Articles

Dear Editor,

Please allow me to reiterate current president of the Chamber of Commerce Mr. Glen Carty's statement 1 year ago:

"Government's failure to "get its act together" in a year and to reverse any further increase in Turnover Tax (ToT) will result in "corporate disobedience," said Chamber of Commerce President Glen Carty". He told The Daily Herald on Monday that the chamber will be "filing permission" for a "protest march" on December 6, 2011.

http://184.168.184.130/islands/1-islands-news/11130-carty-corporate-disobedience-if-tot-not-reversed-in-one-year-.html

I am awaiting Mr. Glen Carty's announcement of the Protest March as Government clearly has not 'got its act together' and the 2012 budget is in all likelihood based on the continuation of the 5% Turnover Tax.

Furthermore, it is interesting to note the list of new candidates for the board of the CoC, of which many have a direct or indirect link to the largest ruling party, UP.

The only solution would be a Chamber of Commerce that is privately funded and managed without any government interference in order for the correct representation of the businesses to take place and would allow for the proper scrutiny.

Otherwise, the appearance of the institute as a rubber stamp for Government has become more than just the appearance.

James Durby

The extremely successful event held by the St. Martin grassroots nation building- and unification movement on Monday, December 19, has resulted in a increased momentum for the movement.
Not only, is the demand for the St. Martin cultural ID-card increasing, but so is the understanding of the philosophy of the movement and its importance for a stable and sustainable, overall development of this island .
Many, conscious, non-native St. Martiners, established on the island, are realizing that having a St. Martin cultural ID-card, means to have been accepted by the people of the land, which they consider is an invaluable investment in securing a future of for their children to be considered a 'belonger' to this country.
While, management of UTS, as a great corporate citizen, has always made its facilities and services available for community-activities, including a ours, there seems to be a need for the movement to take its message of nation building to various locations on the island.
Therefore, the movement is prepared to consider taking the initiative for a 'meet-, greet, exchange and partnering' initiative starting next year 2012.

Drs. Leopold JAMES
President SNBF/ Association L' Esprit de Concordia

Dear Bibi,

It is with a sincere sense of appreciation and gratitude that I hereby publicly wish to thank you.
Reason being, that morally, I can not, and will not move on with the launching of our new website, without thanking you for allowing me to fill the 'gap', in which our own website was under (re-)construction.
You have been a real colleague in the very important sector of alternative journalism to me.
Every request to attend a certain function, to publish an article, a letter to the editor, pictures, you name it, you always graciously complied with, whenever you could.
Consequently, your site has made it possible for us to maintain a sufficient level of contact with our readers.
As administrator of our site, which will be soon launched, I thank you once more.
Over the years that I have got to know you, Bibi, I have learned to admire your drive to get at the bottom of issues, many rather no even broach.
As a woman, you have proven to have lots more 'fortitude' than your male counter-parts.
In return for helping us out Bibi, I promise to reciprocate any future request for assistance from you, as long as such does not conflict with our own mission statement and our interests in general.
Furthermore, I look forwards towards an even more professional and creative cooperation with you, while respecting each other's journalistic work.

In ending, we invite you and your readers to also read and interact with our website (www.stmartinnation.org <http://www.stmartinnation.org> ), expected to be launched around December 19 of December.

Thanks once more and with respect,

Drs. Leopold JAMES
President SNBF/ Association L' Esprit de Concordia The grassroots St. Martin nation building- & unification movement.

I am requesting an investigation of the Cadastre office based on the fact that over the years the Cadastre Department has willfully moved (on paper) a parcel of land all over the Cul-de-sac area, and with that practice, claimed other people's land as belonging to an entity other than the rightful owners.

Entire tracts of land have been seized in this fashion, and all attempts to correct the falsification of the records and the return of seized land to its rightful owners have failed, as the Cadastre Department appears to be above the law. Rumors about irregularities at the Cadastre have been circulating on this island for years and no one has seen fit to investigate this corrupt Government organization. There are hardworking, dedicated employees working there, but there also are and were, corrupt individuals in that organization.

Many people have reported losing their land based on records "not being found", or being advised to, "Be content with the little piece you have". Some have done this, based on the time consuming run around they get from the Cadastre Department, and also on the huge financial burden it would place on an already strained budget. Paying a lawyer a hundred dollars for a consultation when you have hungry mouths to feed is not a hard decision to make, you feed your children.

Land was bequeathed to the Bisdom Willemstad, Curacao many years ago. The location of the land in question is described down to the very last centimeter. The names of the property owners bordering the Bisdom property are clearly mentioned in the deed. There is no doubt where the land is. There is also no question as to the size of the parcel of land. Yet the Cadastre Department has moved this land at will (on paper), they have enlarged it when necessary, given out Meetbriefs to people of their choosing, all with apparent complete impunity.

Carpenters can glance at a length of wood and estimate its length within a centimeter. Mechanics can unerringly choose the right size socket or wrench for any nut or bolt. Yet, seasoned land surveyors can't look up a hillside and estimate its size? I doubt that seriously.

The head of the Cadastre Department has on several occasions tried to intimidate me by charging me exorbitant amounts of money for reports and time he claimed to have worked, but when I tried to pay him, there was no report to deliver. I was also threatened that I would be charged in advance, anytime I stepped into the Cadastre office, for whatever reason, but that also did not deter me from seeking the truth regarding my ancestor's property, until on my last visit he refused to see me regarding this matter. I can only draw one conclusion, somebody is hiding something. Somebody does not want the truth to be exposed as to what has been going on in the belly of the Cadastre Department. I am leaving it up to you, the Public Prosecutors to find out what they are hiding.

Cordially,

Francis D. Hodge

It is not often that a person, or a people take on the task of an objective and sincere 'self-inspection' or 'introspection'.
The reason is simple.
The exercise, could be extremely sensitive, shocking, revealing and confrontational.
More that that.
At the end of the day, the findings could force one to change one's outlook on one's own life and on others, in a very fundamental way.
Especially, when that 'self-inspection' relates to something that has been an extremely pleasant and popular tradition for an entire nation !
Nevertheless, subjecting herself to that process, that is exactly what Laura BIJNSDORP did when she wrote an extremely interesting article in the WEEKender of the Daily Herald of Saturday, December 3, 2011 entitled 'Quinsy Gario on Zwarte Piet'.
What Laura did by writing that article, requires extreme courage, a trait which she probably inherited from her father, Gerard BIJNSDORP.
Although, I do not always agree with his articles, I have always admired Gerard, for freely expressing his mind, without hiding behind some obscure anonymity.
In addition, without condemning the Dutch tradition of 'Sinterklaas' as such, Laura has expressed the deep feeling of embarrassment, hurt and anger shared so long, by many colored people living in the Netherlands as a result of their race being extremely negatively depicted and personified by 'Black Pete'.
I am sure that many feel extremely grateful to her for trying to understand and publicly express the emotions that are aroused in many Black people, when the Dutch use 'Zwarte Piet', to in fact project subconscious racism towards another race.
It is very clear, that this phenomenon of the 'innocent' Zwarte Piet is one of the most sensitive issues for Dutch People and something they do not want to be confronted with.
Therefore, they simply put it in the realm of 'denial' hoping it will go away.
That explains the ridiculous physical abuse of Quinsy by the Dutch police a number of weeks ago.
It was disgraceful and very reminiscent to the Apartheid days in South Africa.
However, here is the 'wake-up' call for the Dutch !
While, for ages, the Dutch could simply ignore the hurt imposed on the Black people in the Netherlands, as a consequence of this 'Zwarte Piet' racism, the times we are now living in, will drastically change that.
Either, as Laura, so professionally did, there must be a real discussion on this matter, or the Dutch might one day have to explain to the entire world and the UN, why they condone and promote this outdated form of bullying and violation of the human rights of Black people to be seen as a race equal to their own Caucasian race..
In addition, take this one.
Holland is known to be one of the most liberal countries in the world, first to condemn 'abuse of human rights' far outside it's border.
Consequently, the Netherlands has become one of the leading countries forcing others to abandon their opposition towards same-sex 'marriages', even if that goes totally against the tradition and social grain of those countries.
The Netherlands, has also gone to places such as Afghanistan to 'rescue' women from abuse by Afghan men, again even-though that was part of their culture and tradition.
In the process, many Afghans were killed in their own country !
It does not stop there.
The Netherlands is also preparing the way for laws against bullying.
Fine.
But, isn't is now time for the same level of 'self-inspection' by the Dutch, where it comes to the celebration of their own racist and degrading 'Zwarte Piet' human rights abuse ?
Yes, it might be 'innocent' and 'fun' for White Dutch people, but isn't bullying also fun for the bully, or calling a gay person, 'marico', also fun for the 'straight' man or woman ?
Just to bring this matter in a broader perspective and possible resolution, imagine the following.
Suppose Quinsy Gario and others, would make use of the internet and encourage Governments of countries, where colored people are dominant to pass a resolution in the UN as follows.
Invade the Netherlands and impose a ban on the abuse of the human rights of the Black people there, as a consequence the racist 'Zwarte Piet' practices.
A crazy and stupid idea ?
Maybe so.
But, then, perhaps that is the way the Taliban might have also viewed the arrogant, colonial invasion of their country as well, through the NATO military, of which Dutch soldiers are part of.
Many of their people were killed as a result of NATO trying to impose change of the culture and tradition of the Afghan people.
So, will the change in the Netherlands come through the Dutch people themselves, or through UN- or some other external intervention ?
The choice is theirs.
Food for thought.

Drs. Leopold JAMES
President SNBF/ Association L' Esprit de Concordia
The grassroots St. Martin nation building- & unification movement.

A tribute to you because of what you say and how you say it.

Your opinion articles are funny and daring. While your artistic drawings are amusing and classical.

A tribute to you as we exchanged ideas before and kept any salsa out of the mix.

So, next time your Out 'N about let's find more drift wood to give "Karakter" a helping hand.

Continued success in your commentary as you entertain, enlighten, encourage and educate the masses.

Signed,

Stuart Johnson

Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by private persons or corporations not directly involved with the government. An illegal act by an officeholder constitutes political corruption only if the act is directly related to their official duties, is done under color of law or involves trading in influence. Forms of corruption vary, but include bribery, extortion, cronyism, nepotism, patronage, graft, and embezzlement. While corruption may facilitate criminal enterprise such as drug trafficking, money laundering, and human trafficking, it is not restricted to these activities. Political corruption can be defined both with reference to the main actors involved, namely persons at the highest levels of the political system, and the purpose of the corrupt behavior, namely to sustain the hold on power. Hence, political corruption can be for private and group enrichment, and for power preservation purposes. Often these two forms of political corruption are connected. Some of the larger and more serious political corruption scandals include both processes - accumulation on the one hand and the misuse of extracted or public money for political purposes on the other. The latter process is somewhat under-researched and underestimated, since much of the focus in the literature has been on accumulation. Political corruption in the form of accumulation or extraction occurs when government officials use and abuse their hold on power to extract from the private sector, from government revenues, and from the economy at large. These processes of accumulation have been called extraction, embezzlement, and rent-seeking, plunder and even kleptocracy ("rule by thieves"), depending on the extent and context. Extraction takes place mainly in the form of soliciting bribes in procurement and government projects, in privatization processes and in taxation. Political corruption takes place at the highest levels of the political system, and can thus be distinguished from administrative or bureaucratic corruption. Bureaucratic corruption takes place at the implementation end of politics, for instance in government services like education and health. Political corruption takes place at the formulation end of politics, where decisions on the distribution of the nation's wealth and the rules of the game are made. Political corruption is usually also distinguished from business and private sector corruption. This is only a matter of academic classification, however, since the bribes offered by private companies, domestic and international, are frequent and significant corruption drivers. Our focus here, however, is not on the supply side of corrupt transactions, but on the demand side. Most definitions of corruption also emphasize the demand (state) side, for instance in stating that corruption is "abuse of public authority and power for private benefit". I hope now you have a better understanding of political corruption. Now that you understand what it is, see if you can identify if it is happening in SintMaarten.

Fred Williams

We have said it repeatedly before and here we go again.
While St. Martiners on the island are officially identified by their French and/or Dutch nationality, they should also recognize that they also have another form of identity - their St. Martin identity.
This identity relates to our cultural heritage and defines us at our very core as a people with a shared history, shared family-ties, a shared set of norms and values.
And while our nationality can be changed, or even revoked by those in charge, our St. Martin identity can never be taken away.
Therefore, we St. Martiners, should also be very mindful of the fact, that our French nationality is not ours and is completely determined and controlled by Paris, France.
Likewise, our Dutch nationality is completely determined and controlled by the Hague, in the Netherlands.
Those of us, who pride ourselves solely and exclusively, as 'French'- and/or as 'Dutch' St. Martiners, better also take note that changes pertaining to these nationalities, rest exclusively in the hands of those European colonial powers and they have the liberty to, at any time, to make whatever amendments to the criteria in obtaining or even maintaining their nationalities in their own best interest.
These interests, might not always be in the favor of those people who are not necessarily 'French French' and/or 'Dutch' Dutch.
Case in point.
The Dutch Government, recently made decisions, which will effect 'Maroccan'- and 'Turk' Dutch living in the Netherlands, as well as people applying for the Dutch nationality. (See attachment)
Clearly, if the French and/or the Dutch nationality is the only identity we as St. Martiners have, we might be in for serious surprises, all beyond our control.
God knows, changes could be made in which we do not recognize ourselves.
Hence the question then becomes.
How do we then identify ourselves ?
Believe it or not, ridicule it or not, but having, next to one's proud Dutch and/or French nationality, an own cultural St. Martin ID-card could make all the difference between being a 'second-hand'- or 'wannabe' national, or being your own original you.
After all, even without a nationality, a people with an identity could make a case at the UN or any other relevant identity.
All other St. Martiners, are therefore identity 'hitch-hikers' depending on a ride by 'Massa' to be somebody, anybody...
Food for thought.

Drs. Leopold JAMES
President SNBF/ Association L' Esprit de Concordia
The grassroots St. Martin nation building- & unification movement.

Bruha tera, pa nan no mira loke mi ta hasi mintras tantu. Create confusion for others not to notice what I am doing in the mean time. Do what all you want as long as you do not disturb me. That's the impression some wise heads have about how this country is run. And then the other consensus is that instead of the Members of Parliament getting together to try to create or alter legislation that will help to give everyone a better life they are constantly at each others throats and the Ministers are laughing at them because the are clearly showing that they are not aware of the authority given to them. They are still going about there business as if they are members of an Island Council and not of Parliament. Because I reacted to the behavior of a representative of the people I was told that that gentleman is under enormous pressure from his boss and that not only his seat but also his job could be in jeopardy. And then again I am going to say he does not know his rights as a Member of Parliament and also he should check the wording of the oath that he took. Along with that if he has proof of being threatened then follow the steps of the law, but do not, not have a life. And the people should definitely not have to accept this kind of action from their representative. And I will even go further and say that if this gentleman continues is this fashion then he is giving proof that he is acting and should go to Hollywood, but do not keep collecting a salary to be a puppet. I do not think a puppet salary is mentioned in the budget of Members of Parliament. When you get yourself in certain positions you have to be prepared for people to talk about you. I have had my share, during my days but I can say with a very clear conscience that I treated everyone fair. And that is not what is being said of MP Jules James these days. What I have to say about that situation is that Jay Jay have to read the book of Exodus , which should not be strange to him because I am told that he preaches and that hard working people -just like those he laid off- of his congregation got him elected. I want to know if he went back and preached since all this is happening and how did he justify his actions to his congregation. There might be separation between church and state/politics but as far as I know there is separation between church and work. Remember "by the sweat of thy face thou shall eat .." How do you expect them to eat if they are not allowed to sweat. Or is it because you do not sweat but eat from two salaries you think that everyone is the same. Challenge this if it is not the truth. I have given advice to many many over the years. Let me give you one little tip. It is about four hours long but find the movie of the story of the Ten Commandment and look at it in private and probably that might bring you real christian feelings. But you know something it would be a miss of me to charge only you with inhumane practices, because the way this world turns no one person acts this way on his own, so all of the above cold serve for whoever is behind you in this matter. And again I have to refer those sayings. This one is "All crave all lost". I always ask myself what does it do to person when he or she acts inhumane towards other people. Is it a sense of satisfaction is it a sort of a sweet soothing feeling. I'm willing to know because even why I was working and I arrested someone who committed a real cruel act I did not want to eliminate them. I always wanted to know what could drive a person to do such things to another human being like himself. In this case another one hundred human beings like yourself. I do not know if I am saying it correct but there is some saying about do not get blood of another human being on your hands (I stand to be corrected) and then there another one of the cries of so many falling on you. There is still time to correct that wrong. Or are you also afraid to risk your job. Again I'm asking this because I want to know what leads people to this kind of behavior. I have had one or two occasions when I was afraid to shave because I would have to look myself in the mirror. Can you? Brother I do not care what the judge ruled. I will not tell you that you are despicable, but I believe that your deed in this case is. But it is your deed not mine. Check the mirror and then ask yourself if you really can go back on that pulpit. I think if nothing changes there would be a hypocrite on that pulpit. I have another question why do elected officials think they can hide on St.Martin by using tinted glass or rentals. Constantly changing of phone numbers tell me that you do not want to be bothered then change them also during you the time that you are campaigning. You do not live in those vehicles and there are people out and about twenty four/seven. If you do not do anything not to want to be seen then you should be able to traverse your island without fear. Do you have a life? Again there is still time to correct those wrongs. Exodus.

Russell A. SIMMONS

Philipsburg:--- The General Public is invited to Tehillah Foundation Expo night (Thursday December 8th, 2011). Tehillah Foundation is currently hosting their first annual Kingdom Summit themed 'Empowering The Handmaids of God'. The expo is intended to market local small business that desires the exposure, explained foundation president, Prophetess Mulrose Toulon in a press release issued to the media. Toulon stated that the summit, which began on Sunday 4th of December, is a well needed event and that she would like the entire public to take advantage of tonight's event. "Tonight's event is free," she said. The expo will comprise of a wide range of great products at very reasonable prices. "There will be health products, make up accessories, bags, scarves, and a whole lot more. You may just fine that missing item to complete your Christmas decoration. Our prices are affordable and our booth holders are friendly and accommodating. See you there," added the foundation's president. The president also divulged that although the event is tonight persons who are interested in having a table at the expo can contact her at telephone number 527 2850. The expo will begin at 7:30pm and will be held at the Living Praise Ministry church opposite the DE JA VU club and restaurant.
Prophetess Mulrose has a proven record of service, in the community; she sits on the board of a local Children's home, she also counseled troubled adolescent children at one of the local public schools. She has served in her local church as cook, for the feeding program, worship team member, Preacher and church administrator. She is a true Daughter of the soil, whose self made motto is 'inspire others to aspire to greatness through service, and obedience.

Upon popular demand, we have simplified the application procedure for our St. Martin Cultural ID-card.

The St. Martin Cultural ID-card is intended to serve a number of purposes, of which the following are some examples.

• To allow for native, indigenous St. Martin people, to be able to demonstrate their St. Martin cultural heritage-, or identity, (in addition to whatever nationality they might have)
• To allow for the ID-cardholders, to identify and bond with one another, as native, indigenous St. Martin people as well as to their home-land, St. Martin/St. Maarten,
• To allow for the card-holders to demonstrate pride and dignity in their heritage, history, culture and unity as one indivisible people,
• To allow for St. Martiners to eventually become a very strong and significant group or constituency, thereby elevating themselves from being a disadvantaged and despised 'minority' in their own land,
• To allow for the card-holders/St.Martiners as a constituency to be in a stronger position to negotiate for better conditions/affirmative action in their own land etc.
• To allow for the card-holders to benefit from all the advantages of the Treaty of Concordia (including right to use whatever license to drive anywhere on the island)

Etc.

This list goes on and on.
However for strategic reasons, at this time, we will not go into any detail.
It is the choice of every St. Martiner to apply for the card, or not, that is their right.
The main criteria for St. Martiners to qualify for their ID-cards, is to prove their roots on the island, dating back to, the 1963 Landmark Year.
Others, however those interested persons, who are no St. Martiners by heritage, can also qualify for our ID-card, based on being of an 'added value' to our country.
From our experience thus far, this group is showing great interest in our card for obvious reasons.
To secure that their next generation are considered St. Martiners.
Let this be a message, in and of itself, to all St. Martiners of heritage !

Click here to view/download application form.

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao:--- On 29 November 2011, 14 volunteers from the 429th Expeditionary Operations Squadron located at the U.S. Forward Operating Location (USFOL) visited the Anglican Church Curacao (ACC). Volunteers armed with weed trimmers, lawn mower and shrub clippers cleared large sections of overgrown grass on the church property. One USFOL volunteer commented, "I was honored to help make a difference in the local community. This was the highlight of my time in Curacao." USFOL personnel have been long-time advocates for the local community and this was yet another outstanding effort to assist a local community organization.

For the third year consecutively the Rotary Club of St. Maarten was able to distribute over 700 English dictionaries to 3 graders in 17 schools as well as the participants in the recently held spelling bee held by the Roteract. The Rotary Club of St. Maarten through a very special arrangement receives the dictionaries from a donor in an effort to make a positive impact in promoting literacy. The third grade students receive the dictionaries at this particular time in their formal education as most primary schools teach the children to use an English dictionary in the third grade. With the donation of the dictionaries to the students directly, each student is the proud owner of what is often their first dictionary and because they are also able to take it home with them it allows the entire family to benefit.

The Rotary Club of St. Maarten in general and Committee chairperson Henna Budhrani in particular would like to take this opportunity to thank all who in one way or the other made this project possible. A special appreciation goes to the children for demonstrating so much enthusiasm, making this community service project geared toward combating literacy so much more meaningful.

Click here to view more photos of the Rotary Club's third consecutive d

Great Bay:--- The inter-island meeting hosted last week by the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) between the tourist offices of St. Martin, St. Maarten, Anguilla, and St. Barths, focused mainly on making available tourist information booths at PJIA as well as the possibility of immigration pre-clearance for the hub islands.
The meeting, held on Wednesday, November 30, 2011, was attended by representatives of four of the six destinations and was considered a success as important matters were discussed in an atmosphere of cooperation and mutual assistance.
During the meeting, PJIA disclosed that the tourist information booths for the hub islands would be established at the arrival hall, past immigration, where the public telephones are currently situated.
The telephones will be moved to other locations in the baggage claim area. The tourist information booths, for which several designs are now being considered, will be rented for a fee to the participating islands.
The inter-island pre-clearance project, though in its beginning stages, will enable passengers bound for Anguilla, St. Barths, Saba, and St. Eustatius to go through the respective immigration controls at PJIA, making it unnecessary for them to do so upon arrival on those islands.
St. Maarten's Minister of Justice, Roland Duncan, came in for high praise for his endorsement of this initiative which will not only save passengers valuable time, but would also represent some additional revenue for PJIA.
The Princess Juliana International Airport serves as a hub to all these neighboring islands, a fact that was critical in the development of the expansion plans of PJIA. It is also a major point in attracting new airlines to the airport.
Tourism authorities on the hub islands have been meeting to harmonize their plans, and fine-tune their strategies as it pertains to their core business. The islands and PJIA will once again come together at the next inter-island meeting, which will be held on Anguilla later this month.
Regina LaBega, managing director of the Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company, chaired the inter-island meeting.

THE I CAN HOME and Foundation operates a foster home that offers living accommodation to children between the ages of 0 to 13 years, who have been victims of neglect, abuse or other social issues. The children of the home get round the clock care, and through treatment programs, guidance, and other activities they are prepared for the future.
The home is situated on 1200 m³, of land. The house consists of 4 bedrooms 2 bathroom, with a lounge, TV, dining room and kitchen area. There is a large play- ground attached to the home where the children can be found daily doing all types of activities.
For more information about ICAN go to www.i-canfoundation.org

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The Department of Disaster Management (ODM) is advising motorists to drive with caution on Monday as periods of moderate to heavy rain showers are forecasted to continue until Monday evening.

Ministry VROMI and the Fire Department after carrying out a severe weather impact assessment over the weekend, have identified several roads that are highly prone to street flooding and motorists should avoid driving on those roads during heavy rainfall events due to the current saturation of the soil.

The roads are: Dutch Quarter main road until the French border; Arch Road; Suckergarden Road from the entrance to Guana Bay until the intersection with Arch Road, L.B. Scott Road, Zagersgut; Oyster Pond border road crossing; and the Welfare Road, Cole Bay where there is an on-going road infrastructure improvement project.

Ministry VROMI and the Fire Department received numerous reports and responded to a number of calls with respect to flooding and mudslides.

In one case, four vehicles with driver and passengers were washed into a trench. Everybody was able to swim to safety with minor injuries.

Due to the heavy rainfall on Saturday night and into Sunday, the hill sides have become saturated and there is the potential for mudslides. Residents living in these areas should exercise caution when leaving or heading to their home. In the event of heavy rainfall, motorists should wait until the rain stops.

Motorists and individuals who come across a mudslide should contact the Public Works Department during office hours 542-4289 or 542-6739 or the Fire Department at 919 which is available 24-hours per day.

A very successful charter ceremony was held on French St Martin to welcome its first Toastmasters Club. St Martin Evolution Toastmasters Club joined the over 27.600 Toastmasters clubs around the world during the professionally conducted event at the Grand Case Community Center on Sunday.

The official Toastmasters International Charter certificate was read and presented to Club President Claudine Bide by District 81 Lieutenant Governor Education & Training Rolando Tobias. In addressing the gathering, DTM Tobias commended the group as pioneers of Toastmasters on French St Martin. "You have planted the seed and whether the club continues for the next 5, 10 or 15 years; you should be proud to be charter members of this club. You now belong to an international organization with some 270.000 members in 27.500 clubs throughout the world". He presented all members with their charter certificates and then officially had all members recite the Toastmasters promise.

Area Governor Annette Berkel installed the Club Officers as she congratulated them on taking up the responsibility of leading the first club on French St Martin. She explained the roles and responsibilities of all Club Officers. Club President Claudine Bide then addressed the gathering as she demonstrated her leadership capability with an outstanding address. She laid out her message of inclusion of all sectors of the French community and pledged to make Toastmasters a household name throughout St Martin. She addressed the audience in both English and French demonstrating the professionalism of the Club. President Bide expressed thanks and appreciation to the sponsors Alicia Etienne & Annette Berkel-Marlin, mentors Leona Romeo-Marlin & Emilia Thomas and District Officers Rolando Tobias & Valerie Brazier and Cathering Arrindell-Connor for their support in realizing the Club.

Special invited guest at the ceremony was President of the Collectivite Frantz Gumbs. He addressed the audience focusing on his involvement in education. He emphasized the importance of being prepared and recognized the important role the structured program of Toastmasters provides. He commended the Club on making this very important step to prepare future leaders on the island thru enhancing their Communication and Leadership skills.

Following the official charter ceremony, the new Club members conducted a mock meeting where they demonstrated the educational program of Toastmasters for the benefit of the audience. St Martin Evolution Toastmasters Club is open to the public and meets every first and third Tuesday at the Salle Conseil De Quarter # 5 or the former Evelina Halley School building in Marigot.

Dutch Quarter:--- A six year old girl is in critical condition at the St. Maarten Medical Center nursing gunshot wounds to her face. Information reaching SMN News states that the incident occurred in Garden of Eden around 7pm Sunday evening. Neighbors in the area said the girl shot herself while she was at home alone with her younger brother. According to one of the neighbors, the girl's brother alerted the neighbors of the incident.
Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson confirmed that the six year old was shot and she was taken by ambulance to the St. Maarten Medical Center. Henson said he was informed of the incident but the detectives are still busy investigating the case. "The parents were taken from the St. Maarten Medical Center to the Philipsburg Police station to be interrogated." The detectives and forensic officers visited the scene and the investigation is ongoing. Henson could not say how seriously the child was injured and if the two minor children were home alone when the shooting took place. SMN News will bring you a more detailed reported in our next publication.

Great Bay:--- The Joyful Ringers Bells Choir will ring out the old year at the Ephesus Church in Belvedere on Saturday, bringing the curtains down on a year of well-received performances around the island.
The choir of 26 children, some as young as eight years old, has been ringing its bells at various occasions throughout the year, the most recent at the Princess Juliana International Airport.
For the past three years, the children, who are drawn from various churches around the island, as well as the Union Farm neighborhood, have been serenading visitors to the island with their unique chimes.
On December 22, the group, directed by principal of the St. Maarten Seventh Day Adventist School Merlese Lake, stood under the majestic Christmas tree at the airport and tinkled Christmas carols, much to the delight of the bustling audience.
According to Lake, the performances at the airport were initiated some 15 years ago after someone approached her and asked for students to serenade arriving passengers. Three years ago, Lake said, she contacted the airport and asked for the Bells Choir to perform.
"It was different [and] I wanted to expose [the group] to more public places," Lake explained.
The demure principal started working with the children out of her home more than five years ago and when the numbers increased, moved the practice sessions to the Adventist church in Belvedere.
"They ring a number of old hymns, as they plan to play for the senior citizens; 'The Old Rugged Cross'; 'Oh Sweet St. Martin Land'; and carols," said Lake.
But all of this charitable work would not have been possible without the assistance of some parents, church member Cuthbert Chandler, and bus driver Joseph Harris – all of whom volunteer their time by accompanying the group to events.
"Especially Mr. Harris," Lake stressed, "I took the children to Burger King for a treat and he came and stayed there. These persons [Harris and Chandler] are always ready when I need assistance."
To date, the choir has performed at concerts, funerals and at the Philipsburg Jubilee Library. In 2012, Lake said, she plans to take the group out more, as their confidence continues to grow.

Philipsburg:--- Architect and Project Manager for Studio Acht Caribbean Architects NV Bruce van Hesteren met with President of Parliament Hon. Gracita Arrindell on Tuesday.

Studio Acht which is an established architect firm on Curacao will be opening a branch on the island within short, demonstrating confidence in the economy and the building/construction sectors.

Arrindell was briefed about the work of the firm and on some preliminary sketches that the company has designed with respect to the redesign of the Philipsburg Jubilee Library and a Community Center for Cole Bay.

As part of Spotlight St. Maarten, Aqua Mania and St. Maarten Sailing School partnered together to organize a 'Youth Sea Adventure Day' this past Saturday December 3, 2011. Although the day started off rainy, the weather could not dampen the youth's enthusiasm for the activities that day. They met at Aqua Mania where they had a SCUBA demo. Two SCUBA instructors taught the kids about SCUBA and how to breathe using the Scuba gear. The kids were then able to try on the tanks and take a dive in the pool using the gear.
After the demo, they were taken by boat to Marina Port de Plaisance for a tour of Mega Yacht "El Jefe". The kids were able to meet with some of the crew and were very impressed with the level of professionalism. After their tour, the kids were treated to pizza at Buccaneer Beach Bar on Kim Sha Beach. It gave them some time to chat about the activities that they had already completed that morning. They really enjoyed the SCUBA demo and tour and were really looking forward to their final activity.
To end the day, they were treated to a cruise on board the 100 year old schooner Passaat. They were given a history tour of the vessel and were encouraged to take part in the running of the vessel. The youngsters were able to take turns hoisting the sails, tacking and steering. It was a great way to wind down the day and they really enjoyed their time out on the ocean.
With just over one week left before the big event, Spotlight St. Maarten is ecstatic about the progress and success of Spotlight thus far. Confirmed for St. Maarten Saturday are Laser 101's Gee Money and also The Cut Creator DJ Outkast. Both of them will be in charge of keeping the party atmosphere going and keeping you entertained. St. Maarten Saturday is a free beach party and concert featuring Orange Grove and G Love at Buccaneer Beach Bar on Kim Sha Beach. The party kicks off at noon and there will be various activities to keep you entertained such as a carnival troupe, Buccaneer Beach Bar's infamous fireballs, and so much more. Visit the website: www.spotlightstmaarten.com for an updated calendar and "Like" us on Facebook for more updates about St. Maarten Saturday.

Maho:--- Two rookie police officers who are yet to complete their police training are now under the microscope of the Police Internal Affairs after they fired gunshots in a crowed night club Thursday night. SMN News learnt that the two officers were warned to stay away from Tantra because they are in the habit of visiting the club almost every night.
According to information reaching SMN News, the two rookies Sue-Andy Doran and Gershon Jacobus may not be allowed to continue their police training to become full fledged police officers because of Thursday's incident. Sources close to the police management team said Internal Affairs is busy reviewing the camera footage of the night club to determine exactly why the officers fired their service revolvers.
SMN News learnt that one of the officers interfered with a young woman who was at the club with a male companion and a fight ensued between the male companion and the officer.

Philipsburg:--- Minister of Economic & Tourism Affairs, Telecommunications & Transport Hon. Franklin Meyers, has established a collaboration effort between the Department of Economic Policy and Research (DEPR) and the Small Business Development Foundation (SBDF).

Minister Meyers says that in January 2012 steps will be taken by the aforementioned department and SBDF leading to the development of a Consumer Protection system.

"We need to ensure a fair marketplace and safe products and services for consumers and Government is committed to seeing the necessary laws and systems put into place that would lead to this," Minister Meyers said on Wednesday.

On Tuesday the DEPR and SBDF met with Minster Meyers to discuss plans for the development of a Consumer Protection Act.

One of the programs of the Social Economic Initiative (SEI) was the establishment of a Consumer Protection Act. A financial agreement was signed between SBDF on July 6, 2009 and the Island Government.

This agreement includes the drafting of the act, the establishment of the legal ramification for its enforcement and a provision for an information campaign for businesses and consumers.

The Act will benefit consumers and will also enhance the country's reputation with respect to economic and business development and promotion and the protection of consumers.

A level playing field will be created between small business and big business whereby the same protection to consumers regardless of size is the order of the day with respect to contracted goods and services.

Great Bay:--- On Monday, December 5, 2011,the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labor held an extensive strategic planning meeting where they mapped out their plans for 2012. Minister of Public Health, Social Development & Labor, Cornelius de Weever was present at the session, along with Secretary General Jorien Wuite and all of the department heads that comprise the Ministry of Public Health Social Development & Labor.
According to Minister de Weever, this was an opportunity to reflect on 2011 and the challenges that were faced to prevent them from affecting the goals for 2012. It is important for us all to understand how this will relate to the people that we serve and to highlight priority areas for each department. Using the governing program as a guide has provided direction for the ministry of VSA.
During this session the attendees looked at the priority setting for 2012; reviewed selected performance indicators for 2012; identified the need for synchronization in and out of the ministry mainly in the areas of HIV/AIDS policy priorities/Social Economic Initiative programme priorities/the governing program/legal requirements and opportunities and millennium development goals.

This photo of White-cheeked Pintails and Black-necked Stilts shows some of the birds which may be seen during a free Bird Watch to be held at the Great Salt Pond this coming Sunday, December 18th. Bird watching will be hosted by Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC), which will have volunteers on hand from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. to assist with bird identification, talk about natural history, and provide binoculars, spotting scopes, and identification guide books. Despite its urban setting, the Great Salt Pond hosts an impressive array of birds and is internationally recognized as an Important Bird Area. Observations will take place from the east side of the Great Salt Pond, across from the entrance to Guana Bay.

EPIC's last Bird Walk took place during migration in October, when approximately 200 birds of 34 species of birds were observed at the Le Galion area. The habitat, including saline mudflats and mangroves, offered the opportunity to see many shorebirds such as sandpipers but seabirds and land birds were also seen. For most migrating birds, St. Maarten is a place to rest and refuel during their long journey. Counts in September were up to approximately 1,500 birds, with spectacular flights of hundreds of barn swallows as well as shorebirds which had come all the way from breeding grounds in the North American plains, tundra and arctic.

The results of bird walks and other observations of birds (as well as other fauna and flora) can be found at http://sintmaarten.observado.org/index.php. This site also has information about bird species, their statistics (numbers, periods of occurrence), photos, and sounds (if available). You can also submit photos to confirm which species was seen. We urge the public to join this site and report observations in order to improve information on the nature of the island.

For more information and to stay up to date with EPIC events and activities visit www.epicislands.org, Like EPIC's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/epicislands, or call 545-3009.

Environmental Protection In the Caribbean

Philipsburg:--- The Tehillah Foundation, would like to thank everyone involved in making this year's Kingdom Summit, Expo and Symposium a great Success states Foundation president Mrs. Mulrose Toulon. The Foundation would like to thank their Spiritual as well as professional speakers for empowering the community of St. Maarten with much needed information in the areas of Banking Insurance, Entrepreneurship and Country St. Maarten. President Mulrose Toulon would like to thank the following companies for donating to this year's Summit: Telem, Ace Home Center, Winair, The Audrey Jack Show, The Diabetes Association of St. Maarten, Sxm Cable T.V., S.O.S. Radio, P.J.D.2. Radio, Events & Celebration, N.B.R Radio Anguilla and Living Praise Ministry. President Toulon highlighted that the the following Persons were winners of their gift giveaway evening: Ms, Eva Didier won the Gift Basket, while Mrs. Doris St James won the Pink BlackBerry donated by Telem, and Mrs. Philomene Yorke won the roundtrip Ticket donated by Winair.

 

About The Tehillah Foundation and President Mulrose Toulon. The Tehillah Foundation for human development, was established to inspire others to aspire to greatness, through mentorship programs, summits, conferences, seminars and workshops. President Mulrose Toulon was born on St, Maarten, she is a prolific leader, preacher, motivational speaker and mentor, gifted with the innate ability to see greatness in individuals and develop that greatness, she continues to inspire all she comes in contact with, you could be next!!

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten Sarah Wescot Williams has issued another call to the Management of the Simpson Bay Resort Management Company BV (SBRMC) and Royal Resorts Management Company Ltd (Former Pelican Resorts) to get around the table with the union (WIFOL) and further discuss the labour dispute currently ongoing at the resort.
The Prime Minister said that the court cases will take a long time to resolve the situation. However, she said the parties are also stakeholders and they should be able to sit around the table and work on finding a solution. Wescot Williams said the Minister of Labour Cornelius de Weever met with all parties but she does not know if the parties came to an agreement.
The Court of Appeals suspended the most recent verdict handed down by the Court of First Instance which was to keep the 183 workers on the payroll pending the decision of the Supreme Courts.

St. Peters:--- At least four armed bandits robbed three supermarkets in the St. Peters area on Thursday morning. The supermarkets that were targeted are Man Chung Supermarket, St. Peters Supermarket and Ho Supermarket. Residents and shop owners in the St. Peters area said the spate of armed robberies occurred around 11am.

Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson confirmed that a number of robberies had taken place in the St. Peters area and that police are working on finding the culprits responsible.

Dawn Beach:--- It was an evening of glitz and glamour, dancing and recognition, as the Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company N.V. (PJIAE) hosted its annual year-end party at the Westin Dawn Beach Resort and Spa last Saturday.
There was no mistaking that the holiday season was in the air, as employees and their guests alike, decked out in glamorous gowns and smart-looking suits, enjoyed a delightful cocktail reception in the extravagantly decorated ballroom.
Both Deputy Prime Minister Theo Heyliger and PJIAE Managing Director Regina Labega, in succinct speeches, extended warm greetings to attendees and thanked them for their indelible service to the company during 2011.
"I just want to thank you all for allowing me to be part of Princess Juliana International Airport's family. I will tell you that over the last year I have learned a lot from you. Before, I was able to learn a lot from the cruise industry, and now it is a real pleasure to learn a lot from you all as well. I look forward to spending the next few years trying to make our aviation business continue to develop and our great country St. Maarten as well," said Heyliger.
After PJIAE Project and Planning Manager Derrick Hilman blessed the dinner, the evening kicked into high gear as guests savored a mouth-watering menu of ham, roast beef and vegetables, fish, and a wide array of soups, salads, and desserts – all catered by the resort.
Amid it all, dozens of employees received tokens of recognition for unwavering service in the areas of planning and organizing the countless events hosted by PJIAE, including Family Fun Day, Sports Day, and parties. Others were rewarded for never reporting sick. As one staffer explained, the latter recognition motivated him to go to work even when he was sick. Others, who became ill during their vacation, admitted to withholding their doctor's letter, so there was nothing to stand in their way of having an unblemished record – and receiving that coveted "envelope" at the end of the year.
Later that night, PJIAE employees did a salsa dance to a rendition of Jose El Canario's song, "Quien Como Tu." The dance, which was choreographed by the employees, with instructor Gressy Toulan and an assistant, paved the way for Control Band to open the dance floor.
Keeping with the much-anticipated tradition, several employees ended the night with baskets of goodies, flat screen televisions, the latest BlackBerry phones, and cameras, to name a few, raffled off by MCs Olivia Murray and Carlos Illis. The planning committee unanimously voted for Murray, who does not work at PJIAE. Illis is an employee of the PJIAE Fire and Rescue Department. A lucky employee also carted off an Apple Ipad2.
Throughout the affair, the photographer kept busy ensuring that the some 300 guests will have tangible memories to last long after the night was over.

Cole Bay:--- Officers from the detective and forensic department are busy investigating the shooting of a Dominicano man in Well Road, Cole Bay next to Ace Mega Center. Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson confirmed that the police were called at 2:50pm on Monday December 26th and informed that someone was shot. Henson said when police arrived on the scene they found a lifeless body. The police spokesman also confirmed that there was a wound on the victim's body.
Eyewitnesses on the scene identified the victim as Raoul (40) from the Dominican Republic. An eyewitness said a Rastafarian man went into the victim's house demanding monies and even though he was given some monies he still shot Raoul dead. A friend of the victim said the shooter shot the victim in front of his wife. SMN News also learnt that police has since taken the woman into custody to possibly obtain a statement since she was the main eye witness.
However, bystanders at the scene said the victim's body was at the scene almost two hours after the fatal shooting as police waited on their doctor to pronounce the victim dead.
Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson also confirmed that the police waited for over an hour on the doctor. Henson said that the victim was not showing any signs of life but the doctor took a long time before getting to the scene to pronounce the victim dead.
Monday's shooting has marked the 17th confirmed homicide for the year 2011 while police has not yet given a definite conclusion on the electrocution death of Latoya Brison and Oliver Petit whose body was found on a porch on December 6th in Madame Estate. Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos said that his office is waiting on more forensic information on both cases before they can determine if Brison and Petit were killed or if they died accidentally.

Click here to view more crime scene photos.

St. Maarten Cable TV subscribers are being informed that all of our phone lines are out of order since yesterday afternoon.

TelEm is presently working on this problem.

We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Philipsburg:--- The Central Committee of Parliament will be having a hearing with Contractors Association on 08, December with respect Civil Code.

The public hearing of Parliament will be held on Thursday afternoon at 2:00pm in the General Assembly Chamber of the House of Parliament.

Parliamentarians will hear the views of contractors with respect to the National Ordinance supplementing Title 1 of Book 7 of the Civil Code regarding provisions on the Sale of Property and Assets, and determination of Title 12 of Book 7 of the Civil Code, National Ordinance Sale of Property and Acceptance/Contracting of Work.

The Central Committee of Parliament will be having a hearing with the Chamber of Commerce & Industry at 10:00am in the General Assembly Chamber on Thursday morning.

The hearing discussion will be about the National Ordinance supplementing Title 1 of Book 7 of the Civil Code regarding Provisions to Protect Consumers, particularly on Telesales Contracts and Warranties, National Ordinance Consumer Purchases.

The Central Committee hearing with the Bar Association on Wednesday was postponed at the request of the Bar Association and will be rescheduled.

The Committee will also be meeting with the Rent Committee and the Real Estate Association on Friday, December 09 at 10:00am in the House of Parliament.

The agenda is related to the National Ordinance establishing Title 4 of Book 7 of the Civil Code, National Ordinance on Rent and Leasing.

All hearings are open to the public and will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 20 during the aforementioned times.

THE GRAND CASE ANNUAL TRADITIONAL LIGHTING PARADE WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 18TH 2011.
A DISPLAY OF LIGHTED FLOATS WILL PARADE THROUGHT THE GRAND CASE BOULEVARD, STARTING FROM THE PARKING LOT OF THE GRAND CASE CULTURAL CENTER STRETCHING THROUGHT THE BERTIN-MAURICE BOULEVARD TO ARRIVE AT THE POST-OFFICE PARKING LOT AND RETURN THROUGHT THE BOULEVARD TO END AT THE GRAND-CASE CULTURAL CENTER'S PARKING LOT.
LET US CELEBRATE THIS FESTIVE MOMENT AND ADMIRE THE VARIOUS FLOATS ON DISPLAY, NOT FORGETTING SANTA CLAUS.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The Collective Prevention Service (CPS) of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, says according to World Health Organization (WHO), the primary reason for the increased transmission and outbreaks of measles in the European Region is a failure to vaccinate.

Since 2003, substantial progress has been made towards the goal of eliminating measles from the WHO European Region by 2010. However, in late 2009, a widespread increase in transmission of the measles virus began.

During 2011, measles outbreaks were reported in 36 of the 53 Member States in the European Region, with over 26,000 measles cases reported region wide as of 26 October, 2011.

France reported the largest number of cases and these occurred predominantly among older children and young adults who had not been vaccinated or whose vaccination history was unknown.

The 60th meeting of the Regional Committee for Europe in September 2010 has set a new elimination target by 2015. Eliminating measles by 2015 will require that the demand of vaccination is increased in order to achieve and sustain 95 per cent coverage with two doses of measles-containing vaccine across a wide age range.

Secondly, an effective outbreak control measures are implemented, and thirdly, surveillance is further strengthened to ensure the timely identification of cases and outbreaks, and to validate elimination in the future.

CPS is therefore recommending residents prior to travel to ensure that their vaccination status is up to date. The CPS carries out an awareness campaign every year in order to encourage the populace especially the youth to vaccinate and protect themselves from possible outbreaks such as the current one in Europe.

Sint Maarten coverage ranges between 85 to 90 per cent. This coverage is influenced by the parent's consent and population mobilization.

CPS is reminding residents who plan to travel to Europe, to check with their family physician to make sure their vaccinations are up to date, especially for measles.

Travel increases the risk for exposure to measles virus and its further spread into susceptible populations if not vaccinated.

Measles is a highly infectious disease that causes complications and death, even in previously healthy individuals, but is fully preventable by vaccination.

Talk to your doctor to check if your vaccinations are up to date!

The first MMR vaccine is routinely recommended at age 12 months. Ensure that you and your child are well vaccinated. For children, birth through 17 years of age, contact Youth Health Care (YHC) and for adults consult your family physician.

The St. Maarten Nature Foundation recently launched its Rockstars for Nature fundraising Campaign at the Spotlight St. Maarten event last Saturday. Various local artists including Orange Grove, Dread-I and Percy Ranking will be donating ten percent of all merchandise sales to the Nature Foundation Youth Program. Merchandise can be purchased at various venues and events during the month of December and February. For more information the public can call or email the Nature Foundation at 5444267 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or via Facebook on http://www.facebook.com /St-Maarten-Nature-Foundation. All proceeds from the sales will go towards educating young St. Maarteners on the importance of Nature and Nature Conservation on the island.

Philipsburg:--- President of Parliament as well as seven other parliamentarians have been in Panama this week attending meetings of the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).

Parlatino is a regional, permanent and unicameral organization, comprising the National Latin American Parliaments elected democratically upon popular vote. Parlatino was created on December 7, 1964.

Philipsburg:--- The Central Committee of Parliament will be having a hearing with the Bar Association on 07, December with respect to the Penal Code.

The public hearing of Parliament will be held on Wednesday afternoon at 2:00pm in the General Assembly Chamber of the House of Parliament.

The Bar Association will be able to present its views to Members of Parliament with respect to extra-ordinary investigation methods that law enforcement authorities could use in the fight against crime.

The meeting is open to the public and will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 20.

On Thursday, 08 December, the Central Committee of Parliament will have a hearing with the Chamber of Commerce & Industry at 10:00am in the General Assembly Chamber.

The hearing discussion will be about the National Ordinance supplementing Title 1 of Book 7 of the Civil Code regarding Provisions to Protect Consumers, particularly on Telesales Contracts and Warranties, National Ordinance Consumer Purchases.

This hearing is open to the public and will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 20.

Great Bay:--- In what is being hailed as a "very good example of public-private partnership", the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, has teamed up with RBC/RBTT for the latter's traditional Christmas in Philipsburg Parade to end up in the Festival Village which will then be transformed into a "Christmas Village" on Friday, December 9, 2011.
The increasingly popular RBC/RBTT Christmas in Philipsburg Parade, now in its seventh year, will start at 6:00PM at F.W. Vlaun & Son at the Long Wall Road, enter Front Street at the Paper Garden intersection, go straight up to Emmaplein, make a left at the bridge and move on along Pondfill Road to the Sundial School roundabout and flow onto the Pondfill Road to wind up at the Festival Village, where it is expected to arrive at about 8:00PM.
Minister Cornelius de Weever, who is standing in for the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, Dr. Rhoda Arrindell, currently on a working visit to Curacao and Aruba, will welcome Santa and his entourage into the Festival Village, where a series of activities will be offered to the general public.
According to organizer, Brenda Wathey, the parade this year will be the biggest ever, with groups such as the New Generation Band, the Soauliga Brass Band, and a combined troupe of the Ebony Steel Orchestra and Gunslingers Steel Pan signed on to entertain the crowd. The parade will also feature the traditional cast of super heros – Wonder Woman, Robin, et al, with Santa preferring a ride on a big fire truck from the "North Pole" since there are no chimneys here for him to squeeze through.
The Festival Village will be open to the general public from 6:00PM, with booths offering traditional Christmas food and drinks, and several activities for children including clowns Dexter and Chris, face-painting by Lucinda & Co, Kiddie Jumpers, cotton candy, popcorn, etc.
Live entertainment on stage consists of a lineup that includes Tiny and the Boys, Chardonnay Martis, Voice of Our Children, the Bottleneck Group, Philipsburg Community Brass Band, Official Band and Tanny and the Boys.
MC for the evening will be Versatile, while music will also be provided by DJ Wilson.

THE ROTARY CLUB OF SAINT MARTIN NORD is proudly presenting RUSSIAN PIANIST JULIAN LAMPERT on Saturday evening at 8:30PM at the MARIGOT CHURCH. Tickets are on sale by Rotarians and at the CRESPIN Pharmacy across from the BDAF bank in Marigot and from the Shipwreck Shops. Tickets are 25€ or 35$ per person and children pay $10.00 at the door.

Come one and all and enjoy a night of great Classical music this Saturday December 17, 2011 at 8:30PM at the Catholic Church in Marigot.

Great Bay:--- Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, Dr. Rhoda Arrindell will be hosting an Education Conference Friday, December 16, 2011 at the University of St. Martin.
The all-day Conference, which starts at 8:00AM and ends at 4:15PM, is themed: "Raising the Bar in Educational Leadership and Management." It is designed primarily for the management teams and school boards of all private and public elementary and secondary schools as well as the management team and supervisory board of the University of St. Martin.
The Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU), the Management and staff of the Ministry of Education as well as the staff of the Minister's Cabinet are also expected to participate in the Conference.
Dr. Arrindell said the objective of the Education Conference is "to introduce the concept of quality, standards, accountability and competencies to those who lead and manage educational institutions in St. Maarten."
"Our aim at this Conference is to provide school managers and school boards with several tools to raise their standard of professionalism, increase leadership and management capacity and quality and to inform them of the reforms and changes in the educational system that will be introduced in the short and medium terms," the Minister added.
According to Mrs. Patricia Lourens, Chairperson of the Organizing Committee of the Conference, and Head of the Division for Educational Research, Planning and Innovation (DERPI) of the Ministry, "the Ministry of Education has, in the last year, made a decision to spearhead an analysis of the performance and an assessment of the policy gaps relative to the Education System."
"One such assessment," she explained, "indicates the need for an urgent capacity development of school boards and school managers and as such this conference, proposed by the Minister, is another effort in a chain of events and actions that is being sought to raise the standard of professionalism, competency, quality and accountability of school management teams."
The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Marc Jerome, Vice President of Monroe College, on the topic of "Leadership and Management in Education."
Other speakers include Ms. Rubina Boasman, an expert in The Netherlands, who will address the topic of "Quality Standards in Higher Education."
The Chief Education Officer of Anguilla will be speaking on "A Teacher and Management Appraisal System," while retired veteran educator, Mrs. Jane Buncamper, will talk about "21st Century Qualities of a Good Teacher and a Good School Manager."
Former President of USM, Mrs. Josianne Fleming will similarly address the topic of "Designing an In-service Training Plan."
One of the major items on the program is the presentation of highlights of the Education Plan.
"The intention is to take this Plan to the people in the early part of the New Year, in town-hall style meetings in the various districts for their input," Minister Arrindell explained.
"We are looking forward to a very exciting Conference with the active participation of all the invited stakeholders," the Minister said.

Philipsburg:--- As of December 19th, 2011, 31 members who finished their BAVPOL training on Friday December 17th, will start to work within the different departments of the Police Force of Sint Maarten. Six (6) of these officers will be placed on the Bikers team, one (1) Operational Unit, four (4) Central Dispatch, one (1) Technical Department, five (5) for the Zero Tolerance Team, 5 for the Simpson Bay Police Department and 5 in the Philipsburg Police Headquarters. These officers will be a great addition to the police force and will help have more " men and women in blue" on the streets. This will also help to create a greater sense of security. On Saturday and Sunday the officers on the Bikers team was seen getting training from the Team leader Major Claudio Ellis who is a certified instructor. The Acting Chief of Police Commissioner Carl John on behalf of the management team welcomed the officers and wished them much success.

The Labor Office will be closed on Wednesday afternoon (December 21, 2011), as the renovated Labor office will be officially opened by the Minister of Public Health, Social Development & Labor.

On behalf of the Hon. Minister Cornelius de Weever , the general public is cordially invited to attend the official opening of the newly renovated Labor & Social Welfare Department starting at 3:00pm.

Philipsburg:--- The Windward Islands Health Care Union and Associates (WIHCUA) resigned from the Chamber of Labour Unions as of December 8th 2011.
SMN News learnt that the WIHCUA delivered their resignation letter to the President of the Chamber of Labour Unions Theophillus Thompson when they learnt that Thompson was meeting with the Minister of Health and Labour Cornelius de Weever. According to information reaching SMN News, the meeting with Thompson and the Minister of Health and Labour Cornelius de Weever took place one day before the chamber and its members were scheduled to meet with the Minister to discuss several labour related issues. Sources close to the WIHCUA said the President of the WIHCUA has lost trust and confidence in the Chamber's president. They said Lynch can no longer trust Thompson since he is not honest and transparent with them as members of the Chamber.
SMN News also learnt that while the WIHCUA was a member of the Chamber since 2003 they are yet to receive a copy of the Articles of Incorporation from the President of the Chamber of Labour Unions.
In an invited comment, President of the WIHCUA Julian Lynch confirmed that he submitted a letter of resignation to the Windward Islands Chamber of Labour Unions because there is an insurmountable amount of issues between parties. Lynch also provided letters of communication between the members of the chamber who wrote him since April 2003.
In the meantime, the Chamber of Labour Unions and the other unions on St. Maarten are scheduled to meet on Wednesday afternoon in a tripartite meeting. Lynch said that while he was invited to the meeting he is not sure if the WIHCUA will attend since they are listed as substitute member and not a member of the tripartite committee.

Click here to view communications between WIHCUA and WICLU.

Fellow Sint Maarteners,

The Christmas season is upon us once again and it's a wonderful time of the year. We can celebrate with loved ones, celebrate our faith at this special time of the year, and reflect upon our food fortune to live in the greatest country in the Caribbean.
On behalf of my family, the staff of the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Development, Environment and Infrastructure, and myself, may God continue to bless and keep you during this holiday season and may you find and enjoy love and peace with your families.
Christmas is a time for community. This holiday season brings with it the opportunity for residents to come together in harmony to rekindle bonds of community. Let us all work together to rediscover the communal spirit that will help us to overcome the many challenges that confront our people every day.
Throughout 2011, as a country we faced and overcame many challenges. We had many achievements, and also periods of frustration. Through it all we have remained steadfast in our determination as a country to work together to improve the quality of life and the standard of living of our people.
We face many challenges but none insurmountable if we are prepared to work collectively for the development of our country and the well-being of our people.
May God's blessings of peace and love be continuously upon us this holiday season.
May God bless our island nation and its people.
Merry Christmas Sint Maarten,

Theo Heyliger
Vice Prime Minister
Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Development, Environment and Infrastructure

Season's Greetings to my fellow Sint Maarteners and Visitors,
As a nation we are preparing to celebrate the feast of Christmas. Here in Sint Maarten it is eagerly anticipated as a time for family gathering, religious services, and getting together with friends.
I wish to extend best wishes to Sint Maarteners here and abroad, and to all those visiting with us at this time of year a very Merry Christmas.
During this time we are reminded of God's great love for our country. The feast of Christmas is a very special occasion and a time for us not only to reflect on Jesus love for us but for our love for family and friends. May the expressions of goodwill and the gifts that we exchange be the outward expression of that love.
Despite 2011 being a trying and difficult year for the people and families of Sint Maarten, we continue to manage our economy prudently and sensibly so as to ensure that we are well placed to benefit from the global recovery as it slowly occurs from the worst recession in living memory.
Despite the challenges and uncertainties of 2011, Christmas ushers in a season of generosity of spirit and sharing.
Christmas is and has always been an extraordinary time for sharing and giving. It is the season for celebration and for renewal. It is a time for us to forget the things that have divided us throughout the year during the course of the year and to celebrate the things that binds us together as a Sint Maarten community and people.
Let this holiday season once again be a period where we spend quality time with our families and friends. Let it be a time for hope, a period of joy for young and old alike, a time for giving and receiving, of love and friendship.
God Bless the people of Sint Maarten and our visitors.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,

Franklin Meyers
Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Telecommunications & Transport

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) and the Department of Communication (DCOMM) in a collective public service message is urging motorists not to "Drink and Drive," during the up-coming holiday weekend. The emphasis is on keeping our roads safe.

Every driver has to reduce tragedy on the roads. The onus is on the one behind the wheel who has a responsibility when driving a vehicle.

Pay attention while driving by being disciplined and not impatient. Also select a designated driver if you plan to have a couple of drinks with friends.

There will be a lot of entertainment activities over the holiday weekend at bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

In order for every Sint Maarten family and visitors to be able to enjoy themselves, those driving on our roads club hopping, need to be their brother's keeper by paying attention to those who may have had a little too much to drink.

Friends don't let friends drive drunk. Let us all have a safe weekend going into the New Year without having any road tragedies due to driving under the influence.

You also have the option of taking a taxi cab home or to your hotel if you are not able to drive. Don't become a danger to yourself and other road users.

The following appeal is part of CPS's annual Safe Holidays campaign in conjunction with DCOMM.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- World AIDS Day 2011 marked the world heading into the fourth decade of AIDS. The day also signified among political leaders around the world that significant progress had been made during the past three decades and that the world was finally in a position to end the epidemic.

The number if HIV infections have fallen by more than 20 per cent since 1997. New infections are continuing to decline in most parts of the world. In addition, treatment has averted 2.5 million AIDS-related deaths since 1985, saving 700,000 lives last year alone.

Prime Minister Hon. Sarah Wescot-Williams on Thursday for World AIDS Day received a red ribbon from HIV/AIDS Programme Manager Suzette Moses-Burton.

Philipsburg:--- Minister of Economic & Tourism Affairs, Telecommunications & Transport Franklin Meyers, would like to congratulate all those working in the civil aviation field as well as supporting sectors such as the meteorological services, service providers etc on the occasion of International Civil Aviation Day, Wednesday, December 7.

The theme this year is, "Assistance and Cooperation for Globally Sustainable Air Transport."

The United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 1996 officially proclaimed December 7 as International Civil Aviation Day. The day is annually observed to raise awareness of the importance of international civil aviation and its role in civil life.

"After achieving country status a little over a year ago, great strides are being made to establish our own civil aviation authority in order to continue to assure safe and secure travel within the North Eastern Caribbean and beyond.

"I would like to encourage our youth to seek a career in civil aviation. I am an avid aviation man myself and enjoy flying. It's a great experience and a hobby. There are various careers in the civil aviation field and as a country we need our own home-grown professionals in this area.

"Congratulations to all those working in this very important field and I encourage our young people to pursue a career in aviation affairs," Minister of Transportation Affairs Meyers said on Wednesday.

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a UN body responsible for developing international standards for aviation safety.

ICAO was established on December 7, 1944, by the UN to secure international cooperation and uniformity in civil aviation matters.

International aviation has a long history of helping to create and preserve friendship and understanding among the nations and peoples of the world.

NAGICO Assurances invites the general public to their Open House to be held on Wednesday December 14, 2011 at their office at Rue de la Republique # 17 in Marigot.

The Director of Operations Ms. Francesca Hunt personally invites you to come in to get free advice on your Home, Auto, Commercial and Liability insurance needs.

According to Ms. Hunt: "Anyone interested in getting more information on how to lower their premiums should stop by December 14th and have one of our insurance experts work out a proposal for them".

The Open House starts at 10.00 am with a live radio broadcast onsite and steel pan music from the legendary "The Mighty Dow". Complimentary refreshments and light snacks will be available to persons coming in for an insurance check-up including free gifts.

The Open House continues with gifts being handed over to children by Santa Claus between 2.30 pm – 4.00 pm. Children will be able to get to meet Santa Claus and enjoy the holiday spirit.

Ms. Hunt: "Come out and start enjoying the festive seasonal spirit while our NAGICO Assurances experts cover your insurance needs".

Great Bay:--- She blazed a trail for women in St. Martin, and now, close to four decades after she first started working at Princess Juliana International Airport, Air Traffic Controller Jean Christian still has the drive of a trailblazer as she mentors another generation of controllers to take over the baton.
It is no wonder then that her 84-year-old father, Raphael Christian, once himself in the aviation industry, and her two children nag her about writing a book. "She has a story to tell," the still spirited St. Martiner said of his daughter. "She is one of few that touched two queens – Juliana and Beatrix. She needs to write a book to encourage others." He expressed the sentiment on the night of December 3, 2011, when Jean received her accolade for 38 years of service to the Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company N.V. (PJIAE).
"Words cannot express how I feel tonight. I am so honored to be given my flowers while I still am alive," Jean Christian stated. The "flowers" did not come easily. Very early in her career she had to prove herself in a field previously dominated by men.
"In my days, being the first female air traffic controller, you had to prove yourself. Then it was a man's field, so you had to earn the respect of your coworkers and the pilots." At the time, she was under the supervision of Jan Brown, who recently retired.
Some might ask, why then did she take on this job? According to Christian, she was always fascinated with planes.
When she first emigrated to St. Martin, Jean's mother enrolled her in St. Joseph School, where she spent one year. Thereafter, she attended MAVO on Backstreet, where the Sr. Borgia Elementary School is now housed.
While attending her last years of MAVO, she also worked weekends with Winair. At the time, her father was the deputy airport manager and was involved in recruiting people to pursue a study in aviation sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme. With the blessings of Sam Hazel who was then the deputy or commissioner of aviation affairs, five candidates were chosen for the UNDP-sponsored course.
This presented the opportunity in 1971 for Jean to head to the Air Traffic Controllers Academy in Curacao and, thereafter, create a piece of history for the island she has called home since sixth grade.
While attending the course in Curacao, I said to myself, "You cannot fail," "You have no room to fail." So from Sunday to Thursday I studied every night until one or four o'clock in the morning. I was privileged to be the first female air traffic controller in the Netherlands Antilles" on January 3, 1973, one year after returning from Curacao.
The Antigua-born Jean gives much of the credit for her success to her parents, especially her now-deceased mother, Helen Hill, who extolled the values she now possesses. She said at the time she never fully appreciated the disciplined upbringing she had, but later realized that that had a lot to do with her success.
"It teaches you to become focused and remain focused. It enhances your ambition. My mother's strict upbringing had a lot to do with it. It teaches you real values."
Today, she looks for the same values in young people applying for the job. According to Jean, she wants to see that ambition to succeed. To be an air traffic controller, she explained, one must be able to think quickly in certain situations.
"I am part of the hiring committee for air traffic and I look for young people with a drive. They must be disciplined, ambitious ... and have the passion. I have to recognize that passion for aviation, it is not about the money. It is important that you are able to think quickly on your feet. You must be self-motivated."

Early days at PJIA

Many joke about what the early days at the now sophisticated Princess Juliana International Airport must have been like. In the absence of a hi-tech intercom system, did they have to walk up to passengers one by one and say, "Your flight to St. Kitts is leaving now"?
What about how messages, crucial to the job of an air traffic controller, were transmitted?
As Jean explained, those were the days when necessity was, indeed, the mother of invention. Like her colleagues, she can reminisce of a time when a PVC pipe and wire were used to get handwritten messages up to the tower and back down again.
The receiver, likewise, Jean said, was "of the ancient times." Ever so often there would be a lot of static on the line and they literally had to scream at the top of their lungs to send a message to Puerto Rico.
"San Juaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan, this is Julianaaaaaaaaaa! Are you hearing me?" According to Jean, the response from San Juan would sound like crickets on the line because there was so much static.
"That was some of the old equipment we had to work with," she said with a smile and a hint of pride in her voice.
Then there was the teletype to transmit information of a flight that had departed. In today's term, it would be tantamount to a fax.
"When a plane leaves an airport, going to another destination, the information is sent ahead of time because if [the plane] does not show up within the timeframe then you know [something's wrong]."
But according to Jean, the teletype had a mind of its own. Sometimes it worked, and sometimes it didn't. So in those moments of lapses, the air traffic controllers had to improvise to get their messages out.
"We would have to ask a plane to pass the message on. ... We always had to come up with ideas. We had to do a lot of improvisation in those days just to get things done or working, or to get information from one point to another. But I wouldn't change my profession for anything."
Those were the most challenging times for Jean. Since there was no sophisticated equipment, there were times a plane would get "lost." If the plane did not have the right equipment, the pilot may circumnavigate due to bad weather. When that plane goes off track to avoid clouds there was a likelihood of it being "lost." It was then the challenge of the air traffic controllers to find it again. But as Jean puts it, she likes challenges and has proven this true from her first day on the job.

What keeps her going?

"People ask me what I like most about this job. It is the fact that I don't have to take it home. When it is finished, it is finished. When you go to aviation school, the first thing they say to you is whatever problems you are encountering outside, you hang it on the outside door before you enter and when you leave remember to take them back up. You must be able to be very good at separating those lives."
Based on her teachings, Jean Christian immediately sheds her private life upon entering Princess Juliana International Airport and assumes her job as Air Traffic Controller. She does not focus on any personal problems because she knows that her full concentration is needed to safely guide planes in and out of the island's airspace.
One thing is certain. Her day-to-day life on the job can never be described as boring. There is always something to keep her vigilant.
"It is not monotonous. Every day is exciting because you constantly have to be using your brain. It keeps you alert. ... You have to think on your feet. You have to be very good at that. You have to make quick decisions. You must be able to recover quickly."
Aviation, for her, is the best field there is. It is what she has spent her lifetime doing and she will be immortalized as the first woman to control traffic in St. Martin's airspace.

Philipsburg:--- A Central Committee Hearing is scheduled for 13 December about a Centralized Registration System for Child Abuse.

The Central Committee of Parliament Hearing for the central registration system will be held on Tuesday morning at 10.00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House of Parliament.

A number of organizations and entities dealing with children have been invited to parliament to give their input with respect to the national ordinance to amend Book 1 of the Civil Code.

The organizations are Safe Haven, Court of Guardianship, I Can Foundation, Crystal Home, UJIMA Foundation, Multipurpose Organization Foundation, and Women's Desk.

Parliamentary hearings over the past two months are part of the process to deal with amendments to the Civil and Penal Codes. Parliament in a session of October 3 requested that other entities be heard with respect to amendments that are to be made to various laws that govern the country.

A Central Committee meeting of Parliament is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at 2.00pm with reference to visa policies, admittance and expulsion of the countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

This meeting will take place in the General Assembly Chamber in the House of Parliament and the Minister of Justice Hon. Roland Duncan has been asked to be present to exchange views and ideas about the aforementioned.

The hearing and central committee meeting are open to the public and will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 20.

On December 14, the Zoo will have been open to the pubic for twenty years. On the occasion of this anniversary, we will have special admission rates on Sunday December 18th. This coming Sunday adults can enter at half price ($5.00) and children can enter free when accompanied by a paying adult.

 

The President of the Board, Mr. Rob Heil, has prepared the following message to the community on behalf of the Zoo's twenty years.

December 14 marks the twentieth anniversary of the St.Maarten Zoo and its governing body, the St.Maarten Zoological and Botanical Garden Foundation.

The St. Maarten Zoo was opened by a group of dedicated volunteers in 1991. Since then it has braved many set-backs. All the major hurricanes and tropical storms that have battered the island have also caused substantial set-back and damage to the zoo and its operations.

Time and time again the community in the capacity of companies or individual volunteers have come to our assistance with donations in goods, money or time and have thus helped us to stay alive. It is to those companies and individuals that my congratulations on the occasion of this twentieth birthday go out. I would also like to congratulate our current and former members that have supported us throughout the years.

From the start we , as a board, realized that the existence of animals in captivity is under heavy criticism these days. We have therefore made it our policy to exhibit only animals that are captive born, which means we usually get the animals that are surplus in other zoo. This, combined with high shipping cost or simply no airlift from donating zoos, has restricted the variety of the collection.

We also assist the customs department in the housing of endangered species that have been confiscated in an attempt to import them illegally into St.Maarten.

We are proud to say that many school groups visit our zoo as part of educational trips. We strive to educate our local youngsters on the beauty and richness of nature, while at the same time taking part in preserving species throughout the world, that are on the brink of extinction.
For instance, our own ocelot is currently enrolled in a breeding program in the US while we exhibit ocelots that are non- breeding. We also successfully bred two bush dogs, another endangered species. The babies were sent to the St. Louis Zoo to take part in the breeding program there.
Another prime example is the four Cotton Top tamarins, of which there are only a few left in the wild. We have so far successfully bred three.

Therefore, although we are in constant need of volunteers, new board members and money, we proudly congratulate St. Maarten for helping keep the Zoo alive for twenty years!

Happy Birthday and Thank You for your continued support!!

Rob Heil
President
St. Maarten Zoological and Botanical Foundation

On Thursday December 15 the weekly television program The Law in Focus starts the broadcast of its Year in Review with excerpts of highlights of the year. The last program of the year on Thursday December 29, 2011 will feature the Honorable Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams in conversation with the program's host, Dr. Nilda Arduin, reviewing the first year of the young country Sint Maarten.
The public is invited to tune in as of this Thursday to tab into some very interesting information, which remains relevant today.
The Board of Foundation Focus, producer of The Law in Focus, thanks the sponsors, viewers and listeners for their patronage. Special thanks go to Winair, who diligently cooperates to make broadcast of the program on Saba and Statia possible.
On behalf of the producers, Info Video Production and all volunteers we extend Season Greetings to one and all; a blessed and safe Holidays and a Prosperous New Year.
The Law in Focus is aired every Thursday night from 9:30-10:00 PM on Cable TV channel 15, with rebroadcast on Wednesdays from 6:00-6:30 PM.

On behalf of Foundation Focus
Dr. Nilda Arduin

This morning, Fehmi K. Kutluer, attorney at law at Lexwell Attorneys, was sworn in by the Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten and Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius in St. Maarten.
Fehmi graduated in 2009 at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. He is specialized in European Law and intellectual property law more specifically trade mark law and parallel import. He joined the Lexwell firm in October 2011 and works in the general practice and he will handle most of the firm's intellectual property cases.
Lexwell Attorneys have been providing legal services on Sint Maarten for over 19 years. Combined, the two partners of the firm Jeroen Veen and Mark Kortenoever have been practicing law on Sint Maarten and the other Islands for over 40 years. They have a wealth of experience and vast knowledge about the Sint Maarten legal system. They are board members in several organizations such as the General Audit Chamber, the SZV and the Chamber of Commerce. Lexwell currently has 8 attorneys one of which is expected to be sworn in during the Court Session of January 2012. The Lexwell law practice is a general practice with an emphasis on corporate law and civil litigation.

Philipsburg:--- Minister of Finance Hon. Hiro Shigemoto says that the Ministry of Finance is working with the Committee of Financial Supervision CFT to finalize the 2012 national budget.

"The Ministry of Finance is currently working closely with the CFT to work out a few technical adjustments and this process, I expect to see rounded off in January leading to a positive advice from the CFT," Minister of Finance Hon. Hiro Shigemoto said on Tuesday.

In the meantime Parliament, the Governor and the General Audit Chamber have been informed that the process to complete the national budget and have it submitted to Parliament by the December 15 timeline will not be met taking into consideration the aforementioned.

The 2012 national budget presented to the CFT is Naf.432,549,600 million while the 2011 budget is Naf.420,916,597 million.

"The new timeline that I am working with where the country's budget is presented to Parliament is the latter part of January 2012, and finalized by the latest, March 1, 2012.

"In the interim, the 2011 budget will be the budget used until the 2012 budget has been passed by Parliament and signed into law by the Governor and the Minister of Finance.

"Every effort is being made by the Government apparatus and those working in the Ministry of Finance to have all processes and systems in place in order to be able to completely comply with the Financial Supervision Compatability Law for Curacao and Sint Maarten.

"As everybody is aware, the country is not able to have a deficit. During the first budget year cycle of 2011, the Ministry of Finance and the CFT worked closely together and presented a balanced budget taking into consideration the various challenges that came with the transition from Island Territory to Country.

"The Ministry of Finance is working diligently to ensure that the systems and processes are in place and lessons learnt in the previous budgets are reflected in the 2013 national budget which I intend to start working on as early as February 2012," Minister of Finance Hon. Hiro Shigemoto concluded.

Philipsburg:--- A gas leak of unknown origin caused the Ministers and civil servants working at the Government Administration to leave their offices on Monday afternoon.
Personnel from the fire department evacuated the workers and Ministers who were in the building for their own safety as they combed the entire building to find the leak. Up to late Monday evening the gas leak was not found. A strong scent of gas was emanating from the sealed building Monday evening. Up to press time it was not clear if the building would reopen on Tuesday.

No less than a 150 Food Hampers were distributed to families on the island under the leadership of Community Service Director Fred Van Der Peijl. With the help of many who provided the names and addresses of those in need of assistance, Fred and his team of Rotarians maneuvered their way through often challenging roads during the past rainy weeks to spread some "thanksgiving". Bearing Food Hampers filled with non perishables, made possible with the help of Prime Distributors, Rotarians joined numerous organizations in helping many families in need this year.
But food was not the only thing that filled the spirit of giving, as Santa made his annual visit to the Rotary Children's Christmas party at the St. Maarten Zoo. Assistant District Governor James Ferris, President Rebecca Low, organizing committee Rotarians Henna Budhrani, Maria Buncamper and many other Rotarians welcomed over 70 children, primarily from the Belvedere area, guided by the very capable leaders of the Belvedere Community Center, who were treated to Domino's Pizza, Cake House cup cakes and drinks, provided by Prime Distributors.
After touring the St. Maarten Zoo in Madam Estate the children enjoyed the playground, had some treats while anxiously awaiting the highlight of the party, which was Santa of course, who came with his Santa bag filled with gifts for all the children.
The Rotary Club of St. Maarten would like to thank the many donors and volunteers who made it possible for the club to realize the many community service projects it carried out during 2011. Rotarians would also like to wish the community of St. Maarten a Merry Christmas and may the Rotary Four Way Test guide our island and its people in 2012 and beyond: Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

A pilot mentorship training is in full swing at the St. Maarten Vocational Training School. This mentorship training program is being organized by the Division for Education Research Policy and Innovations (DERPI) and facilitated by Erna Mae Francis, MA, Director of the Victorious Living Foundation (VLF).

At the end of the 2010-2011 school year SMVTS approached DERPI with this idea to organize a tailor made mentorship training specifically for their school with a holistic approach i.e. tackling the concept of mentorship from different angles. VLF was keyed as the right institution to carry out this training. Since then the team at the SMVTS have been actively participating in several training sessions starting with their participation at the Mentorship Symposium organized by VLF in August 2011. Following a very successful symposium the team at SMVTS is currently almost midway a 9-week 'curriculum' tackling the team spirit within the school amongst many other topics; the last training of this year taking place on the 14th of December.

Next the team at the SMVTS will begin in January 2012 with bi-monthly training sessions designed to cover topics such as confidentiality, communication, youth empowerment, amongst many others.

DERPI is pleased to be able to provide such an in depth mentorship training and looking forward to seeing the results. If this holistic approach proves successful, this pilot training could be implemented in other PSVE schools in an effort to boost the mentoring aspect of the school system.

DERPI would like to thank the SMVTS for their initiative spirit in seeking ways to tackle issues within their school, the VLF for accepting the opportunity to share the vast amount of knowledge they have garnered throughout the years and USONA for funding this project.

Philipsburg:--- The Council of Ministers have decided that the Cost of Living Adjustments (COL) will be paid out sometime in 2012 to all civil servants confirmed Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams at Wednesday's Council of Ministers press briefing. Wescot Williams said that government is trying to source the monies and she does not know if the payment can be made in January 2012. The Prime Minister said government agreed that everything must be done and all avenues have to be looked at in order for the payments to be made.
Wescot Williams said that government will not reverse their current budget that is being worked on but an amendment will have to be made to the 2012 budget to accommodate the COL payments.
In the meantime, the Prime Minister said the government has reserved Naf. 300,000,00 that will be used for the bonuses of the civil servants.

Christmas is a time of love, hope, and of sharing. It is these virtues that give Christmas its character of celebration, of joy.
Christmas is a time of giving, of caring, of bringing good cheer to the needy and the dispossessed. Let us celebrate with moderation.
Let us use Christmas as a time to reflect and also to recharge our energies through adequate rest, in order to face the challenges which lie ahead in the New Year.
Let us come together in the true spirit of Christmas; let us work together to bring prosperity to our nation for 2012.
This Christmas, take the time to tell your family how important they are to you. This will be something that they will cherish forever. Remember, love, joy and peace are gifts that do not cost much to give and they are priceless
I know 2011 has been a trying year for all, but we have hope that it will get better as we trust in God. Despite our present economic challenges, we still have reason to give thanks in so many respects, Sint Maarten is still fortunate when compared to other countries in both developed and developing countries.
We are fortunate to be living in one of the most beautiful spots in the world and for that we must be thankful.
I am confident that we as a people, as a nation, will be resilient in 2012 and the strength and spirit of that drive will move us once again forward as it has done for generations during challenging times.
Trust in God, and for the future, on behalf of my Cabinet, the Ministry of Finance, my family and I, we wish each one of you, a blessed Christmas and a happy and safe holiday season.
May God Bless the people of this beautiful country.
From my family to yours: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Hon. Hiro Shigemoto
Minister of Finance

My fellow St. Maarteners,

God has given us the awesome gift of being able to wake up this morning and with grateful hearts, thanking him for sparing our lives to see and enjoy another Christmas with our family and friends. And for this gift, the greatest of them all, we are forever thankful. I am often reminded of what the true meaning of Christmas is, " a gift to mankind". A gift that has freed those who were spiritually and mentally enslaved, a gift that has healed those who were sick, a gift that has fed those who were hungry, a gift that has clothed so many who were naked, and roofs over the heads of families. That is the gift we ought to be excited for this Christmas.

I am also aware that many families have woken up this morning with the spiritual gifts of Christmas but not the physical ones that they so dyer need. Many are sick and alone praying to be healed, in anticipation of not only a phone call but a visit from a friendly face. Many families in our community today are like the son of God, with no place to lay there heads. And there are those who will not be able to sit at a table, to partake in a meal like we have prepared.

In knowing all of this, I also know the hearts of the people of this great island. A heart of love, a heart of compassion and a heart of giving. For it is the bible that teaches, for much which is given, much is required. There was a man of faith that died and when he reached the throne, God said depart from me, I never knew you, and the man replied, God have I not sang in your name, have i not told others of your goodness, God replied yes you have. But when I was hungry, you never fed me, when I was naked, you never clothed me, when I was shut in, you never visited me. For what you do to the least of your brethren, you also do it unto me. So I say to the people of St. Maarten, let this be a Christmas like no other, Let today be the day that will change the hearts of our people forever. Let us give a gift to someone in need, the true GIFT of Christmas. God bless you and may God continue to bless my people of this great island.

Sincerely,

MP Romain J Laville

Philipsburg:--- The Chamber of Labour Unions and other members of the tripartite committee is expected to hammer out some of the labour abuse currently taking place on St. Maarten announced Vice President of the Chamber of Labour Unions Claire Elshot on Thursday.
Curbing the abuse of the short term contracts, workers protection, possible laws to protect the working class, and the minimum wage are some of the topics that will be discussed in the second tripartite meeting which is scheduled for January 2012, Elshot said. The WICLU Vice President said the unions already submitted their agenda points to the Minister of Labour Cornelius de Weever. One of the concerns of the WICLU members is the new trend by employers who have decided to issue nine months labour contracts to their workers. Elshot said the employers are circumventing the law since much is said about the abuse of the short term contracts.
As for the minimum wage, Elshot said the minimum wage on St. Maarten is much lower than what is paid in other parts of the Kingdom which according to her amounts to inequality among citizens. Unionized workers are somewhat protected because the unions negotiates more when negotiating the Collective Labour Agreements (CLA) but minimum wage workers have to survive on an unlivable salary while prices are skyrocketing.
In the meantime, the unions are hoping to see a proactive government in 2012, said the WICLU members on Thursday. "We are looking forward to a more enhanced and proactive Government in 2012." Theophillus Thompson President of the WICLU said they plan to conduct and evaluation rating early in the New Near. "Our intention is to give credit to employers who have chosen to do the right thing while exposing the ones that are exploiting their workers." The inaction of government this past year has left a lot to be desired, there is room for improvement within the government apparatus.
Thompson described 2011 as challenging for the unions and its workers. Furthermore, this trend is likely to intensify next year and the unions hope to work closer with government to resolve the issues that are plaguing workers. The intention is to conduct evaluations and to put or priorities in prospective next year, the WICLU members said.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- On the 27th November the organization 'Vriendengenootschap Nederland, Antillen en Aruba (VNAA),' organized a cultural afternoon in Bodegraven, Holland, where the Ministers of Plenipotentiary of Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten participated.

Minister Plenipotentiary Hon. Mathias Voges gave a short summary of the political history from the period 1948 to 2010.

A student from each country told their story of what they have achieved while studying and living in Holland and their plans for the future.

Sint Maarten student Apolonia Violenus said she wanted to return home after her studies and contribute towards nation building. Violenus told attendees that she also wanted Sint Maarten students studying in Holland to be able to participate in parliamentary elections.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Earlier in the week contestants in the Caraibes Hibiscus Pageant paid a courtesy visit to members of the Council of Ministers.

Marigot:--- The physicians of Saint Martin and Saint Barthélémy hospitals, represented by their Union « Coordination Syndicale des Praticiens des Hôpitaux des Iles du Nord » – have welcomed Prefet Jacques SIMONNET's decision to give the utmost priority to medical concerns in respect of emergency medical flights, they said in a press release.
"According to the Medical Code of Ethics, we must provide the best standard of care, according to enforced scientific standards and use the best tools and techniques available.
It is hard to conceive that patients we are in charge of would endure a lower level of service, when safer and more efficient resources are available on the island, and at a lower cost."
The medical community of the Northern Islands wishes to express their warm recognition to all those who supported and backed this fight for quality and safety:
The health care professionals thanked the elected representatives: Mr Guillaume ARNELL, Member of the Territory Council, Senator Louis-Constant FLEMING, President Franz GUMBS, and Mr. Victorin LUREL, President of Guadeloupe's Regional Council; Mr. Roland TOUSSAINT the hospital manager, as well as journalists and all individuals who provided them with advices, support and solidarity.

"We healthcare professionals are firmly committed to acting in the best interest of the population we are serving."

Philipsburg:--- Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams confirmed on Wednesday during the Council of Ministers press briefing that she will be scheduling a meeting with the GOA and the unions that are representing the civil servants to further discuss the non-payment of the Cost of Living Allowances which were to be paid out in January 2012 for the year 2010. Prime Minister Wescot Williams said that she plans to meet with the parties concerned before leaving to the Netherlands at the middle of this month.
Civil servants and teachers are to receive a 3.2% increase as the COL (salary indexation) payments based on an advice issued by the GOA as well as an agreement that was made between the unions and the government. Wescot Williams told members of the media that due to the budget constrains for 2012 the monies were not budgeted for 2012 and as such the civil servants will not be getting the COL payments come January.
The Prime Minister said the first draft of the 2012 budget had a deficit of 100 hundred million guilders which government had to get rid of so they could meet the requirements of the CFT.
The Prime Minister refused to divulge any information as to how the Government of St. Maarten intends to deal with the matter which might cause labor unrest. Wescot Williams said she has no intention to discuss or divulge information to media prior to meeting with the GOA and the unions.

Philipsburg:--- Since the establishment of the coalition government after the September 17th elections members of the media have been experiencing difficulties getting the various Ministers on the floor of the Government press conference on Wednesdays. Most of these Ministers are not even reachable by phone or email. Reporters that have pertinent questions to the various portfolios are forced to run their stories without proper explanations from the government apparatus. The only person who makes it her duty to attend the weekly press briefing is the Prime Minister of St. Maarten Sarah Wescot Williams who on a number of occasions has to find answers to questions that does not belong in her portfolio. When the Prime Minister is not on island, the weekly press briefing is cancelled at short notice.
There are a few times the Deputy Prime Minister Theo Heyliger showed up at the weekly press briefing. Since taking office as Deputy Prime Minister he must have attended the weekly press conference on four occasions. Each time taking a swipe at some company or person. We have tried on several occasions to get real answers from the Deputy Prime Minister regarding GEBE while we need the Deputy Prime Minister and UP party leader to tell us how he intends to fix the Pelican affair and what measures if any will be used against his Member of Parliament Jules James, but the UP leader refuses to attend these meetings.
When asked by SMN News if the Prime Minister discussed this matter in her cabinet, she said she has never done so because each Minister is responsible for their Ministry and they have the right to choose the way they do their public relations. " I don't know if Wednesdays are not feasible for them but I schedule my meetings in such a way that I can be here," Wescot Williams said.

On Wednesday 7th December, 2011 history was made for both St. Maarten and Postal Services St. Maarten NV, with the handover of the first set of new Tax stamps for country St. Maarten.

On hand for the hand for the official handover at the Receiver's office was the Hon. Prime Minister Sarah Wescott Williams, Mr. Denicio Richardson (Manaing Director PSS) and Mrs. Minerva Gumbs (Act. Head Receivers) on behalf of the Receivers'. After lengthy discussions and negotiations that started since last year 2010, PSS was awarded the contract to redesign and produce the new St. Maarten tax stamps with some minor changes to the previous. PSS had to follow a strict code in reproducing, and was able to succesfully produce and handover the first set of Tax Stamps to the amount of 100,000. The stamps are of high quality and the Receiver office was very happy and relieved to have gotten the batch of stamps as the previous old Antillean ones had ran out. With the new stamps in hand these will be put into circulation very soon and as country St. Maarten, another step again was made in setting us apart and further cementing our own identity.

The Hon. Prime Minister was given the honor to hand over the first of the 100,000 new St. Maarten Tax stamps of the 25 cents denomination on behalf of PSS to the Receiver. This is a first of more projects that Postal Services St. Maarten, will be engaging in to allow PSS in its quest to diversify its business activities.

PSS continues to work on bringing back other arrangements and services back into the post and will updating the public soon on other ventures within short.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Friday, December 9th, marked International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD). The United Nations (UN) General Assembly on October 31, 2003, adopted the UN Convention against Corruption.

The Assembly also designated December 9th as IACD, to raise awareness of corruption and the role of the Convention in combating and preventing it. The Convention entered into force in December 2005.

The theme for this year is: "Act against Corruption Today."

On St. Maarten, the Integrity project is well underway, since the financial approval was given several months ago.

Corruption is a serious crime that can undermine the social and economic development in any society.

As part of the Integrity Project of the Government of Sint Maarten, stakeholders are busy developing the countries first integrity vision which will then be formulated into an Integrity Policy document Sint Maarten.

"While corruption is a worldwide phenomenon, combating this scourge needs to be tailored to local perceptions and vulnerabilities. Understanding the phenomenon and its effects on society is the first step. It is also a community effort", Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams said on the occasion of the IACD 2011.

The November 25 Integrity Stakeholders Vision Workshop was attended by Secretaries General, Department Heads within government with defined Integrity tasks and responsibilities, the General Audit Chamber and the Ombudsman, among others.

In March 2011, the financial agreement for the highly anticipated Integrity Policy Sint Maarten was signed after the Council of Ministers approved this project in December 2010.

With its contribution of $ 25,000.00 UTS is a main sponsor of the Spotlight St. Maarten Marine Trades event which is slated to kick off today, Tuesday December 13th at The Yacht Club Isle De Sol in Simpson Bay. The event will showcase St. Maarten as a yachting destination and allow different marine trades partners to showcase their products and services to event attendees. The 5 day event will feature seminars, lectures, and round table discussions on various topics that are of interest for customers and businesses in the marine trade. One topic to be discussed is internet connectivity while staying on a yacht on the island temporarily. 'There are various internet service offerings out there for visitors to our island, but with our CaribServe 4G wireless broadband service, we are confident that we can offer our visitors the best broadband service available in the market,' says UTS Marketing and Communications Officer, Ivy Lambert. Attendees to spotlight St. Maarten will be able to try out the service at Isle De Sol and will also be able to get more information about how to get the service for their yacht or sailboat. The marine industry is an ever-growing sector of tourism for the island of St. Maarten, offering training and employment opportunities to locals as well. 'In supporting the development of this sector of tourism for the island it is our goal to contribute toward the sustainability of the tourism industry of the island. This sector is a lucrative sector of business which we believe will help in diversifying St. Maarten's tourism product,' Lambert continued. Following the various seminars throughout the week, a VIP cocktail party will be held for invited guests and government dignitaries on Friday evening at Isle De Sol. On Saturday afternoon a beach party and concert will be held on Kim Sha beach, which will be open to the public. Among others, Orange Grove will be performing to entertain the crowd.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The Council of Ministers (CoM) in its meeting on Tuesday, December 13, 2011 took a decision to give civil servants and teachers the day off on Friday, December 16 and Monday, January 2, 2012.

School bus drivers are hereby requested to take note of the above.

Cul-de-Sac:--- Ti's the season to be sharing as Chipster proudly announces the "Chipster Gives Back" campaign. The objective is to have all members and participating Chipster buddies give back to the community of St. Maarten in order to make a difference to those giving and most importantly to those receiving. The first initiation goes towards the UJIMA, Chrystal Home and ICAN Foundation where Chipster (UTS) donated 28 Samsung cell phones each including Naf 20 credit to 28 kids age 9+. The kids automatically signed up for the Chipster program and are now able to call each other at a discounted rate and take advantage of discount at over 30 Chipster Buddy locations.

Besides receiving the cell phone, Christmas will be coming early to these homes....during the 12 days gearing up to the Christmas they will be receiving a tremendous amount of gifts and surprises from some of the Chipster buddies. The "Chipster Gives Back" campaign is slated to continuously support the community with many contributions in the near future, targeting our environment, education and much more...

...

Philipsburg:--- Minister of Finance Hon. Hiro Shigemoto says due to the closure of the Receivers on Friday, December 16, tax payers can still make payments through the bank on that day.

Payments can also be made on Monday, December 19 at the Receivers.

Philipsburg:--- On Wednesday December 7th, the Soualiga Corporate Toastmasters held its last meeting for the year 2011, the final meeting included the induction of 5 new members, namely Eva De Weever, Epedimiologist at the Ministry of Health, Tammy Richardson, Project Manager of the Integrity Project at BAK, Sharine Romeo, Financial Administrator, Ministry of Finance, Cheryl Rohan, Assistant Policy Advisor at BAK, and Cheryl Dangleben-York, adminstrative worker of Parliament. All of the inductees pledged to support the club, maintain honest and high standards and adhere to the guidelines of the educational program.

The Soualiga Corporate Toastmasters Club has over 35 active members of which 6 were recruited in the second half of 2011. The best kept secret is spreading through the government organization as more and more civil servants are taking on the challenge to enhance and perfect their communication and leadership skills.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Nutrition is the process of being nourished by eating food which is used for growth and daily activities.

Good nutrition which comprises of an adequate, well balanced diet combined with regular physical activity is the cornerstone of good health.

Poor nutrition can lead to reduced immunity, increased susceptibility to disease, impaired physical and mental development, and reduced productivity.

Every individual should empower themselves this holiday season to attain the best possible health throughout life.

Our bodies use vitamins and minerals that we need to be healthy.

The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) would like to see the nation making the best health choices for themselves. It has been well established that healthy lifestyle practices need to be introduced early in a child's development in order for them to become life-long habits.

This holiday season CPS would like everybody to eat healthy, act healthy and think healthy. Working is important, but a balance must be struck with exercise and eating healthy.

Happy Holidays – eat healthy, act healthy and think healthy.

Philipsburg:--- To facilitate the traffic situation in Philipsburg and to accommodate the many cruise passengers visiting our ports, the shoppers from the neighboring islands and also the local shoppers coming to do their "end of the year shopping" the following measures have been taken by the Police Department.
As of Friday December 23rd, until the end of the season, Front Street and Back Street will be closed-off every day from 10:00am through 10:00pm to all vehicular traffic. Front Street will be closed off from Sea Palace to Emmaplein. Back Street will be closed off from Emmaplein to School Steeg (Oranje School Alley). All alleys between Front Street and Back street (section that is closed off) will also be closed to vehicular traffic.

TAXIS
There will be limited access for taxis dropping off and picking-up passengers on Front Street and Back Street. No more than four taxis at a time will be allowed to park at the taxi stand in front of the Court House and two taxis will be allowed to park next to Angelo Boutique on Back Street. All other taxis will have to wait their turn on the Clem Labega Square.

BUSES
There will be limited access for buses to pick-up passengers on Back Street. All passengers coming into Philipsburg by bus will not be dropped off on Front Street or Back Street. The buses will be allowed to use the other streets to drop off their passengers. Picking-up passengers by bus on Back Street will be allowed, but only five buses will be allowed into Back Street at a time, entering at the head of Backstreet. (Emmaplein.)

Delivery of goods.
For delivery companies delivering goods in Front Street and Back Street, this will only be allowed after notifying the police department in advance. The delivery companies will have to show some type of proof to the officer at the check-point. All other deliveries will have to take place every day prior to the closing of the streets.

Parking in Philipsburg
Parking space in Philipsburg is in fact very limited. Therefore, the police department is recommending that shoppers make use of the public parking lots and the ring road. Illegal parking will not be tolerated. Any vehicle that is illegally parked will be towed at the cost of the owner/driver.

CAUTION:
During the time these streets are closed no motorcycle of any kind, no scooter, or bicycles will be allowed to use these streets.
Reminder: The police advises residents and shoppers to make use of the Holiday Season Safety tips during this holiday season.

Note: These traffic measures may be subject to change based on the situation as it unfolds.

This Christmas Season, like those before it, offers us a chance to reflect and give thanks. Thanks for the blessings we have received and the challenges we have overcome, as we pray for Grace to face those challenges not yet overcome and strength for tomorrow.
The Season is also one of sharing and there is much to share. In the true spirit of Christmas, we have the priceless gifts of love and caring. Of us it is expected to show understanding and promote a climate of peace in our communities. We should demonstrate tolerance for our fellow human beings and fellow citizens, as no man is an island on his own.
2011 has been a year of a gradual rebound as an island nation and even the smallest achievements are due to our collective psyche of not giving up easily. We have not merely survived another year, we have triumphed against many odds.
Yes, there are persons within our community who face an uncertain future, and in this regard mention must be made of the workers of the Pelican Resort, whose fate is still in limbo.
This is no time to measure our strengths against one another as opposing parties in a conflict, but rather the time to recognize that we are all stakeholders in this country called St. Maarten.
While economically speaking, the worker is the "weaker" one in labor conflicts, the laborers of St. Maarten have a stake in the development of our country. Fact is, that we all need each other.
And for our country to prosper, we need to realize this interdependence and seek ways to eliminate barriers.
My heart also goes out to all those who have lost a loved one during the recent past, especially for those lost due to senseless acts of crime.
It is my prayer that those left behind are not blinded by feelings of revenge or retaliation, but rather strengthened by a resolve to do their part to break the cycle of violence.
Soften your hearts, as we remember the Christ child and his coming into this world, when mankind was giving a new chance and new hope.
If we count our every blessing, there will be more of us who have than those who have not, so let's help our fellow men and women, so that this Christmas will bring joy and hope to the majority of people on St. Maarten.
I pray for peace for our nation and for the world at this Christmas time.
Have a blessed Christmas.

My Fellow Sint Maarteners,

I extend, in the wonderful spirit of Christmas, joyous greetings to you near and afar.

As we celebrate Christmas and come to the end of another year, let us do so thankful that we have been granted the calm of a hurricane-free season and the serenity of living in peaceful conditions. And as we give thanks for our collective good fortunes amidst continued uncertainties and challenges globally and at home let us not lose sight of the less fortunate among us. For at home some of our neighbors have lost or face losing their jobs, while others have been victimized by crime or other socially unacceptable behavior. To all facing personal loss, as a result of these economic, social or other causes, I offer my sympathy and wish you the fortitude of the spirit of Christmas. I do so in the belief that because of the promise of the birth of Christ your challenges, our challenges are not insurmountable.

In the spirit of the gift of the birth of Jesus to the world, there is no better time than Christmas to remind ourselves of our individual and joint obligation to do good. To do so we must as individuals, corporate or public organizations and government rise above the narrow confines of our individualistic interests to the higher and broader concerns of our society. I say this based on the knowledge that the true moral fabric of our society is measured by the way we treat our citizens in general and even more so by the way we care for our most vulnerable citizens; our children, our elderly, our sick, and our economically weak. As Sint Maarteners celebrating Christmas let us, with a warm embrace of our core values as a kind, caring, and sharing Sint Maarten people, make advancing good for all within our community our highest ideal.

As we endeavor to do so let us in our actions, reactions and transactions seek inspiration from the birth of Jesus who came into this world to show us the way of that which is noble. In doing so let us be still in our reflections, positive in our expectations and compassionate in our deeds. For it is only through our individual commitment and deeds of generosity and compassion for our neighbors in need that we can expect to build and have a happy, strong and sustainable community. A society in keeping with the spirit, traditions and values of Sint Maarten as expressed in the creed, "The Friendly Island".

My Fellow Sint Maarteners,
Christmas, in keeping with our island's creed, is a time to be friendly with our neighbors. Thus as we extend our hand of goodwill, fellowship and love this Christmas, I encourage you to reflect and introspect only to project this good and noble act beyond the Christmas season and into the new year. And what better time to do so than during the inspirational celebration of the birth of Christ amongst family and friends.
From Marie-Louise and I, to your family, we wish you a joyous, safe and peaceful Christmas! God bless you and God bless Sint Maarten.

The Governor of Sint Maarten
Eugene B. Holiday

Marigot:--- The Gendarmes recovered the body of a Dominican national in the lagoon somewhere in the Sandy Ground area confirmed Commandant of the Gendarmerie Stephen Brunet.
Brunet said the body was recovered on Sunday about 36 hours after the man died. Brunet said it appears as though the victim's death was accidental. SMN News has been reliably informed that the victim has been identified as Francis Dominique (46) from the island of Dominica and he was residing on a boat in the lagoon.
In an unrelated incident, the Gendarmes are also busy investigating the head on collision of two motorcycles which took place in Sandy Ground sometime on Wednesday. Brunet also confirmed that two persons were injured in the accident and they are now patients at the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital.

Please be informed that on Monday, January 2nd, 2012, our office will open at 8:45 a.m. due to an employee meeting.

We kindly ask our customers to take note of our opening hours on January 2nd, 2012 and we do apologize for the inconvenience that this may cause.

Management
St. Maarten Cable TV

St. Peters:--- The owners of Ho Supermarket and St. Peters Supermarket located on the main road to St. Peters are on their wits ends as they have been victims of armed robberies twice this past week. According to the owners of both supermarkets, they were first robbed on Wednesday December 21st and again on Thursday December 29th. The female cashier of Ho's Supermarket told SMN News that last week Wednesday two armed gun men wearing only a bandana over their faces robbed them after robbing two other Chinese Supermarkets in the immediate area. The cashier said they were robbed of their daily sales which amounted to about $400.00 while on Thursday morning they were robbed again by the two gunmen whom they recognized as the same gunmen that robbed them last week Wednesday. On Thursday morning, they said they were held up at 9:05am and they robbers managed to escape with about $500.00
The owner of St. Peters Supermarket said last week Wednesday he was robbed of $1,500 and this week the two gunmen robbed him of $500.00. The male owner and cashier at the time of the robbery said the two men whom he recognized as the same culprits that robbed him last week pointed a gun at him before robbing him. The Chinese businessman said when he called police last week they took over an hour before they responded to the scene. According to the businessman, that gave the culprits ample time to escape. He said both robberies were recorded on the supermarket surveillance camera, however, on Thursday morning police responded to the scene in record time. "They reached here like ten minutes after we were robbed and they took the surveillance tape with them. We heard the police made some arrests. We are just hoping that they apprehended the two culprits that robbed us both times this week."
SMN News learned that police made some arrests on Thursday morning shortly after the robberies took place. Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson confirmed that police responded to the scene after they were informed that two of the three supermarkets that were robbed last week were robbed again on Thursday morning. Henson also confirmed that police arrested some people but he was not sure if they are the culprits that robbed the two supermarkets.

Philipsburg:--- The former Dean of the University of St. Martin Dr. Maria van Enckevort and former colleague of Education Minister Dr. Rhoda Arrindell will soon be working as an advisor to Education Minister Dr. Rhoda Arrindell.
SMN News has been reliably informed that Van Enckevort was expected to take up her position in January 2012 but that has been pushed back to either February or March 2012. Sources within the Government apparatus said Van Enckevort is currently working in Belgium but she was hired as one of the Minister's advisors who will work in her cabinet.
Sources close to the Education Ministry said Van Enckevort is expected to revamp the education department which is considered to be in a chaos. Efforts made to reach Minister Arrindell for a comment on the appoint proved futile up to press time.

Cul de Sac:--- Scores of police vehicles and other officers of the law responded to multiple robberies Friday night. According to information reaching SMN News, the Texaco Star Mart in Cul de Sac was robbed by armed robbers. The culprits escaped and went to the St. Peters area where they robbed two Chinese Supermarkets, namely Ho Supermarket and St. Peters Supermarket. The two supermarkets that were robbed on Friday night were also victims of armed robberies on December 21st and again on Thursday December 29th. For the owners of both supermarkets it was two armed robberies in less than 48 hours.
Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson confirmed that the Texaco Star Mart was robbed and at least one of the three supermarkets that were robbed last week was again robbed Friday night. Henson said he did not have any details on the robberies since the officers were busy searching for the robbers. Henson promised to release more information on the spate of armed robberies that are currently taking place in the St. Peters area. On Thursday, several business persons on AT Illidge road complained about how the Police organized themselves this holiday season. The business persons said the police move around with heavy sirens warning the robbers and other culprits that they are on their way to look for them. One of the main concerns was the amount of officers that would respond to one crime scene while the other areas that are not properly lit are neglected.
Residents of St. Peters area said police blocked off the St. Peters Friday night.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Holiday shoppers are busy buying Christmas trees and lights to adorn their home this holiday season. As the day gets closer, families are bustling around to have everything in place for Santa Claus's visit.

Parents and family members should keep in mind some holiday safety tips where it concerns decorations and the Christmas tree. The season is all about family togetherness and we would like everyone to have a safe one incident free.

Every year the Collective Prevention Services (CPS), an agency of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour as part of its calendar of observances highlights and creates awareness where it concerns safe holidays.

Tips for this holiday season are:

Trees:

• When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant." Although this label does not mean the tree won't catch fire, it does indicate the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.
• When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and do not break when bent between your fingers. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
• When setting up a tree at home, be sure to keep the stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.

Lights:

• Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory, which indicates conformance with safety standards. Use only lights that have fused plugs.
• Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets. Always replace burned-out bulbs promptly with the same wattage bulbs.
• Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord. Make sure the extension cord is rated for the intended use.
• Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
• Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use.
• Stay away from power or feeder lines leading from utility poles into older homes.
• Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm supports to protect the lights from wind damage. Use only insulated staples to hold strings in place, not nails or tacks. Or, run strings of lights through hooks (available at hardware stores).
• Turn off all holiday lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.
• Use caution when removing outdoor holiday lights. Never pull or tug on lights - they could unravel and inadvertently wrap around power lines.
• Outdoor electric lights and decorations should be plugged into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). Portable outdoor GFCIs can be purchased where electrical supplies are sold. GFCIs can be installed permanently to household circuits by a qualified electrician.

Decorations:

• Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals. Leaded materials are hazardous if ingested by children.
• Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked down.
• In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to avoid the child swallowing or inhaling small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.
• Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation while decorating with spun glass "angel hair."
• Follow container directions carefully to avoid lung irritation while decorating with artificial snow sprays.

Philipsburg:--- St. Maarten Cable TV today announces a new addition to its channel line-up called Space. Although the team is currently working diligently on a spring launch of digital programming, the management decided to provide a new attraction for the holidays and scheduled sports activities.
SPACE is an all-English channel,that was recently launched by Turner Latin America in the region. This channel will broadcast live NBA basketball games on Thursday nights, eight of the play-off games (depending on the abbreviated NBA season), all of the Western Conference finals and the NBA All-Star Game. In addition to NBA games, Space also has some of Turner's popular and widely acclaimed original series, such as Closer and Southland, as well as many popular feature movies. SPACE will be on channel 58 on the St. Maarten Cable TV line up and is scheduled to launch on December 1st, 2011.
Beulah Jonis, Managing Director of St. Maarten Cable TV stated, "Earlier in the year we were required to change the channel line-up in order for our cable TV system to be in compliance with regional programming requirements. As a result, some popular programming and sports channels were replaced with international programming. As promised, we are doing everything in our power to introduce new channels as they become legally available in the Caribbean."
Major initiatives planned for the first quarter of 2012 include providing digital cable service and revamping the existing programming line-up for the system. Digital service will provide improved picture quality, a digital interactive guide, better sound and an overall enhanced viewing experience.
Jonis concluded, "We are looking forward to expanding the services offered to citizens of St. Maarten. Customers have been requesting upgrades for years, and we are very anxious to begin rolling them out."

Marigot:--- A group of medical personnel met with the Prefet of St. Martin and St. Barths Jacques Simmonet on Wednesday to express their concerns about the decision that was taken to stop Dutch side medivac Jet Budget air ambulance from transporting patients to other French islands.
SMN News learnt that the medical professionals operating at the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital are outraged at the fact that that the Prefet stopped Jet Budget from transporting patients that need emergency medical care outside of St. Maarten before consulting with them or the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital.
One medical personnel who spoke to SMN News on the condition of anonymity said that the French side medivac lost their contract with the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital when the institution learned that the air ambulance was no longer fit for transporting patients overseas. The medical professional said that the company TAI even lost a court case they initiated against Louis Constant Fleming Hospital. Furthermore, Jet Budget managed to obtain the contract since they have a better aircraft and cheaper rates.
SMN News further learnt that the Prefet said it is not possible for a Dutch side medivac company (Jet Budget) to transport patients from the French side when the French side has a registered and operational company.
SMN News also learnt that the French side ambulance association intervened in the ongoing saga and has already taken steps to prevent Jet Budget from landing in Guadeloupe or Martinique.
Another medical professional said that Jet Budget is a registered aircraft in France and it can travel to Holland at any time and they cannot understand why the Prefet would take a decision to stop the company from operating on the French side. "Can you imagine TAI places sick people on the floor of the aircraft to transport them overseas while Jet Budget is fully equipped with the necessary stretchers. Stopping patients from getting quality service is not in the best interest of the patients."
An ambulance personnel who is also caught up in the ongoing saga said that the French and Dutch side constantly speak of cooperation but in fact there is none. Cooperation between the two sides is just a farce and the politicians and state representatives on both sides need to inform the people of the true status of the two sides.
One source said that the Prefecture had to call in the Gendarmes on Wednesday when the meeting got of hand but one television media house managed to tape the commotion before the gendarmes reached the scene.

The Commission on Security is headed by Ambroise Lake.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

The debate regarding safety of goods and persons is an ever present debate within our societies, and in Saint-Martin it is of paramount importance since our main resource is tourism. The slightest incident goes around the world within a few minutes. Neglecting security on the island renders all other efforts vain. Indeed, campaigns aiming at attracting tourists will not be successful as long as  the perception regarding security will be negative. And, unfortunately this perception is negative for the moment. It is negative outside; it is negative in the eyes of our own citizens.

Our Committee examined the current situation and solutions that can be implemented quickly, without large financial costs while remaining within our jurisdiction as an overseas territory; solutions which will be based on a more active partnership with the State. We thank civil servant of both the State and the Collectivité, who preferred to remain anonymous for obvious reasons, for their analysis and advice. We also received advice from professionals involved in security in other Regions and overseas Territories

While it is true that the crimes and offences are committed in all societies and are a threat to the security of the people, IT IS THE DUTY OF THE STATE, BUT ALSO THAT OF THE COLLECTIVITE OF SAINT-MARTIN, TO PROTECT ITS CITIZENS  AND  TO ALLOW THEM TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS AND THEIR INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM IN AN ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO THEIR WELL-BEING. It is therefore, first, prevention which is necessary for the community, because enforcement is essentially within the jurisdiction of the State.

"Prevention of crime calls for proactive and non-criminal measures which specific aim is to reduce crime by acting on contributing factors, both on the circumstances and on the environment in which are committed the offences or on the factors that predispose to crime."

DIAGNOSIS:  DELINQUENCY IS PRESENT EVERYWHERE BUT WITH DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS IN DIFFERENT NEIGHBOURHOODS

Global figures do not give a precise picture of the situation because they do not take into account two very important factors in Saint-Martin which are the size difference between the various neighborhoods and movement of populations. An analysis of the territory must, therefore, consider the particular situation of each neighborhood:

- Global figures for delinquency

- Resident population

-Population present during the day.

SOLUTIONS:

THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A TERRITORIAL CRIME PREVENTION POLICY, MANAGED BY THE NEW TERRITORIAL OFFICE FOR CRIME PREVENTION:

MISSION:

-          Provide leadership at territorial level by identifying effective means to prevent and reduce crime by isolating risk factors affecting the most vulnerable populations in high risk environments.

-          Propose policies

-          Develop and manage funding programs initiated by the community.

-          Support interventions based on research

-          Search for funding outside of the Collectivité, both in the private and public sector (example in the private sector: in the USA and in Sweden, companies employ young people from the vicinity in their security department; in the public sector: inter-ministerial fund for crime prevention).

-          Work hand in hand with the territorial Police, gendarmerie, schools and associations providing assistance to young people.

A COMMITMENT FROM THE PRESIDENT:

Security, in the Organic Act, is also a sovereign prerogative of the President. This is why he must commit to:

Reform the territorial Police instituting permanent training, decentralization of its workforce in the various district annexes (see New governance Policies of the UD);

Increase walking and cycling Brigades;

Support extra-curricular associations that actively tutor young people (including sports and cultural associations);

Prioritize the security component of the cooperation program with the northern part of the island, specifically combating drugs;

Renegotiate with the State the project to build a prison and the establishment of a Court of first instance.

CONCLUSION

We fundamentally believe that our security and delinquency problems cannot be resolved positively in a difficult economic climate which is leading to the pauperization of our society. Although security is, above all, a prerogative of the State, the Collectivité cannot remain idle because insecurity affects its citizens, the international image of Saint-Martin and the sustainability of a society confronted to multiple challenges.

Although no society will reach perfection in this matter, We believe that prevention, whenever possible, should be used. But, unfortunately, it is also necessary to exercise repression. It is the balance between these two means – with time, more prevention will lead to less repression - which qualifies, ultimately, an adult democratic society.

Planification, prevention and repression, but essentially  ACTION.

On December 3rd 2011 the St. Maarten Nature Foundation, through the generous donation of the St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) dollar-a-day program, conducted Arial Surveys with an aircraft piloted by Captain Ricardo Wilson of the Caribbean Flight Academy to look for patches of Sargasso Seaweed which may be headed in the direction of local beaches.

Sargassum is a genus of brown (class Phaeophyceae) seaweed which is distributed throughout the temperate and tropical oceans of the world. Most of the Sargasso Seaweed lies concentrated in the Sargasso Sea, a region in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean surrounded by ocean currents. It is bounded on the west by the Gulf Stream; on the north, by the North Atlantic Current; on the east, by the Canary Current; and on the south, by the North Atlantic Equatorial Current.

Sargasso Weed has been plaguing the Caribbean and St. Maarten for some months now. With the Foundation having to warn swimmers to avoid swimming in Guana Bay in August and September due to the large amount of Sargasso Weed and many beach front residences and hotels having to continuously clean washed up Sargassum. The resulting large influx of Sargasso Weed has been due to a suspected southward shift in the Gulf Stream, which has pushed the Sargasso Sea– an area of the Atlantic Ocean where Sargasso Weed is in thick concentration, south to our area.

A total of five (5) medium patches of Sargassum and three (3) small patches of Sargassum were observed during the survey flight floating in a westerly, south-westerly direction. Two medium patches were drifting towards the Eastern Shore of the Island and are expected to come ashore in the vicinity of Back Bay close to the Pointe Blanche area.

A fly-over was conducted over Guana Bay and Dawn beach and very little Sargassum was observed in that direction, with some small patches being immediately offshore of those beaches.

The Nature Foundation will continuously monitor the status of the Sargasso Weed and notify the authorities if there is an imminent risk of a large influx of Sargasso in the St. Maarten Area.

Click here to view the Nature Foundation Sargassum Survey.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Honorable Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams on the occasion of International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development, December 5th, says the world is celebrating the goodwill radiated by persons in the communities who volunteer their time and energy in doing positive work within these communities, and therefore would like to congratulate all Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and their members on St. Maarten on the work that they do on a daily basis, Wescot-Williams said in her message issued on Monday.

The United Nations (UN) General Assembly invited Governments to observe annually December 5th as International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development, and urged them to take measures to heighten awareness of the important contribution of volunteer service, thereby stimulating more people of all walks of life to offer their services as volunteers, both at home and abroad.

"Our country has a number of NGOs volunteering their time and effort to help members of their community. These individuals are champions in their area of volunteerism and freely give of their time and talents to tackle various challenges.

"These persons bring vision and inspiration to every effort that they take upon themselves in order to better our community and our society. On this December 5th, I would like to congratulate them for the work that they do for our community.

"These persons have a strong desire to give back to their community and volunteering gives the satisfaction of leaving a lasting impression and knowing that one's efforts have left a positive mark on society.

"I would like to encourage other members of our society to get involved in volunteerism by joining one of the many community organizations that make a difference on the island every day or make volunteering part of your personal agenda, as so many of you already do.

"Each one of us can make a meaningful contribution to the lives of others through volunteer work. Join in becoming active partners in building a better St. Maarten," Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams told the Department of Communication (DCOMM).

Philipsburg:--- The police department along with the Prosecutor's Office are busy investigating the death of another person whose body was found early Tuesday morning on a porch on Grenada Road, Madame Estate. Sources identified the victim as Oliver Petit, 58 years old, and former owner of Bikini Beach Bar.
According to information reaching SMN News, the body of a male was found on a chair on someone's porch. Indications are that the man was strangled to death since there was a rope tied around his neck. Police also saw clear signs of strangulation. "It seems as though the man was choked to death by someone." Persons in the area said they believe the man's death resulted from a triangle love affair, but that information could not be clarified. Another source said the victim is someone that used to be involved with drugs and alcohol and he is well known to police.
Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson identified the victim as O.G.A.P., a French National. Henson said the victim's body was found around 6:30am by someone who was passing nearby the house where the body was located. The police spokesman said when police arrived on the scene they immediately cordoned the area as they considered it a crime scene and foul play is suspected in the man's death.
Henson further explained that the forensic department was called in to collect as much evidence as possible. Police have since confiscated the body for further investigation. Henson said information regarding the investigation is still unclear and the police have decided not to divulge any more information during the preliminary stages of the investigation. The Police Spokesman also said that the cause of death of the victim has not yet been officially established even though a doctor pronounced the victim dead on the scene shortly after it was discovered.
The detectives are busy questioning witnesses and are asking anyone who may have any information that could shed some light and can assist the police with the ongoing investigation to come forward and give this information to the detective department. Persons are advised to call tip line 9300 if they have information that would lead police to the persons responsible for the man's death.
The current homicide investigation has brought the number of persons killed this year to 17 confirmed Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos. This does not include the case of Latoya Bryson which is still under investigation.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- On Tuesday, the Sint Maarten Tourist Bureau along with the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) hosted their annual Holiday Gift Program.

This year, the school selected was Oranje School on Front Street. This particular school was selected because of its recent celebration of its 160 anniversary of existence, according to Executive Assistant to the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Telecommunications and Transport Hon. Franklin Meyers, who was not able to attend the event due to a prior appointment.

At the school, the first to third graders were able to personally greet Mickey and Mini Mouse and receive their gifts. The students, teachers, and principal were elated.

Marigot:--- The registered owner of Bikini Beach Bar, Elisa Cohen said the man police found dead in Madame Estate early Tuesday morning has no relations with her business. "I am the sole owner of Bikini Beach Bar which was established some twenty years ago." However, Cohen said Oliver Petit was a regular customer of Bikini Beach Bar as he used to go to the bar on a daily basis for a period of one year. She described the late Petit as an eccentric drinker and one who was in the habit of telling stories. "It appears as though the late Petit made a number of people believe that he was somewhat connected to Bikini Beach because his landlord from Oyster Pond contacted me for rent monies. Besides that, Oliver gave us a bounce cheque." Cohen further explained that her late customer told them at the bar that he was going back to France because he had some business to take care of. An email sent by Cohen to SMN News reads that "Olivier Petit was never owner, partner or otherwise involved in the business of Bikini Beach. He was a sometimes eccentric daily customer who told us months ago that he was leaving the island.
We have not seen him since. I was however told by an ex landlord that he had insinuated he was somehow involved with my business. This is not the first time people have tried to gain credibility by claiming involvement with my business, but it is blatantly untrue. I have been the sole owner since 1992."

Cohen described Petit as a generous man who would constantly invite people to eat and drink with him at her restaurant. She said Oliver Petit was living with a woman from the Dominican Republic, this person she said works at Robbie's Lottery in Philipsburg. In describing Oliver, Elisa said at one point he was telling people he was the son of Captain Oliver's and there are people who threatened to get rid of him if he did not stop his false stories.
Oliver Petit is the 58 year old man police found dead on a porch on Grenada Road, Madame Estate. It is believed that the victim died of strangulation but police has said that the cause of death has not yet been established. However, police indicated that they believe that foul play was involved in the death of Oliver Petit, a French and American citizen.

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten Sarah Wescot Williams said on Wednesday that the Minister of Labor is working diligently to reestablish the tripartite committee by January 2012 which might help resolve some of the labor issues on the island.
According to the Workers Institute for Organized Labor (WIFOL) President Theophillus Thompson the Labor Department is not functioning while the Government of Country St. Maarten has abolished the tripartite committee. Thompson said for the lack of the tripartite committee collective bargaining is hampered.
The Prime Minister said the tripartite committee was not abolished but it had to be reorganized due the transition. This committee she said was established under the island territory and now that St. Maarten is a country some changes had to be made. She said the Minister has informed the cabinet that he is working on these committees and he hopes to have them up and running by January 2012.
Wescot Williams also indicated that the Labor Department has a labor policy to work with since the last labor policy that was amended and ratified by the former Island Council is still being used.

Democratic Party Yet to Discuss with Coalition the Jules James saga and double functions.

When asked by the SMN News if her party (faction) discussed with their coalition partners the possible conflict of interest regarding Member of Parliament Jules James. Leader of the Democratic Party and Prime Minister Wescot Williams admitted that the party met last week. However, she said the labor situation is constantly discussed with the members of government. She said the matter of MP James was discussed between her and the Deputy Prime Minister Theodore Heyliger.
The Prime Minister said one cannot forget the rulings of the court but she feels that parties need to get around the table to further discuss the Pelican labor affair since she does not see a final verdict or court decision being rendered anytime soon. She said right now she is considering having the parties around the table to further discuss the Pelican saga since the issue is quite frustrating for the workers.
When pressed on the issue of the Member of Parliament Jules James wearing several caps and if there is some sort of misconduct or conflict of interest having an MP as a General Manager while he is being paid for a full time job as a legislator. The Prime Minister said she has not looked into approaching the issue even though one of her Ministers was forced to resign when she was caught in a conflict of interest situation. Wescot Williams said the Members of Parliament have their own responsibilities and they also took an oath and she will not give her opinion on how the Members of Parliament should execute their duties.

Great Bay:--- A team consisting of representatives of the Department of Public Health and Cabinet of the minister responsible for public health, conducted a small study to determine to what extent the provisions outlined in the Ordinance regulating the transition of country status (overgangsverordening) can be used to adopt the tariffs for medical care provided in the SEHOS to the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC). In line with the results of the study, Minister of Public Health Social Development & Labor, Cornelius de Weever signed the ministerial decree on SMMC tariffs on November 18, 2011.

"SMMC can continue to expand the services and hire the necessary staff to do so. I believe that this will reduce the cost and inconvenience of having to travel abroad for these other medical services that are not available on St. Maarten," said Minister de Weever.

The study concluded that:

1. SMMC and SEHOS were both regarded as equivalent hospitals by means of national decree
2. SEHOS is to be regarded as the national hospital of the former Netherlands Antilles
3. In accordance to art. 7 of the transitional ordinance, the minister have the mandate to designate the SMMC as the body which replaces SEHOS. This ultimately entails that the rates established for services provided in SEHOS can also be applied to the SMMC.

In July 2010, the SMMC was granted a license by the executive council of the former island territory, to initiate the first phase of the expansion plans of the medical center. In their expansion request, the medical center indicated that the expansion would eventually lead to a reduction in the country's health care expenditures, as services and treatment that is currently unavailable would be made available locally. The expansion in services would include amongst others: cardiology, urology and neurology.
Consequently, the expansion has led to the need in establishing tariffs for this specialty.

In accordance to the ordinance of health insurance, which outlines the regulations of the Social security insurance, fees for the provision of medical care are to be established by means of national decree. That decree which was transferred to country St. Maarten, stipulates the fees for specialized hospital care, however the fees were specified per hospital, in other words, fees applicable to medical care provided in e.g. SEHOS of Curacao, were not always in line with those of SMMC. Additionally, the fees/tariffs were only established for care that was provided in the various hospitals. Consequently, it was not possible to automatically assume that those tariffs would be applicable to SMMC after 10/10/10.

As part of the continuing efforts to provide a safe environment for holiday shoppers the Police Force of Sint Maarten has commenced their annual Holiday Task Force initiative also known as "December Offensive 2011", and is without any doubt doing its utmost, to protect you, your family and your property, in combating crime and criminals. The Public Relation Office of the Sint Maarten Police Force is therefore offering the entire community, the following safety tips, to help them prepare against crime.

Remember the 3 A's of Crime Prevention:

1. Be Aware of your surroundings at all times.
2. Be Alert to suspicious people and vehicles.
3. Avoid dangerous situations.

If you are out for the evening:

• Turn on lights, radio or television so that it looks like some-one is at home.
• Lock all doors and windows well, even if you are just leaving for a few minutes.
• Don't display items where they can be seen from the outside.
• Don't Shop Alone. It's important to shop with a buddy; an extra pair of eyes helps.
• Park your car in a well-lit area and make sure all windows, sunroof and doors are locked. Lock your gifts in the trunk and out of sight. Cover your gifts in your vehicle with a blanket.
• Avoid carrying a large amount of cash. Don't flash cash around and carry it in a safe place on you.
• If you have to use the ATM-machine, pay close attention to suspicious persons hanging around the machine. If that's the case pass up that machine and find another.
• Carry all wallets in the front pockets and carry purses close to your body.
• Keep your children close to you while attending any activities and don't let them get separated from you.
• Pay attention to persons walking in front and behind you. (Especially in crowded places favorable for pickpockets)
• When returning to your vehicle or your home, have your keys in your hands ready to open the door.
• Before entering your vehicle, check front and rear and seats for any one that may be hiding there. Lock doors immediately after entering.
• Ask your neighbor to keep a watchful eye out for you.
• Drinking and driving is a danger to everyone. Remember that the risks of drinking and driving are not worth it. If you choose to drink, don't drive.Make use of a designated driver or public transportation. (Taxi or Bus)
• Make sure that you know where your kids are at all times and that they
  are safe.

Most of all on behalf of the Police force of Sint Maarten, through the Public Relation Office, "We wish the entire community of Sint Maarten and it's visitors a very safe and meaningful Holiday Season."

Inspector : R.V. HENSON

Philipsburg:--- The suspect that was arrested by police for the illegal possession of a firearm in the shooting that took place at Garden of Eden was released by the judge of instruction on Wednesday confirmed Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos. The shooting incident left a six year old girl fighting for her life at the St. Maarten Medical Center. According to reports reaching SMN News earlier this week, the child was shot by her younger brother during a sibling fight. Police arrested the children's stepfather for having a hunting rifle in the home, one which he did not have a license for. Mos said the families are also victims in these cases and as such the judge decided to release the owner of the illegal firearm. Mos made clear that the release of the suspect does not rule out prosecution at a later date.
It must be noted that this is the second incident for the year where a child was injured with a gun. Some months ago a three year old girl lost her life when her 7 year old brother shot her with a flare gun. The father of that child was also arrested but subsequently released since flare guns are not listed as illegal firearms.

Philipsburg:--- The Central Committee of Parliament will be meeting on 19 December with the International Medical Center Sint Maarten.

The Monday meeting will take place at 10:00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House of Parliament.

A plenary session of Parliament will continue with respect to the Corporate Governance Council (CGC) at 2:00pm in the General Assembly Chamber of the House of Parliament.

The agenda point for the meeting is the functioning of the CGC which was discussed in a previous plenary session held on December 06.

Prime Minister Hon. Sarah Wescot-Williams and the Minister of Finance Hon. Hiro Shigemoto have been invited to attend the meeting.

The National Alliance (NA) faction in parliament requested the aforementioned plenary session in its letter to the Parliament Secretariat of 14 November 2011.

Both meetings are open to the public and will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 20.

Seven Toastmasters on St Maarten have been recognized as certified trainers for Toastmasters District 81.

The seven Toastmasters were presented with their recognition certificates during St Maarten Area 6 Toastmasters annual end of year dinner. The event was held at the Bridge restaurant in Sandy Ground and was attended by members of all 5 Toastmasters Clubs on St Maarten. The seven certified Toastmasters Trainers are Valerie Brazier, Leona Romeo-Marlin, Joy Arnell, Sinatra Rouse, Elroy Hughes, Catherine Conner-Arrindell and Emilia Thomas. In 2010, the participants undertook a Train the Trainers (TTT) session, which was held over a day & a half and dealt with the A to Z of planning and execution of training workshops. Developed by Toastmasters District 81, the intense TTT program was facilitated by Rolando Tobias in his capacity as Lieutenant Governor Marketing of District 81. A total of 25 Toastmasters leaders participated in the TTT program across the Caribbean.
Following the Train the Trainers session, each participant was required to conduct a training session from Toastmasters Success-Leadership modules. The assignment served as a post-evaluation to test the comprehension and application of the material learnt. Conducting trainings in Parliamentary Procedures, Conflict Resolution, Conducting Successful meetings and Characteristics of an effective Leader, the participants met and even exceeded the expectations of the facilitator. According to Tobias; the Trainers have proven that they comprehend the importance of proper planning and execution of quality trainings and I would recommend any of them to conduct any kind of trainings on St Maarten and throughout the Caribbean".

Two of the certified trainers, Valerie Brazier and Sinatra Rouse have already conducted sessions at District Conferences in St Lucia and Tortola respectively. It is expected that the others will also be soon conducting sessions at other conferences.
Toastmasters International is the world's leading organization on Communication and Leadership trainings to foster self development.

Saba:--- Police arrested a Saban national who was driving a water truck and lost control during an early morning accident on Monday confirmed Saba Chief of Police Dirk Heemstra. The Police Chief said that the truck was driving from The Bottom and heading towards Windward Side when the driver lost control of the vehicle. Heemstra said the driver lost control of the vehicle and it fell about 50 feet down a cliff. He said there were four persons inside the vehicle at the time of the accident, one of them he said died from the injuries she sustained while the other three have been hospitalized.
SMN News learnt that the occupants of the vehicle were returning from a party. The Police Chief did not say if the driver and the other occupants were under the influence of alcohol. He said the police are busy investigating the accident and they have arrested the driver of the vehicle.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Prime Minister Hon. Sarah Wescot-Williams welcomes the establishment of the new hemispheric group of 33 Caribbean and Latin American countries known as CELAC.

Early December Heads of State and Government held a Summit of Latin America and the Caribbean (CALC) in Caracas, Venezuela. The meeting was described as historic and a very important step in strengthening the relations between 33 countries.

"The new body has been established to first and foremost improve the quality of life of the peoples of CELAC. It is seen as a new framework that includes 33 countries that would work together to create greater unity.

"This new framework is very much welcomed by Sint Maarten, as efforts of strengthening regional ties and cooperation has clearly borne fruit and is necessary to buoy this region against outside shocks and occurrences.

"These platforms offer the leaders of this region the opportunity to incessantly explore ways to promote further development of the region's people. Sint Maarten continues to examine ways and means to participate in regional bodies, to the benefit of its people and those of the wider region," Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams said on Tuesday.

At the summit, leaders pledged to work together to fend off the effects of the world financial crisis, reshape the financial system and safeguard CELAC's growing economies.

The creation of the CELAC was raised by the heads of state in February 2010, during the Rio Group Summit in Cancun, when Mexico proposed the union of all the countries in the region belonging to the Rio Group and CALC.

The board of the St. Maarten Carnival Foundation (SCDF) has chosen the slogan for Carnival 2012: "Let's delve into we carnival 2012". As has become tradition, the selection of a slogan was done via a public competition. The SCDF received over 100 submissions via Facebook and email during the competition period, exceeding the submissions for the carnival 2011 slogan competition.
In the end, the board of the SCDF settled on the submission by Delbert Jack who works at a major hardware store. He received a season pass to Carnival 2012, which is deeply appreciated as he is an avid carnival supporter.
President of the SCDF Stuart Johnson said after much debate, the theme was chosen to reinforce the commitment and involvement of the people as it shall always be the "people's festival."
"We held onto the "we carnival" part of the slogan as it speaks to everyone who loves carnival or is involved in any facet of our cultural celebrations," Johnson said. "We embraced the involvement of the people perspective in the winning slogan; people must hold onto the ownership of our carnival as it belongs to them," he added.

"Everyone can feel proud of the steps taken already towards the preparation of Carnival 2012, inclusive of the full schedule already being released, our ongoing registration, our promoters being identified, and now our slogan being launched," Johnson said.
"We surely are holding onto the promise made; early preparations for carnival surely will lead to a more successful carnival season, once again. We've come a long way and this is simply just the beginning of what is yet to come," Johnson concluded.

The SCDF is also gearing up to release its plans for the marketing and further promotion of Carnival for the upcoming season and beyond.

Citizens and Friends of Sint Maarten,

Warm Season Greetings to all,

It's the time of year where one looks forward to enjoy the company of friends and loved ones, and to share in the traditional joys of the Holiday Season.

It's also an occasion to take a look back at the past year and plan our resolutions for the New Year.

In today's high technology driven era, we have come to accept the notion that our island, our neighborhoods, our schools, our families, our businesses can no longer function in isolation from the world. The past year, Sint Maarten did not escape the effects of the worldwide economic recession.
However, I am confident that this downward period will see an improvement in the New Year, as countries search for and resolve the challenges they face.

Looking ahead to 2012, we must do so with confidence and determined to succeed. Let confidence prevail and be reflected through the investment and love we shower on our children, on our youth. Investing in our youth is a joint responsibility, a social and moral contract between parents, families, neighborhoods, the public and private sector.

Countries are inclined to divide into categories of those who have and those who have less. I share the notion that a family's social economic status must never be a deciding factor whether a child becomes a success full citizen or falls through the cracks of society.

As we continue to strengthen the institutions of government and governance of this young Nation, our focus should remain without blinking an eye on the well-being of every child. I paraphrase George Burns who once said; "when you wake up in the morning do something. Have a point, a direction you're headed into. If kids had that, it would help them over any rough spots in life. If you can get a child to fall in love with something, his lifestyle will go in that direction. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, just something". Let our hearts be warmed this holiday season with the positive resolutions we make for the New Year.

I highly commend all, including non-governmental organizations who made it their mission throughout the past year to support our children in a positive manner. Continue in the New Year to invest in the future generation of this young Nation. Make our neighborhoods, our schools, a great place where our children can be children, where they are safe to learn and play. Shower them with Love and Praise.

Have a safe and healthy turn from the old year into the New Year 2012.

God Bless our nation and its children.

Hon. drs. Gracita Arrindell
President of Parliament

Philipsburg:--- As part of the ongoing Chipster gives back campaign, UTS staff members accompanied by their children and Santa Clause visited the ICAN Foundation & Chrystal Home. The team decorated both homes with a Christmas tree and other festive Christmas decorations. Various companies participating in the Chipster youth program, so-called Chipster Buddies, also provided wonderful gifts for the children of both homes. Santa placed gifts under the tree from Chipster Buddies Polo Ralph Lauren, Affordable, Klass Electronics and The Movie Stop. UTS Service Market Manager Michanou Arrundell sincerely thanked the Chipster Buddies for their generous donations. "The contribution of our Chipster partner businesses truly helped us to bring the festive Christmas season to the residents of both homes. It was a wonderful experience for our team to visit the homes and meet the kids." Earlier in the week Chipster Buddy – Domino's Pizza also treated the kids of the homes. In the spirit of the holiday season, The Chrystal home, ICAN Foundation AND UJIMA foundation residents had a Pizza Party compliments of Domino's Pizza.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The Fire Department would like to recommend persons purchasing fireworks in the coming days to strictly observe safe procedures while igniting the fireworks.

The Department has granted permits to two applicants allowing them to import and sell fireworks for the period of December 29 to December 31, 2011.

Only one applicant will be selling fireworks to the general public. The permits were granted based on the Fireworks Resolution AB2000, which regulates the import, storage, transport and sales of consumer fireworks.

The fireworks which are to be sold in small quantities to the general public are small firecrackers and novelty fireworks, such as fountains and sparklers. Even though novelty fireworks are generally considered to be "safe", they can reach temperatures of more than 650° C, and thus hot enough to cause third degree burns. That is why the Department of Fire Prevention is urging the general public to take the necessary precautions and be fireworks smart when lighting firecrackers.

The Fire Department also granted two permits for large fireworks displays which will take place at midnight of December 31/January 1.

When lighting up a firecracker, the burn time before it explodes is between three to eight seconds. This time frame is set based on international regulations. If it explodes earlier, you would not get away on time and if the burning time is longer you may pick it up again to check why it is taking so long.

This is why illegal and unlabeled fireworks which are not checked by the government are so dangerous. And that is also why it is very important to never light up fireworks with a wick that is broken or to relight wicks that have gone out. Before you know these will explode in your hands. Do not ever use homemade fireworks or fireworks without an instruction label. These are illegal and they can kill you!

Report illegal fireworks to the Fire Department at 919 or call the Police Department 911.

The Fire Department would like to thank the population for its cooperation throughout 2011 in preventing fires and on behalf of management and staff, wishes you a safe 2012.

The Fire Department issues the following advice especially those who will be buying fireworks in order for everybody to have a safe and fun year-end experience:

• Only use fireworks as intended. Don't try to alter them or combine them.
  Put on clothes that can handle some sparkles, not nylon nor polyester and protect your eyes by wearing safety glasses.
• Do not put fireworks in the pockets of your shirt or pants.
• Read the instructions and warnings from before. You cannot read the label during evening hours unless you are in a well lit area.
• Choose an open area away from spectators, homes, dry vegetation and buildings especially gas stations, bulk stations, churches, hospitals and senior citizen homes. Think about your pets.
• Make sure you have water nearby (either a hose or a bucket).
• Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Only persons over the age of 12 should be allowed to handle sparklers of any type.

How to light fireworks:

• Use common sense. Spectators should keep a safe distance about six meters from the person that is igniting fireworks.
• Always ensure that novelty fireworks are standing in a stable position. Put skyrockets in a bottle that is half filled with sand and for big sky rockets secure a pvc-pipe in the ground.
• Light fireworks up with a piece of cotton rope, cigarette or mosquito coil. Never use matches or a lighter.
• Do not light fireworks in your hand.
• Never throw any fireworks at a person or animal.
• Never relight a "dud" firework, those that did not go off. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water
• As each device burns out, soak it using a hose, or bucket of water.

After lighting fireworks:

When you are finished with lighting fireworks you will have to clean up all the firecracker garbage left behind. Do not leave any fireworks on the road especially "duds" those that did not go off.

Many children go looking the next day for leftovers and will try to re-ignite them. Place all used items in a covered, fireproof container and leave it outside and away from homes and buildings.

The Ambulance Department advises the general public to take the following actions in the event anybody gets burned.

The treatment of burns caused by heath starts with the application of cold water in order to cool destroyed tissues and minimize damage to them. This treatment is not administered to extensive or third-degree burns which can be recognized when the burned area is white and dry and also the pain is minor or non-existent, as cold water may aggravate the state of shock.

1. Immerse the burned area immediately in cold running water. Place it under a tap or in a bucket of water, or apply cold-water compress (but not ice) to the burned area.
2. Continue to cool the burned area with cold water for about five minutes or until the pain diminishes. Then dry it gently with a clean towel and dress it with a sterile or clean, dry cloth.
3. Do not prick the blisters or otherwise interfere with the burned area.
4. Do not remove clothing adhering to the wound. Remove any watches, bracelets, rings, belts, or constricting clothing from the affected area before it begins to swell.
5. Do not apply butter, oil, or cream to the wound.
6. Do not press the wounded area.
7. In extensive burns, wrap the victim in a clean sheet and transfer to the hospital.

The emergency number for the Ambulance Dept. is 912.

Philipsburg:--- Several police vehicles both marked and unmarked as well two ambulances responded to a fight on A.T. Illidge road on Thursday morning. Ambulance personnel were seen treating a Guyanese man on the scene while police arrested two other suspects one female and another male. According to bystanders at the scene, two men were fighting and one ended up bursting the other man's head. One of the bystanders and eyewitness to the brawl said the two men were seen running from the hardware store Low Price Lumber and Hardware Store and at some point one of them busted the other guy's head. Police were summoned to the scene but they showed up in huge numbers. A business owner in the vicinity said he was concerned about the amount of police vehicles and personnel that responded to the scene when it was only two men fighting. "I am here wondering who is looking for the armed robbers that are terrorizing the businesses in St. Peters and other deserted areas that police have neglected during the season. I also want to know if there was a robbery taking place in Philipsburg if there would be enough police officers to go there." Another business owner even went as far as asking a female officer if there were cops elsewhere.
Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson confirmed that police arrested some people who were involved in a fight. However, Henson was not able to provide any details on the fracas.

Philipsburg:--- Denicio Richardson the Managing Director of the Postal Services of St. Maarten (PSS) has been suspended with pay as of Tuesday December 27th 2011 to January 13th 2012 confirmed Chairman of the Supervisory Board Hubert Pantophlet.
SMN News has been reliably informed that the Supervisory Board suspended Richardson when they were informed by the Financial Controller of Economic Affairs Alex Richardson that the PSS Managing Director Denicio Richardson signed and issued a cheque without the authorization of the Supervisory Board.
The source said that Richardson purchased five computers for the Post Office without seeking the board's permission and he issued a cheque for over Naf. 8000.00 to the company he bought the computers from without a signature from one of the Supervisory Board members. The source said that Richardson is authorized to sign cheques for up to Naf. 5000.00 but when the amount is higher than the authorized amount the chairman or vice chairman of the board has to co-sign the cheque before it is issued. SMN News learnt that the Interim Managing Director of PSS Antonia Wilson confronted Richardson about the cheque he was issuing that lacks one signature and he told her that she should send the cheque to the company and he will clear it with the bank. The source said that Richardson accompanied the Chairman of the Supervisory Board Hubert Pantophlet to Curacao for four days and at no time did he inform Pantophlet about purchasing the computers and the issuance of the cheque. "He was with Pantophlet at the airport when Alex Richardson contacted Pantophlet and informed him of his discovery and the Managing Director said nothing. He gave no explanation for his actions."
Furthermore, on Tuesday when Richardson was presented with his suspension letter which was to take immediate effect he asked the board for leniency and requested to stay on the job for a few hours since he wanted to speak to his workers. The source said the board agreed to give Richardson three hours since he was presented with the suspension letter at noon Tuesday. However, the board later learned that same day that Richardson was trying to pay his medical insurance premiums to the tune of Naf. 4000.00 without following proper procedures. SMN News learnt that the Supervisory Board then took immediate action and blocked the payment to allow proper procedures to be followed before paying for the medical insurance. SMN News further learnt that those procedures were subsequently followed while Richardson was on suspension and the medical premiums were paid on Friday December 30th 2011.
The Chairman of the Supervisory Board Hubert Pantophlet has refused to divulge any details on the suspension of Richardson, he however admitted that it had to do with the issuance of a cheque and the unauthorized purchase of some computers. Sources close to the Supervisory Board said that the board members have been trying their best to protect Richardson over the past months simply because he is a young local St. Maartener who was given a top job on St. Maarten. They said that all of the problems PSS encountered earlier this year were allegedly because of Richardson's inaction and the board is now over their heads with protecting Richardson. "The Post Office had to close its doors, workers went on strike all because Richardson had failed to do his job. Even the last hiccup with the November salaries was because of Richardson's inaction," the source said.
The suspension of Denicio Richardson has since left the Democratic Party at odds while the Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams is angry with at least one of her faction Members in Parliament. SMN News learnt that one of the Democratic Party faction Members is allegedly having an affair with the sister of the PSS Director and as such he and two other Members of Parliament approached the Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams requesting that she reinstate Richardson by lifting the suspension. The source said the Member of Parliament claims that Richardson's suspension is a personal attack on him and more importantly he feels that the suspension is not warranted. SMN News also learnt that the DP Member of Parliament was even more peeved when he learned that the Supervisory Board had blocked the payment of Richardson's medical premium and he threatened to throw the government down if the Prime Minister did not intervene. One the Members of Parliament that accompanied the two Democratic Party Faction Members to see the Prime Minister is an Independent Member of Parliament.
When SMN News asked Pantophlet about the three Members of Parliament disagreement on Richardson's suspension, the Supervisory Board Chairman said he was appointed Chairman of the PSS board to do a job and not to look over anyone's head. "I would strongly advice the Members of Parliament to think with the heads above their shoulders," Pantophlet said.
In the meantime, the Supervisory Board has appointed Antonia Wilson to Acting Interim Managing Director while Richardson is on suspension.

Bush Road:--- The police department is busy investigating the death of 21 year old Jasias Hodge who was killed late Friday night on Bush Road. The adopted mother of the young man Sherene Ramsahoye better known as Kim told SMN News that when she reached the scene she was told by onlookers that her son was hit by a drunken driver who was speeding on Bush Road around midnight Friday night. Ramsahoye said eyewitnesses told her the driver of the Tucson Jeep was speeding down Bush Road when she hit Jasias as he was coming out of a yard on Bush Road.
"My son and another friend were coming out of the yard opposite Kwik Bargains when my son was hit by this speeding jeep. Persons on the scene told me that the woman was drinking in Pointe Blanche and she was probably heading home when she killed Jasias."
Ramsahoye said she is also trying to find out where exactly her adopted son died because bystanders told her when the ambulance picked her son up on the road he was still breathing but when he reached the St. Maarten Medical Center, health professionals there hesitated to treat him as they wanted his health insurance or deposit first. Ramsahoye said when she reached the hospital Friday night the police informed her that her son had died, but on Saturday morning the hospital authorities asked her if she knew where her son died.
Jasias was an employee of Kooyman Mega Store in Cay Hill; his mother said the young man had been working at Kooyman since attending school at the Milton Peters College.
In the meantime, other persons who witnessed the fatal accident said that the scooter Hodge was riding at the time of the accident did not have any lights and the driver might not have seen him as she was driving down Bush Road.
Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson confirmed the death of the young man but said he did not have any details on the accident or the victim.

Philipsburg:--- St. Maarten Cable TV today announces another step forward to upgrade the cable TV system to an all-digital platform in the spring of 2012. In an effort to start migrating the current analog channels to a digital headend, all channels on the St. Maarten Cable TV line-up will experience some degree of service interruption beginning on Friday, December 2, 2011 at midnight and concluding on Friday, December 9, 2011 at midnight.
The relocation of the services will take several days to complete and it is anticipated that there will be minimal and intermittent interruptions to each channel. St. Maarten Cable TV technicians do not anticipate a complete outage during this process and every effort will be made to complete the project prior to the deadline.
Beulah Jonis, Managing Director of St. Maarten Cable TV stated, "We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our customers, however, we are very excited to begin a process that our customers have been anticipating for quite some time."

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Individuals are already out shopping for their Christmas trees and lights in order to decorate their home in time for the holiday season. This is all part of celebrating the season by decorating homes with electric lights, candles, banners, wreaths and the most popular of these decorations is the Christmas tree.

As part of Ministry of Public Health's Collective Prevention Services (CPS) Safe Holiday Season Observances in collaboration with the Department of Communication, residents are advised to keep the season safe by following a few helpful tips.

These are some life-saving steps you can take to ensure a safe and happy holiday:

Preventing Holiday Tree Fires

* Holiday tree fire hazards

Special fire safety precautions need to be taken when keeping a live tree in the house. A burning tree can rapidly fill a room with fire and deadly gases.

* Selecting a Tree for the Holiday

Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needle should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard.

* Caring for Your Tree

Do not place your tree close to a heat source. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree. Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.

* Disposing of Your Tree

When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly. The best way to dispose of your tree is by having it hauled away by the waste disposal service.

Holiday Lights

* Maintain Your Holiday Lights

Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up.

* Do Not Overload Electrical Outlets

Do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires - they should not be warm to the touch.

* Do Not Leave Holiday Lights on Unattended

Holiday Decorations

* Use Only Nonflammable Decorations

All decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant.

* Never Put Wrapping Paper near an open flame

It can throw off dangerous sparks and produce a chemical buildup in the home that could cause an explosion.

* Artificial Holiday Trees

If you are using a metallic or artificial tree, make sure it is flame retardant.

Candle Care

* Avoid Using Lit Candles

If you do use them, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Never leave the house with candles burning.

* Never Put Lit Candles on a Tree

Do not go near a holiday tree with an open flame - candles, lighters or matches.

By following precautionary tips, families can greatly reduce their chances of becoming a holiday fire casualty.

Philipsburg:--- The Police and Prosecutors Office had to release the 18 year old St. Maarten Academy P.S.V.E. student they arrested last week as a suspect for the murder of Guyanese Businessman Mark Deygoo.
The 18 year old St. Maarten Academy P.S.V.E. student George Mardenborough was arrested last week Monday after an eyewitness and close relative to Mark Anthony Deygoo fingered him as one of the two suspects that shot the businessman on September 21st 2011 in his Back Street store. Prosecutor Hans Mos confirmed that the young man was released on Tuesday after he had a very plausible alibi. Mos said the investigation into Deygoo's murder is still ongoing.
SMN News learnt that a number of persons came forward and provided an alibi for the young man that police arrested last week as one the two suspects that shot Mark Deygoo.
SMN News has been reliably informed that Mardenborough attends a GED class in Dutch Quarter and his mother approached the teacher of the class for a letter to clear her son but the teacher was not sure if her student was in class that day. It is not clear if the teacher is one of the persons that provided the alibi to police so that the young man could have been released.
A source very close to the family said the young man had been acting very strange these past weeks and that he even refused to leave his Belvedere home. The source said Mardenborough was not even meeting his friends who went in search for him when they missed him. They said the young man's mother even sought the assistance of his GED teacher to speak to her son since she could not get to him neither could she understand his change of behavior. SMN News further learnt that the teacher went to her student's place of employment where she spoke to him about his mother's concerns but days later he was arrested as Deygoo's murder suspect.

Below is the Police Press Release on Release of the Deygoo Murder Suspect.

The Public Prosecutor's Office and the Police Department hereby announces that the suspect that was arrested in connection with the armed robbery at Fragile Bundles and Baby's on Backstreet which took place on September 21st 2011 has been released. During this robbery, the owner of this establishment by the name of Marc Deygoo lost his life after being shot several times. The suspect was released on November 30th 2011 due to the lack of sufficient evidence. Several witnesses gave statements that the suspect, at the time of the incident was elsewhere, and in doing so provided the suspect with an alibi. This investigation continues and the Prosecutor's Office along with the police department is asking anyone who may have information that could help with this investigation to come forward.

Philipsburg:--- On Friday and Saturday, December 9 and 10, Albina Matuzko and Sue Morrison, in collaboration with Imbali Center for Creative Movement, will be presenting a contemporary theatrical production for adults only called "Baba-Yaga".
This production, which was developed by the Ukranian born, St. Maarten based Matuzko, who has been a participant of many international theatre festivals, and which is directed by the Canadian Master of the modern clowning Morrison, will be staged at the John Larmonie Center in Philipsburg at 8pm sharp.
Baba-Yaga is a mythological character which is well-known through Slavic lands as "mad, bad, dangerous, haglike and ugly. She lives in the forest, isolated and abandoned, grumbling, grouchy, wild and untameable. She is a figure used to frighten children into obedience."
Matuzko also said that her stage character Klusha, which is nothing more then the most deepest and crazy version of herself is fascinated by Baba-Yaga.
"She sympathizes with the lonely figure and her search for the humanity behind the terrifying images leads her to decide to create a fantastical tragic clown show about Baba-Yaga. Through her journey to create such a show, Klusha discovers that Baba-Yaga lives deep within Klusha herself, and so her fantastical tragic show becomes a completely different story than the one she intended to present," Matuzko explained.
"As in all fairy tales, Baba-Yaga here is not the focus, but a key to the plot. As a nature spirit, with her wisdom, wit, and ability to provoke wonders, another side of this dark-power figure, inner Baba-Yaga guides Klusha during her journey through her own fractured world, disordered and illuminated by memory and imagination. Discoveries are made. Things are lost. Through a powerful weave of laughter, tears and magic, Klusha reaches a moment of transcendence and transformation," Matuzko said.
According to Matuzko this is a must see production for those who are interested in seeing something different.This production is very human, very rich; it is art made for art's sake. She said that the production was first staged at the clownin International Women's Clown Festival in Vienna in November, 2010 and audiences were completely captivated by it.
"Baba-Yaga differs from what people expect of a clown show: there are no circus tricks, no slapstick, no traditional gags, and no mime. Baba-Yaga seeks to be an authentic, provocative display of innocence and experience. The play celebrates the sheer beauty of being human, being pure and honest," Matuzko said, "This form of modern clowns theatre tries to find a deep connection with the audience, as well as a creating a shared experience."
Clara Reyes, founder and director of Imbali Center for Creative Movement said that this was the first time that she could recall that such a production was being presented on St. Maarten and urged those interested in theatre to come out and support the show.
"At Imbali we always try to create opportunities of people to experience all different kinds of genres in the art world and with this production we are simply following in that vein. This is a enchanting piece and both Albina and Sue have done a great job preparing it for the St. Maarten audience. I would encourage people to come out and experience this type of production, but remember it may be too deep, philosophical and poetical for children's amusement and thus is being billed as an adult only show," Reyes said.
Audience members are encouraged to dress informally since the theatre space is one which will be specially constructed to accommodate the production.
Tickets for this event cost $15 and are available at Pete's Photo, Van Dorp (Madame Estate and Simpson Bay), Imbali Center for Creative Movement, Top Carrot, Candy Man Shop, Tamarin Hotel, :'Esperance Hotel, French side: from Theirry Gumbs and Audrey Depute and also the cast.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The Collective Prevention Services (CPS), is appealing to residents to take measures to prevent mosquito breeding after several hours of rainfall over the weekend.

Measures need to be taken in and around homes and businesses to reduce breeding of the Ades Aegypti mosquito which has the potential to transmit dengue fever. Dengue is a mosquito-borne infection that causes a severe flu-like illness that affects infants, young children and adults.

Clear stagnant water in old tires and other types of debris in yards can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes bringing about an increased risk of mosquito-borne diseases.

CPS is therefore advising residents to take immediate measures after rain events to make sure there is no clear/clean stagnant water in their yards and disposing of responsibly old tires, empty drums, plant containers, paint cans and other items that can collect water around their homes and businesses.

An increase in the mosquito populations puts residents at risk. In the case of where containers are used for storing water, residents should keep these covered. Inlets and outlets of cisterns must be covered with a mosquito net or cloth to prevent mosquito breeding.

The St. Maarten Nature Foundation recently concluded its Year Long Pelican research Project. The Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is one of St. Maarten's national symbols, the depiction of which can be found on the island's Flag and Coat of Arms. The bird also lends its name to various businesses and institutions on the island but despite this there was very little information on the status of Pelicans on St. Maarten. The Nature Foundation therefore decided that in order to properly conserve and manage this culturally important species there was a need to collect vital information on nesting areas, how many pelicans we still have left, and what type of threats the bird faces. Research has shown that the pelican population has severely decreased over the last few decades. The health of St. Maarten's pelicans also reflects the general health of the marine ecosystem; with more pelicans present the better the environment.

Research was carried out from St. Maarten's Day the 11th of November 2010 to St. Maarten's Day the 11th of November 2011. Each site was counted once every two months with the General Public also assisting on numerous occasions. A copy of the final report was also presented to the Ministry of Education and Culture considering the cultural significance of the species.

Based on the conducted research an overall total of 339 individuals were recorded on St. Maarten with 8 chicks and 35 sub-adults recorded. It was further determined that breeding season for adult pelicans runs from approximately the beginning of June through August with the peak occurring at the end of July through the beginning of August.
The numerous threats faced by the resident pelican population on St. Maarten were also researched with the primary threat being related to habitat destruction. The resident pelican population has decreased drastically in the last four decades which coincides with the building boom experienced on St. Maarten during the nineteen sixties and seventies when numerous breeding locations had to make way for sea-front development.

"The reduction of fish in our local waters due to overfishing has also resulted in a reduction in the population of pelicans. With the drop in fish stock fewer and fewer chicks are born. However with the Man of War Shoal Marine Park now established it is the hope that fish stocks will regenerate, thus reinvigorating the pelican population," commented Tadzio Bervoets, Nature Foundation Manager.

The final threat to the species is related to the entanglement in fishing line and marine debris such as plastic bags and other garbage. The Nature Foundation often responds to incidents where pelicans are caught in fishing line or hooks, fishing nets, plastic bags, or soda can holders. Steps are therefore currently being taken by the Nature Foundation to introduce a line recycling program which the Foundation hopes will reduce incidents of Marine Entanglement to not only Pelicans but numerous other Marine Wildlife.

Click here to view the Nature Foundation Pelican Project Report.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The Civil Registry Department would like to announce that only for the month of December, office hours have been extended on Thursdays and the office will also be open on Saturdays.

The extended hours and an additional opening day is to deal with a backlog of documents that residents are requested to pass by to pick up which are passports, Identification Cards (ID), apostille, family tree, and declarations.

Starting Thursday, December 8 and every Thursday thereafter the office will remain open until 7:00pm. The Civil Registry Department will also be open on Saturday, December 10 and 17 from 10:00am to 12:00pm for the aforementioned services.

All government workers are also reminded that Wednesday, December 28 will be the last day that the office will extend services exclusively for civil servants.

Philipsburg:--- Some workers of the Pelican Resort have claimed that the President of the Workers Institute for Organized Labor (WIFOL) Theophillus Thompson has been requesting monies from the Pelican workers to pay their legal fees. One of the workers contacted SMN News claiming that Thompson asked them for $100 this past week. The worker said that their union representative even went as far as threatening that he will take them off the list if they don't come up with the funds. "Thompson is asking us for monies even though he knows we are not getting paid. Already the workers had to pay the WIFOL $200 to retain lawyers while they were all paying their union dues." However, a shop steward of the former Pelican Resort said that the workers have to understand that WIFOL has paid a lot of monies in legal fees and if they want the legal fight to continue then they have to assist. "Mr. Thompson asked us twice to assist with the legal fees and at no time did he threaten anyone. On both occasions the WIFOL President requested financial assistance from the workers had been paid. It's not like we did not get pay and Thompson asked for monies. Some of these workers want to get off with a free ride but they have to realize that the union and its members are in this struggle together. When this issue began we all agreed that we would contribute to the legal fees, so I don't know what they are complaining about." Another shop steward said that when the Pelican court cases started they thought of seeking independent lawyers and to request legal aid from government but that option had to be put aside because legal aid is only granted to Dutch citizens. Because of this policy, the Pelican workers had to take one lawyer to represent everybody, since most of the Pelican workers are not Dutch citizens. Most of the former Pelican workers have permanent residency they don't have the Dutch nationality therefore they could not have qualified for legal aid."
SMN News learnt that the Pelican saga and court cases have practically drained the accounts of WIFOL and the union is hardly able to meet its monthly financial obligations. The source said WIFOL paid over $60,000 in legal fees and the amount is still climbing. "Can you imagine the union had to post date cheques for the lawyers so that they could continue to work for the benefit of these workers." The shop steward further explained that WIFOL president Theophillus Thompson once clinched a deal with the SBRMC but the workers refused that option. "Had the workers read the agreement that Mr. Thompson signed they would have realized that they would have been working today. The company only wanted to request the termination of 35 persons and because the workers did not accept that agreement Thompson had to head to court. "Because of the Pelican saga and court cases, the WIFOL is hardly able to pay its GEBE bills and the workers know about the struggle so they should be the last persons to go to media with their concerns about monies." Thompson had to go to GEBE and make an arrangement with them when he could not pay his GEBE bills and to avoid disconnection he made an arrangement with GEBE. The two shop stewards said the Pelican labour problem came with a lot of baggage and as workers who are fighting in unity for their rights, they should remain together despite the challenges.
Efforts made to reach the President of WIFOL Theophillus Thompson on Wednesday proved futile as Mr. Thompson was engaged in meetings with the Minister of Labour Cornelius de Weever discussing the workers of the former Pelican Resort and other labour related matters.
In the meantime, the workers of Simpson Bay Resort Management Company continued with their protest action on Wednesday afternoon in front of the Government Administration Building while the Chamber of Labour Unions was meeting with the Minister of Labour Cornelius de Weever to discuss the labour situation on St. Maarten. Tuesday marked the second day of protest by the former Pelican Resort workers who are out of work.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The 15th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on December 11, 2011, at 4:30 p.m. on the Clem Labega Square.

The event, which was initially scheduled to take place last week Sunday at the end of the Annual Thanksgiving ceremony, was postponed due to inclement weather.

This year's event will feature many well-known local artists and performers, who will be "ringing in the Christmas season and a message of peace to the nation".

Performing on that evening will be the Ebony Steel Pan performance, the Bottleneck Crew, Don Froston, the Youth Drum Band, the Seventh Day Adventist men's choir, Morenika Arrindell and friends, Helen Hart, Dieanna Wilson, and a special appearance by Santa.

"Despite the adversities that we have encountered as a nation, let us remember during this holiday season to reflect on what is truly meaningful and count the blessings that we have received", the Prime Minister Hon. Sarah Wescot-Williams said as she encouraged the population to come out to this annual event.

Philipsburg:--- The Central Committee of Parliament will meet representatives from the Collectivite of the North side of the island on 12 December.

The Central Committee meeting will be held on Monday morning at 10:00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House of Parliament.

The agenda point is for representatives of both legislative councils to come together and formally meet, get acquainted and exchange ideas over developments that impact both sides of the island.

The meeting is open to the public and will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 20.

The Permanent Committee of Health Care, Social Development and Labour will be meeting on Monday afternoon at 2:00pm in a closed door session.

The meeting is a follow-up that Members of Parliament (MPs) had with the management of the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) a few weeks ago.

MPs will continue with their exchange of ideas with SMMC pertaining to the medical operations of the medical facility.

MPs who are members of the aforementioned committee are: MP Hon. Leroy De Weever (Chairman), MP Hon. Romain Laville (Vice Chairman), and MP Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson.

Philipsburg:--- The detective department is busy investigating the death of Junior Hyman whose body was found at his home around 11:20am on Sunday morning. Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson said police and paramedics were directed to #13 Soualiga Boulevard which is located behind Crystal Bar also known as Fefe's Bar where they found Hyman's body. Henson said the victim who is known in the community as Junior was found dead in his bedroom. Witnesses told police the last time they saw Junior Hyman was late Saturday evening to early Sunday morning in the vicinity of the bar. Henson said several persons were questioned as possible witnesses while forensic officers gathered evidence on the scene. The body of the victim was confiscated since the doctor who pronounced the victim dead could not determine the exact cause of death. Henson said the police did not rule out foul play and the exact cause of death will be determined at the end of the forensic investigation.
It should be noted that the victim Junior Hyman is the son of Fefe Hyman, owner of Crystal Bar. Earlier this year, police found another son of Fefe Hyman, Julius Hyman dead inside the same bedroom.

Philipsburg:--- The Territorial and Executive Council of St. Martin met with the Parliament of St. Maarten on Monday where the two governments discussed a number of issues that are affecting both sides.
Representing the Collectivity's Executive Council were President Frantz Gumbs, Vice President of the Executive Council Louis Jeffry, executive council members Alain Richardson and Aline Hanson, while the members of the Territorial Council sat in the public tribune to witness the discussions.
President Gumbs gave the Members of Parliament a power point outline of how the French side of the island was governed prior to it obtaining its new status under article 74 of the French constitution and today's reality since attaining its new status in 2007. President Gumbs claimed that the French side has more autonomy in areas of road networking but they have no jurisdiction on health care and education. Work permits he said fall under the Collectivity's responsibility while residency permits remain under the State.
Members of Parliament from St. Maarten raised several questions pertaining to the cooperation that existed between the two sides, they asked that the two sides come together and to try and resolve the current problems that are affecting the local population on both sides of the island.
One of the points of concern raised by Member of Parliament Petrus Leroy de Weever is the fact that there are a number of persons from the French side of the island who worked on the Dutch side and paid into the pension fund but they are denied their pensions simply because they reside on the French side of the island. De Weever said the SZB wants everyone who applied for their pension to provide a valid residency permit for the Dutch side before they are able to qualify for their pensions. He said there are persons who worked for over 30 years at government owned companies and they contributed to the pension fund but now they are being denied their pension because they are not able to provide the residency permit. He called on the French side and those responsible on the Dutch side to begin discussions and to end the abuse that is currently against pensioners or the elderly. While the Member of Parliament has raised the issue of pensions and SZB, it must be noted that the Members of Parliament are the ones to make the necessary legislations that would resolve the issue.
Member of Parliament Lloyd Richardson said that these discussions should have taken place before St. Maarten achieved its separate status because the other members of the former Netherlands Antilles constellation went with monies that did not belong to them.
Member of Parliament Louis Laviest also raised a number of issues that are also affecting persons who worked on the Dutch side and are collecting pension on that side of the island. Laveist said those persons are also denied their benefits on the French side. Laveist said that as Members of Parliament he is not a toy soldier and as such he is not prepared to just sit and talk with his counterparts but he wants to see some concrete solutions sought. Laveist said he does not think that the officials should continue to give lip service and their aim should not be to commit atrocity to the most vulnerable. Laveist was referring to the pension denial against persons who worked on the Dutch side. Laveist said the present situation can be considered as high day robbery.
The Members of Parliament said they are of the opinion that the 1648 treaty is not being respected especially when it comes to free movement of people and goods. They said the issue of the driver's license is one area that needs urgent attention.
Another issue raised by the Members of Parliament is the St. Peters road which can help to eliminate the traffic situation on both sides of the island, while youth delinquency and education were the two issues that received the highest priority from the Members of Parliament. Independent Member of Parliament Frans Richardson raised the issue on the amount of births on both sides of the island and the fact that there is nothing in place for these young people. Richardson said he would like to know exactly how many youngsters are on both sides of the island and how many jobs are available to them.
He suggested that the two sides work closer especially in the form of committee meetings.

Philipsburg:--- The President of the Parliament of St. Maarten Gracita Arrindell informed all Members of Parliament that the vote on the two motions on November 17th are in order and there is no need for a re-vote while the rules of order does not allow a re-vote, Arrindell said. The Chairlady dispatched a letter to the Members of Parliament on December 9th where she submitted the advice provided by the Secretary General of Parliament. On December 6th 2011, Leader of the National Alliance William Marlin informed the Chairlady through a point of order that Member of Parliament Jules James was not supposed to vote on the two motions that were presented in the November 17th meeting because of a stipulation in Article 53 subsection 1 of the constitution which states: The Members of Parliament shall refrain from voting on issues or appointments, including suspensions and dismissals, that personally affects them, their spouses, and their relations by blood or marriage up to and including the second degree, or in which they are involved as proxies.
The advice continued by stating the outcome of the votes for the motion presented by the National Alliance was six for and seven against, meaning the motion was rejected.
According to MP William Marlin, with the application of paragraph 1 of article 53 of the Constitution, the result of the voting would have been 6 for and 6 against. Therefore, Parliament has to vote again on the motion in its next public meeting.
Arrindell said based on the rules of order of the Parliament of St. Maarten there are no provisions for situations like this and the question now remains if there is a legal basis for the position taken by Member of Parliament William Marlin.
The Chairlady also pointed out in the advice that during the voting on November 17th no objections were made against Member of Parliament Jules James who voted on both motions that were tabled.
Furthermore, Article 51 nor elsewhere in the Rules of Order provides any basis for the procedure suggested by the National Alliance Faction, the advice states.
Therefore, the voting on the two motions that were presented on November 17th "Dismissal of the Pelican workers" are in order and the result of the vote will remain the same.
It should be noted that Arrindell sent her letter and attached advice and motion one week after she was summoned by the Governor of St. Maarten to discuss the breach of article 53 of the constitution.

Click here to view the letter and advice the Chairlady of Parliament sent to the Members of Parliament on December 9th.

Philipsburg:--- Former advisor to the Democratic Party Julian Rollocks has withdrawn the court case he initiated against the founder of Talking Drum Foundation and his brother Cimmerian Marlin in July 2011.
SMN News learnt that Rollocks indicated to his lawyers since last month to stop the court procedures when he learnt of his brother's financial predicament and the fact that he was facing eviction. Sources close to Rollocks said even though the businessman informed his lawyers at Gibson and Associates to stop the case they did not stop, neither did they lift the lean they placed on Talking Drum Foundation on Rollocks's behalf. SMN News learnt that Julian Rollocks finally sent an email to his lawyers indicating to them that he wants to withdraw the court case forthwith.
In the meantime, Cimmerian Marlin confirmed that he was officially notified by Gibson and Associates that Rollocks has withdrawn the case but the lean has not been completely lifted. "I am just waiting on one more phone call from the lawyers, they said they are in the process of lifting the lean," Marlin said on Wednesday. In July, Cimmerian Marlin was presented with a summons and stack of documents among which were a number of receipts and statements from some of the tenants at Border Point who claimed Rollocks invested monies at Border Point. Rollocks claimed $65,206.18 in investments at the Border Point when he initiated the case against Talking Drum Foundation.

 

Hon. Lionel Jansen,
Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Curacao,
Colleagues in Education,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen

The theme of this conference – Raising the bar in educational leadership and management - pre-supposes that we are not satisfied with the level of leadership and management in our educational system and consequently acknowledge the need to improve it.
While we continue to focus on quality teachers in order to ensure higher student achievement, there is no doubt in my mind that leadership and good management matter just as much in obtaining better results.
When we decided to organize this conference, we set as our primary objective to introduce the concept of quality, standards, accountability and competencies to those who lead and manage educational institutions in St. Martin. I am convinced that unless we raise the standard of professionalism of our school managers and school boards and increase their leadership quality and capacity, we would not succeed with the reforms and changes we intend to introduce in our education system in the short and long terms.
So, where is the bar at present, and how high do we want to raise it? What do we mean by leadership, particularly in education, and how can we improve it? These are some of the questions this Conference will have to address.
I must stress, as I have repeatedly done in the past, that as educators and policy-makers, we must remain focused on the fact that the student is the center of all our actions, of all our planning and of whatever reforms we propose to introduce in our education system. This is what makes leadership crucial: leadership in the classroom; leadership in the school, and need I add, leadership at home, also.
In my State of Education address at the beginning of this school year, I said the state of our education is not as healthy as it should be. I also said we must establish standards and best practices for teachers and schools by identifying our most effective teachers and school managers and learn from their expertise.
In my own quick-scan of our education system, I came to the conclusion that we operate a very complex system, which tends to stream our children at too early an age, and which offers a potpourri of letters that is confusing and difficult to understand, especially at the secondary level: HAVO, VWO, SBO, and all the remaining "Os" and the "TKL," "PKL" and all the other "L's".
One of our goals, therefore, is to simplify the system so that our children will receive a well-rounded, quality education, sit one school leaving examination at the end of primary school that would allow them to be admitted into secondary school, and have basically one model of secondary education which will offer a curriculum that is relevant and flexible enough for the students to pursue higher education anywhere in the world, or to enter the job market with a set of useful skills. Some of these reforms will be presented to you at this Conference today.
Let me return to the issue of leadership, which is at the heart of this Conference. What is leadership? What are the attributes of a good and effective leader? What impact does leadership have on student learning? All these are pertinent questions to ask, and I am sure our presenters will address them with more expertise than I have.
However, let me briefly offer you some definitions which I hope would stimulate the discussions that will later follow.
According to Theodore M. Hesburgh, president emeritus of the University of Notre Dame, "The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision." He may have derived this from the biblical saying: "where there is no vision, the people perish." (Proverbs 29:18).
Leadership is not about position, but vision. It is not about authority but sincerity in building bridges and handling volatile situations with dexterity.
John C. Maxwell, another pastor, put it like this: "A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way." In other words, a leader knows where he or she is going, and leads by example.
I like that Chinese proverb that says: "it is not the cry, but the flight of a wild duck that leads the flock to fly and follow." We would say, do as I do, not as I say.
You are a leader, according to John Quincy Adams, "if your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more." Or as David Gergen, that CNN commentator says, "A leader's role is to raise people's aspirations for what they can become and to release their energies so they will try to get there."
A leader does not only inspire – Napoleon Bonaparte calls him/her "a dealer in hope" – a leader also empowers. A leader does not frighten people, he enlightens them. A leader does not seek comfort, but shows fortitude of character. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., "the ultimate measure of a man (or woman) is not where he/she stands in moments of comfort, but where he/she stands at times of challenge and controversy."
We are living in very challenging times when leaders are needed the most who will place a premium on student achievement, who will develop and motivate a talented staff and who build a solid organizational structure that will stand the test of time.
I am sure those leaders can be found among you. In my humble view, there is a strong connection between teaching and leadership; and between learning and leadership. They are mutually dependent, so that the stronger one is, the greater the other becomes.
To raise the bar in educational leadership and management is not one person's job. It is not the minister's task alone. It is not the school principals' or teachers' duty, either. It is a collective effort that must involve all of us.
Steve Covey, author of the best-selling The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People said, "Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success. Leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall."
I would like to add that the ladder of success in education cannot be placed to lean against the right wall by one person alone.
Finally, I wish to thank all the members of the organizing committee of this conference, particularly the chairperson, Mrs. Patricia Lourens, and my Executive Assistant, Morenika Arrindell. My thanks also to all the members of my cabinet as well as the staff of my ministry.
And without any doubt, I want to express my indebtedness to all our guests here today. Dr. Marc Jerome, Vice-President of Monroe College and our keynote speaker, thank you very much for being such a willing partner of St. Martin.
Ms. Rubina Boasman, who went through some serious travel challenges to get here, thank you. Thanks also to Mr. Charles Connor, Chief Education Officer of our neighbor, Anguilla. That's what good neighbors are there for.
And to our special guests from Curacao, my colleague Minister Lionel Jansen and his delegation, who at short notice, thought it important to be present with us here today, masha, masha danki. We know we will give cooperation a new and more significant meaning that will benefit our people.
Last but not least, I want to express my sincere gratitude to Mrs. Josianne Fleming, an educator par excellence, whose engagement in education continues to inspire me. A special thank you to Mrs. Jane Buncamper, a teacher of all teachers, a role model whose knowledge and insights continues to guide us. And thank you to our youth speaker, Akeem Adams. There will be no teachers, no school managers, no school boards, and no minister of education, if we did not have students, those we call the leaders of tomorrow.
I wish you all a very productive Conference, and may we leave here today re-invigorated and ready to raise the bar in educational leadership and management.
May I before ending, take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you Season's Greetings and Happy Holidays.

I thank you.

Philipsburg:--- The permanent committee of Parliament for Tourism, Economic Affairs, Telecommunications and Transport (TEATT) will meet on 20 December.

The Tuesday TEATT meeting is scheduled for 10:00am in the General Assembly Chamber of Parliament with the Real Estate Association Sint Maarten, where the latter will give an introduction about its services and products.

TEATT members are, Members of Parliament (MP) Hon. Jules James (Chairman), MP Hon. Leroy De Weever (Vice Chairman), MP Hon. Patrick Illidge, MP Hon. Lloyd Richardson, and MP Hon. Frans Richardson.

The Central Committee of Parliament will be having a hearing with the Bar Association on 20, December with respect to the Penal Code.

The public hearing of Parliament will be held on Tuesday afternoon at 2:00pm in the General Assembly Chamber of the House of Parliament.

The Bar Association will be able to present its views to Members of Parliament with respect to extra-ordinary investigation methods that law enforcement authorities could use in the fight against crime.

Both meetings are open to the public and will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 20.

Philipsburg:--- The St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) President Stuart Johnson was featured this week in an England "UK" fashion blog web-site.

The web-site operated by the Award Winning "BEST MODEL TRAINER" in the U.K, voted at the BEFFTA awards, Catwalk Professor.

Johnson was asked a series of questions about the SCDF, his personal life and his fashion style.
The UK based web-site dubbed him as "the perfect role model" attributing to the many contributions made throughout the years to his country.

The web-site has also recently featured Miss St. Maarten Carnival 2011 Queen Trumane Trotman about her ongoing reign as St. Maarten's Carnival Queen as well as her fashion styles. Both Johnson and Trotman's featured interviews can be viewed via this web-site link http://fashionpolicenews.blogspot.com/2011/12/scdf-president-mr-stuart-johnson.html.

SCDF is reminding everyone of the ongoing registration for its shows whereby persons can request registration forms via e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or pick them up at the security desk of the Government Administration Building.

Philipsburg:--- Several persons including former senator and veteran politician Marcel Gumbs and St. Maarten's leading businessman Imran Macsood Amjad were among the persons that were presented with a St. Maarten Cultural Identification Card from the St. Maarten Nation Building Foundation (the grass-root movement). The presentation was made during a small ceremony at the UTS training center on Monday. The St. Maarten Cultural Identification card is the only identification card that is presented to persons who are native St. Maarteners or persons that have been selected by SNBF for their contribution to St. Maarten over the years they have lived on the island. The recipient of the cards on Monday were part of the group of persons that received their cards on St. Maarten's Day (11/11/11) but somehow did not manage to attend the ceremony held at the Bellevue Border.
President of the St. Maarten Nation Building Foundation Leopold James told the gathering that the event on St. Maarten Day was a symbolic ceremony which symbolizes the unity and oneness of the island's people. James said there are persons who made the cultural identification cards controversial but the SNBF introduced the cards in an effort to embrace nation building. "These cards are used to identify, preserve, and protect the ancestral St. Maarteners, while ensuring that St. Maarteners are first in their country based on the principle that states that charity starts at home." The SNBF President further explained that since the cards embrace nation building they also focused on the inclusion of other people who have made a significant contribution to St. Maarten/St. Martin. He made clear that while they believe and promote that St. Maarteners must be recognized first they also recognize that nation building is not a static process, rather it's a dynamic and ongoing process. The SNBF promotes self preservation and their aim is to include other people but they will not include any and everyone. Including everyone will not do justice to the island's ancestors James stressed. He said nation building and who is a St. Maartener was not discussed by others, especially politicians who championed the constitutional changes and since the SNBF began speaking out and creating awareness they have been considered as the rude boys. The SNBF has decided to define who is a St. Maartener since they have now drawn the line. "The intention is not to argue with anyone, but we will define ourselves as St. Maarteners." James made reference to the book, 1963 A Landmark Year, written by historian and writer Daniella Jeffry. James said after reading that book he realized who exactly is a St. Maartener. He admitted that the task is not easy but the SNBF has done some research on the topic.
Keynote speaker Daniella Jeffry said that the book 1963 A Landmark Year has nothing to do with the introduction of the cultural identification cards. The former politician, teacher, and current writer said while she was studying abroad her father used to send her newspaper clippings which she used to write a book to define her island. She said she wrote that book in 1984 when some major changes took place on the French side of the island. Jeffry said during the défiscalisation process other nations began to invade the island and were pushing the St. Maarteners aside. "At the time she said the only documents she had about her island were the newspaper clippings and it was the only thing she had that reminded her about her homeland. A Landmark Year, she said was published in the Newsday.
The author said she is currently working on the second edition of A Landmark Year which should be released soon. Jeffry she could not reproduce the first edition so she had to do another book which she believes must be in the hands of everyone, especially those that were presented with the St. Maarten Cultural Identification Cards. Jeffry said that St. Maarteners embraced everyone that visited St. Maarten. "Nationality was never an issue on St. Maarten, everyone was accepted here. Our people have a quality and they do not even know who they are," Jeffry said.
The persons presented with their cards on Monday are: Marcel Gumbs, Beryl Lake, Felicita Lewis, Leon Marlin, William Andre Patrick, Imrad Macsood Amjad and Drs. Mark Williams. Other persons that were also nominated and accepted are: Father Cornelius Charles, Christopher Emanuel, Augustine Lake (Dj Air-supply) and Mary Gumbs Mente.


Click here to view more photos of the SNBF Identification Card Ceremony.

Philipsburg:--- Some 73 young men and women who were recruited by the Ministry of Justice took their oath on Monday evening in the presence of the Minister of Justice Roland Duncan at the Philipsburg Cultural Centre. The newly sworn in officers were divided into four sets to assist the various justice departments. Most of the recruits were appointed to work directly with the Police Department while a number of them were sent to the Pointe Blanche House of Detention, the Customs Department, and the Immigration Department.
Monday's swearing in ceremony was a temporary ceremony which would allow the recruits to officially function in the various departments. The BAVPOL officers that are appointed to the Police Department are already working with the police conducting the necessary foot patrols during this Christmas season. Among the BAVPOL officers were some Dutch Police Officers who arrived on St. Maarten to provide assistance to the St. Maarten Police Force. They were also sworn in Monday evening and they will begin controlling the streets of St. Maarten as early as Tuesday.
It is understood that the BAVPOL recruits which is the first of their kind on St. Maarten wrote their examinations last month and they are scheduled to graduate sometime in January. It is further understood that these officers will have to re-take the oath when they graduate. The recruits participated in a six months course which began in July 2011.
Minister of Justice Roland Duncan said the BAVPOL is aimed at strengthening the various justice departments. He advised the new officers of the law to do their best in their new jobs and continue the courses that will be offered to them. Minister Duncan said the next batch of recruits will start mid 2012. The Minister said that the BAVPOL recruits are the future of St. Maarten and their services are needed. He called on them to do the island proud as they execute their duties.

Click here to view more photos of the swearing in of the BAVPOL recruits.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Prime Minister Hon. Sarah Wescot-Williams on Sunday visited the St. Martin's Home for their annual Christmas celebration. The event started off with a Church service where the Prime Minister spontaneously joined the singers and also read the scriptures for that day.

Harbour View:--- On Thursday December 22, 2011, His Excellency Eugene B. Holiday received the new Préfet for St. Martin, Philippe Chopin at his office in Falcon Drive. Mr. Chopin paid a visit to Governor Holiday as part of his programme to meet with relevant counterparts in the region and counterparts on Dutch Sint Maarten.

One of the main subjects discussed during the meeting was the joint cooperation between the Dutch and the French side, which the Préfet earlier referred to as one of his priorities. During the meeting, also Governor Holiday emphasized the importance of joint cooperation. "This meeting is important in light of the fact that, as I have stated previously, we live in a global community and even more so on a shared island, one island. By transforming our harmonious brotherly existence in real and concrete cooperation, we will be able to realize, secure and sustain our island's maximum potential. In my meeting with the Préfet, I have reiterated this personal belief and the importance of joint Dutch-French cooperation", Governor Holiday stated.

At the end of the meeting, the Governor expressed his appreciation for the Préfet's visit and wished him much success in his new post.

Philipsburg:--- As the year ends we at SMN News had yet another difficult choice to make when it comes to selecting the person of the year. For SMN News the person we selected this year stood out as one of the most controversial persons who finds himself in everything. A man that is seen as heartless and without compassion. One that took bread out several people's mouths while making sure his own pocket is filled and running over. He is a church preacher that gets his pennies from the tithes collected at the Cole Bay Church where he preaches, while he collects two salaries as General Manager of Simpson Bay Resorts and his almost Naf. 20,000.00 as a Member of Parliament. Not to mention his daily income as a businessman who owns Natures Discount in Philipsburg.
Our person of the year 2011 in the negative is no other than Member of Parliament Jules James from the United People's Party. One who despite preaching about God's love and compassion managed to fire 145 persons even though many of them served their employers for over 25 years. Yes!, Jules James did not pay these workers in December even though he knows its Christmas; a time when people share their blessings, a time for family and a time of giving. Yet Jules James made sure his workers were not paid and these people were not able to put food on their tables yet alone share. James made sure he collected his salaries as Simpson Bay Resort General Manager to the tune $11,000.00 while he collected Naf. 18,839. 00 as Member of Parliament along with the profits from his business, Nature's Discount.
Jules James is known as a Man of God that preaches God's Word yet he is not able to feed his flock according to the principles of God's word. According to James' Facebook profile, he has a passion for work... so he made sure he climbed the ladder in the service industry from a busboy to the company's leading General Manager at the former Pelican Resort, now Simpson Bay Resort Management Company BV (SBRMC) and Royal Resorts Management Company Ltd (Former Pelican Resorts) the largest Resort in the region.
Jules James did everything that is humanly possible to make sure he remains the company's GM, even if it means selling his soul. In order to do so, he got into politics and made sure he got his co- workers to vote for him, he promised them that if he is elected he would take care of them. As loyal workers, they voted for Jules James not realizing that the man was making sure he sits where the power lies so that he could get rid of them without being persecuted. A local preacher on a political list, that got 152 votes and earned himself a seat in Parliament when his party leader Theodore Heyliger and Rhoda Arrindell vacated their seats in Parliament to become Ministers. Now a member of the house that makes and amends laws, James voted on two motions on the floor of Parliament to save his own skin. The six Members of Parliament from the UP faction has all said that James needs to make a decision since they are all affected. Some said James needs to resign from Parliament. They said his party leader told him that he needs to decide what he will do since he is the party's black sheep. SMN News was told that the brains of the UP party Joseph Richardson has decided to take a back seat in the Jules James and Pelican saga because the next person in line to become Member of Parliament is Richardson's nephew Jesus Richardson, another rookie in the house should James resign.
Besides being a man of GOD and now Member of Parliament, our person of the year Jules James made headlines throughout 2011 for being the meanest person on St. Maarten. He is one that lacks respect for people even though there is always a broad smile on his face. Jules James is known to be a mean boss, as former General Manager of Flamingo Beach, for one reason or another he left the resort when he was having problems with his employees. SMN News was told that the owners of Flamingo bypassed James and made their own decisions to save their Resort and reputation. A decision that Simpson Bay Resort is yet to make even though the labour scandal has been going on for over a year now. One thing for sure is that 2011 was the year of labour unrest. It will be remembered as the year of protests. The Pelican workers started striking last year December, and throughout 2011. The Pelican Workers and Jules James made headlines in a negative way. Jules James made history when for the first time on November 17th angry workers decided to mob elected officials as they left the house of Parliament.
When we look back 2011 the only person that stood out is Jules James. So we were left with no other choice but to select Mr. Jules James as the Man of the Year in the NEGATIVE. Congrats Member of Parliament you earned it and since we know MP James as the Man of God we will leave him with this Bible verse: Mark 12:17:Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they marveled at him.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The Civil Registry Department has set aside seven days between January and February for approved BTA applicants who will be registering for the first time with the aforementioned office. All other persons with BTA renewals will be given further information at a later date with respect to them.

As of Wednesday, December 27 and in the coming weeks, the names of the approved BTA applicants along with the registration day will be published in the Government Information Page (GIP) in both daily newspapers.

Those persons are requested to visit the Civil Registry Office on the registration days between 8.00am and 4.00pm. The dates set aside for approved BTA applicants are: January 4, 11, 18 and 25; February 1, 8 and 15.

The registration is for approved BTA applicants who are registering for the first time with the Civil Registry Department, and will have to bring with them a number of original documents in order for the registration to take place: a legalized birth certificate (apostille), legalized marriage certificate (apostille), legalized divorce certificate (apostille), valid passport, legalized birth certificates of children (apostille); legalized proof that children and or spouse are living "attestatie de vitae" (those who are not residing on the island), recent passport photo, US$20 to pay for the ID Card application, and proof of address (rental contract with copy of landlord's ID Card, or written permission from the landlord with copy of the landlord's ID Card).

All persons registering for the first time must have a completed registration form along with the aforementioned documents. Incomplete files and or copies will not be accepted and all legalized documents should not be older than two-years.

Philipsburg:--- Police are yet to make a breakthrough in the murder of the Dominicano man that was shot on Boxing Day in the vicinity of Ace Mega Center Cole Bay. Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos identified the victim as R.C. of the Dominican Republic. Monday's murder marked the 17th murder investigation for the year 2011. Mos said up to Tuesday evening no one was arrested, however, the investigation is continues.

According to bystanders and eyewitnesses, the victim whose name was given as Raoul was shot in the presence of his wife at his Well Road residence. The bystanders said a Rastafarian man approached the victim at his home and demanded money. They said the victim gave the man monies but he still shot him to death.

Philipsburg:--- Two men identified as R.B and A.B. filed an official report with the Detective department stating that they were threatened with a shotgun by the son of another man they identified with initials M.A.M.F. from France. Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson said that the incident occurred on November 28th, 2011 at the Turtle Pier restaurant on Airport Boulevard. According to the two victims, they went to collect some monies from the suspect for work they had done for him. The victims told police that the situation got out of hand and at some point the suspect attacked R.B. with a piece of wood and during this attack destroyed the windshield of the vehicle belonging to R.B.
Henson said R.B. defended himself with a piece of pipe he had in his vehicle. The other victim A.B. was sitting in the vehicle at the time of the attack and exited the vehicle only to be confronted by the son of M.A.M.F. who had a shotgun in his hand. The suspect's son cranked the gun and aimed it at victim A.B. (according to the statement of A.B.), the Police Spokesman said. When M.A.M.F. saw what his son did he took away the gun away from his son. His son then left the scene shortly after the incident. In the meantime, M.A.M.F. has been arrested by police and is in custody for questioning. The shotgun has been confiscated as the investigation continues.

Yes, Alain RICHARDSON is still not hit by the fever of the announcement of candidacy, and he is almost the only one, because to this day many are those who have announced that they are candidates in the upcoming territorial election normally planned for March 18th and 25th 2012.
May the population and the voters be reassured and may they do not get confused by the approach of the political group RASSEMBLEMENT-RESPONSABILITE-REUSSITE (RRR) and its political leader Alain RICHARDSON. For indeed, this group is the only political group today in the Collectivité, that can boast of being born and being the result of unity, of rallying and of a clear process of coming together of political parties and of the civil forces of St-Martin.
Our distinctive trademark stands as the foundation of our political approach. To all those who shout and who pride themselves in the "I" am candidate, and who present themselves as "the providential man", our group since its establishment opposes and argues the "WE and the US." Yes it is yet with pride and confidence that we are confirming that the RRR group offers itself up to the population for nobler and greater service; yes the RRR is candidate and in the race for the next territorial elections.
How can one comprehend when the various declared individual candidates claim that they want unity and wish for the coming together of the political forces, when their actions are exactly proclaiming the contrary? Is jumping the gun and declaring one's candidacy, a means of bringing unity and presenting a united front? This can only be so, if the name of the game is to impose and or expect to have all other forces to shut-up and line-up.
The RRR group acts in respect and with consideration for all the population and in particular for all those groups and persons who wish to engage and commit themselves to service to St-Martin.
For months now (since May 2010), the our group has been in the various districts of the island and has organized dozens of meetings, in order to hear from the population while presenting its ambitions for St-Martin and its population.
There where today many (all of the declared individual candidates) expose their personal ambitions (to become President),our group (RRR) boldly states that if victory and the Presidency of the Collectivité are necessary conditions yet they are not sufficient, except to desire to repeat the same mistakes of the past 30 years, that we and the youth of this Collectivité are today paying hard cash for.
Today we can proudly boast of having published since September a wave of some of the founding ideas and our some of our future electoral program flagship projects. Just as a reminder, our political platform is built around the urgency of creating wealth and jobs by the stimulus and the revitalization of our economy, but also by the need to protect and preserve our youth from the temptations of idleness and delinquency by proposing and providing them with an ambitious citizen partnership. Our group has the ambition to restore dignity through employment, entrepreneurship and access to the property.
The battle that we must engage resolutely and win at all costs for St-Martin is for the competitiveness and attractiveness of our territory. We boastfully and forcefully declare that it is the private sector that is the true creator of wealth, added value and therefore of jobs, and that there will only be genuine economic development and growth, that in return will trigger social development in our territory when it becomes competitive and attractive. Being competitive and attractive is the only way to encourage both local and foreign investments and business creations.
Just as a reminder, here are a few projects of our ambition for St-Martin, that we have published in the press (printed and Internet) and have presented on the wave-links (radio and television):

• Structure and develop the trade sector (distribution, import-export, e-commerce, etc..) through the creation of a Trade "Free-Zone" around the port of Galisbay. This development of the interregional trade sector will serve as a trigger for the development of port infrastructure through a public-private partnership.
• Promote the development and creation of businesses through the creation of a development and investment fund with a tripartite financing: Public (Collectivité – EU - State), financial institutions and Private Citizens.
• Promote what can be termed as popular capitalism by the institution of local "Investors' Clubs".
• Offer our youth a new deal, a partnership that we call "Sponsorship" and which has for ambition to offer them coaching, professional supervision, access to training programs (and or a second chance in life), cultural, artistic and sports activities. This project called "Sponsorship" is in fact a school of citizenship and opportunities.

Our ambition is to serve St-Martin and its people and to rekindle hope, confidence and prosperity.

Alain RICHARDSON.
Leader of the group.

Philipsburg:--- Today, the judge of instruction prolonged the pre-trial detention of three of the eight suspects in the Vesuvius investigation. The suspects were arrested on November 16th 2011, in a large scale operation by local Police, together with RST, Curaçao customs officers and police officers from throughout the Kingdom. The other five suspects will be led before the judge either tomorrow or next week.
The suspects A.O.J. and E.L. are currently being detained on Aruba. A third suspect, C.F., is being detained in Curaçao.
Yesterday, another house search led to the seizure of yet another firearm. The total of guns seized in this investigation now is 12. Examination of the weapon has to establish whether this is a genuine firearm or an alarm gun. Witness statements that could have been relevant in the early stages after the first shooting only now pop up in the investigation. The contents of these statements is more than helpful to the investigation. The Prosecutor's Office therefore once again calls on people who have relevant information to come forward and share this information with the investigation team.
The investigation is still ongoing, offering plenty of work to many police officers.

Philipsburg:--- French Restaurateur M.A.M.F. who was arrested on Monday with a loaded shotgun was released by the judge of instruction on Wednesday afternoon.
The French restaurateur and his family were being harassed by former VKS soldier R.B. of St. Maarten for a period that started some four weeks ago after R.B. was sent to the restaurateur by airco business Mr. Cool to repair the kitchen refrigerator.

According to the French family, R.B. needed two days to finalize the repair and came for dinner some three days later and checked on the condition of the fridge while leaving his invoice.

Two days later R.B. made a stop at the restaurant in the early morning demanding payment and started to curse and insult the kitchen crew while demanding the cellphone number of the wife of the restaurateur. The kitchen personnel refused to follow R.B.'s orders.
R.B. meanwhile started to demolish the same Fridge that he had helped repair.

R.B. left the premises only to return some days after. This time he found the wife of the restaurateur alone in her small office located next to the restaurant. He entered the office and immediately started to demand money while shouting and pushing the terrified woman. R.B. seemed to calm down for a moment, carefully turning around and locking the office door from the inside. At the same moment, a friend of the lady passed by who called the police and assisted the lady in escaping.
R.B. calmly waited for the police to arrive. The police told him to leave the family alone and involve a lawyer.

The lady filed a complaint at the police station against R.B. At the same time, the lady offered the detective to leave a cheque for R.B. at the station hoping that it would put an end to the harassment. The detective however, said he could not accept it.

Some three weeks later, Monday November 28, R.B. parked his car on the premises of the Restaurant and immediately tried to get into the lady's office. The lady managed to lock the door before R.B. reached it and called the police and her husband, the restaurateur, who was working at the dock.

The restaurateur met R.B. at the door, behind which his wife was hiding, and told him to leave the premises. R. B. immediately handed over his invoice and shouted that he wanted his money now.

The restaurateur suggested to wait for the police in order to work things out. R.B. tried to pull the invoice out of the hands of the restaurateur tearing it in the process knowing he was forbidden by the police to enter the premises. R. B. became so aggressive that the restaurateur feared for his safety and that of his wife and reached for a piece of wood to scare off the intruder. R.B. was not impressed by the lifted piece of wood and went back to his car to collect a long piece of heavy metal pipe seemingly ready at hand.

The restaurateur and R.B. entered into a sort of sword-fighting when the restaurateur hit the car of R.B. and R.B. hit the restaurateur. The restaurateur was severely hurt by the heavy blows he was receiving form R.B. and fell to the ground. R.B. , who was accompanied by his cousin, kept on hitting the man with the pipe while the restaurateur was trying to protect his face and head. Several bystanders urged R.B. to stop hitting but R.B. refused to stop.

Suddenly, R.B. stopped his action and ran to his car to flee the scene. The reason seemed to be the loaded gun that was aimed at him by the son of the restaurateur who had taken his fathers old hunting rifle out of the garage. Shortly, after the police arrived at the scene and arrested the restaurateur for illegal arms possession.

Meanwhile R.B. had already filed a complaint against the restaurateur for threatening him with a weapon.

The restaurateur was kept on the floors of the local police station for several days. The French Association for French Residents and Businessmen on St.Maarten, UFE, locally represented by Mr. Philipe Costa and Jean Marie Durand, got notice of the serious situation the restaurateur was in and retained the services of local Attorney Remco Stomp.

The restaurateur was released shortly after.

Great Bay:--- Although the curtain came down Saturday with a festive dance at Port de Plaisance with the Control Band in control, the opening of the Technology and Research Lab of the Oranje School during the week was the main highlight of the celebrations of the institution's 160th anniversary.
Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, Dr. Rhoda Arrindell, opened the ultra-modern Technology center in a colorful ceremony last Wednesday, marked by a hands-on demonstration of how the center will be put to work in the benefit of the students in a 21st Century learning environment.
"I am particularly impressed by the way the Oranje School has gone about establishing this 'Technology and Research Lab'. That is what I call innovation: using an existing infrastructure to launch an ultra-modern facility" the Minister said in her address at the inauguration of the center.
She was referring to the transformation of a large classroom into five smaller learning environments consisting of a lecture area, a brainstorming area, the science area, a group work table and computer workstations equipped with 15 computers.

The Technology Center is the first of its kind in the Public School system. It also has a large screen, two scanners, a printer, two digital video cameras, and two digital cameras, which some students made use of to record the inauguration ceremony for the school's newsletter. Two of the students interviewed Minister Arrindell and asked her probing questions, while others gave live demonstrations of weather reports for television audiences.

"I am really impressed by what I saw," the Minister commented. "The students will definitely grow into first-class professionals if they continue in this track," she added.

Dr. Arrindell said that the inauguration of the technology center falls within her goals of "a systematic use of ICT in all schools" which would ensure that "all students have access to computers and the Internet and that they are used systematically throughout our school curriculum."

"I strongly believe that in this 21st Century, all St. Martin students must be computer literate and Internet–savvy," she said.

The Minister applauded the Oranje School, the oldest institution of learning on the island, for "being a pioneer in education as you have been for the past 160 years" and expressed the wish that "the success of this initiative will inspire and stimulate other schools to emulate and replicate it, where it does not already exist."

Philipsburg:--- The President of the Windward Islands Institute for Organized Labor (WIFOL) Theophillus Thompson feels the most recent verdict delivered by the Appeals Court is some form of conspiracy against the working class. Thompson said the Court of Appeals suspended the most recent verdict the workers of former Pelican resort got from the lower court. This is the second time the Appeals Court has decided to rule against the workers who are trying to have the Simpson Bay Resort Management Company BV (SBRMC) and Royal Resorts Management Company Ltd respect the Collective Labor Agreement (CLA) the company has with the Windward Island Institute of Organized Labor. Thompson described the most recent decision of the Appeals Court as that of a legal blunder.
The WIFOL President said that it is clear that the Appeals Court is doing its best to protect the large companies on the island while breaking the laws stipulated by the International Labor Organization (ILO). "These decisions that are taken by the court are going to force the unions to resort to industrial actions which will disrupt society.
Thompson also explained that the Members of Parliament would have to be prepared to make the necessary legislations that would protect the working class. He said the current labor laws are too ambiguous while the higher courts are prejudicial in their rulings.
However, the WIFOL President made clear that the union and its members will not give up their fight. He said currently the union, its members, and their lawyers are perusing the current laws to decide on how they will proceed within the legal system. "Our lawyers are busy consulting with other legal experts on this matter so they can decide on our next course of action within the judicial system." In the meantime, the WIFOL is busy preparing a report which will be submitted to the International Labor Organization (ILO) since the developments within the labor industry is against the ILO. "Right now collective bargaining and the freedom of association are being jeopardized and the ILO has to be informed of the new trend.
In the meantime, the WIFOL along with its partners in the Chamber of Labor Unions are also in constant meetings to decide on how they will deal with government and those responsible for plight of the former Pelican workers. Thompson said that they are on a mission to find out who is behind the conspiracy against the working class. The Chamber of Labor Unions once indicated that if they have to shut down the island they will do just that to get government's attention.
The unionist said that the unions are also looking to see how the government of St. Maarten namely the United Peoples Party will deal with the renewal of the SMBRC operating license. "We want to see what are the stipulations laid down by government when it comes to protecting workers." These companies get the 10 year tax break from government and at the end of that period they would change the names of the companies to avoid paying taxes. Some of them Thompson said would even file bankruptcy and leave their workers out in the cold.
In the case of the former Pelican Resort, they claim to have sold the company through an auction. While the owners of the company remained the same, the name of the company changed. Thompson said the former Pelican Resort did not lay off its workers and it was decided that the new company would take over the 183 workers. The WIFOL president further explained that the SMBRC through its managing director Jules James wanted to give the workers short term contracts without paying them out. "The Pelican saga started because the WIFOL objected to SMBRC decision to replace permanent workers with a short term contract. Furthermore, the government of St. Maarten and the United Peoples Party is backing the General Manager of SMBRC and Member of Parliament Jules James."
The WIFOL President said he has been trying to contact the leader of the United Peoples Party (UP) Theodore Heyliger to officially inform him that he has one of his Members of Parliament operating in a conflict of interest. "Jules James cannot be a General Manager for a company that is laying off workers while he is also a legislator. The freedom of association and collective bargaining are now being jeopardized because of a lawmaker. Because of this, employment and decent work is no longer secure on St. Maarten. There is no more job security for workers on the island, thus creating a breathing space for poverty, crime, and youth delinquency."
Thompson said the only persons who are in touch with the union are the members of the National Alliance faction, while Member of Parliament Romain La Ville called for a meeting with the tripartite on Tuesday.
Thompson said one of the fundamental arms of the government apparatus is not functioning. He said right now the labor department and the labor mediator are not functioning and if they were performing their duties then the Pelican workers and the union would not have had to turn to courts. "During the days of the Federal Government, there would have been mediation to avoid unnecessary court cases and labor unrest."
Thompson admitted that the WIFOL has been spending "thousands" of dollars on legal fees as they continue to fight for the rights of the workers. He said the monies they are spending on legal fees could have been better spent to further upgrade workers on St. Maarten.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- On December 3rd, 2011, Minister Plenipotentiary Hon. Mathias Voges attended the Young Professional Gala-Award Pearls of the Dutch Caribbean organized by OCaN.

Minister Voges addressed the nominees from all the islands, among them two Sint Maarteners namely Ivy Defoe (Masters Degree in Psychology and a PhD candidate with an emphasis on adolescent risky behaviours and juvenile delinquency) and Mischu Laikah (singer, songwriter, vocal coach and IKN Ambassador in Holland). Voges wished them much success on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Government of Sint Maarten.

Voges said that they are role models for the upcoming youth and that he hoped that other youngsters will be encouraged and follow in their footsteps.

Minister Voges left the youngsters with the following tips: grow your self confidence and move quickly to repair it when it's damaged by setbacks; continue to grow professionally; tackle the toughest jobs and challenges; know yourself particularly your weaknesses and eliminate them; and understand that whatever else may fail you, whatever bad luck or failure may befall you, your personal integrity is always in your own hands and can never be taken away.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The Salt Pond Pump has been in full operation since Monday evening 8:00pm after it was repaired, and will run 24-hours a day to bring down the water level in the Salt Pond.

Ministry VROMI is reviewing additional measures to bring down the water level such as having access water in the Salt Pond transferred to the Fresh Water Pond once the water level in the latter is lower than the Salt Pond.

Lowering the water level in the pond due to the recent sporadic rainfall over a two week period could take about three weeks.

At the moment, the Salt Pond is 95 centimeters above the normal level. Water level in the pond is kept approximately at 70 centimeters below sea water level.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The Suckergarden Road from the round-a-bout near the Sundial School to the intersection to Guana Bay will be closed to motorized traffic as of 5:00am on Sunday, 11 December until the public sector infrastructure works have been completed.

All motorized traffic will be diverted through the Arch Road for those traveling in the direction of Oyster Pond and Belvedere.

Tour bus companies and taxis should take note when planning their tours to the North side of the island.

The road closure is linked to the installation of two drainage systems, a 48 inch drain line to be installed near the Sundial School round-a-bout and a 24-inch drainage pipe at the existing Suckergarden pump house.

The civil works will be coordinated by the Department of Infrastructure Management, from the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Development, Environment, & Infrastructure (VROMI).

Ministry VROMI apologizes for any inconvenience that this public sector improvement project will cause.

Oyster Pond:--- A head on collision that occurred early Sunday morning in the vicinity of Lucian Bar left the driver of one of the vehicles in serious condition. According to preliminary reports reaching SMN News, the driver of one of the vehicles had to be transported to Guadeloupe for emergency medical care. Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson said the man did not even want to go to the hospital when the ambulance arrived at the scene. Henson said the two drivers were taken to the Philipsburg Police station so they could have given a report. "While at the Police Station, the driver began complaining of severe pain and the ambulance was called again. He was transported to the St. Maarten Medical Center where it was discovered that the driver had sustained a broken hip." Henson said the driver whose identity has not been revealed requested to be taken to the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital and doctors there decided to evacuate him to Guadeloupe for further medical care.
In an unrelated case, a man was hit by an unknown vehicle around 5:30am on Sunday morning in the vicinity of Cat's Guess House. The victim suffered minor injuries, no further details have been released by the traffic department.

Triangle Love Affair Leaves Man Injured.

Police and ambulance personnel also responded around 5:00am to the Sonesta Maho Resort to investigate an alleged shooting. Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson confirmed the incident. He further stated that the victim approached the front desk clerk of Sonesta Maho Resort and asked to call police, where he waited for them.
According to Henson, the man claimed to have been shot by another man with whom he had an argument. The victim identified as R.Y. told police that he argued with the other man over a woman he had an affair with, he further stated that the argument turned into a fight. "The confrontation turned into a fight at which time, according to the victim, he heard a loud noise and felt a sharp pain around his left ear. However, the victim stated that he did not see a fire arm," the press releases states. The victim also told police that during the fight he fell hitting the left side of his face on a stone. The victim was treated on the scene by paramedics and then transported to the St. Maarten Medical Center for further treatment. It is still unclear what took place in this case and an investigation has been launched by the Detective department to determine exactly happened.

French Quarter:--- This is the second time we at SMN News are forced to inform you that SMN News website (www.smn-news.com) has been a subject of plagiarism by our colleagues in the media on the Dutch side of the island. Some time ago we wrote about a former reporter of the Today Newspaper who was making it his duty to monitor our website and steal our information without giving us the credit we so rightly deserve.
While as media people we have on a number of occasions tried to help our colleagues by providing information and photographs to them but we simply cannot do the reporters' work for them all the time, after all they are being paid by their bosses to work and not to leach on other people.
The Editor in Chief of the Today Newspaper Hilbert Haar on a number of occasions has said that he does not believe in stealing other peoples work and whenever he uses our information he would make sure we are duly credited. However, the Today Newspaper has one reporter who does not seem to understand that he cannot sit behind his desk and steal information from us without being noticed. On several occasions we confronted Donellis Brown about the information we know he takes off of SMN News and rewrites without giving us credit and each time Mr. Brown would find an excuse to say he got his information elsewhere, what Mr. Brown does not know is that we at SMN News are able to point out when he visits our site and prints our information or even copies our information. The IP address registration on SMN News is not a gimmick, it actually works.
On Sunday evening, we uploaded an article regarding the letter that the Governor of St. Maarten sent to Parliament regarding the November 17th meeting. While we quoted the letter we did not publish the letter when the article was posted because we know that Donellis Brown and our colleagues at the Daily Herald will take it and use it as their own. After all, when it is published it is for public consumption. So we at SMN News decided that we will hold the letter until later in the night. That however, prompted Donellis Brown to call us and to ask for the letter. SMN News reporter informed Brown that it is because we are being plagiarized by him and the Daily Herald that we decided to hold the letter back. Brown then told us that he will give us credit if we publish the letter early. What Donellis Brown did not realize is that he was being taped when he said that he will use our letter and information and give us credit. Surprisingly, Brown used the letter we published and our information and as usual refused to credit us. When our lawyer contacted Brown on Monday his excuse was that he inadvertently forgot to mention that he took the letter from SMN News and he will correct that on Tuesday. Well, Mr. Brown wants to be a lawyer, as a matter of fact, he is traveling on Tuesday to the Netherlands to enroll and sit a placement examination for the school he intends to attend now that he has his Dutch citizenship. Mr. Brown, we all know that lawyers are good liars, in most cases they are not caught with their pants down, but you were, and we can now say that you are not a man of your word.

Sucker Garden:--- Residents, drivers and other road users that are using the Sucker Garden road have to once again endure severe traffic jams while drivers try to avoid the potholes on that main road.
SMN News took some time out on Tuesday to monitor the traffic situation on that road to see the effects of the potholes. Besides the constant traffic jams, vehicle owners have to deal with thee unnecessary expenses of constantly replacing parts on their vehicles. Another trend we noticed on Sucker Garden road is the constant flow of sewage and other waters. While we are aware that there has been constant rainfall over the past weeks it is clear that those in authority are not taking the necessary steps to make sure home owners dispose of their waste water in a hygienic way.
The Sucker Garden road and a few other roads in the Cay Hill area were among the roads repaired for the Royal Visit on November 3rd 2011. Head of the Maintenance Department of Public Works Claudius Buncamper confirmed on Tuesday that the Council of Ministers awarded a contract to MNO VERVAT for the sum of Naf. 1.2 million to repair the roads throughout the island for the year 2011. The department head also confirmed that Sucker Garden Road was repaired and number of the potholes on that road were filled for the Royal visit. When asked if his department monitors the road work and if they are satisfied with the quality of work that is provided by MNO VERVAT, Buncamper said his department does monitor the road repairs but he did not say if they are satisfied or not with the quality of work that is provided by the company. The department head said that the filling of the potholes is not a permanent fix and government chose to fill the potholes because they lack funds to further develop and repair the road network. While the potholes were filled the underground work remained the same Buncamper said.
In the meantime, several contractors told SMN News that MNO VERVAT is using cheap and low quality asphalt to fill the potholes and it is only normal that it washes away as soon as rain falls. "Everyone on St. Maarten knows that the two companies conducting the road repairs are not providing quality work. One week after the St. Peters road was finished it caved in and while the Cole Bay road is under construction there is no provision done for drainage. So these contractors will get another contract to block the road in another few months to put in drainage."
Shoppers and other persons walking through Front and Back Street would fall down all the time because of the condition of those two main roads in Philipsburg. "When our visitors come here they walk through Front and Back Street and many times they fall. Driving a car through those two streets is like being on a boat in high seas," the contractors said.

Click here to view more photos of the potholes on Sucker Garden Road.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- On Monday a delegation from the St. Maarten Red Cross visited the Sint Maarten House in The Hague where they were greeted by Minister Plenipotentiary Hon. Mathias Voges.

President of the Red Cross Board Paul Martens and Manager Marjan van der Steen, are on a week-long working visit to the Netherlands.

The six Red Cross Chapters started their visit last week Thursday when they visited Humanity House in The Hague. On Friday a round-table meeting was organized in The Hague to discuss the newly approved changes to the Red Cross Royal Decree with the stakeholders.

Minister Voges and Aruba's Minister of Plenipotentiary were also present for the high-level meeting as well as all chairpersons of the Dutch Caribbean Red Cross chapters, delegates from relevant Dutch Ministries and key members of management of the Netherlands Red Cross.

On Saturday the delegation attended the Netherlands Red Cross Council of Delegates meeting in Utrecht while on Monday the 6th monthly meeting of the Dutch Caribbean Red Cross board presidents, managers and the Netherlands Red Cross was conferred at the Dutch Red Cross headquarters in The Hague.

The working visit concluded on Tuesday with a series of workshops and information sessions.

Philipsburg:--- 15 December marks Kingdom Day. It is the second Kingdom Day that Sint Maarten will be marking as a country within the Dutch Kingdom.

The Kingdom of the Netherlands comprises of four countries, the Netherlands, Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten. Sint Maarten is committed to work together in partnership and as equals, towards a shared future of the Kingdom.

A Kingdom vision of the future is being worked on which will help the Kingdom to evolve. Such a vision will incorporate mutual values and beliefs in freedom, democracy and human rights for the continued development and prosperity of all the peoples within the Kingdom.

Our societies are seeking ways and means to improve the quality of life of the people. The vision of a new Kingdom should include forms of innovation that help build resilient partnerships and better societies in the Kingdom as a whole. Progress is something which must be sustained and shared by all.

While the day is symbolic in nature, we are looking forward to making the new constitutional relationship with our Kingdom partners beneficial for the people of the countries we represent.

The new structure must be translated into tangible results that the citizens can feel and see. We are committed to taking our rightful seat at the proverbial table to make it happen no matter the obstacles, no matter the detractors.

Kingdom Day represents our collective spirit to work together to deal with today's challenges.

For Kingdom Day 2011, let us reflect as we look forward to the challenges ahead. This is an exciting and pivotal time for the future of the Kingdom.

I would like to wish all citizens of the Kingdom Happy Kingdom Day.

Hon. drs. Gracita Arrindell
President of Parliament of Sint Maarten

Marigot:--- Several business owners on the main street of Rue de Hollande (RN7) spoke out on Friday about the lack of parking in the vicinity of their businesses which would allow the customers a few minutes of parking to shop. The business owners said the Collectivity began constructing a bus stop in the parking space in front of Nina Duverly School and the canteen ticket office since July of this year and the project was stopped in September 2011 because of the Collectivity did not have a building permit. Territorial Councilor Daniel Arnell who is in charge of public transportation confirmed that there was no building permits in place because there was some confusion among the different offices that deals with building permits. Arnell further explained that the building permit is presently being processed and the work will continue sometime in 2012. When asked if the Collectivity thought it best to eliminate the parking in the area to accommodate French and Dutch buses, Arnell became very defensive claiming that the lack of parking space for customers does not hinder neither does it reduce sales for the businesses during the holiday season. Arnell further stated that the business owners are responsible to provide their own parking for their customers and the government does not have to do it for them. Furthermore, he said reporters and the people (business owners) are looking for trouble and they should approach him on the air and they will hear how he will answer them this time around. It should be noted that Daniel Arnell is busy campaigning for the 2012 Territorial Council election to be held in March 2012 and it was obvious to SMN News that he was angry when we confronted him with the current situation in Marigot and how the businesses are suffering. "We are not supposed to provide space for them, it's the owners of the buildings and the business owners that have to provide parking for their customers." When SMN News asked the councilor how many years now those businesses are operating on Rue de Hollande, Arnell got even angrier and said come ask me that on the air and you will hear how I am going to answer," he concluded.
The business owners said that they were told to park their vehicles at Galis Bay and then walk down to Rue de Hollande to operate their businesses, three of the business owners said that they were attacked by bandits while heading towards their vehicles at night. "The Government knows that robberies are high and security is not the best in Marigot, yet they took away the little parking space from us. Some of us are being robbed high day at gun point and yet the government wants us to take greater risk at night. "We don't normally walk with monies but the youths who are desperate would do anything for money, they don't know we don't carry money at night," one of the business owners said.
A store owner that sells bicycles and other Christmas accessories said he lost more than 50% of business this Christmas season because the people cannot find parking. "Many of them just want a few minutes for special items but just don't find place to park so they eventually leave to shop on the Dutch side. We are paying our taxes and while the other businesses in Marigot are closing their doors because of the taxation and the poor economy, we are holding on but we don't know for how long because the Collectivity's newest project just killed us."
Besides the ailing businesses, some persons in the area pointed out the two half finished rest rooms that the Collectivity chose to build in front of the canteen office. Some parents who were in the area said that when they have to purchase their canteen tickets for their children it's always hectic because there is no parking. To make matters worse, the parents advised SMN News reporter to return to the area when school reopens. The students that attend the Nina Duverly School are the ones that face the highest risk because they are forced to cross the main road (RN7) to hop on the school bus or to get into their parents vehicles. "There will come a day when somebody will hold their head and bawl and the Government will be sued when a child (7 – 13 years old) gets killed in the area. The parking in front of the school is taken up by workers and other people that live in the area so when the parents and the school bus go to pick up the students there is no parking and they force themselves on the sidewalks to wait for their children.
Some of the bus drivers also expressed frustration saying that the new situation creates more problems because they are now forced to join a line to pick up passengers heading to Grand Case and Quartier d' Orleans. Those of us that are behind the first bus cannot leave when we want, if the first bus is not full. Most of us don't wait for our bus to be filled in Marigot we would leave with a few passengers from Marigot and pick up passengers along the way. So if the driver in front wants to wait until his bus is filled then we are stuck behind him.
They said that one side of the lanes is for the French side buses while the other side is the drop off point for the Dutch side buses. Passengers traveling from Philipsburg to Grand Case are now forced to get off the Dutch side buses in Marigot and join another bus to take them to Grand Case, the bus drivers said.

Click here to see the situation the incomplete bus stop created during the peak season of the year in Rue de Hollande.

Great Bay:--- The Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) ranked 10th in a global poll of some 79 nominated airports to determine the one with the most stunning approach.
Some 1,000 travel fans from around the globe took part in the poll conducted by PrivateFly.com, the leading online booking platform for private aviation charter and winner of Flight International's Website of the Year 2011.
"It's a very dramatic landing and take-off, and if you stand on the beach next to the runway when planes take off and land, you see it from the other perspective!" wrote one of the respondents in the poll.
"We looked for airport locations that offer passengers a truly inspirational view on the approach – whether it be over a world-famous city-scape, stunning coastline or beautiful mountain views," wrote Viv Diprose of PrivateFly.com
Only three airports in the Caribbean made the Top 10 list – Aruba at number 4, St. Barths at number 6, and St. Maarten coming in at number 10.
"PJIA has been offering a very unique, spectacular and thrilling landing and take-off experience to visitors from all over the world, and this feature has become a major and distinctive attraction as was recently highlighted in a report on ABC News," remarked PJIA Managing Director, Regina Labega.
She explained that St. Maarten did not canvass for votes as other airports did.
"Those who voted for PJIA were apparently visitors who have had the exhilarating experience of touching down and taking off at our airport, an experience that obviously has remained with them so vividly they voluntarily voted for St. Maarten in the poll," Labega further stated.
"We are very grateful to all of them and we will endeavor to improve on this ranking in future editions of the poll," she added.

The complete list is as follows: 1. Barra (Scotland), 2. London City, 3. Jackson Hole, 4. Aruba, 5. Male (Maldives), 6. St. Barths, 7. Queenstown (NZ), 8. Gibraltar, 9. Narvik (Norway), 10. St. Maarten.

...

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Recently personnel from the fire and ambulance departments along with family members came together to celebrate the festive season.

Fire Chief Winston Salomon did the honours by flipping a switch to turn on the Christmas lights at the station. This was the first time that the station was adorned with lights to celebrate the holiday season.

There was a lot to eat and drink, and the highlight of the evening was karaoke where personnel showed off their entertainment skills.

The social gathering of the emergency services took place at the Fire & Ambulance station in Cay Hill.

The event was organized by the Fire Fighters Foundation and was hailed as a huge success.

The Fire Fighters Foundation would like to thank all those who came out to support the emergency services social gathering as well as sponsors whose support made the event possible.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Those who haven't completed their holiday meal shopping requirements will be doing so during the next two days while others will be in the kitchen cooking up a storm for this holiday weekend.

Part of the excitement of the holidays is the traditional foods of the season. However, some of these foods can pose hazards that can ruin more than just a holiday meal – they can cause serious illness and even death.

As part of the Collective Prevention Services (CPS), Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Safe Holiday Season observances in collaboration with DCOMM, residents are advised to keep the season safe by following some tips on how to enjoy these foods safely.

To Make Sure Bacteria are not allowed to Grow:

1. Use a thermometer. Be sure stuffing, turkey and any poultry dishes are cooked thoroughly to 165 degrees F; ground beef and ham must be cooked thoroughly to 155 degrees F. All other foods, including eggs should be cooked to 145 degrees F.
2. Do not leave foods containing meat, milk, eggs, fish or poultry at room temperature for more than four hours. This includes pudding and custard-type pies that are popular during the holidays.
3. Cool all leftovers to 41 degrees F within four hours after cooking.
4. Do not thaw foods at room temperature. Plan ahead and thaw them in the refrigerator. If the food needs to be thawed quickly, use the microwave or cold running water and then cook promptly after it has thawed.
5. If you are traveling with food, be sure to keep it cold 41. F. or hot 140 F or above while transporting.
6. After the big meal, be sure to refrigerate any leftovers within 1 hour. Bacteria love room temperatures and grow quickly in amounts enough to make people ill.

To Prevent Food from Becoming Contaminated

1. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water before food preparation and after coughing, sneezing, using the toilet, changing diapers, eating, drinking or smoking.
2. Do not prepare or handle foods if you are ill; a cook's gastrointestinal illness could be spread to others sharing the meal.
3. Thoroughly clean and sanitize knives, cutting boards and other utensils before and after preparing raw foods and foods that do not require further cooking. Sanitize with a solution of one tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water.
4. Wash all fresh fruits and vegetables.
   Contrary to popular belief, if you do become ill from contaminated food, it is not always the last meal you ate that's the culprit. Food-borne illness can occur anywhere from one hour to 72 hours and even longer after eating contaminated food.

Please help make this holiday season safer by paying attention to proper food preparation and handling techniques.

Management of St. Maarten Cable TV hereby informs that in connection with the New Year's Holidays their offices hours are as follows:

• Friday, December 30th, 2011 – Closing at 12:00 noon (Half day)

St. Maarten Cable TV will resume regular hours on Monday January 2nd, 2012.

Note: For cable TV outages, customers can call 542-4361 from 5:00pm – 10:00pm after business hours and from 8:00 am – 10:00 pm on weekends and holidays.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Philipsburg:--- Police arrested two persons on Monday December 5th during a patrol for possession of an illegal firearm. A press release from Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson states that the police patrol noticed a white car with French license plate 4612 AAA driving on the Onasha Jones Street. Henson said when the two occupants saw the police approaching they became quite nervous and started acting very suspicious by lowering the sun-visor in the car to avoid being recognized. The patrol decided to control the occupants and stopped the vehicle on Long Wall road in the vicinity of F.W. Vlaun and Sons. When the driver turned down the window a very strong scent of marijuana emanated from the car. The officers immediately ordered both occupants to exit the vehicle and they were arrested on the spot. The suspects have been identified as C.E. and V.J. both from Sint Maarten. During a search of the vehicle the patrol found a revolver of the caliber .38 with six live rounds in the barrel under the driver seat. The gun was confiscated immediately for further investigation. Both suspects were also taken to the police station and turned over to the Narcotic and Fire arm Department.

Philipsburg:--- There is crisis on St. Maarten and the government is lacking by failing to take appropriate actions. Spokesman for the Windward Islands Health Care Unions and Associates (WIHCUA) Greg Arrindell said the health care and sustainability of the St. Maarten Medical Center continues to deteriorate. So far, the union has sent several letters to Parliament and to date they have not received a response while they also requested a meeting with Minister of Health and Labor Cornelius de Weever.
Arrindell said that the Government of St. Maarten has refused to provide a letter of guarantee for the St. Maarten Medical Center to obtain financing for its expansion. "St. Maarten is in a dire crisis and the government is not taking the necessary steps to provide the letters of guarantee so that the St. Maarten Medical Center can achieve the necessary financing for its expansion." Arrindell said the RBTT, Orco Bank, and WIB denied SMMC financing. Deputy Prime Minister Theodore Heyliger has intervened in the past on one occasion but also failed to provide a guarantee from government." Arrindell said discussions were also held with Banco Di Caribe and some studies had to be conducted but that too died down.
One option that was proposed was to have St. Maarten Medical Center obtain its 14 million guilder loan from SZB. Eight million was to be taken from the pension fund while government was supposed to commit itself to an annual subsidy of Naf 1.5 million for a period of ten years. However, negotiations fell through when the government of St. Maarten said they would only provide the written agreement on behalf of SZB if they were to be involved in the project.
Arrindell said to date all efforts by the St. Maarten Medical Center to obtain finances for the well needed hospital is just lip service since the government of St. Maarten is not living up to its obligations.
Arrindell said while all of this is taking place the St. Maarten Medical Center has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the BES islands to provide medical services for them. The SMMC also just recently learned that while the BES is willing to become equal partners with St. Maarten no official request for financing was submitted to them.
The current set back has caused the St. Maarten Medical Center to evacuate its patients to other countries such as Venezuela and Santo Domingo. Arrindell condemned government for not being proactive and therefore jeopardizing the well being of its people and visitors.
He further explained that since the SMMC is not able to expand, the union WIHCUA would have to take the necessary steps to protect its workers. He said irresponsible behavior from elected officials is causing the health care professionals to seek employment elsewhere.
When asked if the new tourism medical clinic that is expected to be built in Simpson Bay is preventing government from giving the letter of guarantee. Arrindell said the government is making adhoc decisions because instead of seeking to build a second hospital which would only cater to the rich, they should try to strengthen their own local institution. Furthermore, he explained that none of the banks on St. Maarten will give SMMC a loan when there is a threat that they will not be able to meet their financial obligation at the end of the month.

Philipsburg:--- Police arrested a 15 year old Sundial School student for ill treating his mother. Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson said the mother D.A.M.H. from Jamaica filed an official report of ill-treatment with the Police Juvenile Department against her 15 year old son who is a student of the Sundial School. D.A.M.H. stated that she was invited by the school management to attend a meeting on Monday morning with regard to her son's behavior at school.
The mother told police that during the meeting she was informed by the management that her son was caught smoking marijuana during a field trip. Henson said the student identified as K.R., also born on Jamaica, became verbally aggressive towards one of the teachers during the meeting and started cursing. Henson said the boy's mother D.A.M.H. tried to correct her son, but he attacked her, striking her repeatedly in her face with his fist. As a result of the attack, the mother suffered fractures to the bone in the left side of her face and had to seek medical treatment at Sint Maarten Medical Center. The student was arrested by police and handed over to the Police Juvenile Department for further investigation.

Great Bay:--- The Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) came in for high press at the official inauguration of the Technology Center of the Oranje School, Wednesday, November 30, 2011.
Giving the vote of thanks, principal of the school, Kay Philips, described PJIA as a "major sponsor" of the project, which consisted of transforming an existing classroom into an ultra-modern "Technology and Research Lab."
It was in February 2010, that PJIAE donated toward the purchase of equipment and furniture to Oranje School, said Daphne Roberts-Nicholson, business development officer at PJIAE.
The inauguration on Wednesday took place in what was a large classroom that had been converted into five smaller learning environments consisting of a lecture area, a brainstorming area, the science area, a group work table and computer workstations equipped with 15 computers.
The Technology Center, the first of its kind in the Public School system, also has a large screen, two scanners, a printer, two digital video cameras, and two digital cameras.
Following the cutting of the ribbon by Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, Dr. Rhoda Arrindell, teacher Adriana Henriquez, an expert in the use of technology in education, gave a demonstration with a group of Grade 6 students, of how the Center will be used to create a 21st Century learning experience.
"PJIA's commitment to education is a long-standing one," remarked Audrey Jack of the Marketing & Communications Department, who along with Roberts-Nicholson, represented PJIA at the ceremony.
"Education is the key to the future development of the island, and PJIA has been consistently supporting educational initiatives such as this one," Jack added, pointing also to the recent support of Ujimaa Foundation's Education Day.
The impressive Technology Center at Oranje School was held up as a model for other public schools as well as private schools.
Speaking at the inauguration, Minister Arrindell praised the Oranje School, stressing that the new Technology Center at the school falls within her mid-term goals, which includes "the systematic use of ICT in all schools."
"The idea," she said, "is to ensure that all students have access to computers and the Internet and that they are used systematically throughout our school curriculum."
"I strongly believe that in this 21st Century, all St. Martin students must be computer literate and Internet–savvy," she added.
The Oranje School is the oldest school on the island, and is celebrating its 160th anniversary this year.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Residents of St. Peters will get their first Community Helpdesk on Monday afternoon at 5:30pm when the first one-stop shop for community public services is officially opened at the Rupert Maynard Community Centre. It's all about bringing social services to the people.

Residents are invited to come out to the grand opening and find out what services the helpdesk will be offering directly to the St. Peters community.

The Community Helpdesk which is part of the new Integrated Neighbourhood Development Program (INDP) is seen as an important step in bringing community public services directly to the people in the neighbourhood where they live, work and go to school.

Community helpdesk services are already being provided in Dutch Quarter next to the Dr. Brison Clinic and in January one will be opened in Cole Bay at the Methodist Church Community Centre.

The departments involved in the INDP are Department of Community Development, Family & Humanitarian Affairs, Labour Affairs, Social Affairs and the Department of Collective Prevention Services (CPS).

Over the past months a number of district surveys have been carried out followed by a workshop on team building of the aforementioned departments that would be involved with providing services at the community helpdesk.

The target groups that the Community Helpdesks will be catering too are: elderly, youths, and parents, single mothers, teenage mothers, drug-addicts, chronically ill patients, the mentally ill, persons living below the minimum wage or the poverty level.

The Community Helpdesk will have community and district staff members from the Department of Community Development at each helpdesk on a daily basis; a social worker will also be present one day in the week at each location; the Department of Social Services will have a person at each desk four hours per week as well as the Department of Labour; the CPS will give information sessions at each desk and will carry out baby clinic services in Dutch Quarter starting in 2012.

The Community Helpdesk will be collaborating with various other agencies for future empowerment programs.

The INDP project is responsible for the improvement of the neighbourhoods. It is a proactive process of integrating social, cultural, economic and environmental planning to build community commitment and capacity.

A holistic approach has been developed in order to provide the assistance to communities in need.

The INDP falls under the responsibilities of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Health, Social Development & Labour.

Philipsburg:--- Police and other rescue personnel had to rush to the French and Dutch border in Oyster Pond to give emergency assistance to four drivers whose vehicles were swept away by raging waters due to heavy rainfall during the day on Saturday.
Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson said that just before midnight on December 3rd four cars and their occupants traveling across the Dutch and French border were swept away by the raging waters, after the heavy rains that same evening. These cars were swept towards and into the pond. The occupants were forced to leave the vehicles behind and swim to safety the police spokesman said. The Gendarmes, the French Fire and Rescue and the Police Department along with the Dutch Fire and Rescue worked together to make sure that everyone in the vehicles were accounted for. Luckily, no one lost their life in this whole ordeal. The vehicles were later removed from the gutter by a towing company.
In an unrelated case, the occupants of a vehicle fled the scene of an accident on Friday night (December 2nd, 2011). The police spokesman said that during the general controls that were being conducted by police in the vicinity of the "Look-out Point" on Cole bay Hill, the driver of a rental vehicle with license plate 4731 AAA was ordered to stop. The driver refused to stop and increased his speed to escape police. Suspecting that the police would chase after him, he continued speeding over the winding road on the Cole Bay hill in the direction of Cul-de-Sac. At one point, the driver lost control of the vehicle while overtaking another car said the police spokesman. The oncoming traffic avoiding a collision pulled to the left, but this SUV with license plate M-9726 was hit on the right side by the rental. This collision caused extensive damage to both vehicles. Neither vehicle could continue driving. The driver of the rental and the occupants exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot. The area was searched to locate the driver of the rental but he was not found. No one was injured during this accident. This case is being handled by the Police traffic department.

By popular demand, the Aging with Grace Foundation will be presenting another Golden Stars Karaoke sensation for one and all. The Golden Stars Christmas Karaoke Festival will take place at the Celebration Palace on December 17th, 2011.
Besides great songs of yesteryear, the golden stars (50 years and above) will include in their repertoire Christmas songs, carols and aguinaldos.
Just as was the case with the very successful Karaoke Festival held on October 22, 2011, the audience is invited to participate and to sing along. As was the case with previous Festival, persons in the audience will be given the opportunity to take the stage and be a star for the evening.
Once again, the Aging with Grace Foundation will sponsor the tickets to the Christmas Karaoke Festival of a number of senior citizens who are financially challenged.
The AWG Foundation is excited to present a great line up of singers and many surprise performers and is inviting the general public to come out and have a great time. There will be fabulous door prizes. Drinks and snacks and Christmas goodies will be on sale.
Mr. Antonio Janga, the karaoke expert with the largest assortment of different kinds of music in several languages, will be the karaoke technician for the evening.
One and all are invited to come out and have a great time. Karaoke and music lovers are invited to come out and see karaoke taken to a great show level.
Tickets to the Golden Stars Christmas Karaoke Festival are only $ 10,- in advance and $ 15,- at the door.Tickets are on sale at Van Dorp Bookstores on the Illidge Road and in Simpson Bay, at the Family Bookstore (opposite the post-office) and at Richniel Investment Company in the Cannegieter Street.
More information on the Christmas Karaoke Festival can be obtained from Helena Richardson, tel. nos. 556 4740 or 542 0740 and from Linda Richardson, tel. no. 554 6979.

Philipsburg:--- Member of Parliament Jules James has violated article 53 sub 1 and article 56 of the constitution of St. Maarten says Governor Eugene Holiday. Governor Holiday dispatched a letter to the Parliament of St. Maarten informing the chairlady of the violations while summoning the chairlady of Parliament Gracita Arrindell to his office to further discuss the matter. Reliable sources say that Arrindell met with Governor Holiday last week Wednesday while she only notified the Members of Parliament about the new devolpments on Friday.
According to the letter sent by Governor Holiday, article 53 sub 1 of the country's constitution states that Members of Parliament must refrain from voting on motions in which they have an interest or acting as a proxy. While article 56 states that the Members of Parliament swore to uphold the constitution of St. Maarten.
Governor Holiday further states in his letter which was received by the Parliament of St. Maarten on Friday that one of the Members of Parliament (Jules James) voted on two motions while acting as a proxy for the Pelican Resort.
Governor Holiday was referring to the two motions that were presented on Thursday November 17th, 2011 when the Pelican Affair was discussed in Parliament. That meeting was requested by the National Alliance faction of Parliament. During the meeting, the National Alliance presented a motion regarding the roles Member of Parliament Jules James is playing while laying off 183 workers who worked for a number of years at the Pelican Resort. Member of Parliament Jules James who is also the General Manager of Simpson Bay Resort Management Company BV (SBRMC) and Royal Resorts Management Company Ltd (Former Pelican Resorts) wants to terminate the 183 permanent workers and replace them with short term contracts. MP James voted against the motion when it was tabled even though he promised several media personnel that he will never vote on issues regarding Pelican if it ever reaches the floor of Parliament.
The faction leader of the United Peoples Party Romaine La Ville also presented a motion during that meeting on behalf of his faction (UP Faction) when they could not agree with the motion presented by the National Alliance. Member of Parliament Jules James voted in favor of the motion to save his own skin but it appears it is now backfiring on him. However, neither of the motions passed because La Ville got emotional during the meeting and did not vote on either motion.
Sources within parliament said that the leader of the National Alliance William Marlin informed the President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell that her Member of Parliament (Jules James) violated the constitution and as such she should have a re-vote on the NA motion but Arrindell claimed that her legal advisors told her that Member of Parliament Jules James could have voted and that he did not break the law.
In the meantime, SMN News also learnt that the members of the United Peoples Party faction in Parliament are expressing disgust at their colleague Jules James. The source said the UP MP's are speaking out against MP James's actions and they feel that MP James needs to make an urgent decision as to how he will get out of the Pelican saga. "While Member of Parliament Jules James told us his back is strong he is dragging us down in the mud with the Pelican affair and we believe he should stop hiding and act," says one UP Member of Parliament.

Gracita Violating MP's Ordinance.

SMN News also learnt that at least two factions in Parliament confronted the Chairlady of Parliament Gracita Arrindell about her traveling spree without Parliament's approval.
The source said there is an ordinance that governs the traveling of the Members of Parliament which states that Parliament must take a decision if the chairperson is going to represent Parliament overseas. "Whenever the chairperson is representing Parliament she is not speaking on her own behalf. Instead, she is representing the entire body and therefore the body has to agree if she will speak and what she would say if she does. It does not matter who invited the chairlady of parliament, she must get authorization from the body since the chairperson is also a member of parliament."
But according to the source, Arrindell has traveled on a number of occasions without seeking Parliament's approval. They said the Chairlady of Parliament went to Barbados, Aruba and Washington without the approval of the Parliament of St. Maarten. Furthermore, the issue was brought up when the factions learnt that Arrindell intends to represent the Parliament of Maarten in the Netherlands for Kingdom Day.
SMN News learnt that the factions are looking at how to tackle Arrindell with the violation of the ordinance.

Click here to view Governor Eugene Holiday's Letter to Parliament.

Philipsburg:--- The police have arrested the step father of the six year old girl who was shot Sunday night by her younger brother in Garden of Eden, Dutch Quarter. SMN News learnt that police are trying to piece together exactly how the shooting occurred because it appears as though the mother of the child has given police conflicting information. A source close to the family said the two children were fighting and the younger brother took up a hunting rifle that his step father has in the house and shot his sister in her face. It is understood that the mother of the two children was trying to cover up the incident when she told both medical personnel and police that the child accidentally shot herself. The source said that the doctors confronted the mother because the six year girl received the gunshot in the frontal area of her face which could not have happened if she accidentally shot herself, it is also understood that the mother claimed she was not at home when the incident occurred but it later turned out that she was cooking when the shooting took place.
SMN News further understands that the child's step father turned himself in at the Police Station on Sunday evening when he learned of the incident. The source said that the gun (hunting rifle) belongs to the man's father who is blind. They said because elderly man is blind his son took the weapon to his home because he believed it would have been in a safer place.
Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos confirmed that someone was arrested and that the weapon is a hunting rifle. Mos said owners of such weapons must have a firearm license.

This Saturday, St. Maarten Saturday officially takes place at Buccaneer Beach Bar on Kim Sha Beach with a FREE concert by Orange Grove and G Love. Bound to be one of the biggest beach parties on the island, it will be a day filled with fun, music and food. It all starts at 12 noon and will last all night!
Packed with activities and music, there will be something to keep you entertained all day. DJ Outkast will be spinning the latest hits to keep you entertained between activities and Laser 101's Gee Money will be the MC for the day, keeping the party atmosphere going. Connis Vanterpool, Shadow Man and others will be performing live as part of the activities.
Other activities include the following; a fashion show organized in cooperation with Pure magazine will take place highlighting clothing from various local businesses. There will be a performance by a Carnival Troupe and at the end of the performance Buccaneer Beach Bar's famous fireballs will be lit. The national anthem will be sung by students of the Sister Regina Primary School. The night ends with the free concert by Orange Grove and G Love.
We would like to encourage everyone to come out and enjoy themselves. Drinks and foods will be on sale and there are great specials all day. It is a great opportunity to spend some time with friends and family and unwind before the holidays in a true Caribbean manner.
The St. Maarten Marine Trades Association (SMMTA) would like to invite all boat owners on St. Maarten and the surrounding islands to join them for this great event. Dinghy and boat owners are encouraged to anchor in Kim Sha Bay and enjoy the concert and activities from the comfort of their vessels or join us on the beach. They will have a great view of the stage and added benefits are no worrying about traffic or parking. All boaters, please be aware of the Simpson Bay Reef. Buoys will be laid out to mark the reef area. Please access the beach via the EAST side.
Visit the website: www.spotlightstmaarten.com for an updated calendar and "Like" us on Facebook for more updates about St. Maarten Saturday.

Philipsburg:--- Yesterday the Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba overturned the decision of the Court of First Instance of December 7th 2011 in which the judge suspended the pre-trial detention of Border Bar owner I.A.P. Subsequently the Public Prosecutor ordered for the re-arrest of P. which was immediately executed by the Police, resulting in P. being behind bars around 8 PM last night.
Unlike the Court of First Instance, the Joint Court of Justice came to the conclusion that P.'s health condition and age do not leave him unfit to spend his detention in jail. The Public Prosecutor had appealed the December 7th 2011 decision to suspend the pre-trial detention.
The case has now been rescheduled for Friday December 23rd 2011 in order to enable the judge to take a decision on the continuation of the pre-trial detention, with regards to the decision of the Joint Court of Justice.
P. is a suspect in a large human-smuggling case in which the living and working conditions of several female adult entertainers in the Border Bar caused the police to investigate what is being considered a modern slavery situation ("vrouwenhandel").
Earlier the judge decided that the actual court hearing in this case is scheduled for February 29th 2012.

Press Release from the Public Prosecutors Office.

Simpson Bay:--- Fifty students of the St. Maarten Academy (Class 1A1) recently visited the Princess Juliana International Airport.
The students were divided into two groups of 25 each, so that while one group was given a tour of the terminal building that included the Security Department, Immigration, Customs, Baggage Claim area, Business Class Lounge and Security Screening, the other group toured the Air Traffic Control Tower.
Conducting the tour at the PJIA Terminal building was Rubia Taylor, while supervisors Duncan Van Heningen and Gregory Hassell took care of the students at the Air Traffic Control tower.
The field trip took place on December 5, 2011 as part of the activities to celebrate International Civil Aviation Day, marked all over the world on December 7.
International Civil Aviation Day is officially recognized worldwide to raise awareness of the importance of international civil aviation and the role that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) plays in international air transport.
ICAO is an United Nations (UN) body responsible for developing international standards for aviation safety.

Philipsburg:--- The Workers Institute for Organized Labour (WIFOL) and the Windward Islands Chamber of Labour Unions (WICLU) are planning to take legal action against the government of St. Maarten for failing to take appropriate action in the Simpson Bay Resort Management labour dispute. President of both organizations Theophillus Thompson expressed disappointment on Thursday during a press briefing on how the government of St. Maarten has handled the labour dispute between the WIFOL and the Simpson Bay Resort Management Company BV (SBRMC) and Royal Resorts Management Company Ltd (Former Pelican Resorts).
Thompson said that some 145 workers are out of work and these workers were not paid the last pay period by their employers since the Appeals Court has suspended the most recent verdict issued by the Court of First Instance.
The President of the WIFOL said the union took the initiative when they requested a meeting with the Minister of Labour Cornelius de Weever. Ever since then the Minister met with the company and their lawyers and has promised to get all parties around the table but to date the Minister of Labour Cornelius de Weever did not get back to the union with a date for that meeting. Thompson further explained that while the union has lost confidence in the Appeals Court they will be using other legal measures to make sure the workers of the former Pelican Resorts get justice. Thompson said besides the labour impasse, the SBRMC submitted a request to dismiss 49 of the workers but to date the labour department has not taken a decision on the dismissal request. He said the legal time frame requires that the department of labour must make a decision within 6 weeks but it's been five months now and the labour department did not respond. He said those workers are among the lot who were also not paid during the last pay period even though they have a letter of guarantee stating that they will be paid until a decision from the labour department is rendered. "Those workers whose names were submitted for dismissal could have been paid out by the company they could have been out there seeking employment if the labour department did their job. Today, they have to request social assistance since their employers did not pay them."
Initially there were 183 workers who were facing dismissal but 38 of the workers opted to sign the short term contracts that were offered to them by SBRMC. "Those workers acted out of fear and they were between a rock and hard place so they signed the contracts while forfeiting their benefits." When asked if the SBRMC paid out the 38 workers for their years of service Thompson said that the workers did not get anything for the years of service they gave to the former Pelican Resorts. "The contract they signed is even hindering their basic human rights and I don't know if the labour department approved the contract that SBRMC gave to the workers."
Thompson said the plight of the workers and the actions of the SBRMC has affected a number of families and the government of St. Maarten has shown no interest in resolving the problem. The unionist further explained that the union is contemplating taking actions against the Ombudsman since she did not address the possible conflict of interest with one of the Members of Parliament Jules James who is also the General Manager of SBRMC. "The double functions this person is holding is conflicting and we believe that government and the Ombudsman should address the matter." While the SBRMC is at loggerheads with the workers and has claimed they have no monies, the unions said they were made to understand that the company submitted a number of requests to government all of which they said were granted to the investors.
The union alleges that the SBRMC submitted a request for a casino license, while they also requested a waiver for the transfer tax. Besides that, SBRMC business license is up for renewal and the union wants to know what are some of the requirements government attached to the license if it's renewed. "The Pelican labour struggle started in December 2009 and we would like to see how the renewal of the license will be handled."
In the meantime, the vice president of the WICLU Claire Elshot said that she believes that the government of St. Maarten should have the company come up with the transfer tax they waived for SBRMC and pay the workers now that they have to request social aid.

Philipsburg:--- The St. Maarten Communications Workers Union intends to file an injunction against St. Maarten Postal Services (PSS) as early as Friday because the postal workers have not yet been paid for the month of November. President of SMCU Ludson Evers said that PSS is yet to send the figures of their shortfall to NPNA which would enable NPNA to assist them in paying their workers. Evers said he was informed by his members that they were not paid and when he contacted the Managing Director of NPNA he was told that PSS is yet to send its figures of the shortfall to NPNA. Evers said the law allows the company a maximum of eight days after the payment date to pay its workers and that will expire on Friday December 2nd 2011. He said if the workers are not paid by then, the union has no other choice but to file and injunction against the company. "Yes NPNA has to pay the workers but if PSS does not send the figures then NPNA cannot pay."
According to the agreement signed on October 14th 2011, PSS has taken over the postal services and the employees of NPNA St. Maarten, while NPNA will assist PSS with a loan to cover its operational expenses which should be repaid within the first six months of 2012. Evers also announced that while the union intends to file an injunction against PSS based on the agreement, NPNA has complicated matters for the union because they sent the workers their pay-slips for the month of November.

Mrs. Margo Vliegenthart, member of the Board of financial supervision (College Financieel Toezicht - CFT) upon proposal of the Netherlands, announced to Minister Donner of Internal Affairs and Kingdom Relations that she resigns as Board member due to health problems.

Former secretary of state Margo Vliegenthart was involved in the organization as of the establishment of the CFT in 2007. With her profound knowledge, meticulous way of working and sincere interest in the islands, she has contributed significantly to the content of supervision.

In the first years, the CFT worked based on the General Decree of the Kingdom on which the Netherlands and the former island territories Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba reached an agreement. Later also the former Country of the Netherlands Antilles, as well as Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the Netherlands agreed on a General Decree of the Kingdom on which the supervision on the public finances would be based. Due to the new political relations two Boards of financial supervision emerged: one for Curaçao and Sint Maarten and one for the BES islands. Vliegenthart is member upon proposal of the Netherlands for both Boards.

The Netherlands will now seek a replacement to propose as a member of the CFT, in line with the other participating countries of the CFT. Prof. Age Bakker has recently been postulated as chairman for both CFT's. Furthermore, CFT Curaçao and Sint Maarten consists of Mr. Alberto Romero upon proposal of Curaçao and Mr. Richard Gibson upon proposal of Sint Maarten. Upon proposal of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, Mr. Max Pandt is member of CFT BES, alongside the chairman.

...

Philipsburg:--- Several persons including the visitors arriving on St. Maarten were confronted with a number of workers carrying placards as they protested silently in front of Parliament House on Tuesday and at the Government Administration Building. The protest started out as a peaceful demonstration while their union representatives engaged in meetings with elected officials. At times, the workers were heard chanting "Politics is tricks, we want our work back or pay us out."
The protest started in front of Parliament House in Philipsburg as some of the Parliamentarians were engaged in an Inter-Parliamentary meeting. Tuesday's meeting was aimed at discussing the current labor issues on St. Maarten, mainly the legal struggle facing the workers of Simpson Bay Resort Management Company.
The workers armed themselves with posters condemning the current labor situation on St. Maarten and Member of Parliament Jules James. It should be noted that the legislator is also the General Manager Simpson Bay Resort Management Company BV (SBRMC) and Royal Resorts Management Company Ltd some of the workers openly condemned the United Peoples Party, claiming they are the "UPressors" and wanted to know if another election was around the corner if they would have been out of work. Another poster reads " Murder of People 182 victims: MP Jules James", while another one reads "Justice for all" and "People of St. Maarten open your eyes. Today is Pelican, Tomorrow ???."
The meeting with the various stakeholders started at10am and lasted over four hours. The workers then moved over to the Government Administration Building where they continued to protest as the Chamber of Labor Unions met with the Minister of Labor Cornelius de Weever.
It should be noted that several members of the current coalition expressed outrage at MP La Ville for scheduling a meeting with the unions unknowing to them, SMN News overheard some Members of Parliament saying that La Ville did not inform his own faction members of the meeting he scheduled with the various stakeholders. "La Ville is the one that caused the Pelican workers to be protesting outside here today and he did not tell us neither did he tell his coalition partners the Democratic Party." However, when the inter-parliamentary meeting concluded the members of the UP faction joined the meeting La Ville chaired in the conference room of Parliament House.
It should also be noted that while there were three meetings in the house of parliament on Tuesday. Member of Parliament Jules James did not attend those meetings. One source said that La Ville called James early Tuesday morning and informed him about the protest and also advised him to stay away from Parliament House. However, when interviewed by SMN News the Member of Parliament said he received an email from Jules James informing him that he would not have been able to attend any of the meetings on Tuesday since he was going to be off island. La Ville said James also sent the same emails to his other colleagues, even though he had agreed before hand to attend the meeting with the stakeholders. "I did not have any phone contact with the man on Tuesday so I don't know how people can say I called him." When asked if he informed his faction about the meeting with the stakeholders La Ville said all members of the United Peoples Party Faction were aware and they also agreed to the meeting. However, he did admit that he did not inform his coalition partners the Democratic Party.
Member of Parliament Romain La Ville and some members of his faction met with the various stakeholders on Tuesday as they tried to find solutions to the current labor situation on St. Maarten. The meeting consisted of members of the Chamber of Labor Unions, the Chamber of Commerce, the St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association ( SHTA) the Small Business Development Foundation (SBDF) and the Timeshare Association.
President of the Windward Islands Institute of Organized Labor (WIFOL) Theophillus Thompson described the meeting as frank and open even though the Members of Parliament from the United Peoples Party Faction did not make any commitments to regulate the current labor unrest on St. Maarten. Thompson said the Chamber of Labor Unions was able to discuss a number of issues with the legislators. One such issue is the agreement made in 2008 with the island government and the establishing of a tripartite committee. "We informed the Members of Parliament about that agreement and if that was in place in the new setting as country St. Maarten then there would have been no need for court cases and the Pelican saga would have been resolved." Thompson said he also took the opportunity to inform the Members of Parliament (UP faction) about the current status of the former Pelican workers who are at their wits end and might explode at anytime should they not able to work. When asked if the Chamber of Labor Unions addressed the conflict of interest that is committed by Member of Parliament Jules James, Thompson said the unions and other stakeholders expressed their concerns about the roles the Member of Parliament is playing. "One day he is a legislator and the other day he is a General Manager that is firing people left, right, and center." Thompson said the labor sector managed to vent their feelings and there was a lot of frustration expressed. He said they also expressed their lack of confidence in the politicians and the executive bodies for not portraying what the new St. Maarten should be. He said what is happening now was not possible during the days of the Netherlands Antilles. He said the current government is more like a "wait and see" rather than being proactive.
Member of Parliament Romain La Ville told reporters that he felt it was important to hold a meeting with all stakeholders to find a proper solution to several situations presently taking place on St. Maarten. La Ville said that each representative expressed their concerns on the tripartite agreement of 2008 and he will be sending a letter to the Minister of Labor requesting that the tripartite committee be set up urgently. Another concern for the Chamber of Labor unions is to know exactly which labor policy the Department of Labor is using to process labor permits. The Member of Parliament said the Chamber of Labor Unions also feels that the legislators should establish a labor court to deal with the labor cases on St. Maarten. La Ville described Tuesday's meeting as a down payment to fix some of the current issues and the time has come for them to put pen to paper to fix the labor problems. Another concern is the social responsibility of the businesses and the elected officials.
When asked if the United Peoples Party Faction have made any commitments to the WIFOL or the Chamber of Labor Unions to address the Member of Parliament Jules James who is operating in conflict of interest. La Ville who did not give a straight answer to the question said his faction met on more than one occasion to discuss the issue but no concrete decision has been taken.
He made clear that Parliament cannot do anything to overrule the court's ruling. When asked if he is not able to deal with MP Jules James who is committing moral misconduct as a parliamentarian and General Manager of company. La Ville said there have been meetings as a faction to deal with the "uncomfortable issue".

Click here to view photos of the Peaceful Protest by the SBRMC Workers.

Philipsburg:--- The members of the Windward Islands Chamber of Labour Unions (WICLU) told members of the media on Thursday that they met with the Minister of Labour Cornelius de Weever and they were able to outline their grievances within the labour market. According to the WICLU members, the Minister of Labor and Health Cornelius de Weever was not aware of certain measures and or policies that are being used at the department of labour. One such issue is the denial of legal aid for non Dutch nationals. Theophillus Thompson of the WICLU said that according to the labor Minister, all workers on St. Maarten are entitled to legal aid. The unions are now waiting to see what type of requirement have to be met before the workers are granted legal aid when they are dismissed.
Thompson said that employers are plotting against the social and economic fabric of St. Maarten and the WICLU made it clear to the Minister. Thompson said the businesses are no longer hiring people on a permanent basis, these businesses are hiring workers either on a part time basis or through employment agencies.
Thompson said the union also addressed their concerns on how the employment agencies operate on St. Maarten which according to the WICLU is against the ILO. Thompson said the labour Minister gave them an indication on how the department should function. He said based on what the Minister told them it is clear that the Minister has a lot of work to do in order to bring the department up to par. Both Thompson and Claire Elshot from the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) said the Minister is busy cleaning up and revamping the department of labor and when that process is complete the department should begin to function optimally.
Thompson said that the Labour Department implemented a number of policies that are hampering workers rights and these policies were not discussed in a tripartite setting prior to being implemented. The members of the WICLU said certain aspects of the policies are hindering workers from getting prompt assistance from the department. The WICLU considers this discriminatory against the working class. Thompson said the Minister gave the unions the impression that he was unaware of what was taking place at the Department of Labour and he promises to look into the matter. Other issues of concern that were also discussed is the abuse of the short term labor contract by most employers. Elshot said that unions plans to get the short term contracts out of the books since it is used against workers. She said right now the use of the short term contracts is a genocide against the working class and that she said must stop. The WICLU members have a tripartite meeting scheduled for later this month and the abuse of the short term contracts will be heading the agenda for that meeting.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Telecommunications and Traffic would like to announce that there will be an adjustment to fuel prices on Thursday, December 15, 2011.

                                            Current Price            New Price

Unleaded Gasoline (ULG)      237,00 cents/liter    231,00 cents/liter

Diesel                                   209,00 cents/liter    217,00 cents/liter

All prices are in Antillean Guilders.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The School Bus Inspection Section would like to wish parents, school children and school bus driver's happy holidays.

The school year closed on December 14 for the Christmas and New Year's holiday season and will re-open on Tuesday, January 3, 2012.

The Section School Bus Inspections is advising school bus owners and drivers to use the holiday period to have their busses serviced and to resolve any issues that may come up during the servicing.

School busses will be inspected sometime in January and all bus owners and drivers should make sure that their busses are in good working order to ensure safe school bussing.

The Section School Bus Inspection can be reached at telephone numbers 542-4511 or 542-4509 for further information.

NAGICO Insurance placed a big smile on the faces of the sick children on ward at the St. Maarten Medical Center and the parents of new born babies there, when representatives from the NAGICO Medical Department visited them on Wednesday and surprised them with Teddy Bears for Christmas.
Each child was presented with a soft cuddly bear, as the insurance agents visited them one by one, extending best wishes and holding animated conversations with the patients and staff.
"It is really nice to see the children's face just light up when you present them with a gift, it gives you the feeling of accomplishment and if we could all strive to bring joy the life of one child, then it would all be worth it," Laetitia Connor, Medical Underwriter at NAGICO said.
The NAGICO team was chaperoned by Juliette Hassel; the Human Resource Officer at the SMMC, who expressed gratitude to NAGICO for the gesture which she described as heartfelt.
"The Medical Center really appreciates this," Hassel said. "And I know you can see by the faces of the children, their parents and the mothers that they are really happy for these teddy bears. We applaud NAGICO and just want to say a big thank you to them."

Philipsburg:--- On Thursday December 1st, 2011 at approximately 2:20pm, a police patrol was sent to Front Street in the vicinity of Oranje School to investigate a case of theft announced Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson. Henson said on the scene, the patrol encountered the victims, a tourist couple, who were passengers of a cruise ship in port on that day. Also on the scene was the suspect, a very young boy with initials K.H.S.R., who was being held by some other persons. The female victim stated that the suspect pulled her gold chain from her neck and took off running. The suspect was chased by her and her husband and he was caught in a nearby alley. The chain of the victim was found in the immediate area and returned to her. The victim, however, did not file any charges against the suspect and requested that he be reprimanded severely. The mother of the suspect reported to the police station and was informed of this situation. The suspect was reprimanded severely in the presence of his mother and informed of the negative consequences his behavior will have in the future. He was then released in his mother's care.

Philipsburg:--- President of the St. Maarten Communication Union (SMCU) Ludson Evers told members of the media on Thursday that the St. Maarten Telecommunication Company (TELEM) filed an injunction against the union on Wednesday. Evers said he was notified through the union's legal representative that an injunction was filed by the company to prevent the union and its workers from taking industrial action.
On Wednesday morning, workers of the St. Maarten Telecommunication Company (TELEM) demanded a meeting with management as they are seeking information and clarification on certain terms by management. Evers confirmed that he got a copy of a letter that a 100 workers signed requesting a meeting with management of the company. He said he also participated in the meeting that was held on Wednesday, however, the concerns of the workers was not resolved.
Evers said the union and management held a meeting but there was no industrial action. He further explained that the union sent a letter to the judge but the case is scheduled for next week Wednesday.

Philipsburg:--- President of the Workers Institute for Organized Labor (WIFOL) Theophillus Thompson has made a call to all workers on St. Maarten to make some sort of donation to the workers of Pelican through their union representative the WIFOL. Thompson made the call during the weekly press conference called by the Windward Islands Chamber or Labour Unions (WICLU) on Thursday.
The WIFOL President clarified on Thursday that the WIFOL is confronted with huge legal bills to defend the Pelican workers. Thompson said the WIFOL has called on all its members and not only those working at the Pelican Resort to make a financial contribution to the Pelican workers' cause. "I asked the entire membership of WIFOL to assist since the legal fees are enormous. I am also asking all workers on St. Maarten to put in their ten cents because this is not only a Pelican struggle but its a struggle that will determine job security on St. Maarten for all workers. So we are asking all workers to contribute to this cause. Right now, the companies have the monies and the workers are the weaker vessel in these types of fights." Thompson also confirmed that the WIFOL already started the procedure with the Supreme Court and this he said will cost a huge amount of monies because the union has to have lawyers both on St. Maarten and the Netherlands to defend their cause.
Thompson said that St. Maarten does not have a labour court and the Chamber of Labour Unions raised this issue with the Minister of Labour Cornelius de Weever on Wednesday. "If there was an established labour court on the island the Pelican workers would not have to endure the legal challenges they are facing right now."
Thompson said that right now the Government and the Labour Department are getting involved in trying to find a solution to the Pelican labour dispute. He said in the beginning government and the Labour Department took a "hands off" approach because of the ongoing court cases but he is of the opinion that government has realized that the Pelican saga has reached its climax and the problem will not go away. "We met with the Minister of Labour on Wednesday and he committed himself into finding a solution by bringing all parties around the table. The first meeting took place on Wednesday with the union while the Minister invited the management of SBRMC to a meeting on Thursday. After these meetings the Minister will then schedule a meeting for all parties to get around the table." Thompson said he is hoping that SBRMC will allow the workers to go back to work because they are in the peak season.

Simpson Bay:--- The owners of Karakter Beach Bar filed an injunction against the Government of St. Maarten on Tuesday confirmed head of Public Works Louis Brown. Brown explained that the Minister of Environmental Affairs Theodore Heyliger issued a demolition order earlier this year. The department head said when the inspectors visited the location earlier this year they discovered the illegal structure that was being constructed on a public beach. He said the inspectors issued a stop order but the owners delayed the process by applying for a building permit. The Minister in charge denied the request based on the fact the structure was built on public beach without a building permit. Brown said the owners then appealed the Minister's decision and a hearing was conducted in accordance with the law. He further explained that during the appeal hearing the owners were heard along with a number of witnesses and at the end of the procedure the Minister confirmed his first decision which was denying the building permit and ordering that the illegal structure be demolished.
The Head of Public Works said the owner of Karakter Beach Bar was informed of the Minister's decision during the month of October 2011 and they ignored the decision. Brown said last week he dispatched another letter to the owners and informed them that if the structure was not removed by this week then the Department of VROMI will execute the demolition order at the expense of the owners. Brown further explained when the workers of VROMI showed up at the location on Tuesday to execute their duties, the owners immediately filed an injunction to stop the demolition until the outcome of the court injunction they initiated. The Department head said at the center of the dispute is a wall which the Minister also ordered to be removed. The owners he said is contesting the removal of that low wall.
Several persons that are among the environmental foundations said that they received a lot of flak from the Dutch community when they spoke out against the illegal structure Karakter Bar constructed on the beach. They said that it appears as though the owners of Karakter Beach Bar have friends in high places and instead of them telling the owners to abide and respect the country's laws they are ridiculing the Environmental Foundations. "Karakter Beach Bar started out in a truck then they built a toilet, after that they built this huge deck with chairs and lights on the public beach without requesting a building permit. While the process took very long and we were of the option that government was not doing anything, the injunction filed on Tuesday will only delay the process, while the people of St. Maarten are looking for justice," the foundation members said.

Philipsburg:--- The President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) Claire Elshot told members of the media on Thursday during the press conference called by the Windward Islands Chamber of Labour Unions (WICLU) that she is prepared to attend the meeting the Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams has promised to schedule to discuss the COL payments. Elshot said up to Thursday morning she did not receive any invitation from the Prime Minister neither the GOA. However, she made clear that she will make herself available whenever the meeting is scheduled.
Elshot said that based on the GOA advice and the Minister of Finance the monies for the Cost of Living Allowance were available to government and she cannot understand how it got out of the 2012 budget. "One thing for sure I know is that the COL payments cannot walk and someone had to take it out. I do not know why those responsible for drafting the budget did not cut the travelling expenses for the elected officials. They don't need to attend the Parlatino meetings or go to the Bahamas now but the teachers need their two pennies since it is going to impact their spending power, I believe government should invest in equipment for teleconferencing."
Elshot further explained that the union is not interested in any more backlogs since the civil servants had to take serious measures before they could have been paid for 2007 to 2009. Besides that, Elshot said the WITU has board members and she would have to take up the matter and possible solutions with her members. "I cannot tell you what the union will do and how we will deal with the non-payment of the COL. One thing for sure is that the members (civil servants) will not take this lightly. They already had problems when government decided that they would make the payments in two parts last year." Elshot said for the Prime Minister to say the monies was not budgeted is not consoling to her because it's the same Prime Minister who sent her a letter informing her that government was waiting on an advice from GOA. Elshot said at no time were they informed that there are no monies for the COL payment. She said that the only thing the Minister of Finance indicated on the GOA advice was that the COL payments should not be made public until the 2012 budget is approved. The WITU president said she does not think government should try to balance any budget at the expense of the civil servants. She felt that government should try and find a solution and make sure the salary indexation gets into the 2012 budget. She said if there were not monies then the meeting that the Prime Minister wants to hold now should have been held prior to her sending the letter to the union. Elshot also made clear that the union will not stand for any type of social injustice against workers. "This social injustice took place once when workers who worked and went on pension did not get their indexation while persons who joined the civil core at a later period got monies for periods they did not work. She said this was corrected when those workers had to file a claim during a one year period. All I am saying is give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar because the union will not encourage any type of backlog again.