunity to defend himself. There should be special arbitration in such a case.

We believe that there must be a change to our electoral laws.
I have my suggestion, that I have been hammering on over the years and I will present it to you.

Once again, I wish you God's blessings and guidance as you defend and represent Country St. Maarten and her people.

Clifton R. Wilson

Cornelius de Weever starts his DP campaign with the grandiose statement: "I will accept no donations from third parties, as I want to owe nobody and be able to vote my conscience". He goes on to slide into the #2 vote-getter spot on the DEMOCRATIC Party list (without getting enough votes to elect himself). Every last DP vote was used to put Cornelius de Weever in the next Parliament of St. Maarten. The DP got together with the USP (2) and the NA (4) to make the needed majority and negotiated 2 Ministries for its 2 seats. Our party leader choose to go to Parliament and our second MP-elect Cornelius de Weever got first pick: Stay in Parliament or become a Minister. And then came what I term a "Leroy special": Cornie choose Parliament and suggested to the DP to appoint his aunt to the post of Minister. He explained that "the position needs some one who cares for people on St. Maarten, not a business person who really does not understand the needs of our population", ( Emil Lee??). The suggestion is immediately shot down by the Leader of the DP, supported by the party top then present. Fast forward to September 24th. Cornie signs up with 7 UP MP's-elect, but does not (up to today, Sunday, October 6, 2014) resign from the Democratic Party. Whether the Governor in his role to coordinate the forming of a new government, is dealing with one political party and a renegade MP-elect, or 8 renegade MP's-elect, either way, Cornie and Leroy are poised to become King Makers on the backs of the people that voted for all the candidates on the Democratic Party slate, with the financial support of donors to the Democratic Party (remember, Cornie gallantly said he would take NOT a penny from third parties, but yet, he proudly wore his DP#2 T- shirts and smiled at you from life sized posters, all paid for by the same DP Donors he "stood up against"). So picture this: As Leroy is officially out of a job come 10/10/14 is it possible that he will become Prime Minister, or Minister of Health while Cornie sits in Parliament and together they determine the fate of Theo's government? My vote is for Sarah, William and Frans to form the United Democratic Alliance opposition block of 7 in Parliament, and wait for this coalition of 8 to implode. It is bound to happen.

Michael J. Ferrier

Dear Editor,

On 10-10-2014 Sint Maarten will exist four years as an independent Country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. During those four years, we had three (3) governments (the fourth one is to be anticipated within soon) and there have been five (5) MP's that declared themselves independent/separated themselves from the party on which slate they were elected. The above means that, on average every (approximate) 9,5 months, a MP jumps ship, in many cases with extreme consequences and in many cases the step is eventually lighthearted and without giving very convincing or valid reasons.

In practice, (extreme and personal) power games are being played by MP's who already have declared themselves independent in the past and also by MP's who consider or threaten their parties to do the same. Today it may concern an MP that is on the DP slate, tomorrow it may be an MP on the UP, US or NA slate. Noteworthy is the fact that these personal power games are not warranted and cannot be justified based on the number of votes these (five) MP's got; none of them earned a seat by themselves.

Jumping ship is (therefore) a form of deceit of the electorate. It is also not democratic for the following reasons. By casting a vote, a voter communicates that he has confidence in (i) a candidate and (ii) a slate of a political party. The voter does take into account the risk that his preferred candidate may not gain a seat in Parliament, however the voter also trusts on the assumption that if the candidate of preference is not chosen, that the party on which slate the preferred candidate was listed, will benefit from this vote. Therefore voters, by casting a vote, express their confidence, not only in a candidate but and also in a party.

At the moment of voting, voters do not and can or should not reasonably expect or anticipate that their preferred candidate on a certain party slate will or intends to (suddenly and more than often light hearted) jump ship during his or her term of election. In principle this is not the proper thing to do; only in extreme case there may be a justifiable reason for same. To further illustrate the above, by taking a closer look at the most recent 'flip-flop Houdini act,' the following rhetoric questions can be raised;
- Would the 378 voters that voted for Ministr de Weever ("De Weever") also have voted for this candidate, if they would have known before Election Day that he would jump ship (within a month after the election)?
- Would the 2334 voters that voted for the DP Party also have voted for DP Party if they would have known before Election Day that De Weever would jump ship shortly after the election?

It is easy to add another rhetoric question to this list: will De Weever be the last MP that will jump ship (during this governing term)?

The national sport of ship jumping or flip flopping (in a lighthearted manner) leads to unstable governments, distrust of the electorate and - last but not least - is bad for the investment climate (why invest, if the investor cannot rely on a trustworthy and stable government?). It is also not democratic, because it was not the expressed wish of the voter, that his or her preferred candidate or one of his or her colleagues on the same party slate would jump ship. To anticipate on ship jumping is in essence really the same as playing Russian roulette. In other words: why organize an election, while we may as well roll a dice to determine how power will be distributed. The often heard arguments that "this is the dynamics of democracy" and "this is the way democracy works" are not convincing at all. To the contrary: jumping ship or flip-flopping can in all reason not be considered to be part of a democratic process.

What to do? There are in essence two options: change the people or change the system.

The current system is not bad (it works in Holland, where political parties have developed ideologies and hardly ever jump ship), however I have little to no confidence that (on the short term) it will be possible to change the mindset of the people (read the MP's, once elected) in such a manner that it will be realistic to make the coalition system function properly (within soon). Therefore, focusing on changing the system seems more productive. After four years' experience, it is clear that the Dutch system (coalition system or parliamentary democracy) doesn't work on this side of the ocean, or at least not on Sint Maarten.

Maybe Sint Maarten should consider the following suggestion for a (more U.S. or French like Presidential) system. This suggested system will in any way create more stability and it will immediately end the objectionable personal power games of (potential) ship jumpers.

An election procedure with two phases:
- Phase 1: during this phase, it will be established which two parties get most votes and only these two parties will participate in the second phase;
- Phase 2: the electorate will not only elect members of Parliament, but will also vote for their preferred Prime Minister. Candidates for the position of Minister-President will have to be screened (successfully) before the first phase of the election process;

The party that gains most votes in phase 2 will be in government (in principle for four years) and will also deliver the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister will be exclusively authorized to appoint and dismiss his or her cabinet of Ministers. The system will also ensure that there is one big opposition party (and thus the opposition will not be fragmented). Furthermore, the laws should stipulate that if government no longer enjoys a majority in Parliament, it will be obliged to call for new elections (in other words: to form a new government on the same elections results should be explicitly forbidden).

Another alternative to end the objectionable practice of ship jumping is to implement statutory rules that forbid that an MP elect leaves the party, on which slate (s)he was elected, unless (s)he gained the seat by getting sufficient votes to pass the electoral threshold. Other MP's are free to leave, but are in that case obliged to hand over the seat to the candidate next in line on the party slate on which he was elected. The often heard argument against this alternative is that it may be unconstitutional. I am not necessarily convinced that this is a valid argument. After a decision is taken to head into a direction like this, it must be possible that juridical technocrats work out a way that is also acceptable from constitutional point of view.

Disadvantage of both suggestions above, is that there will be more power with the political parties (which may lead to abuse). This is true, however this interest should be weighed against the big advantage that it creates much more stability in government and that it will make an abrupt end to the reprehensible practice of opportunistic and light hearted ship jumping.

The aim of this opinion letter is not give readers or government the impression that I have the ultimate wisdom and/or that I pretend to know it all better. The aim of this letter is to make clear that this continuous practice of ship-jumping is in fact a problem that should be recognized and addressed. I hereby assume that most people in Sint Maarten are more interested in having a democracy, rather than a country run by a dictator or by the highest bidder. I also assume that the majority of the electorate is not interested to having a country that is run by administrators that – once they are elected – act in a basically ad random and thus unpredictable manner.

The real aim of this opinion letter is to initiate a constructive discussion in order to find a solution of a problem that, in my view, can and should no longer be ignored. As chances are small that (on the short term) the people (read: mindset of the MP's, once elected) will change, I am convinced that it is in the interest of more stability, that regulatory changes to the system will be made (at least before the next election). In principle we have four year to work on this...

Roeland Zwanikken
Partner at BZSE Law Attorneys at Law/Tax advisers

Dear Editor,

"When I left , it was late. I was burdened by a tremendous sadness. I understand Florence's predicament well. All the peri-Independent generation shared a common vision of a better life. Unfortunately, too many of us had translated this into a material definition of success. We developed all the symptoms of the Post-Colonial Syndrome, endemic to Africa: acquisition, imitation and a paucity of imagination. We simply rushed to secure what the colonialist had. We bought their homes, attended their schools, leased their offices, spoke their language, played their sports, and courted their company. We denied our own culture, relieved to leave our primitive origins far away, in some forgotten village. And so we believed ourselves sophisticated at last, integrated into the mainstream of cosmopolitan culture. We created an invisible white line of ultimate aspiration: to achieve what the Europeans had. This was the epitome of civilization, the very definition of evolutionary advancement. We ceased to dream, to have our vision of happiness and success. We were able to carry off this farce with aplomb but our children were getting caught in some grey zone that was neither black culture nor truly white either. We had to acknowledge our dual citizenship. We are urban and rural, old and new. We exist in contradictory timeframes; in one we are creating computer programs for artificial intelligence and in another we are carrying a bucket to the river to fetch drinking water. It is our reality, we cannot run away from it. If we cannot fully resolve our dual citizenship as Africans, we must at least be honest with ourselves for the children's sake. It is a commitment that your father and I made when you were born. I could not forsake our determination to expose you to our culture. If in the end you rejected it, that was fine, but we have fulfilled our responsibility as African parents; the rest was up to you."
The above is taken from the novel: 'Zenzele, A Letter For My Daughter' (1996). It was written by Doctor Nozipo Maraire (neurosurgeon) and her book is according to the good Doctor a staple of African literature and is required reading for colleges and schools nowadays. With some imagination, a little more than paucity I pray, the above can easily be translated to Sint Maarten (Sainmat'n) and many other Caribbean Islands. However, despite the obvious similarities, an institution like the Caribbean Court of Justice shows that there is a movement of emancipation.
For the last few years I observed a Sint Maarten in transit, continuously doing the same thing and pretending to expect different results. Now I'm reading that we went from a 'formateur' to two 'informateurs' and I'm left to wonder; what will be next on this mini island nation of ours that will again keep us in transit? Why opt for fictional characters that have no democratic legitimacy? My mind keeps going back to the above quoted passage that helped shape my reasoning years ago. It made me aware that when it comes to building the important things in life, it's best to be part of the designing from the early beginnings, and when building ensure that every building block is thoughtfully or even meticulously selected in order to ensure that whatever we build, we are fully responsible and accountable for. We were not part of the design team of the system we are living under. We do not know the how's and the why's of the system. We don't have all the previous blueprints and we were not there while those blueprints were being drawn. We have been handed a watered down version of the present blueprint and are expected to fend for ourselves. This method of nation building has rendered us into mere repairmen by default. Always forced to 'fix' and never able to design, build, own and operate. We can no longer ignore that the system we are living under is broken, equal to that of the Netherlands Antilles was from the onset, and end the jumping through hoops, the twisting and turning words to the edge of insanity to accommodate feeble agenda's.
By hook or crook this nation is a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands since October 10, 2010. We, the citizens of this nation, are obligated to be more responsible and carry out our obligations as a nation by upholding the rule of law and continuously seek out the general interest in all we do. To ensure success we need realistic laws that are simultaneously sound, reflective of us, executable by us, and enforceable by us.
We can no longer afford to follow models that were created through a long and tedious historic process befitting to those they were created by and for but unknown to the majority of citizens of this nation. We cannot be taken aback nor surprised that we may never be able to fully comprehend, implement nor maintain a system we didn't build. You cannot be riding a bike while at the helm of a space craft. Nor can I expect from myself to be well versed in Chinese (actually I should say Mandarin) just because I have Chinese heritage. You wouldn't go to a store and spend your hard earned money on clothes 5 sizes bigger than your size, would you? Why would a 16 square miles island with a workforce well below 20.000, with limited financial and human resource capacity, and particular ways/cultural expressions want to fit in a model designed for a country that requires a larger (thus more anonymous), more educated, more vocal, more industrious, more regulated, more compliant work force? The result of this is a logical consequence: perpetual dependency on foreign/outside assistance. There will simply never be enough of those from here to fit in any such model that isn't based on our capacity. The true Sint Maarten model must fit the reality and the stage of development we are in. The system must provide us with the necessary incentives to develop in hopefully a right, positive and cohesive direction.
We must reject this failed system as soon as possible. We urgently need to start designing, building and operating a system by us, for us. All hands on deck. Let us actively seek out the assistance of the many successful professionals we have out there in the wider world. Those that are contributing to building the nation of others. Some by choice, some by sheer disappointment with the level of disrespect Sint Maarten bestows on professionals. Whatever we do, we cannot continue to kid ourselves that this model will ever work.
Can we take the challenge? The challenge of engaging each other on all levels from a heartfelt desire to address the many qualms that are systematic. Most of our laws are in disconnect with the norms and values that we yet have to establish for ourselves as a nation. While the present laws are ideally meant to be a reflection of our norms and values as a nation, reality is that we believe in a different set of norms and values. An example of this, is that most of us still believe that prostitution is illegal. Reality is that the term prostitution doesn't even exist in our penal code. The activity of a female adult engaging in transactional sex with a male client is legal. Oddly enough the one thing that we have grown accustomed to, which are the various houses of pleasure, are the ones that run the risk of prosecution. Taking a cut from and/or structurally facilitating the process of a woman providing sexual services for payment is the only act that can be easily prosecuted.
We have mastered the art of facilitating, making the impossible possible. Yes is No and No is Yes. Words, whether imbedded in laws or not, may and cannot stop nor deter, is the attitude of those claiming to power. We have earned degrees in finding patches without actually tackling and fixing the problem. Of course laws must be abided by unless it works out negatively and affects one of us personally. Then enters the reverse 'of course', that same law becomes an unjust law and therefore cannot be applied. Laws are mere words that aren't meant to keep any of us from getting what we want especially if we know who to turn to for an 'exception'.
On the flip side we also developed the amazing skill of creating laws or derivatives thereof out of thin air, actually hot air in our context. We have conjured up a formateur and now informateur(s) as fictional characters based on the process of government formation that is nowhere described in any law. I must wonder what the English translation will be of those terms. We are screening ministers and are happily infringing on their internationally and constitutionally vested right to privacy. Conveniently ignoring that only by the highest form of law (called ordinance in our 'country' context) someone's right to privacy can be trampled upon. Although I can't wait to hear the dissenting opinions I urge you to take keen note of the below mentioned 'traps'.
We have established and lifted moratoriums without any legal basis. We have forgotten the role of institutions like the Chamber of Commerce regarding market saturation. We have come to believe that - I can only get a license through the 'help' of someone in power. No. You have the economic right to engage in business. If you want a taxi license as the source of your main income you may apply for it. If you fit all the criteria you MUST get it. Simple. No one is doing you a favor. It is your economic right. If you were 'helped' means that due process wasn't followed and that a legal stipulation was skipped or twisted in order to 'help' you attain your license. In other words, a law was blatantly broken to accommodate you. Gratefully running the risk of losing that same license that was meant to sustain you and your family because due process wasn't followed. Never mind that you have put your 'helper' at risk of being prosecuted.
We seemingly strive for integrity yet apply non-integer means to achieve the goal of integrity. Odd. Those same institutions, bodies, departments that are supposed to be part of the integrity guarding process are consciously or subconsciously placing internal and external non-compliance above compliance to the principle of the rule of law thus defeating the purpose of their existence. Our misguided need for practicality and servitude of agenda's has rendered this nation of ours defective and at the mercy of any and all outside powers. Outside powers that will oddly do more harm than good as they fall in the 'status' trap, the 'I know it better' trap, the 'expat' trap, the ' I'm going to clean up' trap, the 'sex-drugs-alcohol' trap or the 'any combination thereof' trap.
We are slowly bleeding out and need a blood transfusion. If we don't find our own blood type to revive us and instead continue to use the wrong blood type, well then yes, the writing is on the wall. We are on the verge of not only losing at home but of losing our home. And for what? To say that we believed to be doing it our way? That we were blindfolded by promises, alcohol, bright lights, sex, sweet sounds and smells and didn't realize the destination Air Hot Vision was taking us? The pilot sitting in first class just sent the second pilot in the cockpit a Whatsapp message with the instruction to announce to the cabin crew to prepare for landing. After landing the following is announced: welcome back to Sint Maarten. To ensure your maximum pleasure during your stay, please ignore laws when convenient and create nonexistent ones also when convenient. Please take anything you want out of the overhead bins. For those of you missing anything from the overhead bins, please announce yourself to the gate agent for a full refund of your return ticket, any missing items and a 'likkle' extra's to ensure a pleasurable stay.
We have systematic flaws in the design of our system that need all (well most) hands on deck if we are to steer the course in a positive direction. How long are we not going to hold each other accountable despite living in a small community? Yes the revolving door reality of 'today for me and tomorrow for you' is very much alive on this small island of ours, but we cannot use this as an excuse to hamper, stifle or even stop progress. Ego's will and must be hurt and fears must be overcome if we need to grow up, learn to swim, make our own rods, use our own bait, build our own boats, learn to sail, take to the seas and fish for ourselves.

Eunicio S. Martina

St-Barth accueille des chefs prestigieux venus des Etats-Unis, du Japon, de France, de Suède et du Brésil !

Durant cinq jours, du 30 octobre au 03 novembre 2014, l'île de St-Barthélemy accueillera sept chefs au talent exceptionnel : Jean-Georges Vongerichten venu spécialement des Etats-Unis, Hideaki Matsuo venu du Japon, Thomas Troisgros venu du Brésil, Daniel Berlin venu de Suède ainsi que Jérôme Nutile, Jean-Jacques Noguier et Amandine Chaignot, tous trois venus de France.

Taste of St St Barth Gourmet Festival se réjouit d'accueillir pour la première fois à St-Barthélemy un événement gastronomique avec un plateau de chefs prestigieux :

• • quatre des sept chefs invités cumulent un total de neuf étoiles au guide Michelin,
• • et les trois autres chefs, également hautement qualifiés, ont maintes fois été récompensés dans leurs pays respectifs.

Ces sept cuisiniers extraordinaires seront accueillis dans les plus beaux établissements de l'île où ils cuisineront en duo avec les chefs résidents de St-Barth.

Jean-Georges Vongerichten, parrain de Taste of St Barth Gourmet Festival 2014 :
Jean-Georges Vongerichten (3 étoiles Michelin, Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux, élu meilleur restaurant des Etats-Unis en 2009 par la fondation James Beard, Restaurant Jean-Georges, New-York/Etats-Unis) est l'un des chefs les plus célébrés au monde. Arrivé aux Etats-Unis en 1986 après avoir passé cinq ans en Asie, cet Alsacien d'origine a conquis le Nouveau monde en développant une cuisine fine, légère, entre Europe et Asie, aux saveurs intenses de fruits et de plantes. Outre son emblématique restaurant éponyme de New-York, Chef Jean-Georges dirige une quinzaine de restaurants dans le monde.
Chef Jean-Georges animera les dîners de chefs de l'Eden Rock, - dont il signe déjà la carte des restaurants depuis 2011 -, pour l'événement Taste of St Barth Gourmet Festival. Site Internet : www.edenrockhotel.com
Chef Jean-Georges parraine cette 1ère édition du festival et présidera également le jury du St Barth Chef Challenge by Taittinger.

Matsuo Hideaki (3 étoiles Michelin, Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux, restaurant Kashiwaya, Osaka/Japon) : Dès son plus jeune âge, Chef Matsuo Hideaki baigne dans l'univers de la cuisine japonaise traditionnelle, grâce à son père notamment qui a fondé l'actuel restaurant dont il a repris les rênes aujourd'hui. Dès 1986, après des études scientifiques, Chef Hideaki explore sa passion pour la cuisine en intégrant le restaurant Shofukuro (fondé en 1868), considéré comme une véritable institution des arts et traditions culinaires japonaises. Chef Matsuo Hideaki a succédé à son père à la tête du Kashiwaya depuis 1992. Il s'est vu récompensé de trois étoiles Michelin en 2011 et a été sacré Grand Chef Relais & Château en 2012. La table du chef Hideaki est l'une des plus réputées du Japon ; sa cuisine traditionnelle japonaise est mâtinée de techniques et d'ingrédients occidentaux.
Chef Hideaki Matsuo sera accueilli au Toiny, Relais & Châteaux, où il officiera aux côtés de leur nouveau chef exécutif, Jean-Christophe Gille. Site Internet : www.letoiny.com

Thomas Troisgros (meilleur chef de l'année 2009, restaurant L'Olympe, Rio de Janeiro/Brésil) : Quatrième génération de cuisiniers de la famille Troisgros, Thomas est né au Brésil. Il baigne dans l'univers de la gastronomie française depuis sa naissance et est initié à la cuisine dès son plus jeune âge auprès de son grand-père Pierre Troisgros, amoureux de la cuisine de terroir, et ensuite par son père Claude Troisgros qui a révolutionné la cuisine brésilienne. Diplômé de la Culinary Institute of America (2005), Thomas fait ses armes aux Etats-Unis auprès du célèbre chef Daniel Boulud puis en Espagne auprès de chefs trois étoiles. Il a repris les rênes des cuisines du restaurant familial L'Olympe à Rio de Janeiro depuis 2011. Il poursuit parallèlement son exploration de la cuisine brésilienne dont la richesse et les ingrédients sont une source permanente d'inspiration.
Chef Thomas Troisgros sera accueilli au Sereno où il officiera aux côtés du chef Laurent Cantineaux. Site Internet : www.lesereno.com

Daniel Berlin (« Young Chef of the Year Award » , San Pellegrino Cooking Cup 2011 ; élu meilleur restaurant de Suède 2012 ; restaurant Krog, Tranås/Suède) : C'est à Tranås en Scanie, région caractérisée par ses traditions culinaires originales à l'extrême Sud de la Suède, que vit et travaille le chef Daniel Berlin. Considéré comme l'un des jeunes chefs suédois les plus créatifs du moment, Daniel dirige, en famille, son propre restaurant où il utilise essentiellement des produits de cueillette et de pêche. Daniel Berlin affectionne une cuisine authentique sublimée par une touche personnelle innovante.
Chef Daniel Berlin sera accueilli au Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France où il officiera aux côtés du chef exécutif Yann Vinsot. Site Internet : stbarthisledefrance.chevalblanc.com

Jérôme Nutile (2 étoiles Michelin, Meilleur ouvrier de France 2011, Maître Cuisinier de France, Nîmes/France)
Sous-Chef de Georges Blanc, chef triplement étoilé, à Vonnas, au cœur de la Bresse, Jérôme Nutile approfondit ses connaissances techniques et acquiert l'amour du beau produit et de l'excellence. En 2004, il retourne dans le Gard et gagne 2 étoiles Michelin à Collias : une première en 2006, suivie d'une seconde en 2009. Deux ans plus tard, soit en 2011, le Chef obtient le titre de Meilleur Ouvrier de France, une consécration qui vient couronner des années de discipline, de travail et de perfectionnement.
Jérôme Nutile se lance désormais dans une nouvelle aventure : il ouvrira sa propre maison fin 2014 à Nîmes (Gard).
Chef Jérôme Nutile est accueilli au Guanahani & Spa et officiera aux côtes de leur chef exécutif Philippe Masseglia. Site Internet : leguanahani.com

Jean-Jacques Noguier (1 étoile Michelin, Maître Cuisinier de France, Restaurant La Ferme de l'Hospital, Bossey/France) : Le Guide Michelin le consacre chaque année depuis 15 ans, date à laquelle il a obtenu sa première étoile. Ce chef généreux ne travaille que de beaux produits sur des bases traditionnelles et livre une cuisine gourmande et plein de finesse. Du Michelin au Gault & Millau, les honneurs qui sont rendus à sa cuisine sont légion. Il n'est pas rare de croiser à sa table de Bossey des stars internationales de la chanson ou du cinéma qui viennent régulièrement lui rendre visite. Jean-Jacques Noguier prend également part chaque année à des festivals de la gastronomie à travers le monde.
Chef Jean-Jacques Noguier sera accueilli au restaurant La Plage du Tom Beach aux côtés de leur chef exécutif Paul Coste. Site Internet www.tombeach.com

Amandine Chaignot (Bocuse de Bronze 2012, Paris/France) : À 35 ans, Amandine Chaignot est considérée comme l'étoile montante de la gastronomie française. Son parcours sans faute ressemble à celui d'une élève brillante qui a choisi l'excellence comme maître mot. Elle abandonne ses études de Pharmacie et s'inscrit à l'Institut Ferrandi. Son chemin est tracé ! D'heureuses rencontres vont lui permettre de passer par les plus belles maisons : la Maison Prunier, le Plaza Athénée, le Bristol, le Ritz de Londres, le Meurice, le Crillon et l'Hôtel Raphaël. Amandine Chaignot a côtoyé les plus grands chefs, de Bernard Leprince à Alain Ducasse ou Eric Fréchon. À leurs côtés, en s'inspirant de leurs gestes et de leurs techniques, Amandine a trouvé sa propre identité culinaire, en proposant une cuisine contemporaine, raffinée et toute en légèreté.
Chef Amandine Chaignot sera accueillie au Christopher aux côtés de leur nouveau chef exécutif Arnaud Davin. Site Internet : www.hotelchristopher.com

Les temps forts du festival : 2 concours professionnel et 2 concours amateurs

        Concours de cuisine « St Barth Chef Challenge » by Taittinger (ouvert aux professionnels uniquement) :

1. Ce challenge est ouvert aux cuisiniers qualifiés qui seront sélectionnés sur dossier. Les cinq finalistes s'affronteront le dimanche 2 novembre lors de la réalisation d'un plat (chaud ou froid). Le vainqueur sera désigné par le jury des chefs invités, présidé par Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Remise des prix sur le quai d'honneur à Gustavia.
2.  Concours de galettes et de gâteaux traditionnels St-Barth : ouvert aux amateurs et qui désignera la meilleure galette et le meilleur gâteau St Barth ;
3.  Concours des Petites toques : désignera la meilleure pâtisserie réalisée par « une petite toque » amateur.
4. Concours de barman : création d'un « Cocktail Taste of St Barth » (ouvert aux professionnels uniquement).
5. Ce concours sera présidé par le chef barman Stéphane Ginouvès (Fouquet's, Paris), Meilleur ouvrier de France 2011. Cette épreuve est ouverte aux barmen qualifiés. Les candidats devront créer une recette originale de cocktail pour le Taste of St Barth Gourmet Festival 2014.

Établissements accueillant les dîners gastronomiques des chefs invités 2014
Les établissements suivants sont partenaires des dîners des chefs de Taste of St Barth 2014 et accueilleront les gourmets, du 30 octobre au 03 novembre 2014 :
Eden Rock-St Barths - Hôtel Le Toiny, Relais & Châteaux –Cheval Blanc St Barth Isle de France - Hôtel Guanahani & Spa - Hôtel Le Christopher, villas & spa - Le Sereno hotel & villas -La Plage, Tom Beach Hôtel
Les réservations pour les dîners gastronomiques sont ouvertes auprès des établissements ci-dessus.

Sponsor principal: Air France. Co-Sponsor: Winair - G'Vine - Taittinger - Badoit - Evian - Château Barbeyrolles - Domaine Pascal Jolivet - La Cave du Port Franc - Wimco - Segeco - Nespresso - Grands Vins de France – Rougié – Budget – Bragard – Pascal Jolivet – Elle & Vire Professionnels – Lavazza – Cacao Barry – Jet Blue – AMC St Barth – Chef's Market – Foodland - St Barth French West Indies – Casa del Mar – French Wine Indies – JCM Distribution – Bonito – Do Brazil – Nikki Beach – Napkin Service – LKJ Distribution – RMP Caraïbes – Le Ti St-Barth – La Plage, Tom Beach Hôtel – Nikki Beach. Partenaires: Collectivité de Saint-Barthélemy – St Barthélemy Hotels and Villas Association– St-Barthélemy Restaurant Association- St Barth Bartender & Waiter Service. Presse & medias locaux partenaires: Le Journal de Saint-Barth - Tropik FM - Caribin TV – Radio St-Barth – Le Pélican

Le présent communiqué de presse peut être téléchargé sur le site www.saintbarth-tourisme.com

Taste of St Barth Festival est un événement organisé par Le Comité territorial du tourisme de St-Barthélemy (CTTSB) - Contact presse : Inès Bouchaut-Choisy + (0)5 90 27 87 27 – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - www.saintbarth-tourisme.com - Partenariats & sponsoring : B.I.P.- Reine-May Vigoulette + (0)590 (0)690 711 070 & + 33 (0)613 751 606 – Skype : buzz-in-progress – Email : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Le mercredi 22 octobre 2014, vers 10h40, trois individus armés pénètrent dans la bijouterie « Golfinger » située rue de la République à
Marigot à St-Martin. Ils menacent avec des armes de poing le propriétaire des lieux et dérobent des bijoux, dont de nombreuses montres
en or de luxe.
Le centre opérationnel de la gendarmerie (C.O.G) de St-Martin est alors immédiatement avisé par une employée. Une patrouille du
peloton de surveillance et d'intervention (P.S.I.G) de la compagnie de gendarmerie de St-Martin et St-Barthélémy et une patrouille du
détachement de surveillance et d'intervention (D.S.I) de Marigot, appartenant à l'escadron de gendarmerie mobile (E.G.M) 23/7 de
Sélestat en mission à St-Martin, arrivent rapidement sur les lieux alors que les malfaiteurs se trouvent encore dans la bijouterie.
La première patrouille de gendarmerie qui arrive sur place est composée de quatre militaires du P.S.I.G de St-Martin. Pensant que les
malfaiteurs ont déjà quitté les lieux, deux militaires pénètrent en sûreté par le sas, en étant appuyés par deux autres postés à l'extérieur du
commerce. À l'ouverture de la porte automatique, les gendarmes se trouvent nez-à-nez avec trois malfaiteurs qui ouvrent aussitôt le feu à
trois reprises en direction des forces de l'ordre. À cette occasion, les deux gendarmes se trouvant à l'extérieur sont légèrement blessés par
des éclats de verre.
Face à cette situation, les quatre militaires du P.S.I.G se replient et s'abritent en protection derrière leur véhicule.
Ils sont alors rejoints par une deuxième patrouille du D.S.I de Marigot. Tandis que la première patrouille du D.S.I a pris position avec le
P.S.I.G à l'avant du commerce, la seconde va se positionner à l'arrière de la bijouterie.
Les trois malfaiteurs quittent ensuite le commerce en prenant en otage le manager de la bijouterie qu'ils tiennent en joue avec une arme à
feu. Ils tirent à nouveau à trois reprises en direction des gendarmes qui ne ripostent pas compte tenu de la présence de l'otage. Les
malfaiteurs prennent la fuite à pied, puis braquent le conducteur d'un véhicule et s'en emparent, en laissant sur place l'otage et le
conducteur.
Bloqués peu après par la seconde patrouille du D.S.I initialement positionnée à l'arrière de la bijouterie, les trois malfaiteurs sortent du
véhicule. L'un d'entre eux menace les gendarmes avec son arme alors qu'un deuxième transporte le sac contenant leur butin. Ils longent
alors la Marina royale à hauteur du restaurant le « Yacht club ». Malgré les sommations d'usage, un des malfaiteurs tire à nouveau ; son
projectile pénètre dans l'habitacle du véhicule de la gendarmerie par la lunette arrière.
Un premier gendarme mobile de la patrouille riposte à une seule reprise. Les trois malfaiteurs poursuivent leur fuite en abandonnant le
butin. Ils tirent à nouveau à deux reprises. Le premier gendarme mobile riposte trois fois, et un de ses camarades tire une seule fois.
Les malfaiteurs en fuite se retrouvent alors face à une patrouille composée de trois gendarmes départementaux de la communauté de
brigades de St-Martin venue en renfort. À sa vue, deux malfaiteurs se rendent et le troisième parvient à s'enfuir. Ce dernier est activement
recherché.
Au total 14 tirs d'arme à feu ont eu lieu : 09 de la part des malfaiteurs et 05 de la part des forces de l'ordre.
Les deux auteurs présumés sont interpellés et placés en garde à vue à 10h50.
Les premiers éléments recueillis par les enquêteurs permettent d'établir que les auteurs présumés, de nationalité vénézuelienne, sont
arrivés, en provenance de Caracas, le 06 octobre pour celui qui est en fuite et le 17 octobre 2014 pour les deux individus interpellés, à
l'aéroport international Princess Juliana de Sint-Maarten.
Les trois malfaiteurs étaient porteurs de deux armes de poing :
- un pistolet type semi-automatique en calibre 40 modèle « Baby Desert Eagle », avec lequel ils ont ouvert le feu sur les forces
de l'ordre. L'arme a été saisie, chargeur vide ;
- un revolver chromé porté par l'individu en fuite. Ce revolver n'a, semble-t-il, jamais été utilisé à l'encontre des forces de l'ordre.
Les mis en cause justifient leur reddition par le fait que le chargeur de leur arme de poing était vide et qu'ils se trouvaient ainsi dépourvus
de munitions.
Le butin, retrouvé par les gendarmes lors des interpellations, était composé de 115 montres de luxe dont la plupart d'une valeur unitaire
comprise entre 10.000 et 30.000 euros l'unité.
En accord avec les magistrats des Parquets respectifs de St-Martin et de Sint-Maarten, une coopération policière et judiciaire efficace et
rapide a pu être mise en place, dans l'urgence, entre les services d'enquête de Sint-Maarten et la brigade de recherches de la gendarmerie
de St-Martin, afin d'effectuer des perquisitions dans l'hôtel où étaient « descendus » les malfaiteurs.
Le 24 octobre 2014, dans la matinée, les deux individus mis en cause ont été présentés devant les magistrats du Parquet de Pointe-à-Pitre
(pôle criminel), mis en examen, et incarcérés au centre pénitentiaire de Baie-Mahault.
Au cours de cet événement et dans les 48 heures qui ont suivi, la compagnie de gendarmerie départementale de Saint-Martin et Saint-
Barthélémy, renforcée de l'escadron de gendarmerie mobile 23/7 de Sélestat, a mobilisé plus qu'une cinquantaine de militaires et de
considérables moyens d'intervention, d'identification criminelle et d'investigation judiciaire. Le service de la police aux frontières ainsi
que la police territoriale de Saint-Martin ont également participé au quadrillage du terrain dans les heures qui ont suivi l'événement.
La brigade de recherches de la gendarmerie de Saint-Martin demeure saisie de l'enquête, placée à présent sous la direction d'un juge
d'instruction de Pointe-à-Pitre dans le cadre de l'ouverture d'information décidée par les magistrats.
Le commandement de la gendarmerie a tenu à souligner le professionnalisme et le sang-froid dont ont fait preuve les forces de l'ordre
lors de cette intervention qui aurait pu connaître une issue dramatique.
Une partie du butin emporté par les malfaiteurs... Pistolet

L'UPESM section Iles du Nord s'associe à la décision du chef d'établissement et de l'ensemble des intervenants pour que l'établissement reste fermé demain vendredi 17 octobre 2014 pour des raisons de sécurité et d'hygiène suite au passage de l'ouragan GONZALO.

Nous souhaiterions également que les élèves qui auraient perdu leur matériel scolaire se fassent connaître en nous adressant un mail à l'adresse (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Cette collecte d'informations sera retransmise au Lycée.

Nous remercions d'ores et déjà tous ceux (personnels, dirigeants, enseignants, collectivité) qui depuis deux jours ont contribué au nettoyage du lycée. Beaucoup reste à faire.

Nous comptons sur la compréhension et la collaboration des parents pour œuvrer à la remise en état du lycée pour une reprise effective des cours dans de bonnes conditions à la rentrée des vacances.

Le dimanche 19 octobre 2014 prochain, de 06 h 30 à 15 h 00, Le Conseil de Quartier N° 5, l'association SXM FONDATIONS et BOYS AND THE YARD invitent les organismes, les entreprises et tous les habitants à participer à une opération de ''GRAND NETTOYAGE'' de l'ensemble du quartier N° 5.

Ce grand mouvement collectif de nettoyage se tiendra suite au passage de la tempête Gonzalo (transformée en ouragan de classe 1) qui a laissé des traces et qui a causé de nombreux dégâts. Cette opération ''GRAND NETTOYAGE permettra et contribuera à faire de Saint-Martin un territoire attrayant, propre, bel, agréable et accueillant à quelques jours du démarrage de la toute nouvelle et prochaine saison touristique.

Cette manifestation est une belle opportunité pour chacun de faire la différence, de démontrer son sens de la solidarité et de l'entraide et enfin, de passer à l'action.

Des gants et des sacs à ordure seront fournis. Les bénévoles devront apporter râteaux, pic, balais et tout autre instrument jugé utile.

Une fois l'Opération Grand Nettoyage terminée, les participants seront invités à partager un repas offert par le Conseil de Quartier N° 5.

Cette importante et très belle opération de nettoyage et d'embellissement du quartier est le fruit de la mobilisation de tous les acteurs concernés et des habitants du quartier eux-mêmes sans qui rien ne serait possible.

Inscription non requise
Les petits comme les grands sont invités à former des équipes de bénévoles et à se joindre à nous.
Renseignez-vous au : 0690 884 680 // 0690 618 100 // 0590 668 439
E-mail : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

VENEZ PARTICIPER EN NOMBRE !

Le représentant du Conseil de Quartier N° 5

Paul WHIT

Les autorités des îles de Saint-Barthélémy et Saint-Martin, balayées par le cyclone Gonzalo, sont "sans nouvelle" de seize personnes, s'ajoutant à trois disparus, a indiqué mardi la préfecture déléguée de ces deux îles.
Trois personnes sont portées disparues en mer après le passage du cyclone Gonzalo à Saint-Barthélémy et de Saint-Martin, qui a également provoqué des dégâts matériels, a indiqué mardi la préfecture déléguée de ces deux îles.
En outre, les autorités sont toujours sans nouvelles mardi de 16 personnes dont les bateaux ont été emportés lundi soir par Gonzalo, mais "aucune victime n'est à déplorer sur terre", selon le communiqué de la préfecture déléguée auprès des collectivités d'outre-mer (COM) de Saint-Barthélémy et Saint-Martin.
S'agissant des 16 personnes dont on est sans nouvelles, "des renforts en moyens aériens ont été sollicités auprès du ministère de l'Intérieur et de le zone de défense afin de retrouver les navires à la dérive".
Un peu plu tôt, la ministre des Outre-mer George Pau-Langevin avait fait état de trois disparus et de quatorze personnes, parmi lesquelles quatre "dont on est absolument sans nouvelles", qui faisaient "l'objet d'opérations de secours" en mer.

Arès avoir quitté Saint-Barthélémy, au-dessus de laquelle l'oeil du cyclone est passé, et Saint-Martin, Gonzalo "poursuit sa route vers le nord-ouest à la vitesse de 20 km/h et devrait encore se renforcer dans les prochaines heures pour atteindre le stade d'ouragan de catégorie 3 dans les 36 heures", a informé Météo-France. "On a mesuré à Saint-Barthélémy des vents moyens de 130 km/h et des rafales supérieures à 200 km/h" sur son passage, précisent les météorologues.

En attendant l'arrivée d'un hélicoptère, venu de Pointe-à-Pitre ou de Fort-de-France (respectivement à 250 et 500 km au sud) permettant le survol des deux collectivités d'Outre-mer et une première évaluation des dégâts, les écoles doivent rester fermées mardi et la consigne de confinement maintenue jusqu'à 6h00 locales et le lever du jour, a annoncé la préfecture déléguée des deux îles. Selon Emmanuel Effantin, directeur de cabinet du préfet-délégué, "deux 　personnes sont assurément portées disparues, un homme tombé de son bateau à Saint-Martin et deux personnes qui tentaient de rejoindre un bateau à Saint-Barthélémy. Les recherches ont été impossibles" compte-tenu des conditions cycloniques. Selon M. Effantin, "aucune victime terrestre" n'est à déplorer. Malgré l'apaisement des éléments durant la deuxième partie de la nuit à Saint-Barthélémy et Saint-Martin, où ne règnent plus qu'un temps de tempête finissante, aucune évaluation des dégâts matériels provoqués par Gonzalo n'était disponible aux premières heures de mardi.

Une opération de lutte contre la délinquance routière, ciblant en particulier les personnes conduisant sous l'empire d'un état alcoolique, était menée le samedi 04 octobre 2014 de 20h00 à 23h00 par la compagnie de gendarmerie départementale de Saint-Martin et Saint-Barthélémy.

Réalisée conjointement par la brigade motorisée et la communauté de brigades de Saint-Martin, ainsi que l'escadron de gendarmerie mobile 23/7 de Sélestat, l'opération mobilisait au total 7 militaires de la gendarmerie, engagés au niveau du carrefour giratoire de Cul de Sac.

Une cinquantaine de conducteurs ainsi que leurs véhicules ont été contrôlés, permettant de relever les infractions suivantes :

• 02 conduites sous l'empire d'un état alcoolique présentant un taux délictuel, > ou égal à 0,4 mg/litre d'air expiré (0,52 - 0,47) ;
• 01 délit pour conduite sous l'influence de substances ou plantes classées comme stupéfiants, ainsi que usage de stupéfiants (herbe de cannabis) - Conducteur ayant par ailleurs été contrôlé en défaut de permis ;
• 02 délits pour conduite d'un véhicule à moteur sans être titulaire du permis de conduire (défaut de permis) ;
• 01 délit pour défaut d'assurance ;
• 02 contraventions (4ème classe) pour non port de la ceinture de sécurité ;
• 01 contravention (4ème classe) pour pneumatiques lisses ou défectueux ;
• 02 contraventions (4ème classe) pour conduite d'un véhicule à moteur avec un permis de conduire non prorogé.

GREAT BAY:--- "All poets and spoken word artists from Anguilla, including those studying or living abroad" are invited "to submit up to five poems" for a new poetry book to be published here by the House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP).
"Where I See The Sun – Contemporary Poetry in Anguilla" is the working name for the planned anthology. A wide range of subjects and writings styles are encouraged, said HNP president Jacqueline Sample. The submission deadline is December 22, 2014.
HNP recently issued the "Call for Poetry" online, outlining the guidelines of how Anguillan poets and aspiring poets could get their poems in the new book, at: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152495554957399&set=a.  The guidelines can also be requested from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Information about the poetry book will also be available at the mid-November
"Poetry Evening" hosted by the department of Library in Anguilla, said Sample. "HNP is in contact with organizers and supporters of literary activities in Anguilla and is widening the outreach to realize a unique literary volume," said Sample. The publisher hopes that young and old writers of poems will see the book project as an exciting proposition from a press that has published literary giants like Kamau Brathwaite (Barbados) and Amiri Baraka (USA), Harvard scholar Marion Bethel (The Bahamas), outstanding Palestinian poet Nidaa Khoury, and the late St. Martin bard
Charles Borromeo Hodge. "Rita Celestine-Carty and Lexus Ryan are two of the poets with serious material from Anguilla that we're learning about," said Lasana M. Sekou, HNP's projects director and editor of Where I See The Sun - Contemporary Poetry in St. Martin (2013).
"Early cultural forums organized by Ijahnya Christian; visiting author readings linked to Stephanie Stokes Oliver; the Anguilla Lit Fest over the last three years; book club activities involving Coral Reef Bookstore; and poetry readings facilitated by Josveek Huliger, are among a number of internal activities flinging the doors wide open for contemporary writers, especially poets and spoken word artists to write about their Caribbean nation, to be heard, and to become known at home and abroad," said Sekou. "All of the poems submitted for the anthology will go through a rigorous selection
process by a confidential editorial board. I hope that the idea and challenge of the anthology will inspire poets and aspiring poets from Anguilla to take a chance at getting published in the new book," said Sample.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Hon. Maurice Lake of the United People's (UP) Party says he has read media reports about a report drafted by a French Parliamentary Committee chaired by Rene Dosiere.
"I haven't read the report myself, but from media reports, it's very disturbing. There are statements made in that report which are incorrect, and it once again brings forth the lack of knowledge by Dutch and French European politicians when it comes to the situation of North and South St. Martin/Sint Maarten.
"Media reports attributed to Dosiere that the Dutch side enriches itself at the expense of the French side of the island. What nonsense is this, I have to ask? There is free movement of goods and services just like there is within the European Union of 27 countries. And this free movement of goods and services based on the Treaty of Concordia is older than the European Union Treaty that serves the same purpose in many aspects.
"Other comments attributed to Dosiere, is, if nothing is done to rectify what he perceives as Sint Maarten living off St. Martin, he suggest the termination of the Treaty of Concordia and the establishment of real borders and visa requirements for entering French territory. You have to wonder at times the comments that some people make and what their agenda is.
"The local politicians from North and South have been working together over the years and the level of cooperation is at a technical level where you have civil servants working on joint areas together. We are on the right track and we should continue to work closely together in areas of mutual interests," MP Hon. Maurice Lake said on Wednesday.
MP Lake added that the comments by the French official come on the heels of St. Maarten's Day celebration between the North and South sides of the island.

MP Lake is of the opinion that Parliament should request a copy of this report and have a debate about its content and take a position. MP Lake also proposes for the Parliament on the South side to meet the Territorial Council of the North to discuss the report in a historic session of both legislative branches of government.

"We need to get away from the lovely speeches and start showing more unity and solidarity as people of Sint Maarten/St. Martin. Both Governments have to take a stand against this injustice by the Netherlands and France to take away our uniqueness as an island. They need to respect the Treaty of Concordia between our local governments and our people.

"I thank God for Sint Maarten/St. Martin as being as one. I was born on the North side of the island and grew up on the South side. My mom is from the North side and my father from the South side. I also have a lot of family on the North side where we can go back and forth as one. Imagine if we let France take away that uniqueness from us as a people.

"As Governments, we need to unite and come together with a plan on how we move forward as one island based on this report that was drafted by this French parliamentary committee. The buzz word has been cooperation, but we should focus more on uniting and working together as one people instead of letting France and Holland direct our destiny for the future.

"The only way to move forward is for both Governments to make firm decisions in the best interest of our people and keep the uniqueness and history that our forefathers have fought hard for.
Our people both North and South, are a free people, and we are very unique in the Caribbean and in the world. Let's keep our uniqueness as one people," MP Hon. Maurice Lake concluded.

GRAND CAYMAN:--- The fifth annual Cayman Islands Healthcare Conference will welcome a range of exceptional healthcare professionals from all over the world to speak at this year's event, taking place from 20th to 22nd November at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.
Presenting on subjects pertinent to this year's theme: 'Winning the war against chronic non-communicable diseases', overseas and local specialists will discuss some of the biggest challenges to our health today. As a result, the audience will hear important and timely updates and discussions on diseases such as diabetes, cancer, obesity, cardiovascular disease and mental health.
The Hon. Osbourne Bodden, Minister of Health, Sports, Youth and Culture, will open the proceedings and then the audience will hear from healthcare professionals.
Dr James Hospedales is the Executive Director of Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and he will be opening the conference with an overview of whether the war is being won on CNCDs globally and in the Caribbean. Dr Hospedales, a citizen of Trinidad & Tobago, has been the Executive Director of CARPHA since February 2013 and has a wide breadth of knowledge of CNCDs in the region.
The Chief Interventional Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist at Health City Cayman Islands, Dr Ravi Kishore Amancharla, will discuss conquering the cardiovascular Leviathan. Since 1997, Dr Ravi has been working with Dr Devi Shetty and has been instrumental in establishing state of the art electrophysiology services across the group hospitals and has already been making a positive impact to Cayman and its visitors.
Organisers are also delighted to present Dr Edward Anim-Addo, Internal Medicine, Chief Medical Officer with Tenet Florida Physician Services. He will be addressing global trends in type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity and correlates. Dr Anim- Addo is board-certified in internal medicine. His areas of interest include cardiovascular disease, critical care, diabetes, endocrinology, metabolism and rheumatology.
Dr Robert Cywes, is a specialist in neonatal, paediatric surgery and adolescent surgery with Tenet Florida Physician Services. His presentation will tackle the facts versus beliefs as they relate to obesity. Dr Cywes is a board-certified adult and pediatric surgeon and he is on-staff at Palm Beach Children's Hospital and St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Dr Lawrence Friedman, Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at the University of California, San Diego will discuss using new technology to improve diabetes and cardiovascular disease, the role of electronic medical records and mobile monitoring. He is responsible for the Medical Directorship of the large faculty practice and oversight of ambulatory quality and safety, managed care, ambulatory clinical practices including primary care and specialty services.
Presenting on food security, nutrition and NCD control in the Caribbean, is Dr. Fitzroy Henry, a Professor of Public Health Nutrition at University of Technology, Jamaica. Dr Henry joined the University of Technology, Jamaica in April 2013 as Professor of Public Health Nutrition in the College of Health Sciences and the School of Public Health and Health Technology.
As a Hematologist-Oncologist & Medical Oncologist with Cancer Treatment Centers of Americas, Dr Shayma Kazmi's focus will be on genetics and DNA sequencing applications in cancer treatment. She is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology and the Medical Society of New Jersey.
Medical Director at The Heart Health Centre, Grand Cayman, Dr Mikhail Kosiborod is also a Staff Cardiologist at Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, Kansas City, Missouri and a Professor of Medicine with the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri. He will talk about the rising "tsunami" of diabetes and its complications.
Dr. George Peoples is the founder of the Cancer Vaccine Development Program (CVDP); founder and CEO of Cancer Insight, LLC and Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He will speak on the new frontier for cancer treatment: personalised cancer immunotherapy. The CVDP has 15 years of experience in discovering, developing, and clinical testing of cancer vaccines - four of which have been licensed for commercial development.
A Cayman-based speaker rounds off this incredible list of healthcare experts. Shannon Seymour, Director of the Wellness Centre will present on community first response to mental health. Ms Seymour is the founding director of The Wellness Centre Ltd and a registered clinical psychologist.
"The calibre of speakers at this year's conference is profound and we intend to highlight a range of topics that will be beneficial to the medical community and the general public alike", Hon. Osbourne Bodden said. "We continue to offer this conference and knowledge to the community free of charge, so I encourage people to register soon, as space is limited."
Committed sponsors this year include: Tenet Healthcare, Tower, Cayman Islands Health Services Authority, Dart, Health City Cayman Islands, CONCACAF, UnitedHealthcare International, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Cleveland Clinic, Baptist Health International, Marsh, Cerner, BritCay, University of California-San Diego, Aitheras Aviation Group, Aon Risk Solutions, Broward Health, The Wellness Centre, Fidelity, Heart Health Centre, Saint Luke's Mid-America Institute, Generali, Cayman Airways and many other exhibitors and not-for-profit organisations.
Visit www.healthcareconference.ky to register or stay up to date on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/CaymanHealthcareConference

St. Maarten contributing, yet not helicopter or Radar for St. Maarten

PHILIPSBURG:--- Since St. Maarten became a country on October 10th, 2010 the country's responsibilities increased substantially with little or no monies, and while St. Maarten has to make financial contributions for the entire operations of the Coast Guard, the Coast Guards Office on St. Maarten lacks major equipments.
Both Ministers of Justice that held office on St. Maarten since 2010 have submitted requests to have a helicopter in order for the Coast Guard to make their regular air controls but the Dutch said giving St. Maarten a helicopter will cost them too much money even though St. Maarten is responsible for Saba and St. Eustatius (BES) islands. St. Maarten also submitted a request to have a radar to better monitor the movements of boats and that too was denied as the Dutch said a radar is also too expensive.
While the two other countries within the Kingdom (Curacao and Aruba) have all the necessary equipments, St. Maarten has to make do with what it has yet contribute equally for functioning of the Coast Guards in the three countries.
Minister of Justice of St. Maarten Dennis Richardson confirmed to SMN News that St. Maarten made the requests but each of them were denied and the excuse given is that the equipments St. Maarten wants are too expensive.
Minister Richardson said that since he took office a helicopter comes to St. Maarten either from Curacao or Aruba for a few days every three months and they conduct the necessary patrols. Minister Richardson said that too might stop because they are now saying it's too expensive to send a helicopter from either Curacao or Aruba to St. Maarten.
Just Wednesday evening a Skyway aircraft crashed in St. Maarten's waters and while the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guards are the ones that assisted with the search and rescue mission they had no helicopter on St. Maarten that could have started air patrol immediately, instead a helicopter had to be brought in from Guadeloupe to assist the search and rescue team. It is true that St. Maarten has an agreement in place where the French is responsible for air patrol in natural disasters. However, contributing for the total functioning of the Coast Guards in the Caribbean countries of the Kingdom and not getting the equipment to function optimally is not to the benefit of St. Maarten and its people.

Holds Stakeholder Meeting to Discuss Options to Control Monkey Population

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Nature Foundation has increasingly been receiving complaints and reports of monkeys causing problems for residents in various districts, particularly after the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo. Even in districts where the Foundation has not recorded monkeys, such as on Front and Backstreet in Philipsburg, there have been sightings of the animals.

The Nature Foundation has been researching extensively on what can be done to control the population and has met with various stakeholders on some of the options in controlling the population: "With the worrying trend in the increase of the size of the monkey population we have been reaching out both locally and to our conservation colleagues in the region to come up with a plan on what to do to control the population. Of course there are many options such as capture and neuter/ spay or birth control, but one needs to be found which is cost effective and which does not cause pain or suffering to the animals. The issue is that these methods, even the less expensive options, cost tens of thousands of dollars to run effectively. Therefore the research phase of tackling this issue is critical," read a Nature Foundation statement.

Many residents have been contacting the Nature Foundation regarding large groups of vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus), acting aggressively towards residents and pets, overturning garbage bins in numerous districts, destroying gardens and garden furniture and defecating on people's property. The Monkeys have been known to act aggressively if they feel threatened and can also have a negative effect on our local flora and fauna. Monkeys are not picky eaters and will eat anything from bird eggs to ornamental and fruit plants and trees.

The Nature Foundation urges residents to not approach these animals and to contact the Nature Foundation so that the animals can be recorded. In the coming weeks there will be various exchanges with experts in various locations who are used to dealing with monkeys and other exotic invasive animals in order to come with recommendations to the authorities as to what should be the best way to approach this problem.

If a monkey, raccoon or any other unusual animal is observed contact the Nature Foundation at 5444267 or via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

PHILIPSBURG:--- Bureau Telecommunications and Post St. Maarten (BTP-SXM), successfully concluded its meetings with the Regulatory entity and -administration in France and the Netherlands, during its visit this week.

BTP-SXM team headed by the Director Mr. Anthony Carty is quoted as saying: "The objectives set by BTP-SXM have been accomplished. The execution of an amendment to the Protocol signed in November 2013 with the French Regulatory entity and -Administration ANFR/ARCEP regarding the coordination of spectrum for the joint use by St. Maarten and Saint Martin, taken into consideration the interest of our neighboring partners the BES, Anguilla and St. Kitts, is a testimony of the continued close cooperation of the regulatory entities in serving the further development of the telecommunications industry."

While the meeting with the French regulatory entity and administration representatives focused on an extensive approach towards spectrum coordination, the meeting with the representatives of the Dutch regulatory agency and administration focused on matters regarding the division of numbers, codes and call names relevant to the telecommunications-, radio broadcasting and maritime industries in St. Maarten.

The documents executed and during this visit provides the basis for a steady and continuous development of the telecommunications industry in St. Maarten in particular the mobile section, as well as for an enhanced collaboration and cooperation between parties. The outlined approaches in the executed document will be shared in the weeks to come with counterparts for review and discussion, so an extensive coordination of spectrum approaches, allocations and use may be ascertained. Through the executed undertaking BTP-SXM is now in a position to commence with the allocation of spectrum for LTE deployment in St. Maarten.

In closing Mr. Carty pointed out that without the contributions of his dedicated team and the desire of the French and Dutch counter parts to collaborate, this result could not be achieved. The Protocol and its amendment are posted on the website of BTP-SXM: www.sxmregulator.sx.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake says a promise made is a promise kept.

Minister Lake took note of a newspaper story on Friday about the paving of Chin Cactus Drive in Sucker Garden which is in a deplorable state after the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo.

"The project will start soon. It went on tender and the contractor has been selected. The contractor brought in some documents on Thursday and has also been busy acquiring the materials needed to execute the over Naf.484.000 project.

"Since I've been serving as minister for over a year, I have learnt that you have to follow procedures and make sure everything has been done correctly. You have to make sure everything meets the rules and regulations that are in place.

"I will present to the Council of Ministers on Tuesday the project in order for it to move forward. I am a man of my word, but at the same time, I have to make sure that the proper procedures have been followed for the successful execution of the road project," Minister Hon. Maurice Lake said on Friday.

Minister Lake added that he did pass through the area after the passing of the hurricane, and also spoke to some of the residents about the situation.

"I also noticed some downed poles that need to be addressed in order to improve safety and security in this particular area. This needs to be looked into by the relevant responsible party.

"I would like to apologize to the residents of Chin Cactus Drive for any inconvenience caused with the delay of executing this project, and seek their understanding as within short we move forward with the execution," Minister Hon. Maurice Lake concluded.

PHIIPSBURG:--- Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise President Virginia Asin is pleased to welcome new member Damali Bryson to the club. Ms. Bryson's induction ceremony took place during a joint meeting of all Rotarian clubs at Le Mini Club in Marigot. Visiting Rotary 7020 District Governor Paul Brown conducted the ceremony. Ms. Bryson is a critical care nurse at the St. Maarten Medical Center and was introduced to the club by fellow Rotarian Angelique Gumbs.

Ms. Bryson's eagerness to give back to the community through Rotary is one of the reasons Membership Director Okama Ekpe Brook was delighted to advance Ms. Bryson's nomination to Rotary Sunrise's membership. Ms. Bryson plans to participate in Readers Are Leaders and the Peace Committee. Rotary Sunrise was pleased to know that our young professional nature and our current community service activities drew Ms. Bryson's interests.

We are delighted to have guests join us at our weekly breakfast meetings every Tuesday at Carl & Sons Pondfill from 7am. For more information on the club visit us at sxmsunrise.org or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., we are also on Facebook: Rotary Club of Saint Martin Sunrise.

ORANJESTAD, Aruba:--- Last week, law firm VanEps Kunneman VanDoorne organized a successful Meet & Greet for conference participants during Green Aruba where Europe Meets the Americas. The conference was focused on sustainable energy, technology, infrastructure and tourism; four topics the firm has ample experience with.

The Meet & Greet was therefore used as a networking opportunity by many companies and organizations. Representatives of energy companies such as Curoil, Refineria di Korsou and Elmar, business service providers such as PwC and Deloitte, financial service providers such as AIB and the Central Bank, and associations such as ATIA attended the gathering. Former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Jan-Peter Balkenende, also attended.

Over drinks, Tom Peeters, senior associate of the firm, gave a brief presentation about forms of cooperation for sustainable projects: Cooperation in Sustainability, a topic that fit seamlessly with the agenda of the conference and that Tom has studied extensively. As a result, he regularly lectures on this topic. For this occasion, he placed this in an Aruban perspective. On November 4, he will give a more extensive explanation of the structuring of sustainable projects in Bonaire, where VanEps Kunneman VanDoorne organizes a breakfast session that will be fully dedicated to this topic.

VanEps Kunneman VanDoorne Press Release

Praises Search and Recovery Efforts

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams expressed her condolences to the victims of the fatal Skyway Airways flight which crashed on Wednesday evening. The one confirmed deceased and one missing pilot were the only two souls on board: "I would like to express my sincerest condolences to the victims of the Skyway Airways crash. To the family of the one recovered pilot and to that of the pilot still missing I would like you to know that you are in my prayers and in those of the entire country," stated Prime Minister Wescot-Williams.

The PM also praised the search and recovery efforts of the various entities involved; "I would like to express my thanks and gratitude to the brave men and women of all the organizations which were involved in the search and recovery of this tragedy. Please understand that you are counted as the heroes of his country," stated Wescot-Williams.

On Wednesday, October 29th at 6:39 pm a Short SH36 aircraft operated by Skyway Airways departed from Princess Juliana International Airport en route to San Juan. Shortly after take-off, during the initial climb and at 200 feet of altitude, Juliana Tower lost contact with the aircraft.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Two lives could have been saved if proper procedures were followed

AIRPORT:--- Several personnel of the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE) are enraged at the loss of the two lives that they said could have been saved if the St. Maarten Civil Aviation had taken proper actions on Monday. The workers who spoke to SMN News on the condition of anonymity said that they fear speaking out on the record because the management of the PJIAE is very spiteful and they may lose their jobs for telling the truth. The workers said PJIAE and its staff were spared last Monday when the Skyway Short SH360 lost its brakes and almost crashed into SOL fuel farm. "When that incident occurred St. Maarten Civil Aviation had to conduct an indepth investigation and stop the aircraft from flying in and out of St. Maarten until it is properly checked by the FAA and an organization before it is allowed to fly. St. Maarten Civil Aviation does not have certified personnel working at PJIAE. They do not even have a crash inspector who could have conducted a proper investigation into Monday's accident." The workers said it is indeed a sad time for St. Maarten and the families who lost their love ones. They said that the persons working at St. Maarten Civil Aviation are not qualified; one of them is former police officer. They said those workers were made by political influence and that none of them were properly trained, they do not have the qualifications to hold the positions they hold. "What should have happened is those persons should have been trained by the Dutch or sent to Holland for training in order for qualified persons to be working at an International Airport. Even the fire department at PJIAE has unqualified staff. Some qualified firemen left their jobs at the fire station at PJIAE simply because politicians appointed non qualified persons to positions while others that are fully qualified and have years of experience cannot get a promotion. One worker said that St. Maarten had one of the best fire chiefs Mr. Winston Solomon who could have set up a proper fire station at PJIAE with fully qualified staff, but instead of using one of St. Maarten's best to do what is right and safe for the country, Solomon was sent home on pension while hundreds of lives are in danger. Management of PJIAE could not be reached on Thursday for a comment on the incident on Monday and the eventual crash of the same aircraft that claimed the lives of two pilots.

KPSM will open Tipline --- Reward Offered for Information to Recover Illegal Firearms

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson and Prefet Delegue Phillipe Chopin announced at a joint press conference on Thursday that the Stop, Drop, and Go Project has been a great success and that authorities from both sides of the island decided to do this project jointly and they have also decided to extend the project for another two weeks which will end on November 14th, 2014. Minister Richardson said that they have decided to extend the period for residents and persons to drop off their weapons considering that Hurricane Gonzalo may have prevented people from capitalizing on the opportunity to turn in their firearms since many residents sustained damages to their homes. Besides that, Minister Richardson said that the Stop, Drop and Go project has been a great success on the Dutch side of the island because as of Thursday some 50 weapons have been turned in at the office of the Solicitor General on Welfare Road. Solicitor General Taco Stein said they collected more weapons than they ever dreamed about when they launched the project for the first time. Stein said among the weapons surrendered are long rifles, revolvers, pistols, and air guns. He did confirm that most of the weapons were real weapons and not toy guns that looked real. When asked if the weapons were turned in by youngsters, Stein said that all the weapons that were turned in to his office were done by adults, the youngest being in their 30's. Stein further confirmed that only residents of the Dutch side turned in weapons at his office even though the operation is a joint one. He said only on Thursday former Lt. Governor Max Pandt turned in three weapons which of course are legal firearms but the former Lt. Governor felt that he no longer has use for the weapons he handed over to the police.
Authorities from the Dutch side have decided to go one step further in making sure they get more illegal firearms off the streets of St. Maarten. Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson who represented Chief of Police Peter de Witte said that the police will open their tip-line as of Friday where persons can call in and give the police information as to where they could find illegal firearms. Henson said that tipline will be opened from Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:00pm while on weekends there will be a voicemail in place where information can be recorded. "All persons who use this tipline will give their information anonymously and persons in the community should not have any fear because all information received through the tipline will be treated confidentially."
Public Prosecutor Tineke Kamps said persons who call the tipline and give police valuable information will receive a monetary reward depending on how good their information is. "If the police find automatic weapons or machine guns then the persons who called in with the information will get Naf. 1000.00, if they find smaller weapons then the monetary reward will be less. The rewards start off at Naf.350.00 and go to Naf. 1000.00," Kamps said.
The Public Prosecutor made clear that when the police shows up at someone's house or business place and illegal firearms are found then those persons will be arrested and prosecuted because they obviously did not take advantage of the opportunity given to them to turn in their firearms voluntarily.
As for the French side of the island, Prefet Delegue Phillipe Chopin said this is the second year the French side has been conducting this type of operation. He said in 2013 the Gendarmes collected six firearms and the same amount was collected in 2014 in the Stop, Drop and Go program. Chopin said that persons on the French side can take in their illegal weapons year round they do not have to wait when this operation is on to surrender their illegal weapons. He also said that the firearms collected on the French side were given up by adults. When asked if the French side is considering to do the same kind of campaign like the Dutch side, he said that the French side did their awareness in three languages namely French, English and Creole, besides that he personally spoke to students when he visited the schools. When asked if the French are considering offering monetary rewards for information where they could find illegal weapons, Chopin said the French laws do not allow them to do that.
So far the Dutch side has set a new record because they surpassed the French as well as Curacao who is also carrying out the same campaign.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The first game of the weekend was between Lightning and Thunderz and was an intense game. The defense from both teams were very well played, no team was giving up. The Lightning was down for most of the game and was down 13-17 at the half, they came out strong in the third and ended up leading after the third 24-23. The Thunderz came back in the 4th and took back the lead and never looked back and won 37-28. Lightning had two leading scorers with #7 Shalarry Donker with 7 points, 7 rebounds and #14 Kayla Robinson with 7 points, 7 rebounds. For the Thunderz they were lead by #10 Chantel Hodge with 14 points, 9 rebounds and #9 Tiana Lionel with 12 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks. The Motorworld player of the game went to Chantel Hodge for leading her team to victory.

Game two of the weekend was between Bush Tea Remedy VS Cash For Gold Lava Girls. The Cash For Gold Lava girls came out strong out the gate and lead 19-5 after the first quarter and lead by 19 at the half 31-12. Bush Tea Remedy never recovered and Cash For Gold Lava Girls won the game 46-25. Claudia Fleming lead all scorers will 20 points for Cash For Gold Lava girls and Keri Hyman lead Bush Tea Remedy with 11 points in defeat. Motorworld Player Of The Game went to #10 Claudia Fleming of Cash For Gold Lava Girls with 20 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 4 steals for dominating the game on both sides of the floor and leading her team to victory.

Standings after week 2 are Cash For Gold Lava Girls and Thunderz 2-0, Bush Tea Remedy 1-1, Learning Unlimited 0-1 and Lightning 0-2.

Games continue this Saturday at Melford Hazel Sports Complex in Sucker Garden from 6-7:30pm with Thunderz VS Bush Tea Remedy and on Sunday 3pm Learning Unlimited VS Cash For Gold Lava Girls and the last game for the weekend is at 5pm with Lightning taking on Bush Tea Remedy. Come out and bring the family to enjoy the games and support the females.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Landsrecherche convoked a well known businessman who is also the brother of a Member of Parliament who was elected in the 2014 Parliamentary Elections. SMN News learnt that the businessman met with investigators 8am on Wednesday morning where he also filed a counter complaint against MP Christopher Emmanuel for slander and defamation.
Sources alleged that MP Emmanuel called the businessman's name as the person who approached him and a relative and offered him a $2M bribe to declare himself independent. However, during a parliamentary session held last week Monday October 20th, 2014, MP Christopher Emmanuel said on the floor of parliament where he has full immunity that he was offered $80,000.00 to run on a particular political list in 2010, he further stated that in 2014 when he won a seat in parliament he was contacted and offered $400,000.00 which eventually climbed to $2M. MP Emmanuel went further and stated that politicians on St. Maarten have moved up because they are not only buying votes but are now buying seats. At no point during the public meeting MP Emmanuel mentioned names or political parties who approached him.
SMN News contacted the businessman for a statement but he declined to make any statements on the ongoing investigation, he also referred SMN News to his attorney who could not be reached by telephone on Thursday.
Press Prosecutor Tineke Kamps stated in a press release on Thursday that the Public Prosecutors Office has taken notice of the statement made in Parliament on October 20, 2014, by one of the MPs pertaining to the issue of "seat buying". This statement has led to an order to investigate what was exactly said. Thus the prosecutor will be able to assess, if a full investigation is warranted.
Contrary to what has been published in various media, this investigation is not done by the RST (Kingdom Detectives) but by the National Detective Agency, the Landsrecherche.
At this point in time no further information will be given.

DAWN BEACH:---  For the second year in a row, Princess Heights Luxury Boutique Hotel has been named "The Leading Hotel in St. Maarten" by the World Travel Awards (WTA) in its 2014 Caribbean & North America 2014 edition. Heralded by The Wall Street Journal as the "Oscar's of the travel industry," the WTA has developed into the most prestigious and comprehensive awards program in travel and tourism, and is known worldwide as the hallmark of industry excellence that recognizes the commitment to excellence that hospitality businesses worldwide have demonstrated in the last 12 months.
General Manager Emil Lee stated: "This latest award, combined with our fourth straight year 'TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence,' proves once again that only through hard work, consistency and real commitment to customer service, we can ensure that our guests enjoy lavish accommodations with world class personalized service. This really is a tribute to the hard working and dedicated staff at Princess Heights Hotel."
Lee added, "The management of the hotel, as well as the entire staff, would like to thank its loyal clientele and partners who have been working with us and supporting the property since the beginning. Without them, it would have been impossible to reach the high standards of quality for which we have been recognized and awarded."
This family-operated luxury property is located on a hillside overlooking Dawn Beach, right in the border of the Dutch and French sides of the island. Princess Heights Hotel offers magnificent ocean view studios, one bedroom and two bedroom suites.
"Our luxurious suites are perfect for couples and our large suites and full kitchens make us perfect for families and groups of friends wanting to relax and enjoy in a home away from home environment," said Jorge Diaz-Granados, director of marketing for Princess Heights. "Princess Height is arguably the best value for money around St. Maarten," he added.
In order to celebrate this prestigious award, the hotel is launching a limited time offer. Visit www.princessheights.com/wta, call 1-800-881-1744 or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and check the limited time special rates for the rest of 2014 and all 2015.

Two Passengers on Board, Regular Crew Members

AIRPORT:--- A FEDEX cargo plane that took off from the Princess Juliana International Airport had to make an emergency landing about one mile off the coast of St. Maarten. According to information reaching SMN News the aircraft type is a SHORTS 360. SMN News further learnt that the cargo plane left St. Maarten on its way to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Reliable information reaching SMN News states that this aircraft makes a daily flight from St. Maarten to San Juan. The same aircraft lost brakes as well as power and ran off the runway at the Princess Juliana International Airport on Monday, sources said that the incident occurred not far from the SOL fuel farm.

So far it is not known if the two persons were rescued as no immediate information is available. According to information SMN News received the rescue operation is hindered due to bad weather conditions.

SMN News understands that the search and rescue team which includes the coast guard and marines stopped their search at 2 am Thursday morning. Further information states that a body was found.

While relatives of the co-pilot identified as Rigorberto Lopez told SMN News they are at lost because no one contacted them to provide information. The father and brother of the co-pilot called SMN News througout the night to see if anyone could have provided them with information on their son.

Lourdes Sanchez, the girlfriend of the pilot identified the pilot as Eric Schnell (49). Sanchez said her boyfriend was expected to land in Puerto Rico at 7:30pm however she was contacted by Skyway who informed her of the incident involving her boyfriend. Sanchez further confirmed that her boyfriend was the pilot last Monday when he encountered severe problems with the aircraft that caused the incident on the runway at PJIAE. She said since then her boyfriend was very concerned about using the aircraft and yet he did because he did not want to lose his job. The woman was extremely emotional when she contacted SMN News Wednesday night, she said she was fearful of speaking out because she did not want her boyfriend to lose his job. Sanchez who was expecting that her boyfriend would have survived the crash confirmed to SMN News Thursday morning that she was contacted by the Coast Guard and Skyway around midnight and they informed her that the body of Eric Schnell was found with his passport on him while she was told that the co-pilot survived. Up to Thursday morning no information from the Coast Guard or the police has been released.

Frans Nieuwenhoven from the St. Maarten Sea Rescue said on Thursday that the moment they got information that a plane ditched at sea, they went out searching hoping to rescue the persons on board the aircraft. Nieuwenhoven said that the Sea Rescue, the  Dutch Carribbean Coast Guard, the Dutch Marines, some private vessels as well as citizens assisted with the search which ended at 2am Thursday morning because they had no more visibility and bad weather. He said that around 10 pm Wednesday night some debris and a body were found between Maho and Cupe Coy. The second person on the aircraft has not been found up to midday on Thursday. Nieuwenhoven said the search for the other victim and the aircraft continued during the day on Thursday. He further explained that the search and rescue stopped searching around 5pm Thursday afternoon because the second victim was not found neither did they find anymore debris at sea. So far the Public Prosecutors Office on St. Maarten have not made any statements pertaining to the crashed aircraft and the body that was recovered.

An official from FEDEX contacted SMN News and said that the faulty aircraft that claimed the lives of the two crew members does not belong to FEDEX. The FEDEX agent said that FEDEX has a contract with SKYWAY and while the shipment was done for FEDEX the aircraft that ditched in St. Maarten waters does not belong to FEDEX.

Skyway Airways accident off the coast of Sint Maarten.

SIMPSON BAY:--- On Wednesday, October 29th at 6:39 pm a Short SH36 aircraft operated by Skyway Airways departed from Princess Juliana International Airport en route to San Juan. Shortly after take-off, during the initial climb and at 200 feet of altitude, Juliana Tower lost contact with the aircraft and it could no longer be perceived on the radar.

Based on the information gathered we now know that the aircraft crashed into the waters just of the coast of Sint Maarten. Only two pilots were onboard the plane upon departure , the body of one pilot was recovered while the other pilot is still missing. The names of the pilots involved in the accident will be released pending proper identification. The Sint Maarten Civil Aviation Authority (SMCAA) investigation into the cause of the accident is in its preliminary stage and investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) will be travelling to Sint Maarten to assist the department with the ongoing investigation.

The accident occurred in the Territory of Sint Maarten and therefore the Sint Maarten Civil Aviation Authority (SMCAA) will be leading the investigation. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) ANNEX 13 Accident Investigation provides guidance on the role of the different States with regards to an aircraft accident investigation. The State of Registry for the aircraft; the State of which the accident occurred and the State of Manufacturer all has a role to play in conducting the investigation. The aircraft, Short SH36 was manufactured in the United Kingdom as such the AAIB will assist with respect to this area of the investigation. The aircraft was registered in the United States of America and Skyway is a US FAA part 135 certified cargo operator as such the NTSB and FAA involvement is also required.

The investigators from AAIB will all be arriving on Sint Maarten on October 31, 2014 to assist the SMCAA with the investigation into the cause of this crash. Please bear in mind that this can be a very lengthy process that can take some months before there are any definite answers on what caused this unfortunate accident. Additionally persons are advised that if you may encounter debris in the coastal waters, that they believe to be parts of the plane, please call the Sint Maarten Civil Aviation Authority (SMCAA) at 545 4226. Your cooperation in this investigation is very much appreciated.

Press Release by Ministry of Tourism (Department of Civil Aviation)

POND ISLAND:--- Highlights of TelCell's Breakthrough Youth Talent Search will be shown on St. Maarten Cable TV's Channel 120 Saturday, for members of the public who may have missed the chance to see the performers when they strutted their stuff at the Theatre Royale, Maho, Saturday, September 27.
The event was hosted by mobile provider TelCell in collaboration with promotion company Xtratight Entertainment.
Show coordinator, Angel Richardson of TelEm Group, said Saturday's viewing is much anticipated by music fans who could not attend the finals in September and also by the artistes themselves who are thrilled about the prospect of seeing their acts on the small screen.
"We want thank AVS News for all the edition work they have done and we want to encourage everyone to tune in to give support to our very talented youth," said Angel.

Showtime is at 8:00 pm. On Cable TV channel 120. Don't miss it.

TELEM Press Release

PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Lions Club is proud to announce that their raffle on Sunday, November 2nd will be drawn live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 115 at 6:30pm sharp. All ticket holders are urged to tune in on that day to view the live broadcast as the winner will be called if that person is available.

This raffle is the first fundraising effort of the Lions Club for the year 2014-2015. The 1st prize is a brand new Ford EcoSport, 2nd prize is a Iphone 5C and 3rd prize is a LG 42" Flat Screen TV. The club's second fundraising effort is the Lion Christmas Bingo Spectacular which will be held on Saturday December 6th at the Festival Village.

According to Sint Maarten Lions Club President Sunil Khatnani, "This raffle was postponed from earlier in the year on Father's Day June 15th. All tickets with that previous date marked on them are valid for the November 2nd drawing".

Tickets can still be bought from any Lions member and also at the Lion's Den, Divico, Van Dorp in Simpson Bay and Madame Estate.
On Saturday various Lions members will be selling raffle tickets at ACE Cole Bay and Cost U Less and the public is urged to get their tickets early as there is a cut off period for ticket sales as all have to be verified.

The proceeds from this raffle and the upcoming Christmas Bingo in December will be put back into the community in the form of worthwhile projects. The St. Maarten Lions Club is a member of Lions Club International which has over 1.3 million members worldwide in over 46,000 local clubs, in over 200 countries.

PHILIPSBURG:--- UTS experienced an outage on the Chippie mobile platform during the afternoon hours of Wednesday, October 29. This was caused by a technical issue on the the central database (called the HLR), which registers all Chippie subscribers in Chippieland to the network. The duration of the outage was approximately 6 hours. The interruption in service started around 1 PM on Wednesday afternoon with service to the Eastern Caribbean region of Chippieland restored fully by 7 pm of the same day. Incidentally, UTS Eastern Caribbean was already in the midst of the install and commissioning of a second HLR, located in St. Maarten, which would create a fail-safe in the event of a failure on the primary HLR. The project is slated to be completed soon and will prevent a recurrence of such an outage.

"UTS sincerely apologizes to our customers that were affected by the outage." said UTS Marketing and Communication Officer, Ivy Lambert. "Our technicians worked non-stop to resolve the issue as soon as possible and thankfully were able to do so. We regret any inconvenience this may have caused our customers and thank them for their patience as we worked on restoring service. Thankfully our team had already identified the need to improve on this vulnerability in our infrastructure and the St. Maarten-based HLR project will soon be completed to avoid a recurrence. We advise any customers whose service hasn't returned automatically to re-register to the network by restarting their device. " Lambert continued.

UTS Press Release

PHILIPSBURG:--- Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI), hereby announces that there will be a road closure on October 30th and 31st on Front Street.

The interruption to the road traffic will be on Thursday and Friday from 8:00PM to 5:00AM.

Traffic on Front Street will have to take a left at Hendrick Straat at the Court House, and there will no through traffic on DC Steeg.

Civil works will be carried out in the vicinity of the St. Rose Arcade.

Due to the nature of the works, no special measures will be in place for emergency service vehicles.

Motorists are requested to be vigilant and observant for the traffic directional signs. Heavy machinery will be in use.

Ministry VROMI apologizes for any inconvenience that this may cause.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Collective Preventive Services (CPS), a government agency under the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labour, announced on Wednesday that the country-wide mosquito fogging campaign could not commence as planned on Tuesday, October 28 due to rain and a malfunction of equipment.

In the meantime, the contractor has informed the ministry that fogging will start on Thursday, October 30 weather permitting. The technical problem with the fogging equipment has been resolved.

Minister of Public Health, Social Development & Labour Hon. Cornelius de Weever would like to thank the public for their patience.

Residents must bear in mind that fogging is not a total solution to eliminate mosquitos.

Every household and business are advised to continue taking action by removing potential mosquito breeding spots in and around their premises on a daily basis.

Empty containers should be removed or turned over; motor boats on land should be properly covered or there should be drainage to allow water to flow out rather than accumulating; spouts should be cleaned of leaves; overgrown vegetation should be cut; old tires should be cut up.

Here is the schedule for October 30 and October 31. For the other areas in the different districts, this information will be forthcoming via the Government Information Page (GIP) in both daily papers:

October 30th 5:00 a.m. – 7:00a.m.

• Cupe Coy, Maho,
• Maho, Blue Mall, Sapphire,
• Low Lands, Beacon Hill Airport Road,

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

• Simpsonbay, Pelican Keys
• Simpson Yacht Club Bay,
• Simpson Bay Bridge,
• Welfare Road,

October 31th 5:00 a.m. -7:00 a.m.

• The Border, Cole Bay
• Union Road, Cole Bay to the
• Cole bay Villas Round about
• Cole Bay, Harold Jack

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

• Welfare Road, Windsor, Road,
• Cole Bay, Cape Bay west of
• the Cemetery Cole Bay
• Lagoon, Orange Grove,

Call CPS to alert them about possible Aedes Aegypti mosquito breeding sites, preventive measures, and information at 542-2078 or 542-3003 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Media Literacy Seminar for the Parents/Guardians of the St. Maarten Academy

PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Academy invites you to its free Media Literacy Seminar on Tuesday November 4, 2014 at 6:30pm - 7:45pm, at the Academic campus on Cupper Drive. The seminar is being sponsored by the St. Maarten Academy's PTF. Topics to be covered are: Cyber bullying, Online Privacy and Social Media Addiction. If you are a parent or guardian, you cannot afford to miss this opportunity! You must register by calling the school (548-3780) on or before Monday, November 3, at 2:00 P.M.

PHILIPSBURG:--- UTS has added to the versatility of its Chippie prepaid product by adding prepaid data roaming to the service offerings. This means that Chippie prepaid customers will be able to access data related services while traveling. This entails services such as internet browsing, email, Facebook and other digital means of communication. The usage is measured per MegaByte (MB) and is paid for from the prepaid credit balance of their phone. "Calling while traveling abroad was already possible in many countries with a Chippie prepaid phone, but now Chippie expanded this service in many countries by also adding the possibility of continued data usage while abroad," said UTS Marketing and Communication Officer, Ivy Lambert. Customers can check out the Chippie SXM Facebook page for details on roaming destinations and the rates. They can also call the UTS Contact Center free from their Chippie phone for additional information.

"We do recommend that our customers monitor their mobile usage when traveling outside the Chippie network, so that they do not end up spending more of their prepaid credit than intended. Continuation of your service is possible by making use of the network of our roaming partners in each country. Data roaming rates are higher than the local rates so we recommend monitoring your data usage to avoid depletion of your prepaid credit or higher postpaid bills," Lambert continued.

UTS Press Release

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Rotary Club of St. Maarten-Mid Isle held its "End Polio Now" walkathon on Saturday 25th of October to commemorate World Polio Day which was on Friday 24th October, 2014.
The Rotary Club's mission was to make the public aware on what Rotary is doing in eradicating Polio from the world.
The Mid Isle Club would like to thank the community for their support, and the businesses who donated and contributed in kind to make the walkathon a success.
To continue supporting the efforts of Rotary in eradicating Polio completely from this world, please log on to Rotary.org or check in with your local Rotary clubs to see how you can help.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Khushal Punjabi emerged as the winner of the fourth annual Scotiabank Bright Future & Rotary-Rotaract Spelling Bee finals last Sunday at the Belair Community Center.
Khushal from the MAC J.A.G. Campus spelt all twenty words that were given to him correctly. his winning school got a desktop computer and printer.
The other four contestants had only one mistake each, and had to go through the process of elimination by spelling additional bonus words to determine their places. Frans Luis Guinto from the Morris Vanterpool Primary in Anguilla won the second place, and Amit Bijlani, also from MAC J.A.G. won third place.

From the MAC B.F.M. Campus, both Athalia Reyes and Tueling Ramkellowan, 4th and 5th place respectively, received consolation prizes.

Several contestants from the first round were in attendance, and received their special gifts for their courage in participating in this challenging contest. The most supported school at the event was the MAC B.F.M. Campus, which won an all-in-one printer. Other winners in the audience received gasoline vouchers from SOL, by spelling some of the challenging words correctly.

For winning the Spelling Bee, Khushal received a MacBook Pro laptop computer, while 2nd place Frans Luis received an iPad. 3rd place winner Amit received an iPod Touch. All top three winners received their respective trophies.

Besides the Spelling Bee, which had some emotional moments on stage, the audience was also treated to the entertaining talents of the Dow Steel Orchestra during the breaks.

Next year, the organizers Rotary Club of Sint Maarten-Mid Isle and Rotaract Club of Sint Maarten Sunrise are already planning to start the competition after the school break in October. Scotiabank already committed to be the main sponsor of the local event for five years and, together with the Rotary and Rotaract clubs, will be seriously looking into organizing a regional in the near future, which will include various countries in the Caribbean.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation, American University of the Caribbean (AUC), School of Medicine Asian  Medical Students Association (AMSA) and the Diabetes Foundation received a heart-warming response to their joint activity held at All Children's Education Foundation (ACE) school on Saturday, October 25.

A total of 108 persons attended the event, including 41 members of the public who sampled the various activities; 28 ACE pupils who attended the health workshops and participated in other activities and volunteers from the three groups that partnered for the exercise.

The 12 AUC, ASMA doctors-in-training, who volunteered their time for the health workshops, were busy throughout the event checking the blood pressure, weight and height of ACE pupils as well as members of the public who attended. They also provided information on dental hygiene and other health issues in several workshops.

The six upbeat Diabetes Foundation volunteers checked the blood glucose and cholesterol levels of the many persons who visited their table. They also took time out to explain the results to persons, who were checked and offered guidance on how persons whose blood glucose and cholesterol levels were high, can follow up with their medical providers.

The fundraising flea market, vegetarian food sale and general coordination was handled by, amongst other persons, the 21 Tzu Chi volunteers. A range of items such as clothing for children and adults and jewellery were on sale at the flea market.

Two popular aspects of the event were the Thai Massages done by Roger Yee-Fong and the face portraits by artist Penka Petkova.

For a US $5 contribution, visitors were treated to a 15 minute Thai massage and for any donation persons were able to get their portraits sketched on the spot by Petkova.

Although the event officially ended at 1:00pm; a number of persons remained at the venue up until 2:30pm to get their massages done and their portraits sketched.

All proceeds from the flea market, food sale, massages and portraits were in aid of keeping ACE pupils in school. A total of US $277 was raised from these activities.

Tzu Chi Commissioner Sandra Cheung is grateful to all partners who were involved in the joint initiative; all the volunteers who assisted in the exercise and the members of the public who supported the event in one way or the other.

Tzu Chi Press Release

PHILIPSBURG:--- The 10th Annual "Lion Nelson van der Linde Senior Citizens Party" was a resounding success.On Saturday October 25th some 250 senior citizens from both sides of the island were treated to a day of great fun, good food, entertainment in song, dance and good old time stories by members of the St. Maarten Lions and the Alpha Leo Club.As early as 8.00 a.m. busloads of seniors could be seen heading to their annual Lions Senior Citizens' party at Riviera One in Sandy Ground on French Saint-Martin.

Lions and Leos welcomed and assisted all seniors to get off the buses.

The event got off to a start with Lion Wally graciously giving thanks to Almighty God for the numerous blessing on the lives of all.
One minute of silence was observed in memory of the late Lion Nelson v.d. Linde who had created the idea of the Lions Club setting aside an entire day of fellowship, games and fun for our seniors who have invested so much in our community.
1st Vice President Lion Eldert Louisa then officially welcomed and wished all a most enjoyable day.

While the seniors were enjoying the traditional local breakfast of Johnny cakes and salt fish with bush tea to wash it down, they were entertained by the "Logic Band" (Helen & Fats), who for many years have been offering entertainment for this event.

MC "Anybody Bingo" Lion Wally then took the Seniors "Back in the day down Memory Lane with the jokes and stories of long ago.
During the entire day, Popular DJ Ruby played his unique mix of music that got many of the Seniors off their chairs and unto the dance floor or even shaking a leg or hand from their wheelchairs.

Calypsonians, King Timo, Fish the Mega Boss and reigning Calypso King "Young Calix" also had the Seniors rocking and singing all the popular calypsos.
After a hearty lunch it was time for some folkloric dancing by the Caribbean Jolly Dancers who demonstrated the several Curacao Tumba dances.

Surprise of the day was the presentation of floral presentations to the oldest man and woman by Mr. Lorenzo Lloyd, Managing Director of St. Martin Food & Beverage Catering Service who catered the delicious lunch. Mr. George York and Ms. Sylvanie Gumbs both 98 years old from the St. Martin Home were the lucky recipients. They "wowed" the crowd when the two decided to dance together to an old St. Martin melody and show everyone that they were not only still very energetic but also had a lot of rhythm left!

It was evident by the broad smiles on the faces of all the Seniors as they departed in the afternoon with their gift baskets filled with goodies that it was a day very well spent. They were already talking about how they were eagerly looking forward to the next one.

This was the last of the projects of the St. Maarten Lions Club in commemoration of the Lions International Global Service Month.
The first activity at the beginning of October was a movie outing to the Caribbean Cinemas with close to 90 children of several Foster Homes and the Sister Basilia Center joined by Lions and Leos for a special morning viewing of the movie "Dolphin Tale 2".
The next activity was an island Tour on Sunday October 12 for the wheelchair bound clients of the St. Martin Home to see all the new developments on the island included with a sumptuous lunch at Rosemary's bistro in Marigot.

As one member of the Lions Club said: "We are called to: "Serve". There is nothing more rewarding and fulfilling to know that at the end of the day in some small way, you have been able to make a positive difference in someone's life."

PHILIPSBURG:--- Our book collection includes anything from cookbooks to gripping novels that you won't be able to put down. There will be a large choice of magazines, fiction books and non-fiction books in several languages. We didn't forget about you, parents and caregivers, we know that you will support this venture by dropping in and collecting some of your favorite children's books. We also cater to university and college students with our large number of textbooks provided by the University of St. Martin (USM).
At the book sale, hardcover books will go for the low price of 1 dollar (Naf 1.75) and paperbacks for just 60 dollar cents (Naf 1.00). You can also purchase 15 books for 5 dollars (Naf 8.75). Magazines are 25 dollar cents (Naf 0.45) and videos are 1 dollar (Naf 1.75).
This week's book sale will help to generate funds to purchase new books for our library. Support your library and drop by to purchase some books for yourself or your children !. For more information please contact Shirley Richardson at the library by phone. 542 2970 or e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PJL Press Release

Integrity discussion a waste of time --- Opposition prefers to wait until new government takes office, PR campaign need to revamp country's image.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The parliament of St. Maarten approved the invitation sent to the President of Parliament to attend the Kingdom Concert to be held in the Netherlands in December. The Parliament of St. Maarten also gave its approval for a committee to attend the Parlatino meeting to be held in November that will deal with women in politics and the integrity issues facing St. Maarten. These approvals took place at a Central Committee on Wednesday morning.
However, some members of Parliament namely, MP William Marlin, MP Frans Richardson, and MP Lloyd Richardson did not see the need for the Minister of Justice and Deputy Prime Minister Dennis Richardson to attend the meeting on Wednesday to discuss the Integrity Report issued by the Bob Wit committee that was established by the present government of St. Maarten. The report entitled "Do the Right Things Right."
Members of Parliament William Marlin and Frans Richardson said that Parliament was not informed that the Minister of Justice would have been at the meeting, they said had they known they would have asked for other Ministers to attend the meeting. "I think the chair invited the Minister and did not tell him what to expect because the Minister said that he was not prepared to answer some of the questions posed to him."
MP Marlin also tackled the Minister of Justice who told parliament that he is of the opinion that the Bob Wit report is a more superior report and that the PWC report for him is based on hearsay. Marlin told the Minister that when Ministers go to parliament the Members of Parliament are not interested in their opinions instead Parliament wants to know what is the position of government or the Minister in question. Marlin further stated that even though the Minister feels the Bob Wit report is a superior report, the parliament of St. Maarten did not see the response sent to that committee on the report they compiled but the government (Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister) dispatched a letter to the Kingdom Council informing them of St. Maarten's plans on the inferior (PWC) report.
MP Marlin said that he remains steadfast on his opinion that the meeting to discuss the integrity reports was a waste of time because just last week the Parliament of St. Maarten passed a motion unanimously that states that the outgoing government has agreed to implement the recommendations given in both reports, therefore the incoming government has to establish a committee, with a budget and timeline to set up an action plan for the recommendations in the reports to be implemented. MP Lloyd Richardson asked what does the Parliament of St. Maarten have to do because the Government of St. Maarten already responded to the Kingdom Council. MP Richardson said the Kingdom issued two instructions already and he heard there is a third coming. He said he wanted to know what sparked the instructions that the Kingdom Council is giving to the Governor of St. Maarten. He also insisted that he does not see any point in having the discussions because he simply does not know what it will yield. MP Lloyd Richardson asked the Minister what prompted the integrity inquiry by the Kingdom Council. MP Richardson said he wanted to know if there are any specific incidents that caused the Kingdom to take that type of action through a royal decree, since then he said that a second instruction was given and already it is said a third instruction will be given to the Governor of St. Maarten. He said that the Government already responded to the PricewaterCoopers report where they agreed to implement the recommendations in that report. He asked for a way forward because right now the country is at a standstill.
MP Frans Richardson said had he known that Minister Dennis Richardson would have been attending the meeting he would have called on the chair to step aside and answer questions on the integrity reports. He said right now the system is broken and you have a Minister who is part of the current caretaker government asking the Minister questions about a report that she too participated in establishing the committee to conduct the inquiry.
MP Frans Richardson informed the Minister that he asked questions to the Minister (government) who established the Bob Wit Integrity Committee yet he is told that the answers have to be drafted and sent to him. MP Richardson cautioned the Minister of Justice to do so very quickly and not wait until the new government sits. He said if he does not receive the answers to the questions he asked then he would have no choice but to pen a letter to the Minister with his questions in order to get the answers he need to further study the reports namely "Do the Right things Right" and the PWC report.
Minister of Justice and Deputy Prime Minister of St. Maarten Dennis Richardson in his remarks to Parliament said that the integrity issues of St. Maarten was placed under a microscopic glass and there are people looking from the outside inside, which according to him gives the impression that everyone on St. Maarten is corrupt. That statement did not sit well with MP William Marlin because he said that the committee was asked to look at government and government owned companies and not the every one living on the island.
Minister Richardson said that the Government of St. Maarten already agreed to implement 99.9% of the recommendations given in the two reports. He then gave parliament another elucidation on how the integrity investigations started by the Kingdom Council through a royal decree which he said is in conflict with the country's constitution. Currently the countries Aruba, Curacao and St. Maarten are working on putting a letter together which they will send to the Kingdom Council basically informing them that the countries are now drawing a line in the sand to say so far and no more. Minister Richardson even went further and said that St. Maarten has acknowledged its weaknesses and is also ready to tackle them. Based on the statements made by the Minister, MP Christopher Emmanuel told Minister Richardson that on September 25th, 2014 the Government of St. Maarten sent a letter to the Kingdom Council of Ministers as a response to the PWC report. He asked the Minister to tell the Parliament of St. Maarten what they were expecting when they sent that letter and what exactly they were asking the Dutch Government for.
Minister Richardson both in his opening remarks and while answering questions stated that the Government of St. Maarten is busy drafting an action plan as to how they will implement the recommendations in the integrity reports. He said that right now the country can implement some of the recommendations immediately while others will take time because the country will need to draft laws in order to implement some of the recommendations.
MP Johan Janchi Leonard said he wants to know what is St. Maarten doing wrong because he is not someone that abhors wrong doing and whatever it is the country is doing wrong then its time they fix it and start doing things right. "The name of report indicates that the country is doing things wrong. I need to know if the government already outlined the things that are done wrong so that it can be fixed, right now everyone is looking at St. Maarten with a magnifying glass. As a country we should not wait on other people to tell us to fix things, or what we are doing wrong. Soon the county will be entering the high season and people are looking at us, moreover we have to do things to enhance the economy."
MP/Minister of VROMI Maurice Lake feels that the Government of St. Maarten needs to put in place a public relations committee to start a campaign to clean up the island's image. Lake said that all that was said by politicians in the Kingdom about St. Maarten has tarnished the country's reputation, even making investors worry. MP Lake said soon St. Maarten will enter the high season and there is need to preserve the country's economy. MP Lake also informed Parliament that the Government of St. Maarten, namely Council of Ministers which he is part of should take a decision for the formateur to continue the formation process by submitting the names of the Ministers to the Governor and those persons should be screened based on St. Maarten's screening law. Minister Richardson said only on Tuesday that decision was taken in the Council of Ministers, especially since the screening laws of St. Maarten are not flawed, it has worked before and even better than the screening laws of some countries. MP Lake even called on the Minister of Justice to call for a Parliamentary inquiry on both integrity reports because in his view the reports are biased and based on hearsay.
MP Leona Marlin wanted to know if the Government of St. Maarten took any measures prior to the instructions given and the subsequent inquiry. She however, feels that these discussions should take place whether or not the Minister that attended parliament is a caretaker Minister.
MP George Pantophlet said he is also of the opinion that the discussions held on Wednesday was a waste of time because the country hired Transparency International to conduct an inquiry and that report is not yet in. He asked what would Parliament do, discuss these two reports and then when they get the one from Transparency International call another meeting of parliament to discuss the same issue?

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Fire Department kicked off Fire Prevention Week 2014 on Monday, October 27 until November 1.

The awareness week is being organized by the Section Fire Prevention and Friends of the Island Government Fire Fighters.

The objective during the week is to raise fire safety awareness throughout the community. The theme for this year's week is: "Preventing and Acting in event of a Fire."

Lectures are part of the schedule within the various districts. Residents are asked to come out and learn about fire prevention measures which could save a life of a love one and also protect your property.

The dates and times of the sessions are as follows: Wednesday, October 29 at the John Hodge Hall Cole Bay Methodist Building from 7:30pm to 9:00pm; Thursday, October 30 at the School in Middle Region, same time; and Friday, October 31 at the Lion's Building in Sucker Garden, same time.

The Open House will be on Saturday, November 1 and the general public is invited. The open house will take place at the Clem Labega Square in Philipsburg from 9:00am to 6:00pm.

THE BOTTOM, Saba:--- On Tuesday, October 28th , 2014, around 5:15 AM, the police received report of a burglary at Big Rock Grocery in Windward Side. The police immediately went to the location and has been able to detain a suspect in the act, who matched the description. It concerns a 34 year old man, with the initials B.J.M. Several items were also seized. The suspect was taken to the Police Station in The Bottom and the police continued the investigation. The suspect was taken into custody on Tuesday afternoon.

KPCN Police Report

PHILIPSBURG:--- A meeting was held on October 28, 2014 between representatives of Alegria, the new owner of the properties formerly known as the Caravanserai Beach Resort, the Sint Maarten Timeshare Association (SMTA) and the Minister of Economic Affairs, Tourism, Telecommunications and Transportation, Mr. Ted Richardson and his Cabinet. The meeting was held at the request of the Minister who took the initiative in finding a solution to the timeshare situation at the former Caravanserai Beach Resort.
The parties discussed that while the development plans for the new resort are still in the works, Alegria was gracious enough to extend and offer to the previous time share owners the use of the resort, its facilities and all its benefits exactly as they were accustomed to. Effectively, the timeshare owners will not notice any changes whatsoever in the use of the resort and its facilities for the same annual maintenance fees as previously paid.
In addition, Alegria and the SMTA have mutually agreed to work in close collaboration in providing the timeshare owners with opportunities in multiple alternate timeshare facilities across Sint Maarten once Alegria will commence with the development of its new resort.
Representatives of Alegria committed it was the utmost priority to timeshare owners to have the least amount of interruption as possible.
According to Alegria and the SMTA, the Minister played a pivotal role in finding common ground between the parties and greatly appreciated his efforts as well of those of Mr. Ouenniche. "This solution creates a win-win for all parties involved", stated the Minister. "What I care the most about is people who invested in the island and will invest in the future, developers and timeshare owners alike. People who call Sint Maarten their second home should be able to continue enjoying our friendly island. I am glad that Alegria and the SMTA were able to come to a happy medium that is in the interest of our island and its economy and I am optimistic about the future developments in tourism and the economic growth generated thereby", the Minister concluded.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Late last year, DEI launched the Cultural Artistic Formation (CAF) adaptation project which entailed the development of lesson plans that reflect the local situation . Imbrace Group LLC was contracted to steer the project, assemble a curriculum writing team and work with the writing team to develop the materials. The need for this project was identified in a retraining trajectory where it became evident that there were no existing materials for CAF that reflect our local situation.
The new CAF curriculum promotes knowledge and understanding of the historical and cultural contexts of the arts within St. Maarten as well as the Caribbean and the global community. The presentation held to unveil the new curriculum (which was given by Imbrace Group) gave the CAF teachers and ministry representatives an insight into the new curriculum. School representatives were also presented with a hard copy of the curriculum. The presentation was packed with cultural activities which included demonstration on drums, listening to Tanny and the Boys, a skit by Dorothy Richardson and a mini dance lesson on how to do the Ponum Dance.
Cultural Artistic Formation (CAF) is a subject in the secondary vocational schools (PBL, PKL and TKL streams) which is followed third and fourth year students. It comprises of art forms such as visual arts, dance, music, dance, drama and architecture. The entire project and presentation were made possible by Dutch Development funds made available by Usona. For more information, please feel free to contact DEI at 542-4594.

Police now investigating its 11th murder for the year 2014

COLE BAY:--- A shooting that took place around 8pm Monday night on Waterfront Road, Cole Bay has left a local young man dead. Information reaching SMN News states that police were called to the scene where they found the lifeless body of Jean-No Sanon (26). Sannon was born on St. Maarten, he is also a  Dutch national of Haitian decent. SMN News learnt that the victim lives somewhere in the Cul de Sac area. Details on this latest murder is still to be released by KPSM. The police department is busy investigating its 11th murder for the year 2014.

Man shot dead in Cole Bay.

On Monday October 27th at approximately 8:15 p.m. several police patrols, detectives and paramedics were sent to Waterfront Road in Cole Bay to investigate a shooting. According to witnesses in the area they heard a loud noise on the street, which sounded like a gunshot. When they looked outside they saw a man lying face down on the ground in front of an apartment building on that same street. They also noticed that the man in question was bleeding. On the scene the investigating officers encountered the man lying on the ground and who was not showing any signs of life. The victim was shot. The scene was closed of by the police so that the Forensic Department could collect evidence. Doctor Douglas arrived on the scene and pronounced the death of the victim. It is still unclear exactly what took place and who the ones are that are responsible for this criminal act. Detectives are busy questioning potential witnesses and gathering other information to piece together what transpired at that location. The body of the victim has been confiscated for further investigation and transported to a morgue. The victims name is Jean-No Sanon (26). The police department is asking anyone in the community who may have information that could shed some light on this case to come forward. The investigation is ongoing.

KPSM Police Report

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Soualiga Soccer Association is very proud to announce the establishment of the FC Soualiga U12 & U18 Youth Girls Teams. FC Soualiga women's soccer team has been growing exponentially since its inception in April of 2013, then under the St. Maarten Soccer Educational Foundation. FC Soualiga has since then formed the Soualiga Soccer Association and has recognized the need to split the team into separate age groups to better cater to the needs and development of skills of the young soccer team members. The under 12 (U12) Team practice every Friday, from 4.30 pm until 6 pm at the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex (RISC) in Cay Hill with coach Kandice, while the under 18 (U18) practices together with the senior team every Tuesday and Thursday at RISC from 7 to 8.30 PM with both coach/captain Kandice and coach David as well as being assisted by coaches Fabian and Burton.

The registration for each of the teams, the senior team included, is open for all levels to join. You can contact the Soualiga Soccer Association through This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or find us on Facebook: FC Soualiga or call us at #1-721-584-1881.

Too many leaks and alignment with possible suspects and politicians.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Some departments of the justice chain on St. Maarten are now trying to investigate cases that surfaced days ago while they have several cases of alleged corruption lying on their desks taking dust. Even a judge accused the prosecution of "class justice" something the local population on St. Maarten have been crying out loud for years. The Landsrecherche that has been established on St. Maarten since St. Maarten became a country spent most of its resources investigating prison fights and other incidents. While neglecting the cases that involve politicians or persons that are considered untouchable within the St. Maarten community.
KPSM took on the cases that involved two customs officers who were working at the Princess Juliana International Airport and investigated that case involving two top civil servants working in the justice chain and got them convicted for drug trafficking.
Just last week Wednesday the Landsrecherche and RST decided to contact newly elected Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel to take a statement from him about the statements he made on the floor of parliament last week Monday when St. Maarten Parliament called its first meeting to discuss the instruction given to Governor Holiday on September 17th, 2014. During that meeting MP Emmanuel said in 2010 he was offered $80,000.00 to run a particular list that was contesting the 2010 Island Council election. SMN News did some research and found out that the political party in question has close ties with certain banks that are releasing person's information to politicians so those politicians can use it to bait or bargain with political candidates. A well-placed source said when Emmanuel was contacted in 2010 the political party that contacted him got all his "mortgage" information from his bank and that is the reason they offered him $80,000.00. SMN News was informed that another politician who jumped shipped allegedly had all his debts paid off because the same set of politicians checked his bank and saw that the Member of Parliament had huge debts.
SMN News further learnt that when the detectives met with Emmanuel on Wednesday last week he told them that he was not willing to give them a full statement except to what he said on the floor of parliament simply because the justice chain on St. Maarten cannot be trusted. SMN News learnt that MP Emmanuel gave the detectives marching orders to go out in the St. Maarten community to find the information they need if they really want to do proper investigation. The source said the reason MP Emmanuel did not cooperate with the investigators was because he knew that certain politicians are very close with investigators, prosecutors and even the Solicitor General on St. Maarten and should he give a full statement to the detectives then that statement will be given to the political parties (politician) that same afternoon. SMN News has been reliably informed that a certain political party had their aide contact a very close relative of MP Christopher Emmanuel and told him his job was to convince the newly elected Member of Parliament that he does not need to do anything but to declare himself independent from the National Alliance slate and support them to form a government. The person who contacted Emmanuel's relatives it is understood told them that if Emmanuel agrees then they will take the relative of the MP off island to make the $2M payment. This is the second Member of Parliament who has claimed that they were offered huge bribes by certain politicians, one even filed complaints but the prosecution chose not to act on the complaints that were filed.
When SMN News contacted MP Emmanuel for a statement on the information received, MP Emmanuel said that he was not going to comment but whenever he picks up a copy of the statement he gave the investigators he will share it with SMN News since that too is part of transparency. MP Emmanuel made clear that he will not say anything more than he said on the floor of parliament last Monday. The statements MP Emmanuel made caused a huge stir in the Netherlands and St. Maarten even having some politicians sitting at the edge of their seats.
SMN News published several articles showing evidence where the Public Prosecutors Office has been engaging in illegal activities and has also been accumulating questionable wealth on the island. Even though these articles have been published, to date Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson who once said he was not aware of the seized assets the prosecution has did not give a reaction now that the photos of the seized assets have been published including the receipts of sales of several boats and outboard engines that were sold by the prosecution and another company and not by the bailiffs.
Even the Attorney General who is currently on St. Maarten holding meetings remain mum on the issues that reflect corruption in the justice chain.
Persons on St. Maarten are demanding a full scale investigation within the Public Prosecutors Office since they said no one can trust the prosecution and several of its investigators because of their close ties with criminals and politicians. Prosecutors on St. Maarten were caught driving under the influence, one was accused of trying to sleep a convict's girlfriend in order to obtain evidence for a high profile case on St. Maarten, yet no real sanctions have been taken against these prosecutors that were chosen by the Kingdom and sent to St. Maarten.
SMN News in its most recent article stated that an attorney spoke to SMN News about an unusual transaction he had at the Prosecutors Office some years ago. That attorney said he was hired to represent a client who was travelling to Haiti with a large amount of monies he intended to take for other Haitian relatives. The attorney said that his client had all proof of how he accumulated the monies and what the monies were intended for when he reached his destination but the prosecution chose not to look at his client's evidence and went ahead and seized his money. The attorney who preferred not to release his identity said he was convoked to the Prosecutors Office after 5pm and when he arrived there, there was only one prosecutor in office and that prosecutor took the bag of monies out from a cupboard and he told him that instead of charging his client he will give him a fine of $20,000.00. The attorney said that the prosecutor proceeded and count the $20,000.00 and return the balance of the monies to him. Further the prosecutor then typed up a receipt in his computer on a regular Microsoft document and signed it and gave it to. The attorney said fines are not normally paid at the Prosecutors Office and if by chance it's done the receipt has to be written on specific receipt book with consecutive numbers. More astonishing in this incident the attorney said when this incident took place the prosecutor in question was busy building his mansion on St. Maarten.
The Minister of Interior and Home Affairs Ronald Plasterk said he will send reinforcement to St. Maarten's Prosecutors Office to assist especially the Landsrecherche and the RST with the backlog cases they have in their offices and claim not to have enough resources. The question the people of St. Maarten has is if the Attorney General or Minister Plasterk will initiate an investigation against the people they appoint at the Prosecutor's Office for corruption.

Importance of St. Maarten as a Biodiversity Hotspot with Challenges Highlighted

PHILIPSBURG:--- Sint Maarten sent a four person delegation to the high level Conference on Biodiversity and Climate change held on Guadeloupe from the 24th to the 26th of October. The delegates were Mr. Marc Arnold, head of the Department of the Interior and Kingdom Relations; Ms. Olivia Lake, Project Coordinator at the Department of the Interior and Kingdom Relations; Mrs. Claire Hooft-Graafland, Senior Policy Advisor Ministry VROMI and NGO Representative and Tadzio Bervoets Director of the Sint Maarten Nature Foundation.
The high-level meeting follows one held in July 2008 on Reunion Island under the French Presidency of the European Union with the goal of better integrating environmental issues and the international importance of the natural heritage of the European Outermost Regions (ORs), the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) and their respective geographical regions to position the European Union and its member states as key players in the Conventions on Biodiversity and Climate Change.
The 9 ORs and the 25 OCTs, including Sint Maarten, are home to a remarkable, yet threatened, biodiversity which renders them among international biodiversity hot spots and the European Union and the Member States concerned among mega-diverse entities. Moreover, the location of the ORs and the OCTs gives the European Union the largest maritime domain in the world, scattered over all the oceans.
The ORs' and OCTs' biodiversity represents not only a natural heritage of International importance, but also a key element of the economic, social and cultural potential of these territories. This biodiversity faces major threats such as competition for space, invasive species, and pollution that have caused some species and habitats to disappear. Adding up to those well-documented threats, Climate Change greatly impacts the ORs and the OCTs.
Presentations and discussions were held regarding St. Maarten's steps towards biodiversity conservation, particularly with regards to protected areas and zoning as well as discussions on how to access European Union funding for conservation on the island. A roadmap for future regional and global development was drafted during the tree day conference. The European Commission has different funding opportunities available for regional projects that St. Maarten government or NGO's will pursue. The roadmap will furthermore inspire policies and the long term ambitions of the national development plan that is currently being worked on by government in close corporation with the community, NGO's and the business sector.
The expenses associated with travel to the conference was covered by the OCT Organization and the Regional Council of Guadeloupe.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The importance of utilizing all available best practices, to assist the unemployed, was once again underscored during the second edition of the Employment Forum held in the Chamber of Commerce yesterday in Concordia, on Thursday, October 23, 2014.
A delegation consisting of the Section Head Labor Market – Ms. Natasha Richardson, together with Job Placement Officers attended the Employment Forum, with the objective to gain first hand insight on recruitment and job placement activities and initiatives. In an invited comment, Mrs. Peggy-Ann Dros – Department Head Labor Affairs and Social Services, stated that it remains critical for both sides of this small Country to work together in close collaboration , all in the best interest of our collective people. The intention is for the Department of Labor Affairs to host an Employment Forum in 2015, bringing together the Chamber of Commerce, all private sector stakeholders and job seekers, presenting the unique and real job opportunities for persons that form part of the local job market.
Minister de Weever further stated, that despite improved performance and the implementation of several performance enhancement tools, unemployment continues to be an issue requiring creative, out of the box approaches. The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, under the auspices of the Department of Labor Affairs and the Department of Labor, will continue therefore to explore and implement all available resources to address it.

GREAT BAY:--- Minister of Public Health Social Development & Labor, Cornelius De Weever is proud to announce that the minimum wage will be indexed from Naf 8,56 per hour to Naf 8,75 per hour as of January 1, 2015. "I am extremely happy to have the minimum wage indexed," said Minister De Weever. For the third consecutive year Minister de Weever has indexed the minimum wage in order for workers to keep up with the rising cost of living. The legal basis for the Minister of Public Health Social Development & Labor to index the minimum wage can be found in article 13, paragraph 1 of the National Ordinance Minimum Wages.

"I am willing to index the minimum wage as long as the economic situation allows it," said Minister De Weever. Consultation was held with the Social Economic Council whom advised in December 2012 that with the envision of the Minister of Public Health Social Development & Labor along with the minimum hourly wage policy in principle it has been agreed to index the minimum wage annually. In addition, the Bureau of Statistics specified that the price indices for household consumption shows that the figure for the month of the preceding year changed, thus a new minimum hourly wage. It is important to note that all employers should take note of the indexation and have it properly adjusted on the payslips of their employees. The minimum wage is just a baseline and should not be used for every worker.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will meet in a Central Committee setting on October 29th.
The Central Committee meeting is set for Wednesday at 10:00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.
There is a three point agenda: an invitation for the President of Parliament to attend the Kingdom Concert scheduled for December 15, 2014 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands; the second agenda is a Parlatino Parliament meeting of Parliamentarians on Women, Politics, Democracy and Sustainable Development in the XXI Century which will be held November 27 and 28 in Panama; and the third agenda point is a final report by the Committee of Integrity Pubic Administration Transparency dated July 12, 2014 entitled, "Doing the Right Things Right."

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary session will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 120, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the Internet www.pearlfmradio.com, and also via www.sxmparliament.org.

DAWN BEACH:--- For second year in a row, Princess Heights Luxury Boutique Hotel has been named "the Leading Hotel in St. Maarten", by the World Travel Awards (WTA) in its 2014 edition. Heralded by The Wall Street Journal as the "Oscar's of the travel industry," the WTA has developed into the most prestigious and comprehensive awards program in travel and tourism, and is known worldwide as the hallmark of industry excellence that recognizes the commitment to excellence that hospitality businesses worldwide have demonstrated in the last twelve months.
Emil Lee general manager stated "This latest award, combined with our fourth straight year TripAdvisor certificate of excellence, proves once again that only through hard work, consistency and real commitment to Customer service, we can ensure that our guests enjoy lavish accommodations with world class personalized service. This really is a tribute to the hard working and dedicated staff at Princess Heights Hotel."
Lee added: "The management of the hotel as well as the entire staff would like to thank its loyal clientele and partners, who have been working with us and supporting the property since the beginning. Without them, it would have been impossible to reach the high standards of quality for which we have been recognized and awarded."
This family-operated luxury property is located in on a hillside overlooking Dawn Beach, right in the border of the Dutch and French sides of the island. Princess Heights Hotel offers magnificent ocean view studios, one bedroom and two bedroom suites. "Our luxurious suites are perfect for couples and our large suites and full kitchens make us perfect for families and groups of friends wanting to relax and enjoy in a home away from home environment" said Jorge Diaz-Granados, Princess Heights Director of Marketing. "Princess Height is arguably the best value for money around St. Maarten" he added.
In order to celebrate this prestigious award, the hotel is launching a limited time offer. Go to www.princessheights.com/wta, call +18008811744 or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and check the limited time special rates for the rest of 2014 and all 2015.

PHILIPSBURG:--- UTS has pledged it support as corporate club sponsor in the Rebels Vets Basketball Association's 7th annual CuraSur Masters Basketball Tournament. The company has put its support behind the organization in its endeavor to host their week-long invitational which will bring competing teams from the region to the island from November 3-10, 2014. "We are happy to be able to support an endeavor which encourages healthy competition and physical fitness," said UTS Marketing and Communication Officer, Ivy Lambert. "The fact that this tournament will bring about 200 competitors from the region to our island, exposing them to all our lovely island has to offer is an added bonus which will benefit many in the tourism community," Lambert continued.

UTS Press Release

PHILIPSBURG:--- Detainee C.A.P. from the Point Blanche prison was transferred on Sunday to a prison in the Netherlands. The transfer is related to the recent incidents in the prison in Philipsburg. The transfer is intended to ensure the safety of inmates and the facility. The detainee that was transferred to the Netherlands was involved in several prison fights while being held at the Pointe Blanche Prison. The latest being the shooting which left one prisioner injured.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Caretaker Prime Minister the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams attended the opening of the all-female high school competition organized by the Oualichi Women's Soccer Association on Saturday at the Raoul Illidge Sport's Complex. The Prime Minister opened the matches and wished the students much success and further encouraged the Women's Soccer association to build the sport of Women's Soccer on the island. During the competition spectators, including the Prime Minister saw games played between Sundial and St. Dominic (2-0), Learning Unlimited/ CIA (3-0), Milton Peters College and Sundial (0-3) and MAC and CIA (0-3).

The competition, the first of its kind to only feature female players from the various high schools, will continue on November 8th with more matches.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

PHILIPSBURG:--- Caretaker Prime Minister the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams joined the Indian Community in attending the Diwali Celebrations held this past Saturday at the Belair Community Center. Diwali or Divali also known as Deepavali and the "festival of lights" is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in autumn every year. Wescot-Williams stated that it was a pleasure for her to be able to share a cultural experience with the Indian Community of St. Maarten; I am very grateful for the opportunity to be able to share in Diwali, the festival of lights with all of you here. Diwali celebrates light over ignorance and indeed for all of us here on St. Maarten it is essential, especially in these trying times that we reflect on the positive and all what makes us St. Maarteners," commented Wescot-Williams.

PHILIPSBURG:--- While attending a recent function in benefit of the Mental Health Foundation, caretaker Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams again stressed the importance for the Mental Health Foundation; "As I have expressed in the past we have a Mental Health Foundation doing extremely good work but one that is faced with its challenges. Government subsidizes the Foundation but indeed the needs of the organization are great.

"There are a lot of issues that are faced by people on a daily basis; some persons can conceal this state but others not. More can be done on St. Maarten but we must also acknowledge that we have come a long way, not to long ago we had absolutely no care for those suffering from issues related to mental health on St. Maarten. During our island territory days things needed to be done but our legal parameters were not in place yet. Some persons got together and provided that service and Government subsidized the activities of that foundation but there are still some legal issues, including picking up persons and forcing them to have care, which must be looked at. Mental Health is just as important as physical health and the work done by the Mental Health Foundation is essential in the community," commented Prime Minister Wescot-Williams.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

PHILIPSBURG:--- UTS introduces a new program for its Chippie brand of mobile service, where customers will get free minutes every time they use their Chippie phone; just by using their Chippie prepaid credit. "This is our way of thanking customers on a consistent basis for their business. Every customer has a choice in which mobile service provider they choose and Chippie wants to show its appreciation for the trust our customers place in us when it comes to meeting their mobile communication needs. Chippie is known for constantly having different fun, attractive offers, and we will continue to do that, but Chippie also wants to reward its customers on a regular basis just for using their Chippie service," said UTS Marketing and Communication Officer, Ivy Lambert "The free minutes will be issued for all types of credit usage. Whether it's for local calls, international calls, SMS messages or data service activation. You don't even have to do anything to make use of this offer. Just keep using your Chippie phone like you always do. Free minutes are issued automatically and they are also used automatically. No complicated codes or activations," Lambert continued.

The free minutes received are valid for calls to other Chippie numbers, do not roll over and expire 7 days after issuance. The free minutes will be accumulated on the 'secondary' balance of the prepaid account. To check the secondary balance, Chippie prepaid customers can call *91. The offer is currently available for Chippie prepaid customers of St. Maarten with a planned expansion to various other markets in the eastern Caribbean. The offer excludes customers in a Chippie Company Calling Group because they already have the benefit of unlimited calling within their calling circle. For additional information on the campaign, or assistance in checking the free minutes balance, Chippie customers can call the UTS Contact Center FREE at +1721 5881010.

UTS Press Release

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Sunday October 26th, 2014 a peaceful march that was organized by People United for True Democracy took place. This march started at approximately 2:00pm and lasted until 5:00pm. The march was attended by approximately two hundred persons and ended in front of the Government Administration Building on the Clem Labega Square. The Community Police Officer/Inspector Felix Richards used this opportunity at the end of the march to approach the onlookers and the participants attending the march, including prominent politicians such as Franklin Meyers, Dr. Lloyd Richardson and leader of the UPP Theo Heyliger to participate and support the "Stop, Drop & Go" project which is geared at ridding all illegal firearms from the streets on Sint Maarten. This project has been quite successful thus far with the amount of illegal firearms being surrendered. Officer Richards also took this opportunity to encourage those present to get their friends and families to support the project. Officer Richards then went on to distribute the red, white and blue rubber wristband which has become very popular lately to those present, which shows ones support of the "Stop, Drop & Go project". 

Police sends serious message to parents.

Recently the police department has been receiving numerous phone calls regarding students who see it fit to throw eggs at each other, mostly after school hours. This irresponsible and dangerous act takes place every year around the Halloween period, which is celebrated in the month of October. Even though this event is not officially celebrated on the island, several night clubs do organize events.

KPSM Press Release

THE BOTTOM, Saba:--- On Friday, October 24th, 2014, around 6:00 PM, two men were arrested for the illegal buying of gold. These men went to the homes of inhabitants of Saba to buy old gold while they did not keep continuous records and also could not show the police a register upon their first request to do so. The suspects, 35-year-old W.A.F.G. and 43 years J.L.M.A., are both from Venezuela. The investigation has also shown that both men were illegally on Saba. A reporting obligation has been imposed on both men and they should voluntarily leave the island with the first possibility. Both men were released after questioning and after they had been offered a transaction.

KPCN Police Report

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Department of Social Services, a government agency under the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labour, hereby announces that relief material and supplies will be distributed to Hurricane Gonzalo victims on Wednesday, 29th October from 8:30am until 12:00 noon.

The Dept. of Social Services is located on the Pondfill near Carl's & Son Bakery.

The items to be distributed to hurricane victims are: food, water, toiletries, sheets, towels and tarpaulin.

The aforementioned relief items will be given to those who registered with the Department of Social Services who were assessed on their individual needs/circumstances. Priority is being given to the most vulnerable (senior citizens, handicapped/disabled).

The St. Maarten Red Cross will be on hand to assist with the distribution.

The Department of Social Services has been providing crisis counseling and intervention for vulnerable groups along with financial assistance to hurricane victims since the passing of the hurricane.

All Members of the Democratic Party did not support her decision but respected it as Leader of DP

PHILIPSBURG:--- Almost three weeks after signing an agreement with formateur Theodore Heyliger, leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams finally broke her silence on Monday at a press conference held at the House of Parliament. Wescot Williams said it is indeed remiss of her not to speak about her decision to sign an agreement with formateur Heyliger on October 9th 2014, one day prior to the swearing in of the new Members of Parliament for the governing period 2014 – 2018. Wescot Williams read a statement she read after the results of the August 29th Parliamentary Elections were announced. That statement reads "We of the Democratic Party have been given a chance and it is up to us to decide how to use it. Having played a big part in St. Maarten's Government since 2010, it is evident that openness with the people and transparency in government business are critical issues. It is too early to say exactly how, but the Democratic Party will ensure that the message we got from the voters and our party principles will be the guiding lights for us in this new political landscape of St. Maarten." Wescot Williams made clear that the agreement she signed with Heyliger was on behalf of the Democratic Party where she expressed the willingness of the Democratic Party to participate and support the formation of the Government of St. Maarten for the period 2014- 2018.
Wescot Williams said that the agreement was signed after having discussions between parties regarding Governor Eugene Holiday's mandate to formateur Heyliger and the general outline of the governing accord and assignment of portfolios 2014-2018 as signed by eight Members of Parliament on October 3rd, 2014.
Wescot Williams said the accord carried the approval of the Democratic Party which includes but is not limited to the integrity reports, a plan of action for the tax office, operational audits of government owned companies. She further stated that the appointment of Ministers will be done collectively. Wescot Williams further explained all of the details will be worked out as they are still busy drafting the governing program.
Wescot Williams said the decision to join the UPP was not easily arrived at, some people she said saw the whole thing as a conspiracy but that she said was not the case. She further explained that meetings were held with the board of the Democratic Party and its membership and as some has publicly expressed, not all members of the DP supported the decision.
When asked by SMN News if she met with the board of the Democratic Party and her membership prior to signing the agreement on October 9th, 2014. Wescot Williams said at this point it really does not matter. However, she did admit that when she met with her membership it was to inform them of the decision she took, with the blessings of the board of the Democratic Party. When asked how many members of the party have resigned from the DP she said that she received one official resignation. She also admitted that she did receive several communications some in favor, some disagreeing, and while there are a number of her membership who does not agree they respect her decision. On Tuesday Leader of the Democractic Parly Sarah Wescot Williams sent an email to say that she recieved two resignation letters from her membership, she said she does not want any of the past members to feel slighted and therefore for the sake of completeness she wants to clarify that so far two of the Democratic Party members have resigned since the UPP/DP/ Marlin coalition was formed.
SMN News understands that Wescot Williams met with membership of the Democratic Party on October 12th, 2014.
In her last press briefing which was held at Holland House, SMN News asked Wescot Williams if she was going to join the UPP/De Weever coalition government and she said on a number of occasions that her decision will depend on what they offer her or tell her. On Monday when Wescot Williams finally broke her silence, SMN News asked the DP leader what she was offered to join the UPP/De Weever coalition. In her response Wescot Williams said when she said that the last time she did not mean that she was going to join for the exchange of anything. When asked what they told her causing her to join the second coalition without the full support of her membership. When asked what is next for the Democratic Party especially knowing that one of her main members (Michael Ferrier) openly spoke out and also resigned from the Democratic Party. Wescot Williams said that for now the "dust" has not settled as yet therefore there is no consensus as to where this will lead especially since the current government is facing an impasse.

Actions that are on the Front Burner for Parliament.

At the press briefing the President of Parliament/Prime Minister of St. Maarten said that since she took up the position as President of the Parliament of St. Maarten she took stock of some of the things that have to be done within short. One of the things that the Parliament and Government have to work on is the instruction the Kingdom Council of Ministers issued to the Governor of St. Maarten on October 17th, 2014. She said St. Maarten will resist this instruction.
Wescot Williams said during her first two weeks in Parliament even though wearing two caps at the moment the Parliament of St. Maarten managed to hold several meetings including appointing the faction leaders of the Parliament of St. Maarten. For the Democratic Party Cornelius de Weever was appointed faction leader. Wescot Williams said the Assembly met to discuss the allocation of office spaces to the various factions and to appoint some of the commissions.
Wescot Williams said that there are a number of legislations that are at the house of Parliament to be handled and those legislations must be handled. One such legislation is the amendment of the civil code to curb the abuse of the short term contracts, the initiative law banning plastic bag which is at the Parliament of St. Maarten for handling since 2011, the timeshare ownership legislation, the AOV law to increase the age of pension.
The Chairlady of Parliament also announced that next week a central committee meeting will be held to handle the invitation sent to the President of Parliament to attend the Kingdom concert which will be held in the Netherlands. Another decision that will be taken in that Central Committee meeting is Parlatino invitation on the conference that will be held on November 28th, 2014. On the agenda for that meeting she said are women in politics, democracy in the 21st century, and the integrity report commissioned by St. Maarten.
Wescot Williams said her intention as the Chairlady of Parliament is to discuss with the factions the meetings that have to be reconvened in order to make a schedule to get rid of the backlog.
High on the agenda for the Democratic Party is the Electoral Reform which has to be amended, integrity in parliament and the possibility to hold referendums on certain issues in order to get a feedback from the people.
She spoke of the zoning plan for the country, government owned companies, and how can parliament stimulate the growth of small businesses.

PHILIPSBURG/AUSTRIA:--- The Ombudsman, Dr. Nilda Arduin left on Friday, October 24th 2014 to Vienna, Austria to attend the IOI board meeting. Dr. Arduin is one of the board of directors representing the Caribbean and Latin America Region.

The topics to be discussed are among others : general matters relating to the general operation of the IOI Institute, such as financial matters, membership, individual matters relating to the various regions that make up the membership, corporation with foreign relations such as the UN and the World Bank, IOI strategic plan for 2015, the world conference scheduled in 2016 and the various training projects. One of the training to be discussed is the Anti Corruption Training which was scheduled to take place in Argentina, but had to be postponed due to the untimely death of the Ombudsman of that Country.

The Ombudsman listens, investigates, and recommends
Government to act on the concerns of the people

The Ombudsman is the Voice and Protector of the People

PHILIPSBURG:--- The OSPP has been paying keen attention to the recent developments regarding the instructions given to Governor Holiday by the Dutch Kingdom Council of Minister. This instruction in our opinion is baseless to say the least. After the 2014 election the NA/DP/US government was being formed and they had reached a point of signing an agreement to work together. This information was conveyed to the entire world including the Dutch. However, at no time did the Kingdom Council of Ministers issue an instruction to the governor regarding the screening process for the ministers in St. Maarten. Had the Kingdom Council of Ministers issued such an instruction at that time we would have objected basically the same. St. Maarten obtained its' separate status on October 10, 2010, a new country entering rough waters for the first time with lots of rules and regulations, more than any other country within the Kingdom. No one can disagree or deny that our government and members of parliament brought on shame to this country over the last four years and they seem to be continuing in the same trend after election 2014. We have had three integrity investigations carried out during our first four years in existence. All three of those investigations have yielded some astonishing developments within our governments and they have made some recommendations to improve the functioning of the government, thereby providing better service to the people. Several of the members supporting the incoming government refer to the findings of the investigations and recommendations as melee. Are we to conclude that they don't support the recommendations made to improve the integrity of our government? What findings do they have to support that the reports are just melee, nonfactual and baseless?
Neither the less to say we are still what surprised that after those reports were released the government of St. Maarten still saw it fit to issue not one but various new casino licenses. The existent casinos owe the government millions of guilders in fees and other taxes but the small man continues to have to pay their taxes through their noses. We have also witnessed the fact that the government of St. Maarten during the integrity investigations period purchased land, namely the Vorst Estate way above the market price per square meter. The Dutch have a saying (Het dweilen met de kraan open – Mopping up with the faucets running water) Do you still asked why some people support the move by the Dutch government?
The OSPP supports the call for St. Maarten to continue to utilize the screening process that have worked for us between 2010 and 2014 and should the Dutch government have recommendations to improve this process, have them forward those recommendations to the government department responsible for the screening. But the decisions are in the hands of that department to use them if they would improve our screening process. We therefore reject the instruction from the Kingdom Council of Ministers to Governor E. Holiday.
However, if the Kingdom Council of Ministers has information about wrong doing by any members of the present or future incoming ministers they should launched those complaints at the Public Prosecutor office here in St. Maarten regardless to who that person maybe. After properly investigating this information a decision would be made if that person would pass the screening process. It has worked in the past and it will continue to work in the future.
On the other hand the OSPP strongly believes that many of the recommendations in the various integrity reports should be implemented. As a matter of fact a phase plan should be prepared with a time frame for the implementations of those recommendations and if the government refuses to carry them out, drastic measures should be enforced to provide the people with proper governance.

OSPP Press Release

PHILIPSBURG:--- Fire in Babylon, Love is better than wine and The Power of the Tongue were titles of presentations delivered by Clayton Felix, Ted Richards & Rolande Tobias during Men Empowerment Night. The event was organized by St Maarten Toastmasters to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Toastmasters International. Having started back in 1924 as a Men's only organization, the organizers decided to place emphasis on the men and the importance of men stepping up in the organization. Held at the Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School in Cay Hill this past Saturday evening, the event saw an impressive attendance and participants thoroughly enjoy the evening's presentation.
The presentation by Clayton Holiday dealt with the challenges encountered by the West Indies cricket team and the determination of the players to make a statement on the international cricket stage. Ted Richards expounded on the important role men can play in the lives of their spouses when it comes to early detection of breast cancer. Rolande Tobias explored the use of the Power of the tongue to create peace, pleasure and pain. All three presenters impressed, thoroughly entertained and informed the audience. The second part of the evening consisted of an Impromptu session with the three presenters as panelists responding to questions about men issues. Questions were posed from the Moderator Elroy Hughes as well as from members in the audience and featured men's issues such as "Does size really matter?", "Men & Shoe size; fact or myth?", "Should men be afraid to show their feminine side? and "Has men given up their leadership role to women?". The audience truly enjoyed the discussions by the three panellists.
Following the evaluation session where all presenters received feedback on their performance, a toast was initiated by District Governor Valerie Brazier and words of thanks were expressed by Toastmaster of the evening Juan Richardson. The success of the event has called for an annual event as well as similar event being organized for the female Toastmasters on the island.
St Maarten has 5 Toastmasters clubs where members meet twice a month and practice their communication & leadership skills. The clubs are open to the public and persons desirous of improving self development through Communication & Leadership are welcome to join.

POINT BLANCHE:--- On Thursday, a delegation from the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labour (Ministry VSA) headed by Minister Hon. Cornelius de Weever, Port St. Maarten Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Mingo and port representatives, met in Miami, Florida with Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) President Michele Paige and representatives from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), regarding Ebola screening protocols for cruise ship passengers and crew.

Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. The incubation period from time of infection to symptoms is two to 21 days. In August, the Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Ebola a public health emergency of international concern.

Minister De Weever and CEO Mark Mingo see the importance of protecting the destination, its people and the cruise sector, which contributes one third of economic activity in the national economy; from the possible impact of Ebola to the country. The main objective is to prevent a suspect or probable case from reaching the shores of St. Maarten.

The meeting with FCCA and CLIA was to ascertain cruise industry protocols related to cruise passengers and crew of vessels since this would be the first point of embarkation out of home ports in Florida or within the Caribbean where cruise lines operate from. All agree that there is a low risk of an Ebola infection breaking out on a cruise ship.

The delegation from St. Maarten along with the FCCA and CLIA are on the same level with respect to having the protocols in place to protect destinations and the cruise industry. A follow-up meeting will be held to evaluate the situation with Ebola and the measures that are currently in place to see whether they need to be enhanced based on recommendations coming from the WHO and the US Center for Disease Control (CDC).

The Minister, Port St. Maarten management, FCCA and CLIA are in agreement that out of an abundance of caution and care for the well-being of the people of St. Maarten, of cruise ship guests and crew members, the measures in place typically go beyond what is technically required.

Ebola infections in West Africa (mainly in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia) have surpassed 10,000; laboratory confirmed cases 5692; total deaths, 4922 as of October 24.

On October 23, the West African country of Mali reported its first confirmed case of Ebola. Senegal and Nigeria have officially been declared by the WHO as Ebola free.

The FCCA/CLIA are working closely with the CDC regarding a Level 3 notice which is in place where US residents have been told to avoid nonessential travel to Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia because of the unprecedented outbreaks of Ebola in those countries.

The measures taken to date by the cruise industry are: denial of boarding to anyone arriving from countries designated with a Level 3 travel health warning by the CDC; denial boarding to anyone who traveled to, in or through those countries within 21 days before embarkation; and contact screening, in addition to travel history screening, and denial of boarding for anyone who had physical contact with, or helped care for, a person with Ebola within 21 days before embarkation.

Ministry VSA informed Port management on Tuesday, October 21 about national preparations that are taking place and the various meetings with stakeholders and others that are planned to deal with Ebola.

Country Sint Maarten has to comply with International Health Regulations (IHR) where public health is concerned. Since Ebola has been declared a global health threat, all countries have to take preventive measures to prevent its spread.

Port St. Maarten is the first institution that has received the informative presentation from the Ministry. After the meeting, one of the immediate measures implemented by Port management is a program of increased sanitization at the port facility, and port tenants will also be asked to work along these lines as well.

Port St. Maarten and Ministry VSA already have a working relationship with respect to a health pre-clearance protocol related to cruise ships. A cruise vessel has to report 48 and 24 hour timeframes ahead if there are any cases of the norovirus which is very contagious.

CLIA is the world's largest cruise industry trade association with representation in North and South America, Asia and Australasia. The FCCA is a trade organization composed of 15 member cruise lines operating more than 100 vessels in Floridian, Caribbean and Latin American waters.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Hon. Maurice Lake of the United People's (UP) Party says the country already has screening laws for candidates proposed to become a member of the Council of Ministers.

"This whole thing is not about that anybody is afraid of being screened. We have nothing to hide. Those who have served within the past four years as Ministers, going back to 2010, 2012 and 2013 and still do so today have passed the screening process to become a minister.

"This shows the system works. We have our own institutions in place that have followed the laws of the land. The Dutch Government has an agenda and the instruction is part of the process to take over the country," MP Hon. Maurice Lake said on Sunday.

"The first mistake and show of hand by the Dutch Government was when there was no issue several weeks ago when the NA/DP/US coalition was established. When this fell apart, all of a sudden the rules of the game has to be changed. It is very clear what game the Dutch Government is playing, and we will bring forth this to the international community of nations in various forums.

"Holland is just one of over 190 countries around the world. This type of interference is very dangerous. The Dutch Government's ultimate aim is not just to keep our leader out as Prime minister but to affect the morale of the people. Are we going to see a complete takeover of country Sint Maarten? MP Theo Heyliger is just an excuse for the DUTCH to come in and take over Sint Maarten. If we allow this to happen, this will just be the beginning for the Dutch to take over our beloved Sint Maarten land. I condemn this illegitimate act by the Dutch Government.

"We the people voted by referendum for an autonomous status within the Kingdom. Today, those rights are being taken away by unilateral action, illegal and illegitimate by the Dutch Government. Our constitutional right to vote and elect our own leaders has been brushed aside by the Dutch Government.

"The right to be treated equally, the right to have elections has no meaning. The part of the measure demanding the candidate agree to the screening by the Dutch expert is in violation of our Constitution. No one is obligated by law to give permission to any expert of the Dutch Government to violate the fundamental right as a person protected by article 5 of our Constitution.

"The only way to move forward as a young Country for the next four years is as a united front, and all political parties should stand together and stand up for the best interest of our people and protect our Constitution. If we fail to do so, we are failing our people and generations to come," MP Hon. Maurice Lake concluded.

St. Maarten and its people will continue to fight for their rights

PHILIPSBURG:--- Organizers of the Peoples United for True Democracy (PUTD) began gathering on the Pondfill just after 1pm on Sunday as they prepared for the march they organized to protest against the instruction the Kingdom Council of Ministers gave to Governor Holiday on September 17th, 2014. The Kingdom Council instructed the Governor of St. Maarten not to sign any Landsbesluit to appoint Ministers that are appointed by the current coalition government.

The march which was scheduled to take off from the vicinity of the WIFOL building on the Pondfill on Sunday afternoon left the location close to 3pm as buses were circling in the various districts to pick up people who wanted to participate in the march deemed as protecting the country and its people's democratic rights.
Despite the delay and several publications in the newspapers, radios, and the social media just about 100 persons attended the march, included were several members from the UP party including its leader Theodore Heyliger, MP Lloyd Richardson and MP Franklyn Meyers, children and even some workers from the brothels on the island were among those that marched down the Pondfill road to the Government Administration Building.
As the marchers marched they chanted they wanted freedom, justice and respect. Then they sang the song "We shall overcome."
Elton Jones, an organizer of Peoples United for True Democracy (PUTD) said they called on the people to march on Sunday to safeguard the freedom they have enjoyed for a long time on St. Maarten. Jones said since St. Maarten became a country in 2010 it appears as though the new country has lost part of the autonomy they had while being part of the Netherlands Antilles. "Today there is more infringement and intervention by the Dutch than it had ever been before. What the Dutch is doing is on any law they are using a KB to issue these instructions to the Governor of St. Maarten." Jones further explained that the excuse used by the Dutch which is the PWC report is untrue because the current caretaker government already indicated to the Dutch that they will do everything possible to implement the recommendations in all of the integrity reports.

Leader of the United Peoples Party (UPP) Theodore Heyliger who also marched with the marchers told reporters in an interview that he did not organize the march but he definitely supports the march because the actions of the Dutch is not only about him but it's about everyone on St. Maarten. Heyliger said that what is happening today is what happened to his grandfather and for him these instructions is a repeat of history. Heyliger said prior to the 2014 elections the Dutch did not lay down any rules. He said what is happening now has nothing to do with a political party or political colors. This march he said is to ensure that democracy and the country's constitution is respected. When asked if the instructions given by the Dutch is about him Heyliger said if it's about him then it is also about the 1945 persons that voted for him. When he was asked by SMN News if it's about the people of St. Maarten and his supporters how come they did not show up to take part in the march. Heyliger said he did not organize the march and he also did not call on his supporters to come out and participate in the march. "I will continue to state that this is about true democracy. When the first formation was taking place no one in Holland said anything but now there is a government with two thirds majority, the Dutch issued instructions even though they have not made known who the Ministers will be." Heyliger said his government already indicated that they will apply the recommendation in the PWC report. "It is very unfortunate that before the government even sit there are instructions coming from Holland." When asked by SMN News if he Heyliger thinks that the motions passed in the Parliament of St. Maarten and Curacao will stop the Kingdom Council, Heyliger said he does not think the Kingdom Council will respect those motions. When asked if he thinks the current situation will affect his ambition to become Prime Minister, Heyliger said it will but when he went into politics some 20 years ago he never entered politics with the dream of becoming the Prime Minister of St. Maarten.
At the Government Administration Building several persons spoke out against the instruction given by the Kingdom. Elton Jones said no one should get discouraged by the low turn out on Sunday. He further stated that when they organized the march many persons asked them why they organized the march and if they are not against corruption. Jones said that the people of St. Maarten are law abiding citizens like everyone else in the world, he said the main reason they marched was to regain the rights they have lost since the country obtained its status in 2010. Etienne Toochi Meyers said that the adults are not going to suffer when the Dutch takes over but it is the youths of the country that will suffer. He said when the Dutch come in no one should call them or say they should have stood up for Heyliger because for him the time has already passed. Meyers said some years a survey was done by Yale University in the Caribbean. The results of that survey showed that all "black people" living in the Caribbean suffer from hypertension and diabetes he said the same survey was done in Africa and the results were completely different. Meyers said that the reason the Caribbean nations have those two illnesses is because of oppression. He said that only reason the Caribbean nation have those illnesses is because their forefathers were brought to the Caribbean as slaves and they lived in oppression. The other speaker Member of Parliament Franklin Meyers said in his speech despite the small turn out, the people should be proud of themselves because it is known that one man is always sent to save a million people but never a million people is sent to save one man. MP Meyers further stated that their presence at the protest march shows that St. Maarten people will no longer stand up by the roadsides while the people in Holland continues to do what they want. "Our constitution gives us the right to protest, we have that right to say when something is wrong and the instruction given to the Governor of St. Maarten is wrong, and we as people will continue to stand up and say it is wrong. For the critics I am saying to you that you also have the same rights to march, but one thing that must be clear is that the people of St. Maarten is not taking any of this anymore. We will not be taking anymore insults from Ronald van Raak or Andre Bosman. If Bosman and Van Raak cares so much about St. Maarten and its people they need to pass legislation to feed the people of St. Maarten. Tell them to pass legislation to eliminate poverty on St. Maarten. What Holland is doing right now is having the government on a stalemate and stopping the present coalition government to go in to work for the people of St. Maarten. We are no longer afraid of the Dutch. I will repeat what MP George Pantophlet said the Dutch are not coming they are already here, but guess what the people of St. Maarten are also here. We are going to stand firm. Bob Marley quoted in his song I and I build the cabin, it was I and I who planted the corn, didn't my people slave for this country so now you look me with a scorn yet you want to eat off all my corn. Our forefathers came to the Caribbean oppressed for over 400 hundred years. The same instructions that was given to the Governor of St. Maarten the Dutch should also place them on themselves, let the screening be the same throughout the Kingdom." MP Meyers said that the Dutch said that St. Maarten is corrupt but they need to let the judicial system work since it has worked before. He said the people who attended the march should understand that they have a responsibility to fight for those that are unable to fight and those that are not willing to fight. Other speakers that attended the protest march were MP Lloyd Richardson and Ed Gumbs also a member of the Peoples United for True Democracy.
The PUTD made clear on Sunday that there will be a lot of other marches on the island because they will also organize a march against crime on the island.

Click here to view photos of the PUTD protest march held on Sunday.

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (TUCOM):--- The Labour Government is dishing out MILLIONS of taxpayers' money to lawyers from across the world to argue two ridiculous appeals which have no place being in the Court system.

In January 2013, after PM Douglas lost the confidence of his fellow colleagues in Parliament, the illegitimate PM rushed to remove Patrice Nisbett as Attorney General and replace him with Jason Hamilton to steal an 8-7 voting majority in Parliament. But as usual, PM Douglas violated the Constitution when he tried to appoint a 3rd Senator and the High Court promptly struck down Jason Hamilton's appointment as null and void. The High Court actually said that there were 3 correct ways to make the appointment but the Government bypassed all 3 and did it the illegal way.

After that judgment came down, the Governor General then swore in Jason Hamilton a second time. This time they were able to do it according to the Constitution.

Then why is the Government now appealing the High Court decision? Why are they paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to lawyers such as Anthony Astaphan to come from overseas and stay at the Marriott at taxpayers expense? Jason Hamilton has already been sworn in the correct way, more than a year and a half now. What then is the use of pursuing an appeal on this moot point? Don't we have anything better to do with our money? What will they do if they win (even though they can't) - will they make Jason come out and resign again and then go back and swear him in a 3rd time? Is such a big poppyshow Jason is? What really is the point of this? Meanwhile some lawyers who couldn't care less about us walk out of St. Kitts with a cool half a million dollars EACH to argue stupidness.

Next, in the face of a Motion of No Confidence which is now almost 2 years old, the Government and Speaker still insist on defying the will of the majority of St. Kitts and Nevis by pursuing an appeal against the landmark judgment of Justice Darshan Ramdhani delivered in February 2014.

Rather than doing the right thing by simply putting the Motion on the order paper and scheduling it for debate, the Speaker filed an appeal of the judgment. The appeal is tying up the Court and wasting precious time that the Court could be spending on its backlog of cases.

To argue this ridiculous appeal, the Government is spending millions on lawyers including Lord Goldsmith QC, who resigned as Attorney General of the UK in shame and disgrace over the Iraq War scandal. It is stated that Lord Goldsmith does not agree to do a case for less than US $1million, and he is paid even higher for appeal cases. That does not include his 1st-class flight from London and a stay at the Marriott. And he is just one lawyer in this matter. The Government prefers to waste money on men like Lord Goldsmith to argue against the fundamentals of our democracy and Constitution, instead of putting that money to good use to fix our schools and health system and allowing the Motion to be heard promptly.

They are wasting our good money on foolishness!

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):---- The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, is recommending to persons to get their annual flu vaccine. High risk groups are reminded and/or recommended to get their seasonal flu shot.

As part of the Minister of Public Health's "Get Checked," campaign, influenza is an acute viral infection that spreads very easily from person to person, and can affect anybody in any age group.

"Check with your physician to see whether or not you are part of the high risk group and be proactive. Get vaccinated and apply strict and consistent preventive measures to stop you from getting the flu," Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Hon. Cornelius de Weever said.

Influenza is a serious public health problem that causes severe illnesses and deaths for higher risk populations. Vaccination (flu shot) is the most effective way to prevent infection.

Persons who form part of the risk groups are:

•  all pregnant women who are in the last six months of pregnancy or second trimester – from their fourth month onwards;
•  with pulmonary disease: asthma (when maintenance medication is given; this also holds true for children), COPD, carcinoma of the lung, anthracosilicosis, lungfibrosis , mucoviscidosis, severe kyfoscoliosis, status after resection of a lung, breathing difficulties;
•  with cardiac disease: having experienced a myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, arrhythmias, valve dysfunction, cardiac failure;
•  with diabetes mellitus, even if not on medication;
•  with chronic kidney disease/failure: dialysis, kidney transplant;
•  after a recent bone marrow transplant;
• with HIV-infection;
•  with an intellectual disability in an intramural setting;
•  with a diminished resistance to infections: livercirrosis, (functional) asplenia, auto-immune illnesses, chemotherapy, immunosuppressive medication;
•  60 years and older.

Front-line workers as well as health care workers who may be in contact with patients pertaining to the medical risk groups (personnel in nursing homes, senior citizen home, hospital, outpatient clinics and general practitioner/specialist practices), should get their flu vaccination.

Home care givers of persons with a very high risk for severe illness and mortality attributed to the flu should also be vaccinated.

The symptoms of the flu virus in people are fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

Consult your family physician in due time and do not place others at risk. Take the necessary protection when in the vicinity of any sick persons. Apply strict cough etiquette and proper hand hygiene.

Eat healthy foods, get a lot of exercise and maintain a good sleep schedule which is usually eight hours.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Postal Services St. Maarten (PSS) N.V. is encouraged by early interest in the launch of personalized stamps for visiting and residential customers.

The personalized stamps service was officially launched at the A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facilities on October 17, 2014 along with the official opening of a new post office location at the Harbour.

To mark the occasion, PSS staff produced a series of personalized stamps for their invited guests during the opening ceremonies to demonstrate how quickly and easily a sheet of official stamps can be produced and instantly make use of an historic moment.

According to PSS N.V. Supervisory Board interim Chairman, Mr. Stuart Johnson, the new personalized stamps not only bodes well for the future services of the Post Office, but also for Country St. Maarten itself, and the management and support staff of the PSS.

Addressing invited guests during the opening ceremony, Mr. Johnson said the occasion was in fact a milestone that should go on the record books as a great achievement because, " a company that now belongs to St. Maarten is making a giant leap forward and will show that, not only has postal services grown and is growing, but that its name and its product will continue to grow district by district, main port of entry by main port of entry.

Mr. Johnson said management and staff of PSS N.V. should feel encouraged and proud of the interest already being shown by an imaginative public to the personalized stamp issues, since they can be used personally and commercially to great effect.

"Adding this kind of service to our already existing services at a time when our good friend hurricane Gonzalo has passed, and a few days after such devastation has taken place in our country, again reinforces our commitment to our country and its future, said Mr. Johnson.

"The hard-working Post Office team have shown no better colors than the red, white and blue surrounding the opening and featured in the new location, signifying the nationalistic pride we have for Country, as this Post Office belongs to St. Maarten.

"The Pelican, soaring right about our heads, in the logo of Postal Services St. Maarten, is again testimony that this is your Country St. Maarten, and that we can be very proud of our accomplishments at PSS," continued Mr. Johnson.

CEO, Harbour Goup of Companies, Mr. Mark Mingo, sees the personalized stamps sales of the new post office location as an exciting feature for cruise ship passengers who want to send a cheap memento of their trip to friends and relatives back home.

"I have spoken with PSS about a specially built post office location in the design of an historic post office building that we can put in a more prominent location some time in the future. This will make the services the PSS offers to our cruise ship visitors even more special and exciting," said Mr. Mingo.

PSS N.V. Business Development ManagerMs. Zairo Paulo, said local promotion of personalized stamps for use by businesses, organizations and members of the public on St. Maarten.St/Martin will soon begin at other Post office locations in Philipsburg and Simpson Bay, with huge promotions planned for the run-up to Christmas.

"We are very excited about the potential of personalized stamp sales, not only to our visitors, but also to our residential customers, because these issues are fun to have and can set your organization or company apart from others," said Ms. Paulo.

For more information about purchasing personalize stamps from the Postal Services St. Maarten N.V., call + (1721) 542-2289.
You can also visit and like us on www.facebook.com/post.stmaarten.

PSS Press Release

 Gayman Islands"---- Cayman's position as the world's top specialised financial centre was reconfirmed again this week with the news that this jurisdiction has come first in a leading international survey, topping the specialised financial centres ranking, as compiled by The Banker magazine. This is the sixth consecutive year that the Cayman Islands has led the field in this highly-regarded, global survey.
Cayman Finance CEO Gonzalo Jalles Cayman said this is one survey of which Cayman's financial services industry takes serious note.
"While there are many surveys carried out on financial centres periodically, The Banker, as part of The Financial Times Group, always speaks with authority and as a result, its survey is one of the most highly respected and one which we anticipate with interest annually. In this way the fact that the Cayman Islands has retained its top spot for six years running as the world's top specialised financial centre has far greater validity and importance for the industry as a whole, not just locally, but globally as well," he said.
The Banker magazine is part of the Financial Times Group, a globally recognised and respected finance publication and its IFC rankings are based on data ranging from financial markets indicators to economic potential to business environment factors. The ranking focuses on the level of international business and the value for institutions seeking to expand their international operations.
Wayne Panton, Minister of Financial Services, Commerce & Environment, thanked Cayman Finance for coordinating the submission to the publication and said that the accolade is another testament to the strength of Cayman's professional infrastructure and the quality of service provided: "The Cayman Islands financial service industry prides itself on its ability to service its clients with the highest level of professionalism," he said. "The industry, working in partnership with the Cayman Islands Government, is nimble in its ability to service market needs, and this collaborative approach, coupled with service excellence, has fared the jurisdiction extremely well over the years," he added.
Mr Panton noted specifically that one of the criteria in compiling the data is the economic potential of the jurisdiction.
"Retrospectively, the honour of coming first in this survey in itself underscores the value the Cayman Islands financial services industry has for the global economy as a whole; but, even more importantly, the survey highlights the fact that this industry has even greater potential to continue to add value to this jurisdiction in the years to come," Minister Panton confirmed.
Of the specialised financial centres, the Cayman Islands retains its lead, followed by Jersey, Guernsey and the Bahamas. Mauritius climbed one place to fifth.

POINT BLANCHE:--- On Tuesday, Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labour (Ministry VSA) officials met with the management team of Port St. Maarten regarding the ports preparations for Ebola.

Ministry VSA informed Port management about the national preparations that are taking place and the various meetings with stakeholders and others that are planned.

Country Sint Maarten has to comply with International Health Regulations (IHR) where public health is concerned. Since Ebola has been declared a global health threat, all countries have to take preventive measures to prevent its spread.

Information presented concerned Ebola symptoms, transmission mode, preventive measures, current global Ebola developments and measures taken to prevent the further spread of the disease.

Port St. Maarten is the first institution that has received the informative presentation from the Ministry. Port management stated that a program of increased sanitization of the port facility will be implemented and port tenants will also be asked to work along these lines as well.

Port management informed Ministry VSA that a delegation left on Wednesday to meet with representatives of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) in connection with the cruise industry's Ebola screening measures.

Port St. Maarten and Ministry VSA already have a working relationship with respect to a health pre-clearance protocol related to cruise ships. A cruise vessel has to report 48 and 24 hours timeframes ahead if there are any cases of the norovirus which is very contagious.

Port St. Maarten will share its findings with Ministry VSA with respect to the cruise line protocols which are in place when passengers board the ships out of Miami, and will further collaborate to make sure that the country's sea border is secure from a public health perspective.

Representing Ministry VSA was Dr. Viginia Asin, Fenna Arnell, Dr. Earl Best, Maria Henry and Margje Troost.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Friday October 24th, 2014 at 7:30 a.m. the Community Police Officer for the Sint Peters and Reward area Inspector Felix Richards and the Police Public Relation officer Inspector Ricardo Henson visited the Sint Maarten Academy PSVE- secondary school in Ebenezer Estate to give a small presentation. The presentation was order to continue promoting the "Stop, Drop and Go" project which is presently ongoing. This joint project, organized between the French and Dutch justice departments, encourages persons on both side of the island to voluntarily surrender their illegal fire-arm without fear of being prosecuted. The project started officially on October 15th 2014 and will end on October 31st 2014. The project is designed to rid as much illegal fire-arms as possible from the streets and this is mainly due to the large amount and the increase in the amount of violent criminal activity involving fire-arms. By bringing this message to all schools and mainly the secondary schools, we believe that this message will quickly be spread among the youth which is also the main target group. The project so far has been quite successful because of the constant flow of illegal fire-arms being turned in at the Attorney Generals office located on the third floor of the Puerta Del Sol Plaza on Welfare road.
During the presentation at the school the students listened attentively to the information which officer Richards shared with them regarding the dangers of guns and the consequence it may have when they are used against each other. The students were also quite impressed with the very positive gingle promoting the "Stop, Drop and Go" project which was written, composed and sang by a local youngster by the name of Rumari Rogers. This gingle can be heard daily on several local radio stations which so far have been well accepted by radio listeners.
The presentation ended with officer Richards handing out promotional and information flyers. Promotional red white and blue rubber wristbands engraved with black letters "Stop, Drop & Go" were given to the students and teachers who attended the presentation. The intention is to visit all secondary schools to give this presentation and share all information with the students.

KPSM Press Release

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- On Monday, October 27, the Public Works Department plans to start a coordinated island-wide cleanup to pick up the remaining debris left over from Hurricane Gonzalo.

Over this upcoming weekend, residents are requested to put out their debris roadside so that the Department personnel can take the debris and rubble away.

The residents are also requested to separate the normal garbage of the household with that of the hurricane debris.

"I am requesting of the community to not mix up the everyday garbage with the hurricane debris," Head of Public Works, Claudius Buncamper said.

"This complicates our job because 1) it creates a unhygienic situation, 2) companies (garbage collectors) are already hired to pick up garbage from the bins, 3) it slows down the process by not focusing just on the debris and there is much work to be done.

With the cost of cleanup after Hurricane Gonzalo escalating, especially in a limited budget, it is essential that we try to control cost and work as efficient and effective as possible, Buncamper said.

So it is critical that all debris is put to side of the road and for everyone to contribute and/or help out neighbors and elderly to put out the hurricane debris.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake is calling on residents, community councils and civic organizations to come together this weekend to help clean-up the districts.

All residents are being urged to use the weekend to clean-up their yard and put out their hurricane related debris outside their yard or alongside the road. Household garbage is not hurricane related debris.

Ministry VROMI will resume the pick-up of hurricane related debris on Monday, October 27.

Hurricane Gonzalo left in its wake a lot of downed trees in the various districts, and Minister Lake would like to see the communities coming together to help with the clean-up this Saturday and Sunday, October 25 and 26.

"The more hands we have on deck the better. We will get more accomplished within a shorter period of time. Every household and business has a personal responsibility to clean-up their surroundings. You cannot rely on government for everything, there is an individual responsibility involved,

"I was informed that the Student Government Association of the University of St. Martin has taken the initiative to clean-up the St. Maarten Zoo. This is where we need to come together as a community to get things done.

"At the same time, the clean-up of yards and around businesses prevents mosquito breeding and rodents. This protects public health, the general welfare and interests of the people, and in the end the quality of life of our people improves, and this is also a personal responsibility. Everybody has to contribute and clean-up their surroundings," Minister Hon. Maurice Lake said on Friday.

Minister Lake also commends the Fire Department, Ministry VROMI staff, the different Emergency Support Functions that make-up the Emergency Operations Center, and other entities that have played a role in the post-Hurricane Gonzalo period in getting the country back on track and moving forward.

"I would like to commend the Nature Foundation for their outstanding work and assessments that have been carried out with respect to the environment and in identifying the challenges that exist," Minister Lake said on Friday.

The Minister is expecting to receive from Ministry VROMI next week an update assessment with respect to clean-up efforts within the districts along with the costs to the public treasury.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Collective Preventive Services (CPS), a government agency under the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labour, hereby informs that the mosquito fogging throughout the country will start on Tuesday, October 28 instead of November 1.

Residents must bear in mind that fogging is not a total solution to eliminate mosquitos. Fogging activity is kept to a minimum in order to prevent the mosquito population from developing immunity to the chemicals that are deployed.

Fogging is one intervention of several, and the main measure is for every household and business to take action by removing potential mosquito breeding spots in and around their premises on a daily basis.

Residents must bear in mind that rain events can disrupt mosquito fogging activities, therefore the district schedule will be adjusted accordingly and this will be communicated to the community in a timely manner.

Homeowners during the time of the spraying should open all doors and windows. Dishes, bowls, pots and pans, fish tanks and bird cages should be covered. Stay away from open windows and doors during the spraying.

Here is the schedule for October 28 and October 29. For the remaining days in the week, check the Government Information Page (GIP) in both daily papers:

October 28th 5:00 a.m. – 7:00a.m. Cupe Coy, Maho,

1. Maho, Blue Mall, Sapphire,
2. Low Lands, Beacon Hill Airport
3. Road,
4. 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Simpsonbay, Pelican Keys
5. Simpson Yacht Club Bay,
6. Simpson Bay Bridge,
7. Welfare Road,
8. October 29th 5:00 a.m. -7:00 a.m. The Border, Cole Bay
9. Union Road, Cole Bay to the
10. Cole bay Villas Round about
11. Cole Bay, Harold Jack
12. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Welfare Road, Windsor, Road,
13. Cole Bay, Cape Bay west of
14. the Cemetery Cole Bay
15. Lagoon, Orange Grove,

Call for information on the Aedes Aegypti mosquito breeding sites and respective preventive measures at 542-2078 or 542-3003 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake was updated Thursday afternoon by NV GEBE with respect to a small number of homes that are still without electricity in different districts since the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo.

The small number of remaining homes in the districts of St. Peters, South Reward should receive electricity Thursday night. For those in Madame Estate, on Friday; for Mount William Hill, will be Saturday.

For Sucker Garden, Point Blanche, those still without electricity should see services resume on Sunday and for Oyster Pond on Monday.

It's a small number of homes in each district that still had to have electricity service restored. Most homes in all districts already have electricity a day after the hurricane.

The high tension cables came down and had to be completely restored. The low tension cables also had to be restored in each case and reconnected to the house.

NV GEBE crews have been working diligently throughout the country since the passing of hurricane Gonzalo to restore services to customers.

"I would like to apologize to the customers who have been without electricity to date. The damage caused by the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo was extensive with respect to overhead cables, high tension and low tension which still remain above ground.

"I will be sitting down with NV GEBE and requesting them to give priority to have above ground cables placed underground before the next hurricane season. We need to be prepared.

"Other priority areas that I have asked NV GEBE to look into is how to deal with seaweed that collects out into the bay and causes challenges with respect to the cooling systems. Another priority is the relocation of a transformer house which is on the seaside near the plant; and a review and update of the company's communication and emergency plans," Minister Hon. Maurice Lake said on Thursday.

Minister Lake will be calling for a meeting next week with board and management of NV GEBE to discuss the way forward after the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Saturday October 18, 2014, the Mental Health Foundation organized a Reception which this year focused on the Foundation's very loyal stakeholders and generous sponsors. The event was organized to honor and thank those who provide the Mental Health Foundation with continuous support and who are part of the reason why the MHF is where it is today. The Cocktail party was honored by the presence of the Prime Minister Sarah Wescott-Williams and the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Cornelius de Weever, by representatives of various stakeholders and sponsors such as SZV, Ennia, Ministry of Public Health, White and Yellow Cross Foundation, Nagico, General Practitioners, Ministry of Justice, SMMC, Samenwerkende Fondsen, Social Services, Health Inspectorate, WIEMS, SJIB, Court of Guardianship, Rotary Clubs of St. Maarten, Safe Haven, Mental Health Caregivers and Patients Association, Ambulance Department, and of course the members of the MHF board and staff
The Cocktail Party took place at Golden Rock Estate which provided for the perfect ambience, made possible by Mr. Henri Brookson. Mr. Rene Florijn of Florijn party rentals in combination with Annemiek Meussen of Kaya Events supported MHF incredibly for this evening, and together made this event possible. The very talented Saxophonist Mr. Connis Vanterpool and Singer Betty V were the entertainers which made this evening truly unforgettable.
MHF President Dr. Felix Holiday and MHF Director Eileen Healy personally thanked all stakeholders and sponsors for all of their much appreciated efforts, help and assistance.

The highlights of the Cocktail Party were the preview of a new anti-stigma spot for the St. Maarten radio, TV, media and blogs, the launching of the results booklet of the Transforming Care Congress which took place in September 2013, attended by 200 international, regional and local participants. Mr. Reginald Willemsberg of SZV thanked MHF for the production of the results of the Congress transforming care, which provides the necessary figures and stakeholders of MHF.
And last but not least, the launching of brand new Mental Health Foundation brochures describing the care products MHF is offering.

Board, management and staff of MHF express their sincere gratitude to all who supported the work of the Foundation.

PHILIPSBURG:---- Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake was updated Thursday afternoon by NV GEBE with respect to a small number of homes that are still without electricity in different districts since the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo.

The small number of remaining homes in the districts of St. Peters, South Reward should receive electricity Thursday night. For those in Madame Estate, on Friday; for Mount William Hill, will be Saturday.

For Sucker Garden, Point Blanche, those still without electricity should see services resume on Sunday and for Oyster Pond on Monday.

It's a small number of homes in each district that still had to have electricity service restored. Most homes in all districts already have electricity a day after the hurricane.

The high tension cables came down and had to be completely restored. The low tension cables also had to be restored in each case and reconnected to the house.

NV GEBE crews have been working diligently throughout the country since the passing of hurricane Gonzalo to restore services to customers.

"I would like to apologize to the customers who have been without electricity to date. The damage caused by the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo was extensive with respect to overhead cables, high tension and low tension which still remain above ground.

"I will be sitting down with NV GEBE and requesting them to give priority to have above ground cables placed underground before the next hurricane season. We need to be prepared.

"Other priority areas that I have asked NV GEBE to look into is how to deal with seaweed that collects out into the bay and causes challenges with respect to the cooling systems. Another priority is the relocation of a transformer house which is on the seaside near the plant; and a review and update of the company's communication and emergency plans," Minister Hon. Maurice Lake said on Thursday.

Minister Lake will be calling for a meeting next week with board and management of NV GEBE to discuss the way forward after the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo.

THE BOTTOM:--- In September 2014 Community Officer, Paula Klomp, gave an introduction lesson to the children of the groups 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Sacred Heart School.
During these lessons were topics such as bullying, respect and manners discussed.
In October 2014, it was the turn for the children of the Sacred Heart School to visit the new police station in The Bottom. The children have learned about the work of the police and have been given a tour in the new police station.

The cells made the most impression on the children. The children got the opportunity to view the inside of a cell and came to the conclusion that a cell is not a nice place to stay. One of the children said: "the cell looks very boring and it is very hot here, I never want to stay in this cell".
The tour ended with the viewing of a police car and some children even got the opportunity to go on a short patrol in a striking police car with senior police officer W.E.H. Baker. It was a successful day and a nice informative way to introduce the police on Saba to the children.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Reliable information reaching SMN News states that members of the RST visited the House of Parliament on Thursday where they took a statement from Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel regarding the statements he made on the floor of Parliament on Monday during a public meeting. When contacted Emmanuel said that he did get a visit from members of the RST but he said he will not divulge any information as to what transpired in that meeting on Thursday.
SMN News contacted Acting Chief Prosecutor Karola van Nie for a statement on the visit paid by the RST to the Member of Parliament. Van Nie said at this point in time she will neither confirm nor deny the visit. "Right now I will not make any comment on that matter."

On Monday MP Emmanuel stated on the floor of parliament that a certain political party offered him $80,000.00 to run on their slate and in 2014 when he obtained a seat in Parliament he was offered $400,000.00 which climbed to $2M. MP Emmanuel did not say which politician or political parties made him the offers. He did say that St. Maarten has moved from buying votes to buying seats in Parliament.

This is not the first time a Member of Parliament has claimed they were offered huge sums of monies (bribery) by politicians. Former Member of Parliament Romain Laville filed a complaint against the leader of the United Peoples Party in 2013.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- 18 October was observed as Human Trafficking Day within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Human trafficking is the acquisition of people by improper means such as force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them, and the Sint Maarten National Reporting Bureau on Human Trafficking (NRB) which falls under the Ministry of Justice continues to work to prevent the aforementioned from taking place on Sint Maarten.
The NRB has received several reports of possible cases of Human Trafficking. Those reports were all alleged cases of labor exploitation. None of those victims requested or was in need for shelter or special care. The NRB referred the cases to the Inspectorate of Public Health, Social Services & Labor and the Labor Department for the necessary investigations and possible actions.

The Minister of Justice recently approved and signed the "Temporary Residency" policy guideline. This policy guideline has been published in the National Gazette. The policy guideline establishes the conditions in which victims and witnesses of human trafficking can receive a temporary residency permit. This is one of the policy instruments implemented according to the action plan Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report 2014. Through the "Temporary residency" regulation victims are given the opportunity, and are being encouraged to assist in the investigation and prosecution of the offenders of human trafficking.

Currently the NRB is preparing for another public awareness campaign, and also periodically organizes information sessions for the representatives of immigrants, the business community and the tourism sector.
On a quarterly basis, the NRB visits all brothels and dance clubs throughout the country. Information is provided about the NRB and how it can be reached should there be an issue of human trafficking. A separate meeting is also held with the establishment owner.
Twice a week, the Mobile Control Unit of the immigration and Border Protection forms part of the Interdisciplinary Control Team, which carries out inspections of special selected establishments in the country.
The type of establishments that fall under this control are: Clubs, Hotels, Security companies, Daycare centers, Construction companies, Beauty salons, Car rental companies, Laundry cleaning companies and Restaurants.
The goals of these controls are: to enforce the labor and health regulations by the employers (working hours, safety measurements, overtime payment); to enforce that the Employers pay the social & health insurance of the employees; to enforce the national ordinance of admission & expulsion; to enforce fire safety measures and building codes; to enforce economic regulations (operational licenses, business licenses); and to establish whether the guidelines and rules against human trafficking are adhered to.
The NRB also works closely with the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Organization as well as Safe Haven and will meet twice yearly with family doctors, St. Maarten Medical Center, Community Police, Ambulance Services, and the Border Control/Mobile Unit with respect to information update/indicators regarding human trafficking.
The Ministry of Justice has been working with Kingdom partners based on a Memorandum of Understanding which was updated in June 2011 and signed by the Ministers of Justice within the Kingdom.
In August, 2013, the Minister of Justice adopted a Plan of Approach from the National Coordinator for Human Trafficking for the executing of the agreements made in the MOU of the partners within the Kingdom, and also for the execution of the recommendations of the TIP Report 2013.
In September, 2013, the National Coordinator established the NRB as the executing agency for prevention and protection on Human Trafficking.
Smuggling of migrants involves the procurement for financial or other material benefit of illegal entry of a person into a State of which that person is not a national or resident.
Virtually every country in the world is affected by these crimes. The challenge for all countries, rich and poor, is to target the criminals who exploit desperate people and to protect and assist victims of trafficking and smuggled migrants, many of whom endure unimaginable hardships in their bid for a better life.

Organizers calls on population to come out to defend their rights

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Peoples United for True Democracy (PUTD) will be holding a march as of 2pm on Sunday October 26th 2014. Organizers of (PUTD) said they were forced to reschedule the march which was supposed to take place last Monday due to the passing of hurricane Gonzalo. The organizers namely, Etienne Tochi Meyers is calling on the entire population including all politicians to come out on Sunday to protest against the unconstitutional measures taken by the Kingdom Government when they issued an instruction to the Governor of St. Maarten on October 17th 2014.
Meyers made clear that the protest march planned for Sunday is not a political march therefore he appealing to everyone residing on St. Maarten to come out and show their discontentment.
Persons taking part in the march will gather at the WIFOL building on the Pondfill and they will begin marching at 2pm sharp to the Government Administration Building.

Ebenezer,:---- The new gym materials and equipment were unveiled during a short presentation at the school to its students, staff, representatives of the Division of Educational Innovation (DEI) and Usona.
The Academy PSVE gym was built in 2009 via the Education and Youth Program funded by Usona. As the school was in need of new equipment, DEI was able to purchase gym materials and equipment via Dutch development funds. The school received new sports balls, netball equipment, floor mats, tennis racquets, table tennis equipment, hockey equipment, indoor soccer equipment, trampoline and spring board. The students and staff were very appreciative for the new equipment and the school now has the opportunity to enhance its physical education program and expose its students to more various types of sports.

MARIGOT:--- The third suspect involved in the Goldfinger Jewelry store robbery on Wednesday is still at large, confirmed the Gendarmerie. According to information SMN News received the third suspect was seen on top of a roof not far from the Fort Hill. The suspect it is reported was wearing a white shirt and had a firearm in his hand while roaming the property. An eyewitness said that the suspect even used the swimming pool in the private residence and at times would climb on top of the roof to see the movements of the Gendarmes in Marigot area.
SMN News contacted the Gendarmerie and Captain Emmanuel Maijan confirmed that they received the same information and the gendarmes spent about four to five hours trying to hunt down the wanted robber. Captain Maijan said that despite their efforts they did not catch the third suspect. On Wednesday SMN News reported that the suspects are of Colombian decent (Spanish speaking persons). However, Commandant of the Gendarmerie refused to release the nationalities of the suspects. The Commandant of the Gendarmerie said they were foreigners. Captain Emmanuel Maijan confirmed on Thursday that the two suspects in custody are from Venezuela.

POINT BLANCHE:---- Port St. Maarten – A delegation from Port St. Maarten recently attended the Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA) 44th Annual General Meeting (AGM), Conference & Exhibition in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic at the Barcelo Bavaro Beach Resort.

The CSA AGM was done in collaboration with the Asociacion de Navieros de la Republica Dominicana (Shipping Association of the Dominican Republic) and brought together owners, shipping executives, industry leaders and renowned speakers from October 13 to the 15.

The topics discussed were the Nicaragua Shipping Canal Project, the evolution of shipping and its expectations for the next 50-years; Economic Prospects for the Caribbean, Governor's perspective; Corruption in Customs Caribbean wide and the Asycuda System; Cruise; Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG); Drug Trafficking in the Caribbean; and presentations from four Ports in the Dominican Republic.

Exhibitors showcased equipment and products that are of interest to companies operating within the maritime sector.

Michael Rohan of M.F. Ronan Consulting also shared his insights of present and future of the cruise industry in the Caribbean.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Port St. Maarten Mark Mingo says Port St. Maarten's attendance to the CSA conference allows the port to keep abreast of trends and developments in the maritime sector which is essential to the continued long-term development of St. Maarten's port.

Humphrey Mezas, Chairman of Port St. Maarten Supervisory Board of Directors, took the opportunity together with other Port St. Maarten officials to present a plaque of appreciation to Philip Gray, Managing Director of Seatrade for being a main sponsor during the recently concluded 21st Annual Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Conference & Trade Show in St. Maarten.

Port St. Maarten delegation comprised of Humphrey Mezas, Renald Williams, supervisory board member, Roger Lawrence, Manager Terminal and Cargo Operations, and Phil Laplace, St. Maarten Harbour Shipping Consultant.

CSA mission is to promote and foster the highest quality service to the maritime industry through training development; working with all agencies, groups and other associations for the benefit and development of its members and the peoples of the Caribbean region.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Leona Marlin Romeo withdrew the motion she submitted on Wednesday after several discussions were held (caucusing) with the members of parliament sitting on the opposition benches so that the parliament of St. Maarten could form a consensus in dealing with what they describe as a posterity issue. The motion submitted by MP Lloyd Richardson was completely amended based on article 58. Members from the current coalition that formed the majority presented two motions, the first was presented by MP Leona Marlin Romeo which she subsequently withdrew while the second motion was presented by UPP Member of Parliament Dr. Lloyd Richardson.
The chairlady of parliament Sarah Wescot Williams had to call for several adjournments in order for the opposition to see and assist in drafting a motion that will address the instruction given to the Governor of St. Maarten on October 17th, 2014 by the Minister of Interior and Overseas Affairs Ronald Plasterk (Kingdom Council). The instruction sent to Governor Holiday basically ordered him not to sign any LB to appoint any Ministers by the current coalition unless they are screened by the Dutch themselves. On Monday several MPs denounced the instruction claiming that it is unconstitutional and it also infrinnges on peoples right to privacy and their information. Monday's meeting was adjourned to Wednesday where the two motions were presented.
During Wednesday's debate the chairlady announced that a third motion was submitted and asked if the MPs that submitted their motions were willing to withdraw their motion. Dr. Lloyd Richardson during his speaker's time asked for an adjournment to caucus with all factions in Parliament in order to get the support of the opposition. After several discussions among the MPs the motion submitted by MP Lloyd Richardson got the full support of the Parliament of St. Maarten. That motion was amended based on article 58 of the rules of order.
That motion states that the Parliament of St. Maarten is not in agreement with the instruction given to Governor Holiday on October 17th 2014, simply because the screening process in St. Maarten has worked thus far in the formation of all the governments that took office since St. Maarten became a country in 2010 the motion further stated that there must be an establishment of a committee to study the reports from the General Audit Chamber, the Do it Right Report better known as the "Bob Wit report" and the PWC report. Said committee must have a budget and timeline to come up with an action plan as to how the recommendations in the various reports will be implemented to enhance and strenghten integrity on St. Maarten since the outgoing government agreed to implement the recommendations in those reports, therefore the incoming government must apply the decisions taken by the outgoing government.
Prior to the passing of the motion Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel showed parliament where he was attacked on the Facebook page of the UPP party for statements he made on the floor of Parliament on Monday. Emmanuel even went further and said that the former chairlady of parliament who ran as the number two candidate on the UPP slate said that the leader of the UPP was using the harbor monies as his piggy bank for his pet projects and purchasing of palms trees. Emmanuel said that the number 2 candidate even threatened to take the UPP leader to court for the Back Street project which she claimed was done illegally.
He said Julian Rollocks also a candidate on the UPP 2014 slate was taken to court in 2003 by the leader of the UPP when he published a letter he wrote to the governor stating that there was a mafia type business at the harbor. Emmanuel said Rollocks won that court case and even the judge mentioned that based on the evidence presented to him it really does look like mafia business but cautioned Rollocks not to call anyone a mafia again. Emmanuel said that while he was being attacked by people who wants his support he is not the one that made the statements he mentioned on the floor of parliament on Monday. On Monday Emmanuel said in 2010 he was offered $80,000 to run on the UPP slate and in 2014 when he won a seat in Parliament he was offered $400,000.00 and it eventually climbed to $2M. Emmanuel said on Monday that St. Maarten has gone from buying votes to buying seats. His comments on the floor of parliament created an uproar on the island for the past two days and a heated argument in Parliament on Tuesday between him and MP Johan Janchi Leonard. He also said MP De Weever cautioned persons on Monday to not look at the splinters in other people's eyes and not seeing the plywood in theirs. Emmanuel told MP De Weever before closing his statements that he is trying to take out the splinter in his eyes while not focusing on the 2x4 in his own eyes. Wednesday's meeting was not as argumentative but several Members of Parliament made it clear that while politicians on St. Maarten does not agree on everything whenever the island is under attack politicians do put their differences aside and come together in the interest of their country and people.

It was clear during the constant adjournments that the majority in parliament wanted to get the support of all the MPs in St. Maarten's Parliament therefore they bent over backwards and allowed the Leader of the National Alliance Faction William Marlin change the entire motion before his faction approved it. That motion was passed unanimously without a roll call and it is actually the third motion that was submitted to parliament for approval and not amended motion as stated by MP Lloyd Richardson.

The amended motion was signed by MP Lloyd Richardson, MP Cornelius de Weever and MP Leona Marlin Romeo.

Click here to view the motion passed in the Parliament of St. Maarten on Wednesday.

Click here to view motions one and two submitted to Parliament on Wednesday on the instruction given Governor Holiday.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--– The President of the Dutch First Chamber, Mrs. Ankie Broekers-Knol and the President of the Dutch Second Chamber, Ms. Anouchka van Miltenburg, paid a courtesy visit to the Council of Ministers on Tuesday.
The courtesy visit was the first visit of both Presidents to the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. In the meeting they were accompanied by Secretary General of the First Chamber Mr. Geert Jan Hamilton, Secretary General of the Second Chamber Mrs. Jacqueline Biesheuvel-Vermeijden, former St. Maarten resident Acting Secretary General of the Second Chamber Mr. Tim de Lange who is also 'Griffier vaste Tweede Kamercommissie koninkrijks relaties', Ms. Marloes Konings who is the Communication Officer and First Chamber staff member Mr. Floris Wolf.
On behalf of the delegation, Mrs. Ankie Broekers-Knol expressed her compassion seeing the consequences of Hurricane Gonzalo, and stated that they "commiserate with this unfortunate situation". Ms. Anouchka van Miltenburg was impressed by the manner the people cleaned up the island. Nevertheless, both chairladies were very pleased for the opportunity to visit the island in person in order to experience the island for themselves.
They further inquired about the economy, health and education in the country. In closing, the Council made an appeal to the delegation to ensure that St. Maarten is given the opportunity to develop and to make its own decisions thereto.

"Boys & Girls Brigade & Special Olympics of St.Maarten to receive "Special Charity" recognition

PHILIPSBURG:---- President of the St. Maarten Rebels Vets Basketball Association, Claret Connor announced that preparations are in full effect for the 7th Edition of the Curasur Masters Tournament. The tournament games are schedule to take place from November 3rd to November 7th, 2014, at the L.B. Scott Auditorium.

About the Tournament:

The CuraSur Masters Basketball Tournament, which commenced amongst the countries of Suriname and Curacao over 20 years ago as a bi-lateral invitational tournament, is led by an organization who continues to promote the spirit of friendship and sportsmanship amongst veteran basketball teams from various countries in the Caribbean, South America, and the Netherlands.

During each annual tournament, tributes are paid to persons who selflessly volunteered in the area of sports or charitable organizations who require special care or attention. Honorees were selected by the Organizing Committee, which is compiled of members of the host team and others active in the sports industry. Honorees will be recognized during the opening ceremony, which is scheduled to take place on Monday, November 3, 2014 at 5.45 p.m. sharp. This event will be preceded by a "Parade of Flags" representing each country.

Dedication Award: Rudolf "Rudy" Alfred Hoeve

The Dedication Award has become one of the tournament's most notable highlights throughout the years and given to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the field of sports. 'Rudy" as he is was affectionately known, has dedicated much of his time to the area of community work as well as his skills, expertise and wisdom in the field of sports for over 40 years. Last year's recipient was former Governor of the Netherlands Antilles and avid basketball enthusiast, Mr. Frits de los Santos Goedgedrag.

Charitable Organizations: the Boys & Girls Brigade & the Special Olympics of St. Maarten
Given to a charity, whom is deserving of special care or attention. The selected charities; namely the Boys & Girls Brigade & the Special Olympic of St. Maarten will be the recipient of a monetary donation, which were pooled from the registration fees remitted by participating teams.

Participating Teams:
The participating teams at the 7th Edition of the Curasur Masters Tournament are:

1.  Curaçao All Stars
2.  Faverey Boys (Suriname)
3.  Sporthal Boys (Suriname)
4. .ASCVG (French Guyana)
5. Statia Diamonds (St. Eustatius)
6.  United by Basketball (the Netherlands)
7. Rebels (St. Maarten-Host Team)

"The entire community of St. Maarten especially sports lovers are encourage to come out to attend the games and show support for the participating countries", Connor said. This will be the first time that St. Maarten will be hosting a veterans' basketball tournament of this level promoting experienced players of 38 years and up. Tickets are a mere $3 or ANG 5 per ticket and be purchased at Adolphus Office Supplies on the Pondfill or from any members of the Rebels Vets Basketball Association. There will be chances to win nightly door prizes.

PHILPSBURG:--- Alicia's Inn officially opened for operation June 2014. This location was previously operated under the name of Midtown Motel. Under new management, Alicia's Inn completed renovation in March of this year and is now a completely smoke-free property, with refurbished rooms and a total "remake" of the entire property. Our guest rooms are not only characteristically comfortable, but also are charmingly-decorated with warm colours and stately furnishings. Alicia's Inn provides an Inn experience that is second to none.

Perfectly positioned in the center of town, Alicia's Inn is the ideal Inn for those who are on shopping trips and it sits in proximity of the beach, government buildings, carnival village and other areas of note.

At Alicia's Inn, we offer our guests the best carefree and enjoyable experience in a comfortable and relaxing environment. Privacy is also a hallmark of our brand and this is provided in the freedom of an intimate hotel.

The new and improved experience at Alicia's is nothing short of enjoyable, offering a wide range of amenities including colour cable television, private bathroom, hot water in shower, in-room safe, in-room mini refrigerator, daily weekday maid service and turn down service, a one-cup coffee maker and free in-room Wi-Fi.

Are you ready to shop?! Alicia's Inn is offering 3-day, 4-day and 5-day Shopping Getaway Specials. The promotional code is ALPH for online bookings only through www.aliciasinn.com. For people fighting to the island, we have special promo codes from regional airline companies providing discounts on airlines tickets, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We also have a facebook promotion called "Win Big by referring your friends" which is an campaign on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/AliciasInnSXM. See contest details and sign up at http://bit.ly/aliciainncontest. Remember the contest ends November 8, 2014.
For any questions or concerns, kindly contact us at +1 721 542 2403 or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Philipsburg Methodist Church is finalizing preparation of their popular annual Men's Night of Praise Concert which has been rescheduled for next Saturday November 1sr starting at 7:30pm sharp at the Philipsburg Methodist Chapel.

This concert was originally scheduled for October 25th but was postponed after the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo.
Ticket holders for the October 25th date can be used on November 1st.

Come out and see the talented men of the Methodist Church singing and praising songs of worship such as Isidore York, Marvin Dollison, Jeffrey Richardson, Michael Ferrier, Don Froston, Denisio Mardenborough, Reverend Williams, The James Brothers, Reverend Brisset, Reverend Hunkins and the Men's Night Praise Band along with many others.

The public's contribution to attend to this dynamic concert is $10 at the door or from any member of the organizing committee and funds raised will aid annual church missions.

"Breakfast Fundraiser Held on St. Maarten's Day"

PHILIPSBURG - The PEACE IS Foundation is gearing up for its 8th Annual Peace Is Paradise Fundraising Breakfast which will be held on St. Maarten's Day on November 11, 2014 at Taloula Mango's from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
The community at large is invited to come out and support this event as the funds generated from this breakfast are in benefit of this year's beneficiary school's violence prevention program.
"We have been organizing this breakfast successfully with our main Sponsor Taloula Mango's and with the assistance of several businesses who are also devoted to our cause of promoting peace within the schools on the island," said Glenville Blake, President of the Foundation. "We are a small organization that has been working quietly over the years with several schools and though our efforts may not be splashed across headlines every day, the work that we do as a non-profit organization have made a difference in several schools and in many lives.
Past beneficiary schools have been: Hillside Christian School Helmich Snijders, Academy PSVE, SXM Vocational School, Oranje School, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr School, and the Methodist Agogic Centre. The schools in the past chose different ways to utilize the funds in the form of: workshops, ordering of materials, etc.
"The foundation has chosen the St. Maarten Academy as the beneficiary school for this year's 8th instalment breakfast and we are confident that our peace efforts will be successful to this institution," Blake said.
Patrons will enjoy a traditional St. Maarten breakfast at Taloula Mango's on the boardwalk for only $10, we invite you to support this worthy cause. Tickets are available at the St. Maarten Academy and at Taloula Mango's.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Collective Preventive Services (CPS), a government agency under the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labour, hereby announces that as part of its regular vector control program, mosquito fogging throughout the country will commence on Saturday, November 01 in Cupecoy, Low Lands, Maho Reef, Beacon Hill Airport Road, Simpson Bay, Pelican Keys, Simpson Bay Yacht Club and Welfare Road.

Residents are advised to continue to take measures at home and at their business to mitigate mosquito breeding such as the Aedes Aegypti mosquito.

Minister of Public Health, Social Development & Labour Hon. Cornelius de Weever, 'Get Checked" campaign, is in line with the responsibility of residents, and business owners, to check around their homes, and businesses in order to reduce breeding sites of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, and making them mosquito-free zones.

Minister De Weever is also calling on residents to encourage and ensure that their neighbor (s) clean their yard in order to be more effective in eliminating breeding sites.

Residents must bear in mind that fogging is not a total solution to eliminate mosquitos. Fogging activity is kept to a minimum in order to prevent the mosquito population from developing immunity to the chemicals that are deployed.

Fogging is one intervention of several, and the main measure is for every household and business to take action by removing potential mosquito breeding spots in and around their premises on a daily basis.

Residents must bear in mind that rain events can disrupt mosquito fogging activities, therefore the district schedule will be adjusted accordingly and this will be communicated to the community in a timely manner.

The complete vector control fogging schedule will be published in the Government Information Page (GIP) in both daily newspapers.

The schedule shows the date, time and neighborhood where the mosquito fogging will be carried out.

Homeowners during the time of the spraying should open all doors and windows. Dishes, bowls, pots and pans, fish tanks and bird cages should be covered. Stay away from open windows and doors during the spraying.

Call for information on the Aedes Aegypti mosquito breeding sites and respective preventive measures at 542-2078 or 542-3003 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ORLANDO, Florida:--- A team of five staff members of TLC-Aviation from St. Maarten is currently attending the NBAA Annual Convention in Orlando Florida. This Business Aviation conference is attended by 27,000 aviation professionals who have the opportunity to review 1,100 indoor exhibits featuring the latest in business aviation products, technologies and services, and participate in dozens of education and maintenance and operations sessions. An extensive and diverse selection of approximately 100 business aircraft of all sizes are shown to potential buyers on a static display area at Orlando Executive Airport.

"Our networking activities at this unique convention for this affluent market segment does not only benefit our own business, but we are literally the gate openers and greeters to our country giving these visitors the first and best impression of our island. Here in Orlando we make the contacts and create the partnerships that bring guests and investors to St. Maarten," says Steven Kong, Managing Director of TLC-Aviation who leads his team of professionals. "One should realize that every passenger arriving on a private or business aircraft is a potential investor in the island. It is a quality conscious and demanding clientele that doesn't accept mediocrity but is willing and able to honor excellent services."

The NBAA Annual convention is by far the biggest event in the business and private aviation industry worldwide. In the USA, business aviation is essential to local economies and the national interest. It plays a critical role in driving economic growth, jobs and investment across the U.S. The convention in Orlando was opened is opened on Tuesday and runs until Thursday although most attendees and exhibitors extend their schedules for discussions and negotiations before and after the show. For TLC-Aviation the timing of this annual event, approximately six weeks before the season on St. Maarten starts, is just about right.

"The owners and operators of private aircraft are well aware that flying to our region can be challenging in the peak season and that the planning of a firm trip schedule has to be done early," says Sheldon Palm, Operations Manager at TLC-Aviation. "Late requests may only allow for limited choices. We do have limited aircraft parking space at our airport and in some cases passengers may have to be dropped, the aircraft repositioned on one of our neighboring islands and return to pick-up the passengers later. It is inconvenient, impractical and costly to fly the empty aircraft to a different location just to be parked and the crew staying there in hotel. We attend this convention that is held exactly at a time when plans are made and we are there to advise operators and trip schedulers so that we can assist them in the best possible manner when they visit our island."

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- On Wednesday representatives from the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA) met with key members of the Council of Ministers to brief them about the national preparations for Ebola.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday, October 22, 2014 at approximately 2:45a.m. police patrols were sent to "High Up" night club in connection with the playing of loud music. On the scene the officers spoke to management about the situation and stayed at the location to control what was going on. Shortly after the officers noticed that a fight had broken out between two unknown men. During the commotion many customers ran out of the establishment. At the same time an off duty police officer approached the other officers telling them he was stabbed by a man who was also in the night club. The off-duty officer, pointed out the suspect who at the time, was running out of the club. The suspect was chased by an officer on foot and in the vicinity of Carousel where he was arrested. The suspect was still in possession of the knife he used to stab the victim. The knife was confiscated for further investigation. The off-duty officer who was stabbed in the left side of his chest was treated on the scene by paramedics and then transported to the Sint Maarten Medical Center for further treatment where he remained for observation. The suspect with the initials C.A.I. (32) was taken to the Philipsburg Police Station where he remains in custody for further investigation.

KPSM Police Report

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Fire Department will be kicking off Fire Prevention Week 2014 on Monday, October 27 until November 1.

The awareness week is being organized by the Section Fire Prevention and Friends of the Island Government Fire Fighters.

The objective during the week is to raise fire safety awareness throughout the community. The theme for this year's week is: "Preventing and Acting in event of a Fire."

Lectures are part of the schedule within the various districts. Residents are asked to come out and learn about fire prevention measures which could save a life of a love one and also protect your property.

Awareness activities will also take place in the elementary schools. The week will conclude with an open house at the Clem Labega Square. This will include firefighting demonstrations. Other stakeholders will also be at the open house showcasing their products and services which are related to fire safety in some fashion or form such as extinguishers, fire alarms and fire insurance.

Residents are also encouraged to come out to the district information sessions about fire prevention.

The dates and times of the sessions are as follows: Monday, October 27 at the St. Peters Community Center 7:30pm to 9:00pm; Tuesday, October 28 at the Dutch Quarter Community Center, same time as noted before; Wednesday, October 29 at the John Hodge Hall Cole Bay Methodist Building; Thursday, October 30 at the School in Middle Region; Friday, October 31 at the Lion's Building in Sucker Garden.

The Open House will be on Saturday, November 1 and the general public is invited. The open house will take place at the Clem Labega Square in Philipsburg from 9:00am to 6:00pm.

The awareness campaign also includes various radio interview programs.

PHILIPSBURG:--- A delegation of professionals who care for the St. Maarten youth population participated in a meeting at the conference room of the Philipsburg Police Station today.
During this meeting a historic agreement was signed by the honorable Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson and one of the directors of the Dutch 'Stichting Horizon Jeugdzorg en Onderwijs', Krijnie Schotel. In the agreement both parties promised to cooperate in the implementation of the new Youth Rehabilitation Center for St. Maarten which will be named 'Miss Lalie Center'.
In a brief introduction Mrs. Karola van Nie, youth prosecutor, stated that various big steps have been taken by the partners in this project. Those partners are: Richelda Emanuel (director of the court of guardianship Sint Maarten), Cynthia van Samson-Filemon (director of the Probation Department Sint Maarten), Ron Verhaar (advisor Department of Justice), Sandra Voorneman (projectmanager 'Miss Lalie Center') en Van Nie herself. "It's very important to connect with the Dutch in this project, because their expertise is more than welcome." Van Nie also stated that this 'Miss Lalie Center' is a very ambitious project for St. Maarten and it's unique for the Caribbean part of the Dutch Kingdom.
Minister Richardson confirmed these words and added that the building of this Rehabilitation Center is the latest milestone in which St. Maarten shows to truly care for the youth on this island. "The fact that partners in the Justice chain like the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Court of Guardianship and the Probation Department put hands together to develop a unique Rehabilitation Center like the 'Miss Lalie Center' is an example for the entire Caribbean region. The support and cooperation of the Dutch 'Stichting Horizon' is a perfect example for the manner in which Kingdom partners could work together."
The director of 'Stichting Horizon', Mrs. Krijnie Schotel, extended much gratitude to both entities for their inspiring words and expressed how valuable and meaningful this project is to her organization. "It perfectly subscribes the ambitions of the company in the Netherlands, because the organization works with similar youth groups as the ones in St. Maarten." She highlighted that employees of 'Stichting Horizon' hope to not only bring their knowledge to our island, but they tend to take back a lot of knowledge to the Netherlands. 'Stichting Horizon's' working ways are based on the vision that youth's own strength and own responsibility are the key in the process of rehabilitation. They work in a very intense manner with the youngsters to let them make a better future for themselves and teach them to take responsibility for their own life and the choices they make in that life. This should be similar to the way the St. Maarten 'Miss Lalie Center' will work.
To check on the intense learning and working processes of the 'Stichting Horizon', eight local employees of the St. Maarten Rehabilitation Center, that were recently appointed, will travel to the Netherlands next Friday. They will participate in a two weeks internship in one of the juvenile institutions of the 'Stichting Horizon'. After that period employees of 'Horizon' will come to our island and visit the 'Miss Lalie Center' to share their knowledge. By signing this agreement, the Minister officially ratified this intense and firm cooperation.

SIMPSON BAY:--- Residents of Simpson Bay marched into the house of Parliament on Wednesday to silently protest against what they term as abuse of power and injustice.
One of the residents told SMN News that a parcel of succession land that is occupied by one Marlon Harley for some 28 years operating a mini boat yard. The resident of Simpson Bay said that Halley has legal authorization from one of the nine heirs that inherited the property from Melford Lejuez. The resident said of the nine heirs only one of them is living on St. Maarten and that heir gave Halley legal authorization to use the property, further the plot of land was destroyed twice by hurricanes and Halley invested his monies and refill the property since most of the heirs are living outside of St. Maarten.
The resident said that in the year 2011 Member of Parliament Theodore Heyliger approached the Kadaster office to obtain information about the property and he eventually took one of the heirs who lives in Aruba. That heir was identified as Kelly Lejuez whose legal representative was another heir identified also as a Lejuez. The Simpson Bay resident said that court case was halted because none of the other heirs including the one on St. Maarten were notified and the one that appeared in court claimed that Halley was operating on the land illegally. However, shortly after that a famous businessman "Gioa" paid Kelly Lejuez some $550,000.00 for the property while the other heirs were left out.
The residents said that in June 2014 Minister of VROMI and Member of Parliament Maurice Lake issued a MB to the Gioa family stating that they are the owners of the parcel of land while a publication was made in one of the local newspapers to have Halley remove his boats and other equipment from the property. The Simpson Bay resident said that Simpson Bay is a residential area and the MB that was issued by Minister Lake states it's a commercial area. "This is part of the Simpson Bay development plan that Theo Heyliger and Maurice Lake wants to execute, the residents of Simpson already objected to having the area turned into a commercial area since they will not accept for a cruise/deep water pier to be built in their area, while they will also not allow any Minister or Member of Parliament to abuse their power for their own benefit. The Simpson Bay community already signed a petition and have held several meetings objecting to Heyliger and Lake's plan yet the Minister of VROMI saw it fit to issue an MB stating that Simpson Bay is a commercial area. The resident further explained that what they cannot understand is that the lawyer that represented government in this particular case was Jerone Veen whose name came up to be the Minister of Justice some weeks ago. The Simpson Bay resident said that the Parliament of St. Maarten is busy discussing the instruction given to the Governor regarding the appointment of Ministers and every MP that make up the coalition is talking about the constitution and justice and the Kingdom breaking the law, but they want to know who is to be blamed for the actions of the Kingdom.

Click here to view the documents including the MB issued by Minister Maurice Lake.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The acting Chief Prosecutor Karola van Nie, along with Prosecutor Ludwina Hodge accompanied by Community Police Officer Daryl Chandler went to the Cape Bay community on Tuesday night where they distributed flyers wristbands and spoke with residents of the area as they continue to promote the Stop, Drop and Go firearm project.
Press prosecutor Tineke Kamps said in a press release that the efforts made by the Public Prosecutors Office went uninterrupted and the residents of that community responded positively. Both the Prosecutor service and KPSM hope to create more awareness on "Stop, Drop and Go" project which will end on October 31st, 2014.
During this period, anyone can submit a firearm without being prosecuted for the possession of the firearm. Anyone who wants to surrender a firearm can do this every day from 8:30am to 4:30pm at the Attorney General's Office, Welfare Road #68 in Simpson Bay. For more information call the free phone number + 1 721 808 5444.

MARIGOT:--- A manager of Goldfinger store in Marigot was held hostage on Wednesday morning during a broad daylight robbery. Information reaching SMN News states that the store was robbed of an unknown amount of jewelry and watches. According to persons on the scene the manager was held hostage but was later released, the persons on the scene also reported that a number of gunshots were fired during the robbery. According information reaching SMN News, three Columbian nationals (Spanish speaking persons) went into the store and held up the manager at gun point. An eyewitness said that two of the three gunmen/robbers walked out of the store with a gun held to the manager's throat when they saw the entire area was covered with gendarmes. It is also understood that two of the three robbers were captured while the third one escaped by running up the Fort Hill.

Business owners in Marigot said that the Gendarmes sealed off the area especially the areas leading to the Fort Hill as they searched for the third suspect.
Commandant of the Gendarmerie Paul Betaille told SMN News that while the robbers were inside the store committing their acts they fired shots at the Gendarmes three times. Betaille said at one point the robbers came out of the store holding the manager hostage and they then attacked someone who was in their vehicle in the immediate area and again they fired three more shots at the gendarmes. 

After that they proceeded towards a vehicle which they took away in a bid to escape. "They abused the owner of the vehicle before taking the vehicle away in a bid to escape. However, as the robbers tried to escape they were confronted by a host of gendarmes in the vicinity of Marina Fort Louis. At that point the robbers fired three more shots at the gendarmes. Betaille said at that point the gendarmes responded by firing back at the robbers. "There was an exchange of gunshots because the gendarmes fired five shots at the robbers." He said two of the culprits were arrested and the gendarmes managed to recover all the stolen items which he said are jewelry and watches. However, the third suspect managed to escape.
Betaille said despite the exchange of gunshots no one was injured. He also said that the suspects are not Colombians, they are foreigners but refused to release the robbers nationality.

Vegetarian snacks will be on sale

PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation, American University of the Caribbean (AUC) Asian Medical Students Association (AMSA) and the Diabetes Foundation have teamed up to offer a free health day, flea market and vegetarian food sale this Saturday at All Children's Education Foundation (ACE) school.

The free event, which targets the entire family, will start at 10:00am and run until 1:00pm.

Medical doctors-in-training from AUC's ASMA will be at the event to provide free workshops on health and dental hygiene. The medical students will have stations where information will be provided and where persons can check their weight, height and blood pressure and learn about dental hygiene. A special group of students will also be on hand to provide information on sickle cell disease.

Additionally, the St. Maarten Diabetes Foundation volunteers will also be on hand to provide free blood pressure and glucose testing to the public.

A flea market with a range of clothing suitable for persons of all ages as well as household items, will also be on sale. There will be items for as low as US $2 each. All proceeds from the flea market will go towards keeping ACE pupils in school.

Come with empty stomachs because a range of vegetarian snacks and healthy juices will also be on sale at the event.

Tzu Chi Foundation will have a special table at the event where persons will be able to get more information on the foundation, sign up to become a member or purchase original Tzu Chi books, book markers and other original Tzu Chi items.

The partners decided to collaborate for the event to provide ACE pupils, parents, teachers and the public with useful health information that can benefit them, while offering a range of items for sale in a fundraising flea market.

Tzu Chi encourages the entire community to come out in numbers on Saturday to the joint event.

ACE School is located at Daisy Road # 2, just off L.B. Scott Road (opposite Cake House Supermarket entrance). Additional information can be obtained from Tzu Chi Commissioner Sandra Cheung at tel. 586-3091 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA) continues to monitor developments in West Africa with respect to the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak which has infected 8997 persons of which 4493 have died, according to the Center for Disease Control stats as of 15 October.

Persons traveling or who have recently visited Africa especially West Africa, should be cautious and take measures to protect their health. Persons should refrain from traveling to areas where EVD is prevalent in countries that are infected.

If a traveller becomes unwell with sudden onset of high fever, stomach pains, diarrhoea, rash or bleeding within three (3) weeks of being in any of the infected or affected areas (Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone), or have had contact with in infected person, you need to make contact by phone to your doctor right away. You must also inform the doctor about your travel history prior to going to your physician. Limit your contact with others to avoid putting other persons at risk.

Ebola, formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. This EVD outbreak has a fatality rate of 54%. Early intervention is having a positive result on mortality as it used to be 90%.

Even though there are no WHO travel advisories, persons should also consider postponing travel to affected areas if it is non-essential.

Those who still decide to travel are advised to adopt the following necessary precautions: practice frequent hand washing (e.g. after going to the toilet, or when hands are soiled); avoid direct contact with blood, secretions or other body fluids of infected living or dead persons or animals, as well as environments that have become contaminated with these infectious fluids such as soiled clothing, bed linen, or used needles.

If you have to travel, stay on the alert as it relates to your traveling contacts and avoid putting yourself and family at risk.

Avoid participating in burial ceremonies which require direct contact with the body of a deceased infected person; avoid contact with wild animals, including bats, monkeys, apes, chimpanzee and gorillas, whether alive or dead, including their raw or undercooked meat.

The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labour, namely the Collective Prevention Services (CPS), in collaboration with all stakeholders started informing the community on Ebola and are working on a Sint Maarten Preparedness Plan. All sectors are called to be alert as it related to their respective response to Ebola.

For further information you should consult with your family physician or call CPS at telephone number: 542-3553, 542-2078.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Local travel agency, Let's Travel, has launched a brand new website online at www.lets-travel.com, which will not only cater to locals looking to request or book flights online, but also target the inbound travel market, allowing tourists to book flights, tours and activities via the website as well.

Owner of Let's Travel, Terrance Rey, said that the website took a long time for him to complete but he felt that after the passing of hurricane Gonzalo last week, it was imperative to boost St. Maarten's travel offerings online so that the island as a tourist destination can get more visibility as the Caribbean islands will certainly be ramping up the competition to promote and sell their respective destinations.

"A comprehensive website like that of Lets-Travel.com offering many travel products and tour services for inbound travellers to St. Maarten is a welcome addition to the marketing arsenal of the island's tourism sales infrastructure." says Terrance Rey.

The website will also serve as a webportal to AirStMaarten's commercial charter flights with specials to Guyana, Jamaica, Miami, Aruba, Colombia and later on Brazil as that South American market opens up once St. Maarten and Brazil conclude an open skies treaty.

"For the past eight years AirStMaarten has been organizing both private and shared charters to the surrounding islands of St. Barths, Anguilla, St. Kitts, Nevis, Tortola and Antigua & Barbuda for passengers transitting through St. Maarten, but the time is right with the launch of Lets-Travel.com to promote inbound travel to St. Maarten itself with services that will attract clients of AirStMaarten to actually visit and stay on the island itself," explains Rey.

"Our group of travel companies, partners and affiliates will use the platform of the new Let's Travel website as a portal to all the different travel products and services that are on offer. We look forward to helping put St. Maarten back on the map as the prime vacation destination in the Northeastern Caribbean region," concludes Terrance Rey.

For more information, call +1-721-542-2381, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.lets-travel.com.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The month of October is being dedicated to the elderly in the community.
Besides no longer being able to get around as before, there are also those who for some reason or the other are either bed- or wheelchair- ridden and do not always get the opportunity to get out of their everyday surrounding to see the many changes that St. Maarten has gone through during the years.

On Sunday October 12th, members of the St. Maarten Lions Club dedicated their day to taking some wheelchair- and walker- bound clients of the St. Martin Home on an island tour.

Lions club members reported to the St. Martin Home as early as 9:30 a.m. and started assisting all those in wheelchairs into specially designed buses where they could sit comfortably , while those with walkers were seated in another bus along with Lion members. All were dressed in specially designed T-shirts for the day's tour.

The tour took them through Front-, Back-, and Cannegieter street unto the St. Maarten Harbor, then through Sucker Garden, Dutch Quarter to French Quarter and unto Marigot.
On the way everyone enjoyed the sceneries which they had not seen in a long time; especially the newly developed areas of St. Maarten.

In Marigot the guests were all off-loaded from the buses and taken to Rosemary's Local Restaurant on the Waterfront where they were served delicious local dishes and local drinks to their hearts delight. After lunch the Lions treated everyone to ice cream.

After their hearty lunch, the tour took them through Sandy Ground and on to Low Lands where the clients could see the developments of Porto Cupecoy, Blue Mall, other newly developed areas of the island, and, of course not to forget, the Causeway, which was something totally new for some of them.

Upon their return to the St. Martin Home at about 3:30 p.m. very exhausted but happy clients thanked the St. Maarten Lions Club for an excellent tour and most headed straight to their rooms to get a good evening's sleep.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Public Prosecutor Tineke Kamps said that the "Stop, Drop and Go Project" that was launched last week by the Police and Prosecutors Office is moving forward successfully. Kamps said on Tuesday some 11 firearms were turned in by 4pm, so far since the project was launched some 17 firearms were handed over to the Attorney General's Office on Welfare Road Simpson Bay. Among the firearms that were turned in were various revolvers and pistols of various calibers. This means the total of the handed firearms is 17 thus far. Kamps said the Public Prosecution Service and KPSM are very satisfied with the cooperation of the people of St. Maarten. Anyone who wants to surrender a firearm can do so every day from 8:30am to 4.30pm at the Attorney General’s office, Wellfare Road #68 in Simpson Bay. Stop, Drop and Go runs until October 31, 2014. The Public Prosecutor said that as a precautionary measure persons that are submitting firearms should not walk with the firearm in their hands on the street. Weapons that are meant for turning in should be placed in a brown paper bag and transported in a plastic bag. When transporting the weapon all bullets must be removed from the chamber of the weapon.

To commemorate 90 years of Toastmasters International

PHILIPSBURG:--- Toastmasters on St Maarten will be commemorating the 90th anniversary of Toastmasters International with a special meeting for the public on Saturday October 25th at the Asha Stevens School in Cayhill.
The evening will feature as its theme "Men Empowerment night". The program will feature presentations and all roles being played by the male Toastmasters of St Maarten. The idea was conceived as a means of getting more men to take up an active role in the Toastmasters organization.
The evening's presentation is the brainchild of Philipsburg Toastmasters Club President Juan Richardson who wanted to host a club event specifically to bring attention to the role of men in the organization. Founded in 1924 by Doctor Ralph Smedley, the original intention was for a setting that allowed young men to be able to confidently improve in their communication skills. For close to 50 years, Toastmasters clubs consisted only of men until 1973 when women were allowed to join the organization. Within a short 40 years, women have surpassed men as members in the organization. With the anniversary, we want to bring focus on empowering men to step up their involvement in the organization and for that reason, the meeting is themed "Men Empowerment Night" explained Juan Richardson.
Several of the island's top Toastmasters will be presenting speeches including, Rolando Tobias, Clayton Felix and Ted Richards, while Elroy Hughes will facilitate a panel discussion on men's issues. Juan Richardson will serve as Toastmaster of the meeting and several other male Toastmasters including Malcolm Jacques, Kareem Rombley, Raymond Romeo, Glendon Wilson, Kenneth Hall and others will be part of the cast. The intention is for the evening's presentations to highlight men issues as a central theme; Juan Richardson concluded.
While Toastmasters Day is officially celebrated on Wednesday October 22nd, the actual event will be held on Saturday October 25th and the general public is invited. The female Toastmasters will be in attendance and the men have promised a treat for all female Toastmasters. There are 5 Toastmasters Clubs on St Maarten and 1 club on the island of Anguilla; together these clubs form Areas 26 & 27 of District 81, which comprises all clubs throughout the Caribbean. There are 313.000 Toastmasters members, 14.650 clubs in 126 countries around the world, making Toastmasters International the world's leading Communication & Leadership organization.

COLE BAY:--- Ms. Agnes Monte, treasurer of The Walichi Basketball Association (WBA) recently received a check from Mr. Lorenzo Gomez, marketing officer of Motorworld in support of the Ladies Basketball Championship which will run from October 5th until March 2015 at the Melford Hazel Sports Complex in Sucker Garden. Motorworld and Jeep has come on as the main sponsor of the championship and have shown keen interest in the endeavor and are glad to be able to give back for such a great cause of females in sports and specifically an all female tournament. Being the main sponsor, the tournament will me named "WBA & Motorworld and Jeep presents the Ladies Basketball Championship". The board of Walichi Basketball Association would like to extend a great thank you to Motorworld and Jeep for believing in our vision for the youth and females to bring about growth in the sport of basketball on the island. The Ladies Basketball Championship would not be possible without the business community support, including Motorworld and Jeep.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Ms. Agnes Monte, treasurer of the Walichi Basketball Association (WBA) recently received a check from Ms. Inocensia Leonard of Leonard Enterprises in support of the Ladies Basketball Championship which will run from October 5th until March 2015 at the Melford Hazel Sports Complex in Sucker Garden. Leonard Enterprises has come on as gold sponsor of the championship and are happy to be able to give back for such a great cause of females in sports and staying active. The board of Walichi Basketball Association would like to extend a great thank you to Leonard Enterprises for believing in our vision for the youth and females to bring about growth in the sport of basketball on the island. The Ladies Basketball Championship would not be possible without the business community support, including Leonard Enterprises.

POINT BLANCHE:--- Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Mingo of Port St. Maarten will be traveling on Wednesday to meet with representatives of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) in connection with the cruise industry's Ebola screening measures.

Some cruise lines already have a stated policy of denying entry to any passengers or crew who has visited Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea within 21 days of a cruise departure date.

Due to the cruise ship scare involving Carnival Magic, cruise lines have now heightened their screening of cruise passengers and crew in connection with Ebola.

The increased screening measures are related to the Carnival Magic cruise vessel that was on a Western Caribbean itinerary when it was discovered that a Texas lab technician assistant who worked at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital where the first Ebola patient in the United States was detected and died.

The lab technician was placed in quarantine onboard the vessel until its return to Galveston, Texas on Sunday.

Under the earlier screening protocol, the Dallas lab technician would not have received the extra screening because she had not been to one of the countries that have the epidemic.

The contact screening protocol is in addition to travel history screening, and denial of boarding for anyone who had physical contact with, or helped care for, a person with Ebola within the 21 days of embarkation, according to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

Port St. Maarten is a member of CLIA. CEO Mingo said Port St. Maarten will take the necessary measures needed in collaboration with cruise line partners and stakeholders.

The following cruise lines are already screening guests prior to boarding to ensure that they have not recently visited one of the countries where Ebola is an epidemic: Carnival, Royal Caribbean International, and Norwegian Cruise Line.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Department of Social Services, a government agency under the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labour, hereby announces that the post Hurricane Gonzalo assistance period will end on Wednesday, 22nd October at 3:30pm.

Persons in need of assistance should visit the office on the Pondfill near Carl's & Son Bakery between 8:00am to 3:30pm.

Persons are being assessed on their individual needs/circumstances. Priority is being given to the most vulnerable (senior citizens, handicapped/disabled).

The assistance so far that has been provided to members of the community by the St. Maarten Red Cross, has been of food, tarpaulin, and water.

The Department of Social Services has been providing crisis counseling and intervention for vulnerable groups along with financial assistance.

The number of persons assisted by the department so far is 50.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Monday urgent plenary session of the House of Parliament was that was adjourned will continue on October 22nd.
The plenary session is set for Wednesday at 10:00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.
The agenda is the instruction of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Kingdom Relations given to the Governor of Sint Maarten to postpone ratification of the country decree in the appointment of the Ministers and Prime Minister.

This meeting was requested by Members of Parliament (MPs) Hon. Franklin Meyers, Hon. Tamara Leonard and Hon. Silvio Matser.

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary session will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 120, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the Internet www.pearlfmradio.com, and also via www.sxmparliament.org.

St. Maarten needs to fix its own house before trying to cross the ocean

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel unleashed an unexpected bomb on the floor of Parliament on Monday afternoon during the urgent meeting of Parliament that was called to discuss the instruction given to Governor Eugene Holiday. MP Emmanuel said that persons from the UP party offered him as much as two million dollars to jump ship and form the government with them. "I was offered $80,000.00, then it moved to $400,000.00 and finally to two million dollars. St. Maarten has moved from buying votes to buying seats now and there is an integrity problem in the country that needs to be addressed." MP Emmanuel further stated that his colleague described the PWC report as 'the melee report" yet the Government of St. Maarten dispatched a letter to the Netherlands stating that they will try to adhere to the recommendations in the PricewaterhouseCoopers report. MP Emmanuel said that the letter that was sent to the Kingdom Council of Ministers was signed by the current Prime Minister/Chairlady of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams and Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson. In that letter St. Maarten clearly stated that the country does not have the means and finances to expedite the recommendations and if support can be obtained anywhere in the Kingdom the country is ready to accept it. The National Alliance MP said that while the UP/DP/Marlin coalition is saying that the Dutch is coming he wants them to know that the Dutch is already on the island, they were invited to St. Maarten. He further stated that St. Maarten created the problem they are having now. MP Emmanuel said that UPP candidate Julian Rollocks once said that the UPP leader Theodore Heyliger was a mafia because he was trying to swindle away a crane from them. He said he will not go into the statements made by former chairlady of parliament Gracita Arrindell and others about Heyliger. "The Harbor Group of Companies is being run like a cartel." Emmanuel said that its a government owned company (PJIAE) that bought three pelicans for $350,000.00. "This is a semblance of corruption."
The new MP and long-time radio and internet host said that St. Maarten creates its own problem and that it's the politicians on St. Maarten that have neglected the people of St. Maarten for years, especially those that submit requests for bus, taxi and other business licenses. He said that St. Maarten is a country within the Kingdom and the Kingdom is still responsible for good governance. He told the members of the coalition that if they do not like what is taking place then they need to get out. "If you cannot deal with the rules of the house then get out of the house, meaning if you can't deal with what the Dutch MPs are saying then St. Maarten should be ready to go independent. At least two members of the coalition said they will be presenting a motion in the second round, Emmanuel said when that motion is presented he hopes it has something to do with independence if not the MPs that are against the instruction should either stay in the house and abide by the rules or get out.
MP Frans Richardson shared the same sentiments when he said that the problem St. Maarten is having today was created by the people of St. Maarten and politicians, he looked at the Chairlady of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams and told her that it is not possible for politicians to defame other politicians on the campaign trail and then after elections team up with them. MP Richardson said Parliament was discussing a very serious issue but he wants the people of St. Maarten to know that the problem created today was created by St. Maarten and its people. "We are our own enemies, year in and year out, we continued with the same thing and nowadays the Kingdom gets information with a click of a button due to technology." MP Richardson said he feels the pain the UPP members especially its leader is facing, however he made clear that St. Maarten and its people are their own enemies. Richardson went as far as saying that the politicians need to either shape up or ship out because what they are doing is defaming other people and the country with the things they say. "I am telling you we are our worst enemies, we need to change our attitude."
MP Richardson said that several of the Members of Parliament made numerous promises while on the campaign trail and he welcomed the new Members of Parliament to the "house of pain" since they work and pass motions in that legislative branch and after that nothing is done with them. MP Richardson said one of the things St. Maarten has to deal with before trying to tackle the Dutch is the current situation they have on their hands. "Our major problem today is that our system is broken and that has to be fixed before the country can function properly."
He said out of the 15 Members of Parliament, three of them are Ministers, namely the Prime Minister who is also the chairlady of Parliament, Minister of Health Cornelius de Weever and Minister of VROMI Maurice Lake. "People this is no joke this is serious business and there is a separation of power, Ministers and Members of Parliament cannot be holding both positions. Suppose Parliament wants to call the Minister of VROMI Maurice Lake to Parliament for him to update Parliament on the passing of hurricane Gonzalo, tell us what would happen, would the Minister sit up there for one moment and then here another moment. People this is no joke so before you try deal with the Kingdom start fixing this house first." MP Richardson further explained that they do not have to worry about the Governor, because he accepted the job when he was called upon to serve St. Maarten as Governor and now he has to execute his task whether it's good or bad for St. Maarten.
Leader of the National Alliance William Marlin in his presentation said that Parliament should be discussing two issues. Marlin said it's easy to say that what goes on St. Maarten does not concern the Dutch but he wants to know if the politicians on St. Maarten are ready to fix the problem. He asked if the instruction on the screening process is a motion of non-confidence towards the Governor of St. Maarten because according to him the screening process worked well in 2010, 2012 and 2013. "I would like to know if the Dutch politicians have information that St. Maarten does not have giving them reasons to issue such an instruction in 2014." Marlin then explained that St. Maarten and its people have to know where this kind of thing started, he showed two newspapers articles that were written in a newspaper in Curacao, in the Netherlands and locally where the former Minister of Constitutional Affairs Roland Duncan called on the Dutch to investigate the leader of UPP for massive vote buying. Marlin said but soon after Duncan was appointed Minister of Justice by the UPP/DP/Illidge coalition so he forgot about the vote buying he spoke of back then. Another issue Marlin raised is the decision rendered by the Court of First Instance in the Masbangu case where the judge accused the prosecution of class justice, he said the prosecution was given a motion of non-confidence by a sitting judge and these are serious issues.

Leader of the United Peoples Party Theodore Heyliger said when he was 21 years old this is how the Dutch came after his grandfather who was later arrested and tried. Heyliger made clear that his government will look at the recommendations made in the PWC report and they will try to execute them. He said while St. Maarten is being called all sorts of names this is the first country to establish laws that other parts of the Kingdom do not have. As for the screening process, Heyliger said he is not afraid of the screening because his dream was never to be Prime Minister or even Minister, however, what the Dutch wants to do now will infringe on the Constitution of St. Maarten especially the rights and privacy of persons information. Heyliger said that while this instruction is given there is no limit as to how far they will go, the screening he said includes spouses, children, parents, business partners or even people that one came into contact with. "Basically anybody can give whatever information they want on a candidate. This instruction he said even violates the criminal codes and for him this is a total abuse of power when the Kingdom Council wants to use 'carte blanche' to screen people." Heyliger said St. Maarten is accustomed to creating a new novella everyday but one has to understand that it's the island's culture but the Dutch politicians cannot use rumors to push what they want down peoples throats. Heyliger further stated that he obtained 1945 votes and his party won seven seats and for him what the Dutch wants to do is the greatest insult to the voters who went to the polls and elected the government they want. Heyliger said that while he is called a mafia, he wants to make clear that he was never questioned in any mafia related case and if he is guilty by association then the Dutch can keep the positions in the executive branch because St. Maarten is a small country and he will not stop speaking or associating with his people for no one.
Member of Parliament Franklin Meyers said that the Dutch politicians want people to believe they are holier than thou. He said he personally does not have anything to hide and has no problem with the screening process but the problem that this will create if St. Maarten allows it to happen is that it will infringe on the rights of everyone and that is totally against the law and the Constitution of St. Maarten. He said hours after the election results on August 30th, 2014 three political parties formed a government and the very next day the Dutch extended congratulatory messages to the politicians that came together to form that coalition. MP Meyers said it took the UPP 24 days before they signed an agreement with MP De Weever and the very next day Dutch politicians namely Andre Bosman and Ronald van Raak said that the UPP bought De Weever. MP Meyers said that the people of St. Maarten are too complacent and refused to ruffle the feathers of the Dutch and instead go along with everything they imposed on the islands. He said in 1987 when the late Claude Wathey announced that he was going to lobby the people of St. Maarten to go independent the Dutch "cooked" up something against him and got him arrested and it's the same thing they are doing to the late Claude Wathey's grandson MP Theodore Heyliger. Meyers gave another example he said that some years ago the Dutch approached the former Chief of Police Derrick Holiday and they told him they were going to move him from his position and place him at the helm of the Coast Guard and when Holiday refused they cooked up a story, prosecuted him and got rid of him. This he said is the modus oprandi of the Dutch, and what they have done to Africa and Indonesia they are trying to do it to St. Maarten by decolonization. "I want everyone to know that the beast does not change and right now they are prepared to take down St. Maarten. As an elected official I am prepared to go to jail or in the Cul de Sac cemetery if necessary to defend my people and country. As Members of Parliament we need to show the Dutch that despite our political differences we are united as country."
Member of Parliament Johan Janchi Leonard went after the Dutch whom he said is in charge of justice, Leonard said that the Dutch are the ones that select and appoint the Prosecutors on St. Maarten, they are the ones in charge of the entire justice system. The Minister of Justice on St. Maarten has no say on who they select and appoint. He said the Public Prosecutors Office has their own budget so they cannot accuse the Minister for interference. MP Leonard said when a country wants peace the people have to be prepared for war. "Right now the country is under siege, today it's me tomorrow it will be you." Leonard said while being an officer of KPSM the police back then and even today does not get credit for the work they do. The Prosecutors Office always used up millions of guilders claiming they are bringing in reinforcement yet in the end the cases are cracked by the local police and they never got the credit. "The Dutch does not trust our local police force and this is the main reason they spend thousands on traveling expenses to bring in their so called experts who do nothing but enjoy the sea, sun and sand on St. Maarten." He said the Prosecutors Office brought in all sorts of people to solve the Vesuvius case yet the case was solved by the officers of KPSM and they got no credit for their work. MP Leonard said the justice system is wasting the taxpayers monies and most of the cases they take to court they lose them.
He said right now the judges and the prosecutors are in a battle and some judges choose to leave while those that stay have their own agenda.
MP Leona Marlin said the instruction given to the governor is in direct conflict with the constitution. She said the country is unjustly oppressed and the instructions issued by the Kingdom Council to the Governor of St. Maarten is not in the law, it is unconstitutional it also infringes on the preamble of the constitution, it degrades parliament and also VDSM the security services of St. Maarten.
The second round of the meeting will continue on Wednesday morning at 10 am where members supporting the coalition will present at least two motions.

This report outlines the second series of activities of the Nature Foundation post hurricane Gonzalo. Hurricane Gonzalo struck St. Maarten on the 14th of October 2014 as a Category one storm. The following report outlines the assessments carried out by the St. Maarten Nature Foundation.

Surveys Man of War Shoal Marine Park:

On Friday and Saturday October 17th and 18th the Nature Foundation carried out assessments of the Man of War Shoal Marine Protected Area. Although surveys found that visibility was still significantly reduced there was no major damage to coral or other substrate within the Marine Park. All moorings were intact with the exception of the Fishbowl mooring which will be replaced shortly.

Seagrass beds:

Similarly on Friday and Saturday October 17th and 18th the Nature Foundation surveyed the seagrass beds surrounding St. Maarten, particularly in the Simpson Bay area. There was found to be no significant damage to seagrass beds in the surveyed areas.

Oilspill Cay Bay:

On Monday the Nature Foundation received reports that there was an oilspill in the Cay Bay area. The Nature Foundation responded with the Coastguard and found that the spill was mistaken for patches of floating Sargasso seaweed.

Water Quality Testing:

On Monday October 20th the Nature Foundation did follow-up testing of the Great Bay and Little Bay areas. Water quality has drastically improved and conditions are now within the parameters to allow for swimming.

This week Thursday on October 23, 2014 the Sint Maarten Seniors and Pensioners Association (SMSPA) will be having a one day seminar for their members on the rights of older persons. The event will be in the Belair Community Center in Cay Hill (opposite of the Medical Center) and strats at 10 am in the morning until 4 pm in the afternoon.

Since the first of October the International Day of Older Persons quite a lot of commemorations and celebrations have been organized this month for the elderly. The SMSPA seminar will be an educative and action oriented event for the over 200 members of the organization. The seminar is being made possible with support from some corporate sponsors coordinated by the Chamber of Commerce of Sint Maarten, as a way to give back to the seniors for their contribution made to the development of Sint Maarten.

The topics that will be addressed during this one day seminar are:

• Which are the rights of the elderly that have been realized in Sint Maarten and which rights have not been realized as yet ?
• which actions have been realized in Sint Maarten since the Madrid International Action Plan on Aging of 2002?
• what is the status of the implementation in SInt Maarten of the San Jose Charter on the Rights of Older Persons of 2012?
• which rights of the seniors targeted by the Millennium Development Goals will be realized in Sint Maarten before the target year of 2015?
• do seniors have the right to development and how this right will be realized in the National Development Plan for Sint Maarten?
• what did the politicians do for the seniors of Sint Maarten since 10-10-10?
• what has been achieved for the seniors in Sint Maarten since the first seminar of the SMSPA in January 2011 and the struggle of the SMSPA?
• what should be the demands of the Seniors in Sint Maarten for the second governing period from 2014-2018?
• what should be the plan of action of the Seniors until the 2015 evaluation of the constitutional reform in the Kingdom and what should be the future of Country Sint Maarten after being in the Kingdom of the Netherlands for over 200 years?

The input of the members of the seniors association in this seminar will be vital. It will serve as input for the actions of the Seniors and Pensioners Association ISMSPA) in the upcoming governing period as well as in next year's Dutch Caribbean evaluation and the Latin American and Caribbean evaluation of the implementation of the San Jose Charter on the Rights of Older Persons.

All members of the seniors association are invited to participate in the SMSPA seminar of Thursday coming starting at 10 am in the Belair Community Center. During lunch break the participants do not have to leave as they will be offered a lunch and a special entertainment. Members are encouraged to pre-confirm their participation and do not have to pay the registration fee.

Non-members will be admitted if there are still open seats available. Non-members though will have to pay a registration fee of US$ 20.

SMSPA Press Release

PHILIPSBURG:--- FC Soualiga Women's Soccer Team, was established in April 2013 and is, as of August 2014, officially established as the Soualiga Soccer Association. FC Soualiga hosted its first very successful International Women's Soccer Tournament on October 19th and 20th, 2013. During this tournament, teams from the likes of St. Barths, Curaçao and Trinidad participated. This tournament was of a small scale with 6-a side games at the Johan Cruyff Court in Belvedere. This time around, considering the previous great success, and with the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex being of availability and a prime location for such an event, the opportunity for an official tournament with 11-a side games arose. FC Soualiga will therefore be hosting its Second Annual International Women's Soccer Tournament during the weekend of October 25th and 26th, 2014, at the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex in Cay Hill. Teams from around the region will be participating, with an opening match on Saturday night starting at 6pm, Sunday morning the following matches will proceed at 10 am and at 6pm with a closing ceremony at 9pm.
FC Soualiga has been honoured to have been supported in this endeavour by the local community, as businesses such as their corporate sponsor Princess Juliana International Airport, and businesses such as Divi Little Bay Beach Resort, Sint Maarten Building Supplies, Travel Planners, The Windward Islands Bank, The Holland House Beach Hotel, Heavenly Waters, and Majula Corp have on this occasion and on previous occasions provided the team with much needed help. Without their generous donations, the many activities and accomplishments FC Soualiga has thus far achieved could not have come to fruition.
The Soualiga Soccer Association hereby calls out on all sports lovers to come out in full force to support Sint Maarten's very own FC Soualiga battling against other regional teams this coming weekend. It will be a fun weekend activity for all. More information about the event will be posted on Facebook page: FC Soualiga.

PHILIPSBURG:--- During the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo on Monday, October 13th, 2014 WTN Cable suffered damages to some of its satellites at its broadcast location at Harbor View and its transmitters/antennas at Fort Willem Hill, St. Peters Hill, Naked Boy Hill and Cole Bay Hill.
Immediately after the Hurricane, WTN Cable's technicians started working on the damaged equipment to have the service back up and running as soon as possible.
Although the damage was more than we anticipated, we are pleased to announce that most of the repairs are completed with the exception of the antenna tower on Cole Bay Hill, which resulted in interruption of our service to the Cole Bay, Cay Bay and Simpson Bay areas. We are in the process of reconstructing a makeshift tower to bear the antenna that services the aforementioned areas, and hope to have this process completed by late Monday afternoon or early Tuesday morning.
While the majority of channels are back on the air, subscribers will notice that a number of channels are still off. This too, is a result of the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo.
WTN Cable has engaged the services of technicians from its sister company in Curacao and Bonaire to assist with the technical work in order to speed up the process of realigning the dishes and having all the channels back up and running.
Prior to the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo, WTN Cable had engaged in upgrading its accounting system and its transmitting sites whilst installing two new transmission sites. The upgrades are in the final stages and are near completion.
In the meantime, subscribers who have suffered damage to their cable equipment may bring these in to our office in the Obersi Building on Sparrow Road at Harbor View. Other interruption of service maybe reported by calling telephone number 1 721 542 5898 extension 131, 132 or 135.
We urge the general public, and our subscribers in particular, not to subscribe to unconfirmed reports or information regarding WTN Cable and its services. Instead you may visit us at our offices or call us at the numbers mentioned above.
WTN Cable apologizes to its subscribers for the inconvenience these interruptions may have caused, and assures you that once our repairs are completed, you will be the beneficiaries of our improved service to you. We thank you for your patience and understanding.

WTN Press Release

PHILIPSBURG:--- The draft Cay Hill-Little Bay, & Cul-De-Sac development plans will be on public review for its last week, ending next Tuesday October 28, 2014. All interested persons are reminded to review the plans which are available online via the Government website www.sintmaartengov.org, on the Ministry of VROMI page, select "About Zoning/Development plans" from the left panel and click on Cul De Sac and/or Cay Hill-Little Bay on the interactive map.
The draft development plans are also available at the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment & Infrastructure (VROMI), Tamarindestreeg #16, Philipsburg, upon request for review.
Anyone can submit objections with respect to the draft development plan in writing to the Minister of VROMI, Government Administration Building, P.O. Box 943, Clem Labega Square, Philipsburg, St. Maarten. At the end of the review objections and an advice with respect to the objections from an independent Committee of Experts will be sent to the Council of Ministers and Parliament for handling and approval of the law.
The public review is the legal formal part of the development plan process. The development plans will guide the future spatial development of the entire Cul-De-Sac and Cay Hill-little Bay areas where it relates to land use and building regulations. This is the opportunity for residents and stakeholders to address their concern.

My fellow St. Maarteners,

First I would like to extend deepest sympathies to those who suffered loss during the recent passing of Hurricane Gonzalo, though it may have caused some devastation, we are still blessed to have weathered the storm and come out stronger and united.

Over the last few weeks, there has been no shortage of opinions and criticism expressed publicly regarding my decision to support and join the coalition government which was recently sworn in as the new government of St. Maarten for the next four years.

While speculation abound and some media sources have been trying to exploit and capitalize on the situation by sensationalizing it, I believe it is necessary to publicly explain the reason for my decision and re-emphasize my commitment to the people of St. Maarten and especially to those who have entrusted me with this responsibility with their vote of confidence.

"For me, it has always been about the best interest of this country. I recognize that we are at a crucial juncture in the development of St. Maarten, we are at a point where the people of this country expect their elected representatives to put biases, self and trivial preferences aside and do what is necessary to be the change we all promised to be during the election campaign. And sometimes that means going beyond party lines, and looking at the bigger picture; that is how can we ensure a stable government and a better way of life for the people of this country."

"I am not perfect and I know my recent decision might not have been easy for many people to understand or accept, however, I am confident that this decision to be part of the coalition government will allow me to contribute to making our country better. I believe our passion may hasten our actions, but our purpose always wins the day."
Following the election results of August 29, when it became obvious that a coalition government would once again have to be formed, I knew that as an MP-Elect I had a responsibility to make sure my contribution would be in alignment with a stable governing constellation, as stability is essential for the sustainability and progress of this country.
I would like to assure my fellow St. Maarteners that this decision was not taken lightly or without profound thought. Several governing scenarios were explored with several potential political partners, showing democracy in its truest form. I believe that if we all stay true to our promise to serve with integrity and selflessness, this coalition is the best vehicle to get us to where we need to go as a country.

I believe my decision which has left me ousted by the US Party, shows political maturity and will prove my mantra 'if it is good for the country then I will give my support to that cause despite my political affiliation, color or creed.' After all our commitment and overall obligation is to do what is in the best interest of the people of Sint Maarten.
The decision by the USp to expel me from the party has left me with no choice but to declare myself an Independent Member of Parliament. This will not deter me from staying focused on the tasks at hand and fulfilling the responsibilities that I was elected to accomplish. I am therefore asking for your support, patience and understanding and to let my performance in Parliament determine if I'm a worthy representative.
I gave my word on the campaign trail to give proper representation and my intentions remain the same. In closing I would like to once again thank the people of St. Maarten for giving me the privilege of representing you. I will continue to listen to your wishes and display the courage to stand up and speak for these aspirations and to make good on my plans to work tirelessly on your behalf.

May God Bless Us All

PHILIPSBURG:--- The recent instruction from the Dutch Government to Governor Eugene Holiday to carry out an invasive screening of candidate ministers in addition to the mandated security screening has put the governor yet again in a very awkward position where he has to choose between truly representing the people of St. Maarten and the one-sided interest of the Dutch Government, says United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament Tamara Leonard.

"This instruction goes against a number of fundamental rights and freedom guaranteed to the people of St. Maarten by our Constitution. The instruction seeks to invade the privacy of not only candidate ministers, but that of anyone who had come into contact with them. It goes further than the candidate ministers' family and friends. It pulls in everyone. By virtue of this instruction everyone on St. Maarten will be under investigation as we are a small community," Leonard said.

"Aside from this instruction from the Dutch Government being an insult and disrespect to the people of St. Maarten, it shows that the governor's office is indeed a colonial tool. We as St. Maarteners have one of our own as the de facto head of our country in the form of the governor, but at the whim and will of the Dutch Government which so ever St. Maartener is holding that office has to decide whether to work with their fellow St. Maarteners or brutally against them," Leonard said.

The MP said Governor Holiday as a ranked professional should not be used by the Dutch Government to execute its political witch hunt against the people of St. Maarten and its elected and soon-to-be-appointed representatives.

"What is very important at this juncture in the story of our young democratic country is for all St. Maarteners to band together and face down this insult and not splinter into those who are 'for the Dutch' and those who are for certain political parties. This instruction, the method used and the heavy handed approach of the Dutch Government must be condemned by St. Maarten as a whole," Leonard said.

"We are no longer a colony. We are not a public entity of the Netherlands. We are a free people – a status we fought long and arduously for, first in the salt ponds and then by referenda. Every St. Maartener knows the history of this land we call home. Every St. Maartener knows that value of standing together in times of adversity. This is one of those times. Let us not be divided now by party or any line. Let's stand strong as one St. Maarten," Leonard said.

The boundless and limitless investigation seeks to cast doubt and gather hearsay to use against people who have opted to serve their country in the highest offices of the country. If this investigation is allowed to take root no one will want to take the lead to run for office, not because they lack integrity, but to avoid the invasion of their lives and that of people they hold close, Leonard said.

"Where do we draw the line? We draw it here and now. We cannot allow our laws and Constitution to be trampled on in this colonial witch hunt," Leonard said.

POINT BLANCHE:--- 25 staff members from Port St. Maarten on Sunday were seen in the district of Middle Region helping with the national clean-up effort in connection with the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo on Monday.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Port St. Maarten Mark Mingo is encouraging other government owned companies and private sector businesses to volunteer their time on the weekends to help the people in the districts to remove debris.

Port St. Maarten staff will be out next weekend to continue with their social corporate responsibility to help the people in the districts in cleaning-up hurricane related debris.

"Destination St. Maarten/St. Martin has already bounced back. The cruise ships are back and stay-over visitors are also here. As a society, we need to work and help each other in need. When disaster strikes, we are all our brothers and sisters keeper.

"We have come together in the past to help each other, and now is the time to do so again in order to move our country forward together. If every company pools their staff together and volunteers their time each weekend, we can do wonders and really make a change within the districts. This benefits the neighborhoods and the destination. We will definitely be back next weekend," CEO Mark Mingo said on Sunday.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Disaster Coordinator/Fire Chief Clive Richardson would like to thank all emergency services, fire fighters, ambulance personnel, police, the various government ministries especially Ministry VROMI, the Coast Guard, Marines and others for their role played in connection with the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo.

Richardson would also like to thank contractors who are still busy today and in the coming days with the on-going national clean-up effort, for the very important role that they are playing in getting the country back on track.

"There are many lessons to be learnt from the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo. We will review, analyze and adjust our disaster response mechanisms where necessary.

"One of the first things is that you must always be prepared at the beginning of the hurricane season. This is an individual responsibility of every resident and business because we are in the hurricane belt. Preparation is key to minimizing the effects of a hurricane.

"You never know when a storm could be at your doorstep, and can develop very quickly into a hurricane as happened in this case. This is what happened between Sunday and Monday of October 12 and 13.

"Unfortunately, there was one loss of life, and on behalf of the emergency services, I express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the mariner.

"We must be thankful that the category 1 hurricane did not become a category 2 or 3 before it passed our country. As you are aware, Hurricane Gonzalo became a major category 4 hurricane in the open Atlantic Ocean, so we have a lot to be thankful for.

"We have bounced back quickly which as a tourism destination we must. Much emphasis and effort is going into rebuilding and removal of debris and the reconnection of those to the grid of essential services such as electricity and water.

"I would like to say thank you once again to all those who played their role during this natural disaster and we will fully recover in the coming days, weeks and months. Much has already been done in a space of week for us to bounce back so quickly, because we are a resilient people," Disaster Coordinator/Fire Chief Clive Richardson said on Sunday.

Transparency International: Dutch corruption mechanisms insufficient

PHILIPSBURG:--- The UP Faction would hereby like to make one thing abundantly clear to the general population and Kingdom partners: The issue with the instruction given to Governor Holiday regarding expanded screening criteria to be executed by appointees of the Dutch government, is not about 'having something to hide'. Rather, the unconstitutional levels of interference the Dutch government is attempting to embark upon.

"No citizen of St. Maarten, no matter the political affiliation, can accept this. What other freedoms will be trampled on next? Every partner within the Kingdom is responsible for its good governance as is outlined in the Charter. If this action of interference by the Dutch government is allowed to continue, the consequences will be so far reaching it will eliminate any semblance of self/good governance that exists. It would open the door for interference on all levels," UP Fraction Leader Franklin Meyers said.

St. Maarten already has regulation for the screening of candidate ministers. This fact is acknowledged by the Dutch government in the very same instruction given to the governor. By asking the Governor to hold off on signing appointing decrees until further investigation is completed "in addition to the existing investigation regulations" the Dutch government confirms its own interference in contradiction to the Charter.

St. Maarten's screening regulation as is follows a democratic process that also does not infringe on certain rights laid out in the constitution of St. Maarten. If the Dutch government truly wants to play the role of partner, it can suggest ways to perhaps strengthen the process, it cannot unilaterally decide it will change the process and interfere.

In particular, it cannot do so at this stage of St. Maarten's democratic electoral process after it (the Dutch Government) acts like a spoilt child and didn't get the government it seemingly wanted. If the latter is your premise, then Holland turned into a dictatorship without the world having taken notice, but a development that St. Maarten will duly show to the world.

What is the legal basis for this "new" screening process? Is there any or did the Dutch government just make one up? These are the questions our people are and should be concerned about. In fact, the Dutch government have no legal basis for the screening of its own candidate Ministers. Their screening process is based on a 2002 letter from the Dutch Prime Minister to the Second Chamber in which screening is described. That's it. No law or expanded actions that they now want to subject St. Maarten to.

Furthermore, the constitution of St. Maarten as well as the Charter of the Kingdom safeguards basic human rights and rights on privacy. The Dutch government want to infringe on all of these rights, which are also outlined in international conventions to which the Kingdom is signatory to, by having their appointees dig into the privacy of friends, family, acquaintances and other third parties uncontested.

On the issue of integrity and corruption, the UP Faction is not advocating that integrity lapses in one country justifies those is another. However, the Dutch Government admonishing St. Maarten and attempting to put itself on an integrity pedestal, is a case of the pot calling the kettle black. The international non-governmental organization Transparency International (TI) recently presented its assessment of the Dutch national integrity system and concluded that corruption in Dutch business equals in size the one in public sector.

The study concluded that the country was vulnerable to corruption and there was a 'taboo' among people in the country to speak about corruption. Moreover, it found out that "cooperation between public, social and private organisations in the realm of anti-corruption efforts is evaluated as being poor for the public sector, civil society and business."

According to the report, in the Netherlands "anti-corruption initiatives are seldom developed by governmental or non-governmental organisations, or by business." The study also mentioned the recent corruption scandals and the perception of the Dutch people that corruption has increased.

In addition, TI claimed that corruption detection, investigation and prosecution in the country were still difficult in practice, clarifying that a tension existed between the criminal justice interest in enforcement and the economic interest in avoiding criminal justice involvement and this tension made "the priority for investigating possible corruption by Dutch companies outside the Netherlands rather low."

The report is also critical on the current legislation, finding out that "despite the existing steady stream of new legislation aimed at preventing corruption and protecting integrity, there are still areas where this legislation is inadequate'. This statement was made in connection to the lack of adequate protection in for whistle-blowers. Mind you, the same whistle-blower facility they want implemented on St. Maarten. They can't even get it right in Holland.

The NGO's report also alarmed that corruption among private parties was not punished in the Netherlands. Compared to other European countries, where corruption in the private sector is combated, the Netherlands lags behind.

Furthermore, TI found out that the corruption in the private sector was almost equal to the corruption by civil servants, while no cooperation existed between the two sectors in developing anti-corruption initiatives.

The report concluded that the Netherlands was frequently considered to be a corruption-free society in the eyes of international business, yet there were signs of lack of transparency, integrity and accountability.

The TI study comes to prove that no country is immune to the spread of corruption within its public or private sector. Nevertheless, the Dutch expectations for anti-corruption development in the new members of the EU, have been harsh and demanding.

UP Press Release

Dutch govt. will be held liable for damages itsunconstitutional intrusion causes St. Maarten

PHILIPSBURG:--- Through an instruction issued to the Governor of St. Maarten last week, the Dutch Government has, on the basis of its earlier initiated character assassination of my person, progressed into an action to ensure that it can prevent my person from becoming the next Prime Minister of St. Maarten.
The measure, void of any legal basis, is drafted to ensure that the screening of Ministers and Prime-Minister to be appointed for the Government of St. Maarten for the governing period 2014-2018 only is executed by the Dutch Government, without whose approval, the Governor is not permitted to sign the National decree of appointment.
The measure states that the Candidate Minister must provide an unrestricted permission to the investigating experts of the Dutch Government to undertake a screening of the candidate and its family members for an undefined period of time, through an undefined method of investigation, with yet to be established screening parameters. An investigation method not even permitted within our Criminal Code.
It is therefore very clear that this measure is created to determine the screening process and its parameters with pre-existing bias to ensure that the screening process cannot be passed by my person. The so called "mafia" as I am being referred to should never be able to pass the screening even if no objections exist against my person. A system is being created where you can be accused, tried, and convicted without ever having a possibility to defend yourself.
It is clear that this measure, whilst intended to keep my person from being the next Prime-Minister, is violating our Constitution, the regulations regarding screening of Ministers and our Criminal Code and can in the future be used against anyone at random. This measure therefore will be placed before the Parliament of St. Maarten for debate.
I am not against screening of minister candidates. The instruction to the governor for what is in essence a pre-screening can only be considered an infringement of St. Maarten's autonomy, he said.
With the way the Dutch are behaving, I truly ask myself why hold elections every four years. Why not simply have the Dutch government and Dutch MP's who know nothing about St. Maarten, but want to be dictators, just pick a government for us?
This instruction for the so-called thorough screening truly shows that the Dutch government is on a no-holds barred witch hunt with me as a primary target. The PricewaterhouseCoopers Integrity report did not yield any glaring integrity issues the Dutch government was rooting for. This instruction to the governor is their follow-up attack to try to tarnish our country and her people further.
What is amazing is we didn't hear a word from the Dutch when a convicted person was serving in Parliament in the last term. The people of St. Maarten have also not heard any support or sympathy from the Dutch government after having endured hurricane Gonzalo and suffered so much personal property damage and threats to life.
It is also amazing that the Dutch behaves as though the Netherlands is the bastion of integrity when it is well known about the representatives of various Dutch political parties who have had to resign from office or from politics completely due to illegal actions.
The UP will continue the push to get a conflict resolution commission for the Kingdom. Such a commission has been called for by Aruba and Curacao as well as St. Maarten and enshrined in motions before all three parliaments.
We are supposed to be equal partners, but we are anything but that as this recent instruction to the governor shows. The current coalition remains committed to reviewing the executing the recommendations of the Wit-Samson Integrity Report, the PricewaterhouseCoopers Integrity Report and the one of the General Audit Chamber.
We are a four-year-old country battling against a bigger country with colonial views. I'm very much reminded of the struggle my grandfather the late Dr. Claude Wathey faced.
Any measure, even if taken by the Dutch Government, must be in compliance with Good Governance and may at no time infringe on our fundamental human rights.
The Dutch Government has without any proof branded my person as being the mafia or having links with the mafia. This is slander yet given the fact that those to whom I would have to address my claim are appointed by the same Dutch Government engaging in these slanderous acts.
The Dutch Government may get away with attempts at discrediting my name and person, but we will ensure that the Dutch Government will be held liable for any and all damages that its unconstitutional intrusion causes this Country and its people.
Every legal avenue will be utilized to ensure that our right of self-determination is respected, as well as the rights set forth in our constitution and laws. We will seek redress outside the Kingdom with respect to the blatant disrespect for our Constitution and get the support of a country to bring this matter before the international community of nations.
Together with my coalition partners we have embarked on following the right process for forming of the Government of St. Maarten. An open process in accordance to the law is being followed to present to the people of St. Maarten a capable, strong and stable government.
I will work with undeterred determination to safeguard the people of this Country and the institutions of our parliamentary democracy. I will stay true to my promises to the people of this Country and shall through transparency and with integrity restore their faith in their Government.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Hon. Maurice Lake of the United People's (UP) Party said he is not surprised by the instruction given to the Governor of Sint Maarten by the Kingdom Council of Ministers.
"Some of the Dutch Members of the Second Chamber of Parliament in The Hague, and some of our own, are on a witch hunt against this broad based Government which is following all rules and procedures as a collective unit to better serve our people. These rules and procedures are based on the rule of law and our Constitution, the highest law of the land,
"As was duly elected by the people of Sint Maarten, and I condemn the instruction that has been issued by the Kingdom Council of Ministers as being unconstitutional and an interference in the autonomous status of our country.
"The people have voted for me and put their trust in me for upholding the law, integrity, and to serve them for the next four years. That's why we have a parliament to make decisions in the interest and to better serve our people. We are capable of carrying out our own screening of Ministers. Within the past four years it was done three times under three governments. Prior to this broad-based Government there was no talk coming from Dutch MPs and the Kingdom Council of Ministers about changing the screening process.
"The people of Sint Maarten are not stupid and can see clearly the motives behind the Dutch Government. We have our own institutions that are enshrined in law with respect to their roles and responsibilities within our constitutional jurisdiction, again based on the rule of law.
"As I stated before, I have nothing against the integrity reports which is based on a lot of hearsay. I am in favour of implementing some of the recommendations of the reports, but due diligence must be done with respect to the merits. Country Sint Maarten must be given a chance to do it instead of judging us before we implement the recommendations and screening for our people. This is a responsibility of country Sint Maarten!

"I don't have anything to hide, and I am open to screening, but conducted by our own rules and laws as was established by the Island Council and Parliament of Sint Maarten.
"The vindictive politics that is taking place is destroying the very fabric of our society. It is not a good example for our young people. We need to raise the bar in politics on the island and within the Kingdom. There are those responsible from the island who is giving the country a bad name in trying to bring down our own. We need to work together as all political parties and stop criticizing our own as St. Maarteners. Do it in a constructive manner, not in a vindictive one, because after all we are all one people.
"The illegal and unconstitutional instruction from the Kingdom Council of Minister has only made me steadfast and ready to fight for the rights of the people and country Sint Maarten," MP Hon. Maurice Lake said on Sunday.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Former President of the Democratic Party Michael Ferrier submitted his resignation to the Leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams. SMN News mentioned in an article published last week that several members of the Democratic Party exploded when they heard that their party leader joined forces with the UPP/ De Weever/Marlin coalition. While Ferrier did not confirm or deny his intention last week he dispatched his resignation letter to the media on Sunday.

St. Maarten, October 17, 2014

Mrs. Sarah A. Wescot-Williams
Leader ofthe DEMOCRATIC PARTY ofSt.Maarten
Cole Bay
St. Maarten.

Dear Mrs. Wescot-Williams I Dear Sarah:

Your decision to drastically alter the course set out for the Democratic Party by us through consensus, has caused me to reflect on my own role in the party going forward and as long as you remain Party Leader. While I fully grasp and understand the concept of being IN government to be able to make a meaningful difference in the quality of life for the people of our fledgling "country", I cannot subscribe to abandoning all that we campaigned on and claimed to stand for prior to August 29th, 2014, by joining a government that has been given "life" by a person, or a couple of people from within our own DP ranks who seem to be driven only by power, greed and self interest. Becoming a small fry in a pond filled with so called "friendly Piranha's" will not give this DP any chance of survival, let alone glory.

I am fully aware ofthe fact that as a one-woman faction in a Parliament of 15 members, making any significant difference is practically impossible. Moreover, winding down your own personal political career in such a "tame" fashion, is probably also not so desirable. For this reason I suggested you reach out to your colleague leaders of the two other smaller factions in Parliament and through your strong administrative and motivational skills forge a formidable block in the opposition benches, thereby utilizing a fresh, new approach to force true openness and transparency in Government and Government owned companies. This might not only have resulted in improving the quality of life for all our citizens, but also prevent the blemishing of your good name and
reputation as a woman of integrity and beyond reproach, two traits why I have for the last
15 years until now fiercely defended and supported you.

The first recollection I have of the start of my unwavering support of the Democratic Party for the past 55 years, is riding my bike with a "Vote Claude" flag around town during the campaign for the 1959 Island Council election. The last 15 years have seen me grow from making a successful bid for public office as DP Candidate# 10 in 1999, to being a very vocal part of the "face" of the Democratic Party through September 24,
2014, when our second hard-earned DP Parliamentary seat was unceremoniously hijacked by DP candidate# 2, Cornelius de Weever.

This unexpected despicable act oftreason committed against the remaining 18 DP candidates, whose combined received votes made the second seat a reality for the Democratic Party, not only involuntarily drastically changed our party course, but also caused all the 2,342 DP votes minus your 697 to be counted, but rendered of no consequence! The precious votes cast for the DP because of loyalty to the party and to you, were in essence wasted. How hypocritical our collective presence in that wonderful Thanksgiving church service on August 31st, led by the dynamic Pastor Harrigan and organized by Leona Marlin-Romeo, now seems to me.

In conclusion:

1. I question why the DP did not fire Cornelius de Weever from the party after he signed an agreement with the UPP, keeping all honors to ourselves;
2. I question why you may be of the opinion that either you or the DP will be given any credit whatsoever for whatever may go right during the government of the UPP/DP/MARLIN-ROMEO Coalition
3. I question your belief that under the mum of making the call to take the DP on this 180 degree course deviation "for the good of the citizens of St. Maarten", is what we meant with our DP slogan "LET'S GET IT RIGHT".

On a positive note, I am pleased to see that several professional young people have enthusiastically joined the active management of the DP.

I however, regretfully tender my resignation from the Democratic Party, effective immediately and wish you and the Board much wisdom and God's Speed.

Click here to see the official letter sent to the board of the Democratic Party.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Several citizens and persons who bought confiscated items from the Public Prosecutors Office on St. Maarten and Weather Eyes Yacht Sales that was representing the Prosecutor's Office are now calling on the Dutch Members of Parliament and the Kingdom Council of Ministers to send down experts to investigate the Prosecutors that were appointed by them. "We are in full support of the Dutch using their powers to put a halt to corruption and self-enrichment among politicians, but the Dutch must also realize that the Dutch prosecutors they appointed to St. Maarten and the Solicitor General of St. Maarten are part of the corrupt gang that have been delivering "class justice" on St. Maarten as spelled out in the decision rendered by the Court of First Instance in the Masbangu case.
The Public Prosecutors Office aim at the young "black boys" that commit petty crimes because they and their families are forgotten by politicians so they turn to crime. However, cases that involve persons of a lighter complexion is never prosecuted or even questioned. The concern citizens said they want to know how it was possible for the current Solicitor General to prosecute former Chief of Police Derrick Holiday and former Members of Parliament Louis Laviest and Patrick Illidge but the cases that implicate the UPP leader Theodore Heyliger were shelved. The one involving Maria Buncamper never reached the courts even five years later while the case involving MP Silvio Matser was rescheduled until after the 2014 elections. "As a people we want to know if the color of one's skin played a role or if the Public Prosecutors Office was also bought out? We do not know what is happening and it is not our place to pass judgment but definitely as a people we have the right to demand equal treatment and to ensure that the Dutch Prosecutors are not guilty of class justice. We know some of them are corrupt and incompetent, that is a known fact because many of us bought boats and other items that were confiscated by the Prosecutors Office, Coast Guard, Customs and the RST without the legal procedures being followed."
"When we bought these boats no bidding process was conducted by the bailiffs on St. Maarten, the monies were paid directly to the Public Prosecutors Office and at times to a company called 'Weather Eye Yachts Sales". Normally confiscated items have to be placed on a bidding and the bailiffs that conduct the bidding process are not the ones authorized to collect the payments. They in turn give the buyers a document and send them to the Federal Receivers Office to make the payments before the items they purchase through bidding is released to them. Most of us bought our boats directly from the Public Prosecutors Office and it was done after hours. We want to know if the monies we pay these prosecutors were deposited in the Federal coffers. We also want to see if any of the former Ministers of Justice ever gave the Prosecutors an LB or any Besluit to authorize them to sell confiscated items. We also want to know how the former prosecutor who authorized himself to sell these items manage to purchase a huge beach front property in Guana Bay. Where did he get the monies from? We want to know why these Dutch Prosecutors chose to buy or build huge houses on St. Maarten in top residential areas and they refuse to go back to their country to work and live when their time is up here? Does St. Maarten have magnet that attracts corrupt people?
These residents and Dutch citizens on St. Maarten said they are looking for the Dutch to perform a total clean-up on St. Maarten because there are a number of instances where corruption and "white collar" crime has taken place. One resident said his boat was stolen on the French side and he filed police reports on both French and Dutch sides of the island and when the boat was caught with drugs and confiscated he went to the former Chief Prosecutor to show him that his boat was stolen and he filed complaints on both sides of the island. The man said that despite providing all the evidence the Chief Prosecutor who is now a top lawyer on St. Maarten after being convicted refused to turn over his boat to him, that boat was sold to a gentleman called "Naman", that person took the boat to Anguilla and registered it. Under this article SMN News obtained documents from some of the persons who bought boats to show that proper procedures were not followed when they bought the boats. They said they are not the only ones that bought boats, one was sold to Lee Halley from Lee's Roadside Grill. Several of the confiscated boats were sold from Bobby's Marina and Boat Yard by the Prosecutor's Office and not through the bidding process that should have been done. One of the seized boats that belong to a multi-millionaire is still sitting at Bobby's Marina. Many of these boats were redone so persons would not recognize them as boats that were confiscated while a whole lot were sold to people from other islands.

Another case that has to be investigated is the $20,000.00 a  prosecutor took out from the $125,000.00 that was seized from a Haitian national who was travelling from St. Maarten to Haiti with monies to deliver for several families. "The attorney that represented the Haitian national was called to the Prosecutor's office who chose to slam his client with a $20,000.00 fine and that prosecutor took out a bag that had contained the monies that was confiscated and he counted $20,000.00 and gave the lawyer a receipt typed out on his computer on Microsoft document. To date no one know if that money was turned over to the crime fund or if it was deposited at the Federal Receivers Office." These are things that must be investigated by the Dutch. "We need the politicians to be fully investigated as well as the Prosecutors on St. Maarten."

Click here to view documents SMN News obtained from persons who bought vessels from the Public Prosecutors Office.

Minister of Justice says he does not know of confiscated boats that are stored on the French side.

SMN News reported several times that while St. Maarten is saying they cannot balance their budget and the Justice Ministry doesn't have the monies and manpower to do their job, there are a number of confiscated items such as airplanes and boats that can be sold. However, Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson said he followed up on the information SMN News had and he could not find any trace of any boats that are confiscated and not yet sold.
On Sunday October 19th, 2014, SMN News went out and took photos of boats that were seized by the Public Prosecutors Office and Coast Guard on the Dutch side and taken to JC Boat Yard in Sandy Ground. One of the boats (BLUE MOON) was seized some years ago and instead of selling the boat that was caught smuggling people to a US territory that boat is at JC Boat Yard hidden among high grass, other boats found in the same boat yard is Dacia Marie, Show Time and a red boat named Donzi, that boat was confiscated by French and Dutch authorities.

Click here to view boats that were sold and some still hidden in several boat yards both on the French and Dutch side.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The voting period for the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association has officially been opened as of today, October 20th, 2014. This puts YOU in the perfect position to vote for those individuals and organizations you think should really be recognized for their outstanding performance in the Tourism and Trade Industry. May it be an excellent employee, an outstanding manager, or your favorite chef or bartender, for example.

Voting can be done on www.shta.com. Simply click on the 'Crystal Pineapple Awards' under the 'Events' tab on the left hand side of the page and follow the instructions. A link to the voting poll has also been placed on the Crystal Pineapple Awards Facebook page. The polls will only be open for three weeks and will close on Wednesday November 12th, 2014 at 5pm. Remember that your vote can make someone feel like a star that evening.

The Crystal Pineapple Award Gala is the ONLY event on the island that recognizes Hospitality & Trade personnel, organizations and associations for their contribution towards the tourism industry. Individuals who are employed in the Hospitality and Trade industry can receive awards in the categories of Accommodations, Restaurants, and Trade as well the category Outstanding Community Service Achievement.

Tickets for the event are NOW on sale at the SHTA office and can be reserved any time during office hours. Please make sure to reserve your Gala tickets right away, as there is limited seating.

The award ceremony will be held on Friday, November 21st, 2014 at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino. The gala evening includes a sumptuous dinner, live entertainment, a silent auction, a raffle and much more.

The SHTA, the largest business representative on the island, is dedicated to bringing quality to all aspects of life on St. Maarten by promoting sustainable economic development for its members in cooperation with the social partners and the creation of a fair marketplace. For more information, please contact the SHTA office: 542-0108, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit our website www.shta.com.

PHILIPSBURG:--- President of Parliament Hon. Sarah Wescot-Williams on Friday met the President of the Dutch Second Chamber of Parliament Hon. Anouchka van Miltenburg at the SXM Airport VIP room.

On Sunday the President of the First Chamber of the Dutch Parliament along with support staff will be arriving in transit to the island of St. Eustatius. The complete delegation will return to Sint Maarten on October 21st.

On Tuesday, October 21st, the Dutch parliamentary delegation will pay a courtesy visit to His Excellency Governor Eugene Holiday, followed by a visit to the Council of Ministers and then to the House of Parliament.
At the House of Parliament, the delegation will receive a tour of the facility and thereafter they will be joined by the President and Members of the House for lunch.

On Tuesday afternoon the delegation will also receive a tour of the Court House.

This visit of the Dutch Presidents of Parliament is based on an invite extended by the Presidents of Parliament of Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten.

Accompanying the Dutch Second Chamber of Parliament President is Secretary General J.E. Biesheuvel-Vermeijden, Secretary General Kingdom Relations Second Chamber of Parliament, T.N.J. de Lange and Spokesperson L.C. Konings.

President Hon. Anouchka van Miltenburg was elected on 25 September, 2012 as president of the Second Chamber. She has been a member of the Second Chamber since 2003.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Hon. Patricia Lourens-Philip, would like to inform and reiterate that ALL schools will resume on Monday October 20, 2014.

This includes the St. Maarten Vocational Training School, Martin Luther King Primary School, Genevieve De Weever and the Oranje School. It was mentioned in a communication on Friday that these schools might not be ready, but the aforementioned schools are also ready and parents/guardians of these schools are hereby informed that they can send their children to school on Monday.

In preparation for the resumption of classes, school boards were advised by the Division of Student Support Services of Ministry ECYS of the strategies that should be employed, in the first few day days of school, to meet the needs of students who have been impacted by the storm.

In addition, a psychologist and social workers of the Division will also be visiting the various schools to guide and provide additional support to the student care teams of the various schools for as long as the need arises.

The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports congratulated all stakeholders for the positive, deliberate steps taken to ensure minimal interruption in the education of students as a result of the passing of the hurricane.

Minister Lourens-Philip would like to reiterate her appreciation to the volunteers within the various communities as well as the management teams, teachers and cleaners of schools that contributed tremendously towards the cleaning up of the school facilities which were in many instances significantly impacted by the hurricane.

PHILIPSBURG:--- A teacher of the St.  Maarten Vocational School identified Frank Delmore is seriously injured while a passenger of the pick-up truck Delmore was driving is now dead. Residents of St. Peters identified the victim as Jean Claude Samuel a student of Teacher Delmore. The residents said that Delmore went up Sentry Hill to refill the generators. They said Delmore who is well known in the St. Peters community works as a maintenance man for the telecommunication systems. Young Samuel they said is of Haitian decent but he was born on St. Maarten and has been working with Delmore eversince he left school.

Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson said that Delmore was driving down Sentry Hill in St. Peters when he lost control of the vehicle and slammed into the retaining wall. "The pick-up truck went through the wall on Sentry Hill leaving the driver seriously injured. However, the passenger who was sitting at the back of the pick-up truck was thrown out of the vehicle somewhere in the vicinity of the turn. Henson said the passenger died on the spot. So far the cause of the accident has not yet been determined while the victim has not yet been identified." Henson said the accident occurred just after 4pm Saturday afternoon.

One man dies, two seriously injured during accident.

On Saturday October 18th, 2014 around 4:00pm several police patrols, paramedics and fire department were sent to Coco Plum Road in Sint Peters to investigate a very serious traffic accident. On the scene the investigating officers encountered a white pick-up truck with license plate V-77 which had driven off the hill and landed front first on the street below. The driver was lying next to the vehicle and was in very serious physical condition. A second victim was lying further up the hill and was not showing any signs of life. The driver was treated on the scene by paramedics and then transported to the Sint Maarten Medical Center for further treatment while the other victim was pronounced dead by Dr. Douglas who arrived on the scene shortly after. The scene was closed off for the traffic department to conduct an investigation as to the cause of the accident. The identity of the victim who lost his life has not yet been released. This investigation is ongoing.

KPSM Police Report

~ Parliament meeting to discuss instruction next week ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- With the instruction given to Governor Eugene Holiday by Dutch Minister of Kingdom Relations Plasterk, the Dutch government has one again shown that it will spare no measure in setting aside St. Maarten's constitution and continue disrespecting St. Maarten's Parliamentary democracy.
This time, they have put Governor Holiday in a complicated unenviable position by instructing him not to ratify decrees appointing candidate ministers and the Prime Minister until an expanded vetting process that they (the Dutch) want to set in place in addition to St. Maarten's own investigative process.
Moreover, the Governor, who also has to keep St. Maarten's best interest in mind, is being told that he has to rely on a team of Dutch appointees to tell him who is ethical enough to become Minister. They want the governor to guarantee integrity based on the instructions of Dutch appointees, not St. Maarten's investigative process. This is a blatant insult to the Governor as well as the people of St. Maarten.
We want to make one thing very clear to the people of St. Maarten: The Dutch government cannot change the rules of the game after the match has started and we are 15 minutes away from half time. In other words, the democratic process to elect a government started with our electoral process (postulation day etc. etc.). It continued with the holding of elections, forming of a coalition and now appointing of Ministers. The Dutch simply cannot change the rules after we are this far along and change them with such obvious malicious intentions.
The Dutch Government is using as justification the findings of two integrity reports, one of which was commissioned by the government of St. Maarten itself. The Dutch government has disregarded the fact that St. Maarten has to its credit undertaken several initiatives to enhance integrity throughout its system and the fact that the incoming government has pledged to seriously consider the recommendations and allegation in the reports as prescribed by law and if so warranted.
Instead, the Dutch government, buoyed by the unsubstantiated noise of Dutch MP's and in total disregard for St. Maarten's rights, issues an unconstitutional instruction aimed, obviously, at the highest vote getter on St. Maarten the Honorable MP Theo Heyliger.
The Dutch government is not only thwarting democracy, but is making a mockery of it by giving an instruction to basically find something, anything on MP Heyliger to not only disqualify him as Prime Minister, but to use as a premise for possible prosecution. Think about the precedence this would set for any St. Maartener who sought political office but whom the Dutch considers persona non grata. The Dutch, mind you, who nobody on St. Maarten democratically elected.
There has been no measure or action to date, not even their slanderous, unsubstantiated allegations of calling duly elected representatives of the people "the mafia", that demonstrates more vividly that the Dutch do not view St. Maarten as an equal partner within the Kingdom than this latest instruction.
No candidate Minister will agree to a vague limitless investigation of his/her person and entire family, third parties, friends and acquaintances without the parameters of vetting being known. The subjectivity created herein will leave room for arbitrary vetting procedures without any guarantee of an equal treatment.
It is quite obvious that this measure is designed against MP Heyliger and confirms what we have said before: It is a blatant witch hunt that simultaneously insults the people of St. Maarten and now the Governor. The Dutch government has now shown the world that without any credible, proven basis whatsoever, that it is capable of targeting elected representatives within the kingdom.
This instruction shall be utilized in any form or fashion necessary to ensure that one man alone cannot pass the vetting. Any criteria can be created, without the vetting process to be verified in any form, and any advice can be formulated even if the findings of the vetting do not support same.
No candidate would want to assume a Ministerial position where the political responsibility is theirs for actions to be conducted by the Dutch at their discretion without any form of communication to the Minister or knowledge of the Minister.
The Dutch government in so many words has reminded the people of St. Maarten that St. Maarten is not an autonomous country, but a colony where the colonizers can decide for their colony on a whim. Their actions continue to make clear that this colonial distinction is one the people St. Maarten will have to decide upon much sooner rather than later.
The people of St. Maarten and in fact the entire political establishment of St. Maarten and other Kingdom partners, are now being told quite clearly that whenever the Dutch deems someone as unacceptable to them, despite the fact that the people voted for that person as part of St. Maarten's Parliamentary democracy, that they can step in and issue enhanced screening instructions to fit their motives. That they can manipulate our democracy and expect us to freely allow and accept it.
This is not something St. Maarten will accept. As such, the faction of the United People Party has requested an urgent Parliament meeting for upcoming Monday, October 20 to bring the instruction up for debate. St. Maarten is prepared to take this issue much further within the Kingdom and beyond to ensure that St. Maarten's rights as a Parliamentary democracy are respected. The meeting has been requested by MP Silvio Matser and MP Tamara Leonard and Faction leader of the UP MP Franklin Meyers.

UP Press Release

POINT BLANCHE:--- Tour operators, taxi drivers and other stakeholders were briefed on Friday morning with respect to the state of affairs since the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo on Monday in preparation for the return of cruise ships to the destination.

The varied group was looking forward to welcoming cruise passengers and was enthusiastic to get back to business.

The first cruise ship to call at Port St. Maarten will be on Saturday when the Carnival Valor docks at the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo facility. The second visit will be on Sunday by the Jewel of the Seas.

On October 21 Port St. Maarten will have four ships in port namely, Disney Fantasy, Carnival Sunshine, Norwegian Getaway and MSC Divina.

Representatives from both Tourist Offices, Dutch and French, were on hand to provide information as well as representatives from the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment & Infrastructure and Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunications.

Information was provided about the status of Front and Back Street, the Beach Promenade; Great Bay Beach; Marigot; Little Bay/Belair Beach, Simpson Bay Beach, Maho Reef Beach, Mullet Bay, Le Galeon, Grand Case Beach, and Orient Bay.

Information was also provided about the road network; diving conditions at Man of War Shoal and other areas; Lottery Farm; Butterfly Farm; Grandcase Lolos (eatery); Airports and Ports; and Pinel Island.

Some entertainment will be provided for cruise guests at different spots such as at the Port, Philipsburg Beach Promenade, and possibly Marigot.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- In the second Emergency Meeting of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports (Ministry ECYS) and School Boards, the decision was taken by the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Hon. Patricia Lourens-Philip that school will resume on Monday October 20, 2014 for all students attending subsidized schools and for most Public Schools.
The decision regarding the date for the resumption of classes for the St. Maarten Vocational Training School, Martin Luther King Primary School, Genevieve De Weever and the Oranje School, will be made during the weekend via the media and the Facebook page of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs, after a final assessment is conducted by Sunday.
The decision was taken on Friday for school to resume for the following secondary schools: Milton Peters College, Sundial, St. Maarten Academy Academic and PSVE, the Charlotte Brookson Academy for the Performing Arts, the MAC Comprehensive Secondary Education and the St. Dominic High School.
The decision was also taken on Friday for school to resume for the following Primary Schools: the Seven Day Adventist School, the MAC Browlia F. Maillard and John A. Gumbs Campuses, the Asha Steven Campus and the Helmith Snijders Campuses of the Hill Side Christian Schools, Ruby Labega, Leonard Connor School, Charles Leopold Bell, Prins Willem Alexander, Sister Magda, Sister Marie Laurence Primary School, Sister Regina Primary School, St. Dominic Primary School, St. Joseph Primary School and Sister Borgia Primary School.
The decision was taken, after reports on the level of preparedness of the schools indicated that all major issues related to the safe provision of education had been addressed for the vast majority of schools. All schools have running water, and electricity has been restored to all but one school. However, electricity is expected to be fully restored by Saturday.
In addition, all major debris had been removed from almost all schools by Friday afternoon, with the remaining debris scheduled for removal over the weekend. With the support of Public Works, the Fire Department and private contractors, issues related to flooding were also addressed and the required cleaning of the school facilities had already been concluded by mid-day on Friday.
The progress reports regarding the efforts made for the resumption of classes by Monday October 20, 2014 were made by the Head of Ministry VROMI Infrastructure Management, Mr. Claudius Buncamper, the representatives of all subsidized school boards and the Head of Public Education and the Inspectorate of Education.
In preparation for the resumption of classes, school boards were also advised by the Division of Student Support Services of Ministry ECYS of the strategies that should be employed, in the first few day days of school, to meet the needs of students who have been impacted by the storm. In addition, a psychologist and social workers of the Division will also be visiting the various schools to guide and provide additional support to the student care teams of the various schools for as long as the need arises.
Representatives of the school boards expressed their appreciation to Ministry ECYS and the Ministry of VROMI for the immediate response and coordination efforts in addressing the crisis.
The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports congratulated all stakeholders for the positive, deliberate steps taken to ensure minimal interruption in the education of students as a result of the passing of the hurricane.
Special words of appreciation were expressed to the volunteers within the various communities as well as the management teams, teachers and cleaners of schools that contributed tremendously towards the cleaning up of the school facilities which were in many instances significantly impacted by the hurricane.

PHILIPSBURG:--- United People's (UP) party Members of Parliament Franklin Meyers, Silvio Matser and Tamara Leonard have requested an urgent meeting of Parliament to respond to the recent instruction by the Kingdom Council of Ministers for Governor Eugene Holiday to execute a thorough screening of all minister candidates of the new coalition government.

The request for the parliament meeting was submitted on Friday to President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams. The meeting is expected to be called early next week.

MP Meyers said the instruction from the Kingdom Council of Ministers is yet another example of interference into St. Maarten's internal affairs. "We keep hearing about a kingdom of equal partners, but Dutch MPs and ministers continue to have no respect for our autonomy gained four years ago."

The instruction proves that the Dutch Government and MPs still operate or believe that St. Maarten is a Dutch colony, rather than a partner, an equal partner that is, in the Kingdom, Meyers said.

The UP Parliamentarians said any political party or individual politician who misguidedly feels that this interference by the Dutch Government is to the benefit of the country should check their priorities and really decide if they have our country's best interest at heart.

UP PARTY MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

PHILIPSBURG:--- There will be an urgent plenary session of the House of Parliament for October 20th.
The plenary session is set for Monday at 2:00pm in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.
The agenda is the instruction of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Kingdom Relations given to the Governor of Sint Maarten to postpone ratification of the country decree in the appointment of the Ministers and Prime Minister.

This meeting was requested by Members of Parliament (MPs) Hon. Franklin Meyers, Hon. Tamara Leonard and Hon. Silvio Matser.

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary session will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 120, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the Internet www.pearlfmradio.com, and also via www.sxmparliament.org.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Tuesday, October 6, 2014 the Public Prosecutors Service (OM) was informed of the death of an 11-month old child, a boy. The child was deceased on board an aircraft while it was flown to the Dominican Republic for medical treatment. A day before, the child was brought in to St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC). The mother stated that the child had fallen into a toilet bowl. The possible cause of death raised questions, hence the Public Prosecutor instructed KPSM to investigate the death. This investigation was conducted last weeks under the name "Tulip". The investigation was done tactical, by hearing witnesses, as well as forensic. The forensic investigation included research on the body of the deceased child, examining the place where the child has fallen and an accurate measurement and photographing of the situation. The findings, based on all the research, delivered no indications for a crime. There are no indications that the child had been abused or neglected or not taken good care of by the person who had the care of the child. The prosecution assumes that the child slipped of a mattress, crawled to and climbed on a ridge next to the toilet, and fell in the low toilet. The situation in the house made it possible that such an accident could have happened. The child's parents have been informed that the OM released the body of the child so the young boy can be buried.

Press Release from the Public Prosecutors Office

PHILIPSBURG/THE HAGUE:--- Minister of Overseas Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk dispatched a letter to the Governor of St. Maarten instructing him that thorough screening must be done with the incoming Ministers that are proposed by the UP/DP/Marlin coalition.
The letter the Minister of Overseas and Kingdon Relations sent to the chairman of the second chamber informing them of the decision he took regarding St. Maarten is dated October 17th, 2014. Below is the full translation of letter sent to the second chamber of the Netherlands, the Dutch version of the letter is also attached for our reader's convenience.

Re: Instruction to the Governor of St. Maarten to hold off ratification of the country decrees appointing the ministers and the Prime Minister.

On August 27, 2014 the Governor of St. Maarten released the Oosting report which was commissioned by the Kingdom Government via an instruction in 2013. The report was sent to the First and Second Chamber on September 26. The findings in the report were discussed during the budget debate concerning Kingdom Relations with the Second Chamber on October 2, 2014.
The report which was released at the end of August shows a major lack of integrity on the part of the government. The report also indicates that there are integrity violations by politicians. Before the Oosting report was released, another report by the Committee on Integrity in the Public Administration (The Committee de Witt) was released. This report was made on the request of the government of St. Maarten and does not differ much from the Oosting report in its findings.
The integrity of the Government of St. Maarten must be above reproach. This is the reason why the Kingdom government, via an instruction to the governor of St. Maarten, has instructed the governor, to hold off the ratification of the country decrees appointing ministers and the Prime Minister after the Parliamentary elections of August 29, 2014, until in addition to the existing investigation regulations of St. Maarten, further investigation is conducted into the eligibility of the proposed candidate ministers and candidate Prime Minister.
With this instruction the Kingdom Government assures that the Governor has sufficient information to decide if he can sign the proposed nomination decrees, or if he should apply article 21 of the Regulations for the Governor.

The Minister of Internal Affairs and Kingdom Relations

Minister Plasterk already decided that he will be sending experts from the Netherlands to conduct the screening of Ministers on St. Maarten since the Prime Minister of St. Maarten Sarah Wescot Williams indicated to him that St. Maarten  does not have the capabilities to perform the screening as desired by the Kingdom. Therefore, Minister Plasterk indicated to St. Maarten's Prime Minister who is now part of the UPP/DP/Marlin coalition that the Dutch government does not have any other choice but to send in their own experts to conduct the screening process.

It is clear that the Dutch will do everything in its power to keep the leader of the UPP Theodore Heyliger from becomming the Prime Minister of St. Maarten or even a Minister.

It should also be noted that St. Maarten's Governor drs. Eugene Holiday received two instructions from the Kingdom within the past 12 months. The first was issued on September 13th, 2013 instructing Governor Holiday to conduct an integrity investigation while the second one issued in October 2014 instructing the governor not to sign any landsbesluit to appoint Ministers or Prime Minister until a thorough investigation is conducted by experts from the Netherlands. The governor was even ordered to apply article 21 if necessary.

Click here to view the letter sent to the Chairman of the Second Chamber regarding screening of Ministers.

ORANJESTAD, Sint Eustatius:--- On Wednesday, October 15th, 2014 at about 6:15pm a man with the initials J.M.D., born in 1990, was arrested at a house on the Rosemary Lane in connection with a robbery involving violence. Then searches were performed on the property mentioned and on homes on the Concordiaweg and the Old Church Blossom Road in connection with this arrest.

KPCN Press Release

PHILIPSBURG:--- KPSM in conjunction with the Public Prosecutors Office kicked off the "Stop, Drop and Go" project where persons that are in possession of an illegal firearm could surrender it to the Office of the Attorney General on Welfare Road Cole Bay and not face prosecution for the possession of illegal weapons. The initiative taken by KPSM is in conjunction with the French side who also launched a similar project in order to rid the streets of St. Martin of illegal weapons and basically curb gun crimes.
At the press conference held on Friday were Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson, Solicitor General Taco Stein, Acting Chief Prosecutor Kanola van Nie and Prosecutor Tineka Kamps along with Deputy Chief Commissioner of Police Carl John. It should be noted that Commissioner John is the brainchild behind the "Stop Drop and Go Project".
Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson told reporters that the program kicked off on October 1st, 2014 and they actually reached their grace period which they extended from October 15th, 2014 to October 31st, 2014.
Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson said that the "Stop Drop and Go" project is a way to be able to get illegal weapons off the streets of St. Maarten. He said persons in possession of illegal firearms should surrender them to the Attorney General's office and get them off the streets of St. Maarten. Minister Richardson said during the past months the island has been terrorized with armed robberies, this he said is a dangerous development which the Government of St. Maarten cannot allow to continue. "Because of this new trend the police have intensified their controls in order to capture persons that have them and are using them, so far the police managed to seize some 26 illegal weapons while a number of persons were placed behind bars. That program will continue even though there is a grace period that allows owners of illegal weapons to surrender them. The controls will intensify after the two week grace period which ends on October 31st, 2014 from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Persons caught with illegal weapons after the Stop, Drop and Go program ends should be prepared to face severe punishment within the justice system." Solicitor General Taco Stein said the French is also conducting the same exercise as the Dutch side and they are actually working together to recover all illegal weapons on the island's streets. "The intention is to get guns off the streets and also decrease gun violence, we have seen an increase in gun violence and the aim of the police and prosecution is to bring an end to this type of crime. Stein said anyone that has an illegal firearm can drop it off at his office and they will not be prosecuted for the possession of illegal weapons. "When the grace period ends the police and prosecution will 'throw the book' at persons caught with illegal weapons, those persons can be held in pretrial detention and they will also get more severe punishment from the Public Prosecutors Office." Stein said that currently the law states that persons in possession of illegal firearms can spend as much as four years in prison but the prosecution normally asks for one year. After the grace period the prosecution will now ask for 18 months imprisonment for persons caught with illegal weapons. However, even though the prosecution will make higher demands it is up to the judges to decide on the punishment these lawbreakers will get. Stein said persons that are in possession of "fake guns" that looks like real guns should also surrender them to his office, these guns should also be taken off the street. "This is a golden opportunity, St. Maarten just went through Hurricane Gonzalo which means people are cleaning up their yards and houses and this is the time to do the real clean up when it comes to the possession of illegal firearms. Only on Thursday some persons surrendered some weapons to his office claiming that they had them for years and did not know what to do with them. Two of the firearms surrendered on Thursday were shot guns while the other two were fake guns." When questioned on what the prosecution will do with the illegal weapons they recover and if they will analyze the weapons to see if they were used in serious crimes. Stein made clear that persons will not be prosecuted for the possession of illegal firearms and weapons that are recovered will be analyzed if it is suspected that the firearm was used in a crime. Stein said that the weapons will be analyzed locally and even ballistic testing will be done locally. If it turns out that any of the weapons surrendered were used in criminal activities then the prosecution will have to proceed in their investigations.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Carl John said that the police is a partner in the project but KPSM is using a two prong approach, the first he said is preventative by giving holders of illegal weapons a chance to turn them in without prosecution while the police will be visiting the schools and the boys on the blocks to also encourage and speak with the youths. The Community Police Officers will also be playing a major role in this project. John said that the information desk and the Criminal Intelligence Bureau are busy gathering information. "After this project the police along with their counterparts on the French side will be dedicating their investigative power to find the lines of weapons and they will also act on all information they have regarding weapons in the community. The Police (KPSM) will invest all of its power to rid St. Maarten of illegal firearms, our goal here is to caution the community and urge them to make good use of the grace period to turn in the illegal firearms they have. Another thing the police intends to do is to assist the youths on the blocks who feel they are being abandoned after they commit a crime to find jobs.
The project has been sponsored by TELEM group of companies and Sign 999. At the end of the press conference Acting Chief Prosecutor Kanola van Nie presented a representative of TELEM with a hand band that says "Stop, Drop and Go" along with some flyers made to promote the program.
Acting Chief Prosecutor Kanola van Nie said that the police and the Public Prosecutors Office have been working some weeks now on this project and KPSM did quite a bit of work on getting this program off the ground.

Click here to view more photos of KPSM's Stop, Drop and Go Press Conference.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Postal Services St. Maarten (PSS) N.V. will officially open its latest outlet at the A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facility, Friday, upcoming.

Public and Private sector dignitaries have been invited to take a much needed break from hurricane Gonzalo clean up, to join PSS N.V. Management and staff for the opening.

"The past two days have been very stressful for our island with a lot of damage to homes and properties and we hope that with our small, but significant opening Friday, we will help to keep some of that stress down," said Post Office Interim Director, Ms. Antonia Wilson, on behalf of PSS N.V.

She said the opening is very important for PSS N.V. on several fronts.

"It gives us a prominent connection with close to two million cruise ship passengers who arrive at the Harbour each year looking for little souvenirs and memories of their visit," said Ms. Wilson.

She explained that these visitors will be able to visit the post office to buy post cards, stamps and other Post Office services including postage of parcels and letters that cannot be sent from their ship.

"One of the features of the service will be the sale of personal stamps where visitors will be able to have their pictures taken and have that picture incorporated into an official stamp that they can post to family and friends to keep them up to date with their travels," said Ms. Wilson further.

She said other benefit of the new location is the new business relationships that PSS N.V. is developing with its sister company, St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies.

"We would like to thank the Habour Group for assisting us in establishing our new Post Office outlet at their cruise & Cargo facility, showing that government-owned companies can work closely together for mutual advantage and for the benefit of visitors and residents on St. Maarten," said Ms. Wilson.

She said the new outlet enjoys a prominent vantage point on the Harbor grounds where it will be passed by thousands of tourists every day.

One member of staff, will be manning the Harbour Post Office, and he says he has been sharpening his photo-taking skills, since he expects the personal stamps sales to be very popular with cruise ship visitors.

The facility has been open in a low key fashion since July to test the market and will be officially opened Friday.

PSS Press Release

POINT BLANCHE:--- The first cruise ship to call at Port St. Maarten will be on Saturday when the Carnival Valor docks at the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo facility.

After a side sonar inspection of the seabed in and around the cruise piers, no undersea obstructions were found. Cargo operations are well underway already and cruise will come online on Saturday, October 18th.

Port St. Maarten after an assessment was carried out received only superficial and cosmetic damages such as broken tree limbs and signs. The cruise facility is ready to welcome the first cruise visitors back to the 'Friendly Island.'

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Port St. Maarten Mark Mingo said on Thursday that it's back to business.

"Much has been accomplished since the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo on Monday evening. We have seen all hands on deck where it concerns people coming together to get the country back on its feet. From the seaport to the airport, destination St. Maarten is back," CEO Mark Mingo said on Thursday.

This report outlines the activities of the Nature Foundation post hurricane Gonzalo. Hurricane Gonzalo struck St. Maarten on the 14th of October 2014 as a Category one storm. The following report outlines the assessments carried out by the St. Maarten Nature Foundation.

Oil and Debris in Wetland and Ocean Environments:

Due to the significant amount of vessels sank (based on ongoing estimates the number is close to three dozen) there is significant debris in the Simpson Bay Lagoon. This debris is associated with wood and floating debris, fiberglass and other solid material as a result of the downing of many sailing and motor vessels. There is also some significant fuel in the water, both as diesel and as gasoline. Oil is also present in the form of motor oil. Particularly the area by Simpson Bay Shipyard on Simpson Bay Road saw fuel being entered in the environment. The Nature Foundation has responded since early October 14th with oil absorbent booms and pads to assist in the cleaning up of fuel. This process is ongoing.

The Nature Foundation also received a report that there was a significant oil spill offshore of Cay Bay. Upon inspection this was deemed to be mud, soil and sand runoff caused by heavy rain as a result of the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo. The on-water survey was subsequently carried out by the Nature Foundation and no oil was found in the water, although significant debris and runoff was detected. Follow up surveys were conducted on the 15th and 16th of October with no oil being present in the area.

Wrecked Vessels:

Early on October 14th the Nature Foundation assisted many vessels that were in distress and towed and collected dinghies and other small boats to safe locations. Hurricane Gonzalo caused significant damage to vessels in the Simpson Bay Lagoon. The Nature Foundation recommends that wrecked vessels be removed as fast as possible to further reduce the introduction of fuel into the environment of the Simpson Bay Lagoon and Oysterpond areas. Abandoned vessels should be added to the list of vessels to be cleaned and sunk as artificial wrecks.

Mangroves:

Some mangrove areas suffered considerable damage, although the resilience of mangroves in well managed areas usually recover quickly from hurricane events. The Mangroves in Mullet Pond suffered considerable damage in part due to unauthorized vessels tying unto mangrove roots. Prior to inclement weather the Nature Foundation will seek to restrict the tying of vessels in the inlet of Mullet Pond in order to protect the mangrove strands.

The mangrove strands of Belair, Red Pond and Fresh Pond received considerable damage but will be monitored for recovery. Usually mangroves recover quite quickly from storm events. If it is noticed that areas are not recovering as quickly as they should additional mangrove strands will be transplanted.

The mangroves which were planted by the causeway feared very well despite some vessels being stranded nearby. Some mangroves were damaged because of debris being attached to the roots.

Trees and Foliage:

Hurricane Gonzalo's intensity, rainfall and previous meteorological conditions caused quite some damage to trees on St. Maarten. Particularly Almond, Genip and Tamarind Trees sustained major damage. Some of the trees which were damaged had a trunk diameter of more than a meter and therefore were of historic significance. The locations of damaged trees have been noted and additional trees will be planted as part of the Nature Foundation St. Maarten Trees Project.

Beaches:

The Nature Foundation conducted water quality tests at Kim Sha, Great Bay, Simpson Bay and Little Bay Beaches. There was poor water quality at Great Bay Beach and Little Bay/ Belair Beach due to the overflow of the Belair and Great Salt Pond. The Nature Foundation recommends that people avoid bathing in Great Bay until water quality levels have stabilized.

There is also quite a bit of debris washed up on Great Bay Beach which can pose a hazard to bathers. A number of dead invasive Tilapia were also found on Great Bay Beach having expired due to salt stress. Clean-up efforts should be focussed on removing the Tilapia and debris from the area by Bobby's Marina to the Captain Hodge Wharf.

Sea Turtle Index Beaches Simpson Bay, Guana Bay, Gibbs Bay and Dawn Beach were found to be in relatively good shape with the exception of large amounts of Sargasso weed being washed ashore. The Nature Foundation transferred a nest which was lain late Saturday Early Sunday higher up the Beach but the nest was lost to inundation. Similarly a nest was lost in Dawn Beach.

Diving Surveys:

The Nature Foundation carries out underwater surveys in Great Bay and Simpson Bay using diving equipment after the passing of any major storm to ensure that there is no debris which can harm swimmers. Diving surveys of Simpson Bay resulted in no major debris found which could pose a threat to swimmers. There are some significant patches of Sargasso in the area which swimmers should avoid.

An attempt was made to survey Great Bay but the visibility was too poor to effectively do so. Despite this there is a significant amount of debris at Great Bay Beach which can pose a threat to bathers as are the carcasses of numerous Tilapia out of the Great Salt Pond.

Subsequent dive surveys of Great Bay Beach will follow as visibility and water quality clears.

Man of War Shoal Marine Protected Area

Initial surveys of the Marine Park shows that mooring installations survived seas caused by the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo. Visibility was still too poor to effectively survey the coral reefs and subsequent surveys will be carried out in this regard on Friday October 17th. Results of this survey will be communicated in a further release.

Click here to view more photos of the Nature Foundation Post Gonzalo Assessment.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Department of Statistics (STAT) & The Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI) informs the Business community and invited guests that due to the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo this week, the Business Information Session scheduled for this Friday evening is postponed to next Friday, October 24th, 2014.

The event has been organized by STAT in a joint collaboration with COCI, as an activity to commemorate Caribbean Statistics Day (this past Wednesday), and to provide especially the private sector on St. Maarten with information regarding annual surveys that can impact businesses each year. Additionally, STAT will share recent economic & general statistical information while COCI will present updates on its regulations, registry and 2015 plans.

This important session will take place at the Belair Community Center, on Friday October 24th 2014, starting at 7pm. The decision to postpone this event by one week, was taken especially for persons & businesses who may still be dealing with the effects of Hurricane Gonzalo. Both STAT & COCI is optimistic that with the new date, there will be a strong turnout from the business community, where information and feedback can be exchanged between all stakeholders.

Invitees are kindly reminded to RSVP via telephone number 549-0235 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday afternoon COPI (operational disaster management group) met to assess the current recovery phase of the country. This is also the final COPI meeting. Relevant information will be communicated to DCOMM and the utility company will provide information via its customer service/public relations departments.

INTRODUCTION:

This is the fifth update in connection with the post-Hurricane Gonzalo recovery phase. COPI received on Thursday its final assessment report as recovery and cleanup efforts continue:

NV GEBE ELECTRICITY & WATER SUPPLY:

• GEBE Electricity: There are some isolated areas within the following districts where some residents do not have electricity; Mt. William Hill, Dutch Quarter, Middle Region, The Keys, Mt. Dove Road Point Blanche, St. Peters and Cole Bay. Call GEBEs emergency number and provide information about your outage: 1 844 4323 213. GEBE apologizes for the congestion on this specific number due to the number of calls received from its clients. Additional numbers will be provided by GEBE in a separate notice.
• GEBE has ordered additional light poles to add to its current stock, which is being used to replace downed poles. Additional manpower has also been requested from Curacao to assist the company with the restoration of electricity to these isolated areas within districts that have aboveground cables.
• Water: Customers who still have challenges with water should call GEBEs emergency number 1 844 4323 213 to report the aforementioned. According to GEBE the majority of consumers who did not have water received water Wednesday night. There are some challenges in Mary's Fancy and Middle Region and GEBE crews are working diligently to resolve them.

SCHOOLS:

• Contractors, Marines, Coast Guard personnel, Ministry VROMI staff, worked on various schools on Thursday. Work will continue on Friday and throughout the weekend.
• The Ministry of Education will meet with school management/boards on Friday, October 17 to assess the overall progress being made in connection with the cleanup/repairs of schools.

FRONT & BACK STREET UPDATE/BEACH PROMENADE/GREAT BAY BEACH/OTHER:

• Back Street: Clean up has been completed.
• Clean up of the Beach Promenade and Great Bay Beach started on Thursday and will continue and should be completed late Friday;
• All main roads are accessible; some minor cleaning still needs to be completed;
• Ministry VROMI is already working on the secondary roads with respect to the removal of debris;

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES:

• Registration for Assessment of damage due to Hurricane Gonzalo will continue at the Department of Social Services (Pondfill) until Wednesday, October 22. Office hours are from 8.00AM to 3.30PM. Priority is for senior citizens, disabled/handicapped.
• There is an urgent need for donations of tarpaulins, home repair tools and wood. Donations should be made to the St. Maarten Red Cross!

NATIONAL CLEAN UP CONTINUES:

• SPECIAL NOTICE: Police will be shutting down certain streets in collaboration with Ministry VROMI in order to facilitate the clean up efforts currently taking place. Clean up crews have experienced aggressive behavior from motorists and this is totally unacceptable. Vehicles should also not be parked in a certain manner that obstructs clean up efforts. Police will be present to have these vehicles removed whenever necessary. The removal of "closed road street barriers" by individuals is punishable by law and this measure will be enforced should the person(s) be caught in the act.
• Large Green Waste Bins: have been placed at various locations along the main roads to collect hurricane related debris; these will also be placed along secondary roads as well;
• Homeowners and businesses busy with cleanup, do not dump bush or tree trimmings or other garbage/debris on top of GEBE water meters or electrical meters; this is to prevent damage to the aforementioned and outage of service to consumers.

Tanks on Cole Bay Hill now Polluted with Bird Poop and Dust

PHILIPSBURG:---  Employees of GEBE emptied at least 12 of their water tanks the day before Hurricane Gonzalo hit the island. According to information SMN News received the employees deliberately emptied the tanks instead of filling them up to create more stability for the tanks during the high winds and to have reserved water in case the water supply goes down.
At least one of the green tanks on Cay Hill exploded on top due to the high pressure and is now catching water on top of the tank, along with "bird poop" and dust causing the tanks to be polluted.
Due the carelessness of GEBE several residents on Dutch St. Maarten are without water and electricity. Efforts made to reach management of GEBE about the water tanks that were emptied and are now damaged proved futile. Several residents on St. Maarten are furious because they are without water for the past three days. Some said that they are not able to clean their surroundings after the passing of Gonzalo.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The newly formed coalition headed by the United Peoples Party Leader Theodore Heyliger is having disagreements even before the broad based government is formed.
SMN News understands that the leader of the Democratic Party is now demanding that she be allowed to appoint Ministers and her party should have portfolios for their support. Inside sources said that the UPP Leader and negotiators gave Cornelius de Weever two ministries for him to abandon the NA/USp/DP coalition. According to the information SMN News received, De Weever was offered the Ministry of Health and Labor as well as Education. It is further understood that De Weever called on National Alliance MP Silveria Jacobs to take on the Education portfolio but Jacobs bluntly refused the offer. MP elect De Weever it is understood will appoint the current head of Labor and Social Affairs Peggy Ann Dros as Minister of Health and Labor while he also contacted Angie Gumbs from Oranje School to take up the Education Ministry and Gumbs also refused the offer. The source said that when the UPP leader negotiated with the leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams he offered her the same portfolios he offered to De Weever also the Chairmanship of Parliament.
According to persons affiliated with the Democratic Party, the members of the DP exploded when they heard that the party leader went with her son to negotiate with the UPP and she accepted the chairmanship of parliament and did not get any Ministries. Most of the DP membership are angry because the party leader did not even inform them of her decision. Some said they recieved a BBM message around 12:30 the night before informing them of the decision Wescot Williams and her son took. In that BBM message Wescot Williams promised to provide more details to her membership later that day. She however met with the members of the DP on October 12th 2014.
It is further understood that when Wescot Williams met with her members at least two of them resigned from the party they are Marinka Gumbs and Richelda Rodrigues-Emmanuel.It should be noted that Marinka Gumbs resigned on October 10th 2014, two days before the meeting was held. Gumbs actually expressed her shock and disgust when she learnt via the media that the leader of the Democratic Party join forces with the UPP/De Weever coaltion without informing her membership. "Furthermore, several of the DP members who ran on the DP slate said Wescot Williams took their votes as if they were all hers and used it for her own self interest and not the in the interest of the country.

Sources said that Michael Ferrier the former President of the DP board is also contemplating resigning from the DP in order to fully distance himself from the decisions the party leader took.
SMN News further learnt that the coalition members met Wednesday night as they tried to iron out their issues.
SMN News will bring you more information on the current development as it becomes available.

PHILIPSBURG:--- It is with great surprise and sense of disappointment that the board of the United St. Maarten Party was informed of Mrs. Leona Marlin-Romeo's unilateral action to join the UPP, de Weever, Wescot coalition without prior consultation with the board or the Party leader Mr. Frans Richardson.
The United St. Maarten Party believes that the entire Party team and in particular those members of the electorate who chose to place their confidence in the Party during the Parliamentary elections of August 29th, 2014 contributed to the Party having obtained two seats. The Party therefore strongly denounces Mrs. Marlin-Romeo's actions which in actuality constitute the seizing of one of the Party's parliamentary seats.
Mrs. Marlin-Romeo's decision does not reflect the philosophy of the Party and is therefore considered not to be in the best interest of the USP and its membership. After thoughtful consideration the board has thus come to the conclusion that it is in the Party's and its membership's best interest to immediately sever all ties with Mrs. Marlin-Romeo and has as such informed Mrs. Marlin-Romeo accordingly.
This decision may be appealed to the Party's Committee of Disputes within one month.
We thank Mrs. Marlin-Romeo for her past contributions to the party, and wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

USp Press Release

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday October 15th, 2014 the Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson paid an official visit to the Philipsburg Police Station, where he was given a presentation regarding the ongoing intense police controls. A Special Police team has been busy with controls in getting rid of illegal firearms on the island. During this six week period which started in September of this year, the Special Police Team no less than 34 illegal firearms were confiscated while conducting their controls. These controls were carried out because of the large amount of firearms circulating the streets, the increase of the amount armed robberies, the many other criminal acts, such as manslaughter, assault and threat taking place on the island. The minister was quite impressed with the results of these controls and encouraged the team to continue with the great work they are doing. The Chief Public Prosecutor Karola van Nie, The Acting Chief of Police Commissioner Carl John and the Chief Commissioner of Police Peter de Witte were present during the presentation.

KPSM Press Release

PHILIPSBURG:--- October 15th, 2014 is the official date starting the grace period of the "Stop, Drop and Go" campaign. "Stop, Drop and Go" is a joint campaign organized between the Sous-Prefect and Justice Department on the French Side and the Minister of Justice and Justice Department on the Dutch Side, allowing persons on the both sides of the island who are in the possession of an illegal firearm to surrender it. The grace period will end on October 31st 2014, after which many raids and intense controls to locate these illegal weapons will start. Those persons wanting to surrender their illegal weapon can do so daily from 8:30am to 4:30pm at the Gendarmerie in Concordia, Marigot and French Quarter and at the office of the Attorney General on the third floor of the Puerta de Sol Plaza on the Welfare Road. After this campaign has ended and someone is caught and arrested in the possession of an illegal firearm, they will be prosecuted and higher punishment will be demanded by the prosecutors.
On October 15th, 2014 the first illegal firearm was surrendered at the Philipsburg Police Station by the well-known Glen Carty, the managing director of UTS, who was in possession of this weapon since the early nineteen nineties, while working with the Sint Maarten Sea Rescue Foundation. Not having any use for this weapon anymore Mister Carty surrendered this weapon and some ammunition to the Chief Public Prosecutor Mrs. Karola van Nie in the presence of the Chief of Police Peter de Witte, Acting Secretary General of Justice Udo Aron, Inspector Rudolph Bloeiman and CPO-Inspector Felix Richards. The public is advised to make use of this opportunity to get rid of any illegal firearms they may have.

KPSM Press Release

POINT BLANCHE:--- Cargo operations at the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facility are back up. Amstel Trader Container Vessel docked at the quay on Wednesday morning at 6:00AM to offload containers.

After inspections were carried out on the crane and spreader, operations to remove the containers from the vessel commenced at 9:10AM Wednesday morning.

The second vessel scheduled to offload on Wednesday as well, is the Tropic Lure.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Port St. Maarten Mark Mingo said on Wednesday that all hands were on deck to make sure that the port which is a lifeline for the country and its economy would bounce back right away to ensure that continuity in business and supplies to the consumers would take place without any delays.

"We have a great team at Port St. Maarten who worked diligently to ensure that we are able to meet our obligations in this area after the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo.

"With respect to cruise, we are doing what has to be done on our side with inspections and making sure there are no underwater obstructions so we can receive our first cruise ship within short. Additional information when this will take place will be issued in a day or two.

"We have to look at beyond the port. We have a national clean-up effort underway which is very important, and we need to meet certain standards that are expected as a cruise destination. I am pleased to hear that Front Street is ready and efforts are underway to clean the beach promenade, Great Bay Beach and Back Street starting Thursday.

"We all have to work together to make sure our destination is ready to welcome back our tourists and in particular cruise passengers," CEO Mark Mingo concluded on Wednesday.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake on Wednesday commended the staff of NV GEBE for their dedication and resilience in working around the clock to restore electricity and water to consumers.
The Minister would also like to commend Ministry VROMI management and staff, contractors, and haulers who have been working to clean up the country and make necessary repairs to critical infrastructure in order to ensure that the country is on track within the shortest period of time.

At the same time the Minister Lake would like to apologize to consumers with respect to the loss of essential services such as electricity and water based on the passing of a category 1 hurricane.

On Tuesday Minister Lake met with staff from Ministry VROMI and NV GEBE to get an overview and action plan of the clean-up and the restoring of electricity and water.

"This has been a learning experience, and we need to improve on the areas where much more can be done. I strongly believe in pre-planning prevents poor performance. Personally, I think things could have been done differently because we have too much experience from the past like hurricane Luis and ones after to know how to function, and we need to evaluate how we performed in order to learn from this experience.

"As Minister, I have a responsibility to the people to address and improve the issues to better serve the community. I will be calling another meeting with NV GEBE Board and Management to restructure and change the plan and the way we handle preparations for storms/hurricanes. We need to put a better structure in place to better serve the community. The dissemination of information to the general public should be more immediate and accurate and this challenge needs to be evaluated.

"The first thing, I would like to address is the GEBE Cay Bay water transformer house which needs to be relocated and upgraded to meet the needs of the people. We can't continue to live in the dark ages of having a transformer house right next to the sea when a hurricane or storm hits everything goes dark or out water. Transformer houses should be more protected around the country.

"We can't have the community and businesses go two days without water due to oversights that could have been prevented. I also would like for GEBE to improve and restructure their organizational chart structure of who is responsible for which departments in-case of emergencies in order to better serve the community.

"I have also learnt a lot within Ministry VROMI during past 16-months as minister responsible for the ministry I also would like to see some restructuring in Ministry of VROMI. As Sint Maarteners we like to undermine each other a lot and work against each other's plans, but we need to raise the bar and take this country to another level. We can only move this country forward as a collective body and I am ready to serve my people with a vision for the future that will benefit all the people.

"In closing, I would like to thank the general public for their patience and community effort of getting the island back on track," Minister Hon. Maurice Lake concluded.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams presented copies of the works of esteemed Nobel Laureate and one of Latin America and the Caribbean's most beloved and acclaimed writers Gabriel García Márquez to the Library and to schools last week. The Foreign Minister of Colombia María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar presented the books to the Prime Minister at last February's ACS meeting and the PM subsequently donated them to the library and schools on the island; "On the 30th April I was honoured to represent Sint Maarten at the 6th Summit of the Heads of States and Governments of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). One of the key points coming out of this meeting was the need for greater recognition and appreciation of Caribbean perspectives, accentuating the many talents and culturally significant work of our academics, scholars, and artists.

"With this in mind, I have made available copies of the works of Caribbean Nobel Prize laureate, novelist, and screenwriter the late Gabriel García Márquez to the library and schools. Sint Maarten has received 54 books in English and 30 books in Spanish to be shared including the famous 'Love in Time of Cholera' and 'One Hundred Years of Solitude'. It is the desire of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia that the work of this celebrated man and his colorful and poignant reflections of life in the Caribbean be read, appreciated, and embraced by all students of our region," concluded Prime Minister Wescot-Williams.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Expresses Sadness at the Loss of Life

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams on Tuesday expressed the wish that the community of St. Maarten will work together and with officials to bring the island back on its feet. The PM's comments come in the aftermath of Hurricane Gonzalo which caused damage in the various districts on the island, some of it quite serious. "As Minister in charge of Disaster Management I have been receiving constant updates from the ODM before, during and after the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo. Firstly let me express my deepest condolences at the loss of life. This is indeed a tragic event and I would like the family and friends of the deceased to know that my thoughts and indeed the thoughts of St. Maarten are with them in this difficult time," stated Prime Minister Wescot-Williams.

The Prime Minister, who called into local radio station Laser 101 during the peak of the storm, reassured the community that all will be done to bring the island back on its feet; "We will weather this storm as we have weathered many in the past. St. Maarten and her people are resilient and strong and I am confident that within short and with the cooperation of all: government, private sector and residents, we will bring St. Maarten back on its feet. As we work to restore normalcy back to the island I urge all within the community to cooperate with one another, help your neighbors and friends to ensure that this will be something which we all will overcome in no time. I would like to thank the Office of Disaster Management and EOC members, the public safety and law enforcement authorities, our utility company, the Met Office, the road crews and all of those who worked hard before, during and after the storm in ensuring that we are safe. Much work remains to be done and I would like to stress that we be patient as we work hard to restore normalcy back to the island," concluded Prime Minister Wescot-Williams.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

POWER HOUR to be a part of the Global Entrepreneurship Week 2014!

GREAT BAY:--- Hurricane Gonzalo, which passed over St. Maarten on Monday, October 13, 2014, has forced Foundation INFOBIZZ to reschedule the POWER HOUR which was going to be held on October 17, 2014. The POWER HOUR will be now integrated into the activities marking the Global Entrepreneurship Week from November 17-23, 2014.

The community of the St. Maarten/ St. Martin and the team of Foundation INFOBIZZ are all recovering in the aftermath of the surprisingly powerful category 1 Hurricane Gonzalo. With one casualty, homes without roofs, cars destroyed from fallen trees, and severe water damage INFOBIZZ urges all of the participants to focus on what is most important which is ensuring that they have fully recuperated from the effects of this hurricane and are properly prepared for the season. Also, for those that did not sustain much damage, they are encouraged to help those with contrasting experiences.
POWER HOUR will be a part of the GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK (GEW) which is from November 17-23, 2014. Tickets previously purchased remain valid. "Though we are adjusting to the effects of Gonzalo, as is everyone else, we are still passionate about providing a unique and dynamic platform to develop successful entrepreneurs. The POWER HOUR was born during the Global Entrepreneurship Week 2013 on November 23. It has since grown into a networking event which ignites people to start their businesses while connecting them to those that are willing to help in this crucial phase. This is the spirit in which we want to participate in the Global Entrepreneurship Week 2014", Ife Badejo, director of INFOBIZZ stated.
During this week, St. Maarten will be among more than 140 countries around the world assisting entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses through various activities and inclusion of entrepreneurial leaders. This year, two international entrepreneurs are confirmed: Dr. Will Moreland (USA), whose mission is to develop 10 000 entrepreneurs and Kenton Lord (Trinidad) a serial entrepreneur under 30 years of age who graduated from Florida Institute of Technology in Accounting and has 2 internet based businesses. Also, various dynamic local successful entrepreneurs will be sharing their tips while inspiring and empowering those that dare to live their dreams.
While INFOBIZZ is gearing up for the best and biggest participation St. Maarten has had in the Global Entrepreneurship Week to date, the team wishes everyone a safe duration of the season and looks forward to their participation and support during GEW 2014 (November 17-23, 2014). For more information, please call +1-721-523-1842 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday a second follow-up COPI (operational disaster management group) met to assess the current recovery phase of the country. Additional information will be provided on Thursday as the national cleanup effort continues and additional updates come in from the various Emergency Support Functions that are leading the national clean up and recovery effort.

INTRODUCTION:

This is the fourth update in connection with the post-Hurricane Gonzalo recovery phase. COPI continues to receive on-going assessment reports as recovery and cleanup efforts continue:

NV GEBE ELECTRICITY & WATER SUPPLY:

• GEBE Electricity: Unsafe situation concerning live wires have been completed. GEBE crews have now started reconnecting households in areas that still have outages. Call GEBEs emergency number to provide information about your outage such as your address and phone number: 1 844 4323 213.
• Water: all consumers should have water service by 7.00pm, Wednesday evening. 12 water storage tanks are being filled to capacity. The country's three water plants are working full capacity to restore water to consumers. Some challenges during the course of Wednesday have been resolved. Customers who still have challenges with water Wednesday evening should call GEBEs emergency number 1 844 4323 213 to report the aforementioned.

SCHOOLS:

• Contractors start work on eight schools on Thursday. CIA school will be open on Thursday. Traffic Police will be in the Cupecoy area to assist with any traffic congestion. Ministry VROMI is currently assisting with 12 schools in order to have them ready in time for a possible Monday re-opening. A final assessment will be carried out on Sunday, October 19.
• It has been decided that schools will remain closed until Monday, October 20. This would allow adequate time for cleanup activities and repairs to take place.
• The Ministry of Education will meet with school management/boards on Friday, October 17 to assess the overall progress being made in connection with the cleanup/repairs of schools.

FRONT & BACK STREET UPDATE/BEACH PROMENADE/GREAT BAY BEACH:

• Front Street: Ministry VROMI announces that the cleaning of Front Street has been completed;
• Back Street: Clean up operations will continue on Back Street on Thursday and should be completed on Thursday;
• Clean up of the Beach Promenade and Great Bay Beach will start on Thursday and all efforts will be made to have it completed by Friday at the end of the day;

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES:

• Registration for Assessment of damage due to Hurricane Gonzalo will continue at the Department of Social Services (Pondfill) until Wednesday, October 22. Office hours are from 8.00AM to 3.30PM. Priority is for senior citizens, disabled/handicapped.
• There is an urgent need for donations of tarpaulins, home repair tools and wood. Donations should be made to the St. Maarten Red Cross!

NATIONAL CLEAN UP CONTINUES:

• SPECIAL NOTICE: Police will be shutting down certain streets in collaboration with Ministry VROMI in order to facilitate the clean up efforts currently taking place. Clean up crews have experienced aggressive behavior from motorists and this is totally unacceptable. Vehicles should also not be parked in a certain manner that obstructs clean up efforts. Police will be present to have these vehicles removed whenever necessary. The removal of "closed road street barriers" by individuals is punishable by law and this measure will be enforced should the person(s) be caught in the act.
• Landfill is open: persons taking debris to the landfill need to be patient and wait their turn to enter the area;
• Clean up continues under the Ministry VROMI and private contractors;
• Large Green Waste Bins: have been placed at various locations along the main roads to collect hurricane related debris; these will also be placed along secondary roads as well;
• Homeowners and businesses busy with cleanup, do not dump bush or tree trimmings or other garbage/debris on top of GEBE water meters or electrical meters; this is to prevent damage to the aforementioned and outage of service to consumers.

MARIGOT:--- Several residents and business owners on French St. Martin are upset due to the slow clean up process on the French side since the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo. Several of the residents and some business persons told SMN News that while they are busy removing the fallen trees and other de‎bris from their yards and business places and placing them on the roadside for the Collectivity clean up crew, that process isn't being done in a timely manner. They said there are huge traffic backups because of the debris and fallen trees in several areas on the French side.
Business owners are also complaining about the France Telecom crew whom they said they have not seen on the road. "We are seeing EDF trying with the fallen light posts and wires, the water company is also busy restoring broken pipes and meters but workers from France Telecom are missing in action. As business people we are highly affected because we cannot process credit card purchases neither can we have Internet access." The business owners said they know France Telecom is not providing customer service and it's time they get a bigger competition to throw them out of business here in the French Caribbean.

MARIGOT:--- The management of Dauphin Telecom confirmed to SMN News that their fiber optic cable was severely damaged during the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo. The management of Dauphin Telecom says that due to the damage to their fiber optic cable clients from La Savane to Belle Plaine cannot get Internet services. They said that their crew began working since 6am on Tuesday to repair the damaged cable which might be completed on Thursday or latest Friday. However, management of Dauphin Telecom said that even though they will restore their Internet services by Friday they have no clue as to when all their clients will be back online since they have to wait on France Telecom to restore the fallen phone lines in Orient Bay, through French Quarter and other areas before they can reconnect their clients' Internet services. "So far we do not have any news from France Telecom. They have not been communicating with us so we really don't know when the phone lines will be restored. This is not the first time that France Telecom has ignored their clients despite the numerous communication Dauphin Telecom has with them. There is simply no response so we cannot say when our clients will receive Internet and phone services."

PHILIPSBURG:--- The first game of the inaugural season of LBC began with Learning Unlimited versus Bush Tea Remedy. The Learning Unlimited lead for most of the game and lead at halftime 25 - 16, after #9 Jakisha Brooks fouled out the momentum changed in favor for Bush Tea Remedy and they ended up winning the game 40-35. LU's Jakisha Brooks lead all scorers win 17 points, 13 rebounds, 4 Steals. #7 Daricia was the second top scorer for LU with 11 points and 4 steals. Bush Tea Remedy top scorer was #7 Keri Hyman with 16 points & 4 rebounds and second was #6 Lilian Henry with 10 points. Motorworld Player of the game went to #6 Lilian Henry who had 10 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals for leading her team to victory.

Game two of the weekend was between Lightning and Lava Girls. The game was close in the first quarter but shifted in favor of the Lava Girls in the second quarter onwards. They won the game 59 to 24. Lightning's #8 Tsjaquilla Jeffrey lead all scorers with 17 points during the game. The Lava Girls had a balanced scoring attack with three players in double digits. Claudia Fleming and Diasha Ferdinand lead Lava Girls with 13 points a piece and Selah Fleming had 10 points. The Motorworld Player Of The Game went to Claudia Fleming with 13 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 steals.

The third game of the weekend was between Learning Unlimited versus Thunderz from the French Side. From the get go the Thunderz put their foot on the pedal and didnt let go and lead 15 to 3 after the first quarter, 30 to 15 at halftime and won the game 74 to 26. #9 Tiana Lionel of Thunderz lead all scorers with 32 points, second top scorer for Thunderz was Joyette with 17 points.
Top scorers of Learning Unlimited were Jakisha Brooks with 10 and Daricia Arrindell with 9
Motorworld Player Of The Game went to Tiana Lionel who had 32 points and 32 Rebounds, 4 Assists and 4 Steals.

Next weekend's games at Melford Hazel Sports Complex in Sucker Garden include on Saturday 6-7:30pm Lightning VS Thunderz and Sunday at 3pm, Bush Tea Remedy VS Lava Girls and at 5pm Lightning taking on Learning Unlimited.
Come out and enjoy the games and support the females.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Tuesday afternoon the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) met to assess the situation in the country. Additional information will be provided on Wednesday as the national cleanup efforts continue.

INTRODUCTION:

The Emergency services as well as technical crews from the utility companies continued to work throughout Tuesday and will do so during the evening hours as part of the national recovery effort.

This is the second update with respect to reports coming in from assessment teams:

SOCIAL ASSISTANCE:

•  The Department of Social Services will be open on Wednesday during office hours from 8:00am to 3:30pm to assist persons who will need assistance. Persons will be assessed on their individual needs/circumstances. Priority will be given to the most vulnerable (senior citizens, handicapped/disabled);

ELECTRICITY/WATER SUPPLY:

• GEBE has several teams working to restore electricity in parts of the following areas where there downed power lines: Dutch Quarter, Sucker Garden, The Keys, AT Illidge Road, St. Peters, Cole Bay, Point Blanche, Cape Bay. This is related to low tension lines, which are down. Due to the soaked ground it is difficult to plant new electricity poles; the damaged poles will be removed as well as any live cables;
• Less than 1 per cent of electricity consumers are without electricity;
• Water should be restored later tonight; not only consumers will receive water at the same time and water pressure may be low in some areas, but should stabilize on Wednesday;

SCHOOLS:

• There is no school on Wednesday, October 15; cleanup is required at certain schools; some schools were damaged and debris has to be removed; school management teams along with Ministry VROMI will continue to carry out an assessment on Wednesday and the public will be informed when schools will re-open;

BUSINESSES:

• Businesses can operate as normal once they assess their own individual circumstances and meet standard requirements according to their licences;
• Consumers should be cautious when patronizing businesses that do not have running water at this point in time. Water is still being restored to consumers and businesses during the course of tonight. This notice is in light of avoiding any public health issues.

GOVERNMENT OFFICES:

• Government offices will be open on Wednesday.

NATIONAL CLEAN:

• Landfill is open: persons taking debris to the landfill need to be patient and wait their turn to enter the area;
• Pond Water Level: one more meter left to reach the minimum water level;
• Link 1 Cay Hill Area: Remains closed until further notice as a precautionary measure due to rock falls;
• Cleaning of debris continues on the road leading to Dawn Beach and Westin Resort;
• Clean up continues under the Ministry VROMI and private contractors. Clean up efforts will continue on Front Street, Back Street and the main roads. Secondary roads will follow.
• Primary roads should be clear within another 24 hours; secondary roads, complete cleanup could take up to 14 days.
• Large Green Waste Bins: have been placed at various locations along the main roads to collect hurricane related debris; these will also be placed along secondary roads as well;
• Homeowners and businesses busy with cleanup, do not dump bush or tree trimmings or other garbage/debris on top of GEBE water meters or electrical meters; this is to prevent damage to the aforementioned and outage of service to consumers;
• Mudslides/Rock falls: residents in hilly areas should be mindful of the aforementioned;
• Retaining Walls: if a retaining wall has given away at your home, do not remove it at this point in time; let the ground dry out; removing it now would create further slippage of earth.

All personnel requested to report for work Wednesday

POND ISLAND:--- TelEm Group management last night thanked the company's team of technicians and engineers who kept voice and mobile date services up and running for customers badly affected by hurricane Gonzalo, Monday night and all day Tuesday.
The company closed its doors to the public Tuesday and instructed staff to remain home while managers, Procurement Department personnel, and Hurricane committee members assessed damage to the company's telecommunication infrastructure.
Technicians, Outside Plant and IT personnel also reported for duty to restore services where necessary and maintain communication links for the island.
"We were very fortunate to have maintained services throughout the past two days and we are proud that customers were able to make use of their mobile phones and send internet messages to friends and family to let them know how they fared from what turned out to be a surprisingly strong hurricane," said TelEm Group Chief Financial Officer, (CFO) Mrs. Helma Etnel.
She said management is most grateful to all those who manned their stations Tuesday and is thanking personnel for their commitment to their customers and the St. Maarten public.

According to Technical staff, very few of the company's network of cell sites were affected by the passing of hurricane Gonzalo, despite some fierce winds. Amongst those affected were cell sites in the Lowlands area, Cupe Coy, Pelican and Saunders.
"In the few areas that we experienced some problems, some customers were still able to obtain service from other cell sites close by, and that has also pleased our network operators, said TelEm Group's Chief Technical Officer, (CTO) Mr. Eldert Louisa.
He said personnel had prepared well for Hurricane Gonzalo Monday once a warning of deteriorating weather conditions was announced. He said although the preparations were initially for a much less damaging tropical storm, they very quickly moved up a notch once it was known the Gonzalo was building up to hurricane strength.
Mr. Louisa thanked his technical staff for their diligent work Tuesday, noting that their response once the all-clear was given after the passing of the storm, was quick and efficient.
Management says it will be opening its doors again to the public Wednesday for normal business hours and also expects personnel to report in for a normal work day.

TELEM Press Release

MARIGOT:--- French residents and businesses are at the mercy of France Telecom whose technicians on St Martin chose to abandon their clients claiming the damage in French Quarter and other areas on the French side is too catastrophic and they need reinforcement from Guadeloupe before they could even start restoring the fallen telephone lines throughout French Quarter and other areas. An agent of France Telecom told SMN News that the damaged sustained in certain areas is too much for them and St. Martin does not have the expertise necessary to restore and repair the telephone lines after the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo. Clients of Dauphin Telecom that are receiving internet through their telephone lines are now without phone and internet services for an unknown period of time.

Due to the passing of hurricane Gonzalo. The Tax Administration has decided to extend the deadline for paying the taxes due on October 15th, 2014.

This means, that the deadline for Wage tax, Turnover tax, Car rental, Timeshare, Room tax, AOV/AWW and AVBZ premiums over the month of September 2014, which is due on October 15th, 2014 has been extended to Friday, October 17th, 2014 without penalty.

Please note, that a penalty will be assessed for payments on above-mentioned, received after October 17th, 2014.

PHILIPSBURG:--- ‎Hurricane Gonzalo did severe damage to St. Maarten/St. Martin on Monday night. The heavier gusts of wind and rain started around 9pm. Trees, light poles and other electrical poles were uprooted. Most of the damage on the French side occurred in French Quarter, the Spring and Grand Case. On the Dutch side of the island several huge trees were uprooted, light poles fell across the roads leaving several roads inaccessible. So far police confirmed that they found the lifeless body of a man at Boca Marina. It is believed that he was in the boat yard when he was struck by a small yacht. According to the Prefecture up to Tuesday afternoon 19 people remain unaccounted for, 16 from St. Barths and 3 from St. Martin.
Police on St. Maarten worked most of the night with the Dutch Marechaussee who provided assistance to keep the island and its residents as safe as possible. However, the police department (KPSM) sustained severe damages to several vehicles that were damaged by a fallen roof. It is also reported that several residents on both sides of the island received severe damage to their homes and vehicles.

On Wednesday afternoon SMN News learned from the Prefecture of St. Martin that 17 of the persons that were previously missing since passing of Hurricane Gonzalo have been found. So far two persons remain missing. One from St. Martin and the other is from St. Barthelemy.

Click here to view photos of damage caused by Hurricane Gonzalo.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Tuesday morning the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) met to assess the situation in the country. The following information is available; additional information will be provided later today after a follow-up meeting related to a number of issues:

INTRODUCTION:

The Emergency services as well as technical crews from the utility companies have been working during the passing and after the passing of the hurricane; and since sunrise to deal with the aftermath of the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo. Their efforts continue unabated throughout Tuesday and into the night and for the coming days.

This is the first update with respect to reports coming in from assessment teams:

NATIONAL CLEAN:

• Clean-up is well under way by the Ministry VROMI and private contractors who are assisting with the national clean-up. Primary focus is Front Street, Back Street and the main roads. Secondary roads will follow.
• Primary roads should be clear within another 24 hours; secondary roads, complete clean-up could take up to 14 days.
• Motorists/sightseers should stay off the roads to allow clean-up crews to move around quickly in clearing debris and other obstructions; this would also allow various crews from utility services to restore electricity/telecoms;
• Police and the Military will be assisting Ministry VROMI clean-up and certain streets and roads will be closed temporarily to facilitate quick clean-up;
• Large Green Waste Bins: have been placed at various locations along the main roads to collect hurricane related debris; these will also be placed along secondary roads as well;
• Downed trees are being removed in order to facilitate clean-up operations;
• Homeowners and businesses busy with clean-up, do not dump bush or tree trimmings or other garbage/debris on top of GEBE water meters or electrical meters; this is to prevent damage to the aforementioned and outage of service to consumers;
• Mudslides/Rock falls: residents in hilly areas should be mindful of the aforementioned;
• Retaining Walls: if a retaining wall has given away at your home, do not remove it at this point in time; let the ground dry out; removing it now would create further slippage of earth;

PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES:

Homes/residents as well as businesses, having issues with sewage water should use disinfectant (Clorox) to clean with; remember to wash your hands frequently; keep young children away from where the cleaning is taking place; if you don't have water, you can still throw the disinfectant on the area that needs to be cleaned and sweep/mop it away; clean hands properly and avoid touching your mouth with dirty hands;
Persons should not fish in the ponds; persons should not eat any fish from the ponds because they are contaminated with runoff water; consuming the fish is bad for your health!
Residents/Businesses: should check their yards and clean spouts, drains etc; remove containers that could become a mosquito breeding ground; prevent mosquito breeding;

FIRE DEPARTMENT/POLICE:

Fire department continues to carry out assessments; additional fire officers have been mobilized; a review of critical infrastructure is a priority; during the passing the department responded to several emergencies and continues to deal with any eventualities;
Police and Marines are working together assisting other government services where it concerns facilitating debris removal eg. Temporary Road closure or traffic diversion; and also fulfilling their national responsibilities;

SCHOOLS:

Schools: damage assessment is being carried out and additional information will be forthcoming as to the status of school buildings.

PORTS (Airport and Port):

The national Airport is open;
Port St. Maarten is busy with clean-up operations; divers have to go into the water to assess the situation to see if there are any undersea obstructions that could inhibit the safe docking of vessels; the port will resume operations as soon as the all clear sign has been given;

WATER:

Three main water lines are down as reported in the meeting of Tuesday morning: Cay Hill; Middle Region and Point Blanche; NV GEBE is busy working diligently to repair the damage suffered to the aforementioned;

TELECOMMUNICATIONS:

Technicians from telecom providers are working diligently to restore service: telephone, cell and internet.

POND--LANDFILL:

Ministry VROMI continues to lower water levels in the Great Salt Pond; this operation is an ongoing 24 hours until water levels are at a normal level;
Fresh Water Pond levels are at a safe level;
The Pond Island Landfill is open and in full operation accommodating the delivery of hurricane related debris from clean-up crews;

HOTELS:

One hotel received partial damage to its 7th floor; other damages to properties are cosmetic and to foliage/greenery-trees/plants.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Department of Disaster Management (ODM) officially announces that Gonzalo is now a category 1 Hurricane located at 5:00PM 20 miles south east of Sint Maarten.

Residents should remain indoors until the hurricane clears the island.

The country is under a Hurricane Warning. Weather conditions have deteriorated. Hurricane conditions will continue to spread through the area tonight.

Schools are to remain closed on Tuesday. Ministry VROMI/Public Works after carrying out an assessment when weather conditions subside will then plan clean-up operations to clear any debris on the public road network.

Business owners/operators should use their discretion on Tuesday morning after assessing their business whether staff should report to work. Government employees are expected to report to work on Tuesday.

Hurricane Gonzalo at 5:00PM has 75 mile per hour winds with higher gusts, and further strengthening is forecasted during the next 48 hours. Gonzalo could become a major hurricane by Wednesday when it is located over the open Atlantic Ocean and is no longer a threat to the country.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 10 miles per hour; and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center.

For weather updates visit the site of MDS at: www.meteosxm.com

ODM will continue to monitor the progress of the storm. Additional updates will be provided.

GREAT BAY(DCOMM): --- The Department of Disaster Management (ODM) officially announces that motorists currently on the road should get home as soon as possible driving in a safe responsible manner.

The country remains under a Hurricane Watch and a Tropical Storm Warning. A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are expected in the warning area within 24 hours.

Weather conditions have deteriorated and could get worse as Tropical Storm Gonzalo approaches our area. Residents are advised to remain indoors.

There is no curfew in affect, and hurricane shelters will not be activated under a tropical storm or a category 1 hurricane.

Tropical Storm Gonzalo at 2.00PM was located 65 miles south east of Sint Maarten. The storm has also strengthened with 70 mile per hour winds and higher gusts, and further strengthening is forecasted during the next 48 hours, and could become a hurricane Monday night.

Meteorological Department of St. Maarten (MDS) says forecasted rainfall is between four to eight inches with isolate maximum totals of 12 inches.

A heavy rainfall advisory and a flood warning are in effect for the country as well as a rough sea advisory.

Under a Tropical Storm Warning; the warning means that there could be sustained wind speeds of between 39 and 73 miles per hour within 24 to 36 hours or less.

For weather updates visit the site of MDS at: www.meteosxm.com

ODM will continue to monitor the progress of the storm. Additional updates will be provided.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Postal Services St. Maarten N.V. (PSS) would hereby like to inform the General Public that our Philipsburg branch and other locations closed today October 13, 2014, from 11:00am until further notice.

PSS management is closely monitoring the approaching Tropical Storm Gonzalo in respect to the official resuming of operations for tomorrow. A subsequent press release will be sent in reference to when PSS will resume its operations based on the weather conditions. PSS management apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause our loyal customers and urges the entire community to remain safe.

PSS Press Release

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Department of Disaster Management (ODM) officially announces that the country is under a Hurricane Watch and a Tropical Storm Warning.

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere in the warning area in this case within 24 hours.

Weather conditions are forecasted to further deteriorate this afternoon as Tropical Storm Gonzalo approaches our area. Residents should rush to protect property.

Motorists are advised to avoid using the public road network as of 4:00PM Monday. This is for your own safety; this is not a curfew but a safety advisory.

Tropical Storm Gonzalo at 11:00AM was located 10 miles north west of Antigua. The storm has also strengthened with 65 mile per hour winds and higher gusts, and further strengthening is forecasted during the next 48 hours and could become a hurricane Monday night.

Tropical storm conditions are expected according to the MDS to reach Leeward Islands/Sint Maarten Monday afternoon and evening; expected rainfall between four to eight inches with isolate maximum totals of 12 inches.

A heavy rainfall advisory and a flood warning are in effect for the country as well as a rough sea advisory.

Under a Tropical Storm Warning; the warning means that there could be sustained wind speeds of between 39 and 73 miles per hour within 24 to 36 hours or less. Any preparedness measures should be completed as soon as possible under such a warning.

Contractors should have secured construction and building sites.

For weather updates visit the site of MDS at: www.meteosxm.com

ODM will continue to monitor the progress of the storm. Additional updates will be provided.

The virus might seems to be far away, yet we are very close to it

PHILIPSBURG:--- St. Maarten is very proactive in its Ebola preparedness announced Minister of Health Cornelius de Weever at a press conference held on Monday morning. The Minister said an intervention management team is already in place to handle the any situations relating to the Ebola virus. Based on the international regulations Minister De Weever said the legislation on international regulations on how to handle the disease was passed through the Council of Ministers and is currently at the Council of Advice before it reaches parliament.
Dr. Assen from the Ministry of Health who attended the Pan-American Health Organization meeting that was held in Washington told reporters that St. Maarten is very much up to date with its preparedness and awareness program which kicked off on September 30th, 2014. Dr. Assen said the chances of Ebola reaching St. Maarten is very small but even though that is the case the island has to be prepared. She said this was discussed during a lunch meeting in Washington.
The Ambulance Department plays a very important role in this preparedness therefore they already have the necessary things in place in case there is a case of Ebola on the island. The staff of the ambulance department received the necessary training also the vehicles are prepared in order for the staff to provide the care necessary. Those plans at the ambulance department include questions they need to ask when they are called out, therefore providing the staff with background information on Ebola was absolutely necessary. One of the questions the ambulance personnel has to ask patients is if they have travelled or been a resident to an Ebola infected country, or have they been in contact with an Ebola infected patient or if they attended the funeral of a person that died of Ebola. The staff of the ambulance department are mandated to wear protective gear when dealing with such cases. Ambulance personnel have to wear gowns, googles and other protective gear while dealing with the patient and cleaning the ambulance. Household bleach is one the products that are used to clean the ambulance. Patients who may be infected with Ebola have to inform the staff of the St. Maarten Medical Center.
SMMC is not fully prepared but there is an isolation room for such cases, this room also has the necessary equipment to provide intensive care. Plans are in place to also work with the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital with the Ebola prevention since the Ebola preparedness plan.

POINT BLANCHE:--- 21st Annual Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Cruise Conference & Trade Show ended on a high note on Thursday and Friday, being the largest and most successful ever held in the 21-year history of the event.

The conference facility had its own generation capacity powered by 3 Megawatt generators, and delegates attended the scheduled workshops that were planned for the Thursday. At the end of the workshops, delegates then went to Philipsburg where they enjoyed themselves eating and shopping and were not hindered by the NV GEBE power outage.

On Friday, platinum members and cruise executives went on various planned tours including one to the island of St. Barths which was sponsored by Bobby's Marina. Upon their return they were treated to a cocktail reception at the marina.

Attendees have now returned to their home countries, but a sense of success and achievement still linger from their private, pre-selected one-on-one meetings with cruise executives and casual discussions during social functions that displayed St. Maarten's destination product, culture, gastronomy and engaging atmosphere that helped attendees and executives feel comfortable so they could talk freely and forge relationships.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sports Hon. Patricia Lourens-Philip who is currently off island on a private trip, says she has been following developments closely with respect to the approaching storm.

Minister Lourens-Philip said on Sunday that it is only necessary for school management teams to report to their respective schools on Monday to prepare their school premises prior to the arrival of the storm.

Teachers the Minister stated don't have to report to the schools.

ATLANTA/ST. MAARTEN:--- In the midst of the many global threats, terrorist acts, violence, crime and corruption; bravery, tenacity, courage and resilience are especially essential for leaders in our societies. Consequently, the visionary and president of Victorious Living, Dr. N. Erna Mae Francis-Cotton, in a recent press release saluted 17 year old Malala Yousafzai on recently winning the Nobel Peace Prize, especially as the world community celebrated The United Nations' International Day of the Girl Child on October 11th.
Malala Yousafzai was born on July 12, 1997, in Mingora, Pakistan and proves that we must be courageous in the midst of opposition and threats. As a child, Malala became an advocate for girls' education. When she was 14, Malala and her family learned that the Taliban had issued a death threat against her. Though Malala was frightened for the safety of her father—an anti-Taliban activist—she and her family initially felt that the fundamentalist group would not actually harm a child.
On October 9, 2012, on her way home from school, a man boarded the bus Malala was riding in and demanded to know which girl was Malala. When her friends looked toward Malala, her location was given away. The gunman fired at her, hitting Malala in the left side of her head; the bullet then traveled down her neck. Two other girls were also injured in the attack.
The shooting left Malala in critical condition, so she was flown to a military hospital in Peshawar. A portion of her skull was removed to treat her swelling brain. To receive further care, she was transferred to Birmingham, England.
Once she was in the United Kingdom, Malala was taken out of a medically induced coma. Though she would require multiple surgeries—including repair of a facial nerve to fix the paralyzed left side of her face—she had suffered no major brain damage. In March 2013, she was able to begin attending school in Birmingham.
Despite the Taliban's threats, Malala remains a staunch advocate for the power of education. On October 10, 2013, in acknowledgement of her work, the European Parliament awarded Malala the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. That same year, she was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. She didn't win the prize, but was named a nominee again in March 2014, and recently became the youngest ever Nobel Prize recipient in any category.
Francis-Cotton salutes and honours Malala's bravery and recognizes her award especially because she was only 14 years old when she stood up against her opposition and stood up for what is right. Therefore, if this 14 year old girl could be courageous in the face of adversity and evil, Francis-Cotton admonishes the people of St. Martin and its leaders to rise up and fight against the evils in this land as this seventeen year old Nobel Peace Prize recipient has done and continues to do.
Francis-Cotton reminds the leaders of Government, business, education, clergy, families and our society to recognize the importance of bravery and courage in leadership. She therefore invites all leaders to register for the early bird registration of Leadercast 2015 which takes place on May 8th, 2015 where Malala will be one of the keynote speakers.
Bradley Hutson, Vice President of International Business Development for Leadercast stated, "Leadercast continues to grow in the international community and is currently in over 20 countries around the world. We are pleased to be partnering with Victorious Living Foundation for the [third] consecutive year to bring Leadercast Live 2015 to St. Maarten." He underscored the fact that Giant Impact, the organizers of Leadercast, rely on host sites like Victorious Living to effectively grow their international footprint and ultimately change the way the world thinks about leadership.
Leadercast's mission is to build leaders worth following. To help clarify, this leader, a leader worth following thinks, leads, and behaves differently. These leaders pursue an innate ability to create culture, an unyielding passion for simplicity, an ability to drive creativity deep within an organization, and just insane bravery.
Hutson expressed his gratitude to Victorious Living in a personal letter to the Foundation's visionary, N. Erna Mae Francis-Cotton by stating: "Thank you for your support in meeting the leadership needs of St. Maarten and helping to build leaders worth following!"
Early-bird Registration for Leadercast is now open, and businesses, schools, Churches and other civic organizations that see the need for exposing their leaders to such dynamic content are invited to partner and underwrite the costs of this powerful and transformative event. Businesses and organizations that desire to partner with Victorious Living, a local non-profit organization, for Leadercast 2015, as part of their corporate social responsibility may contact Victorious Living at 1-721-524-8731/1-305-407-9260; visit www.victoriouslivingsxm.org or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to do so. More information about Leadercast can be found at www.leadercast.com.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Friday October 10, 2014, the management of Benjamin & Parker Corporation,(www.b-parker.com) observed a very compromising situation for the SXM taxpayer in 2015. In the press release by the General Audit Chamber it is mentioned that the SXM tax office is not compliant with the expected or recommended workflows, and in addition the tax revenues levels 2014 are not expected to be achieved, which is very devastating news for the SXM tax payer.

Tax Revenues are not aligned with the Approved National Budget, represent that at year end 2015, Tax Office must meet the collection expectations 2015, and take necessary actions to eliminate the deficit in tax collection of 2014 by harsh tax recovery practices while applying reinforcement to the 2015 tax collection measures.

Inefficient workflows, non compliant of tax collection 2014, CFT recommendations are ingredients for a financial catabolism in the business community. In June 2014 B-Parker outlined several conditions that the SXM taxpayers may confront, and after examination of the contents of the press release of the General Audit Chamber, we conclude that the materialization of the predicted taxation actions is in sight.

Benjamin & Parker, is aware that the business community does not receive sufficient information from the Tax authorities, but we feel the obligation to disclose the contents of article 13 sub 4 of the National Tax Ordinance:

"If insufficient tax is levied on the income component of the subject, that for taxation reasons has been held in foreign soil or is has been accrued, notwithstanding the third paragraph, first sentence expires, the Inspector regains authority to recover taxation income going as far back as a period of fifteen years after the time at which the tax debt arose"

The problem within this law is that the Tax office will use specific argumentations to re-assess their taxations over a period of 15 years, by applying the "burden of proof by the taxpayer" principle. B-Parker is of the opinion that the business community and the local taxpayer are not prepared for the expected collection practices. Another very interesting condition is that the taxpayer is not informed if a "Tax payment plan transition term" will be introduced based upon the magnitude of their tax liabilities. The main collection of the Tax Department is the collection of taxes, and unfortunately many businessmen, have no clue on the taxation mechanism and its legal procedures.

B-Parker understanding this situation will be giving "Free online Tax Consultation" starting from October 13 through October 27th, and if necessary a Tax Administration Plus+ "class room course ending October 31, 2014 .

You can react to the free online consultation by emailing B-Parker at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or through our website: www.b-parker.com/contactus / Terence Jandroep from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm from Monday through Saturday.

POINT BLANCHE:--- The cruise vessel Explorer of the Seas of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has cancelled its Monday visit to the country.

The cancellation is due to the forecasted passing of Tropical Storm Gonzalo which was located at 5:00pm on Sunday 258 miles east southeast of Sint Maarten.

Tropical Storm Gonzalo is forecast to pass through the Leeward Islands including Sint Maarten on Monday morning.

Foundation INFOBIZZ preparing for the 2nd participation in the annual GEW!

GREAT BAY:---  Foundation INFOBIZZ is gearing up to be a part of the GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK (GEW) which is from November 17-23, 2014. Participation in the GEW, ensures that St. Maarten will be among more than 140 countries which will be celebrating innovators and job creators as well as helping people start their businesses during that week.

This international platform helps to inspire those who have never started a business before as well as support those who are growing their business by engaging the local and international publics in various activities on local, national and international scales.
As a participant of this event, INFOBIZZ has put together various events during that week with both local and international leaders and experts. The highlight for the week is a business bootcamp, 3-2-Launch, which helps people to start their business in just three days and includes training and workshops from local and international experts.
Two international entrepreneurs are confirmed for the week. Dr. Will Moreland from the US whose mission is to help 10 000 entrepreneurs worldwide, is also an author that has written a book called Live Genius. An acclaimed speaker and fascinating entrepreneur, Dr. Moreland is scheduled to be a part of several the activities during that week.
Also, Kenton Lord from Trinidad will be joining the GEW celebrations on St. Maarten. Graduated from Florida Institute of Technology this young man is not yet 30 years old, is a serial entrepreneur with currently two successful business that both operate primarily online.
Registration will be opened after the POWER HOUR on October 17, 2014, where more details will be provided to the public. For more information on how you can participate during this week, call +1-721-523-1842 (whatsapp) or email INFOBIZZ at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Department of Disaster Management (ODM) advises businesses to close their operations at 12:00PM today Monday and allow their employees to go home in order to complete storm preparations.

Businesses should also use the opportunity to secure their premises. Anything that could blow away should be secured eg. yard furniture, plastic containers, garbage bins should be brought indoors etc.

Weather conditions are forecasted to further deteriorate this afternoon as Tropical Storm Gonzalo approaches our area.

Motorists are advised to avoid using the public road network as of 4:00PM Monday. This is for your own safety.

Tropical Storm Gonzalo at 5.00AM was located 165 miles south east of Sint Maarten. The storm has also strengthened with 60 mile per hour winds and higher gusts, and further strengthening is forecasted during the next 48 hours and could become a hurricane Tuesday morning.

The country is under a Tropical Storm Warning. Gonzalo has started to move through the Leeward Islands Monday morning and is in the vicinity of Antigua & Barbuda.

Tropical storm conditions are expected according to the MDS to reach Leeward Islands/Sint Maarten late Monday afternoon and evening; expected rainfall between four to eight inches with isolate maximum totals of 12 inches.

A heavy rainfall advisory and a flood warning are in effect for the country as well as a rough sea advisory.

Under a Tropical Storm Warning; the warning means that there could be sustained wind speeds of between 39 and 73 miles per hour within 24 to 36 hours or less. Any preparedness measures should be completed as soon as possible under such a warning.

Contractors should secure construction and building sites.

For weather updates visit the site of MDS at: www.meteosxm.com

ODM will continue to monitor the progress of the storm. Additional updates will be provided.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Friday October 10th, 2014 between 11:00 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., a police patrol from the Philipsburg area investigated a complaint of a threat with a firearm on the Hyena Road in Cay Hill. The suspect with the initials J.D.C. (43) was arrested at his home on Hyena Road. During a search of his home a rifle and a handgun were found and confiscated. The suspects J.M.C. (40) and F.A.Q.H. (32) were arrested in the Sucker Garden area after an illegal firearm was located in the center console of the vehicle the suspects were driving in. All three suspects along with the confiscated firearm were taken to the Philipsburg Police Department for further investigation.

Two men arrested for illegal firearm possession.

On Saturday October 11th, 2014 at approximately 1:00 p.m., a police patrol from the Simpson Bay District was directed by the Central Police Dispatch to Cape Bay in the area of the horse stable to investigate a case involving three young men who were in possession of a firearm and were firing shots. The Central Dispatch also gave a description of the men involved in this case. Upon the arrival of the patrol on the scene they saw three young men who fit the description that were given to them. When the patrol approached the men one of them took off running. At the same time the investigating officers saw when this suspect threw something away. One officer chased this suspect on foot; however he managed to get away. The other two suspects remained standing while the officer did their investigation. During a search of the immediate area the officers found a loaded modified handgun. This firearm was immediately confiscated for further investigation. The two suspects with the initials M.J.L. (16) and J.D. (15) were arrested on the spot and transported to the Philipsburg Police Station for further investigation.

Two men arrested for theft (breaking and entering).

On Saturday October 11th, 2014 at approximately 3:45 a.m., a Philipsburg Police Patrol was sent to Oyster Bay Resort to investigate a case of breaking and entering. On the scene the patrol spoke to one of the on duty security guards who stated that two young men were caught on the premises carrying a black flat screen Toshiba television. When they were being questioned by security as to where and how they had gotten the television, they took off running leaving the television behind. However shortly after they were caught by other security officers on the premises and held awaiting the arrival of the police. The suspects with initials J.L. (24) and R.C. (19) were arrested on the scene and taken to the Philipsburg Police Station along with the television which was also confiscated for further investigation.

Three traffic accidents on October 12th early morning hours.

1st accident took place around 03:30 am on the Airport Road in the vicinity op Arrindell Aviation.

A silver Suzuki Grand Vitara P-9541 collided with a Mitsubishi Eclipse P-2015. After the collision for unknown reasons the Suzuki Vitara travelled on three wheels for more or less 215 meters before it came to a full stop and almost reaching the round a bout at Maho Reef. The accident left both vehicles unable to drive.

2nd accident took place around 05:05 am on the Arlet Peters Road (Link 1).

A silver colour Nissan Almera M-2501 with 6 persons inside lost control while driving at high speed and collided with the guardrail on the left side op the road after which the car spun out and hit the guardrail a second time. Two passengers where injured. 1 male passenger received stitches to his left temple and a female passenger received cuts to her inner mouth. The vehicle was heavily damaged. The guardrail and a light post were also damaged.

3rd accident took place around 08:05 am on the Union Road at the entrance to Port de Plaisance.

A silver Ford Fiesta BP 064 NG driver lost control of his vehicle while travelling on the Union Road at the entrance to Port de Plaisance and collided into a light pole after which the car came to a stop on the grass on the side of the road. The driver fled the scene leaving the vehicle behind.

All vehicles were towed away for further investigation at the expense of the owners.

KPSM Police Report

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Symposium on Ageing held last week Wednesday acted as the first step in spreading the awareness about the challenges of an ageing population and letting the public know that this issue is high on the agenda of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, and Labour (VSA). Based on the feedback from the audience at the symposium, Social Development is headed in the right direction when it comes to identifying the key priority areas St. Maarten is dealing with due to an increase in the ageing population. Key priority areas that were presented to the audience at the symposium included: (1) increased social participation of the elderly, (2) promotion of independent and assisted living for the elderly, and (3) increased community collaboration for efficient and effective services for the elderly. Invited suggestions or recommendations provided by the audience will be used as additional information to shape the development of the vision and framework.

"A population is considered ageing when more than 10% of the population is 60+. In St. Maarten 13.9% of the population is 60+, putting us well on the map of the global trend of ageing populations. Current trends are illustrating that more and more of our population are living 20 to 40 years longer. Coping with this dramatic shift presents many challenges. Such as the increased demand for more facilities and services that cater to seniors who are more dependent on others. Another challenge is the decreasing numbers of person who are economically active which ultimately hampers the social security system that is in place.

Dealing with a society that is ageing from a social, economic, and cultural perspective means we must ensure that resources are reserved towards improving and expanding current infrastructure, services and restructuring the social security system. These are only some of the challenges that need to be explored in collaboration with key stakeholders", said Minister Cornelius de Weever in an invited statement.

The Department of Social Development has announced their commitment to having an all-inclusive approach to the development of an ageing vision and strategic framework for St. Maarten. Once a plan of approach has been approved by the Council of Ministers the department intends to get all key stakeholders such as relevant ministries and NGOS involved in the process. Together solutions will be developed to tackle the challenges posed by an increasingly ageing population. The official step in moving towards a vision and framework for the ageing population on St. Maarten was announced by Ms. Joy Arnell Acting Secretary-General/ Department Head of Social Development at the symposium.

Minister Cornelius de Weever has given the Department of Social Development his full support in preparing the framework to secure the well-being of the community for the current and future elders.

Dynamic entrepreneurs interact!

GREAT BAY:--- POWER HOUR is a networking event for entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial professionals that grown over the course the year to include leadership training and be a moment of inspiration and empowerment to all who willing to live their dreams.
Under the theme 'Heels & Cufflinks, on October 17, 2014 at the St. Maarten Harbor from 7:30 -9:30 PM, this POWER HOUR is slated to be the best one yet with first additions such as engaging in entrepreneurial activities, through the rental of vendor tables.
Any entrepreneur can rent a table for the POWER HOUR. The registration fee of $100 admits two and provides the table and chairs. This is a true opportunity for the entrepreneur who wants to expose their business and potentially increase their sales. As this the first time that this will be taking place at POWER HOUR, spaces are limited and registration is mandatory.
POWER HOUR has allowed Foundation INFOBIZZ to interact with close to 200 entrepreneurs. INFOBIZZ´s mission is to develop successful entrepreneurs. It does so through various activities and programs. In November, INFOBIZZ will participate in the GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK (GEW) 2014, which is done in over 140 countries.
For this reason and due to the development of other programs to launch in 2015, the POWER HOUR under the theme "Heels & Cufflinks" on October 17, 2014 will be the last POWER HOUR for this year. It will resume in 2015 with additional programs that will be exciting for entrepreneurs at various levels.
Tickets for the POWER HOUR are $30 and registration fee for vendors is $100, which admits two. Tickets are available at Van Dorp or Family Bookstore and registration forms are available only through INFOBIZZ. For more information about POWER HOUR or Foundation INFOBIZZ, please call +1-721-523-1842 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Gendarmes busy with investigation

MARIGOT:--- The Gendarmes are busy investigating the death of a man whose body was found not far away from a club in Lago Heights, confirmed Prosecutor Flavien Noailles. Noailles said he was informed of the gruesome discovery around 6am on Saturday morning, he also confirmed that the body had gunshot wounds but had no other details. "Right now the investigators are busy investigating the case and I don't have any more information at this moment."
The victim it is understood is a resident of St. Peters known in the community as "Cisco" and he is also a bouncer at the Tantra Night club. SMN News will bring you more information on this latest murder when it becomes available.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI), hereby announces that there will be interruption to the traffic flow at a section of Front Street for two days.

The interruption to the road traffic will be on Saturday, October 11th and Sunday, October 12th from 8:00PM to 10:00PM, a two hour period each time.

The disruption is in connection with reconstruction of a business on Front Street.

Motorists are requested to be vigilant and observant for the traffic directional signs.

Ministry VROMI apologizes for any inconvenience that this may cause.

Members of Parliament elect,
President of the Collectivité of Sint Maarten
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning.

And to all the people of Sint Maarten I am pleased to extend congratulations to you and to wish you a happy anniversary on this our 4th Constitution Day.

It is also my pleasure to welcome you to this oath of office ceremony and more in particular I extend a special welcome to the 15 elected parliamentarians seated alphabetically on my left and on my right for whom this ceremony has been organized. Congratulations to each of you with your election to parliament. You will in a few minutes take the oath required for holding the office as a member of parliament. But before doing so I shall share some words with you on the cornerstones of your mandate as parliamentarians.

On August 29th, 2014, the people of Sint Maarten in an expression of their will went to the polls and casted their votes to elect 15 members of Parliament. We are in keeping with the provisions of our constitution, gathered here at this hillside location overlooking our nation's capital, to effect the expressed will of our people. That is to administer the oath of office for the elected members of Parliament who have been elected to serve in the 2nd term of Parliament. According to article 56 of our constitution members of Parliament shall take an oath or promise before the Governor prior to accepting their function; that is before accepting their function as representatives of the people of Sint Maarten. The end of this formal oath of office ceremony will thus mark the beginning of the term of office of the 15 of you present here this morning. In taking your oath of office this morning you agree to accept the serious responsibility to carry out the will of our people. That is you have agreed to serve for and in the interest of the people of Sint Maarten. That means that you have accepted the responsibility to contribute to the good governance of Sint Maarten in the following ways:

1. First, by lending your support and confidence to the government to allow for the management of the affairs of our people;
2. Second, by holding that same government accountable for their decisions and actions; and
3. Third, by initiating and/or approving the laws that govern the affairs of our people.

As such you have a central and critical role to play in fostering good governance on Sint Maarten with due observance of the principles of democracy, the rule of law, the principle of the separation of powers, the dignity and value of the individual and the entitlement of all individuals to the fundamental rights and freedoms, as anchored in the preamble of our constitution.
Members of parliament elect, these important principles are the foundations on which the constitutional order and governance of our people are based. They are intended to foster and ensure that we are governed freely, honestly, fairly, justly and respectfully in the pursuit of the building of our nation. In other words they are the cornerstones for your mandate as representative of our people.

It should be clear that your individual and collective mandate comes with expectations, high expectations. And it is no secret that there are questions among our people in regard to the commitment of parliamentarians. To meet the high expectations and discard questions about your commitment you must have high expectations of yourselves. The law acknowledges that and as a result requires that parliamentarians must take an oath. It is against the background of that legal provision that you are here today. Taking an oath or making a pledge as a representative of the people is therefore a serious legal but also personal and public matter.

In that regard I will like to call your attention to the four aspects as stipulated in the oath, which you are about to take. Accepting the function of parliamentarian through the taking of the oath is:

• First, your solemn expression of your commitment to perform your function independently and with integrity, that is that you have not accepted anything from or given anything to anyone in connection with your election as a member of parliament;
• Second, taking the oath is your pledge of allegiance to the King and the Kingdom Charter;
• Third, taking the oath is your sincere pledge or promise to always uphold the Constitution of Sint Maarten; and
• And finally, by taking the oath you unconditionally swear to always dedicate yourself to foster the wellbeing of the people of Sint Maarten.

In taking this solemn oath you accept and agree to our constitutional principles as the cornerstone of your mandate as representatives of the people of Sint Maarten. In that regard there rests on you individually as members of parliament and collectively as the Parliament of Sint Maarten a great responsibility to represent and serve the general interest of our people and meet the high expectations that come with the function which you are about to fulfill. I therefore recommend that you use the oath as a guide in the performance of your function to fulfill your mandate aimed at addressing, among others, the education, employment, health care, cost of living, housing, and crime challenges which our people face. And I trust that in doing so, that you will embrace our constitutional principles and that you will act with purpose but with reflection, courageously but with due thoughtfulness, deliberately but prudently, self-reliant but with compassion, working together with honor and respect to continue to build this our beloved nation Sint Maarten.

With that trust, I hereby conclude by wishing you strength and wisdom as you work to meet the high expectations of your function, to help realize the quality of governance necessary to address the challenges faced by and thus improve the wellbeing of our people.

Thank you, God bless you and God bless Sint Maarten. It is with these words of faith in God's guidance over our Country that I hereby invite you to take your oath.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The report of the performance audit "Optimizing Tax Revenue" was submitted to Parliament today, Friday October 10, 2014, by the General Audit Chamber. This audit was carried out to determine the effectiveness and efficiency, i.e. the performance, of the reform of fiscal system and tax revenue compliance.
In carrying out this review, the General Audit Chamber sought to determine the extent to which the minister of finance was able to effectively and efficiently optimize tax revenue. The result of the audit contribute to the social significance of a fair and balanced tax system and the importance of having a professional, customer-focused and impartial tax authority. The budget 2011, and also subsequent budgets in 2012 and 2013, contains policy objectives for optimizing the tax system by means of improving the process of assessment and collection, harmonizing the tax system with French St. Martin, and by eliminating free-riders.
The General Audit Chamber noted a large discrepancy between the content of approved budgets and the practical reality at the Tax Department and Fiscal Affairs. Activities related to optimizing tax revenue included improving the assessment and collection of taxes through simplification of the tax system. Progress was found to be limited, despite substantial use of external experts and the establishment and equipping of a number of working groups.
Efforts to reduce the costs associated with assessment and collection were also not very successful. In 2011, the operational costs related to assessment and collection were 2.7% and in 2013, the percentage was 3.5%.
Scientifically derived data related to compliance was not available from government, though estimates provided in approved budget documents range from 30-40% in 2011, to 40-60% in 2013. Adequate research is needed to determine the extent of compliance on Sint Maarten.
Planned upgrading of the Tax Department, including integrating the services of the various departments (Inspectorate and Receiver, for example) have not taken place. Based on approved policy, the minister also wanted to optimize tax revenue by harmonizing the tax system with French St. Martin. The various meetings and negotiations in preparation for the harmonization have not yet taken place. It is still not clear whether the required cooperation with the French is achievable.
The General Audit Chamber made several recommendations to the minister in its report including reiterating the need to use policy-based budgets that are executed based on specific, measurable, agreed upon, realistic, time related and consistent norms. Moreover, the minister of finance, should, periodically, give account to Parliament with regard to the realization of approved and intended policy.
In addition, the General Audit Chamber endorses the point of departure contained in the yet-to-be approved Plan of Action for the integration and Strengthening of the Tax Department of Sint Maarten. That plan requires that the organizational reform of the Tax Department, specifically the integration of and renewal of ICT-systems and housing of the department in a single location, is given precedence. After these fundamental requirements are achieved, reform or simplification of the tax system can be addressed successfully.
Finally, the General Audit Chamber reiterates the need for drafting additional rules regarding the execution and tendering procedures. These additional rules, as required by article 47 of the National Financial Accounting Ordinance, will guarantee that procurement of goods and services is carried out in a more transparent, objective and non-discriminatory fashion.
The report "Optimizing Tax Revenue" is published in both English and Dutch and is available on the website of the General Audit Chamber (www.arsxm.org).

Suspect Surrendered to Police on Friday October 10th

PHILIPSBURG:--- A 17 year old young man identified as S.G. surrendered to police on Friday October 10th, 2014 as the person who shot another young man in the FLEX DVD store Thursday afternoon. It was first reported that the shooter walked into the DVD store and witnessed two men robbing the store at the time when he whipped out a firearm and shot one of the robbers to death. The robber has been identified as Etienne Le Blanc. Press Prosecutor Tineke Kamps said in a press release on Friday that the 17 year old surrendered to police and he was placed in custody on the suspicion of murder/manslaughter. The arrest took place in the investigation "Chuchubi" that started Thursday after a shooting in the store "Most Requested Flex" on Frontstreet, in which a young man was killed. The suspect reported himself at the police station and is now being questioned. He will be placed in police custody. Given the current investigation, the public prosecution service will not give further comments.

PHILIPSBURG:--- We've been a little quiet in terms of press announcements but we at Kidz at Sea have been up to big things. In July, Kidz at Sea officially opened its new Clubhouse located with the St. Maarten Shipyard premises on Airport Road. The Clubhouse gives the Foundation a place to call home, all previously built Skerries will be housed here; and student sailing lessons will be given from this location.

Once again we've partnered with Milton Peters College, the Sundial School and St. Dominics. 4th formers will engage in a new to the program project, this time they will build Stand Up Paddle Boards or SUPS as they are known. SUPPing is a relatively new water sport that engages total core, balance and endurance. Once finished, we believe this will be an excellent addition to our arsenal of water based toys to keep our Kidz engaged in water sports and out on the water with little barrier to try. The SUPS also create a challenge for the building teams as they are smaller, total closed and more intricate to work with. This year's students and their mentors will also be the first ones on St. Maarten to build the kit so they will have to learn the ins and outs, and problem solve without having the benefit of a coach with prior experience on this model.

It doesn't stop there, we have something special in store for the Third Formers participating in the Milton Peters Carpentry program. 15 participating students and their teachers asked if instead of building a Skerry, if they couldn't tackle a larger project with us. Kidz at Sea excitedly announces that in the coming weeks we will begin construction of a Didi 26 Sloop Rigged Sailing Yacht over the next 1.5 years, with a target goal that these students will race their own vessel in the 2016 Heineken Regatta. In preparation, this afternoon, on water sailing lessons began. From the looks on their faces, the students are as excited as we are. MPC has fully integrated this project, including the sailing lessons into the student's curriculum for Carpentry, in addition to sailing certifications the students will also be graded on their participation and their use of the skills acquired throughout the program. They will have to manage a budget for the project and understand the cost analysis, as well as the practical experience of taking a set of paper plans and turn it into a world class racing vessel.

We owe our continued success to all of our supporters, sponsors and partners. In particular, the Cooperating Funds, Aquamania, St. Maarten Shipyard, St. Maarten Sailing School, The St. Maarten Marine Trades Association, Wired Sailor, Island Global Yachting, Budget Marine, FKG Rigging, Island Water World, St. Maarten Harbor Group of Companies, St. Maarten Sails, the St. Maarten Taxi Association, Milton Peters College, Sundial School, and St. Dominic's.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The swearing in ceremony of 15 Members of the House of Parliament on October 10th at the Cabinet of the Governor, will be carried live on parliament's website.
The live coverage begins at 9:50AM and can be followed on www.sxmparliament.org.
The swearing in will also be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 120.

At 2:00PM today, Friday, October 10, the new Members of Parliament will also have their first plenary parliamentary session in the House of Parliament.

The new President of Parliament will also be elected during the session.

This session on Friday afternoon is open to the public.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary session will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 120, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the Internet www.pearlfmradio.com, and also via www.sxmparliament.org.

Click here to view the live swearing in of the Members of Parliament.

Leona Marlin Romeo eats her own vomit --- DP swore they will not Join UPP

PHILIPSBURG:--- Formateur Honarable Member of Parliament (MP) Theodore Heyliger during his deliberations with political factions as well as with individual MPs who have been elected to Parliament based on the August 29, 2014 parliamentary elections, as of Thursday, October 9th, the United People's (UP) party/Cornelius de Weever coalition, has received the support of two additional MPs leading to a broad-base government for the country of 10-seats in the House of Parliament.
Formateur Theodore Heyliger met with the Leader of the Democratic Party (DP) Hon. MP-elect Sarah Wescot-Williams who has agreed to support the existing agreed upon governing accord of the UP/Cornelius de Weever coalition; as well as supporting the division of ministerial portfolios of the aforementioned coalition for the governing period 2014-2018.
MP-elect Hon. Leona Marlin-Romeo has also agreed to support the UP/Cornelius de Weever coalition based on the existing agreements and portfolio division.
Formateur Heyliger said this is a very positive development for the country where it concerns political stability for the upcoming four-year governing period.
While the country looks somewhat more stable with a broad based government it is shameful that Leona Marlin Romeo did not tell the people of St. Maarten her true intentions. Marlin Romeo told members of the press that she was not going anywhere and that she intended to remain with the USp for this governing period while she will be on the USp slate for the 2018 elections.
As for the leader of the Democratic Party it was clear last week Sunday when she held the DP press conference and refused to say whether or not she would join the UPP/ De Weever coalition. Wescot Williams was asked several times by SMN News if she was going to join the coalition especially since MP elect Cornelius de Weever did not resign from the Democratic Party. Leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams said that she was not going to rule out anything and that as the leader of the Democratic Party she was going to wait and see what the informateurs and UPP was going to tell her and offer her.
SMN News even asked the DP leader if the Democratic Party was the main instigator in breaking and making of governments during the 2010-2014 governing period and if she had made a deal with the UPP leader while in Greece some weeks ago. Wescot Williams said she was never going to engage in two negotiations at the same time and furthermore the DP was blamed for lots of things but people should give the DP credit for the good things they also did.
SMN News has learnt that several key members of the Democratic Party did not give the leader their support to form government with the UPP. Shortly after the press conferrence last week board members of the Democratic Party clearly stated that the DP will not join the coalition but their leader will remain in opposition.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Tuesday, September 2nd, 2014 around 5:00am, the lifeless body of a 23-year-old woman was found in a car in the Nazareth-Dutch Quarter area. This victim appeared to be: Liscania MADURO-Ozório, nicknamed "Liz" or "BEBA". In connection with this murder, the investigation team is asking for your assistance in answering the following questions:

The investigation revealed that the victim met with someone on Monday, September 1st, 2014 between 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on the French side, possibly at Le Galion Beach. The investigation team is urgently looking for this person as a key witness in this investigation.
The investigation shows that the victim went to St. Peters around 6:30 p.m. There she probably had another meeting with one or more persons. The investigation team is also wondering if witnesses saw her and/or her car, a black Hyundai Accent with license plate M-2103, on Monday, September 1st, 2014 after 6:30 p.m. in the district of St. Peters and would also like to know with whom she had a meeting.

If you have information that can contribute to solving this murder, call the investigation team at the Detective Department of Police Force of Sint Maarten via telephone: +1 721-5422222 ext 105/107. We will be very discreet with your data and information.
Do you want your information to remain anonymous, then call the police hotline at 9300.

KPSM Press Release

CAY HILL:--- The Open House at the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) on Saturday, October 4, 2014 reached remarkable numbers specifically to the women public.
One of the key objectives in the Open House was to raise Breast Cancer Awareness. Attendees at the Open House included Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams, Minister of Health Mr. Cornelius De Weever, Positive Foundation, Elektralytes Foundation, guest speaker Ms. Marcellina 'Maso' Loblack, breast cancer survivor and founder of Still Beautiful foundation. The event was attended by other breast cancer survivors.
"We have realized that as a hospital, we meet women who already have breast cancer. At that moment they need support and the best medical care available to them. We treat several patients with breast cancer and what do we tell them? We let them know that we are in this together with them. We are not undergoing surgery or treatment but we are their medical support system. We are there to answer questions; we are there to take care of them."
In the opening session, there was A Moment of Truth during which Maso shared her story; this moved some of the listeners to tears and encouraged women to 'get checked'. Maso was diagnosed in 2012 with stage 3 breast cancer. "People say you have to wait five years before you can say you have survived breast cancer. But I've already survived. Every time I see a new day, I have survived breast cancer," she says.
Dr. Henk Wassenaar, Oncologist, gave a presentation on new research in breast cancer. The information was especially interesting for breast cancer survivors.
Dr. Wassenaar, Dr. Jane Niamut and Dr. Meno Misset together gave a total of 133 free clinical breast examinations to women who attended the Open House. 93 persons had a blood pressure screening and 92 had a glucose screening done by SMMC nurses. The diabetes foundation was present to do the cholesterol screenings, from which 80 persons benefited.
Attendees at the Open House were able to learn about the different procedures and services available at the hospital, by visiting the department stations in the front lobby. U Too Can Move instructor Ms. Sheritsa Stroop gave a Zumba session to close off the event.
SMMC thanks Caribbean Liquors for their donation of Evian bottled water and extends heartfelt thanks to the AUC students who gave breast self-exam demonstrations and to all who made the event a success.
For the remainder of October, women still have the opportunity to have a breast examination at the other participating physician clinics. The next free screening date is Saturday, October 11 from 9am-12 noon at Dr. Spencer's medical clinic in Saunders.
Uninsured women are especially reminded to take advantage of these opportunities and the opportunity for a free mammogram if required.

SMMC Press Release

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Electoral Council is pleased to announce that all candidates who contested the recently held Parliamentary elections, submitted their registers of donations to the Electoral Council. At the end of the deadline, last Monday, 87 of the 90 candidates had submitted their registers of donations, one of which was not fully in accordance with the provisions of the National Ordinance Registration and Finances of Political Parties. These were received a few days later in the correct format.
After receipt of all registration of donation, the Electoral Council immediately embarked on the process of reviewing the registries, while giving special attention to those of the parliamentarians elect in view of the fact that they will be sworn in on Friday, October 10, 2014. A preliminary review of the registers of donations of the parliamentarians elect indicates, that thus far the majority has complied with the relevant ordinance; a few cases will require a more in-depth review.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Electoral Council invited the parliamentarians elect to appear before the Electoral Council at the office on Backstreet to sign a declaration as stipulated in article 53 of the National Ordinance Registration and Finances of Political Parties. This declaration states that the parliamentarian elect is cognizant of the provisions laid down in the National Ordinance Registration and Finances of Political Parties and that the parliamentarian elect has not acted in contravention of said provisions during the election campaign for the Parliamentary elections that were held on August 29th, 2014.
Prior to the parliamentary discussions regarding the credentials of the parliamentarians elect, the signed declarations were delivered to the President of Parliament of Sint Maarten

At a later date and within one month after their appointment, the Electoral Council will invite the appointed Ministers to the new Council of Ministers to sign a similar declaration as is stipulated in article 53 of the National Ordinance Registration and Finances of Political Parties.

Electoral Council Press Release

PHILIPSBURG:--- Residents throughout the Dutch side of the island were out of electricity shortly after 2pm on Thursday. Unconfirmed reports state that GEBE encountered a major problem at its power plant in Cape Bay.
The island wide blackout severely hindered the 21st Annual FCCA Conference and Tradeshow that is currently being held at the A.C. Wathey Cruise Facility. At the moment St. Maarten has over 1,100 delegates on the island attending the conference, many of the delegates were seen in Philipsburg wandering around since they were unable to continue their tradeshow and participate in the planned workshops. So far GEBE has not made any statement as to the cause of the power outage and when they will be able to restore electricity.

PHILIPSBURG:--- An armed gunman shot a robber to death while he was in the process of robbing Flex DVD store on Front Street. According to information reaching SMN News, two men were in the process of robbing the business located next to Midtown Motel on Front Street when an armed man entered the store and shot one of the robbers to death. The second suspect managed to escape unharmed.
Press prosecutor Tineke Kamps confirmed that a shooting occurred Thursday afternoon leaving one man dead.
When asked if the shooter was an off duty police officer or a licensed firearm holder, Kamps said so far I did not hear that the shooter is an off duty police officer. However, police is busy investigating. When asked if the shooting and death of the robber is considered as a murder investigation, Kamps said police is busy conducting the investigation and all of the questions asked are part of the investigation. "All I can say for now is that a shooting took place on Front Street and one man is dead." The press prosecutor said so far the shooter has not been detained. SMN News will bring you more information when it becomes available.

Shooting incident leaves one man dead.

On Thursday, October 9th, 2014 at approximately 5:15pm, a phone call came into the police department stating that a man had been shot at the Midtown Motel on Front Street and that an ambulance was needed. Immediately after receiving this information several police patrols and paramedics were sent to the scene to investigate what had taken place. On the scene the patrol encountered the lifeless body of a man was found in the FLEX DVD store. The identity of the victim, at press time had not yet been established. The victim who later was pronounced dead by Dr. Mercuur has been shot. The Front Street and surrounding alleys were closed off during the investigation. The Forensic Department and Detectives were on the scene collecting evidence and questioning potential witnesses. The investigation has just begun and it is still unclear to exactly what took place, why and who is responsible for this shooting. Anyone who may have information in connection with this fatal incident are asked to contact the police.

KPSM Police Report

Theme reflects inclusion of male professionals and entrepreneurs

GREAT BAY:--- POWER HOUR is fast approaching. On October 17, 2014 entrepreneurs on at various stages and professionals will come together at the St. Maarten Harbor from 7:30 – 9:30 pm to gain tips and tricks from successful entrepreneurs and leaders.
Foundation INFOBIZZ, which is started to assist in developing successful entrepreneurs, is busy putting the last adjustments for this POWER HOUR and gearing up for the GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK in November. To accommodate the overwhelming response from men, the theme has been adjusted to reflect their inclusion and is now "HEELS & CUFFLINKS".
Hosted by Foundation INFOBIZZ, the POWER HOUR was designed to inspire and empower entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial professionals by providing them with tips and tricks from those who have already achieved success in their business and industry. Known as networking for movers and shakers, the POWER HOUR has been able to inspire and empower close to 200 entrepreneurs in a short period of time.
"We listen carefully to the feedback from those that would like to join us and those that have been part of the PAOWER HOUR. What was consistent was that men did not know if they could also join the ladies for Heels & Cocktails. So with some help of some creative geniuses we said we'll call it 'HEELS & CUFFLINKS', said the founder and director Ife Badejo.
There is not strict dress code, although the organizers recommend that the participants come in business casual attire and prepared to do business. Also, vendors are encouraged to register no later than October 15, 2014 and no tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets are $30 and vendor tables are $100 including admittance for two.
For more information about POWER HOUR or Foundation INFOBIZZ, please call +1-721-523-1842 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Conference & Trade Show closes today as the largest and most successful in the event's 21-year history. Over 1,200 cruise tourism stakeholders-along with 100 cruise line executives, presidents and CEOs-gathered for a four-day agenda loaded with business sessions, networking opportunities and chances to maximize cruise tourism's impact, along with the attention and knowledge of cruise line personnel who decide where cruise ships call, what to sell onboard and if they should invest in destination infrastructure.

Attendees must now return to their home countries, but a sense of success and achievement still linger from their private, pre-selected one-on-one meetings with cruise executives and casual discussions during social functions that displayed St. Maarten's destination product, culture, gastronomy and engaging atmosphere that helped attendees and executives feel comfortable so they could talk freely and forge relationships.
Insightful workshops and speeches should also resound with delegates. Topics focused on multiple industry facets to help the numerous sectors maximize their share of cruise tourism. Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line CEO and FCCA chairman, opened the event with a speech recognizing the partnerships between the cruise lines, FCCA and destinations' private and public sectors, along with addressing how to grow cruise tourism through synergizing those entities and constantly refreshing destination products.
Adam Goldstein, president and COO, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. (RCCL), continued this notion on a global scale, reminding attendees of their worldwide competition and equipping them with the knowledge necessary to compete. This instruction also included aligning with the FCCA and cruise lines-particularly, collaborating with the different lines to offer products that appeal to the individual brands and their target markets-and renewing products. To this end, Goldstein cited CTO's Future Caribbean Cruise Travel Survey's findings that cruise passengers are more interested in destinations than ships, and this interest primarily values cultural heritage and culinary experiences. As Goldstein noted, cruise lines call wherever there is demand, and "[the] Caribbean's ability to stimulate the required demand will be directly dependent upon its capacity to refresh and reinvent its tourism economies by effectively adapting to the ever-changing global environment, pushing the envelope, taking risks and launching innovations, which consistently deliver on changing consumer expectations."
The presidents and CEOs-Goldstein; Sheehan; Gerald Cahill, president & CEO, Carnival Cruise Lines; and Richard Fain, president & CEO, RCCL-further shared their invaluable expertise during a roundtable discussion where they revealed their lines' latest happenings and future developments and answered questions applying to attendees' destinations and operations. Other workshops applied the knowledge of cruise executives, presidents and CEOs, along with successful stakeholders, to concentrate on how the multifaceted attendees can maximize their cruise tourism business-from entire destinations to tour operators and port authorities.
The Trade Show also made an impression on all attendees, as it was the largest in the event's history and combined creative booths and pavilions with innovative and varying products-from tourism ministries and tour operators to custom T-shirts and "water UFO" jet boats-with all of the entertainment, handouts and delicacies supplied by exhibitors.
Better yet, the Trade Show will remain on the executives', presidents' and CEOs' minds, and exhibiters had prime opportunities to be noticed by this influential audience in a venue to consider new business and foster existing business.
In all, the FCCA Conference and Trade Show provided a unique chance for entities doing or wishing to do business with the cruise industry to develop relationships with cruise executives, presidents and CEOs; present their destination or product; and learn about the cruise industry and what cruise lines seek in shore excursions, products, services, infrastructure and destinations. The event helped attendees establish a clear vision that will map the road to success in future cruise tourism dealings.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Friday, October 10, from 6:30pm – 9pm, the John Larmonie Center, on Longwall Road, Philipsburg, will be transformed into a showcase of performances reflecting various aspects of arts and culture.
This is the second year that the NIACA (National Institute of Arts Culture & Arts) Festival will be celebrated. Last year the National Institute of Arts (NIA) also held such an event to observe its launch. The school will continue with this event on an annual basis in order to consistently highlight the salient role of culture and arts in the island's history.
"The NIACA Festival is a platform to celebrate the St. Maarten story as told by the people who live and work here as artist. The showcase celebrates both our traditional, cultural heritage, as well as the contemporary works created by the artists of now. We have selected October 10th for the NIACA Festival, as we feel that the transition to Country Status is the appropriate occasion to celebrate all things St. Maarten; our past, our present, and visions of our future. In addition, we at NIA see this as a time to honor the creative works of those who have paved the way so that NIA could be here today," Co-director, Clara Reyes said.
"The whole of the John Larmonie Center will be converted, from the multi-purpose room to the parking lot, into four performance spaces. We will feature children musical theatre, broadway medleys, children's art of laughter, choreo-poetry, vocal ensembles, jazz, modern, reflective of work put in by both the directors and the various teachers including Loes Nauta, Clifford Henry, Albina Matuzko, Peggy Oulerich, Eolia Ada. There will also be a repeat performance of Anansi and the Great Salt Pond written by Iris Hakkens and adapted to the stage by Reyes. Arias 5, which is the vocal group of Helen Hart, will also be guest performers," Co-director, Arlene Halley said.
In addition to featuring the various types of arts and culture the institute has also decided to honor some eight individuals for their commitment to and impact in these genres. Awards will be given in three different categories, namely; Griot, Vanguard and Emerging Artist.
"The Griot Award honors our elder heads, those who have persistently engaged in and shared knowledge of their particular artistic and cultural fields. The four persons in this category are Evelyn Roberts, Cynric Griffith, Harold Jack and Ann Meyers. The Vanguard Award is reflective of those who in their adulthood and who have also consistently been busy with culture and arts on the island. In this category the honorees are Jules Carty and Cynthia Roberts. The final category is dedicated to youngsters who display a consistent dedication to their art form or cultural expression and who show potential for even greater things in the years to come. Chantal Richardson and Akeem Adams have been chosen as this year's honorees in this category," the Co-directors explained.
Reyes further clarified that each year new people will be selected to each category based on their contributions to culture and arts on St. Maarten or St. Martin.
"Culture and Arts do not stop at the border and in these aspects we are truly one. This is why it is important that we honor those who help to remind us of who we were, who we are and who we are becoming as a collective. Our eight individuals chosen for this year do exactly that," the Co-directors said.
Seating is limited so for more information on how to get tickets contact NIA staff at the John Larmonie Center or 543-0600 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

NIA Press Release

HARBOUR VIEW:--- On Friday October 10, 2014 the 15 elected members of parliament will take the oath of office before His Excellency Governor Eugene B. Holiday at the Cabinet of the Governor. The ceremony will be broadcasted live on Sint Maarten Cable TV channel 120, commencing at 9:50 AM.

From the Cabinet of the Governor of St. Maarten

PHILIPSBURG:--- There will be a plenary session of the House of Parliament on October 10th.
The plenary session is set for Friday at 2:00pm in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.
The agenda for the session is the appointment of a President and Vice President of Parliament.

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary session will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 120, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the Internet www.pearlfmradio.com, and also via www.sxmparliament.org.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Postal Services St. Maarten (PSS) N.V. will be joining 150 countries around the world in observance of World Post Day today, Thursday, October 9, 2014.

The postal authority will be treating its workers to snacks and refreshments to mark the day, following a brief message of congratulations to staff.

In keeping with the theme of giving, PSS N.V. will also host a meet and greet to visiting customers and clients who call into the Main Post Office location in Philipsburg, providing them with light refreshment and snacks as a meet and greet.

PSS N.V. is fully in support of this year's message from Universal Postal Union (UPU), Director General, Mr. Bashir Abdirahman Hussein in his call for: " governments to continue to invest in their national postal networks so that citizens and businesses can continue to benefit from a most essential and affordable public service."

PSS N.V. customers and staff can be assured that the company is fully exploring the huge potential of e-commerce and financial support services that new technologies can provide, offering a new lease of life to postal services on St. Maarten.

"We have some very exciting plans to modernize our service and maintain our relevance in a highly competitive globalized market in where the internet and web-based services have changed the landscape of postal service delivery to customers.

"In the coming days we will announce the opening of a new location for the Post Office at a strategic location on the island, along with further plans that we have to develop e-commerce across borders, all this while continuing to provide delivery of mails and packages to our network of customers on St. Maarten," said PSS. N.V.

PSS Press Release

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Sunday October 5th, 2014 The official opening ceremony was held at the Melford Hazel Sports Complex in Sucker Garden.

The day was filled with an all female event to showcase the talented and educated girls and ladies on the island.

The opening ceremony started off with a wonderful march around the building lead by an all female cast of the Generation New Status Drum Band with all 5 teams which are Bush Tea Remedy, Lava Girlz, Learning Unlimited, Lightning and Thunderz and referees and table officials of LBC.

The program then started with a beautiful opening prayer by apostle Ms. Alicia Liverpool, St. Maarten Anthem by Supral Jads followed by speeches by our Honorable Prime Minister Ms. Sarah Wescot Williams, Head of Sports Ms. Jonelle Richardson, representative of our main sponsor Motorworld and Jeep Ms. Manisha Amjad, Ms. Marcellina Loblack with her powerful speech about Breast Cancer awareness followed by Telcel Breakthrough rap segment winner Serenity and female rapper SoloKween. Music was provided by DJ Biggers and DJ Lil R of Big & Serious Sounds

The highlights of the day came when the Prime Minister, Ms Sarah Wescot Williams and Walichi Basketball Association president & former basketball player Ms. Silvia Monte made a free throw to open the season. It was filled with ooh's and ahh's while the players and persons in attendance jumped up an down and clapped when Ms. Sarah and Ms. Silvia made their shots.

The other highlight of the game was the exhibition game between 4 of the teams. Lava Girlz & Lightning formed 1 team and Thunderz & Bush Tea Remedy formed the other. It was filled with 3 pointers, and 1's, tough and gritty play especially when on a possession 1 player blocked the other team's player 3 times in a row where the Melford Hazel complex erupted with cheers and excitement.

All in all, it was a great fun filled day and it wouldn't have been possible without our sponsors Motorworld & Jeep, Leonard Enterprises, GEBE NV, MGM Consultants, Cash 4 Gold, Computech, B&C Beverages, Sign 999, AVS news online, productions by LBB, Heavenly Water and Orco Bank.

Look out for games every weekend at Melford Hazel on Saturdays from 6-7:30pm and Sundays from 3-6:30pm. See you this Saturday!

PHILIPSBURG:--- Reliable information reaching SMN News states that Deputy Commissioner of Police Carl John who is busy upgrading his skills and education has applied for the position of Chief Commissioner of Police that was made available at KPSM. Chief Commissioner of Police Peter de Witte announced last month that he will be vacating his position this year as he wants to keep the promise he made when he took up his post in 2010. De Witte is expected to train and hand over the reins to the new Chief of Police when the new Chief of Police is selected and sworn in.
SMN News also learnt that head of the detectives department Denise Jacob who hails from Bonaire is the second candidate that applied for the position while the third candidate hails from the Netherlands. Sources said the candidate from the Netherlands is no stranger to St. Maarten since she was part of Police Work Group committee. She has been identified as one "Vis" who is a Commissioner of Police in the Netherlands.
The committee installed by Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson is headed by former Managing Director of the Windward Islands Bank Jan Beaujon. It is not yet known when the selection process will be completed. Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson could not be reached for a comment on the process on Wednesday.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The 21st annual Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Conference & Trade Show opened today, gathering about 1,000 cruise tourism stakeholders and 100 cruise executives, presidents and CEOs from the 15 FCCA Member Lines, which operate over 100 ships in Caribbean and Latin American waters. The event offers a four-day agenda chock-full of business sessions, networking opportunities and chances to maximize cruise tourism's impact, along with the attention and knowledge of cruise line personnel who decide where cruise ships call, what to sell onboard and if they should invest in destination infrastructure.

"The [FCCA Conference & Trade Show] gives you direct contact with some of the most influential decision makers in the cruise industry," says Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line CEO and FCCA chairman.

The focus is on developing business, relationships and knowledge. The Conference's business sessions offer this through one-on-one meetings, where attendees have up to three meetings with their selected cruise executives. Plus workshops share the executives', presidents', CEOs' and stakeholders' insight to help attendees learn about topics such as the cruise lines' latest happenings and route for the future; creating and maintaining a successful tour product; developing a port in partnership with the FCCA, cruise lines and the private/public sectors; and increasing cruise tourism through a unified vision, collaboration between the private and public sectors, and continual product development and innovation.

"FCCA events always give me an opportunity to meet valuable industry stakeholders," shares Adam Goldstein, president and COO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "These are the people who have ideas and projects I want, and need, to know about."

The Trade Show-the largest in the event's history-allows exhibitors to target the influential audience looking to source new business and expand existing business. Any booth puts spotlights a product, company or destination, and specialized pavilions showcase a large company or destination as a team, with a roster including destination ministries, port authorities, tour operators and vendors.

Exposure is guaranteed through numerous events hosted there, such as a cruise executive preview before the official opening, an exclusive cocktail reception for cruise executives and Platinum Members, the Conference's Wednesday night social function and the first FCCA Table Tennis Tournament, hosted by Adam Goldstein.

Traffic is also driven by a business center and the Trade Show's location itself, with all attendees entering and passing through to access the Conference's meetings, workshops, business sessions and registration.

Interaction between Conference delegates, Trade Show exhibitors and cruise line decision makers is further spurred by social functions planned by St. Maarten. And St. Maarten certainly plans to engage the attendees, as Port St. Maarten partnered with the government and local businesses to display its exciting setting, activities and WOW factor through some of the same experiences and venues that cruise passengers see and do.

In all, the FCCA Conference & Trade Show creates the perfect forum for exchanging information, sharing ideas and forging relationships. The continued involvement and invaluable insight of some of the cruise industry's key decision makers, along with a ratio of about one cruise executive per 10 attendees, make the event one of the best ways to directly target the cruise industry and maximize its benefits.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- On Tuesday, October 7, 2014, the Council of Ministers received a courtesy visit from Dr. Jennifer Rouse, Director of the Division of Ageing, which is part of the Ministry of the People and Social Development in Trinidad & Tobago. Dr. Rouse is currently on the island as the invited keynote speaker at the 'St. Maarten Symposium on Ageing 2014', which commences Wednesday, October 8 at Belair Community Center at 8:00 a.m.
The Symposium is organized by the Department of Social Development of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA) in collaboration with Social and Health Insurances (SZV) and the General Pension Fund St. Maarten (APS) in observance of the International Day of Older Persons which took place on October 1. The focus of the symposium is to examine the issues that affect the lives of the elderly as well as recognizing their contribution.
Dr. Rouse provided the Council with an introduction to the many issues faced by the elderly in general, as well as, interesting insights in what is happening in Trinidad & Tobago regarding the matter. Dr. Rouse explained that her division is called 'Division of Ageing' and not 'Division of Aged'. The reason for that distinction in terminology is that it is her division's mission to create a continuum of health and social support services from the time a person is born until they pass away. Dr. Rouse underscored the importance of "providing for the elderly from the time they are born as it is too late to wait until the elderly reach the pensionable age to make the required provisions".
Globally a trend is seen concerning ageing as persons live longer than ever before; St. Maarten will also be faced by an ageing population in the foreseeable future. Dr. Rouse stressed on the importance to anticipate these changes in order to ensure that health and social services can be kept up. She further elucidated that elderly in general are perceived as a (financial) burden, while they should be seen as a resource.
The Council listened with keen interest to the information provided by Dr. Rouse, highlighting the importance to prioritize its efforts to assist the elderly simultaneously with the younger generations, in their ageing process. Dr. Rouse advised to seek public and private partnerships and to look into an umbrella organization for the different interest groups. Sound empirical data remains essential for new policies and initiatives.
The Council was pleased to note that one of the programs highlighted by Dr. Rouse in her presentation, the recently implemented computer literacy courses for the elderly at the University of St. Maarten (USM) similarly has been done in her home country. Dr. Rouse has a vast knowledge and experience concerning the symposium topic, having graduated with a Doctorate in Public Policy in Ageing. She expressed her willingness to share her experiences to all those involved in formulating an ageing vision and framework for St. Maarten.
The Council awaits with interest the effects of the symposium and the ageing vision and framework as envisioned by the organizers.

PHILIPSBURG:--- A press release from press Prosecutor Tineke Kamps stated that the country's Chief Prosecutor Erick Noordhoek is now off island for an indefinite period of time due to serious private circumstances in his family. Kamps said during Noordhoek's absence he will be replaced by Prosecutor Karola van Nie. It should be noted that while St. Maarten's Prosecutors Office has been crying out loud that they lack staff and that they are unable to conduct necessary investigations, the country's prosecutors are constantly off island or on vacation.
It is understandable that Noordhoek had to leave his post due to family related matters, however, it behooves the people of St. Maarten the constant lack of personnel at the Public Prosecutors Office and their incompetence and inability to complete investigations properly and to take cases to court in a timely manner.
Just last week the Dutch said they are willing to send assistance to St. Maarten in order for the Prosecutors Office to properly investigate the Masbangu case. With the news that the island does not have a Chief Prosecutor at his desk it would be wise for the Minister of Justice of the Netherlands and the Minister of Foreign and Interior Affairs Ronald Plasterk to take the situation on St. Maarten rather serious and provide the country with the manpower and resources they need especially since justice remains under the Kingdom.
Instead of trying to table a motion to intervene illegally or to impose higher supervision based on the PWC report, the Dutch Parliamentarians should read the sections of the 250 page report that states that St. Maarten's justice chain lacks personnel and proper forensic equipment to conduct certain investigations. If the Dutch MPs want to see an improvement in St. Maarten then they need to provide the assistance and equipments that St. Maarten needs instead of trying to hold the country hostage.
It is no longer acceptable for the Netherlands to send recruits to St. Maarten or Prosecutors that are on pension to come to this young country to work for huge salaries and benefits and then label the country as a 'banana republic" or a country full of mafias when they are the ones that are in charge of justice and have decided to use their iron fist against St. Maarten when things are not going their way.
Crime and gun possession on St. Maarten are becoming rampant while corruption is on everyone's agenda. To curb all of the above the country needd the necessary manpower (those with integrity) and resources to combat crime and corruption. It is also no longer acceptable for an Attorney General to be friends with people that are accused of crimes and their cases are lying at the Prosecutors Office for close to five years. It's time for the Dutch MPs to take action against their own. The same way they want the Leader of the United Peoples Party investigated just like many persons on St. Maarten wants they should now investigate the Solicitor General who served twice as Chief Prosecutor on St. Maarten and now as Solicitor General, yet the Prosecutors Office complained to the PWC team that they feel that leaving office every four years is too quick for them. St. Maarten has competent lawyers who could readily fill the positions available at the Prosecutors Office and it would be wise for the Dutch to start recruiting personnel for the Prosecutors Office in the Antilles instead of sending persons here who does not even know the rules and policies of St. Maarten.

PHILIPSBURG:--- It was all cheers of joy on Saturday October 4th as Dutch Tours bus drivers drove children of the I Can Foundation, Home Outreach Foster Care and New Start for Children Foundation to Caribbean Cinemas Movie Theatres. The children, along with clients of the Sister Basilia Centre were treated to juice, popcorn, and a choice of hotdog or nachos, while watching the movie "Dolphin Tale 2".

St. Maarten Lions Club President Sunil Khatnani, at the end of the hour and a half movie, interacted with the children and asked them if they knew the moral of the story. He stated "the moral of the story is that there is always hope. No matter what the circumstances, as long as you go to school and do your best to get an education there is always hope for things to improve for the better." He reemphasized the commitment of the St. Maarten Lions Club to continue to make meaningful contributions to the community, showing love and care through positive action projects such as this one.

Lions Jessica Challenger-Vrolijk and Selma Baker spearheaded the committee that organized the event which would not have been possible without the collaboration of Caribbean Cinemas that allowed the viewing of the film outside of its regular hours, and Dutch Tours who included a drive over the Causeway Bridge as an extra experience. Divico Distributors made a special contribution of goody bags for the children as a parting gift. The Lions Club of St. Maarten extends their thanks to the afore-mentioned businesses that partnered with the club to realize this project.

POINTE BLANCHE:--- President of the FCCA Michelle Paige chaired the discussions among Ministers and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the various Caribbean Islands that are currently attending the 21st FCCA Annual Conference and Tradeshow which is being hosted by St. Maarten. Among the delegates was the Vice President of Honduras Ricardo Antonio Alvarez Arias.
St. Maarten's Minister of Tourism Ted Richardson opened the workshop/discussion as he sat next to the President of the FCCA Michel Paige. Delegates and those that attended and participated in the discussion were expecting to hear Minister Richardson sell St. Maarten passionately and to emphasize on how St. Maarten intends to broaden and better its tourism market, instead the Minister chose to open the workshop and then play a pre-recorded tape entitled the St. Maarten's Roadmap for the Tourism Industry. The Minister's poor choice obviously left many persons shocked and disappointed as one would think that the Minister had background information on the Tourism Industry on St. Maarten and most importantly he has an idea as to where the island intends to take tourism in the coming years. Obviously St. Maarten is looking at diversifying its tourism industry with medical tourism, eco-tourism and agri-tourism.
Honduras Vice President Ricardo Alverez who took up office in his country only seven months ago informed the delegates about Honduras. He said it's the FCCA who helped Honduras by promoting their island as a new destination. He said Honduras is a secure clean place to visit while its nationals open their arms to embrace their visitors. Alvarez said just some months ago Honduras was hit with an incident which could have been the end for their country and people but instead of letting go, the people and government got together and strategize in making their country safer with two ports and its also one of the safest islands to visit, he said on October 15th Honduras will be opening its third port in Mainland while they have intentions of building three other ports in their country. Alvarez said they intend to introduce a train service which would take their visitors to different sites in less than two hours, this he said is to ensure that their visitors see all that is available in Honduras, their intention is to make Honduras the best cruise destination in the world, Alvarez said.
He said the President of Honduras declared to its people that tourism is their national priority therefore every part of the country will apply the same decision to enhance security, he further stated that the ideas used was obtained from the FCCA and CTO (Caribbean Tourism Organization). Alvarez confirmed that his country has decided to make tourism their main industry and attending the 21st Annual Conference and Tradeshow here on St. Maarten is a confirmation that they mean business when it comes to developing Honduras through tourism.
In responding to Alvarez statements Michelle Paige said bad things happen everywhere and so does tragedy but the most important thing is how the countries handle these incidents. She said Honduras did not hide from their problems instead they rallied around each other and worked together to deal with the situation they had before them, doing that helped them in developing their country and even showcased their country.
A statement that was read on Tuesday night was read by one Adam, who quoted statements from the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO). Immediately after that the chairman of the CTO the Minister of Tourism of Barbados Ricard Sealy picked up on the statements made by the organization on enhancing ones economy. Sealy mandated the CTO to ensure that time bounds are inserted in their partnership relations. He said whatever they set out to do must include their next steps as well as achievable goals. He further stated that the CTO owns a hotel called the CTDC which is the marketing entity for the Caribbean.
The workshop among the Ministers and CEO lead off on topics related to what the CTO has set as their guidelines in moving forward.

Click here to view photos of the second day of the 21st Annual FCCA Conference and Tradeshow.

PHILIPSBURG:--- In connection with the ongoing investigation of the threat which took place in Sint Peters on October 6th, 2014 by individuals in two different vehicles, and which led to the shooting of two suspects by police, on Tuesday October 7th, 2014 the second vehicle with the license plate M-9428 was stopped by police. All three occupants of the vehicle were arrested for illegal firearm possession after the vehicle was searched by police and a fully loaded caliber .45 Glock pistol was found in the vehicle. All three suspects with initials D.D.K., E.D.(21), R.K.A. (25) were taken to the Philipburg Police station where they remain for further investigation.

KPSM Police Report

There is a photo currently being circulated on social media (Facebook) of someone pointing an illegal firearm at a Police Patrol car. As Acting Chief of Police, I would hereby like to send a strong message stating, that this behavior will not be tolerated whether in jest or not. I want the perpetrators to know that the same methods we used to find the photo, we will employ the same efforts and means to find the persons responsible for this punishable act. I would also like to warn the persons reposting and helping to spread this photo, to cease and refrain from doing so as this only serves to create fear within the community and you will be held accountable.
The police have been carrying out numerous controls and operations both visible to the public and behind the scenes, to curb crime and to rid the streets of illegal weapons; I want to make it known to those criminal elements in our society that we the police 'will not be intimidated, we will not be deterred from our mission and we will not back down'. Threatening a police officer is a very serious crime punishable by law. It is something we take very seriously and will be launching a full investigation into this criminal act.
We the Korps Politie Sint Maarten; have collaborated with the French Police on a campaign called: Stop. Drop & Go, which will be officially launched on October 15th, 2014. This program allows persons in possession of illegal firearms to bring their weapons to the office of the Solicitor General on Welfare Road and drop them off, without fear of prosecution - no questions asked.
I am strongly advising persons in possession of illegal firearms to take advantage of this program, because once this grace period is over, anyone found in possession of any illegal weapon, will be prosecuted.
I also want to use this opportunity to thank members of the community who have been giving the police their full support, we are committed to continue our mandate to 'protect and to serve', but can only do so effectively if we have the cooperation and support from the community.

Commissioner Carl John
Acting Chief of Police

WELFARE ROAD:--- On Monday October 6th, 2014 at approximately 8:00 p.m., police patrols from the Simpson Bay area were sent to an apartment building on the Welfare Road to investigate a case involving an eleven month old infant that was not showing any signs of life. On the scene the investigating officers spoke to the mother of the infant who stated that shortly before she had given her baby boy food and put him to rest on her bed. She then went to remove the laundry from the cloth lines. When she returned the baby was still lying on the bed. She then returned to go and fold the laundry and after doing so returned to check on her child. This is when she noticed that the child was not lying on the bed anymore. She started searching the house for the child and when she opened the bathroom she saw her son motionless with his head in the toilet bowl. She took him out and tried to reanimate him without any success. She then informed the police what had taken place. The paramedics arrived on the scene and took over the reanimation. The infant was then taken to the Sint Maarten Medical Center for further treatment. On Tuesday October 7th, 2014 the infant was being flown out to the Dominican Republic but unfortunately died 20 minutes after take off. The flight returned to Sint Maarten and the body of the infant was confiscated for further investigation.

KPSM Police Report

PHILIPSBURG:--- There will be a plenary session of the House of Parliament on October 9th.
The plenary session is set for Thursday at 10:00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.
The agenda is related to incoming documents; the approval of the decision list; and the review of the credentials of the incoming members of parliament.

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary session will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 120, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the Internet www.pearlfmradio.com, and also via www.sxmparliament.org.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI), hereby announces that there will be a partial road closure on October 8th.

The interruption to the road traffic will be on Wednesday from 9:00AM to 11:00AM.

There will be no through traffic on Simpson Bay Road coming from the Police Sub Station on to the aforementioned road.

The civil works are related to the pouring of cement. A concrete mixer truck and pump truck will be parked on the road during the aforementioned hours.

Special measures will be in place for emergency service vehicles.

Motorists are requested to be vigilant and observant for the traffic directional signs. Heavy machinery will be in use.

Ministry VROMI apologizes for any inconvenience that this may cause.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI), hereby announces that there will be a partial road closure on October 9th.

The interruption to the road traffic will be on Thursday for a period of one day.

Traffic on Queen Conch Shell Road have to pay keen attention as the intersection at Queen Conch Shell Road and Guys Estate Drive will be disrupted, as NV GEBE will be carrying out civil works in this area related to a water leak.

The second disruption to vehicular traffic will take place at the intersection Queen Conch Shell Road and Ark Shell Road. NV GEBE will be working on a water line for the area and road crossings will be placed at both intersections.

Special measures will be in place for emergency service vehicles.

Motorists are requested to be vigilant and observant for the traffic directional signs.

Ministry VROMI apologizes for any inconvenience that this may cause.

Harbor Group of Companies surpassed its 3.5 million dollar budget to host 4-day conference

POINTE BLANCHE:--- The 21st Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) conference got the largest turn out ever in its history of organizing conferences in the Caribbean. Some 11 years ago St. Maarten hosted the FCCA conference announced President of the FCCA Michel Paige on Wednesday.
The St. Maarten Harbor Group of Companies lead organizer Ichel Moeslikan told SMN News that the conference currently being held on St. Maarten took over two years of planning while the Harbour Group of Companies already surpassed its 3.5 million dollar budget to put together one of the most spectacular conferences and trade shows in the Caribbean. Moeslikan said up to late Wednesday afternoon they had just about 1,100 delegates on the island who came to participate in the tradeshows, conferences and workshops that will be held during the four day conference. Moeslikan said that their cost went up mostly because of the large turnout. "At first it was three host hotels, now its five and we have to shuttle people to and from the hotel and have more security in place. Apart from that food and other expenses sent our cost up." St. Maarten is hoping that the investment and time spent on organizing the FCCA 21st conference will attract more cruise lines to the island.
President of the FCCA and other dignitaries including former commissioner and Minister of Tourism Theodore Heyliger attended first workshop. Paige said that Heyliger is a man with vision and someone that executes whatever he envisioned. She said besides making St. Maarten one of the number one destinations in the Caribbean Heyliger was someone anyone from the cruise industry could depend on when they needed assistance. Heyliger in his presentation went back in time when he told the delegates that when he was elected in 1995 St. Maarten was struck with two major category five hurricanes and he was the commissioner of tourism at the time who had to travel to Florida to negotiate with Paige and other stakeholders. He said his first meeting was not too pleasant but over the years he managed to get the confidence of the FCCA and the cruise lines that invested in St. Maarten when they decided to build the A.C. Wathey Cruise Facilty. Heyliger further explained that while it was not always easy he managed through hard work to develop tourism on St. Maarten making it the number one destinations in the Caribbean. He admitted the political turmoil over the past four years where government changed at least three times was a major set-back for St. Maarten.
The Tradeshow Center which was built at the A.C. Wathey Cruise Facility is one of the largest tradeshow centers that has almost everything for its visitors. Several Caribbean countries such as St. Lucia, Dominica, the British Virgin Islands, the Dominican Republic, Curacao, Martinique, Belize, Guadeloupe, Mexico, Grenada, Barbados, Jamaica and several other islands ensured they had a booth at the tradeshow center where they are giving away items in order to attract tourists to their destinations.
However, St. Maarten/St. Maarten topped it off with several booths representing the island. Locally made finger snacks and champagne are being served round the clock. Moeslikan said that the organizers of the conference made sure they showcased the island's local cuisine. Wednesday night she said the top chefs of the island will be preparing the dinners and deserts for their guests. At one of the booths held by the Harbor Group of Companies local snacks such as conch, boudin, fried shrimp, potato balls, crockets and other snacks that are prepared by locals are being served. The French side of the island had its sugar cakes, dried nuts and delicacies that was also readily available.
A major attraction at the tradeshow was the island's recycling booth that attracted many persons. Another big attraction for St. Maarten is the St. Maarten Nectar products that are on full display, one could find the Baby Bug, Bug off for adults, tanning oil, and the after sun lotion and bug off candles. All of Nectar's repellents are made from natural ingredients. Nectar also had lots of goodies such as the safety tool to help drivers that are trapped in their vehicles to get out, and the rain poncho for persons to move around even when it's raining.
The Dominican Republic also has a beautiful display in the trade center, including Dominica who brought along many of their home made items to give away, ground coffee, hand-made peppermint soap were some of the items Dominica had at their booths as giveaways. The BVI had lots of marketing materials and first class pens that has a flashlight on it for its visitors. Overall the first day of the conference can be considered as a successful day as many of the locals entrepreneurs made their way to the tradeshow center to show their faces and to sip and chat with the visitors on the island.
The FCCA conference will continue until Thursday where several of the other planned activities will take place.

Click here to view more photos of the FCCA Conference and Tradeshow.

SIMPSON BAY:--- Educator Dr. Rhoda Arrindell will be the featured guest of the "Afternoon With the Authors" here at Royal Palm Hotel, on October 12, from 4 PM–6 PM, said Arrindell's publisher HNP.
The Melly Mel book club will host the affair. "Guests will have the distinct privilege of hearing the author share highlights about her new book, Language, Culture, and Identity in St. Martin," said Melly Mel.
The book club is part of a lifestyle forum with features ranging "from books to fragrances to women's empowerment to coffee to shoes and more," according to its Facebook page.
There will also be "the opportunity to interact with Dr. Rhoda Arrindell during the question and answer and comment segment," said Melly Mel. The organizer promises a "majestic" Sunday afternoon that will also include poetry and words of encouragement.
The "Afternoon With the Authors," the second since last June, is a free event but persons wishing to attend must RSVP via inbox at www.facebook.com/MajesticMovement by Wednesday, October 8 to reserve seating, as space is limited, said Melly Mel. The forum has an online fan base of over 250 people.
A leading linguist on the island, Dr. Arrindell will discuss the history of language contact and ethnicity in St. Martin where, according to her book, "The major languages spoken ... are English, Spanish, French-lexified Creole, French, Dutch, and Papiamentu respectively. These are in addition to Hindi, Chinese, Arabic, and others, which children speak as their first language. By the time they get to grade school, most if not all, St. Martin children have already acquired the popular English-lexified vernacular."
The book's chapter on language policy issues "toward a national identity," and whether success or failure in education is related to bilingualism and multilingualism in St. Martin, will be touched on by the author and open for audience discussion, said HNP president Jacqueline Sample.
Language, Culture, and Identity in St. Martin by Rhoda Arrindell is available at Van Dorp, Arnia's, Shipwreck, and Amazon.com. Copies will be available at Melly Mel's "Afternoon With the Authors" on Sunday for book signing by the author. Light refreshments will be served.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA), the largest business representative on the island, held its second Annual General Meeting on September 30, 2014 at the offices of the association. The new board, 15 strong, welcomed new comers: Mrs. Debby Lind-Steyn, Managing Director at Aquamarina, Drs. Francio Guadeloupe, Dean of Academics at the University of St. Martin, Mr. Michael Cleaver, CEO at WINAIR, Mr. Jeffrey de la Combe, Island Manager at Tropical Shipping, and Mr. Jan Peter Holtland, Financial Controller at Windward Roads. Although elected in September, they will not be taking their seats until January 1st 2015, nonetheless, they have already committed to assist the association when and where possible.
Following the success of the first Annual General Meeting which was held on September 18, 2014 at the Princess Port de Plaisance Resort & Casino, during which Prof Dr. Ryan Peterson from the University of Aruba gave a most engaging presentation on education Transcending the tides, Thriving on Talent; the association received many new members including The Hillside Christian Schools, The Hard Rock Café, Ballerina Jewelers, MGM Consultants, and on the morning of the second Annual General Meeting, the Atrium Resort and Simpson Bay Resort, bringing the total of new members so far for 2014 to 33.

The SHTA still has several events planned for this year, starting with a Labor Law Seminar on October 22, followed by a Job Fair, and a mixer with Prof Age Bakker of the CFT during the first week of December. The coveted Annual Crystal Pineapple Awards Gala event will be taking place on November 21 at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino. CPA was established in 2005 by the SHTA to recognize outstanding performance of those individuals, companies and organization which have made significant contributions to the tourism industry and the island as a whole. SHTA's Executive Director, Ms. Karen Hana, would like to encourage St. Maarten to vote for their choice of nominees as soon as the voting process opens on October 13th. Voters can access the SHTA's website at www.shta.com/crystal-pineapple-awards.
The SHTA is dedicated to bringing quality to all aspects of life on St. Maarten by promoting sustainable development for its members in cooperation with the social partners and the creation of a fair marketplace. For more information please contact our offices at 542-0108 or visit our website at www.shta.com.

SHTA Press Release

PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Youth Parliament is launching their parliamentary years 2014-2015 tomorrow, Wednesday October 8th. This launch will introduce to the public the new and returning members of the Youth Parliament for the next parliamentary year. This opening comes at a pressing time in St. Maarten politics and we kindly extend our invitation to the general public to pay keen attention to the leaders of tomorrow. There will be a live broadcast of the opening on Cable TV channel 120 starting at 11 am, and also a live feed online at www.sxmparliament.org. We hope you can join us on such a tremendous occasion as the youth continue to take strides for the betterment of St. Maarten.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Public Prosecutors Service appealed the Courts decision in the case against the 36-year-old man ES R. On September 30, 2014, the Court acquitted suspect ES R. of attempted homicide and attempted aggravated assault. The case was disputed during the court hearing of September 10, 2014. ES R. is suspected of shooting twice from his car at the victim DR W. This happened on March 12, 2014.
One bullet didn't hurt the victim, while the other one was shot in the right thigh. The victim was taken to the hospital for medical treatment and could leave the hospital after surgery. The suspect made a statement for the first time during the court hearing: he confessed that he shot the victim. Therefore, the prosecution does not agree with the Court's verdict that the acts of the accused cannot be qualified as an attempted homicide, nor as an attempt to inflict grievous bodily harm to the victim.

Press Release from the Public Prosecutor's Office

HARBOUR VIEW:--- On October 6, 2014, His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday, requested Mr. Theo Heyliger to form a new government as formateur.
Last Friday October 3rd the Governor received the final report of the informateurs Joe Richardson and Marcel Gumbs, plus the governing accord 2014-2018 signed by the 7 members of the UP and Mr. V.H.C. de Weever who will take up a seat in parliament as of October 10, 2010. The 8 MPs elect agreed in the governing accord that they will form a government that will among others give priority to the approval of the 2015 budget and to the decision making regarding the different reports on integrity of the public administration as well as to the execution thereof. Subsequently the Governor consulted the leaders of all political parties represented in Parliament and Mr. V.H.C. de Weever.
Having evaluated the report of the informateurs and following the consultations, the Governor met with Mr. Theo Heyliger today and requested him to form a new government; based on a majority in Parliament, and consisting of ministers who are committed to the promotion of the well-being of Sint Maarten and dedicated to jointly execute the governing accord 2014-2018. The Governor further emphasized the importance of the strict observance of the regulatory requirements including the screening criteria, applicable to the appointment for candidate-ministers.
The formateur took the commission into consideration and will inform the Governor regularly during the formation process. The Governor requested Mr. Heyliger to present him the final report of the formation process ultimately October 20th, 2014.

From the Cabinet of the Governor of St. Maarten

Suspects Aimed Loaded Gun at Police Officers

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Monday October 6th, 2014 at approximately 12:15 p.m. police officers received information from the Central Police Dispatch that two vehicles, one a grey Kia with license plate M-4880 and a white Toyota Corolla with license plate (P or M) 9240 while driving in the St. Peters area had threatened someone with a gun. After committing this act they left the scene in the direction of the L.B. Scot road. Immediately patrols went into that direction to locate both vehicles and to arrest the suspects in question. The grey Kia was seen driving on the L.B. Scot road in the direction of the Grand Marche. Immediately this vehicle was pursued by a police patrol and stopped on the parking lot of "Cost-U-Less". When the officers approached the vehicle, the passenger of the vehicle aimed a gun at the officers which caused them to pull their weapons and one officer fired a single shot at the passenger side door. At the same time a back-up police patrol arrived on the scene. The officers saw when two suspects jumped out of the car and ran in the direction of the cricket field. The police officers chased the suspects on foot and while running away one of the suspects who had a firearm in his hand turned and aimed it at the officers. In their defense the officers had no other choice than to pull their firearm. Shots were fired at the legs of the suspects however they continued fleeing by jumping over fences and running through yards in the neighborhood. While running away the officers saw that suspect dropped his firearm and continued running. At this point the officers lost sight of the suspects. Shortly after both suspects were found hiding behind of a building. The suspect B.D. (21) was shot in his right leg and K. L. (25) was shot in his left leg. Both suspects were arrested and treated by paramedics on the scene. Both suspects were transported to the Sint Maarten Medical Center for further treatment. The scene was closed-off in order for the Forensic Department to collect evidence. The firearm which is a caliber .45 "Glock" was confiscated for further investigation. Traffic in that area was also temporarily diverted. After treatment at the Sint Maarten Medical Center both suspects were released in police custody where they will remain for further investigation.
The police department is working with limited resources and sometimes under extreme conditions to rid the streets of illegal firearms and other criminal activity taking place on the island. The arrest of two suspects in this case would not have been as successful without the assistance of the community. The Police Department is encouraging to community to continue calling in and giving the police information regarding any crime or criminal activity.

KPSM Police Report

GRAND CASE:--- Residents and visitors of all ages are invited to celebrate the island's migratory birds this Saturday at the 2014 Migratory Bird Festival. The event will take place on October 11th from 9am to noon at the University of St. Martin on Pond Island in Philipsburg. The Migratory Bird Festival is a free, public Wildlife Discovery Event created by Les Fruits de Mer for locals and tourists alike to see and learn about the marvelous migratory birds that travel thousands of miles each year to visit or spend the winter in St. Martin.

The Festival will offer a full array of activities designed and lead by naturalists, bird specialists, and other wildlife aficionados. "It's a great opportunity to learn about migratory birds from experts," says Les Fruits de Mer President Jennifer Yerkes. "We'd like to welcome everyone to come out and enjoy the day, and discover a bit about these phenomenal birds that connect the Americas and this island with their amazing journeys."

Event-goers can learn about the migratory birds on St. Martin and the unique wetland environments that attract them at the Festival's multimedia migratory bird presentation, which will also spotlight how the island's salt pond environments link nature, culture, and history. The presentation will be given regularly throughout the Festival by Mark Yokoyama, Les Fruits de Mer co-founder and author of The Incomplete Guide to the Wildlife of St. Martin.

Local bird specialist and professional birding guide Binkie van Es of Sint Maarten Birding will lead birding tours of the Great Salt Pond, where event-goers can discover how to look and listen for migratory bird species and practice bird-watching skills to use on future outings. Tours will leave regularly throughout the event and will be available in French, English, and Dutch. Attendees who plan to go on a birding tour are recommended to bring sturdy shoes, a water bottle and their own pair of binoculars if they have one. There will be binoculars available for sharing on the tours.

The Festival's "Portable Pond" Observation Station will give adults and kids an unforgettable opportunity to get up-close and personal with the aquatic insects, crabs, and other small animals that many of St. Martin's migratory birds eat when they arrive hungry after their long journey to the island.

People of all ages can participate in the creative activities inspired by migratory birds, including coloring, sketching, and the Build-A-Bird mobile craft. Younger kids will enjoy coloring and activity pages designed by local artists featuring migratory birds, and older children and adults will be able to craft their own bird mobiles.

The 2014 Migratory Bird Festival is being held at the University of St. Martin, located in the middle of the Great Salt Pond, the seasonal home of many migratory bird species. USM has been offering students the opportunity to discover their potential and helping them realize their academic and professional goals for over two decades, and is committed to the continuous development of programs that will improve the quality of life for the people of this island and the region.

The 2014 Migratory Bird Festival will also host the award ceremony for the Birds of St. Martin Photo, Drawing, and Writing Competition organized by Sea Grape Tours for kids ages 7-13, and entries will be on display.

The Migratory Bird Festival is part of International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD), which includes festivities throughout the Americas, from Canada to South America. The international organizer of IMBD is Environment for the Americas, and the regional organizer is Birds Caribbean, largest regional conservation organization in Caribbean. The Migratory Bird Festival was created by Les Fruits de Mer as St. Martin's own local annual celebration of IMBD, and the 2014 Migratory Bird Festival is brought to you by Les Fruits de Mer and the University of St. Martin.

The 2014 Migratory Bird Festival is made possible by the hard work and talent of many volunteers.

GREAT BAY:--- A diverse group of professional individuals and couples responded to the invitation extended by Step Out Promotions two weeks ago and signed up for the first public workshop on Conflict Resolution. They were not disappointed.

Facilitated by Vashtar Consulting Agency's Rolande Tobias, the workshop was held at the Community Outreach Mentorship and Empowerment (COME) Center. Participants were engaged in personality surveys, a powerpoint presentation, motivational talk by the coordinators and finally treated to lunch after a certificate award ceremony. It was all held under the theme, Conflict Resolution: The Attitudes, Skills and Strategies for a Peaceful Environment.

Tobias' presentation featured an 8 step guide to resolving conflict, however he was quick to point out that not all conflict can be resolved.
"Conflict is a natural disagreement resulting from individuals or groups differing in attitudes, beliefs, values or need. It has existed since the days of Cain and Abel and while no one can avoid conflict altogether, effective resolution is important. How well one handles conflict depends on a concern for one's own needs versus concern for the needs of other.
You must be able to define the conflict objectively and not subjectively. Choose a neutral battleground, encourage everyone to speak, practice active listening and not passive hearing. List shared concerns and needs, determine the seriousness of objections, sum up agreement areas and make mutual benefit agreements, starting with what's doable," Tobias explained.

Among those in attendance were Shelly Alphonso, Miko Snijders, Nolyka Watson, Alphonso Missoudan, Ashma John, Marcia Nisbeth, Maureen Adams, Orlando Eights, Ingrid Gumbs, Charity Lady Destiny Dunker, Patricia Peter, Andrea McRae-Morrison, Earl Morrison, Celine Carty-Brookson, Lemuel Fleming, Gloria Basil-Henry, Janice Peters, Roseta Riley, Sanjana Manek, Marva Sam, Clarena Connor, Elizabeth Denton, Leon Denton, Stephen Gayle, Opal Weathers, Glenda Wilson, Arlene Wilson, Valerie Brazier, Shervin Woods, Elfleda Lake, Abiola Fleming, Jacqueline Wilson and Linda Moise.

Based on the feedback provided by participants, Step Out Promotions is pleased to announce that an advanced workshop on Conflict Resolution will be held on Saturday November 8, 2014 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the COME Center. This event will comprise more roleplaying and breakout sessions with practical applications of the models proposed by Tobias in the first workshop. For registration or to order a DVD of last Saturday's session the general public is asked to call call 523-0901 or 523-9553 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Ted Richardson on Sunday visited the site where the 21st Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Cruise Conference & Trade Show will kick off at the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo facility on Monday.

The Minister was accompanied by a member of his Cabinet and walked through the exhibition hall observing the various works that were on-going to have everything in place for the official opening which will take place on Tuesday afternoon.

"This is part of my hands-on approach. We are the host of this conference, and we will be showcasing what the country has to offer to approximately 1000 visitors this week. This is an exciting time for the country," Minister Hon. Ted Richardson said on Sunday from the conference exhibition hall in Point Blanche.

PHILIPSBURG:--- As part of its decade long commitment in supporting Breast cancer awareness, Yoplait™ invites St. Maarten to help for a world without breast cancer.

From the 1st of October to the 31st of October 2014, 5¢ of each Yoplait™ 6 Oz Cup lid yogurt sold in St.Maarten at participating supermarkets will be directed towards supporting the initiative "Friends in the fight". The donation will be given to the St. Maarten Lions Club and will total $2,000.

The Elektralyets Foundation in collaboration with the Positive Foundation also present their annual Pink Phit Phabulous Walk-a-thon. Consumers who will be participating in the Pink, Phit & Phabulous Walk on October 12th , 2014 from 5:00 am to 10:30am from Divico in Colebay will have the opportunity to receive a Yoplait T-shirt for the walk by either donating $5 on the day of the walk, purchasing Yoplait at participating supermarkets, or donating $5 for the Yoplait t-shirt at Divico Cash & Carry A portion of the funds donated will go toward the Positive Foundation, Still Beautiful foundation and the Elektralyets Foundation.

Consumers can find Yoplait Yogurt at the following participating Supermarkets:

1. Le Grand Marche Bushroad
2. The Fresh Market
3. Cakehouse
4. Le Grand Marche Colebay
5. Afoo Supermarket
6. EconoFood
7. Le Gourmet Marche Simpsonbay
8. Food Club
9. Yang Yang
10. Le Gourmet Marche Cupecoy
11. Daily Extra Supermarket
12. Tesco
13. Premier Supermarket
14. Aki
15. K Store
16. TLC Supermarket
17. Econo
18. Trocadero
19. Plaza China
20. Fresh Pond
21. Popular Pondfill
22. Johnnie 2
23. Palms Minimart
24. Prime Cash & Carry

Each year, Yoplait™ organizes special efforts and allocates funds for research, studies, and educational material about breast cancer. In addition, the brand invites women to maintain good cardiovascular health, prevent osteoporosis, and have a good overall health.

"Early detection saves lives and maintaining good health is the key to breast cancer prevention. Yoplait™ continues its commitment in supporting the fight against breast cancer" said Graciela Sánchez, Yoplait™ Brand Manager. "Since 1977 in the U.S., Yoplait™ contributed more than $34 million to the cause through the Save Lids to Save Lives program, Race for the Cure and other initiatives."

Yoplait™ encourages the entire community to join in its efforts and support the millions of women and men who work together against breast cancer. Together we can make a difference. For more information on joining this campaign please e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PHILIPSBURG:--- By letter dated September 18, 2014, the Minister of Justice of Sint Maarten to the Council for Law Enforcement requested to start an investigation into the prosecution policy of the office of the Public Prosecution's Office of Sint Maarten. The occasion of the inspection survey by request of the Minister, is the judgment of the Court of First Instance in the so called Masbangu-case, in which the Court held that the Public Prosecutor (OM) in this file has at least called the semblance of class justice over them taking prosecution decisions.
The Public Prosecutor's Office of Sint Maarten has taken notice of the letter of the Minister of Justice and wants to cooperate in this investigation because the term "class justice" has a very negative meaning.
Therefore, the Attorney-General of Curaçao, Sint Maarten and Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, Mr. Guus Schram, has already informed the Council that the Prosecution is willing in any way possible to cooperate and give it's support to this inspection investigation.
The Public Prosecution Service will provide, during the investigation, insight of the prosecution policy, so that a balanced and accurate picture is given.
Should the Council for Law Enforcement in response to the study do recommendations, then they will be examined by the Public Prosecutor's Office with great interest and followed where possible.

PHILIPSBURG:--- During the early morning hours today CaribServe internet service, the broadband internet service of UTS, was disrupted for several hours.

This service interruption was due an upgrade that was scheduled to take place during the early morning hours of Monday, October 6. Regretfully the upgrade activities took longer than planned and internet service to CaribServe customers was disrupted. The upgrade, which should not have caused any down-time, was scheduled to take place overnight to minimize the chance of disruption to customers. UTS technicians worked diligently to restore service to customers as soon as possible and service was fully restored at 10 am this morning. Chippie mobile voice and internet service were unaffected by this outage.

"UTS sincerely apologizes for the inconvenience this outage may have caused our CaribServe customers," said UTS Marketing and Communication Officer, Ivy Lambert. "We are thankful that the majority of the down-time was during the early morning hours, when the need for data connectivity is significantly diminished. We would like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding while we worked on resolving the outage," Lambert continued.

UTS Press Release

PHILIPSBURG:--- Tomorrow's opening of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association's (FCCA) 21st annual Conference & Trade Show-the Caribbean's largest cruise tourism conference and trade show-will reconfirm St. Maarten's commitment to maximizing cruise tourism's economic impact.

St. Maarten is looking to build onto their past growth by hosting the event-along with about 1,000 tourism stakeholders and 100 executives, presidents and CEOs from FCCA's 15 Member Lines-for a second time. The destination knows the significance because of their progress after their first Conference in 2003. In 2001, St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies reported 875,540 passenger arrivals. This number rose 70 percent to 1,490,386 in 2005, just two years after hosting the Conference.

These numbers extend far beyond the cruise pier; they impact the entire economy. According to the Business Research & Economic Advisors (BREA) 2012 study, Economic Contribution of Cruise Tourism to the Destination Economies, the average expenditure per passenger in St. Maarten was $185.40, which benefitted numerous industries through purchases of goods that included food and beverage at restaurants and bars, clothing, shore excursions, ground transportation, local crafts and souvenirs, watches and jewelry, perfumes and cosmetics, electronics, entertainment/night clubs/casinos, retail purchases of liquor, and telephone and internet.

However, this is hardly the only economic contribution provided by cruise tourism. The same study showed that the average expenditure per crew in St. Maarten was $135.50 for similar products and services. Plus it revealed the direct and indirect employment generated by the cruise industry, totaling 8,123 jobs and $159.8 million in employee wages.

By these figures, St. Maarten's 70 percent increase after hosting their first Conference represents an increase of $114 million in passenger spending alone, along with the coinciding growth of crew spending, cruise line spending, employment and indirect contribution of passengers that return to the destination as stay-over visitors.

Projecting this same growth after this year's Conference would be aggressive, considering that in 2014 St. Maarten expects 1.67 million passenger arrivals onboard 523 vessels from FCCA Member Lines alone. But a single cruise ship has a large economic wake. BREA's figures show that just one average cruise vessel-130,000 GRT, 1,040 feet long, carrying 3,000 passengers and 500 crewmembers-would generate $556,200 in passenger spending and $67,750 in crew spending, along with roughly $15,000 in port fees, totaling $638,950.

Projecting a more conservative growth rate of 20 percent, or 105 additional cruise ship calls, would mean an extra $67 million per year directly contributed to St. Maarten's economy. Plus a 20 percent increase in cruise tourism-impacted employment would represent 1,625 more jobs with $32 million in wages.

As Mark Mingo, CEO of Port St. Maarten, noted, hosting the event is also a step in establishing conference and convention tourism. "Conference and convention tourism is a niche market that should be explored and developed," said Mingo.

"We have an opportunity in the FCCA post-conference period to work towards establishing St. Maarten as a dynamic business events destination."

Considering the potential economic impact from cruise and convention tourism, it becomes easy to understand why St. Maarten again decided to invest in the FCCA Conference & Trade Show.

CUTD in Touch with UN, Dutch should not interfere in St. Maarten's Problems

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Citizens United for True Democracy (CUTD) plans to hold a protest march on Monday October 13th, 2014 starting at the WIFOL building on the Pondfill where they will march to the Government Administration Building to call on the Government of St. Maarten to stop the Dutch Members of Parliament namely Andre Bosman and Ronald van Raak who managed to rally the second chamber to take measures against St. Maarten based on the recently published PWC report. The three members of the committee Elton Jones, Etienne "Toochie" Meyers and Edwin Gumbs told reporters at a press conference on Monday morning that they had enough of the Dutch interfering in the affairs of St. Maarten.
Elton Jones said it has been for some time now that he has been monitoring what has been taking place in The Hague and what is said about St. Maarten and its politicians. Furthermore he said if Philipsburg will not react to what is said and done in The Hague then people of St. Maarten will have to react. Jones said they will hold a manifestation in front of the Government Building on Monday, while they are in touch with a person from the UN who was part of the decolonization committee. He said they are also busy with independent nations of the Caribbean who are ready to sponsor St. Maarten in the United Nations where they intend to send a full report of what has transpired over the years between the Dutch and St. Maarten. Jones said a senior official of the UN told them that Curacao submitted a complaint to them about the attitude of the Netherlands which they intend to hand in on Tuesday (October 7th, 2014).
Jones said what the Dutch MPs are doing is wrong and it's also negative and in his view there should be "due process" because St. Maarten has a legal system which should be able to work. "It cannot be that the Dutch could set aside a democratic election and choose who they would like to have in government in Philipsburg. If this happens then democracy is a farce. A new government has been elected, they should be afforded the opportunity to implement some of the recommendations given in the PWC Integrity Report. It cannot be that the Dutch will react on every rumor. Minister Plasterk said some time ago that the instruction was given to the governor because of rumors, governments don't function on rumors. The Dutch cannot continue to impose on a country that presents a balanced budget of over 400 million guilders and it does not contain one cent from the Netherlands." The Dutch does not invest in St. Maarten yet they want to dictate how St. Maarten should spend its money and how they should run their country. Jones said the CUTD intends to move the people of St. Maarten in order to send a clear message to the Dutch that the days of colonialism and 'massa' are over.
Etienne Meyers said that the CUTD had to get involved because the country's democracy is under attack. Meyers said it is the Dutch that brought the people of St. Maarten from Africa here and therefore they are responsible for St. Maarten and its people. The three-man committee members wore white t-shirts bearing handprints of blood signifying the blood and sweat of their forefathers. Meyers sent a clear message to the Dutch MPs telling them that if they want some serious problems in St. Maarten then they could continue with the interference. "This is a special message to MP Ronald van Raak and Andre Bosman, remember May 30th 1969, while we do not want to go in that direction we will step forward." Meyers further explained that they are in touch with the United Nations with whom they brought forward their plight. He said on Tuesday the UN will be discussing the concerns of Curacao and they might also include St. Maarten's concerns when it comes to the Dutch interference forgetting they have the tripartite committee. Meyers said that based on information he obtained from the UN, the Dutch indicated to the UN that they no longer have colonies instead Curacao, St. Maarten and Aruba are independent countries.
Edwin Gumbs who worked in the Parliament of the Netherlands for years said he lived in the Netherlands for 43 years and while on St. Maarten he is considered as a "Dutch man" he is part of the CUTD in the interest of St. Maarten. Gumbs said Bosman and van Raak are two Members of Parliament yet they managed to garner the majority in the Parliament of the Netherlands to impose some measures on St. Maarten because they do not like a particular political leader on St. Maarten. "I find all political leaders should have been here because it's about them. It's about Holland interfering in the internal affairs of St. Maarten as well as Curacao. We are together in the statute with the Kingdom of the Netherlands therefore we should be partners with equal rights but we are not respected as such. Two parliamentarians said that Mr. Heyliger should be investigated and the whole world is screaming, based on their actions Heyliger is already guilty. I think all Members of Parliament on St. Maarten should become part of this CUTD because right now it's Theodore Heyliger but tomorrow it will be about them it could be Marlin or Wescot Williams anytime soon."
When asked if the CUTD wants a stable government with stability on St. Maarten, Jones said that they do want a stable government. When asked why now and the government is not formed, Jones responded by saying that even though the government is not yet formed The Hague wants a government within a government. He said he was in government in 1994 when St. Maarten was under higher supervision and he knows exactly what transpired. He said when those persons came here in 1990's they spent thousands of guilders and then left. He said that did not work back then and it will not work now. He further explained that what the Dutch is doing is they are trying to weaken the government in order to scare away investors. He stated that St. Maarten has 'mafia' politicians and the island is a "banana republic". With these statements no one would want to invest in St. Maarten.
Edwin Gumbs said that "vote buying" is a Caribbean thing and for him giving people some money or gifts during election is nothing new. He felt that is why politicians in the United States and the Caribbean spend so much monies on political campaigns and St. Maarten is no different.

Click here to view more photos of the CUTD in action on Monday.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday October 2nd there was an important gathering at the Philipsburg Police Station. A group of very important persons, namely the secondary school representatives, were informed about the 'Stop, Drop and Go'-project which will start on October 15th. The 'Stop, Drop and Go'-project is the collective project from the French and Dutch authorities (Government, Public Prosecutor's Office and Police) to encourage the people of Sint Maarten and Saint Martin to surrender all the illegal fire-arms and to create a safer Sint Maarten without guns.
The secondary school representatives are extremely important for this project, because one of the target groups that really needs to be aware of the 'Stop, Drop and Go'-project are the youngsters living on Sint Maarten. They are the future of our island, so they need to be aware of the trouble these guns may cause for their future and of the dangers that illegal fire-arms can cause.

Explanation by public prosecutor;
During this very constructive and inspiring meeting Mrs. Karola van Nie, the public prosecutor that works especially on youth matters, made a statement about the extreme dangers of guns in our society. She explained to the school representatives of the Public Schools, namely Milton Peters College, Sint Maarten Academy/PSVE, and the Sint Maarten Vocational Training School, how serious their contribution to this project is. Because nowadays youngsters are more and more confronted with guns and fact is that more and more youngsters carry guns. Their arguments to do this are various. In our opinion, there are no arguments "period" as an excuse to carry guns on our Friendly Island. Everyone wants to live and grow up in a safe Sint Maarten without guns "period".
Van Nie also talked about their future, because young people can experience difficulties finding a job at a later stage of their life when their names are 'in the books'. For most jobs, for example, you need a VOG (a declaration of good behavior) to be hired with the company you choose to work with. If you can't get a VOG, you can't get a job. And no job means "no income" to take care of your family.
One of the main reasons that you don't receive a VOG is when you have a criminal record. You will definitely have a criminal record when you are convicted, because you had an illegal fire-arm in your possession. It takes you at least eight years to get your name off the criminal record, plus the time the judge told you your punishment would last. In other words when you are convicted for the possession of an illegal weapon, it can easily take you ten years before you get a VOG. According to the Dutch law it's also illegal to own a 'look alike'-gun, like BB guns for example. These weapons look so real that people can't tell the difference between a real weapon and a fake one. People feel just as endangered when they are threatened with a fake gun, and therefore the punishment for possessing a fake weapon is the same as the punishment for possessing a real gun.
All the representatives were very impressed with the story Van Nie told them and they were more than willing to get 'on board' of the 'Stop, Drop and Go'-project. They came with some very creative ideas to support the project. Van Nie made the representatives promise that they would give a lot of attention to the 'Stop, Drop and Go'-project in their schools and convince the students of the fact that it isn't cool to own a gun. It's extremely dangerous and life threatening. One impulsive action with a gun and you can be the cause of the death of a classmate. One moment of 'not thinking straight' and you can be the cause of a family in grief. Besides of that, you will have to spend a lot of time in jail, and that's not at all conducive to a future career.

Enough is enough;
These incidents simply must not happen on our Friendly Island. Youngsters need to become aware of the fact that these violent situations can't go on anymore, enough is enough! Now is the perfect time to 'Stop, Drop and Go'. Hand in your illegal fire-arm voluntarily from October 15th to October 31st 2014 and you won't be prosecuted for possessing an illegal gun. After this period of time though, if you get caught with an illegal gun in your possession, prosecutors will demand higher punishments and the police actions are going to be stronger. It's all about your future. So you'd better make the right choice now.

Make Sint Maarten a safer place
On working days (Mon-Fri) between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. you can surrender your illegal guns in the office of the Attorney General at Puerta del Sol Plaza, Welfare Road #68 (third floor) in Simpson Bay.
Do this now, because a safer Sint Maarten starts with you!

PHILIPSBURG:--- "Over the past two weeks much has been said about the PWC Integrity report locally and across the ocean. Unfortunately some are attempting to paint a picture of an unwilling St. Maarten, unwilling to address reported and alleged integrity issues highlighted in the report, a St. Maarten comfortable with the status quo. The volume on the noise has been increased, but it is important that we filter through this and focus.
"I thought it was important to point out that contrary to the opinion of some, you cannot wave a magic wand and address every reported issue overnight. Comments emanating from the Netherlands would have you believe that St. Maarten could have solved or curtailed every instance of reported integrity issues the same week the PWC report was issued.

"St. Maarten, in their opinion, should not be given the opportunity to address its own issues. St. Maarten, they imply, is not capable of doing this and requires that its hand be held. I want to assure the people of St. Maarten that the incoming UP led government, duly elected by the people, has every intention to seriously look at the findings of these integrity reports.

"In the same breath, the world should not expect our democratic government to set aside all forms of due process and legal frameworks and address these findings irresponsibly. Every branch of government, individual and instance that has been tagged by these reports must be looked at objectively. We also have to differentiate between conjecture and fact. We will hold true to democratic principles. We will not conduct ourselves as a radical and reckless mob or go on a witch hunt in order to satisfy ulterior motives.

"The public discussions have given rise to a broad examination of the level of integrity and propriety that the public ought to expect from their government and government entities. It is a worthwhile discussion that should in time result in dispelling any mistrust the public might have of government, politicians and of the institutions that serve them if allegations prove to be true following the application of due process and the rule of law.

"Rather than acknowledging that St. Maarten should be given the opportunity to right its own ship and that St. Maarten has already taken numerous steps to enhance integrity, voices from abroad know that nothing erodes trust faster than allegations of corruption. Circumstances are often such that pretence and untruthfulness are more likely to promote their ends than honesty.

"We cannot be distracted; we must stay true to our mission to promote integrity throughout government even if the voices from abroad believe we should ignore due process. The great majority of St. Maarten's public servants are good people dedicated to their jobs. That a few should so severely damage the hard won reputation of the whole public sector is deeply saddening.

"The incoming UP led government will also be an open one. We have to finally dispel the thought that government promotes a culture of secrecy where information is scarce and only a few have access and benefit. Government must be open to all. Transparency promotes accountability and an open government promotes efficiency and participation to the benefit of every citizen.

"May God Bless St. Maarten and its people."

Leader of the United People's party Member of Parliament Hon. Theo Heyliger

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake says we need to raise the bar of politics to a higher level.

"The voting population sent a strong message in this year's parliamentary elections to the candidates and also to the leaders of the different political parties. The people are looking for better representation, and the way the people's business is being handled should be in an open and transparent manner which I fully support.

"We need to raise the bar for the next four years and take care of our people. For the next four years I will be raising the bar in politics with my back to basics approach and take our country to the next level.

"I have listened and read the newspaper where outside critics for the past two weeks who have had a lot to say, but it is we who have to take the reins and bring about the change. As a new country, we have learnt a lot during the first four years of country status.

"We need to focus on the forest (country) instead of the trees (individuals). It is not going to be easy but we got to make firm decisions in the best interest to move this country forward for our people to prosper in the future.

"I believe we have a very good team now in place to take this country forward. It is what the people wanted and I am happy to be part of this team.

"Concerning the counterpart policy, this is nothing to fear, but we need all stakeholders to work together to make it work. Annually we give out millions of guilders in scholarships and the country needs to get its return on the investment made. Our young people want to work and we should be able to provide them with work once they get the training for the position. They have nowhere else to go but here, and they should be able to find work at home.

"The next four years in Government will be critical for the country and we need to move forward or we are going to lose our competitive edge in the Caribbean.

"We got back the results from the two integrity reports and we just got to implement the recommendations from the two reports. We don't need the outside world to define us.

"My mom always says: The people put their trust in you and all they are asking is for you to do the right thing with integrity and empower our people to succeed in their own country. I have no fear.

"You only have fear when you did something wrong or gis uilty of something. The only person I fear is GOD. It takes a lot for a person to put their trust in you, and all they are asking from their elected representative is not to let them down and show integrity and make firm decisions with the people at the forefront in whatever you do, because it is the people who put you there.

"My vision is to empower our people to become and continue to be leaders within their country and the world.
We can only do this as one collective body within Government.

"We need to raise the bar in parliament. If a project is good for the people, we got to get away from just focussing on the negatives of the project and put the emphasis on the benefits for the people, or bring a solution instead of just criticizing the project," Minister Hon. Maurice Lake concluded.

POINT BLANCHE:--- Business owners/managers have until October 8 to register for the Open Day at the 21st Annual Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Cruise Conference & Trade Show that will take place on Thursday, October 9 from 8:00am to 1:00pm.

Registration opened last week Wednesday, October 1. Individuals who register will only have access to the trade floor of the conference/trade show.

Registration can be done by visiting Port St. Maarten's website: www.portofstmaarten.com and click on FCCA Registration and follow the instructions. Individuals can also visit the Port St. Maarten Office at the Captain Hodge Wharf Police Sub Station on the boardwalk to fill in a registration form.

The deadline for registration is Wednesday, October 8 at 12:00pm.

Johnson calls on community to support

DUTCH QUARTER:--- The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School which is located in the district of Dutch Quarter will soon start with their plans to create a new playground for their Cycle one students. "The initial discussions have commenced and we will be executing this plan within the shortest possible time," remarked School Manager Stuart Johnson.

School Management is working closely with the Parent Teacher Foundation (PTF) of the school to ensure this project is successfully completed. "I need to thank our PTF President, Ms. Malaine Dublin for her ongoing support to our school with her amazing team and the many other individuals who have pledged their support thus far," Johnson said.

"I am calling on the support of the community and the business community to ensure the final phases of this project is properly completed," Johnson added. Once completed the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School will be the first public school to have a new and well-equipped playground with sufficient materials for their students. "Our students deserve the best both inside the classroom and outside the classroom," Johnson stated.

"I made a promise that our school will be the number one public school on St. Maarten and during the past school year we excelled in academics as well as sports. My responsibility is to do my utmost to improve the school in all facets which was entrusted under my leadership and this is possible because of the support of my hardworking colleagues," Johnson said.

"Help us to ensure all our students are given the same opportunities we had in life and may they be able to reach their God-given potential," Johnson concluded. Further contact can be made with the PTF President Ms. Malaine Dublin at 5220562 or e-mail of the school: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

CUL DE SAC:--- Cake House Supermarket and Bakery thanked teachers from All Children's Education (ACE) Foundation school for their work in the classroom by presenting them with tokens of appreciation on the occasion of World Teachers Day (WTD).

Cake House staffers Belus Gerel, Cherrie Soriano, Jane Matthew and James Masson presented four baskets with goodies to the teachers on behalf of management and staff, on Friday, October 3. World Teachers Day was observed on Sunday, October 5.

Cake House Supermarket and Bakery thanked the teachers for their efforts to mould and educate pupils. The supermarket says it has noticed a significant positive change amongst pupils compared to the past. Pupils are more polite and respectful to others. Cake House staffers encourage pupils to continue to do well and to not forget to especially be thankful to their teachers.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Sunday October 5th, 2014 at approximately 5:15am police patrols, paramedics and fire department personnel were sent to the crossing of A.J.C. Brouwers Road and Welgelegen Road for a serious car accident in which several persons were severely wounded. On the scene the investigating officers encountered a head-on collision between two private vehicles with the license plates P-7971 and P-9354. The impact of both vehicles left the two occupants of each vehicle seriously injured with numerous cuts to their face, arms and legs. During the impact all four victims hit their face in the windshield. They were all treated in the scene and transported to the Sint Maarten Medical Center for further treatment. The exact cause of this traffic accident is still under investigation by the police traffic department.

KPSM Police Report

POINT BLANCHE:--- There may be some traffic congestion in and around Philipsburg, and along the route to Dawn Beach where several of the conference hotels are located in connection with the kick-off of the 21st Annual Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Cruise Conference & Trade Show that runs from October 6-10.

Traffic Police officers will be on hand during the five days conference and trade show activities will be taking place to help with any traffic congestion as the country host 100 cruise executives, presidents, chief executive officers, and approximately 1000 conference/port manager attendees who will start to arrive this weekend.

Conference delegates staying at various hotels in Philipsburg and nearby environs (Little Bay), as well as at Dawn Beach, will be shuttled back and forth to the conference facility and exhibition hall at the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facility in Point Blanche.

Traffic Police officers will also be present at the entrance to the Port St. Maarten facility ensuring the free flow of traffic into the village of Point Blanche, for those heading towards Philipsburg and into the port.

Some delegates will also be using rental vehicles to move back and forth among other means of transportation that will be provided by various stakeholders.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Mingo of Port St. Maarten is calling on the populace to bring out that country hospitality, and to be courteous to our visitors and give them the 'Friendly Island' experience which will make the 21st FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show go down in the annals of history for being the best ever the guests have experienced in attending such an event.

GREAT BAY:--- The 21st Annual Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Cruise Conference and Trade Show will be held next week in St. Maarten from October 6 – 10, 2014.
This important event, which last took place on St. Maarten in 2003, will welcome more than 800 guests, including many high level cruise executives, government leaders and industry experts.
The last FCCA conference in 2003 in St. Maarten had a great impact on the development of the cruise line industry on the island.
The Council of Ministers (COM) received an update during a special meeting on Thursday, October 2, 2014, regarding the preparations of the event from the delegation from St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies led by Chief Executive Officer Mr. Mark Mingo, Supervisory Board Member Mr. Renald Williams and Chief Financial Officer Mr. Ton van Kooten as well as the chairlady of the FCCA Coordinating Team Ms. Ichel Moeslikan.
Mr. Mingo informed the Council of the amount of work that has gone into the realization of the necessary infrastructure to host such a large conference and to cater to the needs of all who will be attending, while ensuring their safety and comfort in accordance to the FCCA rules and regulations.
At the Harbour a special conference structure has been erected which covers 7000 m2. Most guests will arrive over the weekend with the majority staying in selected hotels on the island.
On Monday the first events will take place with the official opening scheduled for Tuesday evening. Invitations to attend the conference were sent to both government officials, business representatives and the general public.
The Council was assured that the preparations, which started two years ago, are on schedule and that measures are in place to handle any possible calamity.
The FCCA coordinating team has involved local students to assist with the event. In addition, the local business community has supported the event with a variety of sponsorship efforts. TelEm, for example, provided the necessary telecommunication services required for the event.
St. Maarten and Saint Martin will jointly showcase the island during the conference. Both sides, like many in the business community, have underscored the importance and the opportunity created by the FCCA Conference to showcase what St. Maarten/Saint Martin has to offer to visiting tourists.
The Council of Ministers applauded the efforts of the Harbour Group of Companies to ensure that the FCCA Conference will be a memorable one with a long lasting impact on our economy.
The delegation thanked the Council for the cooperation of government, in particular from the tourist office, police, security, immigration and protocol.
As awareness of the importance of (cruise) tourism to our local economy should be present among everyone on the island, whether directly or indirectly involved, the Council requests the population to welcome the visiting guests with our customary friendliness which provides our island with the beloved name 'St. Maarten, the Friendly Island'.

HARBOUR VIEW:--- On October 3rd, 2014, His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday, received the final report of the current information process from informateurs Joe Richardson and Marcel Gumbs. The informateurs presented the Governor with a governing accord 2014-2018, signed by the 8 MPs, namely the 7 members of the UP and Mr. V.H.C. de Weever, which had entered into a coalition agreement 2014-2018 last week. The governing accord establishes that the parties have agreed to form a government, addresses a number of priority areas and outlines a procedure how to come to the selection of candidate ministers and the candidate Minister Plenipotentiary. Governor Holiday thanked the informateurs for the execution of the assignment. He will evaluate the report and will consider the assignment of a formateur.

From the Cabinet of the Governor of St. Maarten

The streets of St. Maarten are an important part of the livability of our country. The streets ought to be for everyone, whether young or old, motorist or bicyclist, walker or wheelchair user, bus rider or shopkeeper. But too many of our streets are designed only for speeding cars, or worse, creeping traffic jams.

We urge the government of St. Maarten and St. Martin to work towards making complete streets. Streets that are designed to connect the community by creating a safe, comfortable, integrated transportation network for all users, regardless of age, ability, income, ethnicity, or mode of transportation.
sign petition.

Click here to sign the petition.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The consumer price index for Sint Maarten has increased in the month of August 2014 by 0.3 percent compared to that of June 2014.
When comparing average consumer prices over a twelve month period (Aug. 2013 to Aug. 2014), an increase of 2.2 percent was recorded compared to the same period one year earlier.
This is evident from the data released by the Department of Statistics (STAT) today.

Click here to view complete report. 

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (VSA) and by extention the people of St. Maarten are officially the proud new owners of the Mobile Health Services bus which was donated by Social Health Insurances (SZV). The official signing of the transfer documents and keys were handed over by the Deputy Director/COO of SZV, Mr. Willemsberg to Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (VSA) Cornelius de Weever on Thursday afternoon. Tomorrow the bus will receive its L- license plate and become officially registered as a government vehicle and maintained as such by Facility Management under the supervision of Department Head Rignald Martina.
"SZV looks forward to working together with the Ministry of VSA to ensure sustainability of the project. The bus will be used as another tool especially for Collective Prevention Services (CPS) to build upon their existing programmes and help people to become more health conscious which will in the long term result in lowering costs of medical care", stated Mr. Willemsburg.
"Acquiring the bus brings St. Maarten one step closer to accomplishing our goals on improved health care and prevention services. Reducing overall health care costs on St. Maarten will continue to be the focus moving forward. We believe and it is has been proven that focusing on prevention within the community is essential to achieving our goal and we are glad that SZV shares this vision with us" said Minister de Weever at the handing over ceremony on Thursday.
Unfortunately, Dr. Virginia Asin, Head of Collective Prevention Services, who Minister de Weever mentioned as the "mother" of the project was not able to be present as she is currently representing St. Maarten at the 53rd PAHO Directing Council in Washington, D.C. However, the Minister stated that upon her return at the end of October an official celebratory launch will take place in honor of yet another achievement within public health.
The importance of partnerships within Government institutions and organisation but also with outside organisations was mentioned as a fundamental aspect to the implementation process, and many NGOs are eager to begin with the outreach activity project, Wellness on Wheels (WOW).
The people of St. Maarten have the opportunity to get a glimpse of Wellness on Wheels (WOW) in action as the new bus premieres at the annual Pink Parade hosted by Positive Foundation and Elektralytes Foundation today. The bus will accompany the Pink Parade around Philipsburg and the staff of the Ministry of VSA will be handing out some water and red apples. In support of their colleague, founder of Still Beautiful foundation, and breast cancer survivor Marcellina Loblack, the staff at the Ministry of VSA who will take part in the parade will all be wearing her foundations shirt.

Coordinated by Tzu Chi

Pupils and teachers from All Children's Education Foundation (ACE) primary school and ACE's pilot humanitarian kindergarten section started their monthly visits to St. Martin's Home on Friday, September 26.

The visit was coordinated by the St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation.

A group of 30 pupils from the primary section and 12 from the pilot kindergarten humanitarian section visited the home for a day of pampering and interaction with the elderly.

The visit is part of the school's efforts to instil humanitarian and charity principles in pupils, which follows the teachings of Tzu Chi Founder Master Cheng Yen. It is also a concerted effort to teach the young pupils the importance of giving back, paying homage to the elderly and respect for elders.

Humanity and Charity has been added to the school's curriculum and will be a regular feature in the Philosophy of Life subject taught to pupils.

Students were selected for the first visit when the school opened an invitation for 15 students to voluntarily sign up to be trained to perform for the first visit. The first day the call was made a generous number of 30 pupils responded by signing up.

All pupils were trained to perform sign language song "The three Nos" during morning assembly, but the 30 pupils who signed up rehearsed extra with choreographic movements and sign language.

The pupils were well prepared on the day of the visit. After a lively welcome song with pupils clapping their hands and walking around the elderly under the guidance of Tzu Chi Commissioner Yamille Teacher; ACE Director Claire Elshot delivered brief opening remarks.

Elshot introduced pupils to the elderly clients and outlined the purpose of the visit. She also illustrated the value of having pupils visit the home as an expression of love and care for the elderly, whom she referred to as their "grandparents."

"Although it wasn't their real grandparents who are at the St. Martin's Home, teaching them about care for the elderly would also bring about the respect that we seen to be losing for the generation who have worked hard to build our community," Elshot said.

Pupils had a chance to put into practise what they learnt at school when they performed "the three Nos," sign language song, which sends a firm message that there is no one in the world that one cannot love, trust and forgive. They also performed the 10 miracle hands exercise in which elderly clients were encouraged to make small movements with their hands and fingers as an exercise routine. Pupils were then placed in groups of three to massage residents using special tools for this purpose or their hands. They also interacted with clients.

A few of the older girls changed the nail polish on the fingers of several female residents. The girls had practiced beforehand at the school.

To wrap up the hour-long visit, pupils gathered and sang a closing prayer, which began with the words "let us pray for peace in our land. Keep our hearts from sorrow and pain..."

Elshot said the pupils said they had been happy to have been given an opportunity to visit the St. Martin's Home and were eager for another chance to return in the future. They encouraged those who hadn't visited yet, to do so.

Tzu Chi volunteers who assisted in the exercise were Bradly Attyl and Miss Britton.

The school will continue the visit the last Friday of each month.

Tzu Chi Press Release

PHILIPSBURG:--- On September 25th and 26th 2014, the Social Economic Council (SER) of Sint Maarten took part in the international conference "Economic growth by strengthening human capital and industrial performance" which was held in Willemstad, Curacao. The conference was hosted by the International Association of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions (AICESIS) in collaboration with SER Curacao, AICESIS is a worldwide organization representing 70 member states from four different continents. AICESIS functions as an important international organization for social and economic policy.
Acting Chairman of the SER Curacao Mr. John Jacobs, welcomed all the representatives of the AICESIS from Latin America and the Caribbean. The purpose of the meeting was to better identify patterns, bottlenecks, issues of common interest and solutions for economic growth and the strengthening of human capital and industrial performance in the region.

Representatives from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and several member states were present to give lectures on Economic growth and human capital. Various Social and Economic Councils of Latin America and the Caribbean shared their best practices regarding the theme of the conference.
SER Chairwoman Oldine Bryson-Pantophlet elaborated on the topic of economic growth and the development of human capital as they relate to Sint Maarten. The comments of the Sint Maarten delegation were well received.
The Sint Maarten delegation consisted of SER chairwoman Oldine Bryson-Pantophlet, SER Vice Chairman member Dwight Williams and Secretary-General Gerard Richardson.

SER Press Release

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday October 2nd, 2014 at approximately 6:00pm, a Philipsburg police patrol was informed by the Central Police Dispatch that a suspect with initials J.F. for whom a warrant for his arrest was issued, was seen driving a silver colored vehicle, in the vicinity of Madame Estate. Immediately the patrol headed in that direction in order to locate and arrest the suspect in question. The suspect is well-known by police to carry firearm. When the suspect saw the police approaching him, he jumped out of the car and took-off running. The officers chased the suspect on foot through the Over the Pond area. After a short chase of the suspect he was arrested on the A. Th. Illidge road. During his arrest the suspect resisted heavily but was soon put in handcuffs. During a search of the suspect a .40 caliber pistol was found on the suspect. This weapon was confiscated for further investigation. The suspect was taken to the Philipsburg Police Station where he remains in custody for further investigation.

KPSM Police Report

PHILIPSBURG:--- Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI), hereby announces that there will be limited interruption to the traffic flow during the evening hours on the Causeway on Friday October 3rd and Saturday, October 4th.

On Friday, October 3rd from 9:00PM to 3:00AM, on the vehicular lane coming from the direction of the airport to Cole Bay, this part of the Causeway will be power washed.

On Saturday, October 4th from 9:00PM to 3:00AM, on the vehicular lane coming from the direction Cole Bay and heading in the direction of the Airport, this part of the Causeway will be power washed.

Two persons will be directing traffic during the aforementioned times in order to keep motorized traffic flowing in both directions on the Causeway.

Motorists are requested to be vigilant and observant.

Ministry VROMI apologizes for any inconvenience that this may cause.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sports Hon. Patricia Lourens-Philip on Thursday released the following World Teacher's Day Message as schools close on Friday afternoon for the mid-term break.
On the occasion of the upcoming World Teachers' Day, on October 5th, 2014 I take this opportunity to encourage the whole community to take a stand for teachers and the teaching profession.
In this era when it appears that the value of a teacher has lost its sheen and students don't want to be teachers when they grow up, we need to shift gear and ponder on the fact that." Teachers are the foundation of good schools, and good schools are the pillars of healthy and democratic communities."

The theme for this year "Invest in the future: Invest in teachers" aptly describes the type of relationships that need to be the focus of our national development and future developments in education.
Our investment in the future and in teachers must focus on improving the quality of teaching and learning. Governments and school boards and the USM must provide teachers with access to quality training opportunities and relevant continued professional development for this 21st century. This type of investment requires an environment in which professional autonomy is valued and teachers need to be supported in fulfilling their responsibilities to students, education systems and public authorities.
Teachers, also need to invest in themselves. They have a responsibility to stay on the cutting edge of educational innovations by reading and researching and applying new strategies and modalities in classroom that are changing. Teachers must be accountable to their students and communities. The design and implementation of a teacher's codes of conduct, based on high ethical and professional standards, would be one of the greatest investments that teachers can make for their own benefit.
The commemoration and celebration of this World Teachers' Day is an opportunity to honour the women and men who inspire, challenge and nurture our youth on a daily basis. The country expects a lot from teachers – they, in turn, also expect a lot from government, civil society, parents and students. This World Teachers' Day let us remember that, 'being a teacher is the highest privilege and having one is the best blessing.'
Invest in the future, Invest in teachers.
Congratulations on World Teacher's Day to all teachers in St. Maarten!

PHILIPSBURG:--- Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI), hereby announces that there will be interruption to the traffic flow in Middle Region October 4th from 6:00AM to 1:00PM.

The disruption is in connection with the maintenance on the sewage system in Middle Region.

The entire inter-section Sucker Garden Road/Middle Region Road/Hulda B. Richardson Road, will be closed because this is where the sewage pit is located.

Motorists heading to Middle Region can access the area via Bimini Road located on Hulda B. Richardson Road.

GREAT BAY:--- In commemoration of Breast Cancer Awareness month, on Thursday, October 2, 2014 members of the "Still Beautiful" Foundation made a presentation to Minister of Public Health Social Development & Labor, Cornelius De Weever.
The foundation was inaugurated and launched on September 25, 2014 via Civil Law Notary Mingo with the board consisting of the following persons: Judianne Hoeve, President; Paula Gordon, Secretary; Sheryl Pantophlet, Treasurer, and Marcellina Loblack, Founder.
"I encourage all the foundations to continue working together to fill any voids, and provide a holistic solution," said Minister De Weever.
The founder of the Foundation, Marcellina Loblack was diagnosed with stage three Breast Cancer , which resulted in her undergoing several treatments and operations. Due to her experiences and wanting to give back Miss Loblack decided to establish a foundation to help women and men that have been diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

PHILIPSBURG:--- In solidarity with people undergoing treatment for breast cancer, Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Cornelius de Weever continues to honor his tradition of balding his head. On October 1st breast cancer survivor and founder of Still Beautiful Foundation, Marcellina Loblack shaved his head. Each year Minister de Weever takes part in this breast cancer awareness initiative to support and encourage breast cancer awareness
"October, Breast Cancer Awareness month provides an opportunity for us all to focus on breast cancer and its impact on those affected by the disease as well as raise awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. In honor of those who we have lost to breast cancer, to those who are struggling with it, and to the survivors I encourage everyone to come out to the activities organized by the Positive Foundation and Elektralytes Foundation this month.
Raising awareness about breast cancer has come a long way. With the efforts initiated by the Ministry and more importantly by the various NGO's such as Positive Foundation and the Elektralytes, people and especially women on the island are becoming more proactive in getting regular check-ups. Only through awareness can we make a difference. Early detection will save your life, therefore getting your health checked regularly is something that we as people need to put priority on", said Minister de Weever.

Prosecutor's Office refuses to comment

PHILIPSBURG:--- Information reaching SMN News states that the Landsrecherche is busy investigating a UPP MP elect who was elected on August 29th, 2014 for election fraud. According to the information provided to SMN News undercover agents that were working on Election Day have the MP elect on camera along with other evidence which suggests he was giving out monies to voters at the Belvedere and Dutch Quarter polling stations.

SMN News contacted Solicitor General Taco Stein to confirm whether or not the information SMN News received has any truth to it. Stein said he does not know but SMN News should check with KPSM who later said they are not investigating any politician.
Press Prosecutor Tineke Kamps in an invited comment said that such investigations are done by the Landsrecherche and not KPSM as indicated by Stein. She further said that she will not make any comment on whether or not the Landsrecherche is busy investigating an MP elect who already has a court case scheduled for December 2014. "I will not confirm neither will I deny because that will tell you what we are doing. Basically I refuse to comment at this stage because the Prosecutor's Office has changed its policy on when we will make comments on ongoing investigations. We did this because we do not want suspects to know that they are under investigation. This way they will not be able to get rid of evidence. I am sorry but you will have to see how to deal with the information you obtained," Kamps said.

Rumors are unfounded --- Leona Marlin Romeo

PHILIPSBURG:--- SMN News received information from certain members of the United Peoples Party (UPP) who said that they will be getting the support of Member of Parliament (elect) Leona Marlin whom they said promised them that she will declare herself independent after being sworn in as a Member of Parliament and she would then support the UPP/de Weever coalition.
When contacted by SMN News on Thursday MP Leona Marlin (elect) said that she has no intention of leaving the political party she was elected on. "I met with the USp board and they said that they are open for talks with all political parties and tonight I am attending another board meeting to see exactly what came out of those political talks. What I can assure you is that what I said during my first press conference still stands. I told the people that I will remain a member of the USp for this governing period and I will also be on the USp list in 2018. Furthermore, while in Parliament I will represent the people of St. Maarten to the best of my ability I will not be serving those that voted for me alone but instead I will support anything that is good for St. Maarten and its people."
MP Leona Marlin said since the media exposed her several persons have threatened her life. When asked if she has anything such as text, audio, emails or anything to show that her life has been threatened and by whom, MP Leona Marlin said she was threatened verbally. Marlin further stated that she will not be making any more statements to the media for now, she further indicated that she will be attending another board meeting of the USp on Thursday night and from there the president of the party will be the spokesperson for USp.
In the meantime, the leaders of the other political parties namely the Democratic Party, the National Alliance and the USp stated that while the Governor of St. Maarten appointed two informateurs to form a government none of them were approached. Those two informateurs are expected to submit their reports to the Governor on Friday October 3rd, 2014.

St. Dominic High, ACE students assist

CUL DE SAC:--- A group of 41 volunteers including medical students from American University of the Caribbean (AUC) School of Medicine, Tzu Chi Foundation volunteers, St. Dominic High students and All Children's Education (ACE) Foundation pupils joined hands to spruce up the ACE school with fresh coats of paint on Saturday, September 27.

The group of volunteers, which included professional tradesmen, also helped with some minor repairs at the elementary school, which included repairing damaged walls and fixing a broken sink, cabinets and a toilet.

Volunteers painted the interior and exterior of the school building and assisted with the cleaning of the school compound. Two Tzu Chi volunteers returned on Sunday to continue to help with some additional work that needed to be done at the institution.

The volunteer effort between Tzu Chi and AUC is part of an ongoing collaboration between the two for community service at the institution.

The group of volunteers included 18 doctors-in-training from AUC, 11 ACE pupils, 10 Tzu Chi volunteers and two St. Dominic High students, who participated as part of their school's mandatory community service programme. The students will be credited for their volunteer effort as part of their community service hours.

Tzu Chi Foundation, which has been lending a helping hand to ACE for several years, provided the materials used for the exercise as well as provided edibles and beverages to the hard working volunteers.

Volunteer Davis Blanc, who participated in the exercise, said the volunteer effort had been especially rewarding for him. Blanc said he was being bogged down in his daily work routine and the effort gave his life new meaning. He enjoyed the volunteer effort so much that he stayed well beyond the 12:00pm scheduled end time to continue assisting at the school. Blanc said he felt good about himself and his efforts to assist and pledged to continue volunteering in the future.

Another volunteer affectionately referred to as "Culture," who is also a professional tradesman, said he had been grateful to use his skills to help repair some of the damages at the school, as he was aware that the institution does not have a lot of funds to do all that needs to be done.

Culture and another volunteer continued the repair work at the school on Sunday.

Tzu Chi Commissioner Sandra Cheung was very grateful to all who assisted. She extends heartfelt thanks the family of Tzu Chi volunteers as well as AUC, St. Dominic High and ACE students who all came out to assist in the successful effort.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI), hereby announces that there will be interruption to the traffic flow at a section of Front Street for two days starting October 3rd.

The interruption to the road traffic will be on Friday, October 3rd from 5:00AM to 6:00AM.

The disruption is in connection with the placement of a 20-foot container in front of Holland House parking area.

The second disruption will take place on October 8th from 9:00PM and is in connection with the removal of the container from in front of Holland House.

Motorists are requested to be vigilant and observant for the traffic directional signs. Heavy machinery will be in use during both aforementioned timeframes.

Ministry VROMI apologizes for any inconvenience that this may cause.

Management says workers benefits too costly for PJIAE to pay.

AIRPORT:--- Workers working in the security, screening, administration and maintenance departments of the Princess Juliana International Airport met with their union representative Wednesday night at the WIFOL building to discuss the strategies they will use to get the management of PJIAE around the table to discuss and sign off on the Collective Labor Agreement (CLA) for their members. The workers are represented by ABVO St. Maarten.
President of the ABVO St. Maarten Sherlon Cathalina told SMN News Monday evening shortly before the meeting started that management of PJIAE has refused to sit around the table to negotiate the CLA which is due to expire in December 2014. Cathalina says that management kept sending letters telling them that they do not represent the majority of the workers therefore management will not sit around the table with them. "ABVO does have the majority because they represent over 160 workers. Furthermore, the law states that the union has to have 50% plus one which they already surpass. Besides that workers have a right to join any union and for their benefit and the benefit of the company they work for."
Cathalina said the emergency meeting they called Wednesday night is to discuss all the grievances workers at PJIAE are facing and most of all to decide their plan of action if management of PJIAE refuses to cooperate.
Cathalina said already his members are hearing that management of PJIAE are refusing to sit with the union because they think the workers benefits is too costly for the government owned company. He said that workers have certain benefits like vacation allowances in the CLA which PJIAE has to respect.

Motion Presented to Continue the Masbangu Investigation

THE HAGUE, Netherlands:--- The Minister of Kingdom Relations and Interior Affairs Ronald Plasterk told the second chamber on Wednesday that he has taken the decision to make some proposals to the Kingdom Council that he intends to take against St. Maarten. Minister Plasterk said he has decided to send a special corruption and money laundering unit to the Prosecutor's Office of St. Maarten while an Integrity Officer will also be appointed by the Netherlands to supervise the implementation of measures and plans to enhance integrity on St. Maarten. Minister Plasterk also said he intends to send more support for the Marechaussee, Customs Department, Prosecutor's Office and Coast Guard.
While the above measures will be taken, The Hague will assume a bigger role in the area of immigration and the protection of the borders. Plasterk announced that the RST team will also get a permanent basis so it can structurally assist and strengthen the Landsrecherche. MP Van Raak presented a motion for the Kingdom Government to initiate the continuation of the Masbangu investigation and they (Kingdom) should give the Prosecutor's Office the necessary support they need to fully conduct that investigation.

Labour MP Roelof van Laar said that the house is astonished by the lack of action by the Prosecutor's Office on St. Maarten who did not investigate the leader of the UPP in the Masbangu investigation. He said he felt that the UPP leader bought votes again this year where he won the 2014 Parliamentary Elections. Van Laar feels that a business cabinet or a national government should be established before Heyliger becomes Prime Minister of St. Maarten.

Clean Sweep for St. Maarten (De Telegraaf)

Holland to intervene in St. Maarten because corruption is out of hand. The government will be investigated by a new special legal team. The smallest country in the Kingdom must also surrender border control to Holland because it cannot handle it.
These far reaching measures have been announced by Minister Plasterk. In a budget debate today over the Kingdom budget the Labor Party leader will announce that tough measures will be taken.
Plasterk is reacting to an independent report from last weekend. That investigation shows that corruption is rampant in all layers of government. The findings in the report, which he himself requested are alarming. The rot is everywhere, including in the political leadership. This is unacceptable in the Kingdom.
The Labor Party leader wants the still very young country to accept his package of measures to get it back on track. If the country does not accept then the Kingdom Council can compel them to.
All four countries have a seat in the Kingdom Council and the Dutch cabinet can force through these measures.

BUSH ROAD:--- On Tuesday September 30th, 2014 at approximately 2:50pm police patrols, police traffic department personnel and paramedics were sent to Le Grand Marche on Bush Road to investigate a traffic accident in which a lady suffered minor injuries. On the scene the investigating officers spoke to the owner of the vehicle with license plate P-7380 that was involved in this accident. He stated that his 11 year old son was in possession of the car keys while he was busy loading groceries in the trunk of the car. His son started the car in order to turn on the air-conditioning, however the car which was in the first gear drove forward and accidentally hit a female pedestrian on her right leg. The owner also stated that he reacted immediately in order to prevent this accident from happening, but was not successful. The victim was treated on the scene by paramedics and then transported to the Sint Maarten Medical Center for further treatment. The victim did not sustain any broken bones but suffered a sprain to her right foot. After being treated the victim was sent home.

Suspect in the shooting death of Emilien Kruythoff arrested.

On Tuesday September 30th, 2014 at approximately 3:15pm, a male suspect in the shooting death of Emilien Kruythoff with initials N.A.C (30) was arrested on the Windsor Road in Cape Bay. During a search of his residence a small amount of cocaine and a small caliber handgun was found and confiscated for further investigation. The investigation is still ongoing.

Inmate stabbed several times at Simpson Bay prison cells.

On Wednesday October 1st, 2014 at approximately 12:35pm, several police patrols, detectives, forensic department personnel and paramedics were sent to the Simpson Bay prison cells to investigate the stabbing of an inmate housed at that facility. On the scene the victim who was stabbed several times was treated by paramedics and then transported to the Sint Maarten Medical Center for further treatment where he remains for observation.
Up to press time no reports of any arrests had been made. Who the suspect is or suspects are in this case is still unknown. A search is being conducted in the prison to locate the possible weapon used in this stabbing. The investigation is ongoing.

Man arrested and resists heavily against police, illegal gun found in his possession.

On Wednesday October 1st, 2014 at approximately 12:30pm while at the round-a-bout in Dutch Quarter (Tata the Bus Driver road-a-bout), a police patrol saw a man riding a white scooter without a license plate. The rider was also not wearing a helmet. The scooter rider stopped at the gas station and he was approached by the police officers. The officers noticed that this man became quite nervous. While getting closer to the rider he suddenly started the scooter and took-off at high speed knocking one of the officers to the ground. The rider, in his attempt to get away, lost control of the scooter and fell to the ground. At this time the officers tried to arrest him but he resisted his arrest severely. During this heavy struggle the officers noticed that this suspect had a gun stuck in his waist. After the struggle the officers were able to put the suspect in handcuffs and removed the fully loaded .40 caliber Smith &Wesson pistol from his waist. The suspect with the initials L.A.D. (24) was arrested on the spot. The pistol and scooter of the suspect were both confiscated for further investigation. The officer that was hit by the scooter suffered several bruises and scrapes to his arms and legs and complained of pain in his right leg. He will seek medical attention.

Police receive verbal threat.

Shortly after the arrest of L.A.D. for resisting arrest and illegal firearm possession in Dutch Quarter a verbal threat by an anonymous person came in on the police main phone line stating that they will deal with the police officers who were involved in this arrest. The police department is making it clear to those persons who are making these idle threats that the task of the police is to serve and protect this community. The police will not take these threats lightly and most definitely will not be intimidated by them. Police officers have a duty to perform and that is to provide safety and security for this country. The police will stop at nothing to carry out the duties they have sworn to carry out.

KPSM Police Report

PHILIPSBURG:--- Lately the media has been reporting about how busy Police and Public Prosecutors are on the Dutch side as well as on the French side of the island, with numerous violent armed robberies and deadly shootings on our 'Friendly Island'. These criminal activities show that there are a lot of illegal firearms in our country. The combination 'Friendly Island' and 'illegal fire arms' doesn't sound like a good one. We keep hearing complaints from civilians who dislike going out at night, because they feel it's too dangerous on the streets of Sint Maarten/Saint Martin.
This is the reason why the Governments of Sint Maarten and Saint Martin, as well as the public prosecutors and the police forces on both sides of the country are saying: "Enough is enough! We will not tolerate that people are afraid to go out, so, with the help of all the citizens of Sint Maarten and Saint Martin, we have to clean sweep this island of all illegal firearms!"
On Friday, the 26th of September 2014, in a joint press conference that was organized by the French authorities, they launched a campaign that's called 'Stop, Drop & Go'.

'Stop, Drop & Go'
The purpose of the project 'Stop, Drop & Go' is to get rid of all the illegal firearms on this island. People that own illegal firearms can surrender these voluntarily between October 15th and October 31st and will not be prosecuted for possessing a firearm. On weekdays between 8:30am and 4:30pm they are welcome to hand in their guns at the Attorney General's Office on the 3rd floor of Puerto del Sol Plaza, Welfare Road #68 in Simpson Bay. For the people on the French side of the island there are the two 'Gendarmeries' in French Quarter and Concordia, Marigot where they can surrender their illegal weapons. After this period of time the police and public prosecutor's offices will be operating even harder in their battle against illegal firearms. Higher punishments will be demanded by the prosecutors and the police forces will toughen their actions.

A safer Sint Maarten starts with you!
So, between October 15th and October 31st, we encourage the people of Sint Maarten and Saint Martin to 'Stop' possessing illegal fire-arms, 'Drop' them at the places mentioned above and 'Go' on with the cooperative battle for a safer Sint Maarten/Saint Martin. After all: A safer Sint Maarten starts with you!

KPSM Press Release

All the official declarations from government officials in Sint Maarten on this International Day of Older Persons do not really address the theme of this year proposed by the United Nations: "Leaving No One Behind: Promoting a Society for All".

"We cannot afford to leave behind hundreds of millions of older persons," says UN rights expert.

The new United Nations Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, Rosa Kornfeld-Matte, calls on all States to ensure that the concerns of older persons are reflected in the post-2015 development agenda in a cross-cutting manner. On occasion of the 24th UN International Day of Older Persons, Ms. Kornfeld-Matte urges Governments around the world to promote full inclusion of older persons in society by combatting ageism, age discrimination and stigmatization. "We can turn a blind eye to many issues as if they do not concern us. But getting old is part of life and we will all pay the price for our inaction. Age, as well as gender and where people live, affect the enjoyment of human rights by older persons, who are often stigmatized as 'non-productive' or 'irrelevant'. I call on all States to combat ageism, age discrimination and stigmatization, which are among the obstacles older persons face in the enjoyment of their rights, in order to achieve and sustain the inclusion of older persons in society.Today, on the International Day of Older Persons, I urge all Governments to ensure that the concerns of older persons are reflected in the post-2015 development agenda in a cross-cutting manner. The post-2015 development agenda presents a unique opportunity to ensure a rights-based approach to older persons and can help changing attitudes and perceptions from older persons being considered recipients of welfare to rights holders with responsibilities. Ageing is not an affliction, it is an opportunity to make use of resources acquired over the life course, and older persons all around the world make significant contributions to society."
If seniors are still left behind and set aside, if they still have to survive with less means and care then the social protection floor in the State the Kingdom of the Netherlands has to observe for all, what are we congratulating the seniors with on this day? Who we have to congratulate for this achievement? Which of the integrity committees has addressed this integrity issue: even though the Kingdom of the Netherlands has ratified the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights, on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Kingdom government officials and politicians do not protect the rights of the seniors in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. With all kind of geo-political arguments they corrupt our right to an equal realization of these rights on the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Discrimination is a violation of our human rights. As long as this continues we cannot congratulate nobody but we have to support the struggle for socieal justice of the seniors in this part of the Kingdom and eliminate all barriers of social exclusion and discrimination.
In a subsequent press release we will detail how the SMSPA will address the ageism, discrimination and stigmatization of Dutch Caribbean seniors in an upcoming seminar.

SMSPA Press Release 

PHILIPSBURG:--- The task ahead for St. Maarten is daunting said Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams when addressing the media on Wednesday during the Council of Ministers weekly press briefing. She said St. Maarten will do what is necessary to implement the recommendations given in the PWC integrity report which the Kingdom Council mandated the Governor of St. Maarten to conduct. She said that the current government established the priorities that they had intended to tackle and she also believes that the incoming government should have a say in how they will handle the recommendations made by PWC. Wescot Williams said that implementing the recommendations cannot be done within a short period but for sure government will have to establish a committee as well as monitor the process which is an extremely difficult and urgent issue. She said both Government and Parliament of St. Maarten as well as social and civil stakeholders should come together and be part of the recommendations that were given in the PWC report. "Many of areas will require both financial and other resources therefore I think St. Maarten should undertake this project seriously. I believe a commitment to improve and deal with the many deficiencies that have been highlighted must be dealt with outside of politics and this commitment should be made by the entire country to clean up our act." Wescot Williams said from that standpoint the current government of St. Maarten already indicated to the Dutch Government the position St. Maarten has taken however, she believes that going forward on how the matter is handled the government and the people should take on. Wescot Williams made clear that this should not be about politics but instead it should be about getting their acts together in the interest of the country.
When asked what are her thoughts on the statements made by the Dutch Parliaments calling St. Maarten and a banana republic, SMN News also asked the Prime Minister how would she feel if St. Maarten is placed under higher supervision, knowing the government that was in formation was high-jacked last week. Wescot Williams said that she knew that the second chamber was going to handle the PWC report on Wednesday but she did not hear what they intended to do. She did admit that she read the reactions of some of the Dutch Members of Parliament and she wants to make clear that St. Maarten asked for support on several occasions and never got it from the Kingdom Government. "This is what St. Maarten's Government placed in its reaction to the Dutch Government. She said there are areas in the justice chain and the tax department where both organization needs to be strengthened in order for government to do the things they would like to do. Our requests for support from the Dutch Government have fallen on deaf ears until now. The Minister of Justice and I feel very strongly about the Dutch Government using the right instruments to interfere or meddle. I agree St. Maarten has several areas that has to be dealt with. The PWC report is not the only report that highlighted this but the report of Bob Wit and the Audit Chamber are very clear on some of the points in the PWC report. Wescot Williams said they have a lot of information and they also have a lot of work to do in strengthening several departments if they intend to execute the recommendations and take the necessary actions. "I want to make clear that the Kingdom Government would have to follow the law starting with the charter when dealing with the overseas countries. St. Maarten expressed their disappointment on how the Kingdom Government handles the affairs of the countries and this is no secret to anyone. This is something expressed before and it was done again after the PWC report was made public." Wescot Williams said she personally is awaiting keenly on the response from the Kingdom Government however, she still believes that it's the government and people of St. Maarten that have to put the necessary structures in place to deal with the current situation. When asked for a reaction where St. Maarten was labelled as a "banana republic" and where certain politicians are called mafias. Wescot Williams said she cannot speak for politicians but one thing for sure there should be some level of respect for their sister countries. St. Maarten is a country in development and this is what she would like to see manifested in the Kingdom. Wescot Williams said that the Dutch Government basically closed down on St. Maarten when they had the dispute with the BES islands. She said that for months St. Maarten did not get any cooperation from the Dutch. She did state over and over that the Government of St. Maarten worked together with the team that was conducting the integrity investigation and it is clear that the days ahead are daunting. She said that St. Maarten should be given an opportunity to clean up its act with the necessary support the country needs. She said she would have an issue if the Kingdom uses unconstitutional measures to shove things down their throats.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams confirmed on Wednesday when she was asked if the current caretaker government made changes to the casino license policy in order to grant three more stand-alone casino licenses. Wescot Williams told reporters she did hear something to that effect on the streets and she asked the Minister of TEATT about it and he told her that the casino licensing policy has been expanded. She said this is a prime example of Ministerial responsibility and unless they (Council of Ministers) don't hear of these things from the outside, the Council of Ministers will never hear of it. She said when she asked the Minister in question he said no new licenses were granted but the policy have been expanded to include other types of casino licenses. Wescot Williams said when the Minister told her what was done she asked him to give the Council a copy of what was done but to date they have not seen the document. Wescot Williams said when she asked the Minister he said that the policy was expanded for the further economic growth and opening of economic possibilities. She also said that the Minister said that was done to grant more licenses but it's not going to be at locations where the local population could go. Wescot Williams said the main reason she asked the Minister was because she heard of a floating casino at the Princess Juliana International Airport. "Yes, there is an expansion of the policy that has or will be taking place. I cannot say for sure if it was done already because I have not seen it yet, I also cannot say what the conditions would be or how this expanded policy was done."
When asked if the motions passed in Parliament where the caretaker government cannot take any decisions that would affect the incoming government in a long term. She said that she could not answer exactly how he expanding of the casino policy was done and if it needed to be done now.

No political talks took place

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Health, Labor and Social Affairs Cornelius de Weever attended the Council of Ministers meeting on Tuesday, confirmed Prime Minister of St. Maarten Sarah Wescot Williams. The Prime Minister said the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs is also fully operational.
She confirmed that to date the Minister did not resign from the Democratic Party and that she did not have any talks with him regarding the current political developments. While it is customary for the Minister of Public Health and Labor to attend the Council of Ministers weekly press briefing he did not attend on Wednesday.

GREAT BAY:--- In celebration of World Animal Day, St Maarten Zoo will be hosting a Family Fun Day this coming Saturday 4th October, 2014. This Fun event is scheduled to start at 9am and ends at 5pm.

Come out and enjoy numerous rides, bouncers, face-painting and games all brought to you by St Maarten's attraction, aka Coney Island.

Entrance is only $5 for kids and free for Adults. Payment can also be done by using your Fun Miles card, 900 miles adults and 450 for kids.

Come out and Celebrate World Animal Day with St Maarten Zoo it's going to be an amazing day!

WIB Press Release

Belair Pond, Great Salt Pond Faced with Challenges Regarding Salinity and Oxygen Levels

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Nature Foundation carried out its bi-annual water quality tests on the 28th, 29th and 30th of September at seven sites surrounding St. Maarten. These tests are carried out in order to determine the levels of pollutants and other factors affecting wetlands and beaches on St. Maarten. Tests were carried out in order to determine Nitrates (which shows that the water is polluted), Phosphates (which shows the presence of Sewage), Nitrogen, Dissolved Oxygen, and the acidity of the water. Tests were carried out on seven sites; Cole Bay Lagoon, Simpson Bay Lagoon, Mullet Pond, Kim Sha Beach, Great Bay Beach, Belair Pond, Fresh Pond, and the Great Salt Pond. The sites of Great Bay Beach and Kim Sha Beach were particularly chosen to test the swimming quality of the beaches.
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It was determined that the sites Cole Bay Lagoon, Kim-Sha Beach, Mullet Pond, and
Great Bay had low levels of both phosphates and nitrates in samples tested. Elevated levels of nitrates and phosphates show that there is a presence of various types of pollutants and sewage in wetlands and coastal areas. The highest level was recorded in the Great Salt Pond and indicates lower water quality. Taking this into consideration levels will continuously be monitored by the Nature Foundation.

It was further established that the sites Cole Bay Lagoon, Kim-Sha Beach, Mullet Pond, and Great Bay had low levels of Nitrogen in samples tested. Elevated levels of Nitrogen, caused by pollutants, can cause massive fish die-offs in wetlands and coastal areas. The highest level was recorded in the Great Salt Pond at .6 ppm, which is a relatively high number and indicates the presence of elevated nitrogen levels which can pose a threat to aquatic organisms and which may again result in fish die-offs. The continuous filling in of the Great Salt Pond, recently for the Foga Project, will increase the level of fish die-offs in the future.

Similarly the Belair Pond has also been experiencing elevated levels which can result in a continuation or expansion of fish die-offs, of which a small scale die-off is currently occurring. All fish recorded at the die-off are Tilapia. The Nature Foundation will continuously monitor Nitrogen Levels at this site in order to give an approximation when fish die offs may be expected.

Almost all levels of oxygen recorded were at sufficient levels; however the lowest levels were recorded in the Great Salt Pond and Belair Pond. This site should be closely monitored for a further drop in oxygen levels which may result in fish kills and breeding of airborne insects (i.e. Midges. With the ongoing dry weather the Nature Foundation is advising the public and private sectors to remain vigilant for the possibility of fish die-offs.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Government of St. Maarten in collaboration with the COSME Project Management Unit, PMU, will be hosting the 2nd Stakeholder Forum for the 10th European Development Fund Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Regional Programme from October 2nd – 3rd, 2014 at the Divi Little Bay Beach Resort. The event kicks off with a welcome cocktail party for the attending delegates of the twelve (12) Caribbean territories and invited guests at the Holland House Beach Hotel on October 1st, 2014.

The COSME Programme funded by the European Union, EU, with 15 million EURO's, has three specific objectives namely, (1) strengthening the capacity of the Governments of the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories, (OCTs) to service the business sector, (2) improving the capacity of Business Service Organizations (BSOs) to engage in public-/private policy and administrative reform dialogue with Governments and provide services to their constituency of SMEs and (3) promoting stronger collaboration, trade and investment relations among the EU, CARIFORUM and the Caribbean OCTs.

Upon completion of the program, it is expected that there will be improvement of policies and the legislative and administrative framework for SMEs to establish and conduct business in the Caribbean OCTs, improved capacity of business support organizations to deliver the necessary services to their members and engage in dialogue with Government and improved competitiveness of SMEs participating in the programme and improved collaboration, trade and investment relations amongthe EU, CARIFORUM and the Caribbean OCTs.

The Stakeholder's Forum will offer a platform for the participating stakeholders to discuss the proposals presented by the OCTs to the Project Management Unit over the course of the past months and the translation of these in a framework of activities. In attendance to welcome all delegates from the various OCTs will be the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams as well as the BVI Financial Secretary and Deputy Regional Authorizing Officer of the 10th EDF, Mr. Neil Smith with words of introduction to set the stage for the two-days of activities.

The main focus of the two-day Forum will be geared toward the short term planning and defining the activities of phase one of the programme The expected participation includes 22-24 regional delegates from all of the Caribbean OCTs with delegates coming from five English speaking OCTs, six Dutch and one French. The participants will comprise members of the Sint Maarten SME Focal Point consisting of persons from the department EVT and BAK as well as SMDF and the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

POINT BLANCHE:--- Business owners/managers will be able to experience the 21st Annual Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Cruise Conference & Trade Show during a first time ever open day on Thursday, October 9 from 8:00am to 1:00pm.

Registration opens as of Wednesday, October 1. Individuals who register will be visiting the trade floor of the conference and registration is limited to 300 persons.

Registration can be done by visiting Port St. Maarten's website: www.portofstmaarten.com and click on FCCA Registration and follow the structions. Individuals can also visit the Port St. Maarten Office at the Captain Hodge Wharf Police Sub Station on the boardwalk to fill in a registration form.

The deadline for registration is Wednesday, October 8 at 12:00pm.

"This is the first time ever that the FCCA is allowing business representatives this type of form of access to be a part of the conference and trade show. A half day will allow the aforementioned to experience a trade show and see for themselves how it is done, how ports and other stakeholders come together to sell their destination, products, and services to the different cruise lines and other important partners in cruise.

"I am very pleased that the FCCA cooperated with this. It goes hand in hand with Reinventing Cruise St. Maarten and our celebration of 50-years of cruise in 2014," Chief Executive Officer Port St. Maarten Mark Mingo said on Tuesday.

Please note that all registered participants may only gain access to the port via the water taxi at the Captain Hodge Wharf. A valid form of identification and a copy of the message confirming your registration should be presented to a member of staff once you have arrived at the Captain Hodge Wharf.

Registered persons must gather at the Ring Road on Thursday, October 9 (across from the former Van Dorp) where parking spaces have been reserved for conference attendees.

Shuttle service, which begins at 7:00 am, will transport you from the Ring Road to the Captain Hodge Wharf, and the water taxi will carry you to the port. A member of staff will direct you to the conference site.

100 cruise executives, presidents, chief executive officers, and approximately 1000 conference attendees are scheduled to start arriving this weekend Saturday/Sunday, October 4 and 5 for the FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show that will be held from October 6-10.

Today, Wednesday October 1 marks the International Day of the Elderly. On this day we celebrate, remember and recognize the role of our elders within our community. "Leaving No One Behind: Promoting a Society for All" is the theme used internationally to commemorate this day.

In recognition of the important issues facing our elders, the Department of Social Development at the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor (VSA) in collaboration with Social and Health Insurance (SZV) as well as General Pension Funds (APS) will be hosting the first Symposium on Ageing next week Wednesday October 8th. At the Symposium an ageing vision and framework for St. Maarten will be discussed for endorsement by invited guests. The theme will be "Treasuring the Past, Sustainably Transforming to the Future".

The Symposium will focus on key issues directly impacting our ageing population. Namely: Values, Family, and Participation of Our Elderly in Society; Culture, Environment and Conservation of our Rich and Colorful Past on St. Maarten; Education and Ageing Adults in an Information Age; Income of the Elderly and Future Elderly on St. Maarten; Health, Wellness and Housing on Ageing Adults on St. Maarten, Services and Networking; and Creating Relevant Partnerships for Improved Services and Job-creation for Ageing Adults of the Population in St. Maarten.

The ageing of the population is a mega-trend influencing life across the world. The number of people age 60 and over will soon exceed that of people 15 and younger. This has profound social and economic implications for individuals and for the society as a whole. The Ministry of VSA as well as Government on a whole is working diligently to develop policies to deal with the population shift. With the input and consultation of our seniors, we can build policies that are ready to meet the demands of a changing future.

Such a dramatic change in the elderly population has consequences on the consumption of services in the medical field and social areas. In the past St. Maarten had a system in which (extended family) family and friends would take care of the elderly. Even though this system is still in place the economic situation makes it necessary that people have to work, meaning that the elderly are less looked after. This is only the tip of the iceberg. Therefore, moving towards an ageing vision for St. Maarten is vital in order to address all the issues facing the elderly community in an effective an efficient manner.

The International Day of the Elderly gives each of us a reason to reflect about the future reality; about growing older ourselves; and what we can do to support the seniors in our lives today. All of our seniors deserve our respect each and every day of the year. Celebrate their life and honor them with love, dignity and respect.