Articles

Mr Lt. Governor Franklin Richard, my letter is not to accuse anyone of illegal activities or to fight against the help we got from the Curaçao police who are doing a good job so far together with the KPSSS and Customs in fighting the crime by picking up all undocumented Afro-Caribbean (black) men, women and children from our island.
Mr. Lt Governor Franklyn Richards, I am telling you that there are also the Caucasian European/American/Asian and African (white) undocumented "aliens" on the island because maybe you don't know or the law enforcement thinks they are tourist but they are not. They are concentrated on the western side of the island and are not just one, two or three people but bus loads just like the Afro-Caribbean (black) people!
My main concern right now is the operation to fine people driving with tint because it violates all rules laid down in the Island Ordinance governing traffic rules - Wegen Verkeers Verordening - WVV AB 1963 -No.5.
Why I say this, let me explain, Mr. Lt. Governor. Since 1998, the police started working with this law for car control. In January 2001, the Executive Council made an island ordinance dealing with Tint - AB 2001 No. 4.
Article One of this Ordinance states in Dutch: "Onder lichtdoorlatenheid wordt verstaan: de hoeveelheid licht, uit gedrukt in een percentage, die door de ruit van een motorrijtuigen heen schijnt ten opzichte van de totale hoeveelheid licht die van buiten op de autoruit valt." This gives the definition on what percentage of light needs to get through window glass from outside to inside. Based on this as stated in Dutch, the law enforcement officer cannot use his eyes to measure if the tint is too dark or not because the eyes cannot record/measure the percentages.
Article 2 in Dutch: "Ruiten van een motorrijtuig zijn goed doorzichtig, indien de lichtdoorlatenheid gelijk is aan of groter dan: a. 70% voor de vooruit en de zijruiten voor of naast de bestuurder; b. 40% voor de achterruit of de zijruiten achter de bestuurder. Lid 2 In afwijking van het gestelde in het eerste lid, onder a, mage en strook van maximal 15 centimeter boven aan de voorruit, gerekend van vanaf de bovenkant van de voorruit, een lichtdoorlatendheid hebben van minder dan 70 %."
This article speaks about the percentage of light that is supposed to go through the windshield and the two front side windows that is 70% and 40 % for the two back windows and the back windshield. The second section deals with the front windshield and allows a piece of tint max 15 cm wide and it had to stay within the law of 70% of light going through.
Now, the law enforcement officers are making everyone to take off their tint based on an amendment that was done last year but there is no amendment on this part of the law.
Article 3: "Lid 1 - Het is verboden enig material aan, op of tegen de ruiten van een motorvoertuigen te hechten, te plakken of aan te brengen waardoor de lichtdoorlatenheid van die ruiten verminder of waardoor anderszins het uitzicht van de bestuurder wordt belemmerd dan wel personen of voorwerpen van binnen of van buiten vaag, verwrongen of in het geheel niet kunnen worden gezien. Lid 2 Het eerste lid geldt niet voor de achterruit of de zijruiten achter de bestuurder, indien het motorrijtuig is voorzien van een Spiegel met behulp waarvan de bestuurder van zijn zitplaats het rechts achter hem liggende weggedeelte kan overzien."
Article 3 first section forbids anything to be stick on the glass whereby it will drop the light percentage that going thru, or will block the view to see the people them in the car. The second section says that the first section don't count for the windows at the back and back windshield, once the vehicle has side mirrors so the driver can see from the seat the right back side of the road. This is to just bring some clarity to an article that came out in the newspaper saying that we are not allowed to put tint at all. Once you are within the law percentage, it's ok.
Article 4: "De lichtdoorlatenheid wordt bepaald aan de hand van door het bestuurscollege goedkeurde, bij besluit openbaar bekend te maken apparatuur, die deugdelijk is voor het meten van de lichtdoorlatendheid."
The machine to be used to measure the light through the glass has to be approved by the Executive Council in an Island Ordinance. So with this article, I want bring to your attention that the first week the police did their control, there was no machine on the spot and officers measured with their eyes. That is illegal, according article 1 + 2section 1 and 4 of AB 2001 No4, Officially their eyes cannot read any type of percentage to see if the tint was more than or less than 70 % or 40%. And in article 4, the Executive Council has to approve the machine to measure and not the eyes of the officers.
In the second week, police showed up to the control with Tint Meter Inspector TM200 but this is also illegal and in violation of Article 4 of AB 2001 No4 and Article 1 of AB 2001 No13. These two ordinances specifically state that is the Executive Council - "Bestuurcollege" - has to approve the machine by an Island Ordinances. The meter being used by police was not approved by the Executive Council so all fine/"boets" are illegal.
The only government department with a meter regulated by an Island Ordinance (island ordinance Article 1 of AB 2001 No13 sign by the Island Secretary and Lt. Governor on May 07, 2001) is the Control Unit that has a Pocket Detective 2.1 Window Tint Meter from New World Instruments.
In your capacity as Chief of the Police and Executive Council Chairman, I urge you to look into this matter with your Legal Affair Department to annul all fines that were given to any motorist for violating the Tint Law (Island Ordinance AB 1963 No5 "WVV") and as it has been amend throughout the years - AB2001 No. 4 and No. 13 and to request the Public Prosecutor office to look into this matter to see if it is still legal to continue their prosecution seeing that, in my opinion, the execution was not up to standard and there were some violations by the Law enforcement officer.
The officer did not notice that they was busy with an error and out of goodwill enforce the law wrongfully. I trust that you, Mr. Lt Governor, will show that good governance is very important in your policy.
I make clear to every reader that I am not a translation expert so I encourage you to take the Dutch version to an official translator to get the right translation in English.
Mr. Lt Governor, I urge you to please legalise the tint meter used by the police from Curaçao with an Island Ordinances as soon as possible and not to backdate it as it is not polite to correct an error made by the government to its benefit and punish the citizens. With the ordinance, you insure that the officers will be working within the law. Can you please publish these Island Ordinances in the local newspapers as an ad just like the civil code book request and not as a press release to avoid any problem in the near future.
I close my letter with a reminder to you to please look into how the immigration department is busy rounding up undocumented people because not only Dutch Quarter, Cay Bay, St. Peters, Cole Bay, Fort Willem, Philipsburg, Over the Pond/Bank and Cayhill have these people. They are also not only Afro-Caribbean people but also the Caucasian European/American/Asian and African (white) are in violation of the "LTU" immigration laws by overstaying and working in businesses and not every white person is a tourist.
I would love to see the Coast Guard join the Operation Trust II to make sure illegal immigrant on the sea or in the lagoon are controlled especially on the western side of the island.

Gromyko Wilson

 

'Let's rumble online' (www.stmartinnation.org)

It is regrettable that you are now forced to go to a very anti-Leopold, even more very anti-native-indigenous St. Martiners-newspaper to rid yourself of your 'wannabe-desires'.
Of course, you both now form a very unlikely 'anti-St. Martin tandem', brought together by your collective resentment against the 'messenger' of the revival of the pride of native-indigenous St. Martiners.
But just for the record.
Such anti St. Martin alliances, matter not, in any form or shape, mind you.
The public understands that you had to find some other 'outlet', after the Daily Herald, last week 'threw in the towel in the ring' to save your hide from more public self-humiliation.
Nevertheless, 'Ger de Melkboer', fair is fair and I like to be fair, even if others enjoy not returning me that favor...
Again no problem.
In my humble opinion, without apologies though, the core-observation in your letter to the editor (Help- Genocide in St. Maarten) made a lot of sense.
Of course, however as is your trademark, you NEVER have the courage and/or intelligence to also propose a serious solution. Obviously, you prefer to remain the 'clown', and 'the eternal wannabe so many things', which again, do not get me wrong, Ger, is perfectly 'legit' and certainly understandable, since YOU would not wage a 'tachtig-jarige oorlog' on our behalf.
No, that was good for YOUR native-indigenous 'Hollanders' back then against the Spaniards (1568 to 1648).
Also Ger de Melkboer, I like your implied 'challenge' to me, for which you know I never back down.
However, let us 'rumble' in a much bigger arena than just in a struggling, local, very biased publication.
Let's us from now on 'rumble' online.....
The audience is much bigger, and will also include people who know you very well, from your days in the wide 'Polder', which we can share with others as well, so they know what a 'deal' we got in having you in here 'Paradise', ridiculing the people of this island.
And GdB, please do not forget to prepare our family also for your new global celebrity-status, which might affect them as well.
For sure mine never complained, when you did that to them in your many 'documentations' on my person.
You set the time, 'Melkboer' and I choose the place for our 'world series blow for blow exchanges' .
The 'virtual St. Martin Nation'..www.stmartinnation.org

Meanwhile, thanks for promoting the Leopold JAMES/NATIONtalk/St. Martin Nation building' trademark and please do not stop publishing...even in the local bias publication.

--
Leopold James
President SNBF & L'Esprit de Concordia

Perhaps the media is also part of 'covering up' certain undesired news.
A preview of how the democracy in the coveted 'Country Status for St.
Maarten' will look like ?
More like a 'Banana-republic', where the 'people's business is made
subordinate to personal interests of politicians ?
Judge for yourselves.

--
LEOPOLD JAMES
PRESIDENT SNBF & L'ESPRIT DE CONCORDIA

The past year - 2008 has caused our island nation to endure, however in spite of the challenges and opportunities; our island nation has done well. When we look within the region, the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia and beyond, we see the trials and hardships. The world has entered the most serious economic crisis in 60-years. Economic hardships have been gripping nations across the globe, and as an island nation with a small open economy, we have also come to grips with these global events.
As a nation we earn our living by trading with servicing the world - our tourism sector. The outlook for 2009 is highly uncertain. At each stage of the global crisis, events have turned out worse than the experts have predicted.
There is a loss of business and consumer confidence, and one thing is certain, things cannot turn around overnight. As a nation we must psychologically prepare ourselves for what 2009 will bring forth.
Our key focus must be jobs - keeping people in jobs, helping the worker who loses his or her job find a new one, and retraining them with new skills. As long as people have work, they can take care of themselves and their families.
The global financial/economic crisis will not last forever. A world in recession is not a world without opportunities. In the midst of this financial/economic storm, we must as a community, as a nation, keep pursuing new growth opportunities, and look beyond the immediate challenges and that our island nation emerges stronger after the global downturn.
Government we expect will continue to monitor closely how global events unfold and work constructively with business and labour organizations to see St. Maarten through this global recession.
Government alone will not solve the problem. Every one of us has a part to play. Companies have to work with the unions to find ways to cut costs. During a downturn, businesses should take advantage of creating new and better products and services which will pay off when things get better.
The working man and woman also have a role to play by upgrading and picking up new skills which would increase your employability. For those jobs hunting, venture beyond your comfort zone to take up the challenge of available jobs, even if they are not your first choice. In these challenging times, families must bind together. We must all fulfil our duties to our parents, our spouses and our children. We must safeguard the nation's future - our children. St. Maarteners must also take care of one another beyond our immediate families.
Despite the storm clouds over the Caribbean horizon, we have much to be thankful for and good reasons to be quietly confident. We are an island nation of ambitions and through our ingenuity and effort, we shall overcome. Our outlook on the future of our island nation should not be overshadowed by current global trends. A negative and less positive outlook should not make us less ambitious.
As a nation we must encourage each other to move in positive directions, overcoming whatever hurdles come our way and stay the course. We have overcome many previous challenges, and emerged stronger from experience. For the New Year 2009, think ambitiously; think about what a difference you can make within your community, to the further advancement of our island nation in these turbulent times.

We can meet the future with confidence.

Roddy Heyliger

Reports reaching us about police brutality from various sources within our society warrant this appeal for mutual respect and constraints on all sides of the equation.
While, we are aware of the very difficult circumstances under which our law-enforcement officers other have to operate, such must ALWAYS take into consideration the basic human rights of all, including one's dignity, whomsoever the person is.
At times a very strong enforcement of the law is called for, but NEVER should for instance young children be traumatized in the process.
Also, it is time that police-officers learn to be more professional, by being polite and identifying themselves, something many feel they are too big for.
For the record, we are not taking any sides of the reports reaching us, but prefer erring on the safe side, by issuing a caveat to our police-officers, not to ever get carried away and do unto others, what they would not appreciate police-officers doing to them, or their loved ones, if they were living in a strange country.
At the same time, we believe that it is up to the various national associations as well to inform their people about the fact that St. Maarten also has laws which should be respected and that their people should stop putting themselves and their children in 'harms way' , realizing full well that this island is in a crisis and can 'take no more' and that therefore the natives and police-officers are becoming extremely 'short-fused'.

Leopold JAMES
Preident SNBF/ L'Association L' Esprit de Concordia

Dear ‘Ger'

That you have a minority-complex, does not make you bad person....

But, just be cautious while trying to take out your inner demons on some-body else.

You know, ‘Ger', there is nothing wrong with being a ‘wannabee',

Not even, if at your over-ripe age, there might be some challenges....

It is evident, that you are not very comfortable in your skin, which is easily understandable, Ger.

You dream of being a ‘Caribbean Macho Man', huh ?

Or a wannabee ‘driftwood artist'?

A wannabee ‘Sacca boy' ? (Hmmmm...)

A wannabee ‘one o' we' (Ooops...)

A wannabee clown ? (that is the easy one by the way...).

A wannabee free advisor ?...(free yes...)and now, according to your advice to me in the Daily Herald of Wednesday, January 15, 2009 my psychiatrist...

‘Wattating'

What is next, brother ‘Ger' ?

While nothing is wrong with dreaming and fantasizing of what you ‘wannabee in real life Ger, why not start of this ‘wannabee everthing career' with ‘Who U be 4 tru ?

A non-descript, native-indigenous cow-milking Holland peasant from the Polder in short ‘Ger de Melkboer'....

What is wrong with being proud of who you really are, Ger ?

There are a lot of your fellow polder-men, who proudly state ; We benne maar klein, maar hebbe grote dade' ? or Piet Heyn, Piet Heyn zijn naam is klein, maar zijn dade benne groot ?

Anyhow GdM, glad to see your are back doing what you do best, making a clown of yourself.

Also I am so grateful to you that you did not give up writing your syndicated nonsense about my person.

Please, as I told you before, keep it up, don't you ever stop, because due to your constant promoting of my person and what I proudly stand for, the name-combination ‘JAMES/NATIONtalk is rapidly becoming commercially an extremely viable brand-name...

Just a little caveat though, Mr. Wannabee everything, but Ger de Melkboer himself', remember how in the past Terry PETERSON, made you swallow some non-sense against him that was a pure lie ?

If you want to re-live a similar experience, just write again that I, Leopold JAMES opposed the new Labor Policy.

Without proof to back up that utter stupidity of yours, it might as well be, ‘déjà vu all over again' for you.

Rest assured that your readers will enjoy it.

Take care but...

Do not forget to milk the cows....

Prouder than ever now, native-indigenous St. Martiner, without apologies and regardless of whatever Ger de Melkboer writes, thinks, says, sneezes, coughs, winks, whatever ; it simply matters not.

 

Once the biography on the true ‘Ikke, Ger de Melkboer' is published, his ‘wannabee-career' will be over.

Just wait and see.

To read Letter to the Editor in the Daily Herald of Wednesday, January 15, go to link COMMENTARY and click of this site.

--
Leopold James
President SNBF & L'Esprit de Concordia

By means of this letter, we care to kindly, and very urgently
inform you, perhaps superfluously, that we as representatives of the
native-indigenous St. Martiners will not idly sit back, and allow for
our ancestral rights of self-determination, which have been hijacked
due to the questionable naturalization of masses of immigrants in the
past, with the deliberate cooperation of past local St. Maarten
Governments for political expediency.

We therefore hereby express very strong support for your right as Dutch
Parliament in the best interest of the People of St. Maarten, to
reserve the right to amend if possible all agreements with St. Maarten
that do not provide built-in guarantees for the rights of the
native-indigenous St. Maarten People.

We can not emphasize enough, that the politicians of this island have
lost all our trust and certainly the basic trust necessary to provide
them with more autonomy and power without checks-and-balances as
condition.

And for the record, while many of our leaders are accusing you of
dis-respecting the so-called rights of self-determination of 'St.
Maarten', most of these very same politicians have compromised and
betrayed the same rights of we the native-indigenous St. Martin People.

Also, we demand that under absolutely no circumstances, these
politicians have a mandate to take any final decisions relating to any
new status for St. Maarten, BEFORE allowing for a RATIFICATION
of all relevant documents.

In ending, caving in to these politicians, who themselves are masters
in bad governance and exploiters of the native-indigenous St. Martin
People, can result in a very regrettable situation within the Kingdom.

Copies

Parliament N.A.

St. Maarten Island-council

UN

-
Leopold James
President SNBF & L'Esprit de Concordia

Your panel-discussion is a great step in the right direction for the island

 

Dear friends and fellow St.Martiners,

For me, on behalf of our organizations the SNBF/ Asociation L' Esprit de Concordia, it was a privilege and honor to share one platform with distinguished local persons as my friends, Mr. Mc SOOD, Mr. RAWTANI and of course, Mr. Elco ROSARIO.

Each of you gentlemen, as well of course as your large audience in attendance, deserve to be highly recommended for listening to the input, highlighting the angle from the side of the native-indigenous St. Martin population, which often-times is completely ignored.

You listened very attentively,with an open-mind and without any interference and prejudice while we to shared our vision with your.

Whether or not you agreed with all we said indeed is irrelevant.

What is relevant is, that you showed respect for the opinion of others, something that certain members in the local St. Martin media can learn a lesson from.

Let it hereby, once more be confirmed, that we not only remain open to, but more than ever, anxiously look forward working along with the CBA-, all the various cultural- and national organizations in an effort to contribute in a meaningful way to the nation building process of St. Martin.

Integral part of this process-, and of paramount importance is, working towards a dynamic- and harmonious balance in the socio-economic interests of all stakeholders on the island.

Again, the CBA should be highly recommended, for having the courage to initiate a public discussion on issues of very complex nature, but with a far-reaching impact on the entire St. Martin community and indirectly even on a number of regional islands.

In ending we thank the many people, from all walks of life who attended the panel-discussion and who expressed admiration, support for the work the SNBF and the Association de L' Esprit have been doing for years, under oftentimes very unfair circumstances, including unfair access to the local media.

As we have always stated and we agree with our friends Mr. RAWTANI, Mc. SOOD, ROSARIO and Mrs. Iris ARRINDELL, who also took to the floor, that UNITING- and INTEGRATING with the local native-indigenous St. Martin People via their representatives, is the most effective way to safeguard tranquility on the island, thereby protecting your investments- and interest.

Politicians come...and goes, the people remain !.

Success with your future endeavors and be reminded, that as long as you remain committed to respect the rightful position of the natives of this island, you will find a very loyal and powerful partner in us.

With respect,
--
Leopold James
President SNBF & L'Esprit de Concordia
-------

Recently a very informative radio-program called NATIONtalk, heard all over the world, was removed from the air by the management of the radio-station 98.1 Pearl F.M..
Main motive given verbally, without any proof, was the allegation that the program 'incited hatred'.
That characterization in-, and of itself is a complete a mis-representation of the truth, and according to our sources, political motivation played a much larger role in the decision of management.
And just ate the moment when the people of this island confronting a most complex, political-, constitutional-, economical- and social crisis of which crime and immigration are the most daunting issues, their most vital voice has been deliberately taken off the air.
We need not explain you, the consequences of such a betrayal to a people, it is simply devastating and traumatic, not to be able to have a platform to communicate mutual feelings with each other as a people, while on a daily basis the number of foreigners and their influences are increasing.
In this context, we would appreciate your attention and investigation into the situation pertaining to radio-broadcast in general on St. Maarten.

Perhaps the following and other questions as well, should be an integral part of such an investigation to which we are more than willing to cooperate with you and to provide any relevant information for our investigation
1. Is it legally correct for a radio-program to be removed solely based on 'here-say' and if not, what are the courses of actions that can be taken against a radio- and/or television station ?
2. Is there any level playing field when it comes to evaluating the programs aired in foreign languages; in other words, who if anyone at all, monitors the radio-and television programs particular in the Creole-, and Spanish languages to hear whether or not they make hatred-inciteful commentaries or any other derogatory comments direction the people of this islandor whether or not they inform their people how to circumvent our national laws ?
3. Can a list be made public of the number of programs produced by Antilleans in the English, Dutch or Papiamentu languages versus those in the Spanish and Creole languages, which most native St. Martiners do not understand ?
4. Is it acceptable that, during one of the most fundamental changes to take place in the history of St. Martiners, that in fact the voices heard most and concern mostly expressed are those of expats or foreigners ?
While we look forward to your reply, the clear underlying message hereby conveyed is one of a most serious situation-, and unfair towards the people of this island, who are now completely overrun by foreigners-, and on top of that are denied access to the media in their own country.

Is it the intention, that the pent up angst and frustration of not being able to express ourselves in our own country via the media, to be forced to go underground, only to 're-appear' full force in a completely different form ?

Can there be any peace, any peaceful new 'country St. Maarten status', if the voice of the very people with historical ties to every facet of this island's existence be replaced by 'strange' voices on the air ?

What 'country status' are we building ? Everyone-else's country, EXCEPT that of St. Martiners ?
Is that what 'separate status' really is about ?

Clearly something is amiss and should urgently be corrected, before 'doomsday' becomes a reality on 'Friendly-island.

Copies
• Parliament Netherlands
• H. Queen Beatrix
• UN
• CARICOM

--
Leopold James
President SNBF & L'Esprit de Concordia

 

Over many years, Mr. Leopold JAMES president of the SNBF & the Associated has been targeted by certain groups and members in the media as being xenophobic and the like.

In the process these critics, for their own agenda, never focused on the MESSAGE and the potential solutions systematically presented on every possible forum by Mr. JAMES.
However, slowly but surely, the 'chickens are coming home to roost'.
Increasingly, and further impacted by the slowing economical crisis, the local native-indigenous St. Martin people are realizing that the island has become over-developed, over- populated, uncontrollable, lawless and that their very existence is at stake.
Even the Island-Government, under the necessary pressure, has formulated a new Labor Policy, to be implemented on January 12, 2009.
Finally, many merchants and others are realizing that, even if they might have some legitimate reason to protest the new law, there is not much, if any sympathy at all for them among the native population.
However, we must commend Mr. Elco Rosario, who is spearheading the protest for making what we consider, the most logical and compelling argument, that can make the difference and foster a breakthrough.
The interview in which this statement is made,is published in the TODAY-newspaper of Saturday, January 3, 2008, in the last alinea, of which a copy of hereby attached.
Although he did not say it with so many words, or might not even realize it, what he mentioned is in fact, what we have been proposing for many years now; 'A MARSHALL PLAN'.
In this plan, the SNBF/Association L' Esprit has formulated a concept, in which the socio-economic interests of the main stakeholders are addressed and resolved, based on a 'win-win' approach.
Now, the SNBF/Association L' Esprit de Concordia seems to be the most coveted 'peacemaker' in this very complex and socially explosive situation.
Consequently, many who once 'demonized' the organization now realize that they might be better off involving the SNBF/Association L'Esprit de Concordiait, as opposed to having to deal with a very irrational native-indigenous population, who simply are responding based on the sentiment 'enough is enough' and a Government, that is caught between a 'rock and a hard place'.It is now left to be seen, when finally the role of the SNBF/Association L'Esprit will be acknowledged in the overall development of the island.
In the meantime, the longer that takes, the more the situation will escalate and more 'knee-jerk' new policies restricting 'foreigners' will be implemented.
Source: The TODAY-newspaper, Saturday, Juanuary 3, 2008
--
Leopold James
President SNBF & L'Esprit de Concordia

Mr. Editor, please for ‘the
record', clarify your own rules...
He has ‘struck'
again...
Despite the promise in your note of Monday,
January 19, 2009,
placed under my letter to the Editor ‘Do not
forget to milk the cows', he still was allowed by you to
continue his personal attacks on my person.
In a letter to the editor of
Thursday, January (Unpaid Advisor's
Marshall Plan), the ‘wannabe' something-,
anything but self',
has again tried to ridicule me for fighting for the rights of the St. Martin people in their own native country.
And contrary to what your note
stated, you still allowed the good gentleman to continue ridiculing me
standing
up for my own St. Martin people.
Please Mr. Editor, do not get me wrong, because it
is not that
I mind this ‘wannabe' having nothing
else to do than attacking me personally.
In fact, the non-productive, silly diatribes of
this exotic ‘wannabe'
provide me with a wealth and ‘preponderance
of evidence', to be used at the appropriate time and place unknown to
him.
Hope that he then does not become a ‘cry-cry baby' like others have
in the past.....
As far as I am concerned, I have been through it
all,
including non-effective ridicule, affecting my family as well, for
years.
And know what ?
Still standing over 6 ft. tall and proud.
Being the target of ridicule for me, is a very
affordable ‘price'
for standing up for my native St. Martin people and rest assured, that
I will
continue such, without apologies, come what may.
But as a respected paper, I would like to believe
that the Daily Herald
has a role in informing people in a professional, objective manner and
in the
process setting clear and impartial rules and criteria pertaining to
the publishing
of letters sent to you.
For now, they are not clear to say the least.
What are for instance your standard procedures for
people to
constantly write and attack others in a personal manner, in the process
affecting their families using you paper as means ?
Is it your policy to afford those affected the
same right to
respond and/or to defend themselves or not ?
Case in point here
On Monday, January
19, 2009, I responded with an open letter of my own to Mr.
BIJNSDORP's constant personal attacks on me in your paper.
While indeed you published my open letter, you
also added an EDITOR's NOTE.
Quote; Now that both
gentlemen have had their say,
no more letters in this matter will be entertained from either of them'.
It appears that the note was solely intended for
my person,
because lo- and behold,in the Opinion section of your paper of today,
Thursday,
January 29, you allowed Mr. BIJNSDORP
to continue his personal attacks on me ,‘business as usual'.
Again, Mr. Editor, it is YOUR
paper and you are free to be selective if you so desire.
Also, as far as I am concerned, you are free to
side with the good gentleman in his personal attacks on me, because
that matters not to me, because I know, when one 'spits up in the air,
sooner or later one's own face will bespat'.
Nevertheless Mr. Editor, in the interest of your
readers, and certainly
of the young ones, as well as in the interest of your own professional
credibility,
it might be wise, to explain your position in terms of your rules,
policies on
Letters to the Editor, lest perception of your agenda becomes justified
reality
within our community.
Thanks for allowing me the space in your paper.

Leopold JAMES
Proud native-indigenous-----Yes ..without apologies.

Dear Mr. President,

On Tuesday, January 20, 2009, Mr. Albert ADAMS (Jesse Torres), myself Leopold JAMES, and Mr. Etienne VAN HEYINGEN also know as ‘ETIQUE', appeared on the popular radio-call in program ‘Talking Points' of Mr.‘Billy D' HAMLET.
During and especially after the program, we were flooded by people who listened to the program and who urged us to come on the air much more often.
In particular, people responded extremely surprised at the knowledge of 'Etique' on the culture of the Haitian people, of whom we have thousands of immigrants on the island, while their numbers continue to rise and pose a serious population in-balance.
Finally, people are realizing the importance of knowing WHO we are importing in our midst in terms of their culture, their thinking, their history, their health-risks and their methods in going about becoming the new natives of this island.
Now that people have come to realize that the Etique they thought they knew and took for granted for so long, is a real grass-roots historian and a living encyclopedia, they want for him, on a ongoing basis to share his wide personal experience with them on this critical immigration matter.
We hereby lend our support to that request from the St. Martin people by recommending you invite Mr. VAN HEYNIGNEN for an informative meeting on the issue at hand.
Hopefully such a discussion can result in you offering him a position as a grass-roots consultant, allowing him to share his expertise with the collectivity, schools, associations, unions, employers and others about the background, the thinking and the customs of those immigrants which are having a tremendous impact on every aspect of the lives AND the future existence of the native-indigenous St. Martin People.
We look forward to your response in making use of our own local native human-resources.
Needless to state that acknowledging one of our own as such, will go a long way in restoring confidence of the native population in your ability and willingness to stand up for your own native-indigenous St. Martin people, without taking away the justified basic human-rights of others.
This principle is applied in every self-respecting country and St. Martin should be no exception.
It is very clear that we can no longer have people in our midst, whose motives, thinking and agenda remains a secret to us, until they decide to manifest these, at a time, when it will be too late for us to survive as a people.
Looking forward to your expedient response.
On behalf of the SNBF/Association L' Esprit de Concordia,

Leopold JAMES, president
Copies
Media
Other relevant authorities
--
Leopold James
President SNBF & L'Esprit de Concordia

The Island-council of St. Maarten,
The Governor-general of the N.A,
Director Bureau Telecommunications,
The Dutch Government,
Management PJD-2,
All other relevant authorities.

Re; Placing self-above country the DP's 'modus operandi' ?

During this Sunday-morning's, January 17, 2009 talk-show, host Mr. Lloyd RICHARDSON, repeatedly made a statement that can not be overlooked, and therefore needs extremely urgent attention and scrutiny of all authorities in the Kingdom, if we are serious about promoting good Governance, fighting corruption in Government and achieving 'Country status'.
Especially against the backdrop of the many investigations taking place on corruption in Government, the bad press in Holland and elsewhere about bad Governance on St. Maarten, the threat of Higher Supervision, the many social problems facing our youth etc. this statement calls for very serious investigation, even an island-council meeting and if necessary actions.
At a time, when we more than ever, need a change in the mentality of politicians and when we need a new 'crop' of politicians, such a statement repeated by a influential host, could send out a devastatingly wrong message, that it is o.k. to hold a public office, and to allow for one's personal interests and concerns to prevail over the 'People's Business' at all costs.
In other words Lloyd's positions is that, it is o.k., that once in Government, one can get involved in all kinds of shady deals and when in trouble to use the office of Government as a 'personal shield'.
In my books that is one of the 'founding' and fundamental principles of any 'self-respecting Banana-republic'.
That is exactly what Mr. BRINKMAN has been stating and AGAIN Lloyd RICHARDSON publicly over the internet simply proves him absolutely correct.
Needless to emphasize, what damaging impact such statements, made and defended on the public airwaves must have on our youngsters, who have to listen to such unbelievable mis-information.
Already, our young people are becoming more confused everyday and such irresponsible statements certainly do not contribute towards resolving the crises facing our People from many angles.
Nevertheless, I can predict, and therefore look forward to this gentleman shifting the topic as he usually does in order to revert to attacking me personally and in full force.
I am accustomed to such treatment and enjoy dealing with them, so I look forward with great pleasure and anticipation to the reaction by this gentleman.
However, whatever he might have, or want to say about me as a diversion tactic, so be it.
The question remains, whether or not you agree with him that placing 'self above country/public-office' is the way to govern or that you yourself govern on this principle as well ?
For the record, do not believe my words in paraphrasing Mr. RICHARDSON.
But, request the tape of Sunday's installment to be relayed and carefully study its contents yourselves and draw your own conclusions.
It might as well be that, instead of Mr. Louis LAVEIST having 'busted the pot' Sunday, as he promised (???), it was Lloyd who 'busted the pot' by exposing the 'modus operandi' of Government, which is ' Self first,....Government at the very bottom and to heck with the St. Martin People'.

Keeping silent on this issue that has the entire population baffled is no option.

Leopold James
President SNBF & L'Esprit de Concordia
-------

In recent times, the demand coming from the general public for more information by Leopold JAMES has been amazing and overwhelming.
The deliberate removing of the extremely empowering radio-program NATIONtalk from the air, by the management of Pearl 98.1 has contributed significantly to an exploding need for information, a sense of direction and balance as they relate to the the overall development on the island and as they relate in particular to the rights of the native population, that is faced with challenges as never before, effecting their very existence a a people.
the choice of a new constitutional status, certainly is one of the most daunting challenges, with long-lasting consequences.
According to a new 'buzz-word' out there gaining tremendous amount of momentum is; 'The people coming around to understanding JAMES better and better everyday' and they can not get enough of hearing and reading what he has to share with the public.
Needless to emphasize that amidst many forms of serious crises on the island, ranging from total lack of leadership, and good governance in the local Government, to an escalating sense of anger and social tensions within our community, people are now clinging to independent, non-partisan, consistent voices based on a visionary approach towards the development of this island.
Although the Daily Herald in particular, publishes most of the articles by JAMES, as a daily news-paper, it simply cannot focus alone on articles submitted by him.
Even more impossible, is it to keep up with the rate of his publishing, which simply is astounding and non-stop.
Therefore, until such time that Mr. JAMES and his team have managed to create a new, effective, interactive, multimedia platform, the public is advised to visit, at least on a daily basis the website of the SNBF/Association L' Esprit de Concordia and NATIONtalk, www.stmartinnation.org , in order to remain updated on a variety of very important information.
The creation of such an information-databank, would allow the various media to select according to their own wishes, and publish for their audience any one of our publications on our website.

How long shall we be pushed aside by our leaders? How long shall we wait to become number one in our country? It seems as if the years go by, the leaders change, the status change and yet we are confronted day by day by the same old eternal problems. NO SAINT MARTINER IS COMPETENT ENOUGH TO TAKE CARE OF SAINT MARTIN BUSINESS! We all know that Rome was not built in one day, but how many days do we need to build our nation! I, who have worked for many years with the actual and past President of the COM can't understand what is happening to their vision that WE worked together on . As everyone knows, The United Saint Martin Movement was the team that put Mr Fleming and also Mr Gumbs in the starlight allowing them to reach where they are today! I am asking both of you today what has changed with your "Saint Martiners first" conviction?
For the past 18 months that the collectivity has been in effect, the population is wondering where we are heading. We are seeing more and more individuals from abroad taking up the high positions in the administration of the collectivity? Why? Are they more competent than all the employees that were occupying those same positions for years? Why weren't they given the chance to go on an intensive training course for 3 or 6 months? Why is it that coincidentally all the Regional Council former employees end up in Saint Martin? Then we are hearing through the grape wines that jobs must be given to their families also!!! Do you think that we really need to put up with all this crap : first their salary is over 3000 euros, then housing, plus vehicle and much more....not forgetting their master-slave behavior when they get at ease with the "champagne and party system"!
When is all this nonsense going to stop? I would like to say to our leaders: leave your pretty cars and take a walk through the community then you will know how the people are suffering! It seems as if only a few shall survive and the mass shall perish! The youth is crying out, No one listens! The middle age man is losing his job, the economy is chaotic! Businesses are switching over the border!
How long will this go on? Don't you realize the more you employ "little chiefs", the more confusion you create, the more frustration you bring unto your employees! An army only needs one Colonel! I can't understand why with a council of 23 paid councilors, efficient task forces cannot be put together to work for the betterment of this lil country Saint Martin .
Our past President, M. Senator, has forgotten Saint Martin! I can recall an interview on La Voix FM where he was bragging about how much competence he discovered in the Commune workers! Where did that competence disappear suddenly?
This deplorable situation brings me to think that our leaders are trying to hide their incompetence and lack of leadership behind these people that they are employing. If these individuals were so competent where ever they hail from, why are they coming to Saint Martin ? They would have been bosses in their own country!!!
President Gumbs, you know the vision that got us, as the "USM" team, to be elected with 3 400 votes in 2001! Although in opposition, we were the voice of the people! You know how insistent we were in the past municipal administration about saint -martiners taking charge of their destiny! Please, tell us what has happened to that vision? Many of us know the answer but we need you to say it loud and clear!

Aline CHOISY

 

Marigot: --- Leader of RRR party Alain Richardson in reaction to the announcement that Guadeloupe will not be giving St. Martin any monies representing the Octroi de Mer funds said there is hard times ahead for the island and its people. The decision was taken by the Constitutional Council earlier this week.

Richardson said the present leadership of the COM is very incompetent who lacks vision and did not prepare adequately when they went to Paris to discuss the financial crisis the island is facing. He said the delegation went to the meetings blindly even though they know the State would be defending its interest.

Richardson said focus is placed on the Octroi de Mer funds but the island stand to loose close to 20 million Euros this year compared to its 2008 budget. Breaking down the loss the opposition leader said some 12 millions are attributed to the Octroi de Mer, 5 million from the donation compensation which has been reduced to 280, 000 Euros while the island has to pay back the excess funds it received in 2008 to the State. Already the State has said they would make a reduction of 2.5 million in 2009 and the same in 2010 from the from the DGF funds. (Dontation Global de Functionment). "The State is not considering giving St. Martin any kind of subvention to recover the lost funds." Richardson explained.

Richardson further explained that this amount will represent some 20% of the budget and wonders what the present administration would do to replace the loss. "Already the COM has made some bad choices when they chose to eliminate the tax de la fortune and reduce the TVA Immobiler without knowing what would be going into the government coffers. "How can you get rid of these revenues when you do not know what types of financial guarantee the State will be giving to St. Martin" Richardson asked. He said the law states that the State has to compensate St. Martin for its costs and that had needed proper representation. Richardson said based on the press conference held in November after the St. Martin delegation returned the island. "According to the delegation it is only now they realized that the State was not playing fair games." Only now they realized that the State was playing the judge and jury at the same time.

He further said that the Organic Law is very clear since it said Guadeloupe will not be giving these funds to St. Martin after December 2008. "Furthermore it is unfair to the people of Guadeloupe to take up a burden that belongs to the State. He said St. Martin never contributed to the Octroi de Mer funds but managed to benefit from it over the years. A decision he said was taken by the French Parliament years ago. "It is the French Parliament who decided that St. Martin should not contribute to these funds because of its specificities and they are the ones who decided that the island should benefit. Instead of being angry with the politicians in Guadeloupe the anger should shown towards the State since it is their obligation to give St. Martin some kind of compensation. Richardson said St. Martin leaders were ill-prepared and they did not properly prepare their arguments with the commission des evaluation and charges. He said the opposition has been saying this over the last months and seemingly no one were paying attention.

With the loss of these funds the COM will be in dire straights since they would have finds ways and means to replace the monies which is mainly used to cover administrative cost. One would have to ask how they would pay their bills such as lease, utilities and their staff as well as their social dues at the end of the day. Richardson said the State Secretary of Overseas Affairs Yves Jego is out of place when he tried to force Guadeloupe to continue giving St. Martin these monies. He said Jego cannot and should not tell the Overseas Territories how to spend their monies. What Jego did is a clear sign of constitutional rape. Richardson said.
Richardson said he is even angrier with the state representative (Yves Jego) who recently said that St. Martin may have to introduce some sort of Turn over Tax to recover the lost funds. "This State representative is clearly out of place to tell St. Martin what to do while the State is not living up to its responsibilities". Richardson said the Jego has a high handed attitude in wanting to dictate to others what to do, reason why the Constitutional Council revoked the amendment he made concerning the Octroi de Mer funds and Guadeloupe.
He alluded that this kind of behaviour from Jego shows that St. Martin representatives are weak and not able to properly defend its affairs. "Since the new status was implemented St. Martin has full competencies over its tax policies and Jego is not the one to make any type of announcement is this regard, instead he should be dealing with the immediate issue at hand and see how he can compensate the island for the financial loss. Richardson said.

UPP was Not Prepared Says Noreen Brooks
---SXMers should be given Preference.

Territorial Councilor Noreen Brooks in a statement to SMN News said the present majority in the COM was not prepared to deal with the State regarding these funding. She said it was no secret to politicians that St. Martin would be loosing this money but elected representatives had to be more aggressive and knowledgeable on the issues at hand. Brooks said this matter should have been addressed the minute the COM was installed and not today when there is a crisis. The State already knows that those elected are not ready to take up the challenges that are facing the island. She said the while the UPP have the country to run they have no monies to do the job.

Brooks also attacked the issue where a number of foreigners are being hired by the COM while there are competent locals in the community looking for work.
She said the President of the COM Frantz Gumbs and his group needs to sit down and seriously analyze their actions. These elected officials also need to be open minded and honest to the population.
Brooks said the situation facing the French side is so severe that it is only God who performs miracles would be able to save the island and its people from that which is to come.

Stimulating the Economy-COM Busy Outsourcing Jobs.

Brooks said one of the things the COM should be doing today is to try and stimulate the economy so that these businesses can pay their taxes. "To pay these dues one has to be making monies and right now business people on the French side is not making any monies.
Brooks said the jobs that are being created today is not done for the locals, and the island people are not been given a chance to perform. She said the COM is presently busy outsourcing its human resources which is costing them much more.
The Territorial Councilor said the opposition requested a Council meeting to discuss some of these issues but the COM refused to grant them a meeting saying St. Martin does not have any major problems. They suggested that the RRR meet with the UPP councilors in private to discuss their concerns. Brooks said the opposition is left out of the daily operations of the COM. She gave an example of where a the UPP campaign manager who is also an employee of the COM was paid thousands of Euros to provide trainings to the UPP councilors and the opposition she said was not even invited.

 

Madame Estate:-- Police managed to apprehend at least one person who is suspected of committing an armed robbery on Seven Alive Shop in Madame Estate last night. SMN News understands two men robbed the supermarket around 9:30pm last night. But due to the quick response of Operation Trust2 one of the suspects was apprehended while police was busy trying to locate the second suspect.
SMN News was not able to confirm this information up to press time last night.

 

Philipsburg:--- Police raided a home on the Flamboyant road number 13, on Wednesday during the evening hours. Police were able to seize over 235 marijuana plants, classified marijuana seeds, cash money, coins, live ammunition, explosives, 4 different types of fire-arms, a scope- and silencer-mounted rifle, twin (double) spear guns, handcuffs, and bags of fertilizer.
Due to the ongoing investigation we are not going into specifics. Police arrested two females) on Tuesday evening. During the mid-day hours one of the arrested ladies was released.
On Thursday during the morning hours one male resident came to the Police Headquarters in Philipsburg and was arrested by police and charged for above mentioned offences. The suspects among other had three rooms available for growing and processing the marihuana plants. They had also put a cooling system in place to maintain the room with sufficient heat (light system) and a portable electrical device if in case GEBE electricity supply should cut off, they still could keep their business going without interruption. Also the fire department was called to assist in this operation. The press would be assisted at the different scene when these situation take place by the Zero Tolerance as soon as the time and the situation permits. The solving of the case for the Police always comes first. Continue to support your local Police, continue to inform us about criminal offences that are taking place in your area and surrounding, only together as a team we can combat crime on St. Maarten.

Operation Trust 2 was also busy with traffic controls on the Brouwers road in the vicinity of the round-about on Wednesday during the evening hours. In the process 12 persons without having legal documents in their possession were picked up, 52 persons were fined and 10 cars and 1 scooter were taken off the road (impounded) for lack of valid documents. Similar controls like these would continue as the police tries to make St. Maarten a safer place .(Be mindfull this operation is a combination of mainly the St. Maarten Zero Tolerance team with assistance of the Curacao Police, the Customs and the VKS.

Philipsburg: ---Commissioner of Personnel and Economic Affairs Maria Buncamper-Molanus is urging St. Maarten's academics abroad to upload their resume to the website of the Economic Affairs Department at www.stmaarteneconomy.com
"In our continuing effort to assist our best and brightest in securing employment on St. Maarten and within government structure, it is vital that students themselves make contact with government through every available medium," the Commissioner said.
The Commissioner explained that on the website there is a "Job Opportunities" link that will direct them to two pages, one to view job openings and upload their resume and also forward them to www.diraz.an the website of the Directorate of Labor Affairs of the Netherlands Antilles.
"Besides government service, when the resumes are uploaded it will also allow us to forward these to organizations like the Chamber of Commerce and the SHTA which will assist in placing students in vacant positions," she said.
The Commissioner has been active on various fronts in trying to attract young St. Maarteners back home and into government service. She led a successful recruiting trip to the Netherlands last year and has recently encouraged much younger St. Maarten students to register for work experience through government's summer job program.
"We need to avoid the brain drain syndrome on St. Maarten where our academics decide to just stay away from St. Maarten. We need them here at home and especially with us on our way to country St. Maarten," Buncamper-Molanus said.

MARIGOT- Gendarmes were kept busy on New Years Eve as they had to deal with at least ten incidents. The worst been in Sandy Ground where a brawl left two persons injured, one of the injured were unconscious when taken to the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital.
According to a press release from the gendarmerie an argument began at a disco in Sandy Ground which got out of hand. One of the victims received cuts to his throat by a broken bottle while the other who entered into the argument as a referee was beaten about the head with a base ball bat until he lost consciousness.
While the first victim only needed some stitches to his throat the second victim is nursing injuries such as fractures to his face, skull and upper jaw.
The report stated that the gendarmes reported to some ten incidents and they had to add at least 30 gendarmes to the schedule that night. The report stated that if not all most of the incidents were alcohol related.

PHILIPSBURG - The Commissioner of Education, Sarah Wescot-Williams, recently signed an MOU on behalf of the Government of St. Maarten with Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) located in Tallahassee Florida allowing study financing recipients from St. Maarten to attend that institution at reduced cost.

The general purpose of the MOU is to continue educational and academic exchanges and other scholarly pursuits. To continue the educational exchange program with FAMU, the Government of St. Maarten collaborates with FAMU to provide a scholarship program for the St. Maarten students who participate in this program (by qualifying for study financing).

The MOU is in support of the partnership agreement between the Island Government of St. Maarten and the City of Tallahassee. Since the executions of the Partnership Agreement, students from St. Maarten have enrolled at Florida State University (FSU), Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), Tallahassee Community College (TCC) and Lively Technical Center (Lively).

Philipsburg- Two Dutch students, namely Esther Vermeulen and Alisa Bulthuis from Hanzehoge School in Groningen, The Netherlands, are currently assisting Sector Health Care Affairs (SHCA) with the collection of data related to obesity in young children.
Their research has already included the gathering of data from the White & Yellow Cross Baby Clinic of toddler's 0-4-years of age and a random sample of parents whose children go to a daycare center.
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, with more than one billion adults being overweight - at least 300 million of them are clinically diagnosed as obese - and it is a major contributor to the global burden of chronic disease and disability.
Childhood obesity is already epidemic in some areas and on the rise in others. An estimated 22 million children under five are estimated to be overweight worldwide.
Obesity is a complex condition, with serious social and psychological dimensions, affecting all ages and socio-economic groups virtually.
This study has been initiated as a response to the increasing occurrence of overweight among children on the island.
The prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity has more than doubled globally in the past 25-years with research showing overweight in 15 per cent of the 2-4-year-olds and this includes 3.7 per cent with obesity in 2007 alone. In the mid 1970s the prevalence of overweight was still five per cent of the 2-5-year-olds.
Overweight and obesity are also serious problems on St. Maarten with 70 per cent of the population being overweight of which 30 per cent is obese. Not only adults on the island suffer from it, many children are also known to have this medical condition.
Results of the "The St. Maarten School Health Program," showed that approximately 14 per cent of five-year-old children and 23 per cent of 10-year-olds are overweight.
The main goal of the study is to discover whether overweight is a problem among 0-4 year-old children on Dutch St. Maarten. This study also aims to identify the relevant internal and external determinants and to use this information to help children achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
In general, an unhealthy lifestyle is an important factor of overweight and obesity and they are assumed to be the results of an increase in caloric and fat intake. Also steady decline in physical activity have been playing major roles in the rising rates of obesity all around the world.
Childhood obesity is associated with a higher chance of premature death and disability in adulthood. Overweight and obese children have a 77 per cent chance of staying obese into adulthood and are more likely to develop non communicable diseases.
Commissioner of Public Health is in full support of the study as it would allow for proper policies being developed to deal with the challenge of childhood obesity.
"This issue is very important. Improper healthy eating is behind the large number of lifestyle related illnesses or non-communicable diseases within out society. Are we sacrificing our health and by extension our lives to satisfy the yearning for tasty foods?
"Parents have a responsibility towards their children and are the number one educators for their children. What you cook at home and how you cook it affects the health of your family and yourself which is observed in your children's physical and health condition. If it's unhealthy, then the entire family will also be unhealthy and this reflects on the health of your children.
"I am appealing to our community to sever that love affair with unhealthy foods and become selective in their choice of food and methods of meal preparation. We want to be a healthy nation and that takes a lot of work, but it is well worth it.
"Take responsibility for your health and your children's health. Chronic non-communicable diseases and childhood obesity are preventable and are chiefly the outcome of harmful choices, which also includes low level of physical activity. During the New Year, make a conscious choice for you and your family. Be healthy," Commissioner of Public Health Maria Buncamper-Molanus told the Government Information Service (GIS).

Philipsburg: --- Police has so far confirmed they have an arrest warrant for a Guyanese national identified as C.S. who is accused of raping a young woman on the morning of January 10 2009. C.S presumably is wanted in Suriname and Guyana. He is known for using several alias names. He was arrested on Monday evening and was later released when his sister produced a valid ticket for his departure on January 17. However, even though police had a warrant for the man he was released without being questioned on the rape charges.

Police Spokesman Johan "Janchi" Leonard said the man was arrested on Monday evening during an immigration control by the Operation Trust 2 and while there is a warrant out for the man's arrest that information was not adequately distributed within the Police Force. He said the officer in the immigration department was not aware that the suspect is wanted for such a crime.
SMN News broke the story in our yesterday's edition since this is not the first person who is wanted on St. Maarten but manages to escape the long arms of the law.

This media house was reliably informed that the wanted man was re-arrested on Tuesday and he is now in police custody. Leonard said the suspect was spotted in Philipsburg during the midday hours yesterday and he was re-arrested. The senior police spokesman said that the man's release was a case of miscommunication.

The victim in this case made contact with this media house and said she is being harassed with threats from several of the rapist relatives. "The sister of the suspect who is well known on St. Maarten has been calling my sick mother and told her she has her police friends on St. Maarten who is looking for me."

The victim said she has been residing on St. Maarten illegally and the family of this young man believes she has no rights and she should accept whatever is done to her. She further stated that her mother ended up in the hospital after she heard what happened to her to on St. Maarten. "The young man has two brothers have been calling me all day yesterday threatening me saying if their brother go down then I would know what would happen to me", the victim told this reporter.

Late last year a Jamaican national and former employee of the Sheriff Security managed to escape from police custody it is said an officer was being careless which caused the wanted man who is considered to be armed and dangerous to escape.

Marigot: ---- "This nonsense has to stop and the time to send a message to the UPP group that is managing the COM is now" that was the sentiments expressed at the meeting held last night at the Chamber of Commerce Building (CCI) with the union and its members mainly the civil service of the COM.
The civil core turned out in large numbers as they come together to send a strong message to their leaders whom they said is selling out St. Martin to foreigners.

One of the questions the President of the COM will be faced with on Monday when the action begins is the job description of Pascal Avern who replied to the UACL, CGTG DE SAINT MARTIN when they sent the pre-avis to the President Frantz Gumbs. "It seems as if Avern is the President because he is the one who responded to the request sent to Gumbs" says the union.
The civil servants expressed their growing concern about their job description, salaries and other benefits. The Collectivity signed a protocol where they agreed to increase the salaries of its civil servants some 8 months later that increase is not yet on their pay-slips while foreigners are being recruited illegally and are given a huge salaries and benefits.
The intention of first industrial action since the COM was installed is intended to make clear to those elected that locals must be given first preference when it comes to recruitment. Salaries and other benefits must be given according the French laws.

The municipal police whose name has been changed to Territorial police without the necessary paper work will be demanding respect from their superior as well as their over time salaries and risk benefits.

Philipsburg- On Friday, January 23rd, 2008, the Department of Education will be holding its first seminar on the Ordinance for Foundation Based Education for Country St. Maarten's.
The Department of Education has invited the stakeholders and those of the Foundation Based Education Schools to come together to discuss any bottlenecks of our present Central Government Ordinance which will be taken into consideration when drafting the Ordinance for Country St. Maarten.
In taking over the tasks of the Ministry of Education, legislation governing education has to be established. This process provides the Island Government with an opportunity to make the necessary adjustments to the present Central Government Legislation and to establish new or adjusted legislation to regulate issues specific to education on the Island of St. Maarten.
The Commissioner of Education, Sarah Wescot-Williams, encourages all participants to see their input in the process as a contribution to building country Sint Maarten in general, and our future education system in particular. ‘This is our chance, let's grab it with both hands', the Commissioner concluded".

Philipsburg;-- Members of "Operation Trust II" along with officers of the Immigration Department ,Customs and V.K.S. went to Well road in the Cole Bay area to conduct an immigration raid on Tuesday evening.

During this raid several persons took off running to avoid being captured by immigration in connection with their status on the island. Among the persons that took off running was a man of Dominican nationality that goes by the name "Raul". While fleeing from the area he jumped into the neighbors' yard and was bitten quite seriously by the neighbor's dog.
However he managed to escape. During a search by the police officers in the apartment, in which Raul lives to see if there were any other illegal persons staying there, quite a number of electronic goods, such as car stereo's and speakers, computer screens, printers photo cameras, watches were found. These items seem to be stolen items. Also a considerable amount of cocaine, drug paraphernalia and equipment and special self manufactured tools for preparing of "bolitas" were found. All items were confiscated and taken to the police station for further investigation. A total of four persons were brought in for immigration purposes. The investigation continues.

Orient Bay: -- Two gun men robbed the cashier of the Cadisco Gas Station located in Orient Bay about 11 am this morning (Tuesday). The attackers arrived at the service station on a motor cycle. A supervisor of establishment said that this is the second time in less than three months they were robbed at gun point while bandits also invaded the establishment during the month of October 2008 after closing hours.

The woman identified as Sandra E said she was not at the location at the time of the incident but confirmed a considerable amount of monies were taken. She said the robbery this morning (Tuesday) has left the victim (cashier) very traumatized. The gendarmes have confirmed the incident. They said no one was injured in the ordeal but the cashier is still shaken by what happened.

The gendarmes acted smartly after they received the call for help, they blocked off the roadways leading to French Quarter in the hope of catching the thieves. They used some 30 gendarmes in this operation. The release from the gendarmes states that they believe the suspects were caught between the trap when they collided with a gendarme vehicle. The two riders were thrown off their bikes and they proceeded to getaway on foot but during their bid to escape they dropped some of their belongings. Despite a desperate foot chase the two culprits manage to escape through the mangroves. The gendarmes said they are sure they would capture the two suspects since the items they recovered thus far has incriminated them.
While this has been the third incident in recent months, the owner of Cadisco Jean Pierre Passera Gas Station was killed during a violent robbery in 2005 in his home in Low Lands. It is understood that the elderly owner was one of the persons who were against the illegal gas tax that is being collected for road repairs. Just recently the gendarmes placed one of the owners on garde du vue after he fired a gunshot after one of his attackers.

Marigot:-- Elected officials within the New Collectivity of St. Martin would have to see how they would replace the monies they lost this year from the Octroi de Mer. Already these officials knew there was a possibility that St. Martin would no longer receive the funding which is derived from tax revenues. In the past the State of France were the ones collecting the tax revenues from St. Martin while the island was governed as a commune but since the island received it's status change based on article 74 where St. Martin would be collecting all taxes they have lost the rights to the funds which amounts to some 12 million Euros. This amount represents some 15 percent of the local budget.

While there was ongoing negotiations regarding this funding President of the COM Frantz Gumbs who went to Paris late last year with a delegation had said they proposed to the State not to take away the entire amount immediately. However on Monday the Constitutional Council in Paris ruled that St. Martin is no longer entitled to these monies for the next three years. Octroi de mer is funds are disbursed annually.
Reports are that the President of the Regional Council Victorin Laurel had voted against the need to extend the funding until 2011for St. Martin and St. Barths since the island still has 18- months to prepare a fiscal plan.
Laurel had said the State Secretary of Overseas Territory did not consult with the departments prior to saying he was going to extend the cut off date, thus Laurel and sixty other socialist deputies managed to secure a redress on the matter.

Right now the French side of the island is suffering from an economic set back and it is clear with the lost of these funds will deal the COM a severe blow since the COM does not have excess monies. So far politicians locally have not addressed the matter locally but Senator Louis Constant Fleming in an interview with another media house had said that he would be content with the matter if State Secretary of Overseas Affairs would at least look at the matter one more time.

Philipsburg: ----- Police arrested a man identified as R.B for allegedly shooting at someone at a home in Fort Willem. Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson said the incident occurred on December 30. Henson said when police arrived on the scene they spoke with a man identified as R.B.M. The man told police that the suspect in question had fired shots at his nephew S. B who later related to him what had happen.

Henson said police did see the suspect car the same day but they did not find the suspect whom they were told was somewhere on Front Street. Even though police tried to locate the wanted man on that day they could not find him. He said on January 2, 2009 R.B surrendered to police and he was immediately arrested pending further investigations.

Marigot: --- Almost three hundred of the civil service of the Collectivity of Saint Martin down tools this morning as their union seeks to have the President of the COM Frantz Gumbs and his cabinet enforce the protocol that was signed with the Union CTCG and the former President of the COM Louis Constant Fleming.
The protocol was signed in May 2008 said the general secretary of UACL, CGTG de Saint Martin Serge Wienum.
Wienum said while the strike is one of a peaceful nature, the intention of the Union is to get the COM to begin implementing the protocol since workers of the COM did not see a promotion or increase in salaries for over ten years. He said one of their concerns is to make sure the local job force is given equal opportunity when there is a vacancy within the civil service.
One of their main concerns is the employment of several persons who are not from St. Martin and are earning close to 4000. Euros per month as well as housing and transportation.

The union representatives met with the management of the COM where they began discussing the grievances of the local civil core.

Students attending school was not able to get their lunch since the canteen workers are part of the industrial action. One of the protestors placed a lock at the gate of the one of the schools in French Quarter leaving the children locked out. This of course did not sit well with the union since they intended to hold a peaceful protest.

Should the discussions not bear positive fruits the strike would continue said Wienum.
Among the strikers was the brother of the President Fabien Gumbs.
Second Vice President Claire Javios was among the workers as they protest. The VP was the only elected official who made sure she is seen with the local people during the action.

Willemstad:--On Monday, January 26 Minister of Traffic and Water Management Camiel Eurlings will participate in a conference in Curaçao on aviation policy within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. On the agenda of the conference are the consequences of the future political relations for aviation within the Kingdom.
Eurlings will addres, among other things, the effects of the new relationships on air connections.
In addition, he will conduct talks in Curaçao with the Governor of the Netherlands Antilles, Mr Goedgedrag, and with the Minister of Tourism and Transport of Aruba, Mr Briesen. He will also speak with the Antillean Minister of Traffic and Transport, Mr Adriaens.
In the margin of his participation in the aviation conference the minister will speak in Bonaire with the newly appointed Lieutenant Governor of the island, Mr Thodé, and representatives of the airport and the island government about the renovation of Flamingo Airport. The runways of the airport need repairing with a view to air traffic safety. In Bonaire Eurlings will also pay a visit to the Regional Service Centre. Onthis visit he will be accompanied by Henk Kamp, Commissioner for Bonaire, St.Eustatius and Saba since January 1st. The inhabitants of the island can apply to the
Regional Service Centre to ask questions about Bonaire's new position as a special municipality of the Netherlands. The object of the centre is to improve education, security, popular health and the infrastructure of the islands.
Curaçao and St. Maarten will become countries within the Kingdom of the
Netherlands, the BES islands (Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba) will become parts of the Netherlands.

Philipsburg- Leader of Government and Commissioner responsible for Aviation Affairs Sarah Wescot-Williams, says that the next step to be taken at the recently concluded two-day conference on Air Traffic Relations held in Curacao earlier this week is the drafting of an Aviation Policy for Country St. Maarten.
The conference organized by the Netherlands Antilles Minister of Traffic & Communications Maurice Adriaens in conjunction with the Minister of Traffic & Communications of the Netherlands Camiel Eurlings, and held under the theme, "The Consequences of Political Changes for Air Traffic Relations," was informative and it clearly demonstrated the complexities that Curacao and St. Maarten will be confronted with as countries.
A deadline of July 1, 2009 has been set for all parties in attendance to have developed a draft aviation policy. A special forum in the form of a Task Force was suggested to deal with Winair, as Holland becomes responsible for air-connections to and from the BES islands of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba.
"The conference was very much focused on the position and role of aviation in view of the pending constitutional changes. Presentations on the issue of aviation treaties with and within the Kingdom were enlightening and clearly demonstrated the complexities that the new countries in the making will be confronted with.
"Another matter on which there are clearly differing views is the one of liberalization vis-à-vis support for "local" carriers.
"It was good to hear from a representative of the US Department of Transportation regarding the US' view and policies on aviation. Clearly, in this respect, attention is being paid to air transportation between the USA and the Caribbean.
"Representatives of the French Ministry of Foreign & European Affairs, and of the European Union (EU) highlighted the approach and aviation laws of the Republic of France and the EU respectively. The relationships - UPT or OCTs - with the EU make quite a difference in this respect. Naturally, the position of especially Saba, St. Eustatius and Bonaire came to the forefront," Commissioner of Aviation Affairs Sarah Wescot-Williams told the Government Information Service (GIS) on Wednesday.
Former Minister of the Netherlands Antilles Captain Leo Chance was the final speaker on Tuesday and he impressed the audience with a historic overview of advances in civil aviation, but not without struggles. His keen sense of delivery according to Wescot was well received by those in attendance.
The two-day conference was held at the Marriott Hotel.

...

St. Peters: --- President of the Windward Island teachers union (WITU) Claire Elshot is not pleased with management of the St. Maarten Vocational School whom she said denied her members valuable information and barred her from entering the school during school hours yesterday.
Elshot said she was called by her members urgently yesterday morning and she agreed to meet with the teachers at the school during their break-time. She said when she arrived at the school she was basically pushed around by the school management who felt that she does not have right to meet with her members during school hours. Elshot said even though the Principal of that school knew he was not going to allow the meeting to take place he was playing games with her before he finally told her he would not allow her to meet with her members. She said she asked the Principal to at least allow her to inform the teachers but instead he decided to walk ahead and told them they were to report to their classroom since there would be no meeting. Elshot said she still managed to speak to a few of the teachers who did not have class at the time and only then she realized that the school management was withholding valuable information from the teachers.
Elshot further explained at that point she decided to call the directress of public education Mrs. Oldsdine Bryson Pantophlet who invited her to a meeting at her office. The Union head said during that meeting Bryson- Pantophlet showed her a letter in which she responded to the teacher's request, telling them that she was busy meeting with a consulting agency where she is seeking to have a security coordinator for the school.
Elshot said her members did not have any knowledge about the letter and she was able to meet with the teachers after 2pm yesterday where she updated them.

Teachers Taking Stand.

The teachers of the school have since decided to send a stronger letter to Bryson-Pantophlet since they need a security at the school. She said the teachers would be making a resolution which will be signed by all the teachers before sending it off to Bryson- Pantophlet. She said the reason the teachers are holding out is because other schools managed to obtain security and their school which is the ‘dumping ground" for bad apples cannot get a security. In the meantime, Elshot said she strongly condemned the attitude of the Principal and she intends to follow up the matter with the head of public education.

Philipsburg: While it is reported locally and in Curacao that members of Operation Trust confiscated weapons during a house raid on Monday Police Spokesman said that information is completely false. He said on Monday January 12 Operation Trust began their activities in the morning. Those activities he said are traffic controls which started on Sucker Garden Road, that operation he said lasted for two hours. The officers he said then moved to the Philipsburg area and a house search was conducted in Schoolsteeg number 5. The confiscated items are goods, 46 bullets for .38 special and 19 bullets for p44 slugs

Leonard said during these control two persons were arrested with illegal drugs, while another was arrested with a knife. While someone was arrested for being in possession of ammunition there were no guns confiscated. The police spokesman said he does not know where the media got the false information from but hopes that this would not happen in the future. He said a total of 43 persons were searched while 121 traffic fines were issued.
Eight persons were detained for their legal status on the island. During the first day operation 39 vehicles were towed away for one reason or the other, 5 scooters, one quad and one motor cycle.
The police department is advising all drivers to make sure they have the relevant documents in their vehicles. Residents and non residents should make sure they have some sort of identification. Leonard said this would safe both the officers and the general public a lot of time. The intention he said is to make St. Maarten a safer place for everyone.

Marigot:--- Residents of St. Martin was thrown into mourning yesterday when they learnt that Jean Francois better known as (Fanfan) passed away. The elderly man who is known to be seen in the Maires when Mayor Albert Fleming was in office is the cousin of former Mayor. Fan-fan passed away at the St. Martin's Home.

Philipsburg:---Commissioner responsible for Youth Affairs Maria Buncamper-Molanus highlighted the success of government's Business Outreach and Placement Program has had over the years as a prime example of how serious effort by young people produces great results.

The program caters to pre-exam and exam secondary school students and is on schedule to be carried again this year with registration to open in April. Students also have to be 16 years of age. The program serves to provide career guidance, improve employability by preparing the youth for the job market, provides life and technical skills and builds character.

"The character building aspect of the program is one of the more significant. The work environments where the students will be for a few weeks require responsibility, accountability, discipline communication skills, interpersonal skills, opportunities for creativity and initiative," The Commissioner said.

"These may sound like lofty goals for jobs that some may view as mundane, but the benefits are definitely real, and the skills invaluable in the workplace," she added.

The Commissioner went on to mention a few examples of young people who applied themselves to their job assignments and has since been taken into full government service.

Wendy Jack, Venacio Saunders and Makini Hickinson at the Department of Economic Policy and Research, Valetta Brown and Davida Holaman at the Island Secretary's Office, Solaika Serbony in Commissioner Wescott's office, Shantilia Higgs, Dolicia Skeete Anderson and Ferdinand Jermin at the Finance Department and many more who have also gone into the private sector after completing their job placement assignment.
"In the summer months when a young person is home for the summer vacation, it is better for them to be productive than just idling at home. I hope the schools and parents encourage young people to register for the opportunity to gain valuable work experience," the Commissioner said.
"I would also like to thank the private sector businesses that have in the past taken on so many of our students and subsequently hired them. Thank you for the time devoted to our students and for putting them in a position that taught them something about your business, even if it wasn't exactly what the student was looking for. But that's the reality of having a job in the "real world. I am looking forward to continuing this cooperation with the business sector," Buncamper-Molanus said.
She also stressed that there still criteria that a young person have to meet before they are chosen for a job assignment, as well as interviewing with the government department or private sector business at which he or she would like to work. The Commissioner also thanked Shermina Powell-Richardson and her team at the Department of Social and Welfare Affairs youth section for the hard work they put into the program every year.

 

PHILIPSBURG:....Close to seventy people have already registered for the health conference on case management that takes place this Friday 23 and Saturday 24 January at Great Bay Beach Resort. "We are all set to go," said drs. Pyt Lucas of For A Change NV, the consultancy firm that has been contracted as conference organizer by Sector Health Care Affairs.
Themed ‘As strong as the weakest link', the health care conference opens just after 6.00pm on Friday, with remarks by Public Health Commissioner Mrs. Maria Buncamber Molanus.
The gathering will take a look at the current approach toward case management in St. Maarten, through presentations by local health care providers. Keynote speakers dr. Leo Kliphuis and dr. Javier Asin will present best practices and possibilities for improvement.
The conference will aim at sensitizing all stakeholders on the establishment of better arrangements between caregivers about the content and the organization of the care. The ultimate aim is to establish Case Management in St. Maarten and define realistic goals for 2009. Stressing the importance of improved coordination between healthcare providers, Commissioner Buncamper Molanus earlier this week urged all stakeholders to attend.
Drs. Pyt Lucas said registration is still open via email address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Philipsburg:--- Commissioner of Constitutional Affairs Sarah Wescot-Williams, chaired her first Permanent Committee for Constitutional Affairs (PCCA) of the Island Council on Friday, January 23 in the Dr. A. C. Wathey Legislative Hall.

Commissioner Wescot-Williams reported on the Round Table Conference (RTC) held on December 15 and that with the conclusion of that RTC, the development phase of the constitutional process with respect to the preparations of laws and agreements had been completed.

The next stage of the process which has now started is the implementation phase. Commissioner Wescot-Williams informed members what this part of the process entailed as agreed to at the Start RTC of November 26, 2005.

Some of the other issues discussed in the over one-hour meeting was the transfer of tasks from the Central Government to the Island Government; the Advisory Council; and the vetting process of the draft constitution and organic laws that were submitted by St. Maarten.

Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams told her colleagues that St. Maarten had complied with the criteria set out for the aforementioned documents, a fact that is recorded as such in the conclusions of the aforementioned RTC of 2008.

Another issue discussed at length was the proposal in the draft constitution regarding suspension or termination of a Member of Parliament or government, when an investigation is started against that member respectively when that member is convicted of a crime. The Chair concluded on this point that the matter will be further debated in a subsequent meeting of the PCCA.

Representing the Democratic Party (DP) were Island Council members Roy Marlin and Maria Buncamper-Molanus and for the National Alliance was Councilors William Marlin, Frans Richardson, Patrick Illidge, Rudolphe Samuel, and Hyacinth Richardson. Absent with notice were DP Councilors Theodore Heyliger and Leroy De Weever. Also absent was independent member of the Island Council Louie Laveist.

Paris/St Martin--- Several unions in Paris will be holding a general strike today (Thursday) Some of the issues at hand is the financial crisis, the weak purchasing power, human rights issues. A reaction to a rage in the population. It is expected teachers on St. Martin would fully support the one day strike.
France's rail network, airports, public schools and government offices face work stoppages today, after the country's eight biggest labor unions called for a one-day general strike.
In what could be the largest such action since President Nicolas Sarkozy was elected in May 2007, the unions are demanding that the government do more to counter rising unemployment and falling purchasing power as France enters its first recession in 16 years.
"Everyone should participate in the strike -- the unemployed, retired people for whom also life is tough," Bernard Thibault, secretary general of the Confederation Generale du Travail union, said on France 2 television. "The more the numbers, the greater the chance of our being heard."
Public and private sector workers are set to take to the streets, disrupting service on the Paris subway and commuter trains, on the national railway, at airports and on Air France- KLM Group flights. Employees of companies including Electricite de France SA and French units of International Business Machines Corp. and Hewlett-Packard Co. are among those likely to participate in the strike.
In neighboring Germany, commuters in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and six other cities also braced for disruptions tomorrow after rail unions Transnet and GDBA called a half-day strike over a dispute with state-owned Deutsche Bahn AG on wages and work schedules.
‘Real Anger'
In France, public schools and government offices are preparing for poor employee attendance during the strike, with unions for teachers, doctors and other civil servants asking for "urgent measures for employment and wages" and a further boost to the economy. About 67 percent of school teachers are joining in the strike, Le Monde reported, citing unions.
"There is a lot of concern," Jean-Francois Cope, the head of the ruling party in the national assembly, said on RTL radio today. "There's irritation, real anger for those who have to work. Isn't there another way to express your unhappiness?"
Unions say measures announced by the government so far are inadequate. Sarkozy unveiled a 26 billion-euro ($34.4 billion) economic-stimulus package in December.
"I understand your difficulties," Sarkozy told workers during a visit to a plant near Chateauroux, in central France, yesterday. "But I must consider that with a cool head, calmly, thoughtfully, and mustn't decide in accordance with what's written in newspapers or with whoever shouts the loudest."
Rising Unemployment
About 69 percent of the French people back the strike, according to a poll by CSA-Opinion for newspaper Le Parisien on Jan. 25. Forty-six percent support the strike, while 23 percent "sympathize," with the union call, Le Parisien said. Of those interviewed, 12 percent were opposed or hostile to the strike.
It's the first time in Sarkozy's presidency that a "social movement" has had such public approval, Stephane Rozes, head of CSA-Opinion told the daily.
The French economy, the euro area's second largest, may contract 1.8 percent this year, the worst performance since World War II, the European Union projected on Jan. 19. Companies are cutting jobs as the credit crunch derails purchases of homes, cars and factory machinery.
The EU sees France's unemployment rate at 9.8 percent this year and 10.6 percent next year. The number of jobseekers in France has risen for seven months, recording the biggest jump on record in November.
Trains, Planes
Societe Nationale des Chemins de Fer Francais, or SNCF, France's national railway, said starting at 8 p.m. local time today, about 60 percent of the regional TER train services and 40 percent of high-speed TGV lines will be disrupted.
Eurostar and Thalys services to London and Brussels will run normally, SNCF said. All overnight domestic and international trains will be canceled except for a Berlin-Paris train arriving in the French capital on Jan. 30.
Up to 50 percent of domestic high-speed services from and to Paris will be canceled, and 70 percent of the Corail domestic trains will be canceled, the railroad said.
RATP, the Paris transport authority, said the city's subway service will range anywhere from normal to one-out-of- three trains. One bus out of four will be canceled. At best, one train out of five will be running on its A and B RER regional train lines.
Calls for Concessions
DGAC, the French aviation authority, recommended that airlines flying into and out of the Paris-Orly airport pare flights by 30 percent, while those going through Paris-Charles de Gaulle by 10 percent. Air France-KLM Group said last night that it plans to maintain all long-haul flights, while canceling 30 percent and 10 percent, respectively, of its short- and medium-haul flights from Orly and Charles de Gaulle.
Power and gas supplies may be hit after EDF and GDF Suez SA employees said they are participating in the work stoppage. Previous strikes have led to lower electricity output at power producer EDF.
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon last night dismissed calls for concessions to appease the strikers.
"It's not the government's role to make gestures," Fillon said on France 2 television. "It's the government's role to keep reforms on track." Bloomberg.com
French Postal Workers To Join General Strike
French postal workers are to join many other public sector workers by striking in protest over what they see as poor leadership from the French government over the economic downturn.

Others expected to join the general strike include journalists and car workers. The action is backed by the major unions as the French and other European governments desperately try to minimise the damage of what looks likely to be a prolonged recession.

In the UK, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that doing nothing during the downturn was not an option and only by maintaining a fiscal policy across Europe could European countries see a faster return to stability and growth. Opposition leaders say that massive borrowing will only create an extended period of high taxes later on and would do little to stimulate the economy, drawing attention to the recent drop in VAT rates which they say has so far not seen a resumption of consumer confidence.

Growing unemployment and a fall in growth in France has fueled the protest which could yet escalate into further protests.

Philipsburg- Commissioner of Public Health Maria Buncamper-Molanus is inviting the public to take part in a Fitness Walk and a special Aqua Aerobics session on Saturday, January 31, 2009.
Participants are expected to gather at the Cyrus Wathey Square in the vicinity of the Beach Promenade at 5.30am. This event is expected to conclude 8.00am.
The two events are organized in commemoration of "Healthy Weight and Nutrition Awareness" Month and is being held under the theme, "Create a balance between nutrition and physical activity."
In the calendar of observances of Sector Health Care Affairs (SHCA), the month of January is identified as Healthy Weight and Nutrition Awareness. The calendar of observances is aimed at promoting health related issues and topics during a designated time of the year.
To maintain your body weight the energy that you expend through your daily activities (such as breathing, sleeping and moving around) and additional physical activity should equal the energy you consume as calories. If these two things (energy used and energy consumed) are equal then you are in ‘energy balance'.
To lose weight you will have to either increase the amount of energy expended through additional physical activity or decrease the amount of calories consumed, or both. Remember however to get all the nutrients that your body needs to maintain good health.
Eat foods that are high in nutrients but low in calories. For most adults a reduction of 50-100 cal/d from food and beverage consumed may prevent gradual weight gain. Therefore taking small steps and eliminating foods that are high in calories and little nutritional value is a positive step in the right direction to maintain a healthy weight and eating healthy.
Calorie in take needs to be balanced with calorie out put in order to maintain body weight, which is why it is also important to include additional physical activity on most days. You should engage in at least 20 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days. To prevent weight gain, 60 minutes of moderate to intensity activity on most days, but not increasing or eating more calories than required. To maintain weight loss, 60 to 90 minutes of moderate to vigorously intense activity on most days, but not increasing or eating more calories than required.
The month of January is just about over and you still have the opportunity to set small and realistic goals that will help you achieve your ultimate goal of maintaining a balance between food and physical activity.
"There is an unfitness epidemic taking place. Being fit is not just one of the things to do today that you check-off your list. Being fit will improve the quality of your life. Research has shown that people who exercise regularly are more productive at work and achieve more on a daily basis.
"Active people generally have a more optimistic outlook, think more clearly, lead happier lives and have been found to make more money. A direct benefit from exercise is the ability to concentrate and to be goal-oriented," Commissioner of Public Health Maria Buncamper-Molanus told (GIS).

Philipsburg- The governor of the island territory of St. Maarten, Franklyn E. Richards, has called on Commissioner Louie Laveist to live up this responsibility and tender his resignation as a member of the executive council of St. Maarten.
Richards did so in a letter addressed to Laveist, in keeping with his position of chairman of the executive council and gatekeeper of good governance.
In the letter, Governor Richards refers to past correspondence by Laveist. By letter of November 6, 2008, addressed to leader of the ruling DP faction, Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams, Laveist had indicated that he will be a non-active member of the executive council and that he would be an independent member of the island council.
By letter of November 10, 2008, Laveist signed three letters, indicating to the governor of the island territory that he was withdrawing his support for his DP faction, that he would be taking a non-active role in the Executive and that he would be an independent member of the island council.
On November 16, 2008, the governor, in his capacity of chairman of the island council, received a letter, signed by all DP members in the island council, voicing support for the St. Maarten executive council, comprised of DP commissioners Maria Buncamper-Molanus, Theodore Heyliger, Roy Marlin and Sarah Wescot-Williams.
With the 6 signatures appearing on the letter, it can be argued that the executive council has a majority support in the island council.

It is the opinion of the governor that the letter of November 16, 2008, also signed by Commissioner Laveist, voicing support for the 4-member executive council, did not take into consideration commissioner Laveist.
As chairman and member of the executive council himself, Governor Richards is not quite sure what to make of the letter of November 16, 2008. This in view of the earlier decision taken by Laveist to withdraw his support for his DP faction and announcement that he considers himself a non active member of the executive council.
The chairman refers to the fact that it is the island council which appoints and dismisses members of the executive council.
The island council has, as of this date, not dismissed Mr. Laveist as member of the executive council while the latter has not tendered his resignation as such.
This would mean that the executive council is, at present, comprised of six members, including the governor as chairman of the council. Because Laveist remains a member of the executive council, his presence is required to form a quorum and he does have voting right. This remains so, even in light of his claiming to enjoy a non-active status and his not attending meetings of the executive council. This situation is then in conflict with the correspondence of November 16.
Separate from all of the aforementioned considerations, it is not in the best interest that Mr. Laveist retains all the perks and privileges associated with being a commissioner. This while explicitly indicating in the November 16, 2008 correspondence not to wish to continue serving as commissioner but instead adopting a non-active role.
The present situation creates uncertainty and affects transparency in government, which is damaging to the image of the government of St. Maarten and is, above all else, not in the general interest of the people of St. Maarten.

Again referring to the November 16, 2008 letter signed by Laveist, the governor of the island territory is of the opinion that the only tangible approach would be that Laveist tenders his resignation as commissioner.
This since the claimed status of non active member of the executive council is not in accordance with the island regulations of the Netherlands Antilles (ERNA).
The function of commissioner is one which requires that content be given to the position. It does take into consideration occasions whereby one is unable to be present. These are not applicable in the case of Mr. Laveist.
Governor Richards emphasizes that commissioners hold a public function and as such ought to serve the general interest, at all times.
The present situation however does just the opposite.
The executive council has in the meantime decided to redistribute the portfolios formerly assigned to commissioner Laveist. This followed his detention and correspondence from justice authorities addressed to the chairman of the island council, indicating among others, that Laveist is the subject of a criminal investigation.
With all of the abovementioned in mind, the governor has addressed Laveist exclusively on his position in the executive council and not as member of the island council.
The governor, as is known, does not interfere with matters which resort under the competency of the island council, such as composition of the executive council.
In the interest of good governance, an urgent appeal has been made by governor Richards to Mr. Laveist, to tender his resignation, thereby showing that he takes his responsibilities seriously, and which would end the present unwarranted situation, construed as contrary to our democratic principles.
Governor Richards has requested Mr. Laveist to react to his urgent appeal within a week's time.
Copies of the letter have been sent to His Excellency the governor of the Netherlands Antilles, to members of the island council and to members of the Executive Council.
Governor Richards reiterates for clarity sake that justice must be allowed to take its course, also in the case involving Mr. Laveist. He too, has a right to the premise of "presumptio innocentiae", innocent until proven guilty.

Marigot: -- Delegated Prefet Dominique La Croix in his New Year's message said he noticed over the past 18 months St. Martin was not getting the type of representation it needed in its mother country and the appointment of Laurent Fuentes to the National Social and Economic Council as well as the election of Senator Louis Constant Fleming was indeed warranted.

He said he strongly believed that St. Martin was given a distorted image in France and in most cases not in the best interest of the island. Furthermore St. Martin is not well known and the realities of the island are not well perceived. Recent television shows has unfortunately distorted the island's image for yet another time. The State representative said he believed it is of uttermost importance that some proper communication and explanation which will portray a more accurate image of St. Martin be done.

LaCroix said St. Martin now holds more competencies in its hand since the transfer of those competencies from the Region, Department and State has taken place.
St. Martin also has full control over its resources and capacities. Even though the State is aware of the financial predicament which is linked to the collection of tax revenues.

Addressing the loss of the Octroi de Mer funds which amounts to some 12 million Euros LaCroix said those monies are right here on the island if all taxes are collected. He said should everyone pay their share of taxes then the lost monies can be recovered.
LaCroix said even though the Constitutional Council has eliminated the promise the State made when they said they would have accompanied St. Martin for at least three years until its tax revenue has improved. However, he felt even though challenged the island and its people will recover faster that they expected if they collect the taxes that is levied.

Lacroix said that it is the citizens of this island (Saint Martiners) have to determine their ability to shoulder its burden, and to do that they would need to adopt certain tax policies. The head of State said everyone must pay their dues since their can be no public service without taxation. He said the island has one injustice by having one sets of people paying taxes and others fail to uphold their civil obligation.

Already the State has begun taking its responsibilities seriously since the necessary reinforcement of the Prefecture has already taken place. Another successful challenge he said is the fight against illegal employment even though there has been an influx of migrants to the island.
He said the fight will be strengthen when the new labor inspector takes office in March this year.

Crime and Violence

LaCroix said the island suffered at the hands of criminals since violence in crime had drastically increased during September and October last year. These crimes he said was committed by gangs from the other Caribbean islands.
To deal with the crime situation an Armed Robbery Team was put in place with some arrests being made by both side law enforcement officers. LaCroix said he learnt two lessons in fighting crime which involves investigative work in a discreet and unspectacular way. However, this takes time and consumes lots of resources both human and financially.
He said the headquarters of the Gendarmes took note of what they have learnt during this last 18 months and added two more investigating officers to the team for 2009 while a specific amount of monies was given to Guadeloupe which will be used to send a fresh supply of people upon request.
The head of state said everyone living on St. Martin has a responsibilty and it is not only the state's business. The municipal police as well as the elected representatives have to take up their role. Including the social services and the schools along with the business community both public and private sectors.

One cannot say at the same time that security is the most important question in St Martin, that conditions the survival and the development of the economy, and not to put in one's own contribution, which starts with respecting the law.
One cannot complain about a society where the young people have no reference or role models and at the same time. people in general have to respect the rules of society. LaCroix admitted that there still remains a lot of work to do on St. Martin when it comes to restoring law and order It is all about reinstating the rule of law which they have committed themselves to do since delinquency will not if the society does not reject it.

Indeed, local realities and specificities have to be taken into consideration and, that is the meaning of the autonomy given to St. Martin.
For that purpose, the organic law provided the possibility to adapt the law to local realities. Legal and institutional tools are in place; it is up to you to use them. LaCroix said.

ECONOMIC CRISIS

LaCroix said he thinks that the worldwide economic crisis must be a lesson for us, as te society is at stake... I am afraid that St Martin is sometimes suffering, from ills similar to those of the world economy. We know that the year 2009 will be difficult because the crisis in general and it is to be feared that neither the very beautiful beaches, nor the leisure offered to visitors, nor the attractive climate will be sufficient to protect St. martin from the impact.

He outline at least three qualities that the island possesses which if properly used will assist them in the crisis ahead. :
- The presence of quality enterprises with enterprising, serious and motivated managers.
- An economic diversification that is already a reality because if tourism is the main pillar of the economy, other sectors are active and will provide jobs, such as construction, public works or services.
- Third motive of optimism, the organization and structuring of the services of the Collectivity in the so essential field of professional training. It was necessary for enterprises that are in need of qualified staff; it was necessary also to enable each one to find his way in society. It was finally the prerequisite to mobilize European funds available in quantity in this field.

 

Philipsburg- Leader of Government Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams is delighted to hear that the impasse between the St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) and a group of Carnival Stakeholders has been resolved satisfactorily.

"I commend the concerned group of Carnival stakeholders and the SCDF board for working diligently to resolve issues that had shed a negative light on preparations for Carnival 2009.

"This national cultural event is a significant part of our nation's cultural heartbeat. The 40th anniversary of our Carnival is a milestone.

"I extend an open invitation to all those who love carnival to visit us in April and help us celebrate our 40th Carnival anniversary. All those on the neighboring islands and throughout the region are most welcome," Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams told GIS.

 

...

Philipsburg- "The net result of Insel Air's new direct scheduled service from St. Maarten to San Juan, Puerto Rico will be increased travel through Princess Juliana International Airport. This is good for our travel partners, the people of St. Maarten and it's in time for Carnival." This was the view expressed by Commissioner of Aviation Affairs, Mrs. Sarah Wescot-Williams following her meeting Wednesday afternoon with a top-level delegation of Insel Air.
The commissioner further praised the stated intention of Insel Air to use St. Maarten flight attendants for the new service.
"It always makes a difference when you know that you have a St. Maarten flight attendant on board," she said. "It gives a feeling of confidence and excitement."
Commissioner Wescot was accompanied by the Director of Tourism, Ms. Regina LaBega, while the Insel Air delegation was led by the airline's Chief Executive Officer, Albert Kluyer, who stressed his company's commitment to St. Maarten as a hub destination, evidenced by the commencement of direct scheduled service from St. Maarten to San Juan, Puerto Rico. This twice weekly service (Mondays and Fridays) will start on April 3, 2009, about two weeks to the official kick-off of the 40th anniversary celebrations of St. Maarten carnival.
The airline will use a Jet Service with a seating capacity of 152 passengers on the route.
According to the Director of Tourism, Ms. LaBega, "the service will once again assist in positioning St. Maarten in the Puerto Rican Market, and also enable St. Maarten residents to travel to Puerto Rico at a reasonable rate."
She urged the airline to work in close collaboration with St. Maarten's marketing firm in Puerto Rico, Paradigm, to further stimulate traffic from that island to St. Maarten.
"With competitive airfares, the new Insel Air service to Puerto Rico could be a tremendous boost for tourism during this challenging period," LaBega stated, noting that Insel Air's proposed services are in line with St. Maarten's airline development and growth plans as well as the Tourism Master Plan.
Insel Air's CEO, Kluyer, similarly disclosed that the airline is also interested in servicing St. Maarten from Valencia, Venezuela. In this regard, Commissioner Wescot encouraged the airline to work closely with the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau to develop the demand from the Venezuelan Market and other South American countries.
Insel Air's mission is to develop Curacao and St. Maarten as a hub for European, North American and South American Traffic, Kluyer stressed. He said the airline wants to develop St. Maarten as a second headquarters, like Curacao; a home away from home for the company.
Also attending the talks on behalf of Insel Air were Chief Commercial Officer, Jurgen Lippinkhof, and Station Manager Alonso Hassel.

Oyster Pond:---On Monday, at around 1.10 a.m. a robbery was reported in the parking lot of "Border Bar", Oyster Pond. According to the victims while they were still sitting in their parked car in the parking lot, they were suddenly blocked by an unknown car.
Two armed men brandishing guns exited the car, while two other unidentified men remained in the car and under threat of the fire arms, robbed them of their belongings, among others a wallet containing cash money and documents. Several similar robberies have taken place in these night venues, some are being reported and others are not being reported said police spokesman Johan Janchi Leonard. Those that are not being reported everyone knows why but that is not the point. For the safety of the visitors it is advisable placing of security cameras or more security guards at these locations. The Police on their part would continue to monitor the area as often as possible.

On Tuesday, evening the man P.S. (33) from Guyana, reported to have been robbed by two unknown individuals in the Philipsburg area. The victim told police that while he was walking in the alley of Hotelsteeg near L-Escargot, he was jumped from the back, while one of the bandits held a gun to the back of his head, the other robber, rammed his fist in his right side of his body and was forced to unwillingly handover his belongings. Among others, they made away with a wallet containing cash money and documents, his jewelry and cellular phone. The robber's faces were covered during the robbery. This case also has the attention of the Detective Department.

Also on Tuesday morning a security-guard reported an incident that had taken place since last year December 2008. He reported to have been attacked on December 28th, 2008, during his night shift at the St. Maarten Academy School at around 11.15 pm. The guard reported that while he went to his car which was parked outside of the school premises, he was attacked by 3 masked men who was wearing dark clothing and armed with a machete, rocks and a two-by-four. During the attack, the pelted rocks broke his parked car's windshield, left side mirror and damage left front door and received a cut above his left eye and a swollen left eye. The victim J.W.A. (44), from Haiti filed the complaint at the Detective Department. The report however does not make mention of other personal losses.

Philipsburg- Leader of Government and Commissioner of Constitutional Affairs Sarah Wescot-Williams, says she is very pleased with the appointment of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State of the United States, and sees this as a another step forward to the Obama Administration working much closer with the Caribbean region, often considered as the United States' third border.

Clinton during a diplomatic reception at Washington Union Station on January 20, hours after the historic inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States stated that she expected to deepen engagement with countries as part of the effort to bring about more productive relations with America's trading partners.

"We need US engagement with our region as there are a number of issues that need the attention of the US. In these trying economic times, matters such as trade and investments, education, health and combating crime are top priorities.

"I do believe that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will do a great job and I look forward to this engagement with the region," Leader of Government Sarah Wescot-Williams (GIS) on Sunday.

Middle Region:-- Police are busy investigating a case where a gun shot was fired and someone maybe possible hurt. The incident occurred yesterday morning on Madrid Road in Middle Region where a firearm was used and possibly some-one been shot.

Several police officers responded to the scene said police spokesman Johan Janchi Leonard. On the scene the man with initials D.C. from Jamaica claims to be the victim at the time was treated by paramedics for a small wound to his forehead and a small wound to his right knee.
The victim stated that he was attacked from behind by an unknown man with a gun. He said that a struggle took place between him and this armed man whereby a shot was fired. D.C. also stated that he had fallen to the ground during the struggle and the armed man had fled the scene after the shot went off.
After the suspect fled the scene he (the victim) went to a nearby home from where the police was notified. During the investigation, done by the Forensic Department clues were found that indicate that there might be a second person that may have been involved in this incident who may also have been injured. No other injured persons were located during a search of the area. D.C. who after treatment at the Medical Center was taken to the police headquarters for further investigation. The Detective and Forensic Department are busy carrying out their investigations to determine exactly what took place.

Philipsburg:---- The St. Maarten Institute of Technology and Hospitality (SMITH) is looking for a stronger relationship with its current student body in order to ensure optimal results and success for 2009.

Last month SMITH organized a retreat for its newly formed Student Government Association (SGA) compliments of the Summit Hotel. It was a week-end filled with team building exercises and bonding experiences to prepare the SGA to work more optimally together as a team in 2009.

Social Coordinator of SMITH, Erna Mae Francis, MA, DD who led this expedition comprising seven members of the ten member SGA board, was pleased with the results of the week-end. She expressed a sense of hope as she saw the students begin to cultivate a strong team spirit on the way to the resort and while shopping for groceries at the supermarket. This experience reinforced the sentiment that when persons feel a sense of belonging to something, they are more committed to the process, SMITH's Education Coordinator Sidonia Hodge-Lacorbiniere explained.
The majority of students clearly indicated that on a scale of 1-10 their commitment level as a result of the week-end was a 9 or higher.

Upon arrival at the hotel, the first activity was a word of exhortation and charge from Sidonia Hodge-LaCorbiniere. She offered each student an opportunity to pick one of her treasured books and upon their selection inscribed in each of them: "Readers are leaders."

After the word from Hodge-LaCorbiniere, devotions were held by Francis to invoke a sense of gratitude to God for granting the participants this opportunity to spend time together in such a beautiful environment.

"After devotions, the students prepared a sumptuous meal; rice and curry chicken by Angele; with each member assigned a task to assist in the preparation and clean up.

"At the conclusion of dinner, and further bonding, Dr. Francis engaged them in team building exercises in the form of "the human spider web." The students completed this team work task in record time and then had the opportunity to discuss the exercise by reflecting on who took the lead, which followed and what it felt like to work as a team in tackling the challenge of unknotting themselves.

"Individually they were then assigned the task of saying with conviction why they were important to the SGA board. Their presentation was then judged for creativity, humour and conviction. This exercise resulted in some spirited presentations which helped each of them to further discover their purpose in the group and challenge them beyond their comfort zones. The winner of the exercise was Donika McKenzie who had the overwhelming number of points. After this exercise, the students enjoyed a fun time of fellowship at the pool," Hodge-Lacorbiniere told (GIS).

On one of the days of the two-day weekend, the students were left alone for most of the day to rest and to share on their own time. In the afternoon a debriefing session was held as to how the week-end retreat was for them. They all disclosed that the retreat has connected them tremendously and that they looked forward to doing more of these retreats. They were then encouraged to take the time to brain-storm their plan of action for the coming year. This brainstorming activity would then be used as a guide in determining the course that their first year as a SGA would take.

The students were also asked to demonstrate how they'd build bonds of community with the four other board members who were unable to attend the activity. They came up with a few suggestions and realized that for the SGA to be effective, team work is essential. Overall, the week-end was well spent and should prove effective in school retention and commitment among the students.

Those requiring further information can visit the SMITH's office which is located next to the Central Drugstore on the E. Camille Richardson Street #23 in Philipsburg or can call SMITH's administrative offices at 542-1620. Office hours are from 8.30am to 4.00pm.

Philipsburg-Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams and Governor Franklin Richards were presented with a copy of the newly English translated Traffic Booklet for 5th graders.

The book was presented by Mr. Mathias Voges, President of the Catholic School Board, who coordinated the effort, seeing the need for such-there were no English language traffic books for students.

"For years now there existed only a Dutch version of the traffic books, which were printed in Curacao and used in the 5th grade of the elementary school in the Windward Islands," Voges said.

The traffic book translation, which started in 1993 by Lillian Voges, has been completed with the assistance of Grace Maccow. The Foundation for Traffic Safety has been instrumental in bringing about this booklet as well, Voges pointed out.

"Finally, we can offer our elementary schools a traffic book in the English Language. We have also adapted the book to the local situation, talking about our own Princess Juliana Airport and the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facility,"

For their contributions, Voges said, I wish to thank the Windward Islands Bank and Print 2000 for their good corporate citizenship in publishing this book.

Each 5th grade of the English Schools in St. Maarten, Saba, and St. Eustatius, will receive 30 English Language Traffic Books free of charge.

The Book, entitled, Safety on the Road, is 64 pages and consists of the rules and regulations of traffic ordinances. The book explains what is traffic, rules of traffic, traffic by air, water, and land; language of the road, traffic signs, right of way, safety, traffic and the environment, traffic and tourism. After each chapter, there are questions and assignments for the students to debate and answer.

The traffic exam has been given to 5 grade students for over 50 years now. The date of the exam is June 2 of every year. Students will start right away using the book to study for the up-coming traffic exam.

For more information, please contact the Foundation for Traffic Safety.

Philipsburg: --- In the next two weeks Commissioner Louis Laviest has to appear in the Court of First Instance to answer charges of bribery, fraud and forgery. The Commissioner received his summons last week. Ever since Laveist arrest in October last year his party leader Sarah Wescot Williams said she had personally requested from the commissioner his resignation.
The island leader had said she was confident that Laveist was going to do the right thing. However, nine days later when the commissioner was released he placed the government in shambles when he said he was no longer supporting the Democratic Party and he was going Independent all because the executive council decided to take away Laveist portfolios leaving him with nothing to do.

In an interview with SMN News Unionist and Democratic Party supporter Willy Haize said he is standing 100% behind Laveist with his decision not to resign. Haize said that the Commissioner is willing to work and he should be given his portfolios back since he was elected by the people of St. Maarten and not appointed by a selected few. Haize said if the Island Council which is the highest body does not have confidence in Laveist then they should be the ones to remove him. He said the efforts made by the National Alliance were from ill fate since this party tried to form a government with Laveist but failed.
The Unionist said Laveist is innocent until proven guilty and he should be treated fairly. He said the Democratic Party to which he supports had treated Laveist badly and they would have to try and make their wrongs right since he personally told Laveist not to buckle to any pressure and resign.

Dr. Roosevelt paid a working visit to education officials Mrs. Josianne Fleming-Artsen & Mrs. Claudette Forsyte-Labega who represented Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams.

Marigot: --- Fire of unknown origin has once again ravaged the local furniture repair shop located on Rue de Low Town. The repair shop is owned by local businessman Hubert Joseph who was obviously upset yesterday.
The fire it is understood started at 4:30am, two fire trucks responded to the scene with ten firemen. The businessman lost all his equipments which included some ten heavy duty machines and upholstery materials. So far the authorities seem to be treating the case as suspected arson. SMN News understands the local businessman and the landowner are in court since the owner of the property wants him off the land. Other information states that there is some sort of insurance fraud involved. None of the information received so far can be verified.

...

Philipsburg:---- On Tuesday January 6th, 2009 St. Maarten Pride Foundation and EPIC received word from a concerned citizen that there was a Caterpillar Backhoe in the sea at Kim Sha beach in the vicinity of the Royal Palm Beach resort and the Simpson Bay Bridge. The Backhoe was reportedly in the process of removing large amounts of sand from the water.
Foundation volunteers arrived at Kim Sha beach to investigate the reports at
approximately 10 am at which time the driver of the above mentioned backhoe had already ceased operations. Upon making inquiries the Foundations learned that the Backhoe was in the process of removing sand from the sea with the intention of depositing it on Kim Sha beach in an effort to replace sand which was washed away during the passing of Hurricane Omar in October of 2008.
St. Maarten Pride Foundation and EPIC reiterate that these Beach dredging/ excavation activities often result in the complete removal and destruction of animals, habitats and ecosystems from the excavation site.
The removal of sand from the sea during Beach dredging activities furthermore often results in sudden depth increases and shifting of sand close to the shoreline, which can of course be extremely dangerous for unsuspecting swimmers.
Pride Foundation and EPIC are hereby reminding Dredging/ Excavation companies that aforementioned activities are a violation of the Island Nature Ordinance of 2003 and the Beach Policy. The Foundations also call upon Government and Commissioner Heyliger in particular to finalize, implement and enforce the Marine Park Ordinance.

Philipsburg: --- The steering committee for the National Day of Prayer is calling on St. Maarten youths, males and the civil core to attend the annual national day of prayer which is scheduled for Sunday January 11 at the Clem Labega Square at 5pm.

The theme for this year prayer is "Destined to Win with God" said President of the Committee Pastor Wycliffe Smith. The program which was initiated by the island government is now in its fourth year. Sunday's program will coincide with the youth debate which will be held during the same time at the Philipsburg Cultural Center.

This year the National Day of Prayer will not be receiving live broadcast. The population of St. Maarten is advised to come out and pray for the difficulties facing the nation. Those difficulties include constitutional matters social and economic says Pastor Smith.

Commissioner of Culture Maria Buncamper Molanus also encouraged the population especially the youths to come out in large numbers.
Bishop Leyland Sam said that he believes that it is of uttermost importance for men and the government civil core to come out this Sunday and support the efforts of the island government.

Philipsburg: --- The Department of Sports held an inspiring and training session to promote Track and Field and to encourage about 40 young children from the Dutch Quarter and Belvedere Community Centers to become athletic stars.

Commissioner Maria Buncamper-Molanus was present, along with Olympic Star and Athlete Churandy Martina, who competed in the 100 and 200 meters dash in the Summer Olympics 2008 in Beijing, China, to encourage the youth to become track stars, but first emphasizing school.

"The children are excited to be here Churandy, today is your day. Are you ready kids," Commissioner Buncamper-Molanus asked. "If you want to be a Track star, you have to do well in school, you have to eat healthy, and you have to train hard. You are here to learn from a great runner, learn as much as you can for this is an excellent opportunity to get a first hand experience. You all are here to learn how to be an Olympic Star."

Les Brown, Head of the Sports Department explained that Mr. Martina is here on a promotional tour, encouraging students to participate in Track & Field.

Churandy, (born 3 July 1984) is a sprinter from the Netherlands Antilles, said a few words to the students. "I am pleased to be here again. Last December, I was on St. Maarten and spoke to students on the elementary level about the sport of Track & Field. I want to do the same thing here. But first, I want you all to do well in school. Listen to your teachers, do your homework, and study hard. This is basic."

Churandy was stripped of his Olympic 200m silver medal after the United States team's objection that he had run out of his lane was upheld. Nevertheless, he remains a proud figure in the Netherlands Antilles and one of the world's fastest sprinters.

MARIGOT-A 41 year old man is now behind bars in Guadeloupe after he was caught red handed by a gendarme patrol who witness when he attacked a woman and snatched her handbag.
A release from the gendarmes stated the woman was walking on Tuesday on the Waterfront Road when the man attacked her from behind and hit her several times on her head, in the face before snatching her handbag.
A gendarme who was nearby managed to capture the thief who was transported to Guadeloupe where he will answer to charges.

...

Dawn Beach: -- The operators of Busby beach bar Daniel Jurczenko has filed a case against the island government for refusing to grant him a vendor's license which would allow him to rent beach chairs and umbrellas.
Jurczenko received an official answer from the island government almost three years after he made his official request. In earlier interviews Jurczenko said he appealed the decision taken by the island council simply because he is not in agreement with the reasons they gave for the decline.

Already the island government has issued to indefinite permits to two vendors operating on Dawn Beach. They are Joan Veerwoord and Jean Paul Rousseau.
It is understood that the Prosecutor's Office is looking into this matter since Economic Affairs have been trying to convince Jurczenko not to put chairs and umbrellas on the beach. But the businessman who runs and restaurant and bar has so far refused to comply.
In an invited comment Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein said his office is waiting on a report from Economic Affairs. Stein said the department head has promised to submit that report but up to late last week that was not done.

WILLEMSTAD -- Minister David Dick (Justice, PAR) is convinced that earlier plans for the construction of prison cells in Curaçao went off course purely on destruction of capital - because the construction was not based on a thorough research and was drawn up in an illogical and short-sighted manner.
"Twelve million guilders were reserved for the construction of 120 cells. But those were police-cells. If I have a shortage of cells in the house of detention or in the penitentiary and you build more police cells, where must the suspects be transferred to when the maximum time in the police-cells is up? Building more police-cells without taking care of the cell shortage in Bon Futuro first, creates a gigantic bottle neck."
Bon Futuro with her 450 fully occupied cells is badly in need of an expansion. Simply using the 12 million guilders for the increase of capacity in Bon Futuro would result in an unfinished building according to the Justice-minister. Especially since the Netherlands suddenly wanted 240 cells instead of 120 or 120 cells with two beds.
"Of course you shouldn't lose track the logistics", sighs the minister. "Expanding the capacity of Bon Futuro by 120 or 240 cells, also requires the construction of an extra long and tall wall for a good enclosure. The kitchen would no longer meet the requirements and will have to be enlarged and improved. The issue of personnel will also be a consequence of such an expansion. It's not a matter of simply building a few cells and that's it."
Ballast Nedam
Usona had at that time recommended contractor Ballast Nedam to take care of the expansion of Bon Futuro for 30 million guilders. "The drawings for this expansion, which cost one million guilders, were promptly done. It's a nice design, based on the so-called cross-model. According to the design, 44 detainees per segment can be held split up in four segments. Supervision from the center of that cross-structure is done through cameras. There are no blind spots. There are also enough entrances, kitchen, medical center, and security. But since money was never made available for this, the entire cell-expansion project was stopped", says Dick.
We still managed to create more prison space, by working creatively and pragmatically: "We had the prisoners themselves restore a number of unused cells and destroyed toilets and such in the convict prison on Curaçao and in Bonaire. Also the introduction of electronic supervision created room. Part of the women's section was furthermore rebuilt and converted into cells for long term convicts. What also helped was that we could rebuild part of drug habilitation center Brasami into a ‘half open institution' for addicted prisoners. These interventions have all and all produced more than 200 cells.
Ballast Nedam choice Usona
Ballast-Nedam's design for the expansion of Bon Futuro was not put to public tender. Usona had selected Ballast-Nedam directly, ‘because they are already active in the Antilles, have experience with the constructions of prisons in the Netherlands, and are financially strong'.
This means in fact that there are ultimately two architectural designs for the expansion of the Bon Futuro prison in Koraal Specht.
Because the financing for it was never assigned, none of the designs have been carried out.

Amigoe.com

THE BOTTOM-The unspoiled queen just got a little greener. GEBE Saba manager, Dexter Johnson, presented the Lt. Governor of Saba, Jonathan Johnson, during the launch of the GEBE reusable bag campaign on Saba.
GEBE will be distributing a total of 10,000 of these bags on St. Maarten, Saba and Statia to its customers in January 2009. Used twice a week for a period of two years, each GEBE reusable shopping bag can replace up to 1664 plastic bags in its lifetime. The 10,000 bags that GEBE will be distributing could therefore mean a total plastic bag reduction on these islands of 16 million bags. The bag is for the conscious shopper who like GEBE takes the environment into account.

Philipsburg- The governor of the island territory of St. Maarten, Franklyn Richards, is announcing that regular consultation hours will be established for persons requiring information on immigration and related matters.
Many requests are received by the governor daily, for information on matters pertaining to the implementation of the Law on Admittance and Expulsion (LTU).
Enquiries are frequently also received regarding the status of the naturalization procedure and requests for temporary residence permits of foreign nationals residing on St. Maarten.
In order to fully comply with these requests for information, it has been decided to establish regular consultation hours during which complete and accurate response can be presented to persons with questions.
During the consultation hours, two judicial administrative staff members of the cabinet of the governor will be available for handling enquiries.
At that time, answers are to be provided to the relevant questions or will be forthcoming during a follow-up appointment.
All persons wishing to make use of the new arrangement are asked to take into consideration that each appointment lasts for a maximum of 15 minutes.
The consultation hours take place every first Tuesday of the month between the hours of 9.00 a.m. and 11.00 a.m., at the Government Administration Building.
The first such session will be kicked off on Tuesday, February 3 upcoming.
Those interested are asked to make appointments at the reception desk of the Government Administration Building in Philipsburg.
Persons are requested to walk along with a valid ID form, such as a passport.

Philipsburg;---Travelers from St. Maarten will now benefit from the lowest airfares which will be offered by Insel Air as of April 3 2009. Insel Air already has 19 destinations in partnership with WINAIR.
St. Maarten will be the second hub as they spread their wings within the region says management at a press conference yesterday.

The first flight is scheduled to take off on April 3 with some 600 seats at an introductory rate of $180 excluding taxes and other travelling expenses.
Insel Air said with such low fare the airline would be the ones to offer the most affordable prices to the travelling public.

The Airline will be offering two flights per week, the first will depart from St. Maarten at about 12:50 pm on Mondays arriving in the destination at 13:40 pm and on Fridays it departure will be from San Juan at 15:10 pm arriving at Princess Juliana International Airport at 16:00 in the afternoon.

Edward Heerenveen said that Puerto Rico has been an "anticipated addition" to the "destination mix of Insel Air" and a popular destination for its fantastic shopping the beauty of Old San Juan and cruise tourism.

He said also with the destinations that Insel Air flies the airline connects South America with the Region and for persons travelling from Venezuela can have "seamless" travel to St. Maarten and San Juan. The airline representatives has stated that with their expansion they will be linking the reservation systems with WINAIR and it will be possible to book a flight from Saba to Suriname in the South American continent and receive just one ticket.

Marigot: --- The two unions representing the employees of the Collectivity of St. Martin will be taking official action as of Monday. The union met with their employees on Wednesday at the Sandy Ground Culture Center and plans to meet again on Friday at the Chamber of Commerce Building in Concordia where they would finalize the points of the planned strike. The unions are UACL, CGTG de Saint Martin who already submitted a "pre-avis" informing the COM that there would be industrial action on Monday January 19, 2009.

Reasons for the strike SMN News understands surround the illegal employment of some 16 additional staff that was hired for this New Year. It is understood that the COM did not send out an appel d'offre (job publication) to attract locals to the available positions prior to hiring the workers who are not from St. Martin.

SMN News also understands that the DGA from the Pole Development et Humain made a deal with the COM saying if he is hired and has to work on St. Martin then his wife must be hired. They said the COM maintained the man's request that hails from Guadeloupe and hired his wife who now works in the pole Sociale.

Another concern for the union is the job description for workers who have been in the civil service for years. Last year a number of persons were hired for one post and today they are being moved around within the civil service some of them is said to be doing nothing. One of those persons was the head of protocol that ended up without an office and is now assisting the Sandy Ground Community Council.

Other concerns are the working hours, the salary as well as the working status of the new hired DGS who is already in the Collectivity. It is understood that the local police will be part of the strike since they too are having problems with their new boss. This media house learnt that head of the Territorial Police would constantly insult the local men in blue. He also denied the police their ‘prime de risqué, and heures supplimentaires. It is said the police requested the prime de risqué (allocation for working late night) and that was denied even though the police are called to work all hours of the night. SMN News understands that the last week the head of the police and President Frantz Gumbs sat in a meeting with the police and the head Flavien Bazile spoke to them in unacceptable manner. SMN News understand when the offers pointed out to Gumbs the way Bazile was speaking to them they were told to shut their mouths and listen to what Bazile has to say. SMN News also understands that Gumbs then left the meeting. Efforts made to clarify this information with the president proved futile since he is not reachable by phone and does not reply to emails.

SMN News understands that the strike would be for 24 hours. It is not clear if all employees will be taking part in the one day strike.

Philipsburg: --- The police department is once again sending out an appeal to members of the public to provide them with much needed information on finding Keswick Rennis Daley who escaped from the police station on December 24 when he was escorted to the wash room. The wanted man was a former employee of the Sheriff Security Company and was fired four months prior to his detention.

Daley was detained as a suspect in several armed robberies. He was arrested on Christmas Eve but managed to elude police while in the Philipsburg detention cell.

It was reported the man escaped due to the negligence of an officer who did not pay full attention to the suspect movement while in custody. He is considered to be armed and dangerous.

Police Spokesman Johan Janchi Leonard warned members of the community who might be harboring Daley in their homes that it is a crime to harbor any fugitive. Persons who are caught committing such act can be prosecuted the Police Spokesman said.

 

Philipsburg:--- Police arrested a "white" middle aged woman in the parking lot of Afoo Supermarket yesterday afternoon when the woman vehicle a Toyota Tacoma pick up truck with license plate 842 ZAS 971 was involved in a minor traffic accident with a Toyota Camry with license plate 793 ZBA 971.
According to eye witness the middle aged woman of the pick up truck who seem intoxicated began behaving badly and had to be taken away by police. It is said the woman could not produce documents for her vehicle. Police was forced to restrain the woman. The packer boys working at Afoo had to assist by securing the groceries the woman purchased from the supermarket. Police could not be reached for comment on this matter.

Commissioner of Sports Maria Buncamper Molanus recently met with the new board members of the Foundation Upkeep Sports Facilities (FUSF) to be briefed on their plans for 2009 and get an update on the state of affairs at the sports facilities which they are responsible for.
All of the board members expressed that they are happy to be on the board and explained that by being on the board they have gained much insight into what it takes to run these facilities. They stressed that there's a lot of work to be done and they are eager to get it done.

Issues discussed included, but were not limited to, improved lighting at sports field where needed, placing removable multi purpose goal posts in various districts, building various secured storage facilities at Melford Hazel and at other facilities, the security cameras that are currently being installed, securing the L.B. Scot Sports Auditorium as well as long term major sports projects.

The Commissioner thanked the board for the work they have done thus far and urged them not to become complacent since their task is not a small one. She explained that although financial resources from government might not come as fast as all would like, sports and St. Maarten's sporting facilities are still one of her top priorities.

PHILIPSBURG/PARIS--- While attorney at law Remko Stomp advised his client Commissioner Louis Laveist to remain silent and not take off his gloves as he has promised to do last Sunday the prosecutor's office is moving forward. Laveist was served with a summons yesterday to appear in Court of Instance on February 11 2009. Laveist has been charged with forgery, fraud and bribery confirmed Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein.
The Chief Prosecutor of the Windward Islands said the commissioner committed these acts in relation to working permits and other documents. He declined further information on the charges, saying that these things need to be discussed in court, not in the news.

Laveist said he would not appear on Lloyd Richardson show on Sunday based on legal advice but hoped to do so in the future. He said the Prosecutor's Office is the ones with the "co-honest" to bring their charges against him while his duty is to clear his name.

Stein said the police was given the summons on Monday to deliver to the commissioner.
Laveist was arrested on October 22 2008. The commissioner spent some 9 days behind bars for questioning by the federal detectives. His home and office was searched two days before he was arrested where several documents including his computers was seized. While in pre-trial detention Laveist appeared before the judge of Instruction and had to be taken to the emergency room when his blood pressure went up.
The federal detectives were on to Laveist for some 18 months. Also arrested the same day was the commissioner executive assistant Roberto Richardson.

Ever since the arrest Laveist has been having problems in his political career as both party leader and the Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards has called upon the commissioner to resign from the executive council.

Due to the political turmoil the DP led government lost power for a few days when Laveist presented the chairman of the island council with a letter stating he was no longer be supporting the DP led government and he declared himself an Independent member of the Island Council. Days after Laveist signed a letter with the other five members of the Democratic Party saying he would supports that government, even though he was involved in intense discussions with the National Alliance.

The legal problems surrounding Laveist has left the island with a lame government since Laveist does not show up to all Island Council or Central Committee meetings. Just last week the Island Council meeting with the First Chamber had to be cancelled due to Laveist absence.

PHILIPSBURG, NAGICO Insurances presented author Mr. Kenneth Cook with a check for $ 500 to assist him in the launching of his (2) second book in as many years. The book entitled "In the corridors of Power" is scheduled to be presented to the general public at a book launch at 8:00 pm Saturday February 28th at the Philipsburg Cultural Center. "In the corridors of Power" focuses on life and times of the former Lieutenant Governors of Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten.

The support for local authors by companies such as NAGICO, contributed to the growth and development of literary arts on the island in the past few years. With the sponsorship of historical and educational material such as Mr. Cook's book, NAGICO continues to contribute to the improvement and development of culture and history on St. Maarten. NAGICO's Marketing Manager, Jasmine Payne stated "NAGICO is pleased to be able to contribute to a book that speaks to the heart of the community by chronicling the life and times of those who weave the fabric of St. Maarten." The book which will be added to the annals of the recorded history of St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius will be published by Color K Graphics in Miami Florida.

Mr. Cook who had been working on the project for approximately 1 year stated "I am grateful that NAGICO has contributed to the further expansion of the history of St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius. " Mr. Cook added "I have contributed a lot of money that was made from the first book back to the community publicly and privately, and this is all made possible through companies such as NAGICO."

Philipsburg- Leader of Government Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams, would like to wish a Happy New Year to the St. Maarten Chinese community.

The first day of the Chinese New Year by the Chinese calendar falls on January 26, 2009 and is the Year of the Ox. 2009 is Year 4706 in the Chinese calendar.

The Chinese calendar has been in continuous use for centuries. It predates the International calendar in use at the present. Each year is also designated by one of 12 animals and this year is the Year of the Ox.

The Spring Festival, or China's Lunar New Year, is China's most important annual event for family reunions.

"I would like to wish the St. Maarten Chinese community all good health and may your families know happiness and be filled with peace, and may you realize your hopes and dreams in the New Year," Leader of Government Sarah Wescot-Williams (GIS) over the weekend.

Philipsburg:-- An illegal immigrant of Haitian decent jumped from the third floor of a building when he noticed members of the police department and Operation Trust 2 conducting a raid at several construction sites.
Police spokesman Johan Janchi Leonard said the incident occurred around 11am at the construction site next to FATUM N.V and Church Hill Round about in Cul de Sac.

Leonard said an illegal man working on that site saw the police-officers approaching and did not want to be caught. He said the man took a very serious risk and jumped from the third floor of that building. As a result of the impact to his legs, he received a fractured right leg. He was treated on the scene by paramedics and then transported to the St Maarten medical Center for further treatment. The contractor responsible for this worker has been contacted by the S.V.B for further handling of this case.

 

Philipsburg- This morning at the Government Administration Building in the Conference room, Commissioner Maria Buncamper-Molanus signed an agreement with the Dutch Funding Agency, USONA, to finance the acquisition of new medical equipment.

Commissioner Buncamper-Molanus said that she was delighted to have the funds, approximately 2.2 million guilders, available to supply the equipment for the medical center as part of the overall improvements which include the expansion project at the SMMC. We are constantly trying to improve health care for the community, Commissioner said.

Head of the Outpatient Department at the SMMC, Rob Heil said that the donation will be used handily. "You know we are always constantly trying to improve on equipment and services at the medical center and this amount will go towards equipment for the Operating rooms, Intensive Care Units, and Medium-intensive Care Units. These are departments that are crucial to have excellent equipment, Heil pointed out.

Delays were incurred with respect to the expansion of the SMMC, because of unresolved matters which required the involvement of the Parliament of the Netherlands Antilles.

The Commissioner noted that efforts continue do be made to improve the level of service, just to mention a few this acquisition of equipment, training of staff, expansion of facilities, acquisition of specialist and other health care professionals. "We are well on our way to improving health care service on St. Maarten so that the community can be comfortable with receiving medical service."

PHILIPSBURG -The Department of Education will be launching its first step towards the implementation of Compulsory Education by registering all children between the ages of 4 and 6 years of age who are not presently attending a public or government supported school. The exercise will begin on Monday February 2nd, 2009.

Registration takes place at to the Department of Education on the second floor of the Vlaun's Building at N. de Brot Street, Philipsburg.

Parents of all children between ages 4 to 6, documented or undocumented, who are not attending a publicly owned or government subsidized or recognized school, should come to register their child for placement.

Registration will be possible from February 2nd up until March 2nd, 2009 from 9 a.m. until 12 am.

Parents are urged to bring along the birth certificate or passport of the child as proof of age and name of the child.

Since Compulsory Education is going to occur in a phased manner, this should be seen as the first of a number of steps towards making education available for all children.

The St. Maarten Medical Center will be Thinking [RED] and Doing Safe for the month of February as they become the official[RED] institution for that month replacing the St. Maarten Port Authority. On Tuesday the [RED] committee at the SMMC held a meeting with Suzette Moses-Burton, HIV/AIDS Programme Manager to discuss details of the [RED] campaign and to answer all questions which the [RED] committee at the hospital had, all in an effort to make their month as successful as possible. In photo are members of the [RED] committee at the SMMC. Stay tuned for more from the SMMC during the month of February and beyond.

Ms. Patricia Scot presented a check with an undisclosed amount on behalf Penha Perfume Stores to Mr. Cornelius De Weever representing the Aids/HIV foundation. The Funds were raised by the store to do their part in the fight against the HIV/AIDS campaign.

Philipsburg;---We are at the beginning of the year 2009. For some or many of us the year Two thousand and eight was filled with its joys and sorrows it was filled with its mountains and valleys. But in the midst of it all I do hope we have learnt from our past experiences.
There is saying "The longer we live life will teach us who we are. What is in the past we cannot change but learning from it we can and building on it we should. There is a thing call hope which we should never let go of. I don't know what your resolution for the year 2009 is but don't let your tradition compromise your future. Two thousand and nine will never be like 2008. We must determine to make a better life four ourselves and our family. We must restore the broken relationships where it is possible. The bible says if it be possible live peaceably with all men. We are not an island to ourselves because we rise and fall together. This is the way God made us and if we follow the principles laid down in his manual (Bible) this world will be a better place.
There are many negative predictions for 2009 in connection with the global financial crisis and all indications are that we will not be spared. How long it will last nobody knows. Some say 12, 16 or 24 months. What I want to encourage us all to do is to plan for the future. But at the same time live life one day at a time. Be anxious for nothing but in everything give God thanks.
My family and I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Healthy and Prosperous 2009.

We stand at the threshold of another year; another moment in time. A moment however that is used since the days of old to close off a period of 12 calendar months and open a new time series. And true to custom, we reflect on the past year, and either pounder on the foreseeable challenges of the new one or use this defined moment in time to make our resolutions for the coming period of time.
In looking back, 2008 for Sint Maarten has been an eventful one, one not without its setbacks, but surely not without achievements in many areas. Some will dwell on the first and others on the latter.
This is life, whether for societies as a whole or for individuals. Life is a bumpy road. How we deal with the bumps and the pits individually or collectively, sets the tone for the period ahead of us. It would always seem, again individually or collectively, that some get more than their share of life's challenges and setbacks.
As an island in the Caribbean region, we can thankfully look back on a good year overall, although challenges stand out especially in the area of crime and violence. Yes, I too fume when having to wait in traffic, but traffic is a result of a busy and vibrant island. Some would argue too busy. Our airport and harbor and thus our streets are crammed, again a sign of heightened economic activity.
As we face very uncertain economic times ahead, we should treasure what together we have been able to achieve and sustain for many years. Maybe unconsciously, but the working together of the different forces in our community has paid off in this respect. In 2009, this working together must be a conscious effort if we are to survive the expected difficult times ahead.
We boast of the composition of this island-nation as one of many nationalities and cultures, yet how we harness this collectivity of differences must become a critical part of our survival kit.
The "we vs they" must make room for St. Maarten first, and the "me, me, me" must make way for the "we, we, we". We, the island Sint Maarten!
Government is committed to continue the dialogue with all stake holders, but for this dialogue to have any effect, the change of attitude described above must be realized.
If there is one word to aptly describe today's global society, it is one of connectedness. This connectedness goes beyond the clichés of world travel and superb technology at the tip of our fingers. It has to do with an overall global interdependency. That reality is what we faced as during the year 2008, the global financial and economic picture kept getting starker, until -what we hope was- the climax in the latter part of 2008.
Is this financial-economic crisis bottoming out? It is difficult and still too volatile to predict. Financial strategists predict a financial roller coaster in 2009 with highs and lows. No where across the globe can nations or countries go their own way or leave things up to chance. And for small island nations like ours, flexibility to move and adjust as things develop around us, is going to be key.
In all of this, change has become a constant. Obviously, leaving matters to take care of themselves will not work. It might have worked in the past, but not in today's environment.
A conscious effort must be made to address the ills facing our society and we need to do it together. To be part of this collective effort we need to acquaint ourselves with what is happening on our island, not only from our confined individual or specific group's perspective, but also from the larger perspective of a nation in formation.
Government bureaucracy by its very nature is slow, yet our government is big enough to recognize when and if its policies are not having the desired effect. But do something we must! The wheels of government turn slowly and sometimes cause us to run behind the facts, but the overall improvements in government operations, in our educational system, in the health care system, in our infrastructure should not be underrated.
2009 will be characterized as a year of major transitions. In the constitutional area, a start will be made with transfer of central authority to the islands. The preparatory work done in this area over a number of years resulted in 2008 in definite agreements and completion of agreed upon issues. St. Maarten is not lagging behind in this respect, to the contrary.
I feel compelled at the end of 2008 to again thank the persons who have contributed to the process in an immense way. I not only think of our team of advisors, but also of the members of our community at large who have deliberated with us over and over again on matters of constitutional change. And I continue to extend an invitation to the general public and I mean general, to get involved in this process.
Don't let us spend too much of our time analyzing and theorizing, but rather let us narrow down what is happening around us globally to our own households, our workplace, our community and our island.
What might work for others, might not necessarily work for us or the other way around. Let's use our energy and the often used word of resiliency to work on the things we can, while keeping a watchful eye on the things we cannot influence, but which surely influence us.
Summarizing, 2008 was marked by resiliency, confidence and cooperation.
These traits we need in abundance for 2009. My wish for Sint Maarten is that we succeed at that and more. And that above all, we keep the faith.
Only by sticking together, holding the bigger picture in front of us, and realizing that we are in this together will our efforts bear fruit. A blessed, healthy, prosperous and productive 2009 is wished to every citizen and resident of our island nation. May God continue to bless us abundantly.

PHILIPSBURG-As part of its new vision, GEBE is launching a reusable shopping bag campaign to demonstrate GEBE's commitment to protecting the environment. GEBE will be distributing a total of 10,000 of these bags on St. Maarten, Saba and Statia to its customers in January 2009.
Used twice a week for a period of two years, each GEBE reusable shopping bag can replace up to 1664 plastic bags in its lifetime. The 10,000 bags that GEBE will be distributing could therefore mean a total plastic bag reduction on these islands of 16 million bags. The bag is for the conscious shopper who like GEBE takes the environment into account.
"We hope you will be able to use this bag every time you shop and thereby contribute to protecting our environment," stated Managing Director, William Brooks as he presented the Lt. Governor, Franklyn Richards with the first GEBE Reusable Bag. Reusable bags were also distributed to all members of the Executive and Island Councils, GEBE Supervisory Board, and GEBE Shareholders' Foundation as well as the environmental organizations on St. Maarten.
The Lt. Governor praised GEBE for their increased environmental consciousness in the new GEBE vision and GEBE programs that aim to reduce its environmental footprint and protect the environment of St. Maarten. The Lt. Governor commended the environmental organizations on their continuous efforts to ban the use of plastic bags on the island. The Lt. Governor also hinted at programs to come that will focus on cleaner energy for St. Maarten.
"The design reflects our local approach to a global problem. We have also included the logos of the local environmental organizations to show our support for their efforts," Brooks continued, "Our slogan, "Save Some Green" continues to promote the message of energy conservation to save money while protecting the environment." GEBE launched the Save Some Green program in 2008 with the electronic billing that reduces the amount of paper, as well as energy saving and conservation tips.
Elsje Bos of the St. Maarten Heritage Foundation accepted the bag on behalf of her foundation and looks forward to working with GEBE more in the coming year. Beverly Nisbeth of the Nature Foundation applauded the initiative and hopes that it is a sign of greater things to come. Rueben Thompson, on behalf of the St. Maarten Pride and EPIC foundations, commended GEBE on its efforts to contribute to protecting the environment on St. Maarten.
The reusable shopping bag is made of recyclable PVC which makes it sturdy and easily cleaned. The large format of the bag ensures it can replace up to 8 regular plastic bags every time it is used.

Philipsburg: --- Island Councilman and executive council member Louis Laveist will not resigned even though Lt. Governor Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards made a public call on the commissioner to do what he considered to be the honorable thing.
Sources close to the commissioner said that money remains a key issue for Laveist who once held the highest positions in government. According to the source the commissioner who is also a civil servant never received an increase during his years as a civil servant. Laveist is a scale three civil servant who makes less than Naf. 3000. monthly.
The non active commissioner was once senator, island and executive council member who has a salary of over Naf. 10,000 monthly with other benefits, should he resign from the executive council the commissioner would not be able to meet his monthly bills including the school fees for his only child at Learning Unlimited.
Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards in a press release recapped the events surrounding Laveist and the Democratic Party after Laveist was released from pre-trial detention.
Laveist in a letter to Richards had said he would no longer support the DP and that he is now an Independent member of the Island Council. One week after the leader of the DP sent a letter to Richards signed by Laveist giving his support to the present led government.

So far the commissioner who went silent on many matters has not been charged with any wrong doing even though he spent nine days in pre-trial detention. He is accused of forgery. SMN News understands that the Prosecutor handling Laveist case Martin Hemaalar is busy preparing the summons. It is understood that Laveist may have to appear in courts as early as February.

Marigot: --- Two persons including a young woman would have to appear in court on April 2 2009 to answer charges of aggravated assault on law enforcement officers.
In a press release the gendarmes stated that they were conducting pedestal control at the Marina Royale on January 1 2009. The gendarmes had parked their vehicle in the Low Town parking lot when someone they described as a trouble maker began throwing stones at them and the vehicle. They tried calming down the person but this was prevented when some 15 other persons joined the attack. This they said prevented them from questioning the suspect. Among the attackers was a woman who was very aggressive and insulting. The others they said also participated in the violent attack on the State troopers. The gendarmes were forced to call in reinforcement that eventually arrested two persons between the age brackets of 18 and 19 years. The woman in particular would have to appear in court on April 2.

Cole Bay: -- Some thirty teachers who are presently working at five of the private schools on St. Maarten began training and support yesterday at the Carl and Sons Conference Room. The training which will last for three days is provided by APS agency which is funded by the CEES-POT funds in the Netherlands.

Educator and Trainer Guss Perry said this is the first of four workshops scheduled for St. Maarten after the SUMEF (St. Maarten United Multi-purpose Educational Foundation) made the request on behalf of the five schools that are members of the foundation. Schools that are participating in the trainings are Starlight Education, St. Maarten Star Foundation, A.C.E Foundation, Twin Star Foundation, and School of Arts Foundation.

Perry said he already visited the schools and had a first hand look at what is taking place at these schools. While some of the facilities are adequate for teaching and housing students he felt some of them are too cramped and overcrowded. "There are 35 students crammed in one room and for me that is not enough space for teaching" Perry said.

The APS he said gives support and training to teachers who are in need all of which is at the expense of the CEES-POT funds. He said the program is really good for both students and teachers.

A press conference is scheduled for Friday where more information will be given on the workshop.

Philipsburg: ---Five Years ago, First Caribbean International Bank started their unsung Heroes Program. The programme has become the flagship for volunteerism in the Caribbean. Every year entries for are received from the countries in which First Caribbean operates. They come from individuals who wish to recognize the region's selfless heroes who generously give of their time and resources to improve the lives of the less fortunate in their communities.
This year several persons were nominated for the award on St. Maarten. A committee consisting of five persons selected Mr. Franklin Carty as St. Maarten's 2008 Unsung Hero.

Some years ago Franklin Carty saw how his father has to struggle to take public transport to the Hospital when he needed treatment, and it was from this observation that Franklin first came up with the idea to provide transportation and assistance to the elderly on the island. Derek A. Downes, First Caribbean's Country Head said, "Mr. Carty for us is considered one of our selfless heroes on the island, because he could have only been concerned with his father's transportation to the Hospital and not worry about anyone else. However, he thought beyond his inner circle and realized the need to assist other elderly individuals in the same position. Franklin saw the need and he took action. He never sought praise, media attention or recognition for his good works".

Downes continued "The motto of the First Caribbean's Unsung Hero Program is "making a difference everyday" and that is what Mr. Carty does in the lives of more than sixty elderly persons he helps on the island. First Caribbean Bank St. Maarten would like to congratulate Mr. Franklin Carty for his achievement of being their 2008 Unsung Hero.

He also said thanks the local committee who asses the entries this year, which comprises of community Member's, Mr. Rudy Engel, and Ms. Beulah Jonis, and from the bank Mr. Whitfield Vlaun, Mr. Alphons Gumbs, Ms Cleopatra Baker and Ms. Lesley Vieira.

First Caribbean St. Maarten would like the general public to take note and nominate all of those individuals living among us who go about assisting others in the community without hope or desire for any recognition or reward. First Caribbean Bank is looking for these "Good Samaritans" and the next Unsung Hero in our community.

Philipsburg-Commissioner Roy Marlin met with members of the Westin and Sonesta Group to discuss strategies of dealing with promoting activities that will result in increased traffic within the short term besides the extra measures that have been implemented through the Economic Recovery Fund.

The meeting was about trying to consolidate forces and collective resources in attempting to pursue a strategy of increased visitors to the island.

Commissioner Marlin said that "We have to try different marketing strategies and promotional activities to try to attract tourist, to get them to come to the island through innovative means, and to induce them to spend at our stores, restaurants, and other types of activities."

Meant to be incentive measures via travel associations, the idea is to provide stimulus to potential customers by means of upgrades, gift coupons, and other such specials.

For this reason we are here strategizing about different marketing and communication activities that can be done to stimulate the target markets that we are going after.

It is important to be proactive, Commissioner Marlin said. We are targeting the South American market and the American Northeastern market, for they are promising prospects.

In addition, there is also the possibility to request of other surrounding island governments and hoteliers to join in the marketing efforts, i.e. Anguilla, St. Barths-islands that have a spin off effect of tourism visitors to St. Maarten.

Later this month, at strategic planning session will take place with concerned partners.

Philipsburg: --- Ausula Nessa Edward aged 30 who surrendered to police on Thursday for the stabbing of Angel Marlin was given an eight day extension which was requested by the prosecution.
Edward a mother of four admitted to police that she stabbed the well known drug addict in self defense on Wednesday afternoon when the deceased confronted her for house rent monies that was not yet due.
Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein said his office is busy investigating the woman's claim of self defense.
Edward was taken to the Philipsburg Police Station on Thursday after she consulted with a lawyer for legal advice prior to surrendering to authorities. It is understood that Edward with be represented by Monique Hoftman.

OPENING-STATEMENT
Leopold JAMES

Good evening to you, Mr. Rosario, my friends Damu and Mac, proud to be in the same panel with you.
Also good evening to you in the audience
A very special word of thanks to you Mr. Rosario for having invited me as panelist
Also, I would like to express my sincere congratulations to the organizers of the CBA and in particular to Mr. ROSARIO, for having the courage and intellect, to not only oppose the timing of the implementation of this new law, but also for having the courage to invite panelists with different views on the matter, to come together in a mature and professional manner in order to discuss this topic and its many complicated aspects.
Let me state for the record, that I am not here neither representing business-, nor that I am a member-, or supporter of the initiative of the CBA to cancel the implementation of the new Labor law.
I am here to represent native-indigenous SXM-people's interest foremost, in an effort to arrive at a balance in the overall socio-economic equation on this island, including the New Labor Law.
In the total development of this island, for us by far the most important condition is the ‘preservation of self', which is our existence as a people.
From that angle, it should be clear that this island for us, is not exactly a ‘service-station', nor a ‘tourist-product', a ‘house'-, a ‘ship'-, and certainly not just a coveted piece of real estate...
For us-, this island, is fore-most our HOME-, our NATION-, and therefore it has a history, a cultural-identity, aspirations, sentiments, dreams, and yes a spiritual ‘heartbeat' and much more...,
In this context, any development that is not focused on PRIMARILY on the progress and well being of the native-indigenous people to us is doomed, because the people should be the very foundation of any development.
As such, it is sad to say, that the so-called ‘Friendly-island' is the classical example of how a country ought NOT to be developed.
We can safely state, that SXM has betrayed its own people, left its people behind and created an enormous in balance in the overall socio-economic development.
You should certainly not believe me.
But, just get an old copy of the TODAY news-paper of Monday, April 14, 2003 and read its editorial ‘A MARSHALL PLAN IS NEEDED'.
A quote ; ‘When the economic opportunities that a country has to offer have predominantly been taken advantage of in the past by people other that the country's own indigenous people,...then it constitutes a national crisis.
These are the words of the paper owned, by Mr. GIBSON, at that time Minister of Constitutional Affairs; they are NOT the word of Leopold JAMES, the ‘hater', as the same paper oftentimes refers to my person.
Apparently at that time, NO one cared to respond to that critical message indicating that there was a ‘NATIONAL CRISIS, because the native St. Martiners had been disadvantaged, because it were ‘others'-, who in fact dominated the economic opportunities.
Certainly, there was no call to implement protective measures for the native SXM-people, although it was then already deemed a crisis-situation for the island. And certainly there was NO CBA formed to discuss the matter.
Of course not!
Who cared about native-indigenous SXM'ers ?
Meanwhile, the natives of this island continued to suffer, to become marginalized, disrespected, ridiculed, and often threatened on their own ancestral properties by others.
Although, as native-indigenous people we too, of the SNBF etc, felt very hurt, but still, we managed to focus on the bigger picture and formulated our own concept of a MP, now called Law on Equal Opportunity.
We presented this concept on Monday, February 19, 2009 to the Central- Committee of the Island-council, who said it was very interesting, but still it was never promoted, despite all the talks about constitutional changes, in which the politicians conveniently forgot about the natives of this island.
In formulating the ‘balance' in our Law on Equal Opportunity, we have focused on at least three premises
--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->Native-indigenous people should come first in their ancestral home of St. Martin, and should have special privileges and protection to be preserved at all times, non-negotiable.
--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->The need for immigrants and foreign workers and the need to protect their human-rights.
--[if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->Reciprocity (same opportunities for all people, especially within the region ).
What many people never realized, in the past, was that the ‘Friendly islanders', who had been taken for granted for so long, would one day become ‘not so friendly' and even resentful of the all aspects of development, because it worked against them, made them insignificant onlookers and minority with no rights in their own land.
That is the situation where are in right now in which perhaps many SXM'ers do not even care any longer to think rationally, because of the hurt and traumatic treatments at the hand of many investors and business people in the past.
It is very unfortunate that against that backdrop, we now have to find solutions and heal deep wounds, and it will be a tall order.
The new policy might not be perfect, but for sure it gives the NATIVE SXM'ers a sense of justice and the question now is where do we go from here.
Our position is, that we are prepared to become part of the solution in finding a balance, such as our concept of the Law on Equal Opportunity.
For sure, to get SXM'ers behind you, the time has come to show humility, respect and put your money where your mouth is, to show that you really have SXM at heart.
Without the grass-roots SXM population supporting you, your efforts will be doomed, even if Government would, as usual again just cave in to your demands.
The best ‘insurance-policy' for your investments, are the native-indigenous grass-root people of this land,- and we are prepared to be their broker, guaranteeing their best interest are secured.
The choice is yours.
I rest my case for this round and thank you for your attention.
--
Leopold James
President SNBF & L'Esprit de Concordia
-------

Philipsburg"" Several people including members of the clergy from both sides of the island turned out last night for the fourth annual National Day of Prayer which was instituted by former commissioner of culture Louis Laveist. Also present were several elected officials from the French side including President Frantz Gumbs who for the fist time responded to the several invitations from the Dutch side of the island, also present was Carene Mills, and fourth VP Louis Jeffry. Elected officials from the Dutch side had to split themselves between the two government activities which were held at the same hour.

Attendants of the annual event were treated with songs and dances ad as they prepare to hear from Pastor Liverpool no stranger to the St. Maarten pulpits. Known for her power on praise and worship she did just that as she prayed for both sides government.
Delivering the message was Pastor Alicia Liverpool who called on the several churches on the island to come together for the benefit of St. Maarten said it is the community of St. Maarten displays their attitude of collective understanding for prayer.

He said prayers of a nation have always been a powerful force. There are stories enough of how when situations seemed ominous beyond redemption, prayer is believed to have been that one decisive action which changed the course of events.
Richards said today the need for prayer is as great as ever. "Our island has been blessed with much success, but faces immense challenges"
He asked that special prayers be held particularly for the youth, the family, the church, the educators and the media. Let us ask for his guidance as we need to calm the various social ills, reinstituting moral values and ethics and save the community, our nation now.
The island chief of command said if we are to "Bring about changes, calls for a pledge not to change the world but to change ourselves; a pledge not to move mountains but to shift pebbles; a pledge not to ride the waves but to create ripples; it is only by changing ourselves that we can change the world; it is only by shifting pebbles that we can conquer mountains; and it is only by creating ripples that we can ride the waves. Then and only then will we create a world in which this pledge will not remain a pledge but will become a reality".

Philipsburg- Dengue Action Response Team (DART), the Island Governments multidisciplinary team coordinating the nation's dengue response, confirmed on Monday that for the month of November there were 88 laboratory confirmed dengue cases, compared to 187 for October.

DART has reached the conclusion that the count of patients have reached a plateau since the outbreak started back in August/September 2008.

Persons experiencing dengue fever-like symptoms should immediately contact their family physician. Persons should also follow-through by going to the lab to have a dengue fever test carried out to determine if they actually have the virus.

The Island Government approved an emergency budget of over Naf.300,000 last year to cover a number of interventions related to the outbreak which will continue in 2009.

Some of the interventions taken comprised of house-to-house/yard inspections; increase in vector control fogging activities; and presentations to non-governmental organizations and schools.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne infection that causes a severe flu-like illness that affects infants, young children and adults, but seldom causes death.

Anyone requiring information concerning measures to prevent mosquito breeding or to report areas of standing water, overgrown vegetation etc should immediately call the Hygiene Department at 542-2079.

 

ORANJESTAD-GEBE Statia manager, Fed Cuvalay, presented the new GEBE reusable bag to the Lt. Governor, Hyden Gittens, during the launch of the GEBE reusable bag campaign on Statia.
GEBE will be distributing a total of 10,000 of these bags on St. Maarten, Saba and Statia to its customers in January 2009. Used twice a week for a period of two years, each GEBE reusable shopping bag can replace up to 1664 plastic bags in its lifetime. The 10,000 bags that GEBE will be distributing could therefore mean a total plastic bag reduction on these islands of 16 million bags. The bag is for the conscious shopper who like GEBE takes the environment into account.

Operation Trust 2 Continues with Road Control yesterday in several areas of the community. The law enforcement officers were concentrating on drivers who are not in possession of their documents. Those that had tints on their vehicle windows. Caught in the control are several gypsies who were plying the Sucker Garden route. The officers also arrested the head of security of the Windward Islands Bank for having tinted windows as well as a base ball bat in his car. Cat as he is well known in the community was later released.

Philipsburg: --- Members of the KPSSS yesterday bid farewell to one of their colleagues who will be returning to his homeland today. Harry Sonderwal was recruited last year as head of the operation management of the police force. Sonderwal was charged with training Lourdes Brooks Lake for the past six months. Commissioner of police Ademar Doran presented Sonderwal with gifts of token as well as Brooks Lake.
Police Spokesman Johan Janchi Leonard described Sonderwal as a special person who did his work with pride and joy. Leonard said the KPSSS will surely miss him; however he said on behalf of the management of the KPSSS they wish Sonderwal and his wife Veronica all the best in their future endeavors.

Commissioner of Economic Affairs Maria Buncamper-Molanus recieved the draft MOU which will be signed between the Island Government and, labor representatives and the Private sector of St. Maarten regarding measures to mitigate the negative effects of the global financial crisis. The MOU was presented by President of the Chamber of Commerce Glen Carty and Vice President Ludwig Ouenniche. Buncamper Molanus explained that government will now evaluate the draft and set a date the economic summit in cooperation with the Chamber. although the Island Government has already taken steps addressing the world wide economic slowdown, the further goal of the MOU is to mitigate the effects of said crisis on the economy of St. Maarten, detailed in a concrete plan of action, and ensure economic growth and prosperity for St Maarten and its citizens in the short, medium, and long term.

Marigot:--- The Association of the Citizen Movement is calling on residents of St. Martin not to pay the road tax for 2008. In a press release issued on Monday President of the Association Julien Gumbs said that this is not the responsibility of the treasury to force people to pay this taxes. Gumbs said this should be considered nothing else but harassment.
A public meeting will be held shortly to fully inform the population of their rights and the situation of the road tax. The Association said the only persons who can take force people to pay these taxes is by conducting road controls and no one else.

The fugitive K.R.D was captured on Saturday afternoon in Cay Bay. K.R.D. who was wanted after escaping police custody in Police Headquarters in Philipsburg last month was recaptured. He was hiding in the back of a pig pen in the area of GEBE water plant in Cay Bay. In a joint effort with the Zero-tolerance K.R.D. was re-arrested by the long arms of the Police. K.R.D. resisted during his arrest. Crime does not pay sooner or later we will catch you says Police and all those who have made this arrest possible. Together in partnership we will succeed in fighting crime.

On Sunday in the evening hours police also managed to arrest a well-known car thief D.J.N. He was being sought for numerous car theft cases. He is now in police custody pending further investigation. D.J.N. also tried to escape from being arrested but after a chase police netted him.

On Friday, during the evening hours two robbers were busy robbing when finally their luck ran out. We are still investigating these different cases of robbery. Apparently two bandits armed with guns first robbed a man of his vehicle and then a Shell Gas station attendant of the company's money, on the A.Th. Illidge road in the vicinity of Shell Gas Station, In the stolen car the bandits went to rob Victory Supermarket which is located on the other side of Shell Gas station at Madame Estate. In the close proximity was a `police officer who saw the robbery and attempted to arrest the bandits. During the arrest one of the suspects was shot in his left lower leg by the arresting officer. The suspect was taken to the Medical Center for treatment and is now in police custody. Money, mask and one of the guns were confiscated that were discovered on the scene. The other bandit got away police are still looking for this suspect, and is therefore requesting information from the general public.

PHILIPSBURG-Julia Peterson and her family were overjoyed to win the GEBE Christmas Lighting Competition for the second year in a row. GEBE managing director, William Brooks, congratulated her saying, "Ms. Peterson said already that she was coming back again this year" as he presented her with the $1500 check for winning first place.
The Cole Bay display could not be missed and has drawn a lot of attention from the community and even the German media. "Our yard was always full of people," Peterson stated, as passersby came with their children to take photos, enjoy the music and get in the Christmas spirit.
The winners were chosen by a panel of judges based on five criteria, namely first impression, special effects, traditional or cultural display, creativity and the use of energy saving technology such as LED lighting. Marcia Williams received the second prize of $1000 for her lighting display in Saunders. Melda Carty received the third place prize of $500 for her home display on Rueben Pantophlet road in Philipsburg.
Richmer York, 15, was the youngest winner of the 2008 competition walking away with the popular prize, a $500 gift certificate at Klass electronics. "My friends encouraged me to participate and said my house looked like a winner," York explained, "so I signed up and won. I am quite proud of myself." His home in Suckergarden received the most votes in the online and newspaper voting competition.
GEBE encouraged the community to Save Some Green by using energy saving technology such as LED Christmas lights when decorating since they run 90% more efficient and save money and the environment. The lights were available at Ace, Cost U Less, Electec and Kwik Bargains. "We are really happy with the participation on this year and we are looking to make the 2009 Christmas Lighting Competition even more exciting."

Philipsburg- The St. Maarten Institute of Technology and Hospitality (SMITH) says its close working relationship with the business community has allowed the Institution to develop programs that meet the demands of the island's labour market.
SMITH has established attainment targets which are specific objectives for each course that is offered with a particular program.
"For example, in the Secretarial Assistant Program students will take courses in Office Management and Word Processing. The attainment targets for each course will contain the specific knowledge, skills and competencies that the student is expected to master in order to successfully function as a Secretarial Assistant," SMITH's Education Coordinator Sidonia Hodge-Lacorbiniere explained.
Hodge adds that the attainment targets are the backbone of the institutions programs. "This document provides the Institute, the student and the public and private sectors with a detailed outline of the specific knowledge, skills and competencies that are associated with a particular vocation.
"When crafted correctly it provides a direct reflection of the knowledge base and skills sets required by industry for a particular vocation. This blue print for each training program serves as the compass for facilitators, cooperating businesses and students.
"The input and advice of industry professionals have been sought for all of the programs for which the Institute is now seeking Secondary Vocational Education (SBO) Accreditation. The attainment targets are a requirement for SBO Accreditation," Hodge-Lacorbiniere told the Government Information Service (GIS).
Input of the private sector is essential because our goal is to train students in tandem with the needs of the local labour market, so that they can compete not only locally, but regionally and internationally as well, Sidonia Hodge-Lacorbiniere added.
The Accreditation of SMITH's Programs will indicate that the Institute has met the required quality standards as outlined by the Ministry of Education and students who have completed their training at the Institute will be able to obtain certificates and diplomas that can be used to gain employment locally and abroad, or to pursue higher levels of study available locally and abroad.
Programs being offered by the Institute for Spring 2009 are Business Administrative Assistant, Secretarial Assistant, Information Technology Service Assistant, Cook, and Security Officer.
Those requiring further information can visit the SMITH office which is located next to the Central Drugstore on the E. Camille Richardson Street #23 in Philipsburg or can call SMITH's administrative offices at 542-1620.
Office hours are from 8.30am to 4.00pm.

Marigot: --- Yann Claeysen was hired, then fired after he was caught acting in his own interest and not that of St. Martin. The former director of the tourist office also sent a threatening letter to the present president Ida Zin-ka-Ieu this media house has learnt. Despite the threats Zin Ka- Ieu did what was expected of her when she saw the way Claeysen was allegedly treating the employees. Claeysen though intends to fight his dismissal in court. Since his departure the atmosphere at the Tourist Office has changed. The workers are more comfortable that they did not even participate in Monday's strike. An effort made to contact Zin Ka Ieu for comment has proved futile since she is not on island.

Despite the positive change within that sector the present administration is withholding its support for Zin Ka Ieu. SMN News was reliably informed that the present UPP councilors is not giving Zin Ka Ieu their support with the projects and the development on tourism on the French side even though the economy is at its lowest. Sources close to the UPP group said President Gumbs and his first VP Daniel Gibbs is looking at ways to divide the portfolios that is under the Tourist Office (Zin Ka-Ieu). It is said that Gibbs the VP that is in charge of tourism and economic affairs will handle these portfolios himself since he would be re-hiring Claeysen to work directly under him.

The Union pour le Progres has been saying they are together yet Marthe Ogoundele Tessi is not attending any of the council meetings since she lost her bid for the presidential seat. It is understood that territorial councilor Jean Philippe Richardson is also at odds with the group since he does not always agree with what is done to the locals. SMN News understands that both Zin ka Ieu and Richardson was not in favor of Gumbs to replace Louis Constant Fleming in the Territorial Council since they thought Dr. Louis Jeffry would have done a better job.

It is understood that some of the councilors who are not in favor of the way things are being handled are looking into ways to break the present government. At least three of the councilors spoke to this reporter anonymously saying that they feel the UPP group has lost its focus. The councilors said they are not willing to continue under the leadership of President Frantz Gumbs since he can be considered a "dictator and puppet". "We are not willing to damage our political future neither our image. The people elected us based on the promises we made during the political campaign. It was not the intention to phase out locals and hire foreigners and since we are not able to show president Gumbs that he has lost focus we would have to do what is necessary to save ourselves".

SMN News was not able to secure a comment from Gumbs who have decided to phase out the local or black journalists from his contact list. However this media house intends to dig deeper into these matters and will report it when it becomes clearer.

Philipsburg- Leader of Government Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams, would like to join the rest of the members of the World Customs Organization in observing International Customs Day on January 26.

The theme this year is "Customs and the Environment: Protecting our Natural Heritage."

"I would like to use this opportunity to recognize the important work carried out each day by the Customs Department and the latter's steadfast commitment against different forms of illegality.

"Our law enforcement bodies including our Customs division should be given all support as they work everyday to keep our communities safe and borders secure," Leader of Government Sarah Wescot-Williams told the Government Information Service (GIS) over the weekend.

This year's theme pays attention to the environmental threat which is now at the top of the world's agenda. The aforementioned threat includes climate change, the hole in the ozone layer, global warming, deforestation, the disappearance of species etc.

The members of the World Customs Organization has been working diligently in halting the illegal trade in environmentally-sensitive commodities such as ozone depleting substances, hazardous and other waste, chemical weapons, and the endangerment of fauna and flora.

 

Philipsburg- This morning at the Government Administration Building in the Conference room, Commissioner Maria Buncamper-Molanus and other Stake holders in Youth Affairs and Education met with Dr. Carol Allred the developer and director of the prevention program " Positive Action".

The program is scientifically tested and contributes towards the overall academic, behavioral and character development of children and young people. We shall look into the overall benefits and the cost of the program, and then decide whether to adopt it or not, Commissioner Buncamper-Molanus said.

Accompanying Dr. Allred were members of the Directorate of Youth Affairs of the Netherlands Antilles, Mrs. Ethel Perk and Mr. Geoffrey Hernandez the present coordinator of Communities That Care Program. Communities that Care is an approach to significantly lower the incidents of problem behavior amoungst children and youth in the areas of violence, delinquency substance abuse, school drop out, sexually related problem behavior and depression & anxiety. Positive action is a tested effective program that fits within the Communities that Care Model .

This program teaches the importance of choosing positive actions over negative behavior and helps persons to develop real-life social and work skills that are an important foundation for lifelong achievement and happiness.

The program is meant for different types of schools, for social workers, providers of juvenile-justice or high-risk-student programs, before- and after-school and community programs.

Dr. Allred will meet with a more extensive group of key stakeholders working in Education, Youth and Community Development.

St. Peters: ---- The Director of Starlight Education is expected to finalize a new resolution sometime today which would allow them to reopen the school by Friday of this week.
Carmen Hodge said she was not in a position to disclose the type of resolution she found but she said that the resolution was with the private sector and not the island government. Hodge said if all goes as planned today (Wednesday) then the Marshal who placed locks on the doors of the building on January 9 will remove those locks which would pave the way for a general clean up on Thursday. Parents of the students who are attending Starlight Education Center in St. Peters are asked to monitor the newspaper by Thursday for more information said Hodge.

PHILIPSBURG-GEBE trained 140 employees on St. Maarten, Saba and Statia in a high performance workplace awareness workshop throughout the months of December and January as part of the company's ongoing efforts to improve the company performance and the service of NV GEBE.
The workshops were held on Saba, Statia and St. Maarten respectively during the month of January. The High Performance Workplace Awareness Workshops are the third phase of a total company training and improvement program that began with a management retreat in 2007, followed by training sessions for managers, department heads and supervisors.
The third phase focuses on the rank and file workers with the goal to transform the culture and empower them to understand the change within the company. The trainings, which are an integral part of the new vision for NV GEBE, were given by Dr. John Cambridge of Productivity Management Associates Inc.
Daniel Maccow of the Billing Department stated that he enjoyed the sessions. "We learned how to work together, how to work more efficiently and to work in a team. Mr. Cambridge is very open and outspoken and gave good examples of other companies." He rated that session a perfect 10.
"I believe this workshop is important for all government owned companies to survive in a competitive environment and avoid becoming obsolete," stated Antonio Brown of the Finance Department, "The training is geared towards bringing the average worker into the decision making process."
"The focus is on working together. All parties of the organization need to work together on reaching solutions and making things happen," agreed Agnes Aventurin of the Finance Department, "I left with a positive feeling and am looking forward to making the change."

Thousands of teachers are joining today's one-day national strike in France, the latest move in a series of industrial actions to protest against job cuts, government reform plans and decreased purchasing power because of the economic crisis.
According to unions, 67.5% of primary school teachers and close to 60% of secondary school teachers are downing tools today, though the education ministry claims the figures are 47.9% and 28%, respectively.
Previous industrial action by teaching unions has already prompted president Nicolas Sarkozy to delay his reforms of the upper secondary school system and the baccalaureate. The latest one was in October, when teachers and students went on a one-day strike to protest against government reform plans. Ministers feared that the strike movement would escalate into a wider movement of opposition against the government. Sarkozy was said to have been particularly concerned about the riots that took place in Greece after students took to the streets.
Strikers are expected to be joined by school and university students, as well as some of their parents, at marches taking place today in central Paris and other cities across France.
Top of the list of grievances are job cuts, with 11,200 jobs already slashed and another 13,500 to go this year. Strikers are also protesting against plans to cut 3,000 jobs among professionals who specialise in helping children who have difficulties in nursery and primary schools.
Many primary school teachers are also angry at past school reforms, such as the end of teaching hours on Saturday mornings, which means they have less time to do their work - although some relish the possibility of having a completely free weekend. Teachers are also angry that the ongoing economic crisis is decreasing their purchasing power.
Today's one-day industrial action comes as part of a general strike that has already been dubbed "Black Thursday". French lawyers, judges, journalists, postal, rail and tube workers are among the many professionals who are downing tools today.
Strikers will benefit from strong public backing - 69% of French people say they "support" or "sympathise with" the industrial action, according to a poll published yesterday in the daily Le Parisien.
Today's action is not expected to be the last. University lecturers and researchers are expected to strike on Monday in protest against job cuts and reforms of their job status that would see, among other things, university presidents having more control over their professional lives. In France, teachers are civil servants and their working lives following strict, state-fixed rules. Some university unions are even pushing for an "unlimited" strike.

Philipsburg- ENNIA Insurances has pledged to adopt the Sister Regina School in stage two of the [RED]Campaign, with its slogan for 2009 being Think [RED], Do SAFE. By adopting a school, ENNIA will work with students to promote healthy sexual choices.

Guy Cozijns, Branch Manager for ENNIA here on the island stated during his speech at their annual cocktail party at Bamboo Bernie's that ENNIA will continue to enhance integration and participation in the community, as was done with their contribution to the Talk [RED] Campaign in 2008. Now that the slogan has changed to Think [RED], Do SAFE, ENNIA will be using part of its financial contribution to the campaign towards benefiting the youth of Sint Maarten through the adoption of the Sister Regina School.
Cozijns ended by saying that ENNIA will continue their activities to the benefit of youth development and sports in general. "We will continue doing this in a spirit of ‘mens sana en corpere sano' or ‘a healthy mind within a healthy body.'"

The focus of stage two of the [RED] Campaign 2009-Think [RED], Do SAFE is to encourage safer and healthier lifestyle choices for the general population with a particular focus on young people. Last year the focus of the [RED] campaign was to encourage people to overcome their fears about talking about HIV. This year the focus will be to promote healthier sexual and reproductive health choices through abstinence, condom use and partner reduction.

Philipsburg: ----- A survey conducted by this media house shows that St. Maarten is already suffering from the global economic crisis. Several businesses say they already see a 15% decline in sales and believe that the island government is not doing enough to brace the business community.
General Manager of Le Grand Marche Prakash Sujanani said they have analyzed the problem which is facing the world since prices went up in several areas. He said while they are waiting to see what American President Barrack Obama would do to change the trend he acknowledged this would take time since the new president has to fully analyze the problem. He said this analysis would take as much as a year.

Coming back to St. Maarten he said is going through a major problem because several people that are working on St. Maarten are not from St. Maarten. While he agrees that the police namely the immigration department have a job to do by picking up illegal immigrants he feels that the police have to do their jobs correctly.
Sujanani said one of the main hindrances on St. Maarten is the lack of manpower in the police affairs department to process working permits. He said one of the main hindrances in getting working permits for their employees is the amount of time this process takes. He said this situation creates a sense of insecurity since people maybe able to wait one month for their documents but during that time they still have to eat and live.

The businessman said since there is a shortage of staff even at the police station he feels the Lt. Governor and chief of police Franklyn Richards is left with the burden of making sure law and order is maintained. Sujanani said the people that are mostly affected are those that applied for their working documents and are not getting it on time. The store manager said one of the things that are going un-noticed is that there is an influx of people coming in to the island as tourist and are beginning to seek employment so that they can eat and feed their families back home due to the world wide recession. While the businessman said the employers that are hiring these illegal immigrants are to be blamed one has to understand that the employers cannot find locals to fill the positions that are available. "A business cannot function with managers only we need all calibers of people to run any business efficiently is needed". Sujanani said.

He said because of how time consuming this process has been the company he manages had to choose an outside agent to process the working documents for their employees. Sujanani said Le Grand Marche has to pay that agent a fee for the processing of the documents outside of the government processing fees plus they have to pay the agent a fee of Naf100 per month for each employee as long as the documents are valid. The monthly monies he said is not fixed since this depend on the salaries the employee is making. Sujanani said the reason his company had to deal with an outside agency and not the labor department is because of the amount of time papers take and by the time it is ready it already expired.

Sujanani said while he understands the intention of the island government who wants to have locals in the job market he is not sure the locals are prepared to do the jobs that is available. Such jobs he said includes shelf packing, gardening and construction.

Sujanani said his company is now studying the new labor policy which he considers too stringent. He said some of the documents and the amenities that are required in the new policy are ridiculous since the employees are already living on St. Maarten.
He said if government insists on this new policy then he is sure they are driving business people away. He said while they understand what government wants to do by trying to get locals in the job market this is something very hard to come by. Sujanani said the parts of the three year policy are ridiculous. He said the idea behind this policy is government wants to control its citizenship rights.

"They simply don't want anymore people with permanent residency or passports" the businessman said. Sujanani said he believes that those persons who were part of the tripartite committee acted blindly when they drafted this policy. Sujanani said he believes that the policy should not be for persons already living on the island but instead for new comers which would take them forward instead of looking backwards.
He said he does not know what to tell the employees who have been working for the past three years since they also invested into the island. He said if this policy is to take full effect then he as a manager would have to keep on working. "I would never be able to relax because I have to keep on training people who might not even stay with my company after they are trained" Sujanani explained that he is yet to see what can kind of manpower the island has locally. He said there is no database that the private sector can get into to see if they can find qualified workers. "I have told the government they need to have this in place if they want locals on the job."

He said while the island has grown tremendously over the past years the necessary infrastructure is not in place to accommodate the growth. He said what the island government is trying to do now they should have done it ten years ago. He said they suggested to the island government that the processing fees be paid in parts since this would serve as a guarantee for the working documents but government has not taken this into consideration.

Willemstad:---Minister for Youth and Family, also Vice Premier of the Netherlands, André Rouvoet, will pay a working visit to Curacao, Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba from February 2 to February 6 inclusive. The central theme of his visit will be concerned with all kinds of aspects of the youth and family policy in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, among which the installation of the Youth and Family centers in the BES islands. Thus the Minister for Youth and Family gives the green light for the concrete shaping of the
Arrangements made with these islands in November 2008 with regard to the manner
In which the Netherlands will assume its responsibility as from the moment when
These islands proceed to form part of the Dutch government system, and also the
Concrete steps to be taken on the way to the new status.
Minister Rouvoet will arrive in Curacao on Monday, February 2 at the end of the day.
On Tuesday he will pay his respects to the Governor of the Netherlands Antilles, Mr.
F.M. Goedgedrag, Master of Laws. As the Federal Government remains responsible
For the BES islands until the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles, on Tuesday
Minister Rouvoet, together with Justice Minister David Dick, will sign cooperation
Covenant for the improvement of youth protection in the BES islands. Further he will
Pay a visit to the Financial Supervision Board and he will be given a presentation at
The Coast Guard.
On Tuesday afternoon the trip will continue to Bonaire, where the
Minister will be posted on after-school activities and education support.
On Wednesday morning, February 4, the Minister will pay a visit to, among other
Things care centre Mariadal, where the Centre for Youth and Family to be founded
Would be accommodated. With such centers making their appearance younger people
Will be prevented as far as possible from having to go to facilities in Curacao or St.
Maarten for support, the moment when Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba become
‘Special' Dutch municipalities. During the next few years Minister Rouvoet will set
Aside 6 million Euros for the installation of Youth and Family Centers in these new
Municipalities.
3
Activities figuring on the program for Wednesday are also a presentation on the care
Of addicts in Bonaire, a conversation with Commissioner Henk Kamp, and a visit to
Scholengemeenschap Bonaire, i.e. Bonaire Comprehensive School, to talk about the
Issues of school dropouts.
In St. Eustatius, on Thursday, February 5, Minister Rouvoet will exchange views with
Young people on the local youth policy, and he will pay a visit to the Guardianship
Board. Featuring prominently on the program is an introductory talk with those who
Are going to set up the Centre for Youth and Family in the island. Also in Saba,
Where Minister Rouvoet will conclude his trip on Friday, February 6, he will talk with
Entities directly involved about, among other things, the realization of the Centre for
Youth and Family in the island.

Philipsburg:-- Police is also investigating another case where a security guard were tied up during a robbery. The incident occurred on January 3rd police and detectives were sent to ECONO Food Market on Welgelegen road for a robbery.
On the scene the security guard with initials E.F.G. stated to the investigating officers that around 05.00 a.m. while carrying out his controls of the building and premises he was attacked by five unknown men.
The men were mainly masked and dressed in dark clothing. At least one of these men was armed with a small silver colored handgun. The victim stated the at the time of the attack he was at the back of the building where he was tied-up and being held against his will. Four of the robbers then gained access to the building while one robber stayed guarding him. His money and cellular telephone were stolen from him. The robbers also stole, two laptop computers, security camera system, computer equipment, a large amount of Chippy telephone cards and both cash register containing a small amount of cash from the building. The stolen items were placed in a vehicle and taken away. Shortly after the victim loosened himself and called the police and notified his other colleges. The Special Robbery Unit is investigating this matter.

Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson said they received of reports robbery, and house break ins. These incidents he said took place at private homes, business places and cars. Police he said were very busy since they also have a number cases on ill-treatment and destruction of property being investigated.

Philipsburg- The Insurance for the West Indies presented commissioner of education Sarah Wescot Williams with six computers which is meant for Foundation Computers in Education.
Commissioner Wescot-Williams was pleased to accept the computers on the Foundation's behalf, which aims, among other objectives, to provide computers to primary and now secondary schools, and commended the company, as represented by Gloria Blackwood, Branch Manager and Cleavland Beresford, Marketing Consultant.

The company-ICWI-has been established for 40 years in the Caribbean (Jamaica, Bahamas, Cayman), and 2 years on St. Maarten. The company, being a corporate citizen, donated these computers. Blackwood said that it was a pleasure to contribute to the foundation, and that the computers, although small, shall be useful for students.

The students at SMITH, the St. Maarten Institute of Tourism and Hospitality will be pleased, Commissioner Wescot-Williams said. These computers will equip the computer lab with 6 brand new modern computers.

Philipsburg: --- Sources close the National Alliance said that Island Councilman George Pantophlet has left St. Maarten to be sworn in as the new state secretary for health. Pantophlet is expected to be sworn in today by the Governor of the Netherlands Antilles. He would be replacing Joan Berkle Smart who resigned from her position when the news broke that he was being investigated for alleged fraud. Since Berkle Smart resigned there had not been any new developments in the matter. The prosecutor's office in Curacao had said the Federal Detectives were asked to look at the facts to see if a crime was committed.
SMN News also learnt that Patrick Illidge would be taking up the vacant seat in the Island Council which was left by Pantophlet. Efforts made by this media house to confirm the information proved futile since we were not able to make contact with the leader of the National Alliance William Marlin.

Sandy Ground:-- Four persons are now nursing injuries they sustained during an armed robbery in a night club in Sandy Ground. A press release from the Gendarmes states that the incident occurred during the early hours of Monday January 6th.
According to reports two armed men stormed into the establishment and used their weapons for unknown reasons. Three of the injured persons were hurt by gunshot wounds while the fourth was beaten with a stick. The suspect managed to get way on foot with some $250, while the four victims were transported to the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital for treatment.
The research Brigade has opened an investigation into the incident.

St. Peters:--- Teachers of the St. Maarten Vocational School has given the Department of Education a deadline which ends at 2pm on Wednesday. The deadline is for a meeting with department head to discuss security measures. The Windward Islands Teachers Union has joined their teachers fight said Claire Elshot.

Elshot said the teachers of that school have been having constant problems with students who are in possession of weapons and they have addressed their concerns to the department. One of the requested the teachers are making is to have full time security at the school by January 2009 since dealing with school fights in the past has left one of the teachers injured. Elshot needs to have the necessary space to function as educators and not security officers.
Elshot said the department did not honor the teachers request so they have decided to further continue with their actions. The union leader said that on Tuesday the teachers made the request for a meeting but that request was also not honored which gave the teachers no choice but to set a deadline for this meeting. Elshot said late last year the police visited the school in question and found a number of weapons and items that were confiscated by teachers of the school. She said when this happened the department head Ms. Oldine Bryson Pantophlet wrote a letter to the newspaper to downplay the matter. However, she said the school is not a place for weapons and it seems as if parents and the school cannot control what is taken on the school premises. She said if no one can control this situation the teachers definitely would need to have some sort of security.

Marigot:-----A series of activities are being planned by the St. Martin Awareness Committee under the theme "YES YOU CAN" which is scheduled to take place at the Chamber of Commerce building in Concordia between January 17 to January 24th. The activities include a public debate, a car rally which will begin from Caribbean Auto Sales Parking Lot to the Marigot Waterfront, and a public rally on the final day which is Sunday January 24.

The idea of the activities to show youths how they can embrace what they face. The dates are to coincide with the American Presidential Inauguration which would show there is still hope for the people of St. Martin. President of the COM Frantz Gumbs has pledged his support for the activities.

Philipsburg- Local insurance company ENNIA is the first business kicking off the year-long Think [RED], Do Safe Campaign, a program specifically designed to emphasize healthier sexual lifestyles. After jumpstarting the Talk [RED] campaign last year with its [RED] cocktail party on board the Explorer and the memorable welcome speech of Guy Cozijns themed " Dum Spiro Spero," meaning "while I breath I hope." It is in this same spirit that they have adopted the Sister Regina School to instill their hope in the students. Look out for their activities with this school during the month of January on the [RED] pages of this paper.
Every Friday is still designated as [RED] Day and ENNIA will be sponsoring the media package which includes radio, television and newspaper ads. However, the messages, pictures and presentations will be different this time around. Customer information packages will again be distributed between the hours of 8:00am and 12:00pm as well as red ribbons to continue raising the awareness and keeping our hopes alive.
Think [RED], Do Safe is the second stage of the HIV/AIDS Programme Management Team's [RED] Campaign and was launched on World AIDS Day, December 1, 2008. With the success of last year's Talk [RED] Campaign the expectations for Think [RED], Do Safe have been raised and ENNIA will be leading the [RED] businesses into a creative year focused on St. Maarten's youth and the general public at large.

The UMP Federation of Saint Martin would like to extend its best wishes for 2009 to all its members and the entire community of St Martin / St Maarten.

2008 has been an important year for UMP Saint Martin with the raising of an autonomous Federation and the election of our First Senator nominated at the Laws Commission in the Senate in Paris.
Let's make this first step a strong foundation for our country and political party.

Philipsburg:--It is confirmed that former commissioner of labour Louis Laveist would have to face a judge on February 11 to answer charges of fraud. While the court date is tentatively set the charges are yet to be completed. Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein said he is not fully acquainted with the file since he is not the one dealing with the case. He said his colleague from Curacao Martin Hemelaar is expected on St. Maarten next week at which time he will know more on the case.

SMN News also understand that members of the Democratic Party are busy trying to see if the would get the commissioner to resign from his position in the executive council. But Laveist it is understood wants his portfolios back until he is charged, tried and convicted. SMN News understands the commissioner and a die hard DP member held a meeting in Pointe Blanche yesterday discussing the possibilities of him resigning.

CUPECOY - The water production facility at Cay Bay was shut down Thursday, January 8 in order to facilitate the installation of a larger intake piping system that is part of the new upgrades and expansion of the Cay Bay desalination plant.

This was a planned shutdown and the expansion work was completed on time which would have allowed for no interruption of water delivery to GEBE. Despite the fact that precautions were taken to ensure a successful restart, certain pump house equipment failed that was recently damaged by Hurricane Omar, which prevented the plant from returning to full production capability.

The unfortunate combination of the low storage tank level due to the shutdown and limited production capacity upon re-start, resulted in a temporary inability to meet full water demand.

Air Fin worked around the clock to rectify the situation and is happy to report that the plant was back at full production capability on Friday January 9, at 4:00pm. Air Fin apologizes to GEBE and to anyone who might have been affected by this situation and hopes that everyone recognizes that these shutdowns are necessary in order to upgrade and expand the plant so that an adequate production safety margin exists for the future.

Accordingly, Air Fin expects to commission a new 3800 Cubic Meter per day plant on January 15th.

Marigot: --- Information reaching SMN News states that the gendarmes are busy investigating a severe case of rape and robbery which took place on December 31 2008 in Concordia. It is understood the victim was in a store at the time of the incident and a considerable amount of monies was also stolen.
While the authorities are tightlipped on the case and the gendarmes could not be reached for comment it is understood they have a good idea as to who the culprits maybe.

MAHO--Cheri's Café treated the athletes of Special Olympics St. Maarten to lunch Sunday afternoon.
The Special Olympics Board also used the opportunity to thank its coaches and volunteers for all the work they do for the athletes. A number of coaches received their certification for Coach Special Olympics and all volunteers got a token of appreciation.
Sweet Chocolate Band entertained the group and got many of the athletes to show their skills on the dance floor as well.
Chairwoman of the Board first lady Angela Richardson presented the certificates and expressed her thanks to owner of the restaurant Cheri Batson, who also had a small present for the children before they left.

Sucker Garden: --- Several drivers on St. Maarten was caught by surprise yesterday when several members of the Zero Tolerance Team including the new officers that came to St. Maarten from Curacao began a road control on the Sucker Garden main road. Drivers were asked to pull aside as police checked to see if their documents were in order.

Drivers of vehicles that had on tinted windows had to go through the process of removing the tints from their vehicles, as if not enough the drivers was also given a fine since police has issued several warnings to drivers about tinted windows. Police is expected to make an official report on these controls sometime today.

CALLING ALL CARIBBEAN ARTISANS!!

Philipsburg- The Caribbean Artisan Network, The BVI Tourist Board, The Mooring, LIAT, and the British Virgin Islands Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association (BVICCHA) will be hosting what has become the biggest Artisan Festival in the region: The 2009 Caribbean Arts and Crafts Festival. For the sixth year in a row, this increasingly popular cultural event brings together over 60 Artisans from throughout the Caribbean to display, sell and demonstrate their crafts at a variety of locations in the beautiful British Virgin Islands. From March 6th-9th, the Festival is held on the beach in Trellis Bay Village. On March 10, the festival relocates to Virgin Gorda for the day and back to Trellis Bay for the Full Moon Party in the evening. March 11th wraps up in the capital city, Road Town, at the Noel Lloyd Memorial Park.

Aside from the wide variety of Artisans selling their crafts along the beach and the top class musical entertainment through out the event, this year the Caribbean Artisan network has added several new attractions to the event. On the Saturday evening the first annual Festival Fashion Show will take place which intended for those Artisans who design and manufacture clothing, accessories and hand crafted jewelry to exhibit their products in a live environment.

A booth for local schools to exhibit and sell students work will also is added. The booth fee will be waived and schools or interested students should contact 1-284-495-1849 for more information.

In addition, the festival committee has created a series of awards to be presented in a ceremony on Sunday afternoon. The awards include Most Creative Display, Best Preservation of Traditional Craft, Most Innovative New Craft Item and The Best Youth Artisan (under 18).

Visiting Artisans are being offered complimentary accommodation aboard catamarans anchored just off the beach in Trellis Bay, which have been generously provided by the Moorings.

The Caribbean Artisan Network is a six year old BVI registered Non Profit Organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Caribbean Arts and Crafts (more info on www.caribbeanartisan.net). By creating links between artisans, the Network functions to strengthen the production of traditional and innovative Caribbean Crafts through educational workshops, marketing initiatives and skill preservation efforts.

The Artisan Network is dedicated to increasing the commercial viability of Craft as an income generator and as a crucial aspect of maintaining Caribbean cultural identity. For more information, or to participate as an exhibitor or sponsor, please contact the network via www.caribbeanartisan.net or email the network at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Philpsburg:---In the scholastic year 2007 -2008 DERPI introduced the well received program "Active Parenting NOW in 3" to all FBE Schools in Sint Maarten.

"Active Parenting NOW in 3" LEADERS have been trained and a total of 50 LEADERS have received an official Active Parenting Certificate. This school year DERPI, is pleased to have the support of Telephone Company TELEM, and their certified LEADER Mr. J Carty.

The involvement of the businesses and other organizations in the field is very essential and important. This will allow parents to enjoy and learn more about parenting on the job. DERPI will approach more businesses and other organizations in this coming calendar year, in joining the "Active Parenting" Program.

To guarantee the continuation of this program, the founder Dr. M. Popkin, will once again pay a visit to Sint Maarten for a special Training of Trainers. A group of 15 participants have been selected to take part in this initiative. They will be trained to become the Active Parenting support platform in order to "spread" the information and reach out to more parents on the Island of Sint Maarten.

This special training is scheduled for January 20, 21 and 22 and will be held at the Carl's and Son Conference Center in Cole Bay.

On January 22, Dr. M. Popkin will address all certified "Active Parenting" LEADERS during a handing over ceremony of the LEADER Certificates.

Success of this program is fundamental for our society, but will only succeed with the imput and involvement of the society!!

Cul de Sac:-- A Guyanese woman is the latest victim of house robbery which not only left the woman stripped of her personal items but they bandits used her religion to catch her. The woman told police two unidentified individuals armed with a machete or chopping knife knocked on her door and upon inquiring who they were. They responded to by greeting her in Islam "As salaam Walikum" and said they brought greetings from the Priest.

The woman said when she opened the door she was confronted by two bandits one of them was armed with the weapon. They robbed her of Us$ 800, - and 900 in Antillean guilders. Before exiting the house they pulled out the land phone wires and escaped on foot. Police are investigating the robbery.

Marigot: --- Employees of the Collectivity will be begin taking action today as they seek answers on several issues facing them. The union representing the employees UACL, CGTG de Saint Martin kept a meeting with their members on Friday evening at the Chamber of Commerce Building where they informed their members that the strike will begin at 8am in front of the COM.

The action is expected to take place for 24 hours. It said if the answers are not forthcoming during the day then the strike would prolong. So far the union presented the President of the COM with a pre-avis informing him that the workers will be in action today.

In the meantime, several unions within the region will begin industrial action on Tuesday demanding solutions to many of the crisis facing the region. Those issues include cost of living, and the monies given by the State to defray the cost of gasoline last year. It is understood the State gave 3 million Euros to the petrol dealers to help defray the expenses but this monies was never given to the community. It is said the unions wants this money to be given out for trainings for the employees.

Philipsburg:---National Alliance State Secretary of Health George Pantophlet says that he is settling into his new function. There is much to learn. He attended meetings of the coalition and the council of Ministers and many issues were discussed such as the transfer of government employees to the islands of Curacao/St. Maarten when they attain country status.
A decision was taken in December of 2007 that all employees would be transferred to their respective countries. What is important is that the details are worked out clarifying the position of each employee so as to avoid anxiety on their part. On a very important note, he is looking forward to working with government and all other health care providers and institutions. He will first hold discussions with Minister of Health Omayra Leeflang when she returns from the Netherlands where she is on a working visit. St. Maarten is on the cutting edge of becoming a country and must prepare now to take on its responsibilities. Our geographical location in this region must be utilized and this will also mean upgrading of our facilities. As far as he knows the St. Maarten Medical Center is awaiting approval from the executive council to go ahead with the expansion of its facilities. Other matters he is looking into are the issue of obesity. The report "How Healthy is St. Maarten has to be updated and information regarding "The Dengue virus on St. Maarten from November to present has to be updated. And additionally the cause of the return of the midges has to be looked into.

THE BOTTOM - GEBE announced the winners of the GEBE Christmas Lighting Competition in Saba during its annual Staff New Year's Party on January 17, 2009. Saba received a record number of participants in the 2008 Christmas Lighting Competition who were wowing residents with their festive displays throughout the month of December.
"The standards of the displays keep rising every year and I am sure that the judges had a really challenging time selecting a winner for each category. I congratulate the winners and thank all entrants for their time and effort in putting up attractive Christmas lights and lighting up our community," Brooks stated as he presented the prizes. Winning first prize of $1500 was Cornell Johnson, followed by Peddy Johnson who won the second place prize of $1000. Peddy Johnson explained that his wife had done all the work. "I only plugged them in," he quipped. and Karel Sorton who won the third place prize of $500.
A new addition to the lighting competition was the popular prize. The winner was determined solely by the number of votes received from the community through the newspaper ballots and online voting. "We really wanted to encourage the community to get involved by visiting the many lighting displays and voting for their favorite." Bradley Johnson of Booby Hill won by a mere two more votes in a tight competition that closed on December 31, 2008 and accepted his prize of a $500 shopping certificate.
GEBE encouraged the community to Save Some Green by using energy saving technology such as LED Christmas lights when decorating since they run 90% more efficient and save money and the environment. The lights were available at Ace, Cost U Less, Electec and Kwik Bargains.
"We are really happy with the participation on this year and we are looking to make the 2009 Christmas Lighting Competition even more exciting."

Philipsburg- Bureau for Constitutional Affairs will begin with the production of 6 commercial spots for both radio and television. These commercials were written and directed by Ian Valz.

On Saturday, the first commercial was in production at the AC Wathey Cruise and Harbor Facilities, Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams was present and said that we have to be persistent in the development for constitutional attainment.

"Here we are, in the next part in the constitutional campaign, which will be launched in February. The theme is: En Route to Country St. Maarten. This constitutional process is about getting involved; it is a road we need to follow in order to arrive at country St. Maarten."

"On this road, we will encounter obstacles and road blocks, but we need to persist, and we need to do that together. It is about knowing, of being part of, it is about understanding, the future of our island is about each and every one of us," Commissioner Wescot-Williams said.

"We have to ask ourselves, ‘What is happening with our constitutional efforts? Where are we at? How much further do we have to go?' But more importantly, ‘How is each one of us contributing to the constitutional developments?'"

Commissioner Wescot-Williams said that ultimately, "Having country St. Maarten on paper is not enough, it needs to live in the hearts and minds of all St. Maarteners. Through this promotional campaign, I encourage you to live it, feel it, and work towards country St. Maarten. Be part of the process, know the issues, defend the issues, defend our island, defend Country St. Maarten. It is truly a road to walk, a path to follow, and we need to do it together."

Jeannette Hagen, Head of the Constitutional Department, explained about the need for these commercials. "We saw the need to bring the technical information of the constitutional developments in a more informative and entertaining way to the community of St. Maarten. We are trying to bring forward messages that people have on their minds in a simple and fun way."

Director Ian Valz elaborated on the current promotional productions that he is engaged in. "After months of consultants, it was decided that a series of short infomercials would be produced. We came up with various themes that we have to work with and that the public needs to be address and for the public to become aware of. The infomercials will be informative and entertaining, and we have utilized the best actors on St. Maarten."

Philipsburg:--It was reported a road traffic accident on the Welfare road infront of Kentucky Fried Chicken, early Sunday morning, after 3:00 am, whereby a pick-up was found on it's roof. On arrival of the patrol, the driver was not at the scene. A female motorist identified herself later as the driver of the pick-up carrying license plate V-1709. She reported that while she was driving on the Welfare road she had to abruptly swing to her right to avoid collision with an approaching oncoming traffic that was driving partly on her side of the road. She unwillingly increased speed and crashed with velocity into a low wall and (GEBE) electrical post and flipped over. She told police that her right leg was paining her and passersby took her to the St. Maarten Medical Center, where she received treatment and released. The V-1709 resulted in a total loss. The pick-up however is insured. The traffic department is investigating the accident.

On Sunday, at about 11:10 am., police were called for road traffic accident on the Buncamper Road in the vicinity of Caribbean Liquor and Tabacco. The driver of a scooter (no number-plate) was driving in the direction of Point Blanche in the back of a car and noticed at the last minute that the car had stopped to make a left turn. Notwithstanding he tried to avoid a collision, the scooter banged into the back of the car. The driver of the scooter ended up with a fractured right leg and had to be transported by ambulance to the Medical Center. He was admitted to the hospital for further treatment.

Philipsburg:--- Members of Operation Trust 2 raided a home in Fort Willem based on a tip off said police spokesman Johan Janchi Leonard. He said the raid took place on Monday January 26 at around 7:30pm. During that raid found a substantial amount of crack cocaine, marijuana fontu tobacco. Also found is a weighing scale, plastic bags for packaging of marijuana as well as an undisclosed amount of monies. All of the items found were confiscated.

In connection with case a male suspect with the initials F.W. 29 years old from St Maarten, was arrested. He was taken to the Police Head Quarters, where he is been held for further investigation.

Philipsburg:---National Alliance State Secretary of Health George Pantophlet would like to congratulate Mr. Don Froston on the establishing of his "Foundation for Hope and Music Development. Due to his schedule he is unable to be present for the launching. He is humbled by the invitation of Mr. Froston to such a special event. It is a known fact that Mr. Froston has and is still dedicating a lot of his time and effort in work of a Social nature in the community. This effort calls for a lot of sacrifice on his part but one can see it is something that he has dedicated his life to. We know that music transcends all languages and it has brought him to realize his dream by establishing this Foundation. He reaches out to all sectors of the community excluding none. This can be seen with his music ministry and his ministry at the Point Blanche prison. There many others some known to us and some not known who are also involved in this venture and they too must be recognized. Don's vision and mission to give hope to young persons in particular is evident in the name of the Foundation, "Foundation of HOPE". He wants to wish Mr. Froston and members of his foundation much success and God's strength.

Belvedere: --- Road repairs and the construction of yet another round about will begin in the next two weeks said head of new projects Kurt Ruan at the signing ceremony yesterday. The new roundabout will be constructed at the Belvedere and Dutch Quarter intersection which joins the French and Dutch Border. Also included in the 3.5 million project is the enlarging of the gutters in the area which would help facilitate the run off of rain water as well as to beautify the area where the local people lives.

The contracts were granted to the two main companies which is Windward Roads and MNO- Vervat said Ruan. MNO Vervat has a contract for Naf.586, 008, 72 while Windward Roads contracts amounts to Naf. 3049, 853. The intention by the two major companies is to sub-contract the work to the local contractors.

President of the Dutch Quarter Community Council Henry Illidge said he hopes that the project will extend further up to Dutch Quarter since they are plagued with several types of water problems. He called on the two contractors not to forget the youths of Dutch Quarter whom he has encouraged to be part of the process.
The road repairs long over due said commissioner of public works Theo Heyliger. Heyliger said the idea of this project began some 13 years ago when he took office in the island government. He said part of the property was donated by a family 13 years ago. This round about was to be build on Bishop Hill and Dutch Quarter said Heyliger. He said the procedures that has be followed takes years before it can be executed since they are obliged to follow proper procedures. Also present at the signing ceremony was commissioner of finance Roy Marlin including several residents of the area.

Philipsburg- Leader of Government and Commissioner responsible for Constitutional Affairs Sarah Wescot-Williams, who is currently in Curacao attending a two-day conference on Air Traffic Relations, will also be meeting with other officials related to constitutional matters.

Commissioner Wescot is expected to hold deliberations with Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles Emily de Jongh-Elhage, Curacao's Commissioner of Constitutional Affairs Zita A.M. Jesus-Leito, and Minister of Constitutional & Interior Affairs of the Netherlands Antilles Roland Duncan.

Discussions will focus on the planned political consultations scheduled for February.

The Leader of Government is expected to return to St. Maarten on Wednesday.

 

CLOSE TO 100 TEACHERS FROM FRENCH ST. MARTIN TOOK TO THE STREETS YESTERDAY TO SUPPORT THE GENERAL STRIKE IN FRANCE. THE TEACHERS BAGAN MARCHING FROM THE SANDY GROUND CULTURAL CENTER TO THE COLLECTIVITY OF ST. MARTIN WHERE THEY WERE WHILE THE GENERAL STRIKE CRIPPLED FRANCE. RECEIVED BY ELECTED OFFICIALS. AFTER THAT THE PROTEST MARCH PROCEEDED TO THE ACADEMY OF GUADELOUPE ON FORT HILL WHERE THEY ALSO EXPRESSED THEIR GREIVANCES TO ROBERT ROMNEY.

Hundreds of thousands of workers have begun a nationwide strike in France. Eight labor unions have called the industrial action to protest against what they say are insufficient measures by the government to tackle the economic crisis. Unions say that with unemployment mounting, French workers should not have to foot the bill for a crisis that has led to expensive government bailouts for banks, carmakers and other sectors. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced a 26-billion-euro stimulus package while pledging to press ahead with unpopular reforms to trim the public sector workforce and liberalize the labor market.

Employees demonstrate in Marseille, France, 29 January 2009. French teachers, postal employees, train conductors and other workers from the public and private sectors stayed away from their jobs in a one-day general strike that has disrupted transportation and shut schools across the country. EPA/GUILLAUME HORCAJUELO

Philipsburg:---Last week a number of teachers from the primary as well as the secondary schools along with members of the HIV/AIDS Education Policy Workgroup attended the re-scheduled Curriculum Development Workshop. The workshop was initially held in October, but due to the passing of Hurricane Omar it had to be re-scheduled to January.

The Curriculum Development Workshop was held on Thursday, January 22 and Friday January 23 at the UTS Training & Development Center, and it was facilitated by Salorne McDonald a Behavior Change Communications Specialist with a degree in education specialization in curriculum development.

During the two day workshop attendees were engaged in interactive activities all surrounding the topics of: curriculum & syllabus development; needs assessment & content derivation; skills building components & message analysis; curriculum streaming and spiraling; integration and adaption along with other topics.

These workshops are part of the preparation for the development of the HIV/AIDS Education Policy that will be implemented into the schools' curriculum from the 2009-2010 academic terms. The need for an HIV/AIDS Education Policy came out of the 2007-2011 HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan.

Suzette Moses-Burton, HIV/AIDS Programme Manager stated, "We are pleased to be moving into this phase of the HIV/AIDS Education Policy development. It has been a long road, and the journey to reach our goal is some distance away. So far we have completed the data collection from the surveys which were administered with all the relevant stakeholders, including parents, teachers, management and of course the students themselves.
Although the data is still being analyzed we already have a fairly good indication of the direction in which we should be heading with this policy and so we have been able to move forward with the next phase of actually developing the curriculum. Once this has been done, both the draft curriculum as well as the draft policy will be presented to the stakeholders for their review and comment before finalization. The next big item before the policy implementation will be the training of the teachers. So far the process has been moving well and we are pleased with the progress being made."

St. Peters: --- Several students were beaten by police officers yesterday afternoon when police was called at least twice to deal with school fights. It is understood that police received a phone call to deal with a school fight and they went to the Milton Peters College and dealt with the matter, but less than half an hour later they were called again for yet another fight. This second time around the officers responded in record numbers to the school and began a search.

The management team of the school which involves Mrs. Yvette Halley, Mr. Aventurin and Mr. Garren head of security told members of the media at a press conference called at the school that they had at least two very unfortunate incidents at the institution. Garren said in the first incident two students got into an altercation and they had problems with managing one of the students. Garren said based on their school policy they called in the police to deal with the student in question. The chief of security said the police was called just before 11:30 am. He said even though the security guard was trying their best to restrain the student that was not possible. He said when the police arrived at the scene they removed the student in question.

Garren said even though unfortunate this type of things takes a snow ball effect because the students would then become agitated. He said this caused a second incident between some other students which was not related to the first incident. He said these students were taken to the school's office and because the police was in the area they went back to the school and they decided to carry out a control and check the students. Garren said the sole purpose of the control was to make sure that the situation at hand could be managed easily.
Garren said whenever the police get involved the school management has to step aside especially since the police came with a large contingency since they were somewhat alarmed at the second call.
Garren said they instructed all the students to go back to their classrooms and await further instructions from the school management. He said some of the students refused to comply with the orders of the school and even when the police ordered them to go back to their classes they did not cooperate. Garren said those students who did not comply with the orders of the police were dealt with in accordance with the police. Students were slapped a number of times while one female student said she was hit with a baton while on her way to her classroom. Eyewitnesses to the scene said a police officer slapped a young boy about five times and the student did not budge until he was thrown to the ground handcuffed and placed into the police vehicle.

He said they as management are grateful for the support they received from the police since the police responded in record time. Yvette Harley said they are calling on parents to instruct their children to comply with the orders given to them by management or the police who is called by the school management. She said if the students followed the instructions then there would be no problems. Halley said they are planning to take this matter one step further as they would seek to discuss the matter of insecurity around the schools with the necessary stakeholders, which would include the island Lt. Governor, Prosecutor and the police as well as parents and guardian. She said they would be putting forward some solutions on the table which would have to be discussed by the stakeholders mentioned.

Garren said they are appealing on parents to take on their responsibilities since these students are not following instructions given to them. He said some of the student blatantly ignored the instructions given to them both by the school management and the police.
At the police station yesterday several parents and students claimed that the students were manhandled during the control. Garren said they are concerned about the attitude of their students who did not follow instructions when given to them. He said if the students were manhandled they could not intervene in this matter since they themselves have to respect and obey the orders of the police. Garren said he did not witness any police brutality except to say the students were restrained and the necessary force was used in the exercise.
He said they would need to continue to evaluate the situation on Monday since they need to take further steps. Garren said they already met with the school board who is yet to decide on the disciplinary actions that has to be taken. The intention is to meet with the parents of the students who had to be removed from the establishment by the police. While he could not say exactly what type of measures would be taken he said the parents would definitely have to major role to play in restoring their children's behavior.
Garren said when they cannot deal with a situation they have no other choice but to call the police. He said they pleaded with the students and did all that was possible to restrain the students. He said whatever happened at the school is a direct result of the disobedience of the students. He said he hoped that the parents would not idle on what happened during the control instead they need to focus on the cause of the situation. He said he felt that the police used the amount of force that was needed to restrain the students at the time of the incidents.
Up to press time a comment from the police department was not forthcoming on the matter.

Philipsburg:---Police has reported that two medical students attending the medical University on St Maarten were the latest victims of an armed robbery. The incident occurred on January 2 2009. Police has identified the victims as B.R.C. and M.M.
It is reported to the Special Robbery Unit, that on that same evening at approximately 11.45 p.m. while walking on the Rhine road in the direction of Maho Reef, they were robbed by the occupants of a small white car.
The victims further stated that the car in question had just driven pass them. They saw when the car stopped, turned around and headed back in their direction. When the car got close to them, the driver stepped out and pointed a gun at them. The passenger then came out and while they were being threatened by the driver the passenger conducted a body search on them. A small amount of cash was stolen from the victims. After committing their act, the robbers fled in the car towards the border in the Low lands area. The Special Robbery Unit is investigating.

MARIGOT- Operation Trust which was installed on the french side of the island for the first time during the 2008 christmas season has been deemed sucessful says head of the gendarmerie loic baras.
In a press release the top cop said that the operation was peaceful, he said during the last 15 days prior to the christmas holidays there was only one armed robbery on a business place on christmas day. no one was injured in the incident.
the operation which was conducted joinly with the territorial police and the dutch side police was designed to protect shoppers and visitors to the island during the holiday season.
"Some 60 patrols, either foot patrols or mobile patrols, were mobilised during this period. Their job was to carry out general surveillance and maintain contacts with shopkeepers during the risky late afternoon and early evening times."

Philipsburg:--- The Kingdom has bunch of dishonest people charged President of the Windward Island Civil Servant Union William Reed. The unionist was reacting to the fact that St. Maarten would no longer receive the 3 million guilders they were promised to renovate the prison instead they would have to make do with the 8 million guilders that is available to them.

Reed said the monies that they now have can only patch up the prison that is in a dilapidated state. He said he is trying to make contact with the island Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards who he believes has to intervene in these matters as a State representative, one that represents the Minister of Justice and most of all he Richards is a St. Maartener. Reed said the Kingdom is trying to push the burden of the prison in the lap of the local authorities when they take up the Country Status which is an extra burden for St. Maarten. "If Curacao could have received a brand new prison and had the opportunity to close down one of their existing prisons then St. Maarten should get the same opportunity. I feel St. Maarten is getting unfair treatment, and to date the prison is lacking the much needed personnel."
Reed said that a proper prison is very important for St. Maarten in its new setting and that crime is not decreasing.
The WISCU leader said he needs to know what would be in place to steer the youth from its present trend. Reed said while working at the prison he saw a number of youths being incarcerated in a facility that offers them nothing more but violence. The prison he said has prisoners as young as 16-years with a very negative attitude and there is nothing in place to better educate them, he said motivating youths behind the present prison walls is an uphill battle but it has to be done if there is going to be a change in societal behaviour.

"I feel the leaders of this island have a moral obligation towards the youth. However, the people cannot sit back and point fingers at the Minister of Justice or the Lt. Governor. Everyone has a role to play and the time to begin is now if the island is to get is country status." Reed said a change has to begin in the schools has to institute certain programs which is geared towards the youths. He further explained that while he was in Curacao over the holidays he noticed the government there has initiated programs where youths speak to the youths in order to motivate them and steer them in a better direction.
He said one of the biggest handicaps for St. Maarten is that there is no local television station that has local programs. He said the two local stations on St. Maarten are dormant and non existent, and if they do exists then government should be providing some kind of subsidy to these stations which would give them the possibility to air local programs. Furthermore the owners of these stations are doing a very poor job in promoting their stations as well as St. Maarten. Reed said the business community and government needs to subsidize the local stations since they would be servicing the community.
"Right now St. Maarten has a cable station and everybody's eyes are glued to CNN. All we have here is a half news program provided by the private sector." The strength of a nation is the airwave he said all social aspects are concentrated on the airwave with their messages. "There are too many things on St. Maarten has to be projected and the way to start is by having these stations up and running if they are to start with nation building.

Willemstad:--- Beginning January 12, 2009, all nationals and citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries will be required by law to obtain a travel authorization prior to initiating travel to the United States under the VWP. This authorization may be obtained online through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA^TM), a free Internet application administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through a U.S. government Web site.
DHS does not charge VWP travelers a fee for completion of an ESTA^TM application. Eligible visitors seeking to travel to the United States under the VWP may apply for travel authorization via the ESTA^TM Web site at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
VWP travelers should be aware that unauthorized third-parties have established Web sites, which charge visitors seeking to travel to the United States under the VWP, for information about ESTA^TM and for submitting ESTA^TM applications to DHS on behalf of the traveler. These businesses and Web sites are not endorsed by, associated with, or affiliated in any way with DHS or the United States Government. Again, the United States Government does not charge a fee to obtain information about, apply for, or obtain a travel authorization through the ESTA^TM Web site. Use of a private service to apply for travel authorization via ESTA^TM will not expedite the granting of approval.
The ESTA^TM application Web site is available in 16 languages and includes a help section that provides additional information for VWP travelers to guide them through the application process. Additional information about ESTA^TM may be found at http://www.cbp.gov/esta.
Each approved ESTA application will be valid for a period of two years, so that a visitor could travel to the United States repeatedly within a two-year period without obtaining another ESTA. Travelers whose ESTA applications are approved, but whose passports will expire in less than two years, will receive an ESTA valid until the passport's expiration date.
Visitors will need to apply for a new ESTA if their name changes, if they are issued a new passport, or if any of the answers they previously provided to the ESTA application eligibility questions should change during that two-year validity period. DHS is designing ESTA to
accommodate last-minute and emergency travel. DHS recommends, however, that travelers obtain an ESTA at the time of reservation or ticket purchase, or at least 72 hours before departure to the United States.

Philipsburg: --- While the concerns of the civil servants are mounting over the new scales that are to be implemented by the island government. Commissioner of Personnel Affairs Maria Buncamper Molanus said that the worst case scenario in the proposals is that workers would remain in the same scale. One of the main concerns on the new scales is the fact civil servants would only be able to move forward via training courses. The commissioner said that in many cases the turn out for these training courses are often time low since civil servants are overburdened with work. The courses she said always coincide with the work schedule of these workers. However, the island government always allocates monies for training courses and this she said will continue in the new setting. She said presently the finance department and the census office have been receiving trainings. Just recently the Economic Affairs department requested to have a training course which will take place. She maintains that trainings will remain a priority for the island government. Buncamper Molanus said civil servants can also take on the initiative to better

She said the process is very clear and information has been provided to the civil core that also has the opportunity to file a complaint with the committee. SMN News understands Amador Muller is the chairman of that committee.

The commissioner said many people may not be satisfied with that is given to them or what they expected. She said these persons must and should go through the appeal process to voice their concerns.
SMN News also understands while the island government has given a guarantee to the workers that the proposals will be bilingual that was not the case. One civil servant said the introduction letter is bilingual while a person's job description is only in the Dutch language. "In my opinion government wants to push this down the throats of the employees but that would not happen." Another source has since informed SMN News that all employees of the Census Office has requested a meeting with the appeals committee since it seems as if someone just copied and paste their job description.

WIN AIR has announced plans to introduce a new way of informing the public about its operations, and giving the public a chance to vent concerns while also making suggestions and addressing concerns.
According to Managing Director of the airline, Edwin Hodge they would be hosting the first of several planned "public day" in Statia during the first week of February 2009. Hodge noted that Rawle Nelson, Public Relations Officer of the airline's public relations department will be visiting the island so as to document and record concerns, issues and suggestions with a view of having the company address them as best as they can.
"We will have someone up there that will go there and meet with the public and while there he will record everything after which a report will be prepared and presented to me so that my management team and I can seriously look at addressing," Hodge said.
The airline's MD noted that the move is critically important so as to facilitate a positive continued growth and development of the airline as his management tea is of the firm view that such an initiative will boost the operations and service offered by WIN AIR to passengers of the twelve destinations that it services.
He stressed that the various islands sessions will see Nelson meeting with the public after which a follow up meeting will be held withy Hodge and the public thus ensuring that concerns, queries, suggestions and issues raised earlier can and would be properly reported on and addressed.
He said that meetings would act as a means of persons ventilating issues which are pertinent to the functioning and operations of WIN AIR thus making it better able to serve the public. He went on to add that persons attending the meetings should be aware that answers will not be available at these sessions as it is merely aimed at garnering information so that WIN AIR can and will addresses at a later date.
Hodge is urging the general public and concerned groups who are interested in attending "public meetings" to contact its Public Relations Officer on telephone number 599-554-6071.

At the St. Maarten Seventh-day Adventist School, the Active Parenting Now in 3 Parent Workshop has been introduced and made available to 100% of the school population including Parents and Teachers.

The APN in 3 Workshop Sessions were conducted by Ms. Daphne King, Mrs. Vera Illidge, Ms. Sabine Flanders, Mrs. Shirly Robley, & Ms. Joanne Reiph.
These APN Leaders offered a total of 13 Sessions.

The SDA School was fortunate to have a French Translator- Mr. Alexander Wilbert, two Spanish Translators - Pastor Cordell Williams and Pastor Vernon Illidge, three APN in Faith presenters - Mr. Alphaeus Tatem, Pastor Cordell Williams and Pastor Vernon Illidge, and an APN Babysitter - Ms. Monica Graham.

On Tuesday, January 6, 2009 the SDA School was elated and proud to have the opportunity to have kept an APN in 3 Graduation Ceremony for 108 of the active parents, of which 29 of the graduates were fathers. The SDA School would like to thank the following persons for attending and for their words of encouragement to our parents: Leader of Government - Mrs. Sarah Wescot-Williams, Keynote Speaker - drs. Eveline John-Roberts, Coordinator of Parental Involvement -Mrs. Edna Rijkaard, and Active Parent - Mr. Collin Marie, and all others for their contribution in one way or another.

St. Peters: --- Despite having a law which required that all children living on St. Maarten has to be educated some 180 students attending the Starlight Educational Center is now on the streets of St. Maarten. Directress of the school Mrs. Carmen Hodge confirmed reports that this media house got that the marshals placed a lock on the door of the school yesterday since the landlord wants them out.
Hodge said that she is in arrears with her rent for the building since she simply cannot afford to pay the rents without government subsidy. Hodge said each time she requested subsidy for the school the island government has turned it down saying she is operating an illegal school. She has been operating Starlight Educational Center for the past 16 years accommodating mostly to children that are residing on St. Maarten illegally. Students attending the center have to pay a school fee of $100 which has to cover the expenses of the school as well as salaries for ten teachers.
Hodge used to house her students in her private building in Cole Bay which had to be foreclosed due to lack of payments. That building was sold by the bank to an American investor who now has apartments at the location.
Hodge then moved to a dilapidated building she renovated in St. Peters area and committed herself to paying a rent of Naf 7,500. The school teacher said she pleaded with the female landlord to reduce the rent since she lost almost half of her students when she was evicted from Cole Bay. With the pleas the landlord agreed to reduce the rent to Naf: 5,800 but still Hodge could not make the payments and pay ten teachers without government subsidy.

Hodge said she owed her landlord some Naf. 55, 000 in arrears which covers the year 2006 to 2007 which landed her in the situation she is in today.

She said the landlord took her to court last year and won the case but she managed to make a soft agreement with the landlord via a pastor and she began paying her monthly rent which was paid up to December 2008. Even though having such an agreement the landlord approached the Marshals office and requested that the occupants of the building be evicted if the arrears could not be paid with the last two weeks of December 2008.

Hodge said she visited the office of commissioner Wescot Williams trying to secure meeting with the commissioner but that did not happen until Thursday. She said the only reason she got the appointment is because her husband went to the Commissioner house and waited until she came out and approached her. She said Wescot Williams had promised to call her on Wednesday but she only received the call on Thursday where she ultimately met with the commissioner and pleaded for the children whose parents would have nowhere for them to go. Hodge said that the commissioner said the department of education is dealing with subsidies for her school and felt it was not necessary for her intervene.
Hodge said she told the commissioner she did not came to see her about the subsidies instead she wanted to discuss an urgent matter to avoid the eviction. Hodge said the commissioner said she is not the one to decide since other people also have to decide on how to deal with the matter.

Hodge said she even tried to see the island Lt. Governor during this week but did not manage to see him due to office bureaucracy. However, it is not over for Carmen Hodge and the students of Starlight Education because Hodge said she already made contacts in Holland and in Curacao and she would fight this matter to end. She said she has a court order from a judge who ordered that her case be handled by the island council.

It is expected that all students will be at the school on Monday since parents and the students does not know that the marshal placed a lock on the door of the school on Friday while the teachers of all five illegal schools were participating in a workshop which is funded by CEES POT.

Philipsburg- The Executive Council in collaboration with the St. Martin Christian Council, the St. Martin United Ministerial Foundation and the Seventh Day Adventist Federation is inviting the general public to attend the nation's National Day of Prayer on Sunday, January 11.

The service will be held at the Clem Labega Square starting at 4.30pm with a praise and worship session while the official service will start at 5.00pm.

The theme for the service is, "Destined to Win with God."

The National Day of Prayer is an annual event where the various religious groups are brought together with members of society to give thanks and praise to the Almighty.

It also gives an opportunity to the people as a nation facing many challenges to ask for God's guidance throughout 2009.

An open invitation is extended to everybody to come out to this day of prayer to pray for the future that of our nation and of every individual for God's grace in the New Year.

Philipsburg: ---It was all joy for the debate team of the St. Dominic High School last night at the Philipsburg Cultural Center after it was announced that they are indeed the winner of this year's interscholastic debate. St. Dominic High School scored 328 points debating on the topic Constitutional Affairs. The school will receive $1, 500 from the water and utility company GEBE, and HIFI system. The debaters will get a laptop each sponsored by the Windward Islands bank and RBTT Bank, while the team would get a cellular phone from UTS. Chalesa Joseph one of the debaters from the winning school won the best speaker prize which is round trip ticket to any of American Airlines destinations.

Taking second place was the St. Maarten Academy with the topic "Environment" At one point the crowd as well as the Academy thought they captured the first spot but the judges have it that they were 9 points behind with 329 points. Their school would receive $1000 compliments of Nova Scotia Bank, cellular phones, a round trip ticket compliment of Winair.
Third place went to the Learning Unlimited with the topic Education. The Milton Peters School and Caribbean International School were each given participation awards. Their schools would also receive Naf 1000 while the participants would receive a pencil bag and cellular phones.
A laptop computer was given to Kyle Wathey as he was randomly chosen to receive the researcher's prize.

Philipsburg -- "The programme was truly historical in many respects where it concerns the environment," Stuart Johnson remarked. Leader of Government Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams was the guest featured on the radio programme, "Breakfast with de Robert". This was the first time a member of the Executive Council appeared as a guest on the show. The radio programme broadcasted live on 102.7FM instead of the usual 1300AM frequency which the show is known on. "Despite this change in radio frequencies for the show, it was a success. We have been able to ensure that Government is listening and was able to address many of the environmental issues affecting St. Maarten," Johnson said. According to the interview Johnson opened the guest list once again for members of the Executive and Island Council as well as Federal Government representatives to appear on the environmental radio show. "We must continue this national dialogue on the topic of the environment ensuring the protection of such gets the attention it so desperately deserves," Johnson added. Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams spoke on a number of issues which included the traffic congestion, nature ordinance, and what "Country St. Maarten" might look like, environmentally speaking among countless others. A poignant aspect of the show on Sunday morning was when Johnson asked Commissioner Wescot-Williams about the loss of her late-husband Louis Wescot and how she has still be coping with it. "I have been bombarded with calls and e-mails regarding the show, and it is evidence to the success of it. I am thankful for the ongoing support from the populous," Johnson concluded.

Philipsburg: ------ Commissioner Louis Laveist did not wait on anyone to support him at yesterday's island council meeting where a motion of non confidence was being presented for the second time against him. Laveist asked the Chairman of the Island Council and Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards who said the commissioner should resign from the island council due to his up coming court case if he is eligible to vote. Richards told Laveist he could not since the matter regards him.

Richards then read out several quotes as he tried to justify his decision on not allowing the commissioner to vote. Laveist however made it clear to Richards that he did not agree with his reasoning and that he felt whatever is held personal against him should stop. He said even though he is not going to debate the issue he felt he was not being treated fairly in the island council. Leader of Government Sarah Wescot Williams also agreed with Laveist saying she would challenge the matter where it has to be challenged.

Despite the lengthy discussions Richards made one of his biggest blunders when he called out Laveist name aloud as was picked. The commissioner did not hesitate and voted against the motion. Immediately after that Richards asked that the vote by the commissioner be stricken since he was not permitted to vote.

The motion which was brought forward by the National Alliance got the support of the five NA members while the DP faction consisting of five members voted against the motion. Since this was the second time this particular motion was brought to the floor of the island council for a vote and each time they tied the motion could not be adopted.

...

Marigot: --- A group of concern St. Martiners has decided to come together and form a committee and planned one week of activities to celebrate the inauguration and the birth day of Martin Luther King.
Businessman Paul Whit told members of the media yesterday at a press conference said that the idea of celebrating the inauguration of President Elect Obama. He said while there maybe many questions as to why Obama since this is indeed is making of history. He said the President of the COM has given his full support for the week long activities by allowing them to use the stage on the waterfront as well as granting the necessary permits for the events.

Alex Sujah Reiph coordinator of the debate which will be held on Saturday at the Chamber of Commerce building in Concordia beginning from 7:30pm to 9:30pm said the event will be live on both radio and television and members of the public can participate by sending in their questions by email or on the spot. Emails can be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
He said he have been involved in celebrating history over the years and he felt it is necessary for them to celebrate two great men of history which is Martin Luther King and the first ever black president of the United States of America Barrack Obama. During the debate ever sector of the community will be represented such as the education, economy, youths, women and the clergy who has a very important role to play in society. He said the theme for the event is St. Martin we can too, which is using some of Obama's words to relate to the island and its development being at the crossroads. He said their message is ‘we can too" and they are moving forward in a positive direction. Reiph said they intend to deal with all the issues facing every sector of the people of St. Martin. He urged the general public to come out and give their support.

Also on the schedule are a number of radio and television shows on both sides of the island, said committee member Mellissa Fleming. She said a motorcade will also be held on January 22 starting from Caribbean Auto Sales in Cole Bay. This motorcade is begin at 6:30pm and would conclude at the Waterfront where they would prepare for the inauguration. On November 24 the week long activities will conclude at the Waterfront. Fleming said they are expecting the entire population to come out and witness a historical movement since this would be for the betterment of St. Martin.

Fleming said the committee St. Martin Awareness Committee would be advocating change. The intention is to involve everyone and they are looking to use the Obama and Martin Luther King Momentum to bring about a real change to St. Martin. She said the intention is to see how the people advocate change and become part of that change by advocating that change while building them in a unified manner.

While Emile Powel said the churches on St. Martin/ St. Maarten would be participating. He said the Obama event will be used as a springboard in getting people to focus on the contributions they need to make locally. He said on January 24, the elected officials will be participating, which would not be about talks. Instead he feels the community the has the responsibility of moving the island forward by involving the roles of the family, churches and the young people who has a contribution to make to the island. He said he feels it is important for them to send a practical message. Asked how they intend to get the church to move away from their traditional standpoint and have them play a more active role to eliminate some of the societal ills of this community. Powel said he feels someone has to carry the torch since there would be people who would not catch the vision of the committee. He said he do believe the church has a fundamental role to play locally. Powel said for that to happen someone has to be messenger who would take the message for them to hear it. Once that is done he does feel the churches would join forces when they see the fruits of their labor.

...

Philipsburg: --- An apparent agreement between Dr. Randal Friday and the St. Maarten Medical Center has been reached after Leader of the National Alliance William Marlin intervened and assisted in working out a workable agreement. SMN News has been reliably informed that Marlin met with Dr. George Scot during the Christmas holidays where he meditate between the two men. After that meeting Scot and Friday met where they came to an agreement which was sent to Friday on Saturday.

So far parties have not signed the agreement since Dr. Friday and his lawyers are looking through the proposal. Reliable sources say that this maybe the working agreement that Friday will accept which would allow him to work in his private clinic at Yogesh Building until the St. Maarten Medical Center can build the same type of facilities at the hospital for him.
Efforts made to reach Friday yesterday for a comment has proved futile, while Dr. George Scot said unless the agreement is signed and sealed he would not comment on the matter.

MARIGOT- A 21-year-old-man was sentenced to two years in prison on Friday in Guadeloupe, with one year suspended, for the armed robbery and assault of an American tourist couple in Grand Case on October 30 at 8:10pm. The tourists were accosted and the lady's handbag stolen.
Detectives linking the accused to the incident found drugs and a firearm at his home.
On Thursday two individuals aged between 19 and 21 years were transferred to Guadeloupe following an early morning raid on a house in St. Barths, part of an operation by judiciary police to dismantle a drug ring. A significant amount of cannabis, cocaine, and ecstasy, as well as cash money, was discovered on the premises.

 

Marigot/ Paris--- Civil Servants working for the Collectivity of St. Martin have rejected the proposals of the union managed to secure during their negotiations yesterday as the workers began industrial action. Even though not happy the workers have decided to suspend their one day strike until further notice said general secretary Serge Weinum.
Wienum said the concerns of the workers are not yet settled since the workers rejected the proposals made by President of the COM Frantz Gumbs.

He said the next step is to have the Union Leader from Guadeloupe enter into the negotiations. The union boss is expected to arrive on St. Martin by the end of the week.
So far there has been no agreement signed due to the fact the workers are still dissatisfied.

Unions UACL and CGTG representing the employees initiated the strike action based on dissatisfaction among Collectivité employees over their conditions of employment, benefits, salaries, career advancement prospects, promotions, training possibilities, and so forth. The unions said an agreement with the Collectivité administration signed May 22, 2008, to address these issues had never been acted on. President Gumbs was sent a notice of strike (pre-avis) on January 12.
Asked why the proposals was rejected Weinum said the workers do not like the way they are treated. He said they intend to defend the protocol that was signed in May 2008. He said while implementation of this protocol is moving slowly. The workers feel they are being taken for granted and they are not valued enough.
He said many employees working for the past 10 years had not been promoted or given any incentive for advancement. There are also complaints that metropolitans have been recruited for jobs over the locals without any prior consultations.

The union general secretary said Gumbs proposed certain dates by which trainings will be given to the workers while their files will be upgraded. Weinum said while they (Union) were satisfied with what President Gumbs proposed most of the members rejected the proposals. He said the members did not even give them a listening ear.

One of the main concerns of the workers is the amount of foreign workers who are being recruited by the Union Pour le Progres and are being paid high salaries. The workers feel that they are not able to meet their bills at the end of the month with a salary of 1,400 Euros. They said some of them have close to 20 years of service and they are carrying home peanuts while the new recruits have a salary of close to 4000 Euros. Several placards were placed in front of the COM asking who is the real boss of the Collectivity while other placards states that the people of St. Martin needs to be given a chance. "Employ people who can handle the job, while the unqualified are the ones cleaning up the mess."
While the workers held out their day long action Senator Louis Constant Fleming made sure he board the Air France flight 489 bound for Paris.

Philipsburg- Leader of Government and Commissioner responsible for Aviation Affairs Sarah Wescot-Williams, is currently in Curacao attending a two-day conference on Air Traffic Relations.
The conference has been organized by the Minister of Traffic & Communications Maurice Adriaens in conjunction with the Minister of Traffic & Communications of the Netherlands Camiel Eurlings and is being held under the theme, "The Consequences of Political Changes for Air Traffic Relations."
The conference is expected to highlight the ramifications for air traffic relations for Curacao and St. Maarten as countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands and countries outside the Dutch Kingdom.
The two-day conference is taking place at the Marriott Hotel and concludes on January 27.

Philipsburg: --- The husband of Leta Lynn Cordes, Frank Cordes has been released from pre-trial detention yesterday said Chief Prosecutor of the Windward Islands Taco Stein. Stein said that the prosecution has requested from the judge of instruction a suspension of Frank Cordes detention since they do not have enough evidence to move the case to court.
Even though Frank Cordes is released he remains a suspect in the case Stein said.
Leta Lynn Cordes disappeared on the night of January 11, 2008 when she allegedly left by foot to go the Westin Casino to gamble. The last person that saw the 49 year old Mission Viejo woman alive was her husband Frank Cordes who filed an official police report one day later.
Cordes was arrested on Tuesday October 14 2008 as a suspect in the case of his missing wife. Cordes remain behind bars since then until his release yesterday.

Philipsburg:---- Members of the insurance association NAVV said that the administration fees that will added to all policy holders insurance is not a get rich scheme since the services that is provided by CARS ( Caribbean Accident Roadside Services) is indeed needed on St. Maarten.

Managing director of NAGICO Insurances Eric Ellis said NAGICO Insurances contracted the services of St. Maarten Roadside Services since 2004. Ellis said NAGICO invested over one million guilders over a five year period when they were approached by the prosecutor's office mainly former prosecutor Johan De Vreeze.

Ellis said over the years they were trying to bring all insurance companies together support the project but that took longer than expected. He said the reason behind the introduction of the services some five years ago was because the traffic department was lagging behind in providing proper police reports pertaining to accident. Ellis said the traffic department was only issuing these reports once per week at the Simpson Bay police outpost. But with the services provided by the St. Maarten Roadside services made their job easier, while valuable data was also provided to the police and prosecutor's office. He said when the police report is not available clients are left to argue as to whom is liable for accidents something which he said is not ideal for insurance companies.

He said just last year they managed to create the NAVV which decided that for them to support the program they needed a name change of the company as well as request for added service such as VISION. He said the NAVV worked hard and long hours to implement an administrative charge which is not part of the premium. That fee he said is obligatory for all policy holders.

That fee is he said is Naf. 31 of which Naf 28 will go to CARS for the services they provided while Naf.3 for the VISION. While he insisted that there is no increase in premiums the extra monies he said is an obligation to all policy holders. He said that since the insurance companies cannot increase premiums they do have the right to charge administrative fees.

Policy holders with the French license plates will not have to pay the extra fee since CARS will not be offering their services on the French side for now. Managing Director of CARS Henry Ellis said they are busy working with the French Administration where they plan to introduce the same services.

The money that is given to CARS has to cover the administrative cost for the company. The company intends to provide further training to their employees who would be executing the services of VISION who would have an on the spot van with the necessary equipments.

Managing Director and CEO of NAGICO Imran Macsood said that while he understands the concern of the consumers who are focusing on the extra fees. He said that one of the things that have to be made clear is that the idea was project was motivated by the prosecutor's office. He said NAGICO was invited by former prosecutor Johan De Vreeze who recognized the need for such services. He said five years ago when NAGICO took the initiative to fund the project the situation within the police force was extremely bad since they understaffed, and under equipped since they did not even had sufficient police vehicles.

He said instead of allowing the situation to continue with ill prepared people NAGICO funded the entire project since they were not able to convince the other insurance companies to come on board.
Macsood said while focus is placed on the fees he said the cost for the services comes down to a mere Naf.0.90 per day. He said they did lots of work to make sure a fair cost fee was decided upon. He said that not everyone will be paying the fee since there are many uninsured cars using public roads. He said the figures he saw in several newspaper reports are flawed. He said the insurance companies did everything possible to make sure the fees charged in not a get rich scheme. He said while the insurance companies will not be making monthly contributions to CARS they will be contributing otherwise since they would have to providing trainings and other financial contributions to CARS.

He said the services that is provided by CARS is vital since it helps to eliminate traffic ciaos, and road ciaos even people are to depend on the under manned police force.

PHILIPSBURG- Health inspectors have removed from supermarket and mini-market shelves products made by the Peanut Corporation of America as well as Keebler and Amos products that have peanut butter in them that may have the potential to be contaminated with the salmonella bacterium.
These products are cookies, crackers, cereal, candy and ice cream.
The salmonella outbreak in the US has killed at least eight people, and has sickened over 500 others sick in 43 American states.
Inspectors from the Hygiene & Veterinary Department are continuing to carry out investigations in products related to the salmonella peanut butter outbreak and will continue to remove them from circulation if found according to Acting Head of the department Maria van Heyningen.
Sector Health Care Affairs family physician based sentinel system is already monitoring for any signs of gastrointestinal illnesses within the community.
Persons, who have purchased products that contain peanut butter made by the Peanut Corporation of America or who have Keebler, Austin, King Nut and Amos products which contain peanut butter, within the last two months, should throw them out in a manner that prevents others from eating them.
The public should postpone eating products containing peanut butter imported from the USA until more information becomes available about which brands may be affected.
Inspectors are visiting all grocers, supermarkets, mini-marts, gas stations as well as school canteens in order to ensure that possible contaminated products are taken out of circulation in the interests of public health.

Commissioner of Public Health Maria Buncamper-Molanus urge residents to take the
warnings about salmonella bacteria outbreak in peanut butter products very seriously.
The Commissioner explained that inspectors are monitoring the situation in the US very
carefully. "As soon as officials give the green light on foods containing peanut butter,
the public will be notified. Until then however, it's better to be safe than sorry and avoid
consuming any product with peanut butter."

Most of the aforementioned where applicable will be given a check list to control their order sheet and verify whether they have those products in storage.
The US Food & Drug Administration has traced the outbreak to a Georgia plant owned by Peanut Corporation of America, which manufactures peanut butter and peanut paste for distribution to institutions and food companies.
The outbreak began late last year and forced the Peanut Corporation of America to voluntarily recall products from across the United States.
US government officials have advised consumers to avoid eating cookies, cakes, ice cream and other foods with peanut butter until health officials learn more about the contamination.
Bacteria are the most common source of food poisoning. Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children; frail or elderly people; and others with weakened immune systems.
Healthy persons infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain 12 to 72 hours after infection.
The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most persons recover without treatment. However, in some persons, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized.
In rare circumstances the organism may get into the bloodstream, producing more severe illnesses such as infected aneurysms, endocarditis, and arthritis.
Persons who have eaten any peanut based products and are experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms are advised to contact their family doctor.

Marigot:---- A 21 year old man identified as Christopher Williams born on St. Martin on August 5, 1987 was shot to death early this morning (Friday Morning) the shooting incident SMN News understand occurred around 5 am at 38 Rue Low Town.

This media house understands the killing was related to a gang fight since the young man is known to be in gangs since in his early teens. SMN News has been reliably informed that gang members went looking for Williams on Monday night but they did not find him. It is said that these persons at least two of them returned during the early hours of Friday morning and they found Williams sleeping in a living room at a house belonging to one Mme. Segrado where he was shot with a shot gun. Williams was sleeping in the living room at the time of the attack. Prosecutor Jacques Louvier said even though the attackers fired one shot there are multiple wounds which caused the young man's instant death.
Sources say the young man who also carries guns did not get a chance to use his weapon during the attack.

Prosecutor Jacques Louvier confirmed the early morning killing. He said the victim is well known to the gendarmes since he was convicted on two occasions already, once for armed robbery and another time for drug trafficking. Louvier also confirmed Williams was involved in a confrontation on Monday and he managed to escape unharmed. Other sources say that gun shots were being fired throughout the week in then area and one person was even shot in the eye earlier this week. The public Prosecutor said the young man also resides with his mother in Concordia and it seems as if he was hiding from his attackers. So far the investigation could not determine the cause of the cold blooded killing.

Christopher Williams is the son of Ester Williams who now lives in Concordia, It is also understood that the woman has about eight children and several of them was not raised by her. Efforts made to contact the mother of the deceased young man proved futile up to press time.

Philipsburg: --- The Special Armed Robbery Unit is busy investigating another case of armed robbery which left a man with a gunshot wound to his neck.
The incident occurred on January 3 2009 in Zozo Moran Drive Cole Bay.

During the robbery the victim with initials J.C.F. was shot in his neck by the robber said Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson. The victim stated to detectives that he had just arrived home from work. He said he had just parked his car and turned the engine off, when he saw an unknown man approaching him.

The victim opened the door of his car and asked the suspect what he wanted. The suspect told him to give up his chain and at the same time the suspect grabbed the chain and pulled it from his neck. After doing that the suspect pulled a gun, aimed at the victim and fired shot hitting the victim in the right side of his neck. The robber then jumped into a waiting car driven by another unknown man and drove off. The victim was treated at the hospital for his wound prior to being sent home.
Henson said at least three cases of armed robberies were reported armed thus far which are being investigated.

The Desmond Herbert line of businesses was recently expanded with the opening of yet another business. Honey Crunch Bakery and Deli opened its doors to shoppers and passers by of the Newtown Bay Road area. The latest opening is the fifth in the line of businesses owned and operated by young entrepreneur Desmond Herbert 11 who recently concluded talks in Guyana with the view of establishing a number of other businesses among them being an ice cream parlour and a juice manufacturing plant.

Herbert noted that his latest business is part of a plan by the company to provide a high- quality service to shoppers across the federation of St Kitts and Nevis.

Herbert explained that while limits on the company's management capacity precluded the continual expansion of its business chain, Quality Trading would, nonetheless, be seeking to supply its various businesses with "the range of our high-quality goods and service in order to enhance the quality of food available on the market."

Herbert pointed out that Honey Crunch Bakery and Deli will facilitate shoppers and customers with an opportunity whereby they can purchase both breakfast and lunches while maintaining snacks and baked products at very affordable prices in a very convenient and healthy environment.

Commenting on his bread prices which despite other bakers increasing the prices of bread in 2008 Hebert reiterated that he will continue to maintain the $1.25 and $3.00 bread noting that as many persons attempts to adjust to the rapidly increasing economic cost of ;living they intend to assist through maintaining bread at an affordable price.

He noted that added to very low bread prices shoppers visiting the supermarket and wholesale department can ensure similar opportunities with low prices there also. "We have deliberately kept our cost-of-living intervention in place for several months so that
our shoppers can benefit from the special prices which we charge for essential items. We have every intention of retaining those prices in the immediate future," he added.

The Managing Director stressed that he foresees the new bakery and deli in the Newton area will assist greatly in impacting on the surrounding communities. "Essentially what we intend to do is to change the culture of shopping in those communities. Rather than simply call for an item and pay for it over the counter, shoppers at Honey Crunch Bakery and Deli can enjoy their meals or baked products in a comforting family oriented environment which has been strategically and deliberately conceptualized to enhance an eating environment in a relaxed environment and to examine what the new business has to offer thus being able to make added choices. "We understand that it takes time for people to make the adjustment and we believe that we are getting there," Herbert said.

The advent of the latest bakery and deli to open its doors in St Kitts now means that there are more than half a dozen bakeries in St Kitts and its environs, Asked whether the extent of the competition does not now make further expansion of the sector untenable Herbert said that he believed that the key to success in the sector was "working hard to secure and maintain customer loyalty. There is apiece of the pie for everyone we just have to be able to deliver quality and good prices so as to enhance the piece of pie that we seek and that is why we at Quality Trading believes that Quality is our prime responsibility".

Marigot: --- Former Deputy Mayor Raymond Bryan in an exclusive interview with SMN News said he has just a few words for the politicians on St. Martin. "Those of you who are complaining about the lost Octroi de Mer funds should not cry wolf now. Each of you namely; Senator Louis Constant Fleming, Guillaume Arnell, Alain Richardson, Louis Mussington and former Mayor Albert Fleming knew exactly what was ahead of the island in the new setting. The hurtful thing is that these politicians who all had their own agendas did not tell the people of St. Martin what is ahead of them with article 74." Bryan said while many think he was against a new status that was far from the case. "I was and still is against article 74 and what it would continue to do to the people of St. Martin." The people of St. Martin were not adequately prepared and the politicians withheld the truth for their own personal gain.
He further explained that all local politicians know from past experience that the State does not live up to its commitments. They would promise one thing and do something else. Bryan said he warned the people against this status but they did not pay attention. He explained that he was the former vice president of the financial council in the Region and he knew exactly what the island was getting, thus was the reason for the open warning.
The former deputy mayor said what is taking place on the French side is bigger than the elected officials that is now in office. He felt the President of the COM Frantz Gumbs and his team has fallen victims based on bad choices made by other politicians.
Bryan said authorities on the French side may have to implement custom control at the border if they are to regain the Octroi de Mer funds. However, he made it clear that the island and its people simply cannot afford such in its present economic crisis.
He said St. Martin did not pay into this fund over the years because it was not possible to do such with the Concordia Treaty. "While the people of Guadeloupe were paying import duties and were giving St. Martin its share. It was made clear from the beginning that the island would not benefit from the funds in the new setting (article 74) something the politicians knew but did not tell the people.
Bryan said politicians on St. Martin did not fully analyze the situation prior to encouraging the people to get out. They never did look at the budget and what the island was getting as a commune and what it would get under 74.
He further explained that St. Martin stands to loose much more monies and the politicians are still not coming clean. Bryan said in the past St. Martin had no responsibility on the collecting of taxes yet it was receiving from the State whatever it budgeted. "If we budget for 100 million it was given to us even if that amount was not collected on St. Martin. While today the island has to be content with whatever tax revenues it collects locally." He felt that the island and its people are being used as ‘lab rats' with article 74 an unfair position for a developing society. In conclusion Bryan warned that the people of St. Martin should brace themselves for harder times which are ahead of them.

The Census Office would like to remind persons who have relatives that were registered at Census Office St Maarten but have passed away off island to come in and declare the deaths at the Department. Please ensure that the death certificates are properly legalized. The department is currently in the process of updating its files.
For further information you can call 542-2457 or 542-5375.

PHILIPSBURG: ----Responding to questions surrounding the implementation of the bicycle patrol that was launched in December to help combat crime. Commissioner of Economic Affairs Maria Buncamper Molanus said that she believes that there was some sort of breakdown in communication with regards to informing the police on the project. She said however, that when the executive council received the advice from the traffic and controls department it was their opinion that department had conducted the necessary discussions with all parties prior to submitting the advice, she said based on the advice they received that is what was reflected.
The commissioner said she felt if the security officers were residing and working on the island illegally then the immigration department would have executed their duty by having the men picked up and deported. SMN News learnt that the working permits for the officers of the bicycle patrol were processed within a few hours after this media house broke the story.

The commissioner said she has been trying to secure a meeting with the Assistant Chief Commissioner of Police Richard Panneflek and police coach Ronald Dongor which to date cannot take place. She said she felt the island government did the honorable thing when they approved the advice given to them on the bicycle patrol since the police department has been constantly complaining that they are short of staff.
Buncamper Molanus said that she believes the additional security was warranted in the Philipsburg area due to the increase in violent crimes which has been plaguing the economic development on St. Maarten.

She said she felt the police would have felt that they got some sort of relief and they would use their men in other locations where it is much needed. She felt that was the spirit in which the project was embraced and felt everyone should embrace matters of security on same level. She said what transpired has to be some sort of miscommunication with the police which to her it was not intentional.

Asked if she or her husband is shareholders of the Sheriff Security company, the commissioner who obviously became aggravated said that if anyone can show her some sort of proof to that then would claim her dividends from the company if it is making profits. She said it is ridiculous for her to have to answer questions each time she is accused of conflict of interest just because the opposition the National Alliance tried to break the present DP led government but failed.

Philipsburg: --- Tension raised last night at the Cultural Center when Imran Macsood CEO of Nagico insurances shared his view on the new labour policy which is to be implemented on Monday January 12 2009.
Macsood said no one should cast the blame totally on the island government for such a stringent policy, instead the tripartite committee are the ones who are to be held responsible for not sharing the content of the policy they discussed for two years prior to its formulation and implementation. He asked if the unions who were involved, the SHTA and Chamber of Commerce are not representing foreigners because he cannot comprehend why the tripartite committee withheld this information from the general public who will be affected. He said while the intension of these persons maybe good the perception and reality of what is now on paper is definitely not the same. Macsood said while Damu and James the two other panelist gave some valuable insights in the matter he felt there is urgent need to follow through on the ideas that was given by James which is to join forces with the Nation Building Foundation to bring about a solution which will benefit everyone involved. He said SNBF has the marshal plan which not only represents the natives of St. Maarten but also immigrants whom the foundation recognizes are an asset to St. Maarten. Macsood said that foreigners should recognize that the island natives are friendly and charming people who treated people well. Furthermore he do believes that the forefathers and the natives of the island should be given priority not only on St. Maarten but everywhere. He urged those living here, should learn to integrate into the local society. "Those of you who chose to get naturalized you have to know that you cannot be a Dutch citizen and a Guyanese at the same time. Those of you who do not feel that way then you need to analyze your thinking since you made a conscious choice to become a Dutch citizen." Macsood said.
He said even though this policy will affect everyone on St. Maarten there is still hope as people are willing to discuss and dialogue to bring about a solution since that is of immense value. He gave an example on what President Elect Obama did which was to bring people together to bring change. He warned that the people of St. Maarten should take warning as to what is happening in the United States of America since the economic crisis there would definitely affect us here locally.
The panelist includes Damu of Penny's Department Store, Imran Macsood, Leopold James and President of the Jamaica Association Marsha Thomas with moderator Elco Rosario founder of the CBA. Rosario said the new labor policy as it stands already contradicted the island resolutions who said a Managing Director of any company cannot be considered an employee. He also condemned the reasons the island government gave for introducing the new policy, claiming that foreigners are responsible for crime and other social ills in the community. Rosario said the policy has to be contested simply because there are people in the community who are already making deals with government to get the necessary working documents.
Elridge Van Putten in his passionate plea said he applauded the policy because government finally realized that they need to bring about order in the house. He said far too long things have been out of order because locals are not able to get jobs locally. Van Putten further said that the island government had to create this policy because the bigger businesses on St. Maarten were forming mock companies to get work permits. He felt that the policy is not against foreigners instead it is to regulate foreigners since there is a great imbalance which to him is not unfair instead their need to be some sort of social balance.
The CBA also handed out a petition which they intend to submit to the island government mainly the Lt. Governor to see if the island government would postpone the implementation date until the policy is further dialogued.

Philipsburg:---- Simpson Bay police patrol was sent to South Reward in the vicinity of the Milton Peters College for a fight that was going on between two separate group of young men and where weapons were used reported police spokesman Ricardo Henson.

On the scene the patrol spoke to two young men who were involved in this fight, they have been identified with initials S.L. and E.L. They stated to police, that while sitting at the Chinese mini market next to the M.P.C they were suddenly attacked by a group of men, with whom they had problems in the past.
One of the men who had a fire-arm in his possession aimed it at S.L. and tried to fire a shot, but the gun seemed to have jammed. That suspect tried to arm and fire the weapon several times but without success. When S.L. and E.L. noticed that the weapon did not fire, they took-off running towards the entrance of the M.P.C. where the victim S.L. fell to the ground and one of other men started beating him with a piece of wood. The victim E.L. who had a knife in his possession tried to use it against his aggressors to protect his brother S.L. Both victims were let onto the premises of the M.P.C. to avoid the situation getting worse. The police were informed the incident. Both victims were taken to the police station in Philipsburg and handed over to the Detective department who would take care of the investigation. All details concerning the suspects have not yet been released.

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Philipsburg: --- The island council of St. Maarten had one of its newest members took his oat yesterday (Monday) morning prior to convening its regular meetings. Illidge has replaced the vacant position left by Island Councilman George Pantophlet who resigned to take up his new position as State Secretary for Health for the Netherlands Antilles. Present to witness the oat taking were several members of the Illidge family including his parents, wife and two children. In his opening remarks he promised to work in the best interest of St. Maarten who is presently going through a status change. He said he heard the cries of the island youths, those that cannot find work and those that are not able to meeting their monthly bills with minimum wage.

Illidge was given the rules of order and other important documents relating to the island council moments after he took the oat. He was even guided by other members of the council how to sign in for his first island council meeting.

Philipsburg: --- Leader of Government Sarah Wescot Williams has confirmed that the new labour policy introduced late last year went into effect yesterday. The revised policy will be monitored for the next six months by members of the tripartite committee who would then seek to amend the policies if needed.
The CBA has been holding several meetings with the aim of sending to the executive council a petition requesting them to postpone the implementation.
Founder and president of the CBA Elco Rosario said there are articles in the new policy that are in contradiction of the island laws. He said anyone who decides to take the island government to court would win the case based on the errors made in the policy.

Le Galleon: --- A small group of people gathered at the Le Galleon Beach yesterday afternoon giving support to a fisherman and his son who said a set of gendarmes attacked them and flung racial slurs at them.

Albert Cocks said that he and his son was outside of the Reserve catching fish to be used as baits when a few white men dressed in bathing suit in two canoes approached them and pulled their nets with their feet and placed the canoes inside of the nets. Cocks said his son told the men who turned out to be gendarmes from the brigade nautique that they have authorization from the Natural Reserve to fish.

He said the men refused to make contact with the reserve and his son had to push their canoe out of their nets which caused an argument. Cocks said the gendarme called his son a "black sheep" while another on tried to hit his son, but another fisherman intervened and told the men if they hit the young man then they would have to hit him too.
Cocks said they are the ones who called Nicolas Malash who told the gendarmes that those men are authorized to fish since they are from the Association Pecher"s de Quartier".
Cocks said he felt the gendarmes have no respect for the local people and they acted rather rude. He said they plan to take the matter further with the realm of the law.
In the meantime, Ferdinand Glascow who went out in support of the villagers said the gendarmes need to concentrate on catching the criminals who are creating havoc on St. Martin. He said only yesterday the CADISCO gas station was robbed and the gendarmes allowed the thieves to run away, while they are busy harassing honest people who are trying to make a living.

Philipsburg- The top management of Insel Air wanted to met with the Commissioner of Aviation, Sarah Wescot-Williams on their latest developments and future intentions of the airline and what the possibilities were of a mutually beneficial relationship.

Albert Kluyver, Chief Executive Officer, Jurgen Lippinkhof, Chief Commercial Officer, and Edward Heekenveen, International Affairs-all of Insel Air laid out their plans to the commissioner. Also present at the meeting was Regina La Bega, Head of the Tourism Department.

Commissioner Wescot-Williams said that we have met in the past and have taken note of your activities. Today, we are here to discuss present and future developments of Insel Air.

Currently, Insel Air airline is expanding their operations in the region and working on alliances, CEO Kluyver said. We are initiating new flights to Puerto Rico and we already have interline connections with Winair, making the destinations we serve close to 20. Insel Air is making strides, Kluyver said.

Not only are Insel Air looking towards South America with destinations being Colombia, Brazil, and Venezuela, but also trying to expand to the North American Market, in particular Miami, with St. Maarten being an important hub, according to Kluyver.

Commissioner Wescot-Williams was pleased to hear of these developments-all of which could be beneficial to the destination St. Maaten. There needs to be the further development and finalization of certain aspects of the operations, but everything seems to be on line, and the future plans of the airline looks promising.

I look forward to future developments of Insel Air, Commissioner Wescot-Williams said. What needs to be done now is for a formal proposal to be submitted to the Executive Council, and from there we could deal with the issue and the document.

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PHILIPSBURG:---Medical providers are urged to attend the health care conference on Case Management at Great Bay Beach Resort and Casino next week. "It is important that all who work in the medical sector get a better understanding of the benefits of a better coordinated care system, so we urge all stakeholders to attend," said Public Health Commissioner Mrs. Maria Buncamper-Molanus.

Themed ‘As strong as the weakest link', the health care conference will be held on Friday the 23rd and Saturday 24th of January, aimed at sensitizing all stakeholders on the establishment of better arrangements between caregivers about the content and the organization of the care. The ultimate aim is to establish Case Management in St. Maarten and define realistic goals for 2009.

Officially opened by Commissioner Maria Buncamper - Molanus, the conference will feature several presentations on Case Management by local providers from the perspective of the Specialists, the General practitioners and the Physiotherapists. Keynote speaker dr. Kliphuis will talk about the experiences in the Dutch health care system and Asin will make a presentation on the Diabetes Mellitus Disease Management (DMDM) program, themed "One step back, two steps forward". "Both are well respected experts in their field," said Commissioner Buncamper Molanus.

Kliphuis, director of the Dutch Association for Primary Health Care made his career at the Ministry of Health in the Netherlands, where he was responsible for the national policy on emergency care, primary health care and public health. He also served as department director for the municipal public health department of the City of Utrecht. He has a lot of expertise (both international and national) in the development and implementation of policies on emergency care, primary health care and public health. He is also a (non-communicable diseases) consultant for the World Health Organization Europe.

Asin, Founder and Director Healthcare strategies & solutions ACSION bv, which operates in the Netherlands and Netherland Antilles, actually worked as Emergency Physician at the St. Marten Medical Center in the mid nineties, early on in his career. Subsequently he worked as Resident Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Academic Hospital in Maastricht, The Netherlands, as Management consultant for the The Boston Consulting Group in Baarn, The Netherlands and as Medical advisor for Pfizer bv in the Netherlands.

The conference is organized on behalf of the Sector Health Care Affairs by consultancy firm For A Change Unlimited. Rolando Tobias will act as moderator. drs. Pyt Lucas, Principal of For A Change, said preparations are well underway. "We expect good attendance. All invitations have already been sent out, but anyone who hasn't received one and is interested in attending can contact our office via email address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.," said Lucas.

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Philipsburg:-If there is one thing that is proven with Operation Trust 2 who began an intense control on the island of St. Maarten is that the St. Maarten Police Force is a failure that is ill-prepared and are not ready to take on the challenge of country St. Maarten. Right now there are three separate groups within the police force, the right, left and center. Something that is affecting the effectiveness and management of the force.
While this statement would create confusion since the local police force has been saying they are neglected by the Minister of Justice the truth is the management of the Police Force did not do what was vital by making sure a proper request for their needs is submitted to the Minister or Central Government.
While the Chief of Police did make a request for financing for Safety St. Maarten Dick said that is not a request from the Police Management who are given a task.
Minister of Justice David Dick confirmed that he never received an official request from St. Maarten stating their need instead he has been reading this in the media while local politicians are playing politics with the issue at hand.

Dick said each and every time he is told St. Maarten needs more human resource which he agreed to but he said nothing was done with recruitment even when Chief Police Commissioner Derrick Holiday was in office. "How can you get more manpower if there is no focus on recruitment" he asked.
The former Police Commissioner had taken away recruitment from the recruitment team and gave it Police Commissioner Ademar Doran who did absolutely nothing since 2005 to attract new police officers to the police force. Prior to Doran handling recruitment the team that was in charge for this was visiting high schools as well as career fairs to encourage youngsters to become police officers.

Presently Commissioner of Police Ademar Doran, who is considered to be one of St. Maarten's young, bright and vibrant officers, has hundreds of immigration documents sitting on his desk waiting for his signature but this for some reason is not done. This media house understands that this backlog is creating a set back on the processing of documents for the working class.

Minister of Justice David Dick admitted there is a backlog of about two hundred which he claimed came about due to Doran's constant vacations. However, this media house understands Doran has documents for more than two years on his desk claiming he is waiting on Interpol to check these applicants' criminal records abroad. The Minister however, gave credit to Doran for assisting in sweeping out the corruption within the police force. Dick said it was only since Doran became head of immigration the corruption that was taking place in that department came to light. He also gave the police commissioner credit for making sure St. Maarten receives adequate help for the Operation Trust 2, he said Doran took the initiative to extend their time on St. Maarten since he saw the need to clean up the island. While it is true the island needs to be cleaned up it was stated that the officers that were coming from Curacao was coming to help solve the many crimes that are not being solved by the local police force. One of those is the eight unsolved murders for last year none of which has been solved since the Curacao officers are here. Hopefully this would happen during the extension since Doran is head of the Detective Department and he has first hand knowledge on the murder files.

While it is no old news that Assistant Chief Commissioner of Police Richard Panneflek is leaving as early as Monday even though he has no "Lands Besluit" Minister of Justice David Dick said he does not have to issue such a document for Panneflek to officially leave the force since the two of them has a signed agreement along with confirmation from the Island Government of St. Maarten. Dick said Doran will be the person in charge with the assistance of Police Coach Ronald Dongor who took office over 8 months now.
The Minister said he is confident that the police force will move in the right direction under the leadership of Doran even though he acknowledged the police commissioner would be having a lot on his plate as well as a lot of unfinished business.

Dick who was obviously angered when these questions were posed to him said when Holiday was removed from office the two local police commissioners did nothing to better the police force. He said these men especially Panneflek spent their time on seeing whom he would be appointing to replace Holiday. Dick said these officers only created more damage to the local police force rather than good and he felt it is more than time to get rid of the "trouble makers" whom he did not identify so that the force can advance. However, the officers who are not speaking out loud said the local police force they worked so hard to build is going backwards and there is a downfall ahead. Several of senior officers are disgusted and are almost ready to call it quits with the force this media house understands.

The Minister felt that the police should work diligently on solving their internal problems since that is the only way they would move forward. He said Operation Trust 2 showed the St. Maarten Police Force is incapable of maintaining law and order and they would indeed need outside help and the only person within the force he said saw this need is police commissioner Ademar Doran.
SMN News was not able to secure an interview with Doran since he was in meetings most of the day yesterday. Hopefully the new top cop will give some explanations on the reason he has such a backlog on his immigration desk.

Philipsburg: --- Several civil servants plans to protest against the island government decision on what is offered to them with the new placement structure which began on Monday. These workers have fourteen days to appeal the proposal given to them. As of Monday next week they would also have the opportunity to be interviewed on their discontentment.
The island government is trying to structure its workers and to prepare them for the new status. "Right now the ways things are people from several departments are working any and everywhere and government needs to place its workers in such a way they can be transferred to the Ministries when country status takes effect."

The civil servants spoke to this media house on anonymity said they have an agreement with the island government which gives a guarantee that the workers would not loose monies in the new system, but it seems that the island government has not respected the agreement. The workers said they are concerned with the fact that the island government has taken away the opportunity for them to grow.

They said in the former system they had the opportunity to request an increase or higher position without a challenge but that has been totally eliminated. Workers can only get an increase or promotion if they follow certain training courses which are only available to those in high positions. "To get to a higher position the workers would have to leave the island to further their studies at their own expense and with the new system government does not have a clear program in place for those courses which are offered off island. Second to that the civil core believes that the island government has just opened a door to encourage the influx of foreign labor.

There are workers who would remain in the same scale for over 20 years and there is no possibility for them advance, one employee said she has been in her position for the past 23 years and she felt that she would have been able to get something better in this new setting, but with what is offered to her has left her in the same setting.

In an interview with President of the Placement Committee and Civil Servant Union William Reed acknowledged that there are some discrepancies with the system and that they (the union) need to take an inventory on the amount of workers that are being affected. Reed said when that is done he would have to approach the appeals committee on the matter to see if the worker or workers were treated fairly. He further explained that this was something they had expected since nothing is perfect.
He said he already know that there are a few situations of uncertainty since the position the civil servant held over the years has now being eliminated in the new structure.
He said the union already addressed the island government on these situations which has to be followed up. One of the solutions he said to this problem is the island government has to now look for new positions to place the workers that are left in the cold. Reed said that the union has to make sure the new position that is created for each worker would match their present scale and give them perspective for growth within the government apparatus.
The Unionist said his aim to make sure the over 800 workers in the civil core is placed in the new setting which is fair and in the best interest of the workers. However, he said that even though there is some discomfort with the process there is no impasse between the union and the island government. He urged the workers who feel that they are not in their rightful position to approach the committee to appeal or file a complaint.

He said that the island government has made a promise to its workers and if they are not able to live up those promise then they would have to kiss the status goodbye since that would be a clear indication that they are not ready. However, he is of the option that the island government would deliver what they have promised to its people.

Founder and President of the Pastor Desmond Herbert Foundation (PDHF), Desmond Herbert 11 has issued a strong call for children to abstain from sex and concentrate on their school work. Herbert who recently founded the NGO Christian charitable organization noted that while World AIDS Day is celebrated on December 1st each year and tremendous emphases being place on the issue of HIVAIDS in December he would like to see each month of the year the issue is being given top priority.

"Whenever it comes to the month of December there is a lot of talk about HIVAIDs but after then it seems as though everyone have forgotten that the world is critically faced with a dilemma that if not addressed properly can and will wipe us all out. So I would like to see more emphases being placed on each month," he said.

Hebert said that addressing the disease means that we must "Keep the promise, stop AIDS," as there are too much stigma and discrimination surrounding the disease which needs to be addressed properly. Teachers, parents and community leaders need to increase their efforts in educating the children about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.

Herbert in a passionate plea said that he urge children in particular to join in the fight against the AIDS epidemic. He said that he is somewhat pleased by the enormous efforts of the Ministry of Health in disseminating information on the disease throughout the federation but warned that more has to be done so as to ensure success. He noted that while there are evidence to suggest that there are people who are enthusiastic in the fight against the virus there are still those who for varying reasons are not committed.

Pastor Herbert said that including young people in the fight against AIDS was essential, and stressed that winning the fight was impossible if youth were not actively involved.
In stressing the need for people, especially children, to abstain from sex, he advised children to channel all of their energies into their schoolwork.

Herbert pointed out that if they begin to have sex at a young age, it would only lead to such things as pregnancy, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases that could complicate their childhood. "Promise yourselves that you will put your education first," Herbert said.

The PDHF President and Founder lashed out at what he called deceptive approached=s by churches noting that many of them are to be blamed for the state of stigma and discrimination. "too many times when our gathering approaches us about issues and that affects them such as HIV AIDS we are more interested in how and who they contracted it from rather than what we as a member of the congregation can do to help. Secondly we have failed our members in terms of confidentiality as there is always someone else that we need to tell and as such this has caused the public and more in particular those infected and or affected by the disease to have lost faith in us so we are all responsible," he declared.

In addressing the issue of stigma and discrimination Herbert noted that one of the biggest problems concerning the AIDS epidemic was stigma. He noted that AIDS affects every ethnicity, age group, religious background and nationality, and as such there should be no segregation and no discrimination against persons living with AIDS. "let us still see them as our brothers and sisters as today it may e them and tomorrow even if it is not us it may be our sons or daughters so we need to put an end to this nonsense and I urge all churches and their leaders to wake up and face the reality".

Herbert suggested that one avenue of effectively addressing the disease may not be from the churches taking into consideration the lost faith and trust owing to the enormous stigma and confidentiality failure that the churches have created. He said that the education system I St Kits and Nevis was striving to be all-inclusive. By this, he opined, it was meant that no one, regardless of race, financial background, disability or sickness, should be left behind within the school system.

Herbert in reiterating his earlier plea encouraged the federation's children to live healthier lifestyles, and said this was not exclusive to abstinence. The NGO Founder and President said things like good diet and regular exercise were also very important.

Herbert added that one of the easiest ways out of poverty was through education. "Now is the time in your life when you need to be serious; stay in school, and be serious about your schoolwork," he said.

...

Philipsburg: ---Police have arrested a Guyanese national identified as C.S who raped a young woman on Saturday January 10th. The culprit is also a well known convict in Guyana and is presumably wanted in Suriname. It is understood that C.S followed his victim home and later attacked her at gun point. SMN News understands that C.S beat the young woman that night and dragged her up a dirt road. The next morning C.S returned to the house and pulled open the door where he raped the woman and left her.
SMN News also understands that the young man who has close relatives living on St. Maarten lived on the island in the early 2000's and he had committed several armed robberies locally.
After the arrest was made yesterday evening a police brigadier released the wanted man claiming that he thought the man was arrested for immigration matters. The police brigadier they said told his colleagues he made a mistake when he released the suspect, claiming that C.S sister had provided legal documents for him to reside on St. Maarten.
Sources told SMN News that there are questions surrounding the man's release since the brigadier who released the suspected rapist had abused one of his outside women last year and he has no power to release any prisoner.
SMN News understands that C.S is accustomed of using false names in Guyana, Suriname and St. Maarten and he is part of a huge criminal gang in his home country.
He is said to be working at a bike rental shop in Pointe Blanche.
This media house was reliably informed that the victim in this case is a teacher who once had a close relationship with her attacker.

In the meantime, the gendarmes are busy searching the island for at least two persons who committed a violent rape on another woman in Concordia. It is understood that the rape took place during an armed robbery on December 31 2008. Even though the gendarmes have confirmed the incident they have remained tightlipped on the case.

Philipsburg: --- The Island Council meeting scheduled yesterday had to be cancelled since the Democratic Party and Independent member Louis Laveist was not present to form a quorum. The meeting was to be held with the members of the first chamber who are on a working visit within the Netherlands Antilles.

Three members of the National Alliance who were in the tribune of the Government Administration Building refused to sign the attendance list to make up the quorum when they noticed that Independent member Louis Laviest was not around. That left the DP with four members since Commissioner Roy Marlin was off island.
Shortly after the cancellation the delegation was invited to the Parliament building where they meet with the National Alliance Faction for about half an hour.

At a press conference Leader of the National Alliance William Marlin said his party wants to prove or highlight their concern that there is no real support coming from Laveist for the current government. He said this matter goes back before Laveist was arrested since Laveist had complained about the treatment he was receiving from the executive council. However, during the short meeting with the first chamber they made it clear why they refused to give their support to the existing government. Marlin said they also indicated that they were willing to meet with the delegation to further discuss matters pertaining to St. Maarten while the Dutch is rather concern about good governance on St. Maarten. He said this situation will affect St. Maarten with its status as long as there is no good governance. Marlin said the Dutch wants to know what can be done at this point since this cannot continue.
He said Laveist has said the Democratic Party had promised the ‘head" of Island Labour Raphael Boasman in exchange for his vote to reinstate Maria Buncamper Molanus and when that did not happen Laveist showed his displeasure by not attending a few meetings which made it impossible for the government to function. Marlin said.

Marlin said the same situation resurfaced now that the Lt. Governor has publicly called for Laveist to resign and Laveist responded by saying that it is not the call of the Lt. Governor. Marlin said prior to this incident the Leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams had said they were busy sending home the staff of Laviest during an island council meeting which has left a cloud over the situation.

The party leader had said they were busy relocating the commissioner's staff to the civil service while sending those for the private sector there. The National Alliance leader said after that Laveist sent a letter to the Lt. Governor telling him he was a full fledge member of the executive council but the details of that letter is not clear. He said if that indeed the case then Laviest would have gotten back his portfolios in the last island council meeting but that did not happen. Marlin also said that the commissioner declared himself a non active member of the executive council which does not exist.

Marlin said on Wednesday morning a central committee was scheduled and that had to be cancelled because the Democratic Party could not make the quorum since Laveist stayed away and did not send any notification to the chair.

Marlin said his party would have signed in for the island council had Laveist showed up. He said the commissioner is missing in action or either at large. Marlin said had they signed in then things would have looked well, while this is not the case.
He said the Democratic Party has been taking about all kinds of things relating to good governance, the issue of the status and the French and Dutch side cooperation as if all is well on St. Maarten. Marlin said his party is sending a clear message to the people and the government that all is not well and every government has to have support of a majority for them to function as such. He said it cannot be that the executive council stays in office, and are apparently trying to work things out over another deal while voting against a motion of non confidence so that he Laveist can continue to give them his support to remain in government yet he is not showing up for important meetings such as the central committee and island council meeting. "It is not so that the National Alliance will show up and be the good guys and pretend all is well for the Dutch Government to see." Marlin said.

Marlin said when he made use of the opportunity to say that those who think that they can change the wishes of the people of St. Maarten for the lack of good governance and lack of transparency. He said the people of St. Maarten have expressed their will and the Dutch first and second chamber cannot change that fact but they can say they would not cooperate if St. Maarten does not get its house in order. He said the actions of the Democratic Party are a blatant disregard for the people and not that of the National Alliance who is jeopardizing the desire of the people.

He said his party will not cover up for the DP since they are not able to produce a majority and it is obvious that there is some gripe between the members of the Democratic Party and Louis Laveist. "If they have problem they would have to come out and say that." Marlin said he wants Laveist to exactly what his position is since he wrote several letters to the Lt. Governor, one stating he is an Independent member and the other saying he is a full fledge executive council member without portfolios.

In invited comment Commissioner Louie Laveist said he had to leave the island urgently for urgent and personal matters. He said he had sent an email to all concerned informing them of his urgent travel plans. "I personally discussed this with commissioner Marlin also" Laveist said. Asked if there is any kind of turmoil within the DP party and himself? Laveist said there is nothing but love within the party and there are no problems brewing.

In the meantime, Leader of Government Sarah Wescot Williams in a press release said the cancellation of today's Central Committee meeting was disappointing for several reasons due to members not signing in, although being present.

Commissioner Wescot-Williams said that the performance of the Central Committee meetings were an integral part of the functioning of the government apparatus, which operates on several levels. One of which is the Island Council level, the highest. For this to function well, Central Committee meetings have to take place.

On the agenda were:
1. "Opening
2. Mededelingen
3. Ingekomen Stukken
4. Vaststelling besluitenlijst
5. Ontwerp-eilandsverordening houdende wijziging van de Eilandsverordening ruimtelijke ontwikkelingsplanning Sint Maarten.
6. Ontwerp-Eilandsverordening houdende vaststelling van regels met betrekking tot de vestiging en exploitatie van ondernemingen en tot wijziging van de Vergunningslandsverordening.
7. Alegemene Ziektekostenverzekering (AZV).
8. Sluiting"

These issues were important because they are dealing with important matters like the development plans for Fort Amsterdam and the Simpson Bay/Low Lands areas.

We also had to deal with the new Business License ordinance, which adopts the changes made last year.

Thus the functioning of government is paramount, according to Commissioner Wescot-Williams, and this functioning is dependent on having central committee meetings.

CAY BAY: --- Police from the Zero Tolerance team with the help of their colleagues from Curacao managed to apprehend the former sheriff security guard who managed to escape from police custody on December 24th 2008. On Friday several media houses including this one published the wanted fugitive photograph which led police to recapture the suspect in Cape Bay area on Saturday.
Keswick Rennis Daley is wanted by police as he is a suspect in several armed robberies. He was once an employee of sheriff security but was fired four months prior to his arrest on December 24th.

Police was not available up to press time yesterday to comment on this matter.

Philipsburg/ French Quarter:--- The Democratic Party is now mourning the loss of Elenora Arnell better known as Clarise. Mrs. Arnell was ill over the last year.
SMN News extends our deepest condolences to her husband Frank and her children during this time of their loss.

Illidge Road:--- An illegal resident on St. Maarten and mother of four surrendered to police just after 2pm today(Thursday) after admitting to attorney at law Denicio Bryson that she stabbed her landlord and attacker in self defense on Wednesday afternoon.
Ausula Nessa Edward aged 30 told SMN News while in the custody of Bryson that this is not the first time she was attacked by men, sometime last year a co-worker broke her left arm, her child father once threw a pot of hot water on her back prior to yesterday's incident.

Edward said she had just returned to her home which is located on Narrow Drive when the landlord (Angel Marlin) called out to her. The woman said she went to Angel's door she noticed her was smoking, because he had a pipe in his hands. She said Angel asked her for money and she refused to give him any monies because she had given him $7 the night before. On Tuesday Edward won $1000 in the casino and her landlord she said heard about this and he wanted money.

She when she refused to give Angel more monies the well known drug addict told her she should give him the monies because she owed him house rent. Edward said she told Angel her house rent was due on January 8 (today) and she would pay him then. She said Angel told her she had the money just then and she should give him the monies right away.
Edward said she told Angel no, because she does not intend to spoil him. She said Angle insisted that she owed him but she told him no she did not owe him because her due date to pay the house rent has not passed at that point Angel began using obscene language at her and told her to move from in front of his door.

The woman said she took up her 18 months old child and began walking towards her door when Angel told her he would slap her. She said she asked Angel if he was really going to slap her and before she knew it the man picked up a piece of wood and strike her blow to her left leg.

Edwards said after that Angel said he was going into her house to throw her belongings on the road. The drug addict she said went into her house and she followed him because he began throwing her table to the ground with other personal items.
At that point Edwards said she grabbed a knife and Angel also grabbed a knife in her house and ran outside. She said she too went outside as the argument continued and the man at some point began choking her while holding his knife. She said while struggling with the knife where he got stabbed and she a large cut in the palm of her hand.

Edwards said when the struggle began she called out to Angel's son "Anelski" to come and assist her since his father was overpowering her as he was trying to stab her but the son who was in the house at the time refused to come out.
The woman who was in tears said when the man's son finally came out of the house he looked at her in such a way that it looked as if he wanted to fight her so became afraid and run away.

About Ausula Nessa Edward

Ausula Nessa Edward a native of St. Lucia has been living on St. Maarten since was 12 years old. She did not attend any of the island's schools to get a proper education instead she went to a typing class for sometime.

The young mother has four children ages 12, 8, 4 and 18 months. At the lawyer's office yesterday she had her children father, a good friend from Jamaica who also spoke to police about the stabbing incident and several friends. One of those friends was Union Leader Claire Elshot.
Ausula said shortly before the incident she went with her friend to enroll her four year old son in school but the school did not take him because he is already four years. She said her next move was contact Claire Elshot to see how much it would cost her to enroll her child at the A.C. E Foundation but that mission is left undone.

In an invited comment Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein confirmed that the victim in this case refused to give police a statement while he was at the St. Maarten Medical Center. Stein said he cannot determine if the victim was lucid at the time or if he simply did not want to cooperate. He said Marlin passed away while receiving treatment at the medical institution. The Island chief Prosecutor also confirmed that Marlin was incarcerated in the past and he is well known on St. Maarten.

Attorney Bryson

Attorney at law Denicio Bryson made it clear to the young woman that he would not be handling her case. He said he no longer handles criminal cases and most of all he knows the victim who was his friend. He said outside of working with Marlin the dead man once married to his cousin with whom he has children. However, Bryson felt that he has a role and duty towards the justice system which is to hand her over to police.

St. Peters: --- Students of the Starlight Education Foundation woke up yesterday morning not knowing that they would be out of school for an unspecified amount of time. Several school buses and parents dropped off their children at the school as early as 06:30am not knowing that there is no more building to house the students of that school.
Some 180 students waited patiently along with some of the parents to hear what would be their next move.
Principal Carmen Hodge informed the parents that she was in arrears with the rent for the building since she is not receiving subsidies from the island government. Hodge vowed to continue the fight for her students as well as the other illegal- schools on St. Maarten.
She said she already contacted an attorney who made contact with the International Defense for Children in Holland and has taken up the matter.

Hodge explained that not one but two organizations who had promised to assist them did not live up to their promise which left them stranded, she said the Indian Women's Organization had promised them some $30,000 which was intended to pay off the arrears, but somehow the pastor that was arranging the donation did not stay in contact with the organization who eventually made their donation to the UJIMA Foundation. However, the organization has promised to consider the school for this New Year.

Starlight Education Center has to pay a rent of NAF. 7,500 monthly to occupy the building they are in now. Hodge said the reason they made that commitment was based on a promise made by the Time Share Association who promised them in the beginning (2006) that they would be paying the monthly rent for the school. Hodge said two months after installing in the new location the Time Share Association backed out of their pledge saying they would not assist if the Island Government does not assist. She said she made several contacts with the Association pleading with them to make good on their promise but to no avail. "Due to the fact the Time Share Association did not live up to their promise we are now in arrears to $55,000, even though the rent was reduced." Hodge said that since then she contacted the island government to re-consider the school for subsidies but the island government she said sent her a letter shortly after the 2007 island council election telling her that they have turned down the request.

The school she said has an overhead expense of nearly $18,000 monthly without the rent Hodge said, these expenses covers the salary of ten qualified teachers and office assistants while Hodge herself is not on the payroll. She added that the 180 students attending the school for a fee of $100 can hardly meet the monthly expenses. Another set back for the school is that many parents are not able to make the monthly fees on time, while some does not even make the payment.

Side Effects -Who are the ones to suffer?

While Mrs. Carmen Hodge is doing whatever possible to acquire government funding and associations such as the Time Share Association is playing politics with the school there are 180 students who have are now on the streets of St. Maarten. 22 of those students are expected to the sit the high school entrance examination this year and those students are the ones that stand to loose the most. If these students are not able to adequately prepare of the most important examination in their teenage life then this would ultimately affect their high school placements acknowledged Hodge and several parents at the school.

Karam Roopnarine a legal resident of St. Maarten who was also at the school yesterday morning said he has been living on St. Maarten for the past 10 years legally. The man said even though both his children carries his name he is not able to get them legalized on St. Maarten. He said each time he contacted Police Affairs seeking to file for his children and their mother since both parents is living on St. Maarten he is denied that right. Roopnarine said this has not only affected his children but their entire family is affected since he wants to legally marry their mother, that too cannot happen because the woman is living on St. Maarten illegally for the past nine years and has never left the island.

The father of two said he does not know what else to do because he is paying the necessary dues for his children including taxes yet he is not able to have his entire family integrate on St. Maarten.

In the meantime, the school Principal took one bus load of her students accompanied by their teachers to protest in front of the Government Administration Building knowing that an Island Council meeting was scheduled to take place. Upon seeing that Commissioner of Education Sarah Wescot Williams invited Hodge and one of her board members who happened to her husband to her offices where she promised them that she would try to have all parties at a meeting scheduled for later in the day where they would iron out the delays.

Island Councilman Rudolph Samuel who was looking at the developments said he does not understand why the island government would allow the school to incur such unnecessary expenses to rent a building from someone in the private sector. Samuel said it has been over three years now the upstairs of the Old Martin Luther King School is empty and this school could have occupied that space.

Commissioner Wescot Williams in an interview with SMN News said when she invited the directors of the Starlight Education Center to her office she made clear to them that it had not made any sense in her opinion to have the children standing in the hot sun because the school would not be receiving a decision today (Monday). She said the situation of Starlight Education is not a matter of today but it is a case they have been dealing with for a number of years. The education commissioner said they (island government) had attempted to solve the problem on numerous occasions but it is either was not legally possible and there are also times where management of the school did not accept government proposal. Wescot Williams said she was told that the school did not submit all the required information to the department and she intends to find out what those missing information is.

The commissioner said she also indicated to the school's directors that she is not in a position to take an independent decision on the matter regarding Starlight Education. She said even if she would have liked to do so it was not be possible since the department has to submit an advice to the island and executive council. She said even though she regrets the outcome of the situation which is arrears they now have for the present building in St. Peters. She said even though the former Martin Luther King School is empty she cannot send the students there since she would have to be advised on the matter.

Asked if department should give another negative advice what would become of the students since some of the parents of those students are residing on St. Maarten legally while their children are not. Should the advice be negative Wescot Williams said is to make sure they ask the directors to the school to live up to the legal requirements lay down by law before subsidies are granted.

The commissioner said that this would raise the question as who are responsible for the legalizing these students. She said there are situations where children are left on St. Maarten while their parents are gone to another island. Wescot Williams said these children are being cared for neighbors, aunts or even grand parents. She said anyone who brings the issue of Starlight Education to her is like preaching to then choir because her own nephew a local St. Maartener attended that school from its early stimulation class all through the system.

In the meantime, Carmen Hodge said that the commissioner never called her to that round table meeting which was promised. She said she received a phone call from the one Labega who told her that she would be in touch with her when Mr. Harrigan is back in office.

Philipsburg:---Elisabeth Frederick, who is seeking to be recognized as a Dutch citizen is pleased to acknowledge that last week she received an official written response from the Lieutenant Governor of St. Maarten, Mr. Franklyn E. Richards, in respect to her requests on Kingdom Day. According to human rights advocate, Terry J. Peterson, "In the letter dated January 9, 2009, Lt. Governor Richards indicated that her case was high on the agenda of his cabinet and expressed his commitment to have her situation resolved in accordance with the law. He expressed that he was happy that there was a good relationship between his staff and Ms. Frederick, and that his legal team would work diligently together to bring her case to good closure."

Peterson stated further that, "The Lt. Governor of St. Maarten has also consulted with the Governor of the Netherlands Antilles, that in fact, on Thursday we received a call from the Cabinet of the Governor of the Netherlands Antilles reassuring us that the case had their attention too, and they also requested some documents to help expedite a travel document for Ms. Frederick so she could travel for urgent medical treatment. The Netherlands is a signatory to the ‘International Treaty on Stateless Persons' and this treaty provides for the granting of travel documents for stateless persons in cases of emergency and special situations."

"Elizabeth is very pleased with these developments and would like to thank the Governors of St. Maarten and the Netherlands Antilles for their update, interest, and efforts in her case. She would also like to thank the staff of the Governor's cabinet and the personnel at the Census office/civil registry of St. Maarten for their understanding, cooperation and assistance. She feels she is very close to a resolution for an identity for her children and herself. Elizabeth is very grateful and remains very hopeful that she and her children will have an identity in time for the centennial jubilee on Queen's Day."

Marigot: ------A meeting was held at the Collectivity with the unions representing the civil core of the Collectivity yesterday to discuss the hiring of several persons by the COM. Sources close to the CGTG union said the union members are very much interested in knowing what criteria was used in the selecting the persons who just began working in the local civil core.

These persons they said came in from Guadeloupe and France. It is understood that the new recruits would be earning as much as 4000 Euros a month while employees who are working for years within the government structure is not making that much monies. According to sources no publication on the vacancies were being held. One of the positions to be taken by a foreigner (Metropolitan) is the one held by Pascal Avern (DGS). It is understood that the DGS assistant another foreigner will be taking up his position shortly while St. Martin has qualified people who can fill these positions. SMN News understands that several people within the community applied for job at the COM and those persons were not hired because their relatives are affiliated with the opposition party.

SMN News also understands that several persons had to be called in to restore order in one of the meetings held yesterday when an employee told her superior to "haul her ass" in the presence of the union. It is understood that head of personnel affairs and the DGS was called to restore order before the meeting could be continued.
SMN News also understands that the union is planning to call a strike since they are not pleased with the developments within the workplace. It is said a flyer with the necessary information will be available to the public within the near future.

Employees of Chamber of Commerce in Shambles-Doors was closed for two days.

Workers of the Chamber of Commerce were in shambles on Tuesday when the electricity on the building was disconnected. Workers had to go home when they discovered there was no electricity. Several meetings that were scheduled to be held at the building for the last two days had to be cancelled.

It was understood that the water was scheduled to be disconnected yesterday. Sources told SMN News that Guadeloupe annulled their contracts which ended on December 31 2009. SMN News also understands that measures are being taken to have the COM take over the expenses of the CCI building but up to late yesterday electricity was not restored.

It is not clear if the electricity will be back by Friday as the President of the COM has sent out several invitations to members of the public to attend his New Years message which is scheduled to be held on Friday afternoon at the CCI building.

Territorial Police Has trouble with new Boss.

SMN News understands that the Territorial Police were having meetings with President Frantz Gumbs and the new Chief Mr. Flaven Bazile yesterday to sort out some indifference. Sources say the new top cop is changing the hours of the police without their knowledge and consent while the police is not being paid their overtime monies.

It is said the police force is lacking basic materials and the COM is not attending to their needs. SMN News could not receive a comment on these developments since President Gumbs is not reachable by phone.

Marigot: ------ A fight broke out at the COM with two employees this morning a passerby told SMN News. It is understood a cleaner of the COM called another employee a "fish" when she was told she will be transported to the CCI building where the President Frantz Gumbs was expected to deliver his New Year speech.

The cleaner was asked to go over to the CCI building to do the necessary cleaning this morning by the head of personnel affairs. SMN News understands the only person who attempted to break the two women apart is Pascal Avern while the President remained relaxed in his office. Sources say that this is the third incident during the past two months and none of the elected officials has taken the time to clear up matters.

Traffic was backed up for almost an hour while the fight was taking place in the middle of public roads. Efforts made to contact President Gumbs proved once again futile. It is understood that journalist has to get an appointment with the failing communication department to speak with any elected officials while department heads are prohibited to speak to the media.