Articles

Dear Editor,

Just imagine this: Sint Maarten producing vegetables, fruits and herbs! Instead of buying everything abroad, we have fresh products available locally in an organic shop and our hard earned money will circulate on our island instead of leaving our economy right away. The freshness of the vegetables, fruits and herbs also adds positively to our health.

Just imagine this: while using aquaponics (using water from fish tanks to feed plants and use that water again for the fish tanks) we are able to provide huge amounts of fish to our population for a more than reasonable price. In addition to what our local fishermen bring to our shores, we again prevent monies leaving our island and thus our economy by purchasing fish and other seafood locally.

Just imagine this: an organic restaurant in which every product is grown locally. While families are dining here, they not only eat healthy, but directly contribute to our economy.

Just imagine this: adding to our tourist product the concept of eco-lodging. We have four lodges, all made of eco-friendly materials, in an eco-friendly/agricultural environment. People from abroad will have another reason why they would choose Sint Maarten as their place of choice to spend their vacation. This, of course, affects both the brand name Sint Maarten and our economy positively.

Just imagine this: combine the organic shop, growing fish, an organic restaurant, eco-lodging and several forms of agriculture (aquaponics, hydroponics, aeroponics, greenhouses etc.). Heck, throw in a small petting zoo! Give tours to tourists, employ our youngsters, educate the school children (and whoever is interested) about growing vegetables, fruits and herbs. Educate same about the medicinal usage of herbs and how to use them in (local) dishes. And, of course, the whole energy supply for this park will be powered by solar panels.

Just imagine this: if this only could be a reality. #sxmmovement

Soualiga Social Movement

As I have complained over and over during the past few years, the media on St. Maarten needs to be much more critical of the way stories are written in the daily papers. Now we that know the workers are aware that they have outspoken preferences to certain politicians and political parties but I don't blame them. It is the job of the editors to make sure that stories are balanced and objective. This is definitely not the case in St. Maarten.

Last week, newly sworn in Minister Maurice Lake signed off on two projects, Senior Citizen homes and the cleaning of trenches. Nothing wrong with that but everyone knows that there is no way that Minister Lake could have finalized these projects in such a short time. Minister Lake is simply carrying out the finalization of projects that Minister Marlin initiated.

Now the media is not there to defend or praise Minister Marlin but there should have been mention that this is not the first time that the trenches in St. Peters were cleaned and that a housing project could not be finalized in such a short time, which was the impression the media gave. It is almost commonplace for politicians to take credit for work they had little to do with and that is why the media should be there to remind us, the public, who really should take the credit or at the very least let us make up our own minds who to credit.

Upon assuming office Minister Marlin had requested for an advice to be prepared to grant a contract in St. Peters to clean the trenches, the advice coming from VROMI was for a contractor outside of St. Peters to get the job. Minister Marlin insisted that the young men of St. Peters should get the opportunity to contribute to their environment and Topxic N.V. was granted the job against the advice from Infrastructure Maintenance. In the end the local contractor was commended by the people of St. Peters for his excellent work. Additionally, the Minister also insisted that the young men in Sucker Garden, St. Peters, Dutch Quarter and Cole Bay/Cay Bay be awarded the same opportunity. All done by Minister Marlin.

Minister Marlin was the first Minister / Commissioner to fight for the young men of the districts in this manner. May I remind you, that Minister Lake was the former Adviser to Minister Heyliger, and before that he also worked with Commissioner Heyliger for over 10 years, where were the local contracts then? In those days only the large contractors got jobs and the local contractors were sitting on the side watching.

The head of Infrastructure Maintenance was requested several months ago to prepare another advice to grant a contract for structural trench cleaning to take place in four major districts, Cole Bay, St. Peters/South Reward, Sucker Garden/Philipsburg/Point Blanche and Dutch Quarter/Oyster Pond/Middle Region, each to be granted a two year maintenance contract to keep the trenches clean throughout the entire year. There were also other pending district improvement initiatives being planned by Minister Marlin.

It is good to see that the new Minister is stepping right into the shoes of the former Minister and has decided to award a contract to Topxic N.V. as well. It is now hoped that the same will be done for the other areas where the former Minister had signed contracts for trench cleaning. It will also be interesting to see if this current Minister will continue to put the progress of the people ahead of personal interest of the party as we have become used to with the DP/UP coalition. So far he has started off in the right direction.

Kendall Dupersoy

Reigns of coalition government firmly in his hands; in eight seat coalition one man is king!
Spectre of return of Patrick Illidge lurks in background

Political pundits have remarked on the irony of Laville's preeminent position in the political landscape. In this coalition government, with a razor thin majority of one seat in Parliament, all roads run through Laville. He can single handedly dictate policy is he so wishes. Everyone's position in the current council of ministers depends on Laville's good graces. One deft move can bring the whole house of cards crashing down. It is now left to be seen how Laville will play the hand he has been dealt. We know that he is mercurial and volatile. He will now have to demonstrate shrewdness as well. Observers believe that the UPP leader, who has a well- earned reputation of being a Mr. Moneybags, will allegedly do anything and pay any price to be a player. This plays nicely into the hands of Laville, who will find a ready buyer for his allegiance. He will have to make hay while the sun shines, as this might be his last go round. His shilly shallying has angered the electorate. He has become practically a persona non grata among voters. He is widely despised because of his unsteady behavior in office. He therefore has every incentive to make the most of what many believe are his final days holding political office. Many believe he has committed political hari-kiri. His two coalition partners must therefore prepare themselves to pay some hefty prices for his support. He is well placed to retire a wealthy man, if only he plays he cards right. Parliament has to meet and make some important appointments. The president of Parliament is one such post, and one can sense a certain nervous hesitancy on the part of the coalition MP's. The question on everyone's mind is this: Will Laville go along with their choice, or will he propose his own alternative candidate to be the chairperson of Parliament?

Patrick Illidge: The spare tire

All of this has made Patrick Illidge an attractive security blanket. Though he might be toxic right now, the one seat he dangles is not. There are already reports of contacts between him and the UPP leader. Bringing him on board can be excellent insurance in case Laville again jumps ship. The danger however exists that he and Laville, who are both political pariahs, might team up and blackmail their coalition partners. No one doubts that Patrick is shrewd and will drive a hard bargain. He too has every incentive to go for broke. The Bada Bing scandal might have spelled the end of his political career. That leaves only money as his main motive for the remainder of this electoral cycle. Demanding a minister's seat for his support is not unthinkable. The return of Duncan as Minister of Justice is well within the realm of possibilities in this scenario. Duncan has already stated that he is for hire if the price is right, and a minister's salary and emollients seemed to have fit the bill perfectly for the past seven years. In the meantime the UPP and the DP will just have to bide their time and do Laville's bidding or else pay the piper.

Name Withheld Upon Author's Request

Dear Editor,

It has become crystal clear that our young country Sint Maarten is facing social, political and economic challenges much similar to many other countries around the globe. On an individual level we all make choices daily, hoping that our choices can help improve our livelihood (education, employment, relationships etc). But, what about the choices that we make as a country?

Do we just simply go to the polls every four years and trust government to take care of our progress and general well being? What about our personal social responsibility? What about the private sector's corporate social responsibility?

In the past there has been several initiatives by government, which facilitated open dialogue from the community. From these open meetings, further plans were supposed to be finalized but many of these plans never came to fruition. Is government solely to blame for this or can we say that the private and civil sectors did not get involved enough to help push these great ideas and initiatives through?

At the moment a National Development Plan is being worked on. The idea is to have as many stakeholders as possible, engaged in dialogue to put in place a serious "guideline" to steer the direction of development for our future governments. No matter what party is in power, we the people, the private sector and the government must develop this country along these guidelines.

Soualiga Social Movement thrives on the keywords "Awareness, Inclusion and Participation". As such, we believe that our entire society needs to come together to work together in the best interest of our country that will include but not be limited to combating poverty, increasing the level of awareness of our issues, protecting our environment, dealing with youth unemployment, taking care of our elderly, defining our culture etc...

With that said, we would once again like to encourage all sectors of our society to get up and get involved in activities, projects and initiatives concerning the improvement of the livelihood of this country. Whether it is public meetings, open dialogues, surveys, or even supporting and joining an NGO (Non Governmental Organization), be somewhere and voice your opinion!

There is strength in numbers and real power is people. Make sure your voice is heard loud and clear. Again, the SSM supports the National Development Plan, which is planned to get input from all areas of our community. Don't shy away, get involved and stay involved, this country cannot afford to have its people lay back, do nothing and then later expect miracles. Let's continue to get together to work together! #sxmmovement.

Soualiga Social Movement

For years I have been complaining about the media in St. Maarten, the fact that they simply sit back and wait for news to drop into their laps instead of going out and finding it. Years ago, I had a weekly paper that tried to change this aspect of the media by doing some investigative reporting. For those that don't know, the DP Government at the time refused to sign off the working permit of the editor and even went as far as intimidating advertisers. All this in order to silence the voice of that paper and it worked.
In those days, there wasn't any blogs and online media but now we can get alternative views from this form of communication. Now I don't know if I like the fact that people can hide behind a screen name and launch personal attacks and accusations against others but we have to take the positive with the negative.
That entire lead up was to mention the following, why is it that none of the printed media has gotten in contact with the leaders of the DP, UP and Romain Laville to ask them why they have chosen to place totally new members in the Government instead of reappointing the previous Ministers?
There are several reasons to reappoint the previous cabinet, for one they could hit the ground running instead of having to learn the ropes. The only exception would be Maurice Lake who was already working in the VROMI cabinet, so he should be able to start right away. My mother will be keeping a keen eye on Minister Lake seeing the issues he had with the current Government and their performance. She expects great things from this Government for the elderly since Minister Lake was so concerned about the elderly when he was just a normal citizen.
The media should be asking why former Minister Rhoda Arrindell was not reappointed as Minister of Education, Culture and Sports. Did she do a bad job? The country has been paying her a salary for the past year or more, this would have been an opportunity for her to contribute back to the country.
The same can be said about former Minister Frankie Meyers. Wasn't Frankie doing a good job? He was a commissioner for 8 years and brought a lot of experience to the Minister's post. Why is a new inexperienced candidate now being proposed?
We can almost understand the fact that former Minister Theo Heyliger is not interested in the position anymore; with so many accusations against him it could be a temporary position if any of the accusations prove true. In any case, he has his right hand man in the position so I suspect that Mr. Heyliger's agenda will be fulfilled by the new Minister.
The above are all pertinent questions, questions that should be asked by the media. The media plays an important role in society and until they take their role more seriously we will never develop into the kind of country that St. Martin can be.

Kendall Dupersoy

Un cas de dengue sévère ayant entraîné le décès du malade a été signalé à l'Agence Régionale de Santé de Guadeloupe. Le patient résidant à Saint-Martin s'est présenté à l'hôpital de Marigot au début du mois de juin. Il a été pris en charge avec un tableau clinique typique de dengue qui s'est rapidement dégradé jusqu'à entraîner son décès 5 jours plus tard, malgré son transfert dans un service spécialisé. Les analyses et l'expertise effectuée depuis confirment que le décès est
directement imputable à la dengue.
L'Agence Régionale de Santé rappelle à nouveau, les recommandations de protection contre les piqûres de moustiques, ainsi que les mesures d'élimination des gîtes larvaires:

• éliminer les eaux stagnantes et autres gîtes de moustiques à l'intérieur et autour de la maison;
• vérifier les gouttières, chenaux, regards et avaloirs d'eau pluviale;
• utiliser une moustiquaire même durant la journée en cas d'exposition, en particulier pour les très jeunes enfants, ou les personnes présentant un ou plusieurs facteurs de risque;
• utiliser les répulsifs agréés en respectant les recommandations du fabricant pour éviter les piqûres, y compris pour l'individu malade;
• porter dans la mesure du possible, des vêtements longs en cas d'exposition à l'extérieur;
• utiliser à bon escient les insecticides et les raquettes dans les maisons en respectant les recommandations du fabricant;
• consulter votre médecin traitant en cas d'apparition de fièvre brutale, de maux de tête, nausées, vomissements, douleurs articulaires ou musculaires, d'éruption cutanée;
• éviter en cas de fièvre la prise d'aspirine ou d'anti-inflammatoires non stéroïdiens, respecter les doses maximales de paracétamol.

Dans le cadre de lutte contre les cambriolages, la compagnie de gendarmerie de Saint-Martin et Saint-Barthélémy, associée et la police territoriale de la Collectivité d'Outre-Mer de Saint-Martin, renouvellent, pendant toutes les vacances scolaires estivales, la campagne « opération tranquillité vacances ».
Durant votre absence, les gendarmes et policiers territoriaux peuvent, sur demande, surveiller votre domicile ou votre commerce au cours de leurs patrouilles et rondes quotidiennes.
Pour bénéficier de ce service, inscrivez-vous au plus tard 3 jours avant votre départ auprès d'une des deux brigades de gendarmerie de Marigot-Concordia ou Quartier d'Orléans.
Des conseils sur la sécurisation des lieux vous seront aussi prodigués.
En cas de retour inopiné ou de modification de la date et/ou de la durée de vos congés, n'oubliez pas de prévenir.
Renseignements au 0 590 52 21 90 (Brigade de Marigot-Concordia) ou au 0 590 52 36 07 (Brigade de Quartier d'Orléans).

LA DIRECTION DE L'ÉDUCATION DE LA COLLECTIVITÉ DE SAINT MARTIN INFORME LES PARENTS D'ÉLÈVES QUE LES FICHES D'INSCRIPTIONS POUR LE TRANSPORT SCOLAIRE POUR L'ANNÉE 2013/2014 SONT DISPONIBLES ET À RETIRER AU SERVICE TRANSPORT SCOLAIRE ANNEXE BORD DE MER 22, RUE DE LA LIBERTE, MARIGOT DU LUNDI AU VENDREDI 08H30 – 13H00.

POUR PLUS D'INFORMATIONS VEUILLEZ NOUS CONTACTER AU : 0590-29-59-30

Dans le cadre de la présentation à la population du Projet d'aménagement et de développement durables (PADD), des réunions publiques sont organisées dans les différents quartiers, selon le calendrier suivant:

• Mardi 18 juin à 18h, à Quartier d'Orléans (Maison de Quartier)
• Mardi 18 juin à 20h, à Grand-Case (Ancienne école de Grand-Case)
• Mercredi 19 juin à 18h, à Rambeau (Ancien bureau de vote de Friars bay)
• Mercredi 19 juin à 20h, à Sandy-Ground (ancienne école de Sandy-Ground, route de Sandy-Ground)
• Jeudi 20 juin à 18h30, à Concordia (Maison des Entreprises)

La 18ème édition du « Parlement des enfants » se déroulait ce week-end à l'Assemblée Nationale. Jonathan Hodge, élève en classe de CM2 à Quartier d'Orléans, a pris place dans l'hémicycle dans le fauteuil du Député de Saint-Barthélemy et de Saint-Martin.

Cette leçon d'instruction civique grandeur nature se déroule chaque année depuis 1994 : la 18ème édition du Parlement des Enfants se déroulait samedi au Palais Bourbon.
Elu par ses camarades de l'école de Quartier d'Orléans, Jonathan Hodge, accompagné de sa maman, a fait ses premiers pas de jeune élu, accueilli à l'Assemblée nationale par Daniel Gibbs. Le Député de Saint-Barthélemy et de Saint-Martin a exposé au Député Junior la fonction de législateur, la mission des élus du peuple et la place du Parlement au sein des institutions de la République.
Réunis en commission le matin, les jeunes délégués ont examiné des quatre propositions de loi rédigées en amont dans les écoles, avant d'être mises au vote l'après-midi, au cours de la séance officielle. A « Rompre l'isolement des aînés dans chaque commune en créant un passeport civique du jeune citoyen, consacrant trois actions annuelles de solidarité », « assurer la représentation des enfants au sein de l'école, en instituant les conseils de délégués et la représentation des élèves aux conseils d'école », « sensibiliser les élèves sur les principes de l'égalité des filles et des garçons », les délégués juniors ont préféré adopter la proposition de loi sur « la prévention des faits de violence et de discrimination au sein des écoles ». Cette proposition de loi, rédigée par des élèves de Tubuai dans les Iles australes (Polynésie française), a recueilli 269 voix pour.
Pour rappel, quatre lois proposées par le Parlement des enfants sont devenues des lois de la République. Elles ont institué, par exemple, le maintien des liens entre frères et sœurs adoptés, la participation de l'enfant orphelin au conseil de famille, le renforcement du rôle de l'école dans la détection des mauvais traitements à enfants et l'obligation de distribuer des sacs plastiques biodégradables aux caisses des supermarchés.

Dans le cadre de la célébration de la Fête de la musique, qui aura lieu le 21 juin prochain, le service Art et Culture de la Collectivité lance un appel aux musiciens, groupes, et interprètes, qui souhaiteraient effectuer des prestations à titre gracieux.

Les personnes intéressées sont invitées à se rapprocher du service Art et Culture, en les appelant aux numéros de téléphone suivants:

0590-29-59-18 / 0590-29-59-24
0690-88-90-97 / 0690-34-47-67

Au cours de la période du 06 et 07 juin 2013, plusieurs opérations de lutte contre la délinquance routière ont été menées sur le territoire de la Collectivité d'Outre-Mer de Saint-Barthélémy.
Ces opérations ont été réalisée conjointement par la brigade motorisée de Saint-Martin, déplacée pour l'occasion, et la brigade territoriale autonome de Saint-Barthélémy, mobilisant au total huit militaires de la gendarmerie.
103 conducteurs ainsi que leurs véhicules ont été contrôlés, permettant de relever 58 infractions:

• 01 conduite sous l'empire d'un état alcoolique présentant un taux un taux contraventionnel, compris entre 0,25 et 0,39 mg/litre d'air expiré (0,30) ;
• 01 conduite sous l'empire de produits stupéfiants ;
• 01 défaut de permis de conduire ;
• 01 défaut d'assurance ;
• 08 défauts de contrôle technique ;
• 32 non ports de ceinture de sécurité (conducteur ou passager) ;
• 11 pneumatiques lisses ;
• 02 conduites en faisant usage d'un téléphone au volant ;
• 01 non apposition de certificat d'assurance.

Une homme âgé de 26 ans a été tué par plusieurs coups de feu le 08 juin 2013 vers 01h10 du matin. Les faits ont été commis sur la voie publique, rue de Coralita à Quartier d'Orléans. La brigade de recherches de la gendarmerie de Saint-Martin, chargée de l'enquête lance un appel à témoin. Toute personne susceptible d'apporter des renseignements utiles aux investigations est priée de prendre contact avec les enquêteurs:

• en téléphonant au "17"ou au "05 90 52 30 13".
• ou en se présentant à la caserne de gendarmerie de la Savane.

Le 1er juin dernier, le Député de Saint-Barthélemy et de Saint-Martin a remis une médaille honorifique à Mme Fleming Hodge, qui recevait M. Gibbs en présence de ses proches.

« C'est avec une émotion sincère que je me tiens devant vous ce matin. Car pour le jeune Député que je suis, une remise de médailles constitue toujours un moment particulier - solennel certes - mais dans lequel affleure aussi beaucoup d'émotions, notamment à l'heure de rappeler le parcours de l'intéressé. Et votre parcours, Madame, invite à la plus grande humilité et au plus grand respect » a ainsi déclaré Daniel Gibbs à Mme Fleming Hodge. Le Député de Saint-Barthélemy et de Saint-Martin était accompagné des élues de l'Union pour la Démocratie Mme Annette Philips et Maud Ascent-Gibbs. Mme Fleming Hodge a reçu ces élus – dont elle tenu à rappeler qu'elle suivait à la lettre leur parcours – en compagnie de son fils, le Sénateur de Saint-Martin, Louis-Constant Fleming et de ses petits-enfants, Anne Karine Fleming, Louis Alexandre Fleming et Marlene Fleming Boureau. « Le savoir-vivre veut que l'on taise l'âge des dames : quand celui-ci fait de vous aujourd'hui le témoin et l'actrice privilégié de près d'un siècle d'histoire saint-martinoise, je tenais néanmoins à le saluer. Il me faudrait beaucoup de temps pour retracer votre vie dans toute sa richesse. J'en rappellerai brièvement quelques-uns des temps forts, tels que, sur le plan professionnel, votre énergie quant au développement de la représentation, sur notre territoire, de grandes entreprises comme Air France bien sûr, mais aussi la Ford Motor Compagny ou encore Texaco Caribbean LTD. Sur le plan humain également, je tiens à souligner votre investissement au service de notre communauté, qui vous a amené à fonder le SKAL Club ou encore la Croix-Rouge Française de Saint-Martin, ou encore les nombreux dons fonciers que vous avez consentis à notre Collectivité ». M. Gibbs a ensuite remis sa médaille à Mme Fleming Hodge. « Ordre du Mérite Agricole, Ordre National du mérite, Saint-Martin Business Wall of Fame... j'arrête-là la longue liste des décorations et des honneurs qui vont ont été rendue, Madame, pour rendre hommage à vos succès de chef d'entreprise visionnaire ou d'humaniste au grand cœur. Permettez-moi d'ajouter ma décoration à tous ces honneurs aujourd'hui, pour vous remercier très officiellement, au nom de Saint-Martin et des Saint-Martinois, pour l'exemple que vous donnez à chacun d'entre nous, merci pour votre humilité, merci pour ce que vous apportez » a conclu le Député de Saint-Barthélemy et de Saint-Martin. Une cérémonie qui s'est achevée par une collation amicale entre invités.

La Présidente du Conseil territorial de Saint-Martin, Aline Hanson, a effectué une visite technique du Tribunal d'Instance de Marigot, accompagnée de la vice-présidente Ramona Connor et des techniciens compétents de la Collectivité.
La délégation de la Collectivité s'est entretenue avec le magistrat du Tribunal, Florent Szewczyk, afin de développer le thème du renforcement judiciaire à Saint-Martin. Il a notamment été abordé l'ouverture prochaine d'une Chambre détachée, dont l'intérêt réside dans une autonomie plus accrue du système judiciaire à Saint-Martin. Un sujet qui sera par ailleurs largement appréhendé lors de la visite du 1er Président de la Cour d'appel de Basse-Terre, M. Henry Robert, le 14 juin prochain. La création de cette Chambre détachée marque en effet la volonté des élus de la Collectivité, d'apporter une réponse adaptée au contexte judiciaire de Saint-Martin.

Conformément à la feuille de route de la première conférence sociale, le Premier ministre a saisi le Haut conseil du financement de la protection sociale d'une réflexion globale sur le financement de la protection sociale.

Mireille Elbaum, présidente du Haut conseil du financement de la protection sociale, a remis au Premier ministre le 7 juin 2013 une note d'étape sur la clarification du financement des diverses branches et la diversification de leurs ressources.

Le Premier ministre a souligné la grande qualité de ce travail qui présente, pour la première fois, une analyse globale des logiques de financement de l'ensemble des régimes de protection sociale. Il permet de disposer d'un cadre cohérent de réflexion, et démontre que l'on peut progresser par la concertation vers des diagnostics partagés.

Cette note d'étape ne propose pas de réforme « clé en main » et il apparaît que les contributions et les positions exprimées par les membres du Haut conseil sur les évolutions souhaitables, présentées en fin du rapport, sont très diverses.

Ce travail sera complété par une note sur les conditions de l'équilibre des comptes de la protection sociale, que le Haut conseil va discuter pour la fin de l'année 2013.

Le mercredi 08 mai 2013 à 20h50, un vol avec arme était commis par deux individus dans une épicerie chinoise située rue Nana Clark dans le quartier d'Agrément. Le gérant de cette épicerie a été grièvement blessé à l'occasion de ce vol, après avoir reçu un violent coup à la tête. Les constatations réalisées et le recueil de témoignages ont permis à la brigade de recherches de la gendarmerie de Saint Matin d'identifier les auteurs présumés de ces faits. Ceux-ci ont été interpellés le 04 juin 2013 par le peloton d'intervention de l'escadron de gendarmerie mobile de Pithiviers, et ont placés en garde à vue par la brigade de recherches. Le 06 juin 2013, les deux mis en cause ont été présentés à l'autorité judiciaire en Guadeloupe, et placés en détention provisoire dans le cadre de la commission rogatoire qui a été ouverte.

L'Agence Nationale des Fréquences (ANFR) rappelle que les téléphones sans fil de type DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) ne sont pas conformes aux normes européennes et ne doivent donc pas être utilisés sur les collectivités de Saint-Martin et Saint-Barthélemy.
Quels sont les téléphones en cause? Importés de pays comme les États-Unis et le Canada, la plupart des téléphones non conformes portent la mention « DECT 6.0 ». Ils fonctionnent sur des fréquences pour lesquelles ils ne sont pas autorisés dans l'Union européenne.
Pourquoi? Ces téléphones sans fil non conformes perturbent les fréquences utilisées par les réseaux de téléphonie mobile et par voie de conséquence leur fonctionnement.
Que risque-t-on en utilisant un téléphone non conforme? Les personnes qui possèdent déjà un appareil non conforme ne peuvent en aucun cas continuer à l'utiliser. Toute constatation de l'utilisation d'un tel appareil par un agent de l'ANFR fera l'objet de l'application d'une taxe forfaitaire de 450 €. En outre, le fait de perturber une fréquence régulièrement attribuée constitue une infraction pénale passible d'une peine pouvant aller jusqu'à six mois d'emprisonnement et 30 000 € d'amende en application des dispositions de l'article L. 39-1 du Code des postes et des communications électroniques.
Comment choisir son téléphone? L'ANFR conseille aux consommateurs qui souhaitent acquérir un téléphone sans fil DECT, de vérifier la présence du marquage CE sur l'emballage ainsi que sur l'appareil.

Pour tout renseignement complémentaire s'adresser à:
Agence nationale des fréquences : www.anfr.fr
Antenne Antilles Guyane : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tél. 05 96 60 86 86

Dans le cadre de la mise en œuvre du plan contre la pauvreté, le Premier ministre s'est vu remettre cet après-midi, par Emmanuelle Wargon et Marc Gurgand, le rapport du groupe de travail sur la « Garantie jeunes ». La rencontre s'est déroulée en présence d'une des jeunes ayant participé aux travaux du groupe et de François Chérèque, chargé d'une mission de suivi du plan pauvreté.

Mesure phare de l'action du gouvernement en direction de la jeunesse en difficulté d'insertion, la Garantie jeunes démarrera comme prévu en septembre prochain. Pendant un an, elle visera 10 000 jeunes, sur 10 territoires pilotes, avant une montée en charge progressive sur l'ensemble du territoire national, d'ici 2016, pour 100 000 jeunes par an en rythme de croisière.

Le groupe de travail, qui réunissait des jeunes, des chercheurs, des représentants de l'Etat, des collectivités, des missions locales, de Pôle Emploi, des entreprises, des organismes de formation et des associations, a proposé un mode d'emploi de la mesure, construit autour de 3 principes structurants :

• Le premier : un public cible centré sur les jeunes qui ne sont ni à l'école, ni en formation, ni en emploi (les fameux « NEET »), en situation de grande précarité, pour la plupart en rupture familiale, et ayant trop souvent perdu l'espoir de s'en sortir.
• Le deuxième : un contrat d'engagements réciproques, annuel et renouvelable, entre le jeune et la mission locale qui le suit. Le jeune s'engage à suivre pas à pas les étapes du parcours qu'il construit avec les personnes qui l'accompagnent ; la mission locale lui octroie une allocation équivalente au RSA et s'engage à lui proposer un accompagnement intensif, donnant lieu à des propositions régulières de formation ou d'emploi.
• Le troisième : la mise en place de commissions partenariales pour décider des entrées et sorties du dispositif, en fonction du respect des engagements de chacun et de la réussite des parcours des jeunes.

Les 10 territoires pilotes seront choisis prochainement, sur la base d'un appel à manifestation d'intérêt. A ce jour, de nombreux acteurs territoriaux se portés spontanément candidats. Selon le Premier ministre, il s'agit d'un signal fort, car « un tel dispositif ne peut réussir sans l'implication de toutes les parties prenantes de la seconde chance ».

La Présidente du Conseil territorial, Aline Hanson, et Madame le Premier ministre de Sint-Maarten, Sarah Wescot-Williams, se sont rencontrées mercredi dernier, afin de réaffirmer leur volonté commune de s'engager dans le processus de coopération entre les deux parties de l'île, et de débattre de leurs priorités respectives.

La Présidente Hanson, qui était accompagnée par le vice-président en charge du développement économique, Wendel Cocks, a rappelé que son objectif est de faire avancer le processus de coopération, notamment sur les questions ayant fait l'objet de longs débats et qui n'avaient pas abouti, eu égard aux derniers changements politiques et administratifs.
Parmi ses préoccupations, la Présidente Hanson a retenu les problèmes liés à l'eau, la gestion des déchets, les énergies renouvelables, la culture, l'éducation, et les affaires économiques, pour lesquelles un accord avait été conclu sur le plan technique, mais qui est resté en stand by au niveau politique, contraignant ainsi sa mise en œuvre.
Six points à l'ordre du jour ont été développés, dont l'éventualité d'un programme opérationnel de 6 ans, dans le cadre de la coopération transfrontalière. Ce programme permettrait le financement des projets communs entre les deux parties.
Les infrastructures, l'économie, la culture, le développement des ressources humaines, le tourisme, l'environnement, et les projets de développement innovants des énergies renouvelables, constituent les secteurs qui relèvent de ce programme de financement.
Cette discussion permettra très prochainement la mise en place des groupes de travail, afin qu'ils soumettent au Conseil exécutif et au Conseil des ministres, leurs recommandations. Les deux Conseils valideront ces recommandations, permettant ainsi de finaliser un projet de document qui définira les priorités qui pourraient être retenues, dans le cadre du programme de financement. La Présidente Hanson et Madame le Premier ministre Sarah Wescott-Williams, ont demandé à leurs services respectifs de tout mettre en œuvre le plus rapidement possible, en vue des prochaines échéances imposées par la Communauté européenne.
La Présidente du Conseil territorial de Saint-Martin, Aline Hanson a déclaré à l'issue de cette rencontre : « Nous sommes d'accord sur de nombreux points dont les avancées ont stagné ; il est temps maintenant d'aller de l'avant et de trouver les solutions adéquates aux difficultés rencontrées, dans l'intérêt de nos populations ». Elle a précisé que cet entretien a été utile dans le rétablissement des relations de travail entre les deux parties de l'île, afin d'établir les priorités des groupes de travail techniques.
Madame Hanson a également rappelé que la volonté politique conditionne la réussite de la mise en œuvre des projets et programmes concernés, puisqu'au final, seuls les élus politiques ont le pouvoir d'appliquer les programmes communs sur les questions transfrontalières. La Présidente Aline Hanson a indiqué que le calendrier des séances de travail entre le Conseil exécutif et le Conseil des ministres sera mis en place, afin de traiter d'autres thèmes d'intérêt commun.

Mardi 28 mai 2013, M. Philippe CHOPIN, Préfet délégué auprès de la représentante de l'Etat dans les collectivités de Saint-Barthélemy et de Saint-Martin, s'est entretenu au cours d'une réunion de travail avec le Gouverneur Eugene B. HOLIDAY.
Durant cette réunion, le Gouverneur et le Préfet délégué ont évoqué plusieurs sujets d'intérêt commun pour Sint-Maarten et Saint-Martin, et notamment, la coopération, le contrôle de l'immigration, la mise en oeuvre de la réglementation relative aux documents et visas exigés.
Cette réunion, cordiale et productive a été l'occasion de rappeler l'importance de la coopération entre Sint-Maarten et Saint-Martin.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour is appealing to the community to review actions related to cough etiquette and good hygiene at all times.

This appeal is being made after a number of cases were reported in the Dominican Republic.

With the start of the flu season in the southern hemisphere, several countries are experiencing an increase in patient visits for Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI), as well as hospitalizations associated with influenza.

CPS is reminding residents that high standards of personal hygiene entail covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough, and throw the tissue in the trash after using it.

Washing your hands frequently with soap and water, especially after contact with respiratory secretions (e.g., after sneezing and coughing).

Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth and try to avoid contact with sick people as germs are spread this way.

Persons who are traveling are advised to take precautionary measures such as maintaining high standards of personal hygiene at all times.

Another preventive measure is eating healthy foods, getting a lot of exercise and maintaining an eight hour sleep schedule.

For additional information call or physician or section general health care at 5422078 or send an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

BUSH ROAD:--- It's a Lizzy Lizard book-signing spree for the kiddies, taking place at Le Grande Marche (Cul-de-sac roundabout), on Saturday, June 29, from 9 AM onward, said Jacqueline Sample of HNP, the storybook publisher. "Thanks to Robin Boasman (in photo) for taking her new children's adventure book to the supermarket on a busy shopping day, which sometimes involves the whole family. This makes it so much easier for parents, grandparents, godparents, aunts, uncles, and older siblings to get their hands on an autographed copy of Lizzy Lizard for the young ones at home or out shopping with them," said Sample. (Gee Money photo)

The Police Traffic Department is informing the general public, that due to closing of the schools in the areas of Cul-de Sac, Sint Peters, and Reward for the school vacation, the regulating of traffic in those areas by traffic officers will temporarily discontinue as of Thursday June 27th, 2013. The regulating of traffic will commence again at the opening of the new school year. All persons still taking their kids to school in these areas during this period should take a keen note of this information. The Police Department wishes all students, parents, and teachers a very happy, enjoyable, and safe school vacation.

KPSM Public Announcement

Philipsburg:--- This past week "Tracks Inspector" was introduced into the Police Force of Sint Maarten. This software is specially designed by the company Fox IT. Using this software one can easily search through automated files, greatly simplifying the investigations. The Police Force of Sint Maarten is the first police organization in the Caribbean that will be using this software as support during digital forensic investigations.
The Chief of the Judicial Department Ms. D. Jacobs awarded all students who successfully followed this basic training with their certificate in Digital Investigation. Eighteen investigators of the Police Force of Sint Maarten and the Federal Detectives followed this course in which knowledge and skills were taught by Mr. Benno van Leeuwen of Forensic Services in Curacao, with respect to the learning to investigate in the digital forensic environment.

KPSM Press Release

Simpson Bay:--- On Friday morning at approximately 9:00am, a report came in from the Coast Guard informing the Simpson Bay Police Department that the lifeless body of a man was found on a boat anchored in the Simpson Bay Lagoon by the name of Grace Ruth. The victim with initials J.E.E. (72) from the U.S.A was found at approximately 8:30am by a friend of the victim in the alley-way leading to his cabin on board the boat. He stated that the victim told him he was not feeling well earlier in the morning. He had left and gone to work and when he returned he found the victim on the floor. A doctor pronounced the death of the victim and the body was taken to a morgue. There were no signs of foul play.

KPSM Police Report

GREAT BAY:--- On Friday morning at approximately 9:10am, the Police Central Dispatch received a call informing them that a well-known man by the name of "Richard Arrindell", who wanders around in the Philipsburg area took ill while standing on the Cyrus Wathey Square and fell into the sea. A witness stated that "Richard" went under water and did not surface. That is when the emergency services such as the Coast Guard, Sea Rescue, Ambulance Department, and Police Department were notified of the incident, who responded immediately. Members of the Coast Guard, Sea Rescue, and Police Department took part in the search for the victim however; the water was quite murky making it difficult to see the bottom. The search continued for quite some time and with assistance of divers from the "Blue Bubbles" dive shop, who volunteered their services, the victim was found a short distance from where he went under. A medical doctor came to the scene and pronounced the death of the victim. Family members of the victim were on the scene to identify the body. Deepest sympathy goes out to family and friends of the deceased on behalf of the police department.

KPSM Police Report

Philipsburg:--- In recent months, the Detective Department has been investigating several cases in which persons have been purchasing second hand vehicles from persons they are acquainted with and also persons they are not acquainted with. When the person who bought the vehicle takes it to be insured that is when they discover that the vehicle in question is stolen. The investigations have shown that the VIN-number of the car has been tampered with by completely removing or replacing it. The advice from the Detective Department is, to avoid any unnecessary inconvenience, "NOT" to purchase any vehicle from anyone, without receiving proof that the car belonged to them. A "bill of sale" is not proof that the "seller" is the owner of the car. The "buyer" should ask the "seller" for proof of ownership of the car and a copy of his or her identification. The "buyer" should then compare the names on the documents before purchasing.

KPSM Police Report

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- On Thursday the Financial Intelligence Units of Sint Maarten and the BES Islands (Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba) organized a training session about Identity and Document Fraud. The training was carried out under the context of the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing.

The training was provided by the Dutch Royal Military Police and is focused primarily at the financial institutions of Saba, St. Eustatius and Sint Maarten.

The session was held at the Maho Convention Center.

It is very important that we take into consideration the economic factors that are at play when decisions are made.

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams and members of her Cabinet received a presentation from the Economic Monitoring Committee (EMC) on the Economic Progress for Country St. Maarten at the AC Wathey Legislative Hall on Tuesday. The PM received presentations from the Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEZVT) Mr. Miguel de Weever and representatives from the Department of Statistics, Economic Affairs, and the Department of Tourism. Representatives from Private Sector Organizations like the SHTA and the St. Maarten Marine Trades Association (SMMTA) were also present at the presentation.

The EMC started in the beginning of 2011 as an internal committee of the Ministry TEZVT to monitor the economy of St. Maarten and was expanded in the latter part of 2011 to include external stakeholders such as the SHTA, SMMTA, Chamber of Commerce, Ministry Finance, and the Department of Labor Affairs.

The primary objective of EMC is to gather useful information that will assist in decision making, to establish economic indicators, and to monitor these indicators and identify leading indicators. The EMC group meets on a quarterly basis to discuss various topics such as Business and Labor Environment, Consumer Environment, Tourism Market and the Marine Industry.

The Prime Minister asked pointed questions during the presentation and stated that the information provided by the EMC will guide certain decisions taken by the Council of Ministers regarding financial matters for country St. Maarten. "As a Government it is very important that we take into consideration the economic factors which are at play when decisions are made that have an economic impact. Therefore it is essential that we use the information provided by the EMC when certain questions need to be answered or certain decisions need to be made within the Council of Ministers," commented the Prime Minister.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams attended the Art Saves Lives meet and greet with the artist at a reception at Holland House earlier this week. The Art Saves Lives Program (ASLP) is a cross-cultural exchange between youth in need and experienced practicing artists who seek to use their talents for positive change. This collaborative project will select renowned artists from around the world who use the arts to introduce participants to global and local traditions and empower them with the life skills necessary to effectively deal with the demands and challenges of everyday life. The project will also provide guidance for young artists with aspirations in pursuing a career in the arts. The Prime Minister again commended ASLP for their important work, stating that she hopes to see the program be successful and fruitful in empowering the youth through art. The Prime Minister also pledged her continuous support to the program, which is set to start this coming weekend.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Monday, July 1, the Philipsburg Jubilee Library and the National Heritage Foundation will join forces with the Philipsburg Cultural & Community Center in presenting the opening of the Art Exhibition "Ancestral History", from 11:00am – 11:30am.
As St. Maarten's Emancipation Day Celebrations draws closer, the organizing committee for the historical exhibition comprised of: Library representatives Monique Alberts (Director) and Morenika Arrindell (Public Relations Officer/ Activity Manger); Heritage Foundation Director, Elsje Bosch and Cultural Center representative Urmain " Youmay" Dormoy, pooled their combined resources together, to shape the ancestral history exhibition.
An exhibition on slavery and emancipation compiled by the the Special Collections department of the University of Amsterdam will also be on display at the Cultural Center. This exhibition, aimed at youngsters, consists of two sets of banners. One set is compiled by the Surinamese comedian Raymann and his daughter and depicts historical objects relating to slavery. The other set tells the story of slavery through texts, maps and pictures.
These two sets of banners will also be on display at selected libraries of Aruba, Curacao, and Surinam during the month of July.
The National Heritage Foundation has made their collection of artifacts and literature relevant to the emancipation day celebrations, available to the Cultural Center for display for the duration of the exhibition.
The general public is invited to view the exhibition on ancestral history on July 1, 2013, from 2:00pm – 6:00pm and also during the course of the week at the Cultural Center.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Friday morning Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry of VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake carried out a site inspection at the John Larmonie Center on the Pondfill.

It was brought to the Minister's attention that the restrooms at the aforementioned facility have been out of order for some time. The recreational facility is used by seniors on a regular basis.

Other shortcomings brought forward were blocked drainage lines, backed-up sewage system, faulty air conditioning and the kitchen cabinets which are all rotten and nearly unusable.

"Our seniors and other users of this facility should not have to contend with such conditions especially when they are using the building for recreational purposes. I have instructed my Ministry to take immediate action," Minister Hon. Maurice Lake said on Friday.

The Minister, members of his Cabinet, Head of the Department of Infrastructure Management Claudius Buncamper, Civil Works Project Leader David Lejuez of the Infrastructure Department, and Chairman of the Foundation Board Claret Connor, walked through the facility and an inventory was compiled of the things that need to be immediately repaired.

Urgent repairs will be started on Saturday and will continue through Monday so the facility could be in order and available for use next week.

Improving the facility will be a joint effort between Claret Connor in charge of the upkeep of the facility and Ministry VROMI.

It has been agreed that the materials required for the repairs will be purchased by the Center based on the inventory list while Ministry VROMI will provide the labour.

Minister Lake said that his motto is getting "back to basics." "Small things that have been left unattended and just with a little time, effort and manpower can make a world of difference, and that is what getting back to basics means. This will be applied to all areas within my ministerial responsibilities," Minister Lake concluded.

The repair work and activities at the John Larmonie Center consists of, but is not limited to the following: repairs to all restroom facilities; fixing and replacing of all cracked light fixtures and bulbs; replacement of dropping and/or damaged ceiling tiles; repairs of all windows; fixing of bricks in the outside area by the side door; and cleaning of the trenches around the premises.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- School Busing and Taxi Dispatching Inspection Department of Economic Affairs, would like to thank the public for their cooperation during the 2012-2013 school year in making busing of school children a safe one as the school year comes to an end on Friday, June 28.

The Department will continue to ensure a safe, reliable and comfortable transportation for school children.

"Another school year comes to an end this Friday. The Department would like to thank the school buses and students for their cooperation and looks forward to more continued support during the upcoming new school year.

"The Inspection Department who is also responsible for the Traffic Controllers and Inspectors who are visible during the peak morning hours, would also like to thank the public at large for their cooperation when they approach school zones.

"School busing was faced with some behavior problems during the past few months and would like to ask the parents and guardians to continue to encourage their child/ren to behave on the bus.

"The Department would also like the public to be observant that although school is out and summer is in, a number of children will be using the school bus for their summer camp excursions, therefore motorists should remain vigilant on the public roads.

"Thank you to the school principals as well for their cooperation throughout the school year, and on behalf of the department, wishing the principals, teachers and staff a happy and safe holiday season," School Busing and Taxi Dispatching Inspection Department of Economic Affairs.

School bus inspections are scheduled to start July 8 through July 10 known as the early bird inspections, and the regular inspections are set from July 22 through July 25. School bus owners and drivers are hereby advised to take note of the dates.

School bus owners/drivers are requested to call the department to make an appointment.

For further information about services rendered by the Inspection Section, call telephone number 542-4511 or 542-4509.

Harbour View:--- His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima will be visiting St. Maarten in the fall of this this year.
The visit will be the Kings and Queens first official visit to Sint Maarten in their capacity of King and Queen. The King and Queen last visited Sint Maarten in 2011 while they were still prince and princess, when they accompanied Queen Beatrix.
Earlier this week Governor Holiday convened the Kick-off meeting with the special committee, the National Organizing Committee Royal Visit 2013, which has been established by National Decree to organize and coordinate the upcoming royal visit. The committee is comprised of seven members, these are: Keith Franca (Chairman), Cassandra Janssen (Secretary), Emilia Thomas, Catherine Arrindell-Conner, Marcel Gumbs, Olga Williams, and Bastiaan Bolt.
Today a delegation from the Netherlands, the pre-advance team, visited Sint Maarten to meet with the relevant authorities and to discuss how the royal visit later this year can be prepared optimally.
Governor Holiday stated that the friendly island of Sint Maarten is looking forward to host the royal visit and that the visit by the King and the Queen will be a celebration of Sint Maarten's culture and our bond with the Royal Family and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Further details on the dates and locations for the 2013 visit will be provided at a later date.

From the Cabinet of the Governor of Sint Maarten

Philipsburg:--- The outgoing General Manager of the Windward Islands Bank Jan Beaujon seems to be an ordinary St. Maartener who is friendly and very welcoming to people that need his advice especially since he has knowledge and expertise from both the banking and private sector. Beaujon who is known for his pleasant personality and love for music can only be described as a people's person and someone who anyone can approach for a word of advice. Despite being a professional Jan Beaujon found time to play his guitar, this is one of the things he plans to do now that he would have more spare time.

In an exclusive interview with SMN News, Beaujon whose full time job with WIB ends on June 28th, 2013 said that while he is going on pension he will still be with the bank for a period of time to serve as an advisor.

Jan Beaujon started his career in banking in February 1972. "My wife and I moved from Curacao and went to Guadeloupe when I secured a job with Bank Antilles which was owned by my brother in law. I am Dutch so I had to learn the French language and the French banking system. At the time, I knew nothing about banking so in the beginning it was difficult. That was very challenging for me because many nights I had to use a dictionary to learn the French words while learning the French banking system at the same time. I was given a book to learn from, it was tough but I managed and was given the task to deal with the foreign exchange and other foreign banks."

Beaujon said a year later he was placed in the credits and loans department. He said he was trained on the job while working. Beaujon explained that he did some major training in Marie Galante, a smaller island off the coast of Guadeloupe. Three years later the owners of Bank Antilles decided to expand and explore so they decided to open a branch office in St. Barths. Of course the man they chose to open and set up that branch from scratch was no other than Jan Beaujon. "I went and I trained another couple over there but shortly after my wife and I got ill and we had to move back to Guadeloupe. Beaujon explained that in those days everything was manual, work was done with typewriters and manually. He said when someone entered a bank on the French side the noise from the machines was very loud but the workers managed and they grew. Not long after that expedition, Bank Antilles decided to venture to St. Martin and again the man chosen to establish Bank Antilles on the French side was Jan Beaujon.

"This is how Bank Antilles created the Ile du Nord" but St. Martin was extremely challenging because he had to set up the building, get a cellar built and have a vault placed underground. Jan Beaujon remembers the details of his experience setting up the Bank Antilles on the French side because he said when he thought the vault was well secured underground, water became one of their major problems so he had to have a well built and install pumps to pump the water out in order to keep the monies and the vault dry. Jan said for him it was challenging but what was astonishing for him to learn and to deal with back then was the lack of knowledge of the people who were doing business on the French side. Banking on the French side of the island was "wild west". "Back in those days there were no notaries, accountants, no lawyers. Basically there was nothing. When I asked business people if they had financials they did not even know what I was talking about. People were just coming from every place and doing business on the French side and they had no administration which is necessary for the French system. In 1978, there was nothing at all and that side of the island was very much under developed. Jan said while things were bad on the French side and business was dormant at the time, the French side began developing and that too happened very quickly.

Later BFC purchased Bank Antilles and Jan was also very instrumental in setting up BFC in St. Martin even getting the land on which BFC is built. One of the things Jan boasts about is the relationship he had and still has with his co-workers at Bank Antilles and BFC. "Up to today they remain friends, some of whom attended the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday." Jan said that on the day BFC was opening its branch in Bellevue he submitted his resignation because he had secured a job in La Reunion. The reason for that was because his children had to leave St. Martin to attend school so he had no choice but to leave the island. However, all of the plans Jan had then changed when he went to one of his very best friends the late David James, the owners of La Samanna Hotel. Jan said he went to see his friend and to inform him that he was leaving the island to go to La Reunion but when he went there he learnt that his friend was very ill and he needed his help more than anything else. As Jan was speaking about his friend who died of cancer he became emotional even though it's been years now since his friend passed. "I asked James to give me two years and then I would come back to St. Martin and help him but when he told me he did not have that much time to live and he desperately needed his help. Jan said he could not do anything but put his children in boarding school in France and work for the La Samanna Hotel. He said that he knew nothing about managing a hotel because he studied tourism but his friend taught him a lot and he grew there too. He said one of his major roles was to deal with the unions who was giving the American owners lots of trouble, but again due to his personality and willingness to negotiate and discuss with other people that too was successful. Jan worked for La Samanna for about one and half years then he lost his friend to the deadly disease of cancer. After that he had to manage the hotel alone, and later assisted the heirs to sell the hotel because of tax inheritance that the heirs could not pay.

While being at La Samanna for his last year he said he began job hunting on the Dutch side because his children were still in school, then one day he got a call from one of his friends, the Curiel's whom he knew from school days. He said his friend offered him a job at WIB and even though he asked for a lot back then he got it and his mission was to change and develop WIB to what it is today. Jan Beaujon gave 20 years of service to the Windward Islands Bank, something he has no regrets about. He said while working tirelessly he did not realize how much his workers meant to him, but now that he is leaving them it is with a broken heart. Jan Beaujon handed over the reins to Derek Downes whom he said is a very talented young man who also believes in innovation and development.

The People Should be Consulted if Politicians wants to change currency --- Inform the people properly and then call for a referendum.

SMN News asked the man who has knowledge and experience what currency he thinks would be best for St. Maarten. Politicians on St. Maarten have been lobbying for dollarization. Jan Beaujon who is also on the board of the Council of Advice said that the discussion is a political one and not one that relates to the currency. He said Curacao and St. Maarten are having problems with the leadership of the Central Bank but instead of dealing with that issue they are blaming the currency. Jan said in 1995 St. Maarten did not have dollars because the hurricanes destroyed the island. "There was no USD coming to St. Maarten and it was the Central Bank that had to print more notes and distribute it so that the island could have survived. He said the Antillean currency worked for years and he sees no reason for changing it. "Yes we do have to get rid of the Antillean Guilder because the Antilles no longer exists, but it can be renamed either Caribbean Dollar or the Guilder but going for the USD is a no no for Jan Beaujon. "If there is a vote in the Council of Advice on this matter I will not vote because my opinion on this matter is very strong and I have made it known to all the politicians. They know what I think and how I feel as a professional banker."

Jan said that if the politicians still want to continue with their ideas then he believes that the people of St. Maarten must have a say, he thinks that the people must be given accurate and enough information then a referendum should be called so that the people could decide what currency they want for their country.

After speaking with Jan Beaujon for about one hour on Thursday, it's clear that Jan Beaujon will be working behind the scenes for his country. Even though he said he has no interest in politics he will continue to give advice and also keep his eyes open after all he is a citizen of this great nation.

Philipsburg:--- Twelve employees of Colombian Emeralds International are fighting to get their cessentia payments from their employers who notified them at the beginning of June 2013 that they will be closing both shops on St. Maarten as of June 30th, 2013. According to one of the employees, they received a letter on June 6th, 2013 dated June 1st, 2013 informing them that the company (Colombian Emeralds International), whose head office is in Barbados will be closing both shops on St. Maarten as of June 30th, 2013.

The letter which was signed by the Human Resources Manager Mrs. Dale Niles states that the company has been suffering net earning losses for a number of years now and this is the reason for them to close down. One of the workers who worked for the company for 26 years told SMN News that Mrs. Niles promised to pay the workers out by June 10th, 2013 but to date she has not done so. The employee said that the company did not follow the labour laws of St. Maarten prior to sending them the letter and neither did they file for bankruptcy. The 12 workers showed up at the Department of Labour on Thursday morning where they met with the head of the Labour Department Mrs. Peggy Ann Dros Richardson who informed them that she was contacted on Wednesday by Mrs. Niles who also promised that she would pay them out. The employee said that the company is now saying that they wanted to close both stores, the one located on Old Street and the one in the departure lounge of Princess Juliana International Airport. The worker further explained that Mrs. Niles told the head of the Labour Department that they submitted a bid to maintain their store at PJIAE and if they are successful then they want the workers from Old Street to go and work at PJIAE.

The employee said the workers at PJIAE also received the same letter informing them that they will be dismissed as of June 30th. "We have workers who worked for 26 years, 23 years, 22 years, and 5 years for the company. The company acted illegally and the letter they sent us is also illegal. On top of that Mrs. Niles lied to us about the cessentia payments. We do not want to go to the Airport because the workers of that store are our colleagues and they too deserve to be paid out."

SMN News asked Minister of Labour Cornelius de Weever if was aware of the ongoing labour dispute at Colombian Emeralds and he said that he was updated on the issue. Minister De Weever said the head of the Department of Labour and the Secretary General are busy investigating the case.

Philipsburg:--- Newly sworn-in Minister of Education Patricia Lourens told reporters on Thursday that a number of measures have been taken to repair and renovate various schools during the summer vacation while the bidding for furniture for the Belvedere School will take place in July 2013. The SBO School in Cay Hill is also expected to open by November 2013 when the King visits the island.

The Education Minister also explained that there has been a 31% increase in requests for study financing this year compared to last year. The Minister said in the year 2012 some 237 students applied for study financing while in 2013 344 students applied. Minister Lourens said that of that amount a total of 143 students were approved to receive study financing while the others would have to appeal their decision. SMN News asked the Minister why so many students were denied, in her response Minister Lourens said there are a number of reasons, however the figure can increase because some students that applied are still waiting on their examination results. She said so far the St. Maarten Academy and St. Dominic School did not get their examination results as yet and those two schools have the largest amount of students. "When these students get their results they can appeal the decision. Another hindrance is that study financing did not get any extra monies this year especially due to the budget cuts."

The Minister of Education also explained that because of the budget cuts and the lack of monies the Ministry has to now raise the level in order for students to obtain study financing and they would also have to conduct an analysis on what the students want to study. "We have to determine what the acceptable grades are for students to obtain study financing." The Minister also said some students may have been denied because of their age to attend the MBO schools in the Netherlands. However, she is confident that the figure will increase when the examination results are submitted and after the appeal process is finalized.

The Minister of Education confirmed on Thursday that she discussed the report that was submitted by the committee that conducted the internal investigation at the Department of Public Education and that report will be further discussed next week. One of the advices given by the committee is to remove Mrs. Glenderline Davis Holiday from her position as head of the department due to mismanagement and lack of communication.

Philipsburg:--- Newly appointed Minister of Finance Martin Hassink told reporters on Thursday at the second Council of Ministers' press briefing that the Government of St. Maarten is facing another hurdle with the 2013 budget which is still to be approved by the Governor and CFT. Minister Hassink said just one day after he was sworn into office the Governor of St. Maarten returned the 2013 budget which was approved by the parliament of St. Maarten in April 2013 and asked him to take a look at that budget and see if he could work with it for the rest of the year.

"The very next day I got a letter from the CFT telling me that they cannot and will not approve the budget because the amount of monies the former Minister of Finance predicted as government income is not achievable." The Minister of Finance said that the CFT wants him to cut the budget by another 30 million guilders, "I already notified the Council of Ministers last week and the various secretary generals that would have to make the cuts in the other Ministries. "Government has to decrease its expenditures while they have to find a way to increase their revenues." The Finance Minister said that one of the reasons the CFT feels that the proposed figures cannot be reached is the fact that the former Minister of Finance added a sum he expects to collect on the taxes he wanted to levy on alcohol and tobacco. "The alcohol and tobacco taxes cannot be implemented this year because there is no legislation in place to tax people on alcohol and tobacco. Those legislations have to be in place before the taxes can be levied." For the year 2013 that is no longer possible but those legislations can be put in place for 2014. Minister Hassink gave indications that the 2013 budget is still not in place therefore the 2014 budget will be late.

Minister Hassink showed reporters a PowerPoint presentation where he said that the 2013 budget that the parliament of St. Maarten approved amounts to 457 million guilders. He said while the budget is balanced on paper, some 23% of it cannot be realized. Government has a known income of 420 million guilders. The Finance Minister said that there is a large group of unidentified people that do not contribute to the tax base and those are people and businesses that are unknown to government. Another percentage of the people that are not contributing are known to government but simply do not pay their taxes. "I intend to hunt these people down and impose fines on them so that they can comply and pay their share." Minister Hassink further explained that he does not believe that the people who did not pay their taxes should be rewarded, therefore he would be taking a closer look at the write off that the former Minister implemented while he was in office earlier this year.

6,500 did not pay their Number Plate Taxes --- Number Plates and Stickers will be back in 2014.

The Finance Minister said also told reporters that some 6,500 persons did not pay their annual vehicle taxes, government usually collects about 8.6 million guilders in vehicle taxes annually but they have only collected 6.6 million guilders so far, 2 million guilders still needs to be collected this year. When SMN News reporter asked the new Finance Minister why he believes vehicle owners did not pay their vehicle taxes since the former Minister simplified the process and made other changes such as eliminating the number plates. The Finance Minister said that because there is no new number plates or stickers it is harder for the controllers and government to identify who paid their vehicle taxes from those that did not pay. He said it is already too late to have number plates re-instated for the year 2013 but he is looking at an alternative way of identifying those vehicle owners who would have to pay and will be fined. The Finance Minister made clear that for the year 2014 either a sticker or new number plates will be available at the Receiver's Office for vehicle owners.

Click here to view the PowerPoint presentation that was presented by Minister of Finance Martin Hassink.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development, and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) hereby informs the general public and motorists that Well Road will be closed off as of July 2 for two weeks for through traffic.

This is to allow for the execution of road works to take place during the aforementioned period.

Residents will have access to and from their homes from both directions of the Well Road.

The section that will be closed off is located between Cork Tree Drive and Belle Tree Drive. No through traffic will be allowed.

The Minister responsible for Ministry VROMI Hon. Maurice Lake apologizes to the residents and other road users for the inconvenience that this may cause, and apologizes with respect to this.

The objective is to carry out the necessary repairs that are needed.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- School Busing and Taxi Dispatching Inspection Department of Economic Affairs and the Control Unit will only be open for several hours on Friday.

Staff will be attending the funeral service of a colleague, Voluntary Corps of Sint Maarten Corporal Welton W. Baker.

The Control Unit will close on Friday at 10:00am and the Inspections Department will close from 1:00pm.

For further information you can call telephone number 542-4511 or 542-4509.

Encourages Youth to be High on Sports Instead of Drugs

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams officially opened the Repairers of Broken Walls Symposium at the John Larmonie Center on Wednesday. The symposium will be centered on the combating of illegal drug abuse in the community of St. Maarten.

The Prime Minister started her remarks by commending the Repairers of Broken Walls International Community in organizing the important symposium:

"Allow me to commend the Repairers of the Broken Wall International Community for organizing this conference on drug abuse in the community of St. Maarten. I do so recognizing that all of us on the outside of the activities that have been taking place regarding combating drug abuse might have feel that there is not much happening on St. Maarten but there are many organizations centered on raising awareness of the Drug Problem on St. Maarten and we therefore need to offer our continued support in this regard.

"The international theme for today is one of making Health Your New High in Life and Not Drugs. Considering this theme and this topic it is important that we combine health with other activities as we encourage our young people to engage in sports for example, making that the high in life and not drugs. Therefore I would like to encourage all to focus on the various activities and opportunities that are available and to encourage especially our young people to stay away from drugs through engaging in extra curricular activities.

"The Foundation has chosen the theme of drugs in your back yard for this symposium in confronting the dilemma. With only 37 square miles the island itself is our backyard so wherever drug abuse and drug trafficking happens it affects all of us that call St. Maarten home.

"The general Assembly of the United Nations has recognized that despite the efforts of the international community the world drug problem continues to constitute a serious threat of public health, the well-being of humanity. And the national security of states and that it undermines sustainable development and considering this I would like to say to especially our youth that they should focus their attention on being positive role models in the community and not let your spirits and bodies be damaged by drugs," concluded the PM.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Acting Secretary General (SG) at the Ministry of Justice Richard Panneflek upon his return from Curacao on Tuesday was given a tour of the Police Holding Cells at the Philipsburg Police Headquarters (HQ).

SG Panneflek was visiting the cells on behalf of Minister of Justice Hon. Dennis Richardson who was not able to visit HQ due to being off island, in order to see for himself where the three escaped detainees were being held.

Panneflek also met with Prison Director Rohan and his staff, Solicitor General Taco Stein and the investigating team. The Minister of Justice is being kept informed as the manhunt continues.

Panneflek stated on Wednesday that the Minister of Justice has given the re-capture of these criminals a high priority and would like to ensure the Sint Maarten community that every effort and resource has been made available to catch the three escapees as soon as possible.

The three suspects are considered by law enforcement as armed and extremely dangerous.

The Police Department is seeking the help of the community with any information that they may have that will lead to the apprehension of these three individuals.

Persons who are assisting the three escapees will also be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Anyone with information can call the Police HQ at 542-2222 or 911.

Hands Out Rewards and Certificates to Participants

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams was part of the enthusiastic audience of teachers, parents and family attending the Dow Musical Foundation's School Steel Pan Recital. The recital featured students of various schools that attend the Foundation's after school steel pan classes.

The Prime Minister thanked all those present for coming out to support the students that ranged from age five to eighteen. "I would like to say thank you to everyone for supporting all of the budding and professional musicians here this evening. It is good that you are here to support our children that are becoming versed in the traditional music of the steel pan. Congratulations are in order for all of the children taking part in the classes and giving us all an excellent performance this evening. I look forward to seeing these musicians continuing to practice and to grow as steel pan players. Also big congratulations to the mighty Dow for the work that the Dow Musical Foundation is doing in keeping Steel Pan Music Alive," commented the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister also presented awards and certificates to the students who completed the program and encouraged them to continue keeping the art of steel pan in the community.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Festival Village:--- Hennessy Artistry St. Maarten proudly presents for this year's event their partnership with Ticket River on the online ticketing, and tour operators.
Ticket River, a leader in online ticketing services and printing for over a decade, is dedicated to the excellence of the event and customer satisfaction. Since 1997, Ticket River helped customers set up, manage, and promote over 300,000 events, all with the goal of selling more tickets. Ticket River has 12 years of experience promoting music festivals, black tie galas, sporting events, charity fundraisers, theatrical performances, and every kind of gathering under the sun. According to Mr. Scott Kundert, the Product Management Associate of Ticket River "This will be our first event in the Caribbean, and we are excited to provide the online ticketing service for the second annual Hennessy Artistry St. Maarten". Visit www.hennessyartistrysxm.com to purchase on line.
Mr. Greoges Gréaux Jr. owner of Caribbean Liquors and Tobacco said "We are taking Hennessy Artistry St. Maarten 2013 to next level by featuring high caliber artists John Legend and Percy Sledge, and focusing on inbound travel. We are proud and excited to launch in collaboration with Ticket River the first online ticketing service ever on the island. We look forward to work with them on this year's event and in the future. The online ticketing is a major addition to the event. We wanted to give the local and international visitors more flexibility in purchasing their tickets by reservations, local businesses, and now also online via the official Hennessy Artistry St. Maarten website".
As mentioned before, this year there will be two entrance fees; VIP tickets will be US $150 in advance, and US $175 at the door. This includes premium Hennessy drinks and food, with VIP service in the front area that will offer amazing tasting stations and great service. Tickets are also available for those who would like to experience only the concert aspect of the show at US $55 in advance and US $75 at the door. Food and beverages will also be available for purchase. Ticket are on sale now at Caribbean Liquors & Tobacco, Van Dorp (both locations), Fun Miles, 721 Scene, and CD Entertainment.
To create international awareness for the Hennessy Artistry St. Maarten event we are focusing this year on inbound travel from the Caribbean, South America, US, Canada and Europe. International tour operators such as Travelocity, Cheap Caribbean, Bookit.com, and Expedia to name a few have special packages with Westin the host hotel.
Hennessy Artistry St. Maarten is a flexible music communication program blending talents from different genres. It gives the brand a voice to consumer, press, and music industry leaders about Hennessy's long-standing legitimate link to music. Caribbean Liquors and Tobacco is the official distributor of Hennessy. For more information on the Hennessy Artistry St. Maarten visit www.hennessyartistrysxm.com or contact us at Phone: +1 721 520-7120 / 520-1872 or e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Press Release from Hennessy Artistry St. Maarten

Philipsburg:--- Management and staff of the Windward Islands Bank (WIB) opened their new and renovated facility in style on Wednesday afternoon. The invited guests were treated to steel pan music, a bit of dance, and songs from the WIB choral. Some 25 employees of the WIB formed a choir where they sang a song "We Have Reached" in honor of the completion of the new facilities.

Several dignitaries including Governor Eugene Holiday, Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams, President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell, former Deputy Prime Minister William Marlin, former Minister of Finance Roland Tuitt, and Acting Governor Reynold Groeneveldt were among the Management and Board of Directors of Maduro and Curiel's Bank on Wednesday afternoon for the grand opening and inauguration of the renovated facility and its extended office space.

Governor Holiday praised Maduro and Curiel's for the initiative they took some 53 years ago when they signed the agreement to start the first bank on St. Maarten. Governor Holiday said when that agreement was signed he was not yet born but he learnt that back in those days the people of St. Maarten used to keep their monies under their mattresses. He also praised WIB for the huge investments they made in upgrading their facilities and services in these hard economic times. Governor Holiday further praised the management for their commitment to the island because they are the largest employer on St. Maarten, having on board 212 staff members.

Sharing the same sentiments were Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams who was eager to see the upgraded facility that WIB has provided for the people of St. Maarten. The Prime Minister also gave the management of WIB a lot of credit for the training center they incorporated in the bank in order for their employees to grow along with them.

CEO and President of Maduro and Curiel's Bank Lionel (Chicu) Capriles II thanked the people of St. Maarten, their clients, and the staff on the island who have committed themselves to work and do business with the Windward Islands Bank. Chicu also gave a lot of credit to outgoing Managing Director Jan Beaujon who will be going on retirement at the end of this week. He said the entire WIB staff will miss Beaujon for his expertise, calmness, and professionalism. He said even though Beaujon will be going on retirement the bank will find a way to keep him around because he is a valuable asset to the growth and management of WIB.

Jan Beaujon pronounced his last speech on Wednesday afternoon as Managing Director of WIB. Beaujon also made sure he gave a word of advice to the incoming Managing Director Derek Downes. "While you have all the technology to work with now, I want you to know that those technologies are also available to captains, but a good captain will always look at the sky, the wind, and what is around them to ensure the safety of their ship." Beaujon also presented two awards one to Assistant Manager of WIB Kenneth Bloyden who spear-headed the entire renovation and extension of the new facility. "I have seen how hard you work and the amount of work you and the contractor placed into building this new facility. When I asked you if the renovation would have been completed before my departure you assured me that it will be done and up to Monday the extended part of the bank was in a mess but by Tuesday morning everything was in place and the colors were bright and shining. The vote of thanks was given by incoming Managing Director Derek Downes.

At the end of the speeches the ribbon cutting to officially open the new facility was done by Governor Eugene Holiday. After that the dignitaries and invited guests were given a tour of the facility while beverages and snacks were also served as they enjoyed the music played by young steel pan players.

Click here to view more photos of the inauguration ceremony on at WIB on Wednesday afternoon.

Address by the Governor of Sint Maarten drs. Eugene B. Holiday on the occasion of the Inauguration of the WIB Banking Center.

Ladies and Gentlemen
Good Afternoon,
And in particular good afternoon to the Management, Board of Supervisory Directors and to all who make up the Windward Island Bank family. Special greetings to Ms. Nicole Henriquez, Mr. Lionel Chicu Capriles, and Mr. Derek Downes. A special good afternoon and thanks to Mr. Jan Beaujon for inviting me to join in the celebration of this Windward Islands Bank milestone.
It is truly an honor for me to participate in this special inauguration ceremony for the Windward Island Bank Family, in particular, and for Sint Maarten, in general. I am thus very pleased to herewith commend and extend my congratulations to the entire WIB Family on the official inauguration of the new, expanded and upgraded Windward Island Bank Banking Center. Congratulations!
Today as we stand in front of this new WIB building for this grand occasion I am very pleased to address you considering the significance of this moment for Sint Maarten. In the first place, because we have gathered to celebrate the renewal of the oldest banking institution on Sint Maarten. In the second place because today's ceremony is testimony of the financial and economic accomplishments of the bank and Sint Maarten. And third, because the inauguration of this building today holds in it a major promise for future opportunities and growth.
Drawing from the significance of this WIB moment, and underscoring that opportunities are created, I will in the next few minutes draw your attention to the importance of and to our responsibility to: "create centers of opportunity for the next generation".
Most of us have no clue or idea of what it must have been like when WIB opened its doors in 1960. In fact it is quite easy to forget that, when the Windward Islands Bank opened its doors in December of 1960, many St. Martiners kept their savings – insofar they had any – under their mattresses. And people were not comfortable going to a bank. Since then a lot has changed. The mattresses have now made way for checking, savings, investments and loan accounts and for the convenience of electronic banking. This thanks to the pioneering work of the founder and pioneers of the Windward Island Bank, Mr. Cyrus Wathey and Mr. Shon Sja Capriles. Their work and vision have been carried forward by past and current members of the Windward Island Bank family. Both men are most likely smiling at the results of their business agreement reached in 1960. Through that 1960 agreement the foundation was laid and the corporate responsibility assumed to create a center of opportunity for generations of Sint Martiners.
As a center of opportunity WIB is one of the largest employers of the island offering quality employment opportunities. That is opportunities in a variety of areas ranging from banking, finance, information technology, accounting, corporate law and security amongst others. Who are the benefactors of these opportunities. Not counting the many persons that have worked for WIB in the past 50-plus years WIB offers work to some 250 persons today. In fact I too had the opportunity to be a benefactor. I can still vividly recall the positive reception I received when as a young economics graduate I approached the former WIB Managing Director the late Mr. Vict Henriquez as well as my positive discussions with Mr. Ron Comez Casseres some 26 years ago about working at WIB. These are the type of options and opportunities our people need.
As a center of opportunity in banking Windward Island Bank is a modern bank offering some of the most sophisticated banking services available. And in doing so creating economic value through the facilitation of personal, corporate and public sector transactions on the island. In that regard WIB, at age 52, is synonymous with the unprecedented economic growth and progress of modern day Sint Maarten. This because WIB has been a major partner for other centers of opportunity on the island providing critical banking services and financing to individuals, businesses and government.
In addition to having WIB as a partner it is my hope that existing businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs would draw from the example of WIB and take up the responsibility to create new or expand into strong centers of opportunity for local workers and investment. Having strong businesses that fulfill the role of centers of opportunity for our people and invest in the overall enhancement of the infrastructure of the island is my hope; that ladies and gentlemen, because it is a prerequisite for the further balanced and sustainable socio economic development of our country.
Today we are here as witnesses of such an investment, that is we are witnesses of the result of the decision of the Windward Island Bank to invest in this new building and thus renew its commitment towards its being and its expansion of its achievements as a center of opportunity on Sint Maarten. A decision which, moreover, was taken during the global financial crises amidst uncertain and fragile economic prospects. And which will contribute to strengthen the economic recovery and future growth of our island.
In closing, I therefore commend the Management of MCB and the Windward Island Bank for taking and carrying through with this decision during challenging economic times. A decision which shows your confidence in the economic future of Sint Maarten.
Looking at what has been accomplished in the past 5 decades I have full confidence that the partnership between the WIB and the Community of Sint Maarten will be one of continued growth and progress; one of fostering the creation of centers of opportunity for future generations. With that I herewith once again congratulate you with the inauguration of the new, expanded and upgraded Windward Island Bank Banking Center. Congratulations!

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless Sint Maarten.

Philipsburg:--- Sint Maarten Lions Club donated a substantial amount of money to the St. Maarten Little League Foundation which will assist the foundation in hosting the upcoming XXIX Latin American and Caribbean Little League Senior Division Baseball Championships. This round of little league baseball is being held on St. Maarten from July 5th to July 14th at the Little League Stadium. In photo Lion President Richard Boyd (on right) presents a check to Assistant Secretary of the St. Maarten Little League Foundation Maureen Vlaun while the coaches, players, and Lions Club board member Lion Merlyn Schaminee looks on.

Madame Estate:--- Sint Maarten Lions Club recently donated funds to the SIMARC Foundation, as partial support for participation in the upcoming International Congress for Caribbean Archaeology (IACA) to be hosted this year at San Juan, Puerto Rico. SIMARC will be represented at IACA, by director Dr. Jay Haviser and New York University student Chris Velasquez, as they will be presenting to the IACA Board the official preparations dossier for hosting of the 2015 IACA Congress on St. Maarten-St. Martin. Seen here are Lions President Richard Boyd (on the left) presenting a check to Dr. Jay Haviser and some of the SIMARC students.

Great Bay:--- Minister of Public Health Social Development & Labor, Cornelius De Weever, during a recent visit to the Sister Basilia Center, daycare, residence and guided living facilities donated some puppets to add to their current program for their clients. The puppets are from "The Kids on the Block Inc.-a troupe of educational puppets"
"The Kids on the Block" concept is an internationally acclaimed program that offers programs on disabilities, visual impairment, medical differences; educational differences including learning disabilities and ADHD, and social concerns including sexual abuse prevention, and alternatives to violence.
"These puppets will add an additional twist that will be much enjoyed by the clients of the Sister Basilia Center and I am looking forward to attending their first puppet show," said Minister De Weever.
"We at the Sister Basilia Center are very appreciative of Minister's De Weever's donation. Besides the puppets, the minister also provided an instructional manual and examples of educational performances which we will use for upcoming theater productions. The clients and staff wishes to thank Minister De Weever for his continuous generous support," said Department Manager Carlson Richardson.
The Daycare or School teachers provide care for 35 clients of different levels of function. These clients are then placed in five different groups. At the center emphasis is placed on structuring clients in the following skills: academic, physical, social and self-help. The Minister was given the opportunity to visit all of these areas, such as the Angels, which is the children's group; the Pacesetters, which are children with autism; Climbers, which is the lower level functioning group; Players, which is the mid-level functioning group and last the Smarties, which focuses on the higher-level functioning group.

PHILIPSBURG:--- WIB has not only been busy with the inauguration plans for the WIB Banking Center which is scheduled for Wednesday June 26th, 2013, but also found time to thank and make special donations to five foundations that have been essential in helping our community throughout the years. WIB made financial contributions of NAF 5,000.00 each to Voice of our Children, Crystal Home, Philipsburg Jubilee Library, Meals on Wheels, and Safe Haven and wished them much success in their exemplary works. WIB was thanked by each foundation for its generous and continuous support.

WIB, Your Partner in Progress.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Friday, June 28, Soualigan Fyah: Youth Poetry will be collaborating with Readers are Leaders and the Philipsburg Jubilee Library to host a spoken word, open mic session called You(th) Take The Mic.
You(th) Take the Mic, which is a play on words meant to encourage youngsters to step up to the open mic, is scheduled to start promptly at 4:00pm and run through 5:30pm and is open to high school aged youngsters and aims to provide them with a platform from which to perform their poetry and spoken word.
The collaboration of the three entities acknowledges the aim of each to increase of literacy amongst the youth population. Soualigan Fyah is an initiative of the 5 square miles production team. For the past four years 5 square miles has been collaborating with the Imbali Center for Creative Movement to produce Summer Speaks and Winter's Words. Soualigan Fyah is the newest venture and has as its main goal the fostering of a love for poetry and spoken word in St. Maarten's high school population. Readers are Leader, has been in existence since 2010 and has held several open mic sessions throughout those years. The organization promotes literacy through its annual reading competition and other youth related activities. The Philipsburg Jubilee Library remains a critical space for young people to engage with books and reading on the island and has graciously stepped forward to provide space for this event just as it did for Soualigan Fyah's Youth Poetry and Spoken Word Competition held earlier this year.
Youngsters from all across the island are encouraged to not only attend Friday afternoon's session, but also walk with work to read or perform.
"I know for a fact we have a lot of young people out there writing poetry or lyrics and this is most definitely a venue for them to showcase their work with an audience of their peers," Lysanne Charles, founder of 5 square miles said.
She said that along with youngsters some veteran performers would also be there including herself, Sumaiyyah tha Poet and others. A special treat for those in attendance will be the presence of Queen Godis, a Brooklyn-based, international poet and performance artist. Queen Godis is currently on island participating in Nicole De Weever's Art Saves Lives Program. When DeWeever heard about the upcoming poetry and spoken word open mic she saw it as a unique opportunity for the teenagers to connect with a person who has built a career around poetry and spoken word performance.
Charles said that she is thankful to all of the people who came together to collaborate on this event and encourages people, most especially the island's teenagers, to come out and support the venture.
"I'm aiming to start at 4pm sharp and thus far it promises to be a powerful afternoon, we already have confirmations from Soualigan Fyah's Supreme Youth Poet for 2013 Jenice Forbes, along with Andrew Peterson and Atul Pereppadan. Sumaiyahh tha Poet will also perform and of course, the mic will be open for you(th) to take," Charles said.

Philipsburg:--- On Sunday June 23, 2013, three prisoners escaped from the House of Detention located next to the Police Station in Philipsburg. The public is asked to give information that would lead to the apprehension of the escapees and also to give information on how the escape was organized. Information directly leading to arrests of the escapees and to the arrest and conviction of those who helped them will be rewarded! Information can be communicated to the police on the tip line (phone +1 721 9300).
One of the escapees (Sobiesky PARRONDO) is a suspect in a murder investigation; the two others (Carlos RUIZ and Marco SANTANA GUERERO) were detained on an extradition request from the United States pertaining to a large scale drug operation. All originated from the Dominican Republic.
The Office of the Prosecutor has formed an investigative team from members of the Police Force of Sint Maarten and the National Detectives to investigate the matter. This team will be aided by the Forensic Department and experts from the Dutch National Forensic Institute (NFI).
The team has two main objectives: tracing the escapees and returning them into detention and finding out how the escape was organized.
Escape from detention and aiding and abetting such an escape are crimes, carrying a hefty prison sentence with a maximum of ten years.

Press Release from Public Prosecutor's Office

Philipsburg:--- The newly formed cabinet of the Government of St. Maarten is looking into ways of modifying the Council of Ministers' weekly press briefing in order for the other Ministers in the Council to update the people of St. Maarten on the work they are doing in their Ministries.

Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams announced on Wednesday during the Council of Ministers' weekly press briefing that the Council of Ministers is currently brainstorming the changes they intend to make. One possibility might be re-branding Wednesday's press briefing to the "Prime Minister's Press Briefing". While the Council of Ministers is in discussions about the changes that will be made in the future, already another press briefing is planned for Thursday. It is not yet known if the press briefing to be held on Thursday will be aired live and how much more monies this will cost the Government of St. Maarten. When SMN News reporter asked Prime Minister Wescot Williams to shed more light on that since the country is already facing some budget constraints, Wescot Williams said that no final decision has been taken as yet. "One possibility is that instead of having the press briefing every Wednesday it might be every other Wednesday and the other Ministers could hold their press briefings on other days. No definite decision has been taken on whether or not those will be live or not."

In the past, the Ministers from the United People's Party and its leader Theodore Heyliger stayed away from the weekly press briefings for unknown reasons. It appears as though the new cabinet knows that they have approximately one year before elections and it is necessary for the people to hear from them before ballot day reaches.

French and Dutch Governments working on Securing EU Funding.

The Prime Minister also announced that the French and Dutch side are working on a joint project to obtain European funding for projects. Wescot Williams said that the documents are being prepared by the French side but the Dutch side is also participating in the preparation of the documents to send off in order for St. Maarten/St. Martin to obtain EU funding.

Finance Minister working on Documents to Finalize 2013 Budget.

Wescot Williams also announced on Wednesday that the country's budget has the undivided attention of government. The Prime Minister said Minister of Finance Martin Hassink is currently preparing a vision document which will be discussed in the Council of Ministers next Tuesday. Wescot Williams said this document will show how government intends to move forward with the 2013 budget as well as how they will continue with the preparations for the 2014 budget.

Wescot Williams also announced that the government of St. Maarten managed to give the St. Maarten Development Fund a small advance in order for them to assist institutions that need monies. One such institution is Safe Haven.

While the Prime Minister admitted that St. Maarten is facing an economic crisis especially during the low season, government still did not take a final decision on whether or not they will host TEMPO this year. When SMN News asked the Prime Minister if the Government of St. Maarten will give TEMPO the $600,000.00 they asked for the Prime Minister said they still have to decide what to do in order to boost the economy of St. Maarten. Last year, the Government of St. Maarten invested $400,000.00 in TEMPO and it turned out to be a total loss for the country. Wescot Williams said that Government has to make investments, whether its TEMPO or something else because other nations also invested in huge projects and lost in the beginning before it became successful.

SMN News also asked the Prime Minister if the new government, especially the Minister of Education has taken a decision on the report that was submitted by the committee that investigated the Department of Education and if a decision was taken on the advice given by the committee which is to remove the Department Head from her function. Wescot Williams said that while the report was discussed, the removal of the department head was not discussed.

The Prime Minister also announced that the Prime Minister of the Netherlands will be visiting St. Maarten during the month of July. During that visit the Prime Minister of the Netherlands will meet with the Council of Ministers, the President of Parliament, and the faction leaders of Parliament. The Prime Minister of the Netherlands will also visit other sites while on St. Maarten.

Simpson Bay:--- Rotaract Club of St. Maarten Sunrise held their annual Change of Board Ceremony at the Cabana Beach & Restaurant at Royal Palm Beach Hotel on Sunday June 23, 2013. Norrisa Anatol will be taking over Rotaract Sunrise from President of 2012-2013, Elisia L. Lake.

Before handing over the honorable position, outgoing Rotaract Club of St. Maarten Sunrise President Elisia L. Lake mentioned in her farewell speech that the club did an awesome job this year and she had a great time working with all members, built a great friendship with everyone and in the process giving back to the community. Lake will be taking up the position of Assistant Rotaract Representative for 2013-2014 and expressed how happy she is to hand over this responsibility of the presidency to a person that she has grown close to, Ms. Norrisa Anatol. Norrisa Anatol was pinned the President of Rotaract Club Sunrise St. Maarten for 2013-2014 by AG, James C Ferris.
In a press release issued by the club, they high-lighted the incoming President's speech where Anatol stressed that she will continue to recruit young and dedicated members to the club, interrelate and work closely with all Rotary Clubs and Interact Clubs, continue to work and give back to the community, provide further support to the orphanage homes and continue to expose Rotaract Club publically. She concluded by saying that she wish to express her personal thanks to all her fellow members for their dedication and contribution to Rotaract. Anatol concluded her speech by stating that "Rotaract became what it is today thanks to Outgoing President Ms. Elisia Lake for contributing and paving a new path for Rotaract Sunrise in a beautiful way."

The new board members for 2013-2014 are: Norrisa Anatol – PRESIDENT, Elisia Lake – IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT, Tyrone Yates – VICE PRESIDENT, , Keysy Ramirez – SECRETARY, Aswayan Cooks – TREASURER, Kimoya Sinclair – COMMUNITY SERVICE DIRECTOR, Daniela Arrindell- PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, MICHALINE WARNER – CLUB SERVICE DIRECTOR, Micaela Hart – INTERNATIONAL SERVICE DIRECTOR, - Charles Rollan- PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER and Noelani Riley- SARGENT AT ARMS.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- In the run-up to Wednesday's National Development Plan (NDP) 'meet and greet' at Sonesta Great Bay Beach Hotel, Andrea Ortega-Oudhoff, Joeri Arion and Tom Woods, members of the NDP-project team held a brief informative presentation last Sunday, at the Border Point near Belvedere.

Focus of the presentation was the core component of the NDP Project: Community dialogues. The gathering was organized through The Talking Drums Foundation.

The presentation of the NDP project team was followed-up by an extensive round of Q&A with the audience present. The main concerns articulated by the diverse crowd of interested citizens were the experienced gap between society and government.

The project team responded to this concern by stressing the importance of developing a national plan through community engagement: "The NDP is a people's project that is putting institutions in place that not only enable everyone in St. Maarten to come together to build a national development strategy but to have an on-going participation in its implementation".

The Millennium Development Goals (MDG)-report of 2011 has identified poverty and environment as crucial areas to be addressed in the short term planning of National Development.

In line with this point, a number of agriculturalists who were present at the Border Point voiced their concerns about food security and the lack of interest by the St. Maarten government to proactively address the problem of food security and the need to support numerous agricultural initiatives that are trying to tackle these problems.

In response the NDP project team emphasized what distinguishes the NDP from other policy programs: "The NDP is strategic policy. As the project progresses forwards, we're going to be looking at ways to entrench this strategy so it cannot be readily altered by political intrusion.

"This puts NDP on a constitutional level. These issues will be addressed with people participation through the project itself. Governments will have their own four-year term proposals in how to implement their programs in accordance with the NDP, but the actual overarching strategy of the NDP will not be able to be changed by governments themselves. That is what we are looking at here."

The project team indicated that the planning and setting up of the framework for the NDP process has reached the crucial stage where the actual NDP work group will be established.

The persons and agencies stemming from the St. Maarten community, who have shown interest and willingness to have an active role in the project, will gather at the Sonesta Great Bay Beach Hotel on Wednesday, June 26, from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.

If there are still organizations and individuals interested to form part of this crucial process, they are welcome to join the event Wednesday evening at Great Bay.

For further information please refer to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and/ or call 542-0897.

Philipsburg:--- The annual report 2012 of the General Audit Chamber was presented to the President of Parliament and the Governor during separate ceremonies on Tuesday June 25th 2013. Each year the General Audit Chamber is required by law (National Ordinance for the General Audit Chamber – Landsverordening Algemene Rekenkamer) to present a report of its activities of the preceding year to the Governor and the Parliament.
In addition, the report provides an overview of audits and advisory activities of the preceding year. The conduct of audits is the main task of the General Audit Chamber.
The chairperson of Parliament Ms. Gracita Arrindell met with the chairman of the General Audit Chamber, Mr. Ronald C. Halman and the Secretary-General, Mrs. Joane Dovale-Meit at her offices at the Parliament building early on Tuesday morning. Ms. Arrindell was accompanied by the acting Secretary General Ms. Nancy Joubert.
As a part of the presentation of the report, its contents were briefly reviewed. The Audit Chamber's reports are prepared to support and facilitate Parliament in carrying out its supervisory authorities related to government's budget and public expenditure.
Later on Tuesday morning, the delegation from the General Audit Chamber visited his Excellency, the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday. The Governor received the Chairman and the Secretary General of the Audit Chamber at his offices at Harbour View.
The Annual Report of the General Audit Chamber is required to be presented to the Parliament as well as the Governor prior to July 1st of each year. This report represents the third report of the General Audit Chamber since its establishment on October 10, 2010.
The report is published in both English and Dutch and is available on the website of the General Audit Chamber (www.arsxm.org).

Simpson Bay:--- The Rotaract Club of St. Maarten Sunrise held their last induction for the term 2013-2014 on Sunday 23rd June 2013 at Cabana Beach & Restaurant at Royal Palm Beach Hotel. Among Rotaractors, Rotarians family and friends; 3 new members were welcomed into the Rotaract family. The new members joining the club are Jahdora Daniel, Alexi Flanders, and Jamal Washington. Special guest at the induction ceremony was ADG James C Ferris who conducted the induction proceeding while all new members were pinned by President Elisia Lake.

President Lake congratulated the 3 new members and encouraged them to be the best they can be and remember to put service above self in anything you think say or do. President Lake continued by congratulating all the current members of the club on the good deeds that they are doing in the community and with 3 new members she expects the club to keep up with the enthusiasm. She concluded by saying that we are a team and together we can make a difference. The Rotaract Club of St. Maarten Sunrise has increased their membership from 22 members to 25 members. At the beginning of the Rotaract year 2012-2013, Rotaract Sunrise consisted of only 12 members and has inducted 13 members in less than a year.

The Rotaract Club of St. Maarten is a service club where four types of activities take place in varying degrees: professional development, leadership development, service projects and social activities. Together, these four areas ensure a balance program and provide important experience and opportunities for the personal development of each Rotaractor.

The Club encourages persons between the age of 18-30 to become a member of the organization and give back to your community. The Rotaract Club of St. Maarten Sunrise meets every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month at 7pm at the Holland House Conference Room. The club's next general meeting is scheduled for Saturday 13th October 2012 and young persons are invited to attend. For more information about the club you can visit our Facebook page: "RotaractSunrise St Maarten" or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Philipsburg:--- The three prisoners that escaped from the prison cells located at the back of the Philipsburg Police Station are still on the loose while the officers of KPSM are in high gear trying to find the three Dominicanos who escaped on Sunday.

Attorney General of St. Maarten Taco Stein said in an invited comment on Tuesday evening that the police have intensified the search for the three escapees.

Members of the public are advised to call the police at 1721-54 22222 or 911 if they have any information on the whereabouts of the escapees.

GREAT BAY:--- The longlist for the Warwick Prize for Writing 2013, includes 12 writers competing for the biennial award worth £25,000, according to the British newspaper The Telegraph.

"I'm happy to share the news with readers and fans that a book published in St. Martin, Book of Sins by Nidaa Khoury, has just been nominated for the coveted Warwick Prize for Writing," said Jacqueline Sample of House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP).

According to Reuters, the prize is "an international, cross-disciplinary award to recognize excellence in the English language in any genre or form."

Book of Sins is the first full English translation of poetry by the Palestinian/Israeli poet. The original Arabic and Hebrew translation are in the same book.

"HNP published the fine poetry of Ms. Khoury in 2011, in ways introducing her to the Caribbean and the Americas. Book of Sins became the first book by an important Middle Eastern author to be published in the Caribbean," said Sample.

The Warwick Prize list of 12 titles pits novelists and poets against non-fiction authors including a theoretical physicist and an academic psychologist. The themes range from the Australian war effort in France to opium sellers in 19th century India, stated Reuters.

"We have here books in every genre, from all around the world. The only difficulty now will be choosing a winner from among them," said one of three judges, Ian Sansom, from Britain's University of Warwick, which founded the prize.

"HNP is very happy for Nidaa Khoury and for St. Martin. Congratulations to the other authors as well. A nomination for a major award such as the Warwick Prize is for winners. It also helps HNP to introduce Book of Sins to new worlds of readers," said Sample. Book of Sins is available at Van Dorp bookstore, Amazon.com, and SPDbooks.org.

The Warwick Prize fiction nominees are British writer Julian Barnes and USA writers Amy Espeseth and Jonathan Franzen. India's Amitav Ghosh, Australian Booker-prize winner Thomas Keneally, and Israeli author Etgar Keret were also nominated.

The non-fiction and poetry nominees are Iraqi-born theoretical physicist Jim Al-Khalili, Canadian Cordelia Fine, British travel writer Robert Macfarlane, Palestinian poet Nidaa Khoury, and Britain's T.S. Eliot prize winner Alice Oswald.

HNP is the only Caribbean publisher among the group of publishers such as Penguin and Faber and Faber whose books were longlisted. The shortlist will be announced in August and the winner in late September. In addition to the monetary award, the winner will receive a short placement at the University of Warwick.

Cay Hill:--- Last week, the Server of the St. Maarten Medical Center malfunctioned due to a failure of one of the hard disks.
The hard disk that crashed contained the user files or so called 'my documents' of our employees. Backup processes of these files did not function according to expectations which resulted in a loss of information of the last year.
The affected hard disk was immediately expedited to the United States to a specialized professional laboratory in an attempt to see what could still be retrieved from the lost data but unfortunately the data could not be recovered.
While this of course represents a set back for our support and administrative departments, it is important to reassure the public at large that all medical information of patients as well as the financial accounting was in no way affected by this failure as these programs and data reside on a separate hard disk, safeguarded by its own backup processes.
No essential information pertinent to patient care has been compromised or lost.
The Minister of Health has been fully informed of the situation as has the Inspectorate of Health Care.
Our Hospital Information System is intact and the St. Maarten Medical Center as always will continue to serve our community as well as the populations of our sister islands Saba and St. Eustatius with the utmost care to the best of our abilities, always striving towards improvement.

The Sint Maarten Medical Center

PM Continues to Pledge Support for the Plight of the Disabled on St. Maarten

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams received a courtesy call from Mr. Henri Brookson and Mr. Rudy Groman from the Top Promotions Foundation in order to update the PM on the continued Be Able Program sponsoring sports for the disabled.

Mr. Brookson explained that the Be Able Program has been starting to offer disabled tennis lessons to locals as part of its program of encouraging sports for the disabled on St. Maarten. The PM received an update on the various activities and received an invitation to the Be Able Fundraising Dinner at Izzi Restaurant on Saturday at seven. During the event a documentary video on the Wheelchair Tennis Tournament and the activities of the Be Able Program of the Top Promotions Foundation will also be premiered.

The PM also specially mentioned the positive spinoff the activities of the organization will have for the disabled persons in the community of St. Maarten, who will have the opportunity to experience the strength and special talents many disabled persons possess.

"I would like to commend the Top Promotions Foundation on the excellent job which you have been doing with regards to the disabled here on the island. Plight of the disabled is very dear to me due to the memory of two of my siblings who passed away in 2010 and 2011 because of a very rare disease which caused them to be disabled during the last part of their lives. Before they passed they were able to have a good quality of life because of the care of the Sister Basilia Center and the caregivers that work there," concluded the Prime Minister.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Philipsburg:--- Detectives from the Landsrecherche arrested Major Michelangelo R. Sirvania who returned to work on Monday after being on sick leave for about six months to one year.

Attorney General Taco Stein told SMN News that the cases against Sirvania date back to 2011 but it was not one of the cases the Landsrecherche have on their priority list. Stein said Sirvania committed fraud when he bought at least two sets of airline tickets, while there was another case of assault against officer Sirvania. Stein refused to say where and by what means the officer in question purchased the tickets.

SMN News learnt from well placed sources that the tickets were purchased at Let's Travel with bounced checks to travel to Canada on West Jet Airlines. The source said that Sirvania bought tickets for a group of people with the bounced checks involving another airline.

Stein further explained that the suspected officer forced the Landsrecherche into action on Monday when he showed up for work because they did not want him back on the job. SMN News asked Stein if the officer in question was suspected of committing fraud twice and if there is a pending case of assault against him, why the Landsrecherche did not arrest him while he was on so called sick leave in Curacao. Stein said that the case was not a priority for the investigators who have lots of cases piled up on their desks, therefore they could not act before. "We did not want Sirvania back on the job but when he showed up for work on Monday he forced the Landsrecherche into action." SMN News asked Stein if the police management or former Minister of Justice notified the officer or placed him on suspension since there was a criminal investigation against him. Stein said he could not answer those questions because he does not know what the KPSM management and the former Minister of Justice did on the matter.

Sirvania obtained training with the Miami Dade Police Academy to be one of the community police (CPO) where he graduated but functioned for a very short period as a CPO in the Philipsburg area.

It is understood that when it became clear that Sirvania was a suspect in two sets of crimes he was removed from his position and it was then he took sick leave and left for Curacao. SMN News further learnt that Major Sirvania was trying to secure work in Curacao but for some reason he was not successful. "Sirvania wanted a transfer from KPSM to work for the Korps in Curacao but the system does not work like that. He had to leave his job on St. Maarten and then he could have applied for a job in Curacao." According to a well placed source, Curacao contacted St. Maarten and informed them that Sirvania was seeking employment with them and at no time did St. Maarten notify Curacao that Sirvania was suspected of fraud and assault and they should arrest him.

In an invited comment, Chief of Police Peter de Witte said when the airline filed a complaint against Major Sirvania he asked the Landsrecherche to conduct the investigation. De Witte said that the Landsrecherche is the one that conducted the investigation and he does not know why they did not place much priority on the investigation that involves a police officer. De Witte further stated that as soon as Sirvania was arrested on Monday he was suspended from KPSM.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- On Monday afternoon nine trainees were sworn in as officers of the Coast Guard at the Royal Naval Base Parera, Curacao. They will be serving at the Coast Guard Sub Station on Sint Maarten. Representing the Minister of Justice Hon. Dennis Richardson at the ceremony was Acting Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice Richard Panneflek, and Head of the Coast Guard Sub Station Edison Kirindongo.

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams took part in the drug free walk organized by the Turning Point Foundation and offered encouraging words to all those present and the general public in keeping active and resisting drugs within the community. "I would like to congratulate the Turning Point Foundation and all of those present here today in coming together to encourage the community to move towards encouraging a drug free society," commented the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister also encouraged the community to stay off of drugs and to lead a healthy lifestyle. The Prime Minister, who was also joined by the Minister of Health and Social Affairs the Hon. Cornelius de Weever and the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport the Hon. Patricia D. Lourens in awarding youth sports team members for their achievement in dedicating themselves to sports and staying away from drugs. The PM also congratulated the Cul-de-Sac Padres and St. James Stars Pony League Teams for winning the annual pony league trophy. In the picture Prime Minister Wescot-Williams gives a player of Cul-de-Sac Padres Pony League His Championship Medal as Minister of Eduction, Culture, Youth and Sports looks on.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

PHILIPSBURG:--- President of Parliament Hon. Gracita Arrindell agrees with United Nations (UN) Secretary General (SG) Ban Ki-moon statement where countries have been encouraged to focus on the importance of good governance and efficient public administration and to celebrate the contribution of public servants to society's progress.

Ki-moon's message was delivered on Sunday, marking UN Public Service Day.

"Firstly, I fully agree with the remarks made by the UN SG especially when one looks at the political events that transpired during the month of May and the first two weeks of June.

"I agree that inter-linked challenges do require sound, forward-looking public policies and transparent, accountable governance structures. In the case of Country Sint Maarten, I would like to see further constructive debate within the community where electoral reform is concerned. This could be a project for the University of St. Martin to spearhead," President Arrindell said on Monday.

"I would like to take this opportunity to wish public servants of Country Sint Maarten a belated public service day which was observed on June 23. Our public servants have done a great job to date since we achieved country status, but there is still much to be done.

"We recently lost Corporal Welton W. Baker from the Voluntary Corps Sint Maarten, a servant in the truest form, may his soul rest in peace.

"Primary areas of focus that need to be continuously built upon in public governance are prevention of corruption; improving service delivery; promoting innovative mechanisms for citizen participation in policy-making; and advancing knowledge management in government.

"I am very proud of our civil servants! Let us continue to build an inclusive and prosperous and sustainable future for all. I continue to appeal to our nation's youth to pursue careers in the public sector because the building of country Sint Maarten will not be over in four-years or eight years, it is a continuous process of nation building and national development," President of Parliament Hon. Gracita Arrindell said on Monday afternoon.

The UN General Assembly recently elected by acclamation John William Ashe, the Permanent Representative of Antigua & Barbuda to the UN as President of its sixty-eighth session for a one-year period.

"I would like to congratulate Ambassador Ashe on this appointment by countries around the world. It is not only an achievement for Antigua & Barbuda, but for Caribbean countries and Small Island Developing States. This is definitely an indication of the UN body's confidence in the ability of Ambassador Ashe to lead the Assembly," President Hon. Gracita Arrindell observed on Monday.

Many Requests for Fire Department to Lend Expertise and Training to Surrounding Islands

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams, as Minister of General Affairs tasked with Safety, received an update from the Fire Department regarding the regional activities it has been engaged in. Due to the professionalism of the Fire Department it has been requested by various neighboring islands in the region to lend its expertise. Amongst the various activities completed in the last few weeks by the Fire Department was the teaching of a course to the Fire Department of the British Virgin Islands on removing injured persons from damaged vehicles. The Fire Department also visited Anguilla to be a part of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Safety Fair where Section Head Disaster Management Paul Martens discussed mutual interests and reinforced existing relationships with Anguilla counterparts.

Also currently in preparation is a project for the interning of the Fire Chief of Montserrat on St. Maarten. The Government of Montserrat has requested that its Fire Chief be stationed on St. Maarten in order to experience the operations of the Fire Service here. The Fire Department of St. Maarten has an excellent regional reputation.

I am very pleased to know that the St. Maarten Fire Department is considered on of the most professional and effective Fire Fighting organizations in the region and just the mere fact that our officials have been requested to lend their experience and expertise to other islands and regions is evidence of this," stated the Prime Minister.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Pond Island:--- Secretary at the Sundial School, Taciana Marten, is the lucky winner of brand new Blackberry Z10 Smatphone courtesy of mobile provider TelCell and extreme party station X104.3

Taciana is one of hundreds of TelCell customers who, each day, have been taking part in an exciting Beyonce SMS Campaign.
The campaign is currently being run by TelCell in collaboration with radio station X104.3.
To enter the contest, TelCell users only have to text "Beyonce" to the short code 1043 and they are automatically registered for a chance to win a Blackberry Z10 and also become a finalist in the contest.
"Our star prize for the finalists in the X104.3 Beyonce Campaign is an all-expenses trip to attend a Beyonce LIVE concert in Miami, Florida, USA, on July 10th," said TelEm Group Marketing and Sales Officer, Cheryl Rismay.
She said the fantastic winning package includes:

• An all expense paid getaway for (2)
• Tickets to the "Mrs. Carter World Tour"
• Hotel stay at the prestigious Fontainebleu
• $1,043 Cash
• Blackberry Z10

Cheryl says participants can enter as many times as they like.
"The more SMS's they send, the more chances they have of winning – it's as simple as that," said Cheryl while congratulating the first Blackberry Z10 Winner, Taciana Marten.
"The response from our mobile customers have been great, with hundreds of texts coming in by the hour at times," said the Marketing Officer.
Cheryl says another lucky Blackberry Z10 winner will be selected soon and she is encouraging everyone to send their SMSs in right away.

The TelCell Beyonce SMS campaign ends June 30th, and the name of the package winner will be announced soon after the closing date.

Telem Press Release

GREAT BAY/MARIGOT:--- "The St. Martin Unity Flag is flying in the area of the main border monument to salute our ancestors in this 165th year of Emancipation," said Shujah Reiph of the Emancipation Committee.

Only a few feet from the Bellevue/Union Road frontier, drivers, passengers, and pedestrians may glimpse the Unity Flag on the flagpole at the St. Jean Estate.

With the gracious permission of the property owners, the location was selected because of its proximity, further up the hill, to the rockwall over which "26 enslaved Black men, women and children from the Diamond Estate in Cole Bay had escaped from Slavery in the Dutch part of the island," said Reiph.

"Historical records show that the Diamond Estate 26, and others who ran over Marigot Hill and escaped through the freedom pass in Belvedere, took their Freedom in the French-controlled North of the island in 1848," said Reiph.

"In the French territory the Emancipation news had also been hidden from the enslaved people by the European slave owners, government, church and military officials, and other parts of the establishment in Marigot. But the declaration of Freedom couldn't be held back for long after the May 27 Emancipation date because of mounting tension," said Reiph.

According to the book National Symbols of St. Martin, anti-slavery actions by the Diamond Estate 26 and other enslaved ancestors in the Dutch part of the island were also immediately on the rise.

The governor in Philipsburg was forced to declare a process verbal, which de facto ended Slavery in 1848 in the South of St. Martin. This occurred during the same period that Slavery was abolished in the French-controlled North of St. Martin—and 15 years before emancipation was declared in the other Dutch slaveholding colonies in the Caribbean region on July 1, 1863, according to National Symbols of St. Martin.

As the Unity Flag was being hoisted last May 11, Reiph said that author Fabian Badejo conducted a touching libation. "We are honoring you, our ancestors, because of the brave stand you took, to fight against Slavery," said Badejo during the offering.

Once the flag was raised, senior educator Claudette Labega, assistant high school principal Marie Richardson, and primary school student Rajheem Meulens, read from the poem "The National Flag of St. Martin" by Charles Borromeo Hodge.

"The Unity Flag, was unveiled 23 years ago as the 'National Flag' to represent both parts of our island as one nation. It is encouraging to see the flag saluting the 165th Emancipation anniversary," said poet and independentista Lasana M. Sekou.

"The Unity Flag is a concrete symbol of the nation's historic and cultural unity. The Unity Flag is further offered as a visible symbol to keep fostering that unity between all of the St. Martin people, in the North and South. For some of us this unity banner is also in defiance of the French and Dutch colonialism that still divides our island into two territories," said Sekou.

A plaque was unveiled next to the Unity Flag at the St. Jean Estate, bearing the following lines from Hodge's poem: "Fly free, fair standard .../Singing upon the winds, fly proud and free/Uniting Sweet St. Martin's kindred flock—/One Land, one People, and one Destiny!" The complete poem is in Songs & Images of St. Martin (1997).

The ad hoc Emancipation Committee is organizing anniversary activities throughout the year. The 165th anniversary activities are centered around what the committee has identified as an "Emancipation period, which stretches from May 27 to July 1," said Reiph.

Commemorative activities by government officials in both capitals have already taken place in May or are scheduled for July 1 in the North and South respectively. "It is not clear if the official July 1 observation in Great Bay will focus on the independent stand and history made by St. Martiners in 1848, who did not wait for Dutch permission or the 1863 dictate to claim that stage of our Freedom journey," said Sekou.

"Today, our stand of honor and courage as men, women, and children should be to 'Surrender not one day of Freedom won by our Ancestors!'" said Sekou. Private organizations such as Voices Foundation are also hosting cultural activities on July 1.

Philipsburg:--- Media workers were given a tour of the newly renovated section of the Windward Islands Bank (WIB) and the new building that was built behind WIB on Cannegieter Street on Monday. Assistant Manager Kelvin Bloyden and Marketing Manager Ferdinand Beauperthuy guided a host of media workers inside the newly renovated building which has a number of new facilities and services for their clients. Business persons and persons that do night deposit can purchase a mailbox which is in front of the main branch to collect their mails and night deposit bags. WIB also added their night deposit box and ATMs in front of the building in order to grant their customers more security. Another huge security feature is the fact that the Brinks truck no longer has to park in front of the bank. A drive thru entrance was built in front of the Philipsburg Police Station where Brinks will drive into the bank to do their pick-ups and drop offs in a closed and secured area.

Inside of the new building there is a section called a "man trap" which is also another security feature added to the bank. Tellers are now behind bullet proof windows which are much more secure and comply with international standards. The section for customer service is also much more spacious while customers have comfortable seating space for them to wait for service. A new window was added for the elderly (60+). Entering the newly renovated WIB branch in Philipsburg is like entering a huge garden with lots of flowering plants. The walls are decorated with paintings from the local artists on St. Maarten.

The newly renovated building has four floors, each floor has its own meeting room and other facilities to accommodate the staff. Added to the new facility is a training center for the staff that works at WIB bank. WIB also took advantage of saving energy saving technology and green services as they promote clean energy and the environment. The meeting rooms on each floor have a different colors and are identified by their colors.

The bank has its own IT floor where technicians work around the clock to ensure that their services are up to par or better than what the other banks offer on the island. The contractors and management of WIB even found use for the roof of the building. On the roof they built a huge cistern in which they have water for the toilets, watering of the plants, and other needs. They also have two generators in case of power outages. Another addition to the building on the rooftop is a cafeteria section with a mini bar where WIB can hold all its events. Out there staff members can even have their lunch. A smoking section was also built for the staff in the lunch area on the roof.
Bloyden told reporters that WIB had to hire additional staff and they are still hiring more people because of the additional services they are providing to their customers. He said one of the things the bank believes in is upgrading its staff, therefore they have their training center in house which is also highly technological.

The project that WIB undertook to build more space and upgrade their facilities is a four year project. Bloyden said they are in the third year and most of the construction is completed. He said the only thing that has to be worked out is parking for their customers.

The new and renovated facility will be inaugurated on Wednesday afternoon.

Click here to view more photos of the newly renovated and additional sections of WIB.

Meet and Greet between the Civil society, Private and Public sector

Great Bay:--- In order to establish wide-scale community involvement in the development of the National Development Plan, an NDP Working Group is currently being established to ensure that the process of developing the NDP has as much input from the community as possible. Wednesday June 26th, there will be a 'meet and greet' of the different individuals and organizations from the Civil society and Public and Private sector who have shown their interest in participating in the National Development Program.

The Working Group, which will involve representatives form a wide sector of the population of the island, will have as its central mandate the inclusion of as many community stakeholders in the development of the NDP as possible. Since September 2012, the implementation of the Sint Maarten National Development Plan and Institutional Strengthening started, with a team from the Department of Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations (BAK) having been mandated to set a strong foundation, empower stakeholders and strengthen internal capacities to ensure that the NDP is completed with wide-scale social inclusion.

"A work plan was developed in January 2013 and under this work-plan some activities have already taken place. In ensuring that the process of nation building and national development belongs to the people of St Maarten, the project is now at a critical stage to establish some guiding structures. One of such structures is the establishment of a National Development Plan Working Group (NDP-WG). The main purpose of the latter is to guide and coordinate the process of consultations leading to a collective vision and eventually leading to a National Development Plan for Country St. Maarten," read a BAK statement.

The NDP Working Group will be established to ensure that issues coming from the private sector, civil society groups, Government, and the wider community will form a national vision which will lead to a Draft National Development Plan. Once the Working Group has been established, it will jointly map out with the Project Team a clear structure for the community dialogues. These dialogues will be categorized into the four thematic pillars of environment, social/human development, economy and culture. Within those sectors, attention will be focused on ensuring that the views of women, youth, elderly, community leaders, students and all other essential stakeholders from within the community are taken into account. Representatives from the public, private and civil sectors will make up the membership of the NDP Working Group.

In moving forward with the inclusion of the community in the development of the NDP, the results of the recent Community Consultations are already being compiled and included in the processes moving forward. Some of the more pertinent items from the community that emerged as a result of the consultations were centered on the inclusion of as wide a section of the St. Maarten community as possible. Private individuals and representatives from organizations such as the Soualiga Social Movement, SunFed, the SMMTA and the SHTA have called for an inclusive approach in involving the Community in the development of the NDP and to establish a bottoms-up approach in listening to the voice of the public. The NDP Working Group will address specifically this issue as it works to incorporate the views from within the community.
In her statements on the NDP Prime Minister Wescot-Williams has stated that in order to launch and implement the NDP there will need to be the involvement of each and every St. Maartener: "It Does not matter whether you were born here or whether you belong here; in order to craft a vision for St. Maarten we need the input from all in making this island one of the leaders of sound democratic and people oriented governance in the region. We need the input from all sectors of society to plot the course for our economic, social, cultural and environmental development. The development for a Country which we call home, one which we all should love and cherish. I, as Prime Minister of that Country, look forward to working with all of the people of St. Maarten in making that a reality," commented the Prime Minister.
If there are individuals or organizations that are interested who have not been in contact with the TEAM NDP are invited to send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Due to the decision taken by the Inspectorate of Health on June 20th, 2013 to temporarily suspend Dr. A. Arrindell, general practitioner at the Arrindell's Medical Center N.V., SZV would like to inform the clients of Dr. A. Arrindell about the following:

a) In consultation with the Windward Islands Medical Association(WIMA) and the Sint Maarten Medical Association (SMA) from Monday June 24, 2013 until Saturday July 6th, 2013 all clients of Dr. A. Arrindell will be able to visit the following general practitioners for medical consultations without any additional costs:

b) The clients of Dr. A. Arrindell are allowed to, outside of the regular changing period, change to another house doctor as of Tuesday June 25th, 2013. For SZV clients who are insured by ZV/OV we will take in consideration the maximum quota per doctor. For FZOG, Government workers and Government Medical assistance there is no quota.

c) According to SZV regulations it is the responsibility of Dr. A. Arrindell to ensure a proper medical replacement during the period of temporary suspension or finding a permanent solution before Saturday July 6th, 2013.

d) The SZV will keep in close contact with the Inspectorate of Health regarding this situation and will take any additional measures if necessary. This will be communicated to SZV clients before Saturday July 6th, 2013.

e) For questions please call SZV on 1-721-546-6782 or send an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

SZV Press Release

Philipsburg:--- Member of Parliament Patrick Illidge made his position known in a diplomatic way on Monday morning when he stayed and gave his support to the newly formed Democratic Party, United People's Party, and Laville Government. Illidge said the system was tested for weeks at the expense of the people when the government of St. Maarten fell on May 6th, 2013. He also criticized the 2013 budget which he and the other Members of Parliament voted upon. Member of Parliament Patrick Illidge then expressed his support for the new government when he voted in favor of the newly elected President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell who was elected by nine votes.

Member of Parliament Petrus Leroy De Weever cemented Illidge's behavior when he said that they are nine MPs in Parliament supporting the new Government. "Yes, we know we are eight but we also have the support of MP Illidge," De Weever said. De Weever even wanted the vice chair of Parliament Romaine Laville who chaired Monday's meeting to appoint Patrick Illidge to be part of the committee that was established for the voting. Laville appointed MP Roy Marlin and MP Ruth Douglass as the voting committee but MP De Weever said he wanted Illidge to be added to the committee so it would have been a broad based committee. The chairman then read the rules of order which clearly stipulated that two members must be appointed and not three.

The Members of the National Alliance namely Rodolphe Samuel, George Pantophlet, and Hyacinth Richardson all opposed the meeting claiming that the meeting on Monday was taking place in violation of the rules of order. Samuel said that article 27 of the rules of order clearly states that meetings must be called within 14 days and the request that was submitted surpassed that time frame. Samuel further explained that meetings of Parliament cannot take place if one Member of Parliament opposed, which is clearly stated in article 89 of the rules of order. The three National Alliance Members of Parliament then left the House of Parliament after expressing their views. However, MP Lloyd Richardson who signed in to speak remained in the meeting and he too objected to the meeting going forward based on the same articles. MP Richardson also stated that he will not stall the process but he will not be participating in the meeting that was being held in violation of the rules of order.

It should be noted that what transpired on Monday during the meeting to elect the new chairman of Parliament is to give MP Romaine Laville a clear message that the UP/DP Government does not have to depend on him alone because they have a spare tire in place due to MP Patrick Illidge giving his support to the new coalition.

Philipsburg:--- Attorney General Taco Stein who is currently off island attending justice meetings told SMN News in an invited comment on Monday that an investigation into the escape of three prisoners is now underway. Stein said those conducting the investigation are looking to see if the three prisoners got inside assistance to escape while they were being held at the prison cells located at the back of the Philipsburg Police Station.

Prosecutor Dounia Benammar said the investigation was divided into two parts, the first part is conducted by the Landsrecherche. The second part is conducted by KPSM who is trying to hunt down the escaped prisoners. Benammar also confirmed that their French counterparts were notified about the prison escapees as well as all ports of entry and exits. Up to late Monday afternoon the three prisoners were not found, Benammar confirmed.

It should be noted that the Police Department has no authority over prisoners. All prisoners even those in pre-trial detention fall under the Management of the Prison whose director is Edward Rohan. Ever since Rohan took office last year there have been a number of negative events at the Prison facilities in Pointe Blanche, Simpson Bay, and Philipsburg but each time there are such events Edward Rohan can never be reached by phone or appointment to give accountability as to what is happening under his watch.

Attorney General Taco Stein said at this moment Rohan cannot speak or talk about the case because an investigation is currently taking place.

Philipsburg:--- Attorney General Taco Stein confirmed on Monday that the detectives working at the Landsrecherche are busy compiling the reports on the ORCA investigation (Bada Bing) that involves Member of Parliament Patrick Illidge. Stein said that he cannot and will not say when they will take action because that would be letting the cat out of the bag. St. Maarten's attorney general also made clear that it is the intention of the Prosecutor's office to prosecute the two suspects namely Member of Parliament Patrick Illidge and Jaap van den Heuvel. "All the detectives at Landsrecherche are working on this case. The other cases were placed on the side even though they were there longer. The detectives are working around the clock and we do intend to move forward with this case."

Stein said that the prosecutor was in constant contact with the team on how they will move forward with the case. As for Member of Parliament Patrick Illidge who was seen on tape stuffing what appears to be monies in his pocket given to him as a bribe by Van den Heuvel, the prosecution has to prepare its files on MP Illidge and submit it to the Supreme Court before they can move forward with the part on MP Illidge. He said that does not have to happen for the strip club businessman Van den Heuvel because the businessman is not an elected official. Stein declined to comment on upcoming arrests.

It should be noted that when the alleged bribery scandal broke and the tape with Van den Heuvel and MP Illidge was made public, MP Illidge and Van den Heuvel said that the taping was orchestrated by the leader of the United People's Party Theodore Heyliger whose intention was to use the tape to blackmail MP Illidge. While MP Illidge and MP Romaine Laville all levied some serious and criminal accusations against the leader of the United People's Party Theodore Heyliger there have been some strange and questionable turn of events since then. The NA/DP/I-3 coalition fell on May 6th, 2013 and the two Members of Parliament who accused the UP leader are now in cahoots with him as they formed a new government. "They made allegations, filed complaints and the way they are acting is as if everything is normal again," one political pundit and legal mind told SMN News on Monday.
Several persons are questioning the new developments, some are even saying that St. Maarten is a "banana republic" and the new Minister of Justice will make the investigations against Illidge, Laville, and Heyliger disappear.

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams attended the WITU 40th Anniversary Celebration yesterday. The Prime Minister, accompanied by Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport's the Hon. Patricia Lourens, congratulated the Union and its President and the important work it has done representing teachers in the community.

I was honored to be present at WITU Office in Madame Estate as it celebrated its 40th anniversary. I, of course, would like to congratulate WITU President, Mrs. Claire Elshot, the WITU board and members on this milestone. I would like to encourage you to look back and appreciate the strides made over the years. No denying, education has come a long way, and teachers over the years have experienced many changes to the educational system, and their role as teachers have also become more complex.

"Often times the union and I have sat at opposite sides of the table, however at the end of the day, it is about the community of St. Maarten, because teachers themselves are also parents, children, and spouses. It is therefore that issues that affect the youth, the elderly, the unemployed; issues related to healthcare and other matters, also affect teachers. Hence the role of unions in social dialogue becomes critical for the positive development of our nation," commented the Prime Minister.

The PM wished the Union many more years of representing the interests of teachers on St. Maarten.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

PHILIPSBURG JUBILEE LIBRARY BOOK SALE
Organized by the Philipsburg Jubilee Library
Time: 10:00am – 1:00pm
Date: Saturday, July 6, 2013
Place: Library Hall
Description: The Philipsburg Jubilee Library will be having its book sale. Parents, teachers and caregivers will be able to take advantage of our huge selection of children books in hard and soft cover, to replenish their at-home collection or classroom.
Cost:
15 books $ 5.00 / NAF 8.75
Single hard cover books $ 1.00 / NAF 1.75
Soft covers $ 0.60 / NAF 1.00
Magazines $ 0.25 / NAF 0.50
Video & DVDS $ 1.00 / NAF 1.75
Support your local library by purchasing your favorite books, magazines, novels (fiction and non-fiction), and videos in several languages.

Pond Island:--- TelEm Group's internet service was interrupted for approximately three hours Saturday causing disruption to domestic and business users.
The alarm was raised soon after 4:00pm Saturday during a routine maintenance exercise and the cutover to a new backup Universal Power Supply (UPS).
According to technical staff, key pieces of equipment, which together power the company's internet system, lost configuration when the new UPS was installed and after the older piece of equipment was taken offline.
The problem was resolved at approximately 7:00pm.
A problem remains with the full operation of the new UPS, which reportedly overheated Sunday morning, causing a minor interruption to the internet service which was quickly resolved.
TelEm Group will be liaising with the UPS suppliers overseas at the start of the business day Monday, to continue to troubleshoot the new equipment and to safeguard against any further interruptions of the TelEm Group internet network.
TelEm Group has in the meantime apologized to customers and especially businesses who could not utilize their internet service for business transactions by the close of the business day last Saturday.

Telem Press Release

GREAT BAY:--- The "Summer Storytime with Queen Genesis Meyers" at the Philipsburg Jubilee Library is set for July 6, 2013, at 11 AM, said Nzinga Lake, organizer of the program hosted by the "Little Miss St. Martin" pageant.

Genesis Meyers, the reigning "Little Miss St. Martin," will be the youth celebrity at the free storytelling program, along with another island star, the newly published storybook, Lizzy Lizard by Robin Boasman.

Genesis, 12, "is busy practicing for her storytelling role, which is one of her duties as the Little Miss St. Martin queen, to promote academic excellence," said Lake.

"One way of boosting our children's learning potential and enjoyment of their island and world environment, is simply by making books an integral part of their lives at a very young age," said Lake.

"When I saw and read Lizzy Lizard by Robin Boasman, I knew it would be an excellent first choice for the Little Miss St. Martin Queen Genesis Meyers to read at our storytelling program, and as the first book for our planned book club for boys and girls," said Lake.

"Lizzy Lizard is creative and imaginative, it gives the readers and parents an adventurous, historical tour of our island and it has colorful characters," said Lake.

First-time author Robin Boasman will be invited to the reading as a special guest, confirmed her publisher HNP. "We are also encouraging parents, big sisters and brothers to bring their siblings, cousins, and friends to the storytelling event," said Lake.

The benefits of the storytelling program for the pageant queen is for her "to meet and greet her community and library officials; and to be involved in activities where she can express herself and gain valuable communication skills," said Lake.

"Such a program also involves Genesis at a young age with the idea and practice of giving back to her community as a positive role model. At the same time, she gets a chance to serve as an ambassador for her school, peers, family, neighborhood, and St. Maarten/St. Martin as a whole," said Lake. Genesis is a St. Dominic High School student.

Philipsburg:--- Three prisoners that were being held at the prison section of the Philipsburg Police Station escaped on Sunday afternoon. Prosecutor Dounia Benammar confirmed that three prisoners that were in custody escaped on Sunday. Benammar refused to release the names of the escapees claiming that an investigation is underway. Questions are now being raised as to how three prisoners managed to escape from the Prison cells located next to the Philipsburg Police Station. "Was this an inside job, are there people working at the Philipsburg Police Station involved in assisting the escapees to run away and what is the big secret about all of this?" It should be noted that the Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson, Chief of Police Peter de Witte, Attorney General Taco Stein, and General Secretary of Justice Richard Panneflek are all off island attending meetings relating to justice.

Director of the Prisons Edward Rohan could not be reached by phone for a comment on Sunday afternoon.

Three Escape from Philipsburg Police Station Prison Section.

Philipsburg:--- On Sunday June 23rd at around 5:00pm, the Police Central Dispatch received a phone call from the prison section of the Philipsburg Police Station informing them that three prisoners had escaped. The prisoners in question at the time of their escape were locked in the open-air recreational area of the prison. While in that section these prisoners got the opportunity to escape via the roof. The prisoners in question are:

SXM4613 SOBIESKY MANUEL PARRONDO, born in the Dominican Republic on November 4th, 1987 and residing at Rue de Sandy Ground # 8. Suspected of murder.

SXM4632 CARLOS MIQUEL OLIVIER-RUIZ, born in the Dominican Republic on February 1st, 1984, wanted for drug trafficking.

SXM4633 MARCO DAVID SANTANA-GUERERO, born on the Dominican Republic on April 25th, 1984, wanted for drug trafficking

These suspects are considered armed and extremely dangerous.

The House of Detention and Police Department are asking the general public to help in the investigation to recapture these three armed and very dangerous persons. Any one who may have any information that can assist in recapturing of these suspects should call the police department at 54-22222 or 911.

KPSM Police Report

Tank, water plant constructions on schedule

SIMPSON BAY:--- At the initiative of the office of the representation of the Netherlands in Philipsburg, Seven Seas Water (St. Maarten) on June 10 last provided an informative tour of its Cay Bay water plant to Mr. Gert Verluis, representative of the Netherlands in Philipsburg.

Seven Seas Water St. Maarten managing director Franklyn Richards, the company's regional operations manager Eric Borgdorff and assistant operations manager, Mr. Lester Bryan, (not in photo) briefed the Dutch government official on, among others, the operations of the plant and the construction of new water tanks in Point Blanche.

Richards said that hosting the visit by Mr. Verluis fits right into the company's efforts to maintain public and private sectors as well as stakeholder third parties informed of the company's initiatives and operations. "Such briefings are essential to additionally show our commitment to the further development of St. Maarten", he added.

Seven Seas Water provides water and waste-water treatment services for municipal, industrial, and private clients throughout the Greater Caribbean and the Americas with a compliment of technologies for desalination, water re-use, and high purity water treatment.

One of the fastest growing privately owned water companies in the market, Seven Seas Water, has formed several successful Private-Public-Partnerships (PPP) through the Build Own Operate Transfer (BOOT) model in the Caribbean. Among these is the partnership with the St. Maarten Government and water and electricity company, GEBE.

Seven Seas Water is looking forward to the addition of two new desalination plants and water tanks to be built in Point Blanche.

Completion of the first plant is foreseen before the end of the year. The second plant will be built in 2016. Each plant is designed for a maximum production of 3700 m³ per day.

Production of drinking water will start once feed water is supplied to the plant. The design of the seawater intake and feed water supply system is in an advanced stage.

In August of last year, a three way agreement between Government, GEBE and Air-Fin /Seven Seas Water was signed specifying detailed arrangements of the supply, installation, commissioning, operation and ownership of two water tanks.

The tanks will serve as reservoir for the water produced by the two new seawater reverse osmosis plants. Both tanks will be integrated in the distribution system of GEBE to supply drinking water to the community. Each tank has a capacity of 3000 m³.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Minister of Justice Hon. Dennis Richardson joined his colleagues from the Netherlands, Curacao and Aruba in Oranjestad, Aruba for the Judicial Four-Party Consultation last Friday, to discuss judicial matters within the Kingdom such as police cooperation, prison system and the coast guard.

Ministers expect to receive the judicial multi-year policy plan 2014-2017 in December. The Ministers would like to meet with the Dutch Minister of Defense with respect to the Coast Guard's participation in certain aspects of the judicial policy plan.

In matters related to Police Affairs, discussions centered on application requirements to become a police officer; training of police officers; Detective Joint Cooperation Team 2012 Annual Report; Financial Annual Report 2012; Year Plan 2013; 2013 Budget; Prison System; and cooperation in the use of technical investigative methods.

The four Ministers have agreed to have the Attorney Generals carry out a study for joint cooperation in using existing operational methods to fight organized crime. Their findings should be ready mid-November for discussion at the December consultation.

Also discussed during the Friday meeting were: immigration matters; DNA profile cooperation; judicial assistance procedures; Common Court of Justice; Budget 2014; and Public Prosecutors Office of Curacao, Sint Maarten and Caribbean Netherlands.

During the consultation, the ministers acknowledged the excellent cooperation and work carried out by the National Detectives (RST).

The next Judicial Four-Party Consultation is to be held in December 2013 under the chairmanship of Sint Maarten's Minister of Justice.

Representing the Netherlands was Minister of Security and Justice Hon. Ivo Opstelten, Curacao Minister of Justice Hon. Nelson Navarro, and Aruba Minister of Justice Hon. Arthur Dowers.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure (Ministry of VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake says based on an initial assessment during his first week on the job at the Ministry of VROMI, he has requested a thorough overview of decisions taken within the Ministry over a period of three to six months (January to June 2013) as well as an assessment of actions, in order for him to have an idea of the current state of affairs within Ministry.

Minister Lake added that the assessment he has called for does not delay in anyway his action plan that he has implemented since being sworn in to deal with the pertinent infrastructural issues, and moving forward for the mid to long-term improvement in the quality of life of the people of Sint Maarten.

"Certain things have transpired which are very questionable and I need to have an assessment of what instructions were given, by whom, when and why. These instructions should have a legal basis, an advice for example, so when questions pop up they can be measured under the rules of good governance.

"As Minister, I don't want to be caught up into any discrepancy's or illegal acts that have transpired. I have to ensure that the principles of the public good have been adhered too.

"For example, on the day the new council of Ministers was sworn in, in the night of Friday, June 14, it is alleged that 37 truckloads of milled asphalt was transported from property near the airport to locations unknown to the Ministry of VROMI.

"Who gave the instruction within Ministry VROMI to truck the asphalt to places unknown? According to an agreement with the Airport PJIAE, the Ministry of VROMI in collaboration with the Contractor would handle the transportation. The contractor after a preliminary investigation says he wasn't aware that the aforementioned – trucking - took place.

"If the milled asphalt was intended for government use, why was it not trucked to the public works yard? The community is well aware of the scandal involving the trucking of sand from the harbour which was then dumped illegally into the Salt Pond.

"I want transparency with respect to the decision-making process in decisions that were taken during the past three to six months in order to ensure that they can stand up to the principles of good governance should an audit be carried out by one of the Councils of High State," Minister Hon. Maurice Lake said on Sunday.

Minister Lake has also asked for an overview of decisions taken regarding government land (location; date of request; date issued; name of recipient of government land; copy of decision signed by former Minister of VROMI allocating the land).

A compilation of all contracts approved by the former Minister of VROMI from January 2013 to June 2013; a list of all persons hired within the Ministry from April 2013 to June 2013 along with positions, salaries and duration of employment; and a list of all appointed board members to public entities.

"I am here for approximately a year and a couple of months. I need transparency on what has been done in order to be able to answer if questioned by a High Council of State or Parliament with respect to what transpired at the Ministry of VROMI.

"The appointment of board members has to go through corporate governance procedures. This is also an area of possible discrepancies. These types of actions damages the integrity of the country and sends a bad message to our young people," Minister of VROMI Hon. Maurice Lake concluded.

PHILIPSBURG:--- A plenary public session of Parliament is scheduled for June 24 regarding the position of the Chairman of Parliament.

The Plenary Session will be held on Monday, June 24 at 10:00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.

This meeting has been requested by Members of Parliament (MP) Hon. Sylvia Meyers, Interim Faction Leader of the United People's party, MP Hon. Roy Marlin, Faction Leader of the Democratic Party, and Independent MP Hon. Romain Laville.

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

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

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

Don't be afraid to strive towards excellence

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams honored students of various schools who excelled in their academic career at the 2013 Lions Students Excellence Awards on Thursday Evening. During her message to those present the Prime Minister congratulated the Lions Club on keeping up the tradition of singling out students who excelled in their academics. I would like to thank the Lions Club for showing this appreciation to the student of St. Maarten for the hard work that they have been doing. I would also of course like to congratulate the parents, family and friends for coming out to support the young recipients of the awards. To the students I would like to say that I hope with this recognition that all of your efforts and hard work has paid off and that you should continue doing the excellent work that you do," commented the Prime Minister.

"It is good to see again these students who not only excel in school but who also excel in various other activities. These students not only excel in education but also outside of that. To the parents I would like to thank you; it is about encouraging your children and I know for many parents it is not easy but I am encouraging you to continue in supporting these excellent role models in meaning so much to this community," emphasized the PM

The Prime Minister continued by telling the students that in today's world it is easy to feel like the odd-one. "It is students like yourself which make all of the difference. I know that in today's world you might be sometimes called a nerd or similar names by some of your peers because of your dedication, but I would like to encourage you that you are on the right track and that you should stand up and be what you are and don't be afraid to strive towards excellence. So stay focused and continue to strive towards excellence," ended the Prime Minister.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Sucker Garden:--- On Friday June 21 at approximately 4:00am, police patrols were sent in the vicinity of Sucker Garden Road #179 where the caller reported hearing several shots fired. On the scene, the patrols did not encounter anyone or any signs of shots been fired. At around 7:00am, a man with the initials M.C.E.O. called the police informing them that he noticed that there were bullets holes in a window at the side of his home and one on a door of his house. The Detective and Forensic department were mobilized to investigate what had happened. During their investigation two spent bullet shells were found. The detective department is still investigating this case, to find out who is responsible for this shooting and why.

KPSM Police Report

Philipsburg:--- During a recent event at the Philipsburg Jubilee Library the Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams emphasized the importance of reading to the development of both the youth in particular but of St. Maarten in general.

"I remember an event at the library several years ago during which it was emphasized how important reading is. At that event I highlighted the fact that as a young girl growing up on Aruba my mother used to be a cleaner at a very large school and when I used to accompany her I would go into the different classrooms and read through the books in a secluded corner. When my mother went to look for me she would know exactly where to find me and knew exactly what I was doing, being engrossed in various types of books and until today I still have this love of reading, reading for the sake and love of knowledge and that is something that will remain with me.

"It is therefore good to see new developments moving ahead in the access we give to books to especially to our youth, for example with the recent launching of the e-book section of the library. There is now no excuse for reading, whether it is from a physical book or whether it is accessing books through the use of e-readers and I commend the library, our bastion of books if you will, for their contribution to reading on St. Maarten. I would like to encourage our population to read and to gain knowledge and to become critical thinkers with regards to the knowledge that is out there. We are again building our Nation block by block and step by step, and reading and access to knowledge is an important component of this," concluded the Prime Minister.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Says Plans for Having National Integrity Assessment Carried out by Integrity International For St. Maarten Moving Forward

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams commented recently that she looked forward to receiving the feedback from the SHTA Annual General Meeting that had as its main topic Electoral Reform and Good Governance. "I was at the beginning part of the SHA meeting and due it starting late I unfortunately had to leave early to attend a prior engagement at the Philipsburg Jubilee Library. Again I was very much looking forward to listening to the discussions and in particular the presentation of Alma Rocio Balcazar from Transparency International as I have been in close contact with that organization in order to have a National Integrity Assessment Carried out for St. Maarten. This assessment can be considered a baseline study in terms of integrity of not only Government but also of the private sector across the board.

"I believe that as country St. Maarten we have ensured as much as possible the necessary checks and balances especially where Government Operations are concerned with the Constitutional Court and the Ombudsman being an integral part of this. There is so much talk out there about corruption and in order for us to address it people need to know they can go somewhere and speak about these things," emphasized the PM.

"A National Integrity System assessment evaluates the principal institutions and actors that form a state, including all branches of government, the media, the public and private sectors, and civil society. The purpose of such a study is to identify the risk factors in a given country that foster corruption as well as medium and long-term solutions to help reduce those risks.

No matter how overt and obvious its consequences are for society, corruption is a crime that prefers to remain covert and concealed. It can take root in many areas of a society, whether in government or law enforcement, or among other actors like the media, business, political parties and so on."

The National Integrity System evaluates key 'pillars' in a country's governance system, both in terms of their internal corruption risks and their contribution to fighting corruption in society at large.

The pillars analyzed in a National Integrity System assessment typically include: the legislative branch of government, the executive branch of government, the Judiciary, the Public sector, Law enforcement, Electoral management body, the Ombudsman, the Audit institution, Anti-corruption agencies, Political parties, the Media, Civil society, and Business.

"We are now working closely with Transparency International to find ways to cover the costs associated with such an assessment as Government can not be involved in that aspect. We are moving forward in those discussions and I look forward to the National Integrity Assessment being carried out.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Budget Primary Priority

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams gave an explanation to the listening public on her weekly radio show One on One with the PM on Pearl FM regarding the first week of the new Council of Ministers.

"None of the Ministers are new to Government and have a background our expertise in Government and all of them Hit the Ground Running, which is important in terms of continuing Government especially after somewhat of a stagnation due to the political developments of the weeks past," commented the PM.

The Prime Minister explained that several logistical items were discussed during the first Council of Minister's Meeting but that the Financial State of the Country was the foremost agenda point: "We dealt with several logistical issues and a few other matters but the heavy pending items will take place in the next coming weeks, however we did discuss the Budget and Minister of Finance the Honorable Martinus Hassink has been in constant and intense consultation with the CFT regarding going forward with the Budget. It is critical to the functioning of the Ministers and Ministries that the current financial limitations of Government are taken into consideration and discussions surrounding this and receiving updates in this regards are extremely important."

The PM also explained that Parliament has directed some central points for Government to handle including tax reform, the reorganization for the Ministry of Justice; the Social Development of St. Maarten, Electoral Reform and the National Health Insurance. "Especially regarding Electoral Reform and the National Health Insurance much work needs to be done. I would like to see some form of electoral reform in place by the next elections and to see significant steps forward in the National Health Insurance so that everyone on St. Maarten has basic medical coverage," concluded the Prime Minister.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

French Quarter:--- A national of St. Kitts known in the French Quarter community as David Mathew was shot around 7pm Saturday night in the vicinity of French Quarter Ball Field. The victim was transported to the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital in critical condition. According to residents of French Quarter, the victim is no stranger to the community. Some eyewitnesses said that the Gendarmes covered the ball field Saturday evening in search of the bullets that were fired at the victim. Close friends of the victim said the suspect fired three shots at David Mathew but he was hit once and not three times as being speculated. They said the victim walked from the location where he was shot and fell down by the Post Office in French Quarter where he was picked up by the ambulance personnel and taken to the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital.

They said David has a tattoo on his cheek with the words "Fuck The World". Some residents said the young man is known to be troublesome but felt that the shooting among the nationals of St. Kitts residing in French Quarter is becoming too frequent and too much for the community. Some residents who spoke to SMN News on the condition of anonymity said that the shootings started in April over a woman. "Two people were shot one night, one of the victims was a woman and had to be air evacuated for further treatment." The residents who were obviously angry said after that two men, one looking like a Rasta sprayed bullets on a vehicle parked in the Barry's yard while a young man identified as Christophe Mac Quillkin had to run for his life. Two weeks ago a Rasta looking Kittitian identified as Odelmo Williams was shot next to Suki's Supermarket. So far the Gendarmes have not arrested anyone for the shootings that took place recently in French Quarter. Several phone calls made to the Captain and Commandant of the Gendarmerie on Sunday for information regarding the most recent shooting went unanswered. SMN News also tried to contact the French Prosecutor Flavien Noailles but he too could not be reached by telephone.

According to residents and eyewitnesses, the suspect is also well known in French Quarter, he originates from the Dominican Republic and is known to be very quiet. He was identified as "Chino". "We all know Chino, this guy is really quiet and is always playing his music. Nobody understands what happened Saturday night but it's time for the Gendarmes to place some focus and solve crimes in the areas where locals live. Some weeks ago one of their informants was shot when two young men tried to steal his scooter and while he was not killed and the thieves did not manage to steal his scooter, one of the suspects got two years for attempting to steal a scooter while the main suspect that shot at the director of the service Renseignements Generaux Serge Salvado is still at large. Salvado was shot on May 29th, 2013 and already the accomplice is behind bars. We need to know when the Gendarmes will find the gang members or the perpetrators that are shooting each other in French Quarter."

St. George's, GRENADA:--- At the recent 38th annual conference of the Caribbean Studies Association (CSA) in Grenada, Sint Maarten was represented by two officials working on Sint Maarten's development; Arjen Alberts of the Social Economic Council (SER) and Okama Ekpe Brook of the National Development Plan team respectively.
At the conference, entitled "Caribbean Spaces and Institutions: Contesting Paradigms for Development in the 21st Century", running from June 3rd to 7th, the call was unanimous amongst the over 500 participants. Conversations centered around new paradigms for development of Caribbean spaces and institutions. The participants ranged from professors, PhD candidates, deans and faculty, researchers and activists from the public, private and civil society fields. They came from Caribbean, Europe, North and South America, Africa, all to discuss issues relevant to the future development of the Caribbean. Earlier installments of the CSA annual conference took place in Curaçao three times, most recently in 2011, and once in Sint Maarten/Saint Martin in 2001.
The Sint Maarten delegation consisted of Arjen Alberts and Okama Ekpe Brook. Alberts' presentation focused on the nature of the socio-economic development of Sint Maarten compared to that of Aruba over the past three decades, addressing questions of economic growth, immigration and labor productivity respectively. For the future socio-economic development of Sint Maarten, an analysis of labor productivity trends and the question of increasing value added in our most crucial industry is crucial. The comparison to Aruba stems from the fact that both islands, compared to other Dutch and Caribbean territories, are most reliant on tourism in a single-pillar economy, while Aruba started its separate constitutional development roughly 25 years before Sint Maarten. This provided a very useful case for comparative analysis. Alberts' presentation is part of a PhD research project in development studies at the University of Amsterdam facilitated by the Social Economic Council.
Brook chaired a panel on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and also made a presentation. Her presentation focused on measures currently being undertaken by Sint Maarten to provide regional leadership in sustainable development through drafting a National Development Plan. The goal is to use democratic dialogue, a balance between bottom up and top down approach to arrive at a collective national vision and subsequently a plan for Sint Maarten. This model has been successfully applied in other countries by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in the past. Sint Maarten is currently the only island in the Dutch Caribbean utilizing this approach to arrive at a national plan. A national development plan is a long term guiding tool that plots the future direction of a country. It provides a framework for all the stakeholders in society to jointly work together to ensure the well-being of a society that seeks a balance between the economic, social, environmental and cultural perspectives. Developing such a plan, as well as its later successful implementation, requires a strong public private partnership between the policy makers, the business and community leaders, academic researchers, media and people with the interest of the country at heart.
Next to the Sint Maarten contributions, of particular interest were experiences garnered from presenters from the Dutch Caribbean region; an Aruban presentation on Alternative Dispute Resolution and Conflict Mediation, and a contribution from Curaçao, with video as a tool for activism. Furthermore, in one of the plenary sessions Francio Guadeloupe, formerly of the University of St. Martin and currently PhD candidate at the University of Amsterdam, lectured on the work of Caribbean author Gordon K. Lewis.
The CSA has been organizing its annual conference since 1975. It is a multi-cultural association that promotes a multi-lingual environment for delegates who participate in its conference hosted annually in different linguistic spaces. For more information: http://www.caribbeanstudiesassociation.org.

Cole Bay:--- Caribbean Auto and Motorworld believe in innovation and strive to inform the clients in any way possible.
On both Facebook pages you will be able to acquire information about Motorworld and Caribbean Auto, be intrigued by various specials the companies are offering, learn about the assortment of brands and models and the prestigious awards that they are accumulating, and read about events and sponsorships that the companies participated in. Various specials and coupons will only be offered to customers who LIKE the Facebook pages.
LIKE Caribbean Auto's and Motorworld's Facebook page and be captivated by the information that is offered. https://www.facebook.com/caribbeanautosxm - https://www.facebook.com/mwsxm.
Caribbean Auto is the car dealer for the brands Ford, Volkswagen, Mazda, Land Rover, Mercedes- Benz and Lincoln for St. Maarten and neighboring islands. For more information visit the Caribbean Auto showroom which is located on Union road, Cole Bay, St. Maarten. Tell 1-721-544-5211 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Motorworld was voted "The Best Auto Dealer" on St. Maarten by the public of St. Maarten. Motorworld is the car dealer for the brands Hyundai, Honda, Daihatsu, Jeep, Dodge, Ram and Chrysler, for St. Maarten and neighboring islands. For more information visit the Motorworld showroom which is located on Welfare rd #20, Cole Bay, St. Maarten. Tel 1-721-544-5294 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Motorworld Press Release

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams presented some two-dozen civil servants with their certificates of completion of the recently completed Government laws course organized by the Department of Legal Affairs. "I was here when the program got started and we all were quite excited that the possibility was there for you to attend this course, bringing you up to speed on the various legal items with regards to Government. I am extremely pleased that you all have completed the course and I want to say congratulations. You all know how I feel about education in general and of civil servants more specifically and I believe that if you continue to pursue your individual goals in terms of education and training you are elevating the entire government apparatus. This is not the end and I ensure that other opportunities will present themselves for further training," concluded the Prime Minister.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Philipsburg:--- Based on a thorough evaluation of complaints received, her performance as a GP and indications received with regard to her health, the Inspectorate is of the opinion that it is not longer responsible to have Mrs. Angelica Arrindell continue her practice, established at Madame Estate Health Care Center Rembrandplein Unit 4, as a medical doctor for the time being.
Based on the national ordinance "LV Inspectie (PB 2003 no 8 art. 2 and 11)", the Inspectorate is the authority tasked with the supervision of and enforcement in the health care sector.
The Inspectorate has decided to temporarily suspend all activities as a medical doctor by Mrs. Arrindell as of Monday June 24th, 2013 until further notice. This suspension will be re-evaluated after the Inspectorate has received more information on her health status.
Dr. Arrindell is allowed to make the necessary arrangements with a qualified replacement physician to provide continuity of care to her patients for the duration of the suspension. She has to make this known to her patients by a press release and at her office location.
If she can't arrange for qualified replacement, she must notify the Inspectorate and all health insurance companies immediately. It is then up to the insurance companies to take the necessary steps to ensure continuity of care to their clients.

Press Release from Health Inspectorate

San Pedro, Belize:--- Over 20 senior-level cruise executives traveled to Belize to meet with a congregation of FCCA Platinum Members during the FCCA PAMAC Platinum Event. Taking place from June 19-21, the event featured numerous meetings and functions to foster business relationship building; promotion of members' products and destinations; discussion of industry trends; idea brainstorming; and much more between some of the key decision makers throughout the cruise lines and crucial stakeholders from the destinations.

One of the most important proceedings was the PAMAC Meeting, where the latest developments and issues in the industry or any topic/question offered by the members were discussed by an expert panel in order to stay informed on all of the most recent trends and how to best actualize the knowledge gained.

Also featured were one-on-one meetings with cruise executives selected by the members, which let members promote and pitch their products to cruise executives that decide what to offer onboard and which ports to include for current and future itinerary development. The meetings also offered the executives' insight and any necessary input to make a viable business model that coincides with the cruise industry's standards and requirements.

Receptions and organized dinners further fostered the relationships between the members and executives, while allowing for more opportunities to learn from each other.

The FCCA is proud to offer these events for its members to develop their businesses; cultivate ideas; and establish mutually beneficial relationships with some of the most prominent figures and decision makers throughout the industry.

Philipsburg:--- The University of St. Martin Admissions Office is reminding all current applicants and those interested in applying to the University degree programs of the upcoming July 8 deadline.

Applicants are asked to request transcripts from their high schools before they close for the summer break. Along with the official transcripts, applicants must complete the USM application form, $25 application fee, submit official high school diplomas, exam results, 2 passport pictures, affidavit of financial support, copy of passport and proof of residency.

All applicants entering USM for the first time are required to sit the university placement tests which are scheduled for July 25 & 26.

The University of St. Martin offers the Associate of Arts degrees in Business and General Liberal Arts, Associate of Applied Science degrees in Hospitality & Tourism Management and Business Information Management, Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, Bachelor of Arts in International Business and Management Studies, Facility Management and a Bachelor of Applied Electrical Electronic Engineering.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development, and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake will sign the building permit necessary to start construction of 24 senior citizens homes early next week.

All relevant paper work is being prepared by Ministry VROMI. Ground breaking will take place in mid-July and 12 additional senior homes will be built right after.

One of the Minister's top priorities is to start this project for the senior citizens who he considers the backbone of the country. "I have a very special place in my heart for our senior citizens which have worked so hard to make us what we are today as a society.

"I will be working very closely with the other Minister's to see what other services we can offer to our senior citizens," Minister Maurice Lake disclosed on Friday.

Minister Lake's vision for this year is the building of affordable housing for senior citizens in Belvedere as well as homes in Upper Princess Quarter and Foga, therefore also allowing young professionals and single mothers to acquire their first home.
The acquisition of land to build more homes is also on the Minster's priority list.

"These housing priorities are built on the vision of the United People's (UP) party and its leader Theo Heyliger for the further improvement in the quality of life for the people of this country.

"These housing projects will not only have the end results of better living conditions and opportunities for home ownership, but the projects will help to jolt our fledgling economy with the creation of construction jobs, the spin-off of which will be felt throughout the community," Minister of VROMI Hon. Maurice Lake pointed out.

Minister Lake said the housing projects will take into consideration the suggestion of Democratic Party Member of Parliament Hon. Leroy de Weever to introduce soft loans to help our people purchase a home through the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation.

"As Minister, I fully support the 'lease to own program' for homes for the Upper Princess Quarter and Foga Housing projects which will be executed within these coming months," Minister Lake concluded.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The St. Maarten Ambulance Department received a congratulatory message from Worldwide Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Leadership Staff organization in connection with EMS Week.

The message reads: "We want to take the time to say Congratulations to all the EMS health providers for all that you do in keeping the island of St. Maarten safe.

"EMS is no easy task and it takes committed individuals to participate in this important lifesaving career. As partners assisting with your educational endeavors, we want to recognize your untiring efforts during this special week," the message read from James Vines Jr., Vice President.

Head of the Ambulance Department Cylred Richardson said on Thursday that the department works in partnership with Worldwide EMS Leadership Staff who works in conjunction with Howard University Hospital Outreach Program with respect to the training and upgrading of the credentials of ambulance personnel.

The theme for EMS Week 2013 is "EMS One Mission, One Team."

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake on Thursday in St. Peters awarded a trench cleaning project to TOPSIC Company owned by Edwin Hodge. The project entails the cleaning of trenches in the St. Peters area in preparation for the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season.

Philipsburg:--- During the Women with Purpose Global Summit currently being held on St. Maarten/St. Martin, Anguilla, and St. Barths the Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams encouraged all women to realize their full potential and to recognize their purpose in life; "You are here with a purpose and that purpose is to contribute both to our own personal growth and that of the community around us," stated the Prime Minister.

The PM also had the opportunity to enlighten the summit of very powerful and influential women on what it means to be involved in a strenuous political career, and how one measures power as a woman; "How do we measure our power as women? With a sharp mind and inner and outer beauty that reflects peace from within. There are women who make a difference and who can improve their surroundings just by showing up and I urge you to be one of those women. There are women who change the world everyday like each and every one of you. Our island has a fascinating history and has been shaped continuously be the efforts of strong women, as can be exemplified by the traditional name for the island Oualichi: Land of Strong Women.

"I was born on St. Maarten to an Anguillan mother who had to travel due to her being a domestic worker. The women of Anguilla and St. Maarten were and are the rock and the pillar of the land and I encourage you to break out that power from within: it is our light and not our darkness that makes us shine.

"My country St. Maarten; a young nation is only being recently exposed to the stages of democracy and we have since 101010. How do you measure power in a broad sphere such as politics? I measure my influence through being true to myself and keeping my feet on the ground. Always remain true to yourselves and what it is that you stand for. We should have the desire and passion to change the world for ourselves," encouraged the PM.

The Women With Purpose Global Summit is a five day gathering of multi-cultural women who represent the accomplished professional who has achieved at the highest levels, the business-savvy woman who is looking for what's next, and women with a passion for professional growth and personal development. At the highest level, this Summit encompasses industry experts, media giants and 300 professional women from various professions from around the globe.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Hon. Patricia Lourens was on-hand at the Philipsburg Jubilee Library on Thursday evening for the launch of E-Books.

Minister Lourens said: It must seem odd in this day of iPods and Smartphones to celebrate the book, a technology many people think is already out-of-date. But, the book has been transformed into the E-Book. The electronic access via the E-Book service being launched today is the result of the library staff and board keeping pace with the continuing evolution of library facilities.

Simpson Bay:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams held a specially organized fitness session for attendants of the Women with Purpose Global Symposium on Thursday Morning. The session included a fitness walk from Mullet Bay to Blue Mall and back followed by a special Zumba event. The Prime Minister has taken the lead in the community in encouraging all to focus on health and fitness through exercise and better eating habits as part of her U 2 Can Move campaign.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

POINT BLANCHE:--- Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies Mark Mingo congratulates the country's first responders on their Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week of activities under the banner, 'EMS, One Mission One Team'.

"The Port of St. Maarten has in the past called on the services of the EMS to provide lifesaving assistance to cruise passengers, and we recognize them for the dedicated efforts to serve the citizens and our visitors," CEO Mark Mingo pointed out on Thursday.

Mingo said he would also like to see large scale calamity exercises carried out on an annual basis in order to further enhance the response and coordination of first responders in the event of an actual disaster.

"We appreciate the importance of EMS service in our community. When an emergency call is made the Ambulance responds to what may be a life-threatening situation. It is only then that many truly value the skills and training of these professionals and understand their relevant role within our community.

"It is great to know that we are being served by a group who are dedicated to providing the highest level of care," CEO Mark Mingo said on Thursday.

The Port of St. Maarten has developed a strategic partnership with the Police Force of St. Maarten and CEO Mingo is also looking forward to developing a similar relationship with the Ambulance Department.

Great Bay:--- Twenty youngsters enrolled in the Youth Development Program (YDP) have completed a customer service training facilitated by the Training and Development Center known as TDC. A certificate ceremony to commemorate the successful completion of the training was held on June 17th, 2013 at the TDC Center.

The workshop consisted of two full day sessions and focused on topics such as communication, telephone skills, presentation and etiquette. The training was instructed by David McGregor of TDC. For successful completion; the students needed to attend all the sessions, interact and actively participate in the sessions as well as complete assignments. Students following the training are enrolled in the YDP main program and are following the Front Desk Representative or Bartender/Restaurant Server course. In order to successfully complete the course, the student must complete a 90 Day traineeship. The customer service workshop aimed to train the students on how to effectively deal with customers which is a vital part of their traineeship.

St. Maarten Youth Development Program is a second chance educational program that aims to train youngsters between the ages of 18 and 24 years who were unable to complete secondary education. The program is executed by the Division of Educational Innovations (DEI) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs and is fully funded by USONA. For further information about the Youth Development Program, please feel free to call 543-0497 or email the team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also visit the SBO Service Center located upstairs Carl and Sons on the Pondfill for more info.

SIMPSON BAY, ST. MAARTEN:--- Island 92 Radio today announced a FREE concert event on Saturday, July 6th, at Mary's Boon Beach Resort, featuring '80's New Wave tribute band "A Flock Of Singulls". The band is headed up by 80's icon "A Flock Of Seagulls" drummer Michael Brahm. The beach party starts at 12 NOON. The concert and will feature all the BIG '80's New Wave hits by groups such as: Duran Duran, Simple Minds, New Order, INXS, Depeche Mode, The Fixx, Tears For Fears, A Flock Of Seagulls, and many more.

The sponsors for this landmark event are: UTS/Chippie, Budweiser, Mary's Boon Beach Resort, U Save Car Rental, Satori Beach Bar & Lounge, Panlaan-Thai on the Bay, and Island 92.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- As part of its annual Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week, a motorcade of first responders (fire, police, EMS, Red Cross, Voluntary Korps Sint Maarten) will take place on Friday at 6:00pm.

The theme for EMS Week 2013 is "EMS One Mission, One Team."

According to Head of the Ambulance Department Cylred Richardson, the motorcade will start at the Fire and Ambulance Building in Cay Hill and then follow the route: Welgelegen Road; A.J.C. Brouwers Road; Cole Bay Hill; Welfare Road; Simpson Bay Bridge; Airport Road, Maho Round-a-bout; Airport Road; Simpson Bay Bridge; Welfare Road; Cole Bay Hill, Link 2; Welgelegen Road; and ending at the Fire & Ambulance Building in Cay Hill.

The last activity to close off EMS Week 2013 is a Celebration for staff and invited guests on Friday evening at the Ambulance Cay Hill Station. There will be a karaoke show and the recognition of two members of staff.

EMS is an emergency service dedicated to providing out-of-hospital acute medical care to patients with illnesses and injuries which prevent the patient from transporting themselves.

For medical emergencies call 912.

Philipsburg (DCOMM):--- The Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic & Telecommunication (TEATT) held a meeting with the three notary office regarding the implementation of the new digital filing of business licenses.

The notaries and their office personnel were given a presentation on the proposed online registration of business licenses. In the session, participants gave their responses about the new planned system.

The benefits of the online registration are multiple, from a faster and more efficient application to more transparency and accountability.

The Ministry has had meetings with other stakeholders: such as the Chamber of Commerce, the immigration dept (IND), the tax Department, etc. in order to show the presentation, have discussions so as to improve the registration/application process.

All the above-mentioned entities will have access to the system and it is the intention that they work with the system to speed up the process of processing and issuing business licenses.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Dr. Karen Polson, Entomologist/Parasitologist for the Mosquito Control Program of the Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), on Tuesday met with members of the country's Dengue Action Response Team (DART) at the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour conference room.

Integrated Management Strategy for Dengue Prevention and Control and the Memorandum of Understanding between the local government and private agencies to ensure timely response of information, treatment and elimination of breeding sites, was thoroughly discussed.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Emergency Medical Services (EMS), as part of EMS Week under the, "EMS One Mission One Team," on Wednesday visited the Sister Regina Primary School in Simpson Bay where they gave a 90 minute presentation to the school children who were eagerly to learn more about the emergency medical service.

Philipsburg (DCOMM):--- On Monday, June 18, the Economic Monitoring Committee (EMC) held its quarterly meeting to review the current developments in the economy of the first quarter of 2013 and the forecast for 2013.

The presentation covered the latest statistical information on vital economic numbers/indicators, i.e. Gross Domestic Product, Turn Over Tax, Tourism, Government Revenue, Social Development, Tourism marketing analysis, among other relevant factors/topics.

The EMC consists of private and public sectors: the SHTA, Chamber of Commerce, Marine Industry Association, Timeshare Association; and the Departments of Economic Affairs, Traffic & Telecommunication, the Labor Affairs, Statistics and Tourism.

POINT BLANCHE:--- Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies Mark Mingo attended the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of Tropical Shipping.

The Harbour Group was honored at the reception that took place this week in Miami, Florida. Port CEO Mingo said the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise and Cargo Facility will further expand its strategic relationship with partners in the future. Currently Tropical Shipping is one of the biggest shipping companies serving the island.

Festival Village:--- Hennessy Artistry St. Maarten proudly presents their cooperation with American Urban Radio Network (AURN) for this year's event. Urban Radio is the only African-American owned network Radio Company in the United States. It is the largest network reaching urban America, with more than 200 weekly shows; AURN reaches an estimated 20 million listeners.
Urban Radio will be live streaming for three days from August 1st until the 3rd, 2013. On the day of the concert itself Urban Radio will be live streaming from the Festival Village. According to Mr. Gréaux, owner of Caribbean Liquors & Tobacco "We are honored to partner with Urban Radio for this year's and hopefully future events, this is a great opportunity for Hennessy Artistry St. Maarten to be syndicated throughout Urban Radio's 28 network affiliated stations across various cities in America."
Mr. Basil Murrain, the Vice President Promotions of AURN said "We are excited to partner with the great folks of Saint Maarten. This will be the first broadcast from the island for our team, and hopefully not the last. Summertime has always been "our" time! We pride ourselves on giving our listeners access to the best vacation hot spots in the world and spending time at Hennessy Artistry St. Maarten is a great opportunity. I'm excited that "The Doug Banks Show" will be able to give our many listeners back in the U.S. a glimpse of the Sun and Fun to be had in Saint Maarten."

The Doug Banks Show is an afternoon-drive-time radio show, nationally syndicated by American Urban Radio Networks (AURN). It airs Monday through Friday 2pm - 6pm CST in over 30 markets, including Chicago, Washington DC, Birmingham, Charlotte, Memphis, Tulsa, Pensacola, Savannah, and Albany, GA. Hosts are Doug Banks, Dede McGuire, and Comedian George Wilborn. For more information visit: www.dougbanksradioshow.com.
With only a month away, Hennessy Artistry St. Maarten is in full gear for its second annual event to be held on Saturday, August 3rd, 2013, which will feature nine-time Grammy award-winner John Legend and soul performer Percy Sledge. According to Mr. Clarence Derby "This is an event unlike any other in St. Maarten. The St. Maarten Hennessy Artistry event has set the standards for other Hennessy Artistry Events in the world."
Hennessy Artistry St. Maarten is a flexible music communication program blending talents from different genres. It gives the brand a voice to consumer, press, and music industry leaders about Hennessy's long-standing legitimate link to music. Caribbean Liquors and Tobacco is the official distributor of Hennessy. For more information on the Hennessy Artistry St. Maarten visit www.hennessyartistrysxm.com or contact us at Phone: +1 721 520-7120 / 520-1872 or e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Press Release from Hennessy Artistry St. Maarten

The Bahamas/St. Maarten: --- Well-known businessman Samir Andrawos is making headlines in the Bahamas while the activists and environmentalists on that island have been working overtime to stop Andrawos from constructing a dolphinarium on their island. A group called reEarth penned a letter on June 14th, 2013 to the Prime Minister of Bahamas Perry Gladstone Christie outlining their concerns about the unregulated development taking place at Blackbeard's Cay (Balmoral Island). In the letter to Prime Minister Christie, the activists are asking that the development of the intended dolphin facility be stopped immediately.
reEarth stated in their letter which will be posted below this article that they conducted research which showed that the laws and channels that have to be followed were circumvented, they specified that the planning and subventions act, marine and mammal protection regulations, animal protection and control act as well as the port authority act have been breached by the developers. reEarth outlined all the breaches in their letter to the Prime Minister. They also indicated that no public meetings were held so the citizens of the Bahamas were not heard regarding the development and construction of a dolphin facility in their country. An activist from reEarth told SMN News that they already have three dolphinariums in the Bahamas and developers are talking about constructing two more. reEarth activist explained  to SMN News that reEarth started a petition online and in the Bahamas. reEarth also has a Facebook page condemning the development currently taking place at Blackbeard's Cay involving Samir Andrawos. SMN News learnt that the businessman teamed up with a politician on St. Maarten whose intention is to divert cruise lines to the Bahamas if he does not get back into public office.
St. Maarten was faced with the same situations in 2005 when Dolphin Discovery was keen in constructing a dolphin facility at the A.C. Wathey Cruise facility but the environmentalists on St. Maarten fought head on with government. The environmental and animal foundations held a protest in August 2005 while they also had a petition drive to stop the construction of a dolphin facility on St. Maarten. The tie breaker that assisted those that were not in favor of caging dolphins was an article in the law of the former Netherlands Antilles that only allowed one Dolphinarium in the Netherlands Antilles. At the time Curacao had already attached a dolphinarium to their Sea Aquarium Resort, therefore it was not possible to have one constructed on St. Maarten. Animal lovers and environmentalists on St. Maarten said they are keeping their eyes wide open to see if certain politicians that were behind the construction of a dolphinarium will bring back the idea now that St. Maarten is a country within the Kingdom. It should be noted that certain cruise lines are supporting Andrawos and the politicians that are affiliated with the project.

On June 12th, 2013, the Executive Council in Anguilla had a tie vote in order to shut down the Dolphin Discovery on that island. The Attorney General on Anguilla barred honorable Evan Gumbs from voting on the Dolphin Discovery motion. Ministers Edison Baird who opposed the existence of the Dolphin Discovery was allowed to vote which gave the Governor the edge to close down the facility.
Andrawos is a well-known businessman on St. Maarten who is known for breaking government regulations in order to achieve his goals. One such goal is the construction of the three-storey building in Cay Hill called the BOX which is under the company Orista N.V. Andrawos constructed a third floor on that building which was in violation of the building permit at the time. The court ordered Andrawos to break the third floor down but his connections to politicians led the shrewd businessman to have the Prime Minister's son negotiate the sale of his buildings with the former Minister of Justice in order to construct several justice facilities. That project (the justice park) was put aside by the CFT. The Parliament of St. Maarten also posed several questions about the one hundred million dollar project. It is now left to be seen if construction of the justice park will take place now that the Government of St. Maarten recently changed and a new Minister of Justice was appointed.

Click here to view the letter sent by Bahamian group reEarth contesting the construction of another Dolphin Facility in the Bahamas.

Pond Island:--- Trendy mobile provider TelCell, is fast becoming an important part of St. Maarten's trendy nightlife scene – especially in the Simpson Bay and Maho areas.

Thanks to a series of pre-carnival "warm-up" parties in the weeks before the actual carnival event this year, TelCell's creative personnel have developed a very popular fan base at many of the popular nightspots with a combination of sponsored events and fun giveaways.

"It's come to a stage now where people expect to see us, and if they don't they are now asking for us," said one of TelCell's event co-ordinators, Suraj Ramdas.

According to Suraj, the pre-carnival parties got the ball rolling earlier in the year when his colleagues organized events at the Soggy Dollar Bar, Bliss Night Club, Tantra and Sunset Beach Bar – and later in the Philipsburg area.

The same venues are now the places to go, for a new series of Summer parties that TelEm Group and mobile provider TelCell will be actively participating in, all the way up to September.

The Summer Program kicked off on June 2, with participation in Sunset Beach Bar's Monthly High Tide Beach Party, complete with Sexiest Bikini Girl and Sexiest Beach Hunk contests.

One week later the creative team was at the Bliss Night Club to welcome on stage Latin Artist Black Jonas Point. This party was filled with throbbing music for St. Maarten's Latin community, who make up a very important part of the company's customer base.

"This is one party that was alive and full of energy from start to finish. The audience knew the lyrics to many of the songs of the artist including his smash hit, "watagatapitusberry". We also raffled two Blackberry handsets in separate impromptu "dance-offs" one of which was hosted by Black Jonas Point himself. It was just a wild, fun night," said Suraj.

And last weekend was also blast at Planet Bliss Glow Party where talented Canadian due DZEKO & TORRES delivered an electro-house music show that will long be remembered.

"What all the parties have had in common so far is that they offer serious party fun to anyone who wants to go out and have a good time with friends they know and new friends they meet. The response to the DJs is great and the response to our presences also makes us feel very proud to be there," said the TelEm Group employee.

He said the party rolls on this weekend (Saturday, June 29) at the Soggy Dollar Bar where DJ/producer brothers "Puresang" will be performing.

"Puresang, who hail from Amsterdam, have quickly built a reputation for high-energy performance and the ability to always deliver a unique experience for guests. They have had gigs in over 15 countries.

Check them out this Saturday and look out for your favorite mobile provider party dudes and dudettes - who will surely be keeping the party rolling for locals and visitors alike.

Telem Press Release

Historically the Moravian Church, Evangelische Broeder Gemeente (EBG), has played an important role in the peaceful implementation of Emancipation in all Dutch territories. Until today the EBG still plays a leading role in organizing observance activities. This year we celebrate 150 years of Emancipation.

On this occasion we, the Moravian Church Immanuel of Sint Maarten, plan to observe this important day by organizing several events between 22 June and 1 July 2013.

We will kick-start the celebration with a workshop to teach people about the head ties scarf from Suriname and to train them in tying and wearing the head tie scarf as is traditionally done. This will take place on Saturday 22nd June 2013 from 9 AM – 2:30 PM at the Immanuel Moravian Church Multipurpose Center, Dominica Road 10, Madame Estate.

The activity will be followed by a lecture on slavery – emancipation – immigration and integration. This will take place on Monday 24th June 2013, from 7 – 9 PM at the Immanuel Moravian Church Multipurpose Center.

On Sunday 30th June 2013, we will be having a special church service on the subject. The service will be led by pastor Rev. Cortroy Jarvis. The time is 10 – 11:30 AM also at the Immanuel Moravian Church Multipurpose Center

On the big day, July 1st 2013, we will join the Department of Culture in their celebration program. We will be participating in the Cultural Parade and the festivities thereafter by offering to the public little bites of traditional Surinamese food.

The Moravian Church Immanuel consists of a mix of members from different countries, predominantly from Suriname and Holland.

For more information (media interview) about the above mentioned activities please contact us at one of the following telephone numbers:

Mr. Joel Pinas +1721- 5229696 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Mrs. Virginia Asin-Oostburg +1721- 5424523 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We look forward to welcoming you at our events.

Pond Island:--- TelEm Group's mobile provider, TelCell, has launched the sale of Blackberry's redesigned Smartphone the Q10 – just three months after the St. Maarten launch of the first redesigned model – the Z10.

According to TelCell Marketing Officer, Marelva Felix-Jones, Wednesday's launch of the Q10 is much more low key than the previous Smartphone model due to the hype created at the time for Blackberry's complete makeover of the Z10.

"The Q10 offers the same fantastic voice and data features that made the Z10 a "Must have" device – with the added bonus of now having the traditional QWERTY keyboard, which users said they had missed with the touch screen which was built into the Z10," said Marelva.

The Marketing Officer says TelCell is more than pleased with the response to the new devices from customers, who were eagerly awaiting its launch. The keyboard is bigger and better for effortless typing, the screen displays sharp and vibrant images and the device on a whole is made of durable yet lightweight materials

"The data uploads are amazing and there are many Apps available for both the Z10 and Q10," said Marelva.

Testers have been operating the devices on TelCell's 3G network for the past few weeks and have provided very positive reports indicating that the user experience generally will be a good one.

The new device is available from all TelEm Group locations along with special voice and data packages.

Please see today's advertisements in the daily newspapers and online for device and package prices.

Telem Press Release

Robert Dubourcq, Rebecca Low, and Claudius Buncamper Recognized

PHILIPSBURG:--- At its Annual Change of Board Gala, held on Saturday, June 8th at Infinity Restaurant at the Oyster Bay Resort, the Rotary Club of St. Maarten recognized three outstanding members of the community as Paul Harris Fellows.

Paul Harris Fellow honorees must meet the high professional and high personal standards of Rotary. This year's honorees are Robert Dubourcq, Rebecca Low and Claudius Buncamper, each being recognized for their specific talents in the arena of community service. For bestowing this honor the Rotary Club of St. Maarten made a contribution of US $3,000 on behalf of the honorees towards the Rotary Foundation, which goes towards the Annual Programs Fund, PolioPlus, or the Humanitarian Grants Program.

Robert Dubourcq is no stranger to community and professional service to the island of St. Maarten. Mr. Dubourcq is a veteran of the Hospitality industry and after a 40-year career in hotel management on St. Maarten; he serves as the Executive Product Manager of St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA). The story doesn't stop there; Robert founded the St. Maarten Hotel Association in 1970, which eventually would become the SHTA. He has represented St. Maarten on the Board of Directors of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, in 2004 he was named the Caribbean Hotelier of the Year and he served as the President of the Rotary Club of St. Maarten in 1983/84.

Rebecca Low hails from Canada and now calls St. Maarten her home. Rebecca would describe herself as a "passionate sailor gal", but anyone who has worked with her knows she is passionate about serving her community. This is evident from her work in her native Canada where she held the position of Senior Advisor and Chief of Staff in the Canadian and Ontario governments. She was a Rotarian in Canada and quickly made the Rotary Club of St. Maarten her own when she moved to the island more than 6 years ago. She has served Rotary in so many capacities including Club Secretary, District Trainer, Vice President, and President to name just a few. Ms. Low is a volunteer with St. Maarten AIDS Foundation and she currently owns a boutique management consulting firm, Compass Consulting, working closely with Elite Properties on St. Maarten.

Claudius Buncamper exemplifies community service. Mr. Buncamper has been a member of St. Maarten Lions Club since 1993. He has held the positions President and Secretary for multiple terms and he has served as a Board Member for 14 consecutive years. He most recently served as District Governor. In addition, Mr. Buncamper has served his island in public service. Claudius served as the Head of Public Works on St. Maarten, in 2007 he was appointed Deputy Director of the Ministry of Spatial Planning and Infrastructure Management and 2009 he was also named Head of New Works and Infrastructure Management. In 2010, with St. Maarten becoming a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, he took on the tasks of Head of Infrastructure Management within the Ministry. Mr. Buncamper has served on numerous charitable foundation Boards as well as the Board of the St. Maarten Telecommunications Company. He was instrumental in establishing a Lions Club/Rotary Club joint protocol in support of Alzheimer's Awareness as District Governor of the Lions Club. Finally, in 2005, Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands bestowed on Claudius Buncamper the decoration of "Member in the Order of Orange Nassau".

Robert Judd, the outgoing President of the Rotary Club of St. Maarten, stated, "Robert Dubourcq, Rebecca Low and Claudius Buncamper have each upheld the high professional, personal and community standards of Rotary. Each has served our community in different ways that have made our sweet St. Maarten just a little bit sweeter. We recognize each of them individually as our newest Paul Harris Fellows". Incoming President Maria Buncamper-Molanus commented on all the honorees as examples of "service above self" and the best that St. Maarten has to offer as evidenced by each of their long standing involvement in our community.

For more information please contact the Rotary Club of St. Maarten Press Officer at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., call +17215870506, visit the website www.rotarysxm.org or find us on Facebook.

Says Next Important Step Is To Have Laws Translated into English

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams officially launched the St. Maarten laws project at an event at the AC Wathey Legislative Hall on Tuesday afternoon. The Prime Minister accompanied by acting lieutenant Governor His Excellency Reynold Groeneveld and the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports the Honorable Patricia Philip-Lourens and supported by the director and staff of the Department of Legal Affairs opened the online archive of the Government laws for St. Maarten.

On October 10th, 2010, when the Island Territory of Sint Maarten became a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the acquisition of this new status brought forth many changes, particularly in the field of legislation. Since 10-10-10 Sint Maarten has inherited the legislation from the former Netherlands Antilles as well as the legislation from the former Island Territory Sint Maarten and it is these particular laws which the public now has access to via the Government website.

"I would like to commend the hard work of the Department of Legal Affairs for the work you have done in making the laws available online as I am sure it was indeed a time consuming process. It is very important, also in terms of transparency, to have the laws available in an online database for us to access. Even in the Council of Ministers I am sure there will be an opportunity to use the database when a law is necessary for us to look at urgently," commented the Prime Minister.

The online database can be accessed by visiting sintmaartengov.org and clicking on the laws section, using the search engine to find the relevant law. Despite most of the laws currently being in Dutch, the Prime Minister in her statement gave her assurances that the next important step will be to get the various laws translated into English. "It is very important that we have the applicable laws translated into our mother tongue so that the population can have the opportunity to read and understand the laws they are looking at. This will be the next step in building Country St. Maarten block by block, step by step," commented the Prime Minister.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

I am appealing to the business community to reach out as soon as possible to save Safe Haven.

It was disheartening to learn that the organization which has the responsibility of providing assistance to battered women and their children has had to discontinue accepting these victims due to a lack of funds in order to carry out the services that it renders to the entire community.

Safe Haven received financial support from AMFO, however the organization hasn't any more funds.

Government has budgeted a sum of Naf. 3 million for the non-governmental community organizations via the St. Maarten Development Funding Agency, and from my understanding, the 2013 country budget, is still at His Excellency the Governor's desk and has yet to be signed; and this has placed many non-governmental organizations that depend mainly on government's subsidy, including Safe Haven, not in a position to carry out their much needed community work.

In recent media reports, it has been stated that the Prime Minister is addressing the issue of lack of funding.

Safe Haven provides a temporary haven for battered women, the shelter is now in need and I appeal to the business community to immediately reach out and assist, especially those who have yet to shoulder their fair share of community support. Now is your chance to make your contribution, no matter the amount.

Some businesses have assisted Safe Haven in the past. Your assistance is needed now more than ever. Safe Haven needs to be able to operate 24/7 for clients who are there for protection and support. They are not there for fun!

Relational violence and its impact on our children, is a huge problem in our community. Just last week, June 11, I attended on behalf of the Peridot Foundation, a meeting of stakeholders convened by Public Prosecutor Hans Mos at his office, with the main agenda to meet Non-governmental organizations that deal with relational violence, and give our input on a directive prepared for the former Netherlands Antilles in 2010, reference to relational violence.

Our input was requested in order to adjust the directive to the local, Sint Maarten situation. Speaking with Community Police Officers, who are confronted regularly with this kind of violence, leaves no room for imagination.

Safe Haven provides an essential service, working to end domestic and sexual violence, to enrich, strengthen and mobilize the lives of individuals, children, families and community.

Institutions of this nature should not be allowed to fall through the cracks, and I am confident with the input of the private and public sectors, Safe Haven will be able to continue to give much needed service to those most vulnerable among us.

Drs. Gracita Arrindell
United People's (UP) party
Member of Parliament

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The new business cabinet that was sworn in last week Friday had its first weekly cabinet session on Tuesday.

PHOTO CUTLINE: L to R, Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Hon. Cornelius de Weever, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Hon. Patricia Lourens, Minister of Justice Hon. Dennis Richardson, Minister of Finance Hon. Martin Hassink, Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Development, Environment and Infrastructure Hon. Maurice Lake, a member of the Council of Ministers Secretariat, and Prime Minister Hon. Sarah Wescot-Williams. (DCOMM Photo)

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The 3rd Youth Health Care (YHC) Vaccination Outreach and Family Planning Session is set for Cole Bay and surrounding communities on June 20.

This is the third of three community outreach and "family planning" lecture sessions. It's an opportunity for residents of Cole Bay and surrounding areas to come out on Thursday, June 20 at the John Hodge Hall Community Center (Methodist Church), Cole Bay from 5.00pm to 7.30pm, to have their children's vaccination status checked, and also receive information about family planning.

YHC is a section of the Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a Department at the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour.

The theme for the vaccination campaign this year is "A Shared Responsibility."

Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius de Weever 'Get Checked' campaign is in line with the efforts of CPS and therefore Minister De Weever is appealing to guardians and parents to get their children's vaccination status checked on June 20.

The objectives of the campaign are to stimulate parents to have their child(ren) vaccinated; to bring about awareness as it relates to vaccinations and to encourage parents and the community at large to take responsibility by ensuring updated vaccination records for the children in their care.

In addition the campaign aims to provide the public with general vaccination information; to encourage others such as, health care workers, pregnant women and pre-and exam class students to update their vaccination status.

To encourage risk groups such as waste/garbage handlers, the Police, hotel and restaurant workers, and others to verify and update their vaccination status, particularly on Hepatitis B and Tetanus.

Immunization protects children from diphtheria, measles, pertussis (better known as whooping cough), pneumonia, polio, rotavirus diarrhea, rubella, tetanus and others.

Cay Hill:--- Medical personnel including staff and the management team of the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) are faced with yet another hurdle. Reliable information reaching SMN News states that all information pertaining to SMMC that was stored on the hospital's computer disappeared. SMN News learnt that management of SMMC learnt of the predicament a few days ago and the chairman of the board was expected to arrive on St. Maarten on Tuesday from Curacao to find a solution for the predicament.

The source said all of SMMC's financial records disappeared and it cannot be ascertained if the computer system at SMMC crashed or what really transpired. Questions are now being raised by personnel and other institutions about the computer hiccup and loss of valuable information. Some persons said they believe that an investigation is warranted because the 2012 financial report showed the hospital has a huge and unexplained deficit. "Their financial records and everything else disappeared. Last year (2012) SMMC suffered a huge financial loss and that was not yet disclosed to government, then suddenly the records disappear. This is indeed questionable and the pertinent authorities need to step in to investigate this matter."

SMN News learnt that SMMC management has been trying to hide the real situation by telling their stakeholders such as SZV and others that they have internet problems. SMN News further learnt that the company that used to do the backups for SMMC is no longer providing that service therefore leaving SMMC in real limbo with regards to its digital information. The source said SMMC stopped backing up their data with a Canadian company some two years ago so if they are to retrieve any information from that company it would be two years old. "The records for 2012 financial transactions will definitely not be retrieved."

SMN News also learnt that SMMC communications officer was forced to resign and she filed court litigation against the medical institution. Members of the board of directors of SMMC could not be reached on Tuesday for a comment. SMN News also tried to reach the former communications officer by telephone and she also could not be reached.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development, and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake announces that the road marking started on the L.B. Scott Road on Monday evening will continue from Wednesday, June 19 at 9:00pm until Thursday, June 20 5:00am.

Motorized traffic movement on the L.B. Scott Road will be partially obstructed due to the application of road markings in connection with the Ebenezer – A.T. Illidge Road Sewage Line.

L.B. Scott Road will be partially obstructed from the St. Peters Sol Gas Station to Cake House Supermarket, Minister Lake said on Tuesday.

The Ministry of VROMI, Department of New Projects Development and Planning says that the possibility or works being carried out also on Friday is probable dependent on weather conditions.

Ministry VROMI is asking all motorists to pay keen attention to the traffic signs for the duration of the works, to ensure a smooth and safe transition while the works is being executed.

Minister Maurice Lake asks for your patience and understanding for any inconveniences that this will cause.

Says the Plight of the Elderly Has Her Focus

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams appeared on Oral Gibbs Live on Channel 115 Monday night. The Prime Minister discussed various items on the program; primarily the latest political developments and her wish to have Government refocus their attention on the plight of the elderly on St. Maarten.

When reflecting on her long political career, the Prime Minister reflected on her start in the political arena in the early nineteen nineties: "The first time I ran for office was in 1990 during a federal Netherlands Antilles Parliamentarian election. Since then I have been in various situations where there were also changes in Government and a coalitions were changed. During one of which I indeed famously said that I will Be Back.

When asked if she considers herself an inspiration to young women in particular interested in running for politics the Prime Minister stated "It is a fact that we continue to learn and give content to the Governance of Country St. Maarten. As I always say that while most of the matters that Govern our Country we will have to deal with as we go along. A good example of this is the mistake that it has been reported that the Governor refused to sign the approval for Minister Laville. The resolutions needed to appoint Ministers are made up at the end of the trajectory for vetting so it was not as if the Governor refused to sign. MP Laville in speaking to me as formateur said that he would like to have the time to deal with the matter of the report at the Prosecutor's Office and decided his name would not be part of that discussion to approve him as a Minister. We are now looking at a Candidate Minister and that person has to go through that same vetting process and the names are not to be divulged before the process goes through in order to facilitate the vetting process.

"I think critical for Government is that the Ministers individually and collectively will focus on the bigger picture for Country St. Maarten. The formation and educating of all our people is so crucial in the things we want to engage in in order to elevate St. Maarten, and it is up to each and every individual to look at their development as part of a nation and what it means to be a citizen of St. Maarten," commented the PM.

One of the items the Prime Minister stressed has her focus is the plight of the elderly on St. Maarten. "The position of the elderly in our community has my concern and thus the concern of Government. At the beginning of this year we were able to raise our old-age pension by a small amount which is a good step in the right direction and we are now looking to see what type of relief can be given to those elderly that depend only on their pension. Government needs to refocus on how it addresses the plight of the elderly. That is what I will be promoting in the activities of Government the refocusing of our attention on the elderly," emphasized the elderly.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

St. Johns:--- The Rotaract Club of St. Maarten Sunrise spent some quality time with the folks at the St. Maarten's Home in St. Johns on Saturday 15th June 2013. This initiative fell under the home's "quality time, care and affection" program. The Rotaract members began their day by attending a church service with the seniors at the home's chapel. Rotaract member Chico Rollan sang a hymn to the congregation and encouraged the senior folks to keep the faith and know that they are not alone. The members then engaged in numerous activities with the seniors such as playing domino games, combing their hair, polishing their nails, reading the newspaper and talking with them on different topics. Papa Umpo paid a special visit to the home and brought some humor to the event by telling some "oldy goldy" stories that all the folks at the home could relate to.
The Rotaract Club of St. Maarten Sunrise made a special donation of a video camera to the home's representative, Nurse Nancy. The St. Maarten's home expressed the need for a video camera to record memorable moments. Handing over the video camera was President of Rotaract Sunrise, Elisia Lake, who mentioned that the club is here to give the extra support needed to make the citizens at the St. Maarten's Home feel "at home". In addition, Lake stated that as the club's last community service project for the year 2012-2013; "we are thrilled to have spent it with the folks at the home."
Rotaract Sunrise will continue to provide opportunities for young adults to enhance the knowledge and skills that will assist them in personal development, to address the physical and social needs of their communities, and to provide better relations among all people worldwide through a framework of friendship and service. The Rotaract Club of St. Maarten Sunrise meets every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month at Holland House Conference Room at 7pm.

Philipsburg:--- The Council on Law Enforcement on Monday presented two recent investigation reports to St. Maarten's new Minister of Justice, Mr. Dennis Richardson. The presentation of the reports came ahead of the justice minister attending the regular half-yearly consultation meeting held between the ministers of Justice from Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Aruba and the Netherlands, to be held in Aruba.
Mr. Franklyn Richards, chairman of the Council on Law Enforcement presented the two investigation reports, in keeping with the council's practice of duly informing stakeholders in the judicial chain of current developments, which may have a bearing on crime, safety and security issues. One of the reports addresses issues related to the detective department of the Sint Maarten police organization while the other one deals with youth rehabilitation on Sint Maarten.
Minister Richardson expressed appreciation for the briefing made available by the Council on Law Enforcement about recent and ongoing investigations as well as other developments with regards to tasks and competencies of the Council on Law Enforcement.
In the inspection report on the detective department, the Council on Law Enforcement concludes that many positive developments are evident. These developments contribute to the efficiency of the police force in general and to that of investigation procedures, in particular. The introduction of the community police is mentioned as an example of how the visibility of police has been increased while in the area of forensic investigation, house burglaries and robberies, the objectives have been realized and the intended performance achieved.
A significant bottleneck is that any intended progress of the police force is strongly reliant on the Minister of Justice and other third parties. Essential decision-making in key areas can, in such cases, not be taken in a timely manner, leading to a delay before those decisions are reached and implemented.
The Council on Law Enforcement looks forward to working closely with the Minister of Justice and members of the judicial chain of Sint Maarten, in taking fundamental decisions, resulting in the police management team being facilitated in managing and administering the St. Maarten police organization.
A final conclusion of the Council is that the Police Force of Sint Maarten is moving in the right direction and that it has achieved much since the transition period, made necessary with St. Maarten becoming a country. Investigating procedures used by the detective force has visibly increased and it is now a matter of acting vigorously to implement further improvements without delay, notes the report.
In the second report presented to the justice minister and which dealt with youth rehabilitation in Sint Maarten, the Council on Law Enforcement investigated to what extent the government of Sint Maarten implements and executes policies with reference to the rehabilitation of minors who have committed a criminal act.
The report notes that a properly functioning youth rehabilitation system can prevent minors from repeating a criminal offense or even slide into a career of crime activity. Article 40 of the Convention on the rights of the child contains a clear assignment to member states. It obliges signatories to the article to encourage minors to a constructive role in the society after committing a criminal act.
On Sint Maarten, it is the Court of Guardianship which has juvenile rehabilitation among its responsibilities. The report shows that in Sint Maarten the supervision of minors who have come in contact with the law, is still in its early stages. Among the challenges faced is a lack of sufficient and qualified personnel to carry out those tasks by the Court of Guardianship.
The Council on Law Enforcement applauds initiatives taken by the Ministry of Justice to enhance implementation of the juvenile rehabilitation, under the leadership of the Committee Judicial Youth Policy Plan.

"Emergency Medical Services do Critical Work to Improve and Strengthen our Communities."

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams attended a special church service at the New Testament Baptist Church in celebration of EMS Week 2013. The Prime Minister, joined by Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports the Honorable Patricia Lourens, attended the celebratory mass congratulating the men and women who work in the Emergency Health and Medical Services.

"On Behalf of the Government and the people of St. Maarten allow me to extend gratitude and appreciation to the dedicated men and women in the emergency medical services for the critical work they do to improve and strengthen the health services in our communities," commented the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister concluded by stating that she further wishes to extend her best wishes for a memorable and successful celebration to the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor and to the management and staff of the Emergency Medical Services as well as to the organizers of the EMS Week 2013. "Under the theme of One Mission One Team it is truly exemplified by the hard work of these men and women who ensure that the very necessary emergency medical support is provided at all times to the community of St. Maarten."

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Pond Island:--- TelEm Group, in collaboration with third party developers, has developed customized mobile applications (APPS) especially for their mobile subscribers.

The development of mobile apps are a brand new undertaking of TelEm Group's Business Development Department, and is aimed at giving added value to the company's mobile voice and data users.

According to Business Development Manager, Mrs. Carmen Lake-Reyes, two applications have been developed in-house with the assistance of third parties, specifically for TelEm Group.

The first App is the SXM + 1721 App which allows mobile subscribers to automatically update their entire address book with the new + 1-721 Country Code for St. Maarten.

"The SXM + 1721 App is a bonus for users who have a huge list of numbers with the old +599 code for the Netherlands Antilles, which has been discontinued," said Mrs. Lake-Reyes.

She said once the application is downloaded and installed, subscribers can opt to update one number or their entire address book with the +1721 area code.

The SXM + 1721 App is developed with the assistance of former TelEm Group Business Development Officer, now software consultant, Mr. Christopher Bourne. He has been working closely with the company's Business Development Officer, Ms. Alice Peterson, to bring the App to market where it is now available for immediate download in the Apple Store, and BlackBerry App Store, Android users can also download the app at www.sxm1721.com said Ms. Peterson.

The second App to be launched is a "Self-Care" App.

Once downloaded and installed, this App allows subscribers to purchase their data services online without the need to send an SMS to activate that service.

According to Apps Project Coordinator, Ms. Alice Peterson, Customers can also check their account balances for voice and data services with the new App.

For now, the new "Self-Care" App is only available for the Blackberry Z10 device and is presently available for download from Blackberry App World using the Search word" TelCell.

"The BB launch of the Self-Care" App is just a first step. Soon it will be available for Android and Apple iOS devices," said Ms. Peterson.

For further information about these exciting new TelEm Group Apps and how to download them, please visit our website at www.Telemgroup.an.

Telem Press Release

Heaped Praise Despite Loss

Cay Hill:--- The Oualichi Women's Soccer Team played its first inter-land soccer match in neighboring Anguilla representing St. Maarten, where they faced off against the Anguilla Under Twenty Women's Team. Although Oualichi WST has only been practicing for less than eight months, spectators and the hosts agreed that the ladies played an excellent match against a more stronger and experienced team. "We fought hard and although we lost 5-0 we all had an amazing time and were very proud to be representing the Friendly Island abroad. This is our first real match playing together as a team and we were very happy with the result," read a team statement.

Most valuable player of the match was Oualichi WST goalkeeper Claudia Simms supported by a strong defensive and offensive line. "Much credit goes to our Coach Chris Wever. In a short period of time he has given the team the confidence, training and support we needed to play in another country with a longstanding tradition of women's soccer and hold our own. Much thanks also goes out to the Anguilla Soccer Association who were excellent hosts, providing us with transportation and lunch. We look forward to playing Anguilla and the surrounding islands towards the end of June when we will be representing one St. Maarten, both French and Dutch Sides," concluded a team statement.

The launching of the team in November of last year was a first for St. Maarten, with previously women having to join school teams or train on their own or with Associations not specifically geared towards Women's Soccer. The name of the team is also unique as Oualichi, one of the original Arawak names for the St. Maarten, means Land of Strong Women. The team also has an official Facebook Page and newsletter in order to keep the community abreast of the country's women's soccer team. Those interested in being a part of Oualichi WST are urged to contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or join a training session held every Monday and Wednesday at the Raoul Illidge Sport's Complex from 5:30 to 7:00PM.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Karen Polson, Entomologist/Parasitologist for the Mosquito Control Program of the Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), arrived in the country on Monday for a working visit with representatives of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, and Labour.

On Monday morning Dr. Polson and representatives from the Ministry paid a courtesy visit to Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labour Hon. Cornelius de Weever at the Government Administration Building.

Dawn Beach:--- "We know where we came from and we have a very clear understanding of where we are going. We know what needs to be done in order to make this company continue to grow, and meet the needs of all agents, brokers and policy holders", said CEO of NAGICO Group of Companies, Imran McSood Amjad during the NAGICO mid-year conference held at Westin Dawn Beach Resort on Friday, June 14th.
Motivational speaker Nicole Bendaly spoke to agents and staff at the conference themed "Engaged" whilst CFO, Justin Woods discussed the financial highlights of the company during the conference.
Later in the evening during the Agents Awards Dinner Mr. McSood-Amjad discussed the plans for the growth of the company. He revealed many goals including plans to open a NAGICO training center by 2020, "where staff and agents will be trained in insurance and other areas that are of importance to the development of NAGICO".
During the dinner NAGICO recognized its agents and brokers for their contributions towards a profitable 2012. Century Insurance (BVI) was honored with the Platinum award for having the highest production figures in 2012, followed by Diamond award winners; Sun Insurance N.V., Northeastern Insurances N.V., Fairplay (Anguilla), Henderson Insurances N.V. and Brysons Insurance Agency (Antigua). A total of 80 awards in various categories were presented to agents and brokers.
Special awards were given to the following; Aruba Insurance Brokers N.V. and CGM Gallagher Ltd. (St. Lucia) who were named Most Improved Agents. Brysons Insurance Agency and Century Insurance were named Agents of the Year. Local Agent of the Year representing St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius was awarded to Sun Insurances Group. Arlene Bermudez was awarded Top Life Producer. NAGICO Trinidad was named Branch Office of the Year. Brysons Insurance Agency was also awarded for being the Most Profitable Agent of the Year. Century Insurance went home with the overall award for being the Most Outstanding Agent of NAGICO Group.
Loyalty Awards were presented to fine agents as a token for representing NAGICO for over 20 years. They were; Quincy Gumbs from Fairplay (Anguilla), Steve Tackling Sr. from Tackling Insurance, Desmond Esdaille from Peoples Insurance, Bernice Stout from Insurance Store (BVI) and Estelle Serrant from Serrant Insurance.
The MC of the evening was King Beau Beau with featured performances by Mischulaikah Richardson, Kayla Gumbs and the band Mosaik. The evening ended with an after party where agents and staff enjoyed music and dancing.

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot Williams and the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports the Honorable Patricia Lourens were amongst various civil servants and government officials who received special prayer blessings from Pastor Wycliffe Smith at the New Testaments Baptist Church. Pastor Smith prayed for the Wescot-Williams III Cabinet and wished all much strength.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

From Tuesday June 18th until Saturday, June 29th, all overdue books can be returned free of charge to the library during their opening hours. Please make use of this opportunity to return all of your overdue library books.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Philipsburg Jubilee Library will be hosting the second edition of its "Wake Up, Stay Active, Be a Reader" Summer Program, for children ages 7 - 12 from July 16 to July 31.
Activities during the summer camp will include: hiking, puppet shows, sports activities, nature watches, movie nights, face painting, storytelling, dancing and much more.
Registration is required at a cost of only NAF. 50 and will run from Wednesday, June 19 at the library, during opening hours, until space is filled. The library will be accepting 15 applicants for children ages 6 -9 and 15 applicants for children ages 10 – 13. Space is limited so parents and children are required to sign up as early as possible. Once parents complete the registration process they will be given a detailed program along with permission slips for the various activities.
For more information, please contact the library at 542-2970.

Grand Case: --- The Gendarmes and other emergency services tried to save the life of a well-known barber in Grand Case early Monday morning when he was shot by one of his former employees. The man was shot around 1:00am.
According to information provided to SMN News shortly after the shooting took place, the barber who is known in the area as "Pablo" was shot by one of his former employees who now owns his own barbershop. An eyewitness told SMN News said that Pablo and the suspect were at loggerheads because the suspect left Pablo's work and opened his own business. It is not yet known if the suspect was caught. Efforts made to reach the Gendarmes by phone proved futile. SMN News will bring you more information later today.

GREAT BAY:--- Lizzy Lizard by Robin Boasman is a "darling contribution to the children's literature of the Caribbean," said Jamie Alleyne, a learning and child development consultant in Dominica.

St. Martin's newest storybook is now available at Shipwreck, Van Dorp, Amazon.com and other bookstores, said Jacqueline Sample of HNP, the book's publisher.

In Lizzy Lizard, little Lizzy leaves her sea grape tree house at the University of St. Martin (USM) because of a busy construction day on campus. Her walk takes her past the salt-pickers monument, atop the Court House, and quickly turns into an adventure in and around Philipsburg, traditionally called Great Bay.

While on her happy trek, Lizzy meets endearing animal personalities such as Suzy Soldier Crab, Iggy Iguana, Missy Mongoose, and Pico Pelican. And "what an absolute delight to get the grand tour of St. Martin with Lizzy Lizard and her new friends!" added Alleyne in her review of the oversize hardcover book.

The colorful photo art illustrations in Lizzy Lizard further convey a sense of magic to places easily identified by boys and girls, ages 4 to 9, said Sample. The main photo plates are from the photography of Robby Cijntje.

Jamaican/Canadian author Garfield Ellis said that Lizzy Lizard's courage and confidence to cross borders and meet others—regardless of size and other differences, represent a certain "Je ne sais quoi" that he experienced among the island's people during the recently concluded St. Martin Book Fair. The award-winning novelist was the guest speaker at the Lizzy Lizard launch, attended by some 200 guests, said Sample.

According to the publisher, Lizzy Lizard will prove popular with confident independent readers; and with families who can spend time reading it together and seeing fascinating animals and places of St. Martin's busiest city.

Author Robin Boasman said that the storybook grew out of an assignment from instructor Rhoda Arrindell while she (Boasman) was pursuing her BA in education at USM. Lizzy Lizard is possibly the first book authored by a USM alumna.

According to Boasman, "it is highly important for children to read, but children will more likely read when they enjoy and can relate to what they are reading. This is how the story of lizzy lizard came about."

Robin Boasman is a mother, and a teacher at Sister Magda Primary School. Lizzy Lizard is her first book. The Rombleys' BEO Studio designed Lizzy Lizard, the second children's book designed for HNP.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development, and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI), Department of New Projects Development and Planning, hereby informed the general public that from Monday, June 17 at 9:00pm until Tuesday, June 18 5:00am, motorized traffic movement on the L.B. Scott Road will be partially obstructed due to the application of road markings in connection with the Ebenezer – A.T. Illidge Road Sewage Line.

L.B. Scott Road will be partially obstructed from the St. Peters Sol Gas Station to Cake House Supermarket.

The Ministry of VROMI, Department of New Projects Development and Planning on behalf of the Government of St. Maarten is asking all motorists to pay keen attention to the traffic signs for the duration of the works, to ensure a smooth and safe transition while the works is being executed.

Furthermore, the Government of St. Maarten asks for your patience and understanding for the inconveniences that this will cause.

POINT BLANCHE:--- Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies Mark Mingo signed a construction agreement with Windward Roads for Phase 1 re-engineering works of Cruise Pier 1.

Windward Roads presented the best offer for the project. The company has a vast amount of experience as it was involved as a subcontractor with the construction of Pier 1 and Pier 2.

"For the last few years we have been busy with preparing for the re-engineering plan for Cruise Pier 1. At the same time, we have been in discussion with the main contractor who built Cruise Pier 1 Ballast Nedam (BNI), and those discussions continue today with respect to settling issues we had with the design of the pier.

"I am very happy to announce that we have reached to this stage where the contract has been signed and works can start within 30 days. It hasn't been an easy process. We had structural calculations made by two companies, Lievense and Ch2MHill with respect to the re-engineering.

Ch2MHill is considered a global leader in consulting, design, design-build, operations, and program management, and has a vast amount of experience with port developments and the cruise industry.

"Specialized materials have to be imported, and we are also looking at the bollards and fender system. The Port is very much into the era of GREEN THINKING and will continue this trend by adding LED lighting on the piers. This will be a plus for safety and will also reduce electricity costs.

"I am looking forward to this project starting, and would like to use this opportunity to thank everybody who has been involved in this process with respect to the point we have reached with the signing of the contract.

"For those who are interested in working on the project at the Port, you can pick up registration forms at the main Security Booth at the port entrance or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.," CEO Mark Mingo said over the weekend.

Phase 1 of the re-engineering of Cruise Pier 1 has to be completed before the country moves into the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season mid-September. Re-engineering works will take approximately three months for this phase.

Once Phase 1 of Pier 1 has been completed, engineers will carry out an evaluation leading to the further completion of the additional works that need to be executed. Pier 1 will be brought up to the level of Cruise Pier 2.

The additional works will costs US$7 million and is part of the of the investment list which was communicated to the bond holder of the US$150 million loan, the Central Bank of Curacao and St. Maarten.

The Port of St. Maarten has two cruise piers. Cruise Pier 1 has been in use since 2001 and can accommodate four cruise ships simultaneously. The pier has a length of 545 meters while Pier 2 has a length of 445 meters and the latter was opened in 2009.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Karen Polson, Entomologist/Parasitologist for the Mosquito Control Program of the Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), arrives in the country on Monday for a working visit with representatives of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour.

CARPHA is the new single regional public health agency for the Caribbean. It was legally established in July 2011 by an Inter-Governmental Agreement signed by Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States and began operation in January 2013.

The purpose of the working visit by Polson is to assess the country's Mosquito Control Program structure and operation. Some field observations are also planned.

On Tuesday, Polson will meet with Collective Prevention Services (CPS) staff as well as the Dengue Action Response Team (DART). Dr. Polson will also pay a courtesy visit to Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Hon. Cornelius de Weever.

Minister De Weever stated on Sunday that Sint Maarten's cooperation with this new entity – CARPHA – is extremely important where it concerns regional reporting, funding and networking.

Dr. Polson on Tuesday evening will meet with physicians with respect to dengue and chikungunya with respect to diagnosis, treatment, reporting and monitoring.

On Wednesday there will be a Risk Management workshop on dengue and chikungunya and on Thursday field work/assessment.

Polson has a PHD in Zoology from the University of the West Indies. Dr. Polson as a guest researcher has been involved in international fieldwork with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, and with the U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday, June 20, The Philipsburg Jubilee Library will be officially launching their Electronic Book (E-Book) service to the public of St. Maarten at 6 pm, in the library's hall.
As the demand for eBooks among library patrons continued to grow and its use slowly becomes common place among readers, it is with these developments in mind that the library decided to diversify its collection, by expanding it to include E-Books.
"As a library, it is important that we keep up with the demands in our quickly evolving, technology advanced world, for the sake of literacy. We strive to continue to be relevant, while promoting literacy, be it from the pages of a book or the screen of an E-Reader", stated Morenika Arrindell, Activity Manager and Public Relations Officer.
The major advantages of using E-Books for library card holders are that they can: borrow books from the comfort of their home, effortlessly change the font size of their selected book at will, and never worry about accumulating late fees because the book will be automatically removed from their computer, tablet, mobile phone or E-Reader after the expiration date.
The current checkout limit is currently set to 3 books, as the library is still building up their E-Book collection. The library will continue to expand the collection according to the wishes of the public. The lending periods are: 7, 14 or 21 days. That choice is solely up to the library card holder.
In addition to E-Books, the library is also going to borrow its E-Readers to the general public ages 18 and older. Currently, the library has 5 Nooks that can be borrowed from the Information Desk. User guides for the website and E-Reader will also be made available on the library's website at www.stmaartenlibrary.org or upon request at the Information Desk.
The general public is invited to attend the launching of their E-book and E-Reader Collection on Thursday, June 20, 2013, where various dignitaries, staff members, senior and young library card holders will be on hand to give their thoughts on how E-Readers are an important part of literacy.
For more information please contact the library at 542-2970.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Emergency Medical Services (EMS), kicked off EMS Week on Sunday June 16th with a Church Service at the New Testament Baptist Church at 11:00am across from Government Administration Building.

First responders were in full attendance to celebrate on Sunday in prayer. The theme for EMS Week is, "EMS One Mission One Team." The objective of the week is to recognize the lifesaving work of the island's emergency medical service professionals working in the pre-hospital care setting, hospital and volunteer EMS organizations.

Laville innocent until proven guilty!
Should not nominate a minister, but rather appeal to Crown

Legal scholars in the Netherlands and locally have sounded the alarm about the governor's performance during the past weeks' constitutional impasse. Many false steps, are being blamed on the governor's deviation from his rules of order. This is mainly attributed to the inexperience of the Governor and the fact that this is the first time the country has experienced the dissolution of Parliament by government.
But sources contacted by SMN news point out that all this could have been easily avoided had the governor followed his rules of order. They point to the case of MP Laville who has been particularly victimized by certain procedural errors committed by the governor. These sources insist that once a LB or Landsbesluit (National Decree) has been submitted to the governor, he can only send it on to King if in his opinion it violated one of five critera listed in Article 21 of the Rules of Order of the Governor of St. Maarten.
The appointment of Laville was done by National Decree. The rules of order are quite clear in this respect. Once the governor determines that he will not sign a National Decree he is duty bound to send it on to the King for a final decision. He may not allow it to lie around or send it back to the Council of Ministers.
The reason for this step legal scholars explained is to guarantee due process. In the case of Laville they point out, once the national decree reached the King, it would have been turned over the Council of State, who would examine the file and advise the King. In order to give a proper advice, a formal hearing would have taken place where Laville would have had a fair chance to present his side. He would also be allowed to be represented by lawyers if he chose to do so. He could for example, have pointed out to the Council, that the governor violated the presumption of innocence. He has not been convicted of any crime by a court of law, and should be therefore considered innocent until proven guilty. Furthermore, St. Maarten has never passed an Ethics in Government law, so that there is no legal basis for denying him the post of Minister. And, finally he was condemned by the governor without having a chance to defend himself. The governor's actions amount to giving him a sentence which he cannot appeal. This act in and of itself can be considered "bad governance".
By not following the rules, Mr. Laville's rights to due process have been violated. The governor, legal experts feel has wrongfully assumed the position of judge jury and executioner in the case of Laville. Asked by SMN news if Mr. Laville has any recourse, they opined that he is free to approach the Council of State, as his rights to due process were violated. It would be then up to the Counci to decide how to proceed. They however stressed that Mr. Laville had nothing to lose, but much to gain, by seeking redress. Laville they concurred, should not nominate a minister to take his place as doing so can create an irreversible situation. He should hold off all action which can jeopardize his position, and appeal to the Crown right away. One issue that might be resolved for the future is the Governor's handling of National Decrees.

Says people of St. Maarten can rest assured that it is the priority of the new Government to take care of the business of the people.

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams, after about five weeks of discussions regarding the political developments, was sworn in on Friday, the fourteenth of June as the Prime Minister of the Wescot-Williams III Cabinet at the Offices of the Governor.

Despite the sometimes difficult political situation of the past few weeks, the Prime Minister stated that she would indeed like to thank the departed previous Ministers for their contribution in shaping Country St. Maarten.

"I would like to express to the outgoing Council of Minister, from the depths of my heart, my appreciation for their contribution during the last year and a month they have made to the people of St. Maarten. The Political Developments have demanded a change in the Government of St. Maarten, however I know that it is never easy to make the decision to accept the proposal to become a Minister for Country St. Maarten given the fact that we are still in our young stage as a country and that indeed many difficulties are being faced by Government everyday. People deciding to become Ministers need to take into account political changes like we have had since 101010; political changes which in fact occurred not once but twice. So Again I would like to thank the outgoing Ministers, separate from all of the political discussions that have been taking place, for their contribution to this Country St. Maarten under a Wescot-Williams Cabinet.

"Similarly I would like to wish the incoming Ministers all the best. It has not been an easy time for you and some have used this opportunity to, as we would say in St. Maarten, tear you asunder, but the fact that you have accepted to take on this position shows that you are strong and so I wish all of my colleagues the very best.

"As I stated before we got into this particular political development; the stability of a Government, preferably for the full term that the Parliament is elected by the people of St. Maarten, is something that in my opinion we all, as politicians, should work towards. It is not without reason that in the Governor's request to me to act as formateur for the New Government the item of Political Stability and Electoral Reform is mentioned in His Excellency's letter. Myself and my colleague Ministers have made it a critical point to work on the issue of electoral reform. We are too you of a country to have these political changes occurring, political changes that result in a stagnation of Government and there is always too much to be done to entertain a political shift. Matters of Social and Economic Development are too important and need to be addressed and the people of St. Maarten can rest assured that it is the priority of the incoming Government to work on these matters in taking care of the business of the people," concluded Prime Minister Wescot-Williams.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Anguilla health sector representatives from the Ministry of Health and Social Development Lynrod Brooks, Health Planner and Ambrell Richardson, Director of Health Protection, met with officials from Section General Public Health of Collective Prevention Services (CPS) that falls under the Sint Maarten Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, on Friday, to discuss public health matters.

The closer cooperation in the health field came as a result of the alert issued by Anguilla health authorities last month with respect to Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) after several cases were diagnosed in Anguilla.

Sint Maarten Ministry of Public Health officials immediately at that time sought contact with their Anguilla colleagues with respect to gathering information about HFMD.

The meeting materialized based on an extended invitation by Sint Maarten to Anguilla to discuss and exchange information especially with respect to HFMD.

Further deliberations focused on improving skills and competencies and building partnerships as it relates to surveillance and other health programs.

Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Hon. Cornelius de Weever was very pleased with the connection that has been established between Anguilla and Sint Maarten public health officials, and he is looking forward to strengthening this relationship in the public health field to the benefit of the peoples of both islands.

Says one focus should be on youth

Philipsburg:--- During her weekly call-in radio program One on One with the Prime Minister on 98.1 FM, the Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams again stressed the need for corporate social responsibility in the community of St. Maarten. Her comments during the radio program echoed the ones the PM made at the Social and Economic Council (SER) Symposium on the 12th of June.

"I was quite pleased by the SER initiative to cover the topic of corporate responsibility and the fact that our advisory councils are organizing these types events is exemplary; they give the population the opportunity to deliberate and engage in the development of their country.

"At a time when Government is looking at ways to continue to move St. Maarten forward, you see businesses participating in many activities. But what should be made clear is that next to the bottom line, what is it that drives businesses and corporations to contribute to the community in which they make their money. If we can come to an understanding regarding where the most emphasis should be put in moving our community forward that would be an important achievement. I therefore highlight the initiative of the National Development Plan in seeking to bring a common vision by any St. Maarten or groups as businesses as to where we want St. Maarten to go. I believe we have laid the groundwork for the businesses to focus on its contribution to society.

The PM continued by stating that, as a society, the public and private sectors should pool all of its resources and discuss areas on which the focus should be placed in bringing corporate social responsibility to the forefront; "For example: our youth is a sector where considerable focus should be placed, both in financial terms as well as reaching out to them. Rehabilitation programs are a real example of this. These are the discussions we should be having with regards to corporations talking about the country of St. Maarten.

"We should spearhead efforts where we produce quality investments that not only assists the corporations in growing and moving forward but the community in general. The private sector is also needing from Government action as well in ensuring that it is being completed," stated the Prime Minister.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- St. Maarten's calendar of health observances is to promote particular local or global health issues, and encourage our population to Get Checked. As of Sunday, June 16 and until the end of June, is observed as Men's Health Day. Sunday also represents Father's Day.

In connection with the aforementioned, the Collective Prevention Services (CPS) from the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labour, is calling on all fathers' to cut salt intake which in turn reduces blood pressure to normal levels.

Hypertension also known as High Blood Pressure is a chronic medical condition that is preventable and treatable. It is possible to develop high blood pressure at any age and anyone can get high blood pressure especially if they have a family history of it. It is the major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, two of the main causes of illness and death in the Caribbean and the Americas.

The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Cornelius De Weever is calling on the St. Maarten populace to 'Get Checked,' and know your risk factors.

Minister De Weever would like to use this opportunity to wish all father's "Happy Father's Day," on Sunday, June 16.

In the "How Healthy is St. Maarten?" study in 1998/1999, hypertension was the second most common chronic disorder and became worst as people grew older. More than twice as many elderly people suffer from high blood pressure compared to younger age groups. Having ones blood pressure checked regularly is very important, especially in light of the fact that 13% of the participants in Sint Maarten reported suffering from high blood pressure.

Although high blood pressure affects some 30 per cent of the adult population, a third of them do not know they have the condition.

Hypertension often has no symptoms, which means adults need to take every opportunity to get their blood pressure checked. The health risks of hypertension are even higher for people who also smoke, are obese or have diabetes.

Hypertension can be prevented by consuming less salt; maintaining a healthy and balanced diet; engaging in regular physical activity; avoiding tobacco use; and avoiding harmful use of alcohol.

PHILIPSBURG:--- A plenary public session of Parliament is scheduled for June 24.

The Plenary Session will be held on Monday, June 24 at 10:00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda point for the session is the position of the Chairman of Parliament.

This meeting has been requested by Members of Parliament (MP) Hon. Sylvia Meyers, Interim Faction Leader of the United People's party, MP Hon. Roy Marlin, Faction Leader of the Democratic Party, and Independent MP Hon. Romain Laville.

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

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

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

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- On Friday morning the Inter-Ministerial Working Group met for a third time in connection with the National Development Plan (NDP). The purpose of the meeting was to finalize roles, responsibilities and guidelines for the group; set joint priorities for the next three to four months; conclude the calendar of upcoming key events; and set a date for the presentation to the seven Secretary Generals. The aforementioned work group was established on May 17 with the objective of establishing a structure for an efficient and effective Inter-Ministerial Coordination for developing the NDP for the country.

Philipsburg:--- The Governor of St. Maarten drs. Eugene Holiday swore in the third Government of country St. Maarten on Friday afternoon at his office. Six of the seven Ministers took the oath in front of the Governor while the Minister of TEATT is yet to be vetted and sworn in.
The Ministers that took the oath were: Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams who went through the same procedure for the third time since St. Maarten became a country and Cornelius De Weever who is now part of the third government since 2010. The incoming Ministers are former Lt. Governor Dennis Richardson who left his job in the Netherlands to take up the position as Minister of Justice on St. Maarten, Patricia Lourens as Minister of Education, Youth, Sports, and Culture, Maurice Arnell-Lake Minister of VROMI, Martin Hassink Minister of Finance, and Mathias Voges Minister of Plenipotentiary. It is not yet known who will be the Minister of TEATT, the position is still empty because Romaine Laville failed the screening process to become a Minister.

At the swearing in ceremony were the relatives of the six Ministers, MPs Gracita Arrindell, Roy Marlin, and Romaine Laville. Among them was the leader of the United People's Party Theodore Heyliger.

The swearing in ceremony came weeks after the country went through its third political crisis when Laville and the two DP Members of Parliament pulled their support from the NA/DP/I-3 coalition government.

The former Deputy Prime Minister William Marlin contested the installation of a third government by submitting a Landsbesluit based on article 59 of the country's constitution to have the Parliament of St. Maarten annulled. The Governor in a letter to Marlin said that he wants Marlin and the other outgoing Ministers to take the LB to the Parliament of St. Maarten for ratification before he signs it. This is in contradiction of the rules of order that governs the governor which gave five reasons that forbids the governor from signing an LB. Article 21 of the rules of order of the governor states that if the governor feels that he has a problem signing an LB then he must send it to the crown for approval.

SMN News learnt that the previous Ministers from the National Alliance faction sent a letter to the Council of State and to the crown pointing out the various constitutional errors that took place throughout the process.

Click here to view more photos of the New Ministers after the swearing-in ceremony.

Appointment and Swearing in of Ministers and Minister Plenipotentiary.

Harbour View:--- On June 14, 2013, His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday, officiated the appointment and administered the oath of office to the Ministers and the Minister Plenipotentiary of the new cabinet.
All Ministers have met the regulatory requirements and they have been appointed as follows:

• Mrs. Sarah A. Wescot-Williams, Prime Minister, also Minister of General Affairs
• Mr. Dennis L. Richardson, Minister of Justice, also Deputy Prime Minister
• Mr. Maurice A. Lake, Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure
• Mr. Martinus J. Hassink, Minister of Finance
• Mrs. Patricia D. Lourens-Philip, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports
• Mr. Van Hugh C. de Weever, Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour
• Mr. Mathias S. Voges, Minister Plenipotentiary

Mrs. Sarah A. Wescot-Williams will also act as Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication temporarily.
In the UP/DP Governing Accord, integrity, transparency, reduction of bureaucracy and efficiency and service have been specified as focal points for the remaining governing term. Together with economic diversification, fiscal reform and simplification, social safety nets, job creation, training, poverty alleviation, community and infrastructural development, legislative focus, electoral, labour and immigration reform, national insurance and the completion of the reorganization of the Justice Ministry as focal issues for Sint Maarten, the governing accord will be executed as agreed upon by the coalition partners United Peoples Party, Democratic Party and the independent Member of Parliament Romain Laville.
During the official ceremony which took place at the Cabinet of the Governor, the Governor stated after the swearing in:
"You have just witnessed the transfer of executive responsibility for the governance of our island Sint Maarten from one team of ministers to a new team of ministers. A new team of ministers that was presented to me thanks to the work of formateur Ms. Wescot Williams following a path which was not without challenges. En route to the transfer, the strength and resolve of our nation has been put to the test. And a new chapter has been written in the constitutional history of our young nation and parliamentary democracy.
Today, six weeks after the start of the political developments that brought us to this point and three and a half weeks since the previous team of ministers made their positions available we have before us a new team of ministers. A lot has transpired in that six weeks period, some of which has given rise to some critical questions and requires that politicians take a good look in the mirror. Developments that have caused me, in my capacity as Governor of Sint Maarten to appeal to all stakeholders to do all that is necessary to maintain and protect the integrity of our constitutional democracy. I did so drawing from the words of the preamble to our constitution, namely:
We, The people of Sint Maarten, in order to record our objectives and convictions agree that the provisions of the constitution shall have the force of law. Today I wish to highlight some of our ideals as recorded:

• The first ideal being our determination as a people to work with each other;
• The second ideal being our declaration that we are a people that believe in the principle of democracy, in the rule of law, .... and in the entitlement of all individuals to the fundamental rights and freedoms;
• And the third ideal being our declaration that we wish to create a constitutional order based on an open and approachable government.

As a result we have no option but to work towards these ideals, as anything else will go against the general interest, that is against the interest of the people of Sint Maarten.
In monitoring recent political developments and looking ahead I am concerned about the increased divisiveness and accusations as well as about the increasing questions about this nations commitment towards mentioned ideals. Let me in that regard say that, I am sure, that is not what the people of Sint Maarten want. I say this, because of my firm belief in the good of the people of Sint Maarten and because I am particularly pleased and encouraged to see the increased level of involvement of and debate among the people of Sint Maarten regarding political developments during the past weeks. I therefore challenge you as the new team of ministers, as you assume your mandate to govern this beautiful country, to make the further building on the realization of our ideals your priority.
Accepting the function of minister through the taking of the oath today, is a solemn expression of your commitment to perform your function with integrity. It is your pledge of allegiance to the King and the Kingdom Charter and it is your individual declaration to always uphold the Constitution of Sint Maarten and to always dedicate yourself to foster the wellbeing of the People of Sint Maarten. In that regard, there rests on you individually as ministers and jointly as Council of Ministers a great responsibility. Through your oath, you have accepted the obligation to serve all the people of Sint Maarten. This based on the principles of democracy, on the rule of law, ...... and on respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms of all persons and anchored in our determination as a people to work together.
It is my hope and trust, that as you continue the march where your predecessors left off, that you will, through the application of the principles of good governance, answer the call to unite the people towards the further overall and balanced development of our island nation. This hope and trust comes from my firm belief in the good within and strength of the Sint Maarten people.
Your decisions will have lasting influences on the lives of the people of Sint Maarten. Thus, as you deliberate on taking action on the matters before you during your governing period, I wish you wisdom, individually and jointly, in the conduct of your responsibilities as you seek to meet your constitutional responsibility to the people of Sint Maarten.
With that in mind, I hereby congratulate the people of Sint Maarten with the installation of this new government and similarly congratulate each of you individually and jointly with your appointments as Prime-Minister, Ministers and Minister Plenipotentiary.

Thank you, God Bless you and God Bless Sint Maarten".

Press Release from the Governor's Cabinet

Philipsburg:--- The police recently, due to information given by persons within the community, located several marijuana plantations which seemingly have been increasing. On June 1st, a follow up on the investigation of a marijuana plantation in the Middle Region Dutch Quarter area revealed another large marijuana plantation in the hill behind Gibbs drive. During this investigation, a total of 485 marijuana plants and a large amount of farming equipment was found and confiscated.
On Friday June 14th, police investigated a location in the George Town road on the Mount William Hill where a marijuana plantation was located. On the scene the police found and confiscated 32 marijuana plants. No one has been arrested as yet as a suspect in this case.

KPSM Police Report

Philipsburg:--- On Friday June 14th at approximately 4:00am, a well-known lawyer working on Sint Maarten with initials S.J.F. was arrested for insulting and threatening police officers. The incident occurred in front of Golden Eyes Night Club on the Airport Boulevard where police were called to investigate a minor traffic accident between two vehicles, one of which was driven by the lawyer in question. During the investigation the lawyer who according to the investigating officers was under the influence of alcohol was not cooperating and on several occasions insulted the officers using profanity and verbally threatened their lives. Witnesses on the scene stated that they had seen the suspect earlier during the night at two different night clubs and that he had been drinking. The lawyer also told the officers that he knew persons in high positions and that he will have them lose their jobs. The lawyer was then arrested and taken to the Philipsburg Police Station where he remains in custody for further investigation.

KPSM Police Report

Father Bob during Church Service: "A flag is a very special and powerful symbol for a country. It makes us thrive in the best possible way as St. Maarteners."

Philipsburg:--- On Thursday, the 13th of June, the population of St. Maarten celebrate Flag Day; a day in which the significance, meaning and symbolism of the St. Maarten Flag is commemorated.

The Official Flag Day Ceremony Commenced with the Official Raising of the Flag, attended by the Uniformed Guard of the Police Force and the Voluntary Corps of St. Maarten VKS, invited guests and dignitaries include the Honorable Prime Minister and His Excellency the Governor.

The ceremonies continued with a National Church Service at the Roman Catholic Church on Front Street, where Father Bob gave a stirring homily regarding the meaning of the Flag to the Population and how this is related to matters of Faith: "A flag is a very special and powerful symbol for a country. It makes us thrive in the best possible way as St. Maarteners. The Flag appeals to the deepest core of our beings and appeals to our emotions. When we look to the flag it should bring out the best in our people and everything this flag stands for brings us out of darkness into the lightness of God

"The flag should be a reminder of the good citizens we are called to be. It is Gods will that by doing good you should quell the ignorant foolish talk and by God my St. Maarten people, have we been having some ignorant foolish talk lately in many different ways and on many different days. And it is thus on Flag Day that we are reminded that we have to move beyond that. We are called to love our brothers and sisters, to fear God and to love our Country, and that is what our flag reminds us of and that is what we must follow to be the best we can be as a society," commented Father Bob Johnson.

The Church Service also featured readings by Shirley Sadowski-Verlack, Aida Holaman and Emilia Thomas and was attended by His Excellency the Governor Eugene Holiday, Members of Parliament, Minister Jacobs, Minister Plenipotentiary Mathias Voges and the Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams, who stated that "A flag is a unifier. It represents a group, a nation, a people. It is a call to unite around a common purpose. This is our flag. It is a symbol that represents us."

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Philipsburg:--- The University of St. Martin (USM) added an alumni foundation to its organizational structure on Thursday afternoon. The USM Elite Alumni Foundation was launched at Speetjens Notary office by the official signing of its deed.
President Stuart Johnson said, "A promise made is a promise kept, as we did when I officially legalized USM's Student Government Association." Johnson signed the official deed in the presence of university official John Zaandam, Manager of Finance and Services as well as USM alumni member Januaira Leonard. The members of the board are: Paula Gordon, Tamara Groeneveldt and Sahcha Eustache. Former USM students are urged to look out for the registration information in regards to the alumni membership, which will be released in a subsequent media announcement.
Johnson said, "this historical milestone is dedicated to USM and our beloved country as we continue to pledge our unconditional support towards higher education." He concluded saying, "I wish to thank everyone who made this opportunity possible and trust the foundation will be embraced by all former students as well as the community itself. Your confidence in me as the alumni's first president and the other board members surely continues to motivate us."

POINT BLANCHE:--- The Port of St. Maarten is ready for the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season. A meeting has already taken place to discuss the plan of action for this season. All stakeholders meet annually to prepare for the season in order to make sure that all necessary actions are taken to protect the Port, one of the pillars of the country's economy.

All efforts are made by the harbour's staff and stakeholders to keep the facility open as long as possible and to open back up as soon as possible. The St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies realize the importance of getting back to business as soon as possible, however, safety is always the primary principle that dictates the actions to be taken.

The port facility is an open harbor, and this means that the effects of waves are felt directly from the open sea. Unfortunately this is why sometimes operations are hampered even when a hurricane passes far away. The waves and swells affect ships trying to stay alongside the pier. The ships roll too much for the cranes to safely offload the cargo, and passengers cannot disembark and embark safely.

The dangers of damage to the ship and piers must also be taken into consideration. Operations must then wait for seas to subside to allow for the ships to berth safely. Ships have to deviate when a hurricane is in their path or route. The effects can be; cargoes being delayed and cruise ships going to other ports. Ships agents have their hands full as the cargo's that are rerouted have to now also be rerouted at times or wait until the next round trip. On the other hand, a hurricane somewhere else may have ships coming to St. Maarten for an unplanned visit.

Depending on severity of a passing hurricane, waves and swell damages can be severe, as water will move earth.

A full assessment is made of the property as soon as weather permits. After the waves and swells subside, which can take some time; it is necessary to survey the seabed for possible debris that can damage a ships bottom or propellers. Underwater structures such as seawalls and pilings are checked for damages in the post-storm period.

The Port receives the input from shops, stevedoring companies, cargo shipping lines as well as the cruise lines, tour operators on land and sea, in preparation for a storm strike. Many man hours are required to prepare the harbour when a hurricane is on track to pass the island.

Depending on the expected winds, sometimes containers have to be moved and placed so as to avoid or try to minimize damage. The ports large mobile cranes have to be moved to a safe location. The crane booms are lowered so that there is the least effect of wind on them.

Properties must be secured such as signage taken down, awnings removed etc. All structures near the water have to be removed. Some of this equipment is large and cumbersome. Storage areas are designated to allow access and for all equipment to be able to be put back in place as soon as possible once the all clear-sign has been given by the Office of Disaster Management.

Great Bay:--- VOICES FOUNDATION is inviting the people of St Maarten/St.Martin to their Cultural Ancestral July 1 Emancipation Day Celebration at the Emilio Wilson Park with the Theme "You are Greatness, you come from Greatness"- Monday, July 1st - 2pm-6pm.

The President of VOICES Ms Nkosazana Esther Illis understands and respects the Greatness of our Ancestors and believes all people of St. Maarten, especially the youth need to come together on this special day to celebrate where we came from as a people." You were born and destined to do Great things....you are Greatness, you come from Greatness" - Ms. Nkosazana Illis.

To show the appreciation of St. Maarten's youth, VOICES will be honoring the most improved student of the various secondary schools for the 2012 - 2013 academic school year.

The program will also be filled with local historians, storytelling, poetry, dance, arts and crafts, and music by the Legendary DJ Wilson. Local St. Maarten traditional food and drinks will also be on sale.

VOICES is encouraging the people of St Maarten to come out and bring their blankets as the event is a picnic style occasion. See you there!

VOICES is a "Grassroots" Foundation which bears the name Victory-Over-Injustice-Consciously-Eliminating-Silence.

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams held an introductory meeting with Marine Detachment Commander Patrick Wokke (opposite PM) at her Cabinet on Wednesday afternoon. Major Wokke was joined by Lieutenant Colonel Edwin Hofma (right), commander of the Marine Base Savaneta in Aruba and Lieutenant Colonel S. A Blaas (left), Policy Advisor to the Royal Dutch Marines. As the Minister of General Affairs the Prime Minister is the National Minister responsible for defense matters on a Country level.

The Prime Minister, in previous meetings with the Royal Dutch Marines and with the Former Kingdom Minister of Defense Hillen, has held wide discussions on the establishment for a Marine Base on St. Maarten. The Prime Minister has stated previously that the establishment of such a base in St. Maarten is important consideration when one takes into account the protection and defense mission of the marines. "In cases of disasters St. Maarten previously has had to request the deployment of Marines for assistance to the Minister of Defense in Netherlands via the Governor. Having Marine Base on St. Maarten will assist that procedure and will ensure that we have a faster deployment in the event of a Hurricane for example," continued the Prime Minister.

The PM has also previously stressed that having a Marine Base on St. Maarten will also have an economic impulse by having a contingent of Marine Officer stationed on the island at a location to be determined full time, with rotating groups coming in frequently.

"What is also important is that we could and will have as part of the Marine Base on St. Maarten a social formation program for young local people. The Marines on the island would be instrumental in taking care of the program that would also be an important aspect of the Marine Base here. So if we look at an economic aspect, safety and defense aspect, and a social formation project we are in agreement with the Minister in having such a base come to St. Maarten," concluded the Prime Minister.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

PM wishes team success representing St. Maarten/St. Martin in Anguilla.

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams received an honorary Oualichi Women's Soccer Team Jersey from Oualichi Women's Soccer Team members Danae Daal and Ashanti Van Heyningen during a presentation at the PM's Cabinet on Wednesday. Sixteen ladies from the Oualichi Team will be representing the Friendly Island against the Anguilla National Women's Selection on Saturday. The PM wished the team much success and commended them for their efforts to represent Country St. Maarten playing women's soccer abroad.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Lowlands:--- On Wednesday June 12th at approximately 9:30pm, several police patrols were directed to Jordan Drive in Lowlands where an armed robbery was reported. On the scene the investigating officers located the victims who were both tied up. According to the victims they were both attacked and seriously beaten by two unknown armed men. The suspects threatened the victims with their weapons while their home was searched. The suspects stole jewelry, cash and the victims' car and then fled the scene. The victims were treated on the scene by paramedics. The Detective Department and Forensic are conducting their investigation.

KPSM Police Report

Harbour View:--- On June 13th , 2013, His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday, received the final report of formateur S. Wescot-Williams.
The formateur has accepted the commission to form a new government that has a majority in Parliament and that consists of Ministers who are committed to the promotion of the well-being of Sint Maarten and dedicated to jointly execute the UP/DP Governing Declaration, agreed upon by the coalition partners Democratic Party, United People's Party, and independent Member of Parliament Romain Laville.
The formateur has nominated the following persons for appointment as Ministers and Minister Plenipotentiary:

• Mrs. Sarah A. Wescot-Williams, Prime Minister, also Minister of General Affairs
• Mr. Maurice A. Lake, Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure,
• Mr. Dennis L. Richardson, Minister of Justice;
• Mr. Martinus J. Hassink, Minister of Finance;
• Mrs. Patricia D. Lourens-Philip, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports;
• Mr. Van Hugh C. de Weever, Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour;
• Mr. Mathias S. Voges, Minister Plenipotentiary

The vetting of the candidate ministers and the candidate Minister Plenipotentiary, based on the pertinent regulations regulating the appointment of ministers has not produced any data that could impede their appointment.
The Governor has scheduled the appointment and swearing in of the Ministers and Minister Plenipotentiary on June 14th, 16:00 hrs, at the Governor's Office. After the ceremony, the Governor and the newly appointed Ministers will have the constituting meeting in the A.C. Wathey Legislative Hall.

From the Governor's Cabinet

Urges Graduates to be leaders in whatever they choose to do

Belair:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams addressed the Learning Unlimited Graduating class at a filled to capacity Belair Community Center on Wednesday evening.

The Prime Minister stated that although she realized that speeches were often times boring, but wanted to nonetheless offer some words to the Graduating Class.

"Let us be honest here this evening; I know that my remarks here tonight will not be one which you will hang onto every word; your focus is on your plans for later and the very important steps that lie before you. And indeed you are entitled to that; you are entitled to celebrate your high school completion and to share the friendships you have built; you are entitled to show some love for your teachers and parents and all of those who have helped you along the way. But knowing all of that why then would I have you sit through a speech here tonight? It is because I feel that I had to tell you here this evening that you, as Graduating students, should control the bar that you set for yourselves and indeed that is the title of my speech; to control the bar.

"You must control the bar according to the goals you have set for yourselves; according to the standards, or the bar, that you aspire to. Control the achievements you hope to attain. And you should raise that bar in always reaching higher. Do not be apologetic for raising that bar; for putting aside short term enjoyment for your long term goals. I see many leaders here amongst you tonight; leaders in the area of athletics, science, academics and yes, also politics. Be that leader, set your bar using the tools that you have been provided and which allowed you to develop academically, socially and culturally. Now it is up to you to use those tools that you have been given and build on your tomorrow. Congratulations to the Graduating Class, Teachers, Staff and Students. You made it and you deserved it. Go out and make your mark," concluded the PM.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

POINT BLANCHE:--- The Port of St. Maarten is looking forward to welcoming another new vessel that will be calling at the destination, namely Norwegian Breakaway in January 2014.

The Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) took delivery of the 146,600 gross tonnage vessel from Meyer Werft a few months ago after a building period of 18 months. The vessel carries 4,000 cruise passengers and 1,600 crew.

Norwegian Breakaway is the first of two Breakaway class ships the Papenburg-based shipyard is building for NCL. The Norwegian Getaway, the sister ship, will launch in Miami in early 2014.

Beginning October 13, Norwegian Breakaway will offer seven-day voyages from New York City to The Bahamas and Florida, as well as two 12-day sailings to the Southern Caribbean.

The new design of the luxury vessels offers guests a multitude of special features and comfort where approximately 75 per cent of the staterooms are outside staterooms, most of them with their own balconies.

The vessel carries the latest engine technology with respect to energy saving and ecological. The diesel-electric pod drive system, improved hydrodynamics as well as effective energy saving, heat recovery or ballast water treatment, guarantees significantly reduced operating costs.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Mingo of the St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies is looking forward to welcoming another new vessel to the Port of St. Maarten in January 2014.

"I am very pleased to learn about the new innovations that went into constructing this new luxury vessel that is better for the environment and also cuts down on the operating costs for the cruise line. This means that the line can offer cheaper cruises allowing for more people to take a cruise which in turn means more business for the destination.

"NCL has been a strategic partner for the country for many years and we look forward to welcoming this new luxurious vessel come January 2014," CEO Mark Mingo said.

Cole Bay:--- Caribbean Auto held a joint CAR SHOW with Motorworld at its Union Rd. Cole Bay location to celebrate Father's Day. Customers were able to receive up to $3000 cash back on selected models or purchase any other model and receive a free flat screen TV, Laptop, or Apple iPad. RBC Royal Bank was available all day for on the spot bank financing. Many customers came in and enjoyed the live music, free food and drinks, and the amazing display of vehicles.
The Father's Day Car Show Specials have been extended for proformas issued from June 3rd until June 30th 2013.
Caribbean Auto is the car dealer for the brands Ford, Volkswagen, Mazda, Land Rover, Mercedes- Benz, and Lincoln for St. Maarten and neighboring islands. For more information visit the Caribbean Auto showroom which is located on Union road, Cole Bay, St. Maarten. Tel 1-721-544-5211 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Motorworld was voted "The Best Auto Dealer" on St. Maarten by the public of St. Maarten. Motorworld is the car dealer for the brands Hyundai, Honda, Daihatsu, Jeep, Dodge, Ram and Chrysler, for St. Maarten and neighboring islands. For more information visit the Motorworld showroom which is located on Welfare rd #20, Cole Bay, St. Maarten. Tel 1-721-544-5294 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Caribbean Auto Press Release

Calls on Corporate Citizens to Contribute to National Development Plan

Oyster Pond:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams delivered the introductory remarks at the Social and Economic Council's Symposium Entitled "Innovate or Deteriorate: Corporate Social Responsibility and the Way Forward for St. Maarten" at the Westin Dawn Beach resort on Wednesday. The main focus of the Prime Minister's address was the inherent social responsibility of Corporate Citizens on St. Maarten and their contribution in moving the development of St. Maarten forward, particularly with regards to the National Development Plan.

"If we study the numbers of the Chamber of Commerce we have no lack of corporations on the island. There are many, big and small, that are active and not so active in the social arena. And so today, as we look at that responsibility of cooperation on St. Maarten, the question I would like to hear addressed would be the one asking specifically what drives the feeling of social responsibility of cooperation right here on St. Maarten. Corporations have indeed the responsibility to contribute to the community in which they find themselves established: the community of St. Maarten. It is important as we look at that responsibility, of corporate citizens on St. Maarten, that we look at it in the bigger picture of the development of St. Maarten and the contribution of everyone to that development.

"Also with regards to development: I encourage the gathering to create the environment that will ensure that corporate citizens will contribute to the National Development Plan for the Country of St. Maarten, thus incorporating social responsibility to fit into this framework. The Private Sector has a very important role to play in the establishment of the National Development Plan. A plan where no one can be left behind and one in which all have a role to play.

The Prime Minister also greeted Keynote Speaker Prof. Dr. Ryan Peterson, highlighting the fact that the renown Academic and UNESCO Research Chair comes from St. Maarten lineage. In a very special way I would like to greet our esteemed guest and Keynote Speaker Dr. Ryan Peterson. If one wonders what our parents and grandparents from St. Maarten did were doing when they moved to the other islands of the Dutch Caribbean, It is my opinion that they were actually preparing to provide those island's with technical assistance using our resources," quipped the PM.

The SER was established in May of 2011 and has as its main goal the advising of government on policies and draft laws in the social and economic field. The Government of St. Maarten requests advice from the SER on matters of a social and economic nature and the SER in turn offers solicited or unsolicited advice to Government on draft laws and policies that fall within its mandate. The Prime Minister initiated the Social Economic Council in May 2011 and conducted the first official meeting of the council at the AC Wathey Legislative Hall that same month.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Emergency Medical Services (EMS), will be kicking off EMS Week on Sunday June 16th with a Church Service at the New Testament Baptist Church at 11:00am across from Government Administration Building.

Ambulance Department Head Cylred Richardson told the Department of Communication (DCOMM) that EMS Week which is being carried out under the theme, "EMS One Mission One Team," is a special time to recognize the lifesaving work of the island's emergency medical service professionals working in the pre-hospital care setting, hospital and volunteer EMS organizations."

Attention also needs to be given to first responders working in the field of law enforcement and fire prevention.

Minister of Public Health Social Development & Labor Hon. Cornelius de Weever extends words of congratulation and recognizes the hard work of both career and volunteer EMS agencies on the celebration of EMS week 2013 which is being organized by his ministry.

The Minister encourages the public to use the week as an opportunity to recognize the critical role of EMS responders and agencies.

EMS is uniquely positioned to bring potential parties together to plan for and minimize the impact that disasters have on health.

Disaster response and recovery requires a whole community working together. It's one mission, one team. EMS is a critical part of that team, there when every minute counts.

During the week emphasis will be placed on creating the awareness within the community in general and specifically lifesaving techniques amongst the youth & law enforcement personnel.

A number of radio interviews are planned to bring the awareness of EMS and about the critical role EMS plays within our community.

From June 17-19, there will be lectures in a number of schools on lifesaving techniques, drinking and driving, distracted driving when texting and talking on the phone.

On June 20, there will be lectures and demonstration on Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for law enforcement officers including Community Police and specifically those working in the uniformed division as first responders on the scene.

On June 21, the annual Motorcade Parade will be the highlight for the closure of EMS week 2013. Also planned for that evening is the recognition and appreciation that will be shown to two ambulance personnel followed by a Karaoke Night at the Ambulance Headquarters in Cay Hill.

French Quarter:--- A family from French Quarter found a 12 year old boy on Le Galion Beach around 10pm Tuesday night with marks of violence and what appeared to be a skin disease. According to the family, they were in the bushes on Le Galion Beach looking for crabs when they found the child who was crying, his clothes were wet and he had marks of violence about his face. The family told SMN News that the child told them he lives on the Dutch side of the island and is also attending school on the Dutch side. "The boy told us his name is Anthony, he also told us that his mother beat him very badly and she wanted to kill him. He was not wearing any shoes or slippers when we found him and he was bleeding from his face. The child could not say how he got on the beach. At one point, he said he ran away when his mother began beating him and afterwards he said he did not know how he got to the beach. It took us a long time to get the child to speak to us, he was not responding at first but we insisted that he tell us what he was doing on the beach at that hour of the night alone."

The family said they called the Gendarmes who questioned the child in their presence and then the four gendarmes took him to the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital for treatment. Up to Thursday young Anthony was still a patient at the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital.

SMN News reporter went to the hospital to see the child and to gather pertinent information on the parents of the child but the social workers at the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital said that they are not allowed to divulge any information on minors who are in their care. They did admit that the child was a patient at the hospital and they were doing their best to care for him.

The social workers said they are doing the best they could to provide treatment and care for the young boy while they already contacted the Court of Guardianship on the Dutch side for assistance. The Social workers referred SMN News to the Gendarmes for more information since they were unable to allow anyone close to the boy or to give out information on his condition.

Captain of the Gendarmerie, Sylvain Jouault confirmed on Thursday morning that a child was found alone on the beach Tuesday night around 10pm. Jouault said the child was taken to the hospital and the Gendarmes opened an investigation to determine why the minor boy was on the beach alone that night and to also determine who ill-treated him. Jouault said that they need to know if the child ran away from home because that is very prevalent on St. Maarten. When SMN News asked Captain Jouault if they contacted the Dutch authorities for assistance he said that they did not because the investigation they opened is not yet completed and when they contact the Dutch authorities they wanted to have a complete report on the case. Jouault further explained later (Thursday afternoon) that the mother of the child was found by the Dutch side Social Services and she was taken to the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital on Wednesday morning to explain who ill-treated her son and how he ended up on the beach alone on the French side. Jouault said that the child ran away from home and the family seems to have social problems. The Captain of the Gendarmerie further explained that the child is not a French citizen and he does not live on the French side, therefore the Prosecutor on the French side of the island has sent the files on the investigation they conducted to the Dutch side Prosecutor's Office who would decide whether or not they will prosecute the mother for her actions.

According to Chief Commissioner of Police Peter de Witte the Gendarmes did not ask them for any assistance on the case. De Witte said police on the Dutch side do not even know of the case. He also confirmed that no one filed a complaint with the police for a missing child.

Philipsburg:--- A man was shot sometime on Sunday in the vicinity of Carnival Village. The victim who is from the island of Jamaica was flown off island for further medical treatment, confirmed Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos.
Mos said a suspect was arrested on Wednesday morning, while another suspect was arrested in the evening and a house search was conducted Wednesday night at the suspect's house located in Sucker Garden.

Two suspects in the shooting incident arrested.

On Wednesday June 12th, two suspects in the shooting incident which took place in the evening hours on Monday June 10th in Rock Salt road on Pond Island were arrested by police. Both arrests took place without incident. The initials of the suspects are M.A.J. (20) and E.R.J (18), both from Sint Maarten. This shooting left the victim K.M.K. from Jamaica seriously injured and had to be flown abroad for further medical treatment. Both suspects remain in custody while the Detective Department and Forensic Department conduct their investigation.

KPSM Police Report

Harbour View:--- Considering the current political environment and the ongoing debate His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday considers it important that the population take stock of the situation free from the ongoing political maneuvering. In that regard the Governor wishes to emphasize that political debate is a prerequisite for growth in any democracy. And the Governor stresses that it goes without saying that such should take place peacefully and with mutual respect for the opinions of all sides.
As a result of the political developments leading up to the resignation of the current government on May 22, 2013, the Governor has in keeping with his role as constitutional Governor consulted extensively with the players involved. Depending on the situation the Governor has encouraged and warn parties, always emphasizing that it is imperative that parties adhere to the democratic principles as laid down in the constitution of Sint Maarten.
With regard to the discussions about the authorities of Parliament and of the Council of Ministers, it is essential to note that in our dualistic system of government the authorities of both bodies are separate and independent. This does not mean, however, that within or between the two bodies differences of opinions will not arise from time to time. That is currently the case. In such situations various outcomes are possible: (a) a new government is formed based on early elections for a new parliament (article 59 of the Constitution) or (b) a new government is formed based on a new majority in the sitting Parliament (article 33 of the Constitution). Although politics will always play a role in that process, the actions of political maneuvering of various players on both sides of the debate that took place since May 6, 2013, have given rise to concerns.
Where there is political maneuvering, it is not the role of the Governor to dictate what should or what should not be done politically. As constitutional Governor when actions resulted in such concerns his role is to - and he has warned against such - emphasizing that he will only ratify decisions that are in keeping with the democratic principles as anchored in the rule of law through our constitution aimed at safeguarding good governance.
Part of the political maneuvering was the conflict between the majority in Parliament and the majority in the Council of Ministers. By Wednesday evening, May 22, 2013, all Ministers had made their positions available in view of the political developments and indicated that they are willing to stay on as caretaker ministers until a new government has been appointed. To avoid a vacuum in government, the Governor requested that the ministers continue working until a new government is formed. The cabinet as of that moment, took on a caretaker status. At the same time, there was a conflict between the Chairman of Parliament and the new majority in Parliament. The chairman, in keeping with the democratic principles as laid down in the Constitution, eventually resigned making way for the new majority in Parliament.
Another part of the political maneuvering was the conflict within the Council of Ministers between the prime-minister and the majority of ministers regarding the handling of the majority's May 7, 2013 proposal to dissolve parliament. Four of the six caretaker ministers, in keeping with the democratic principles as laid down in the Constitution, convened an extra-ordinary Council of Ministers' meeting on June 4, 2013. In accordance with the Rules of Order of the Council of Ministers, the four ministers were justified to convene that meeting and to put the draft national decree to dissolve Parliament as discussion point on the agenda. In that extra-ordinary meeting they approved the draft national decree to dissolve Parliament and call new elections. As of that moment, that political conflict was resolved by the majority of the Council of Ministers in that, as outlined in the explanatory note to article 39 sub 4 to the Constitution, decisions of the Council of Ministers are taken by the Council of Ministers and not by the prime-minister or the individual ministers.
The draft national decree to dissolve parliament and call new elections, as was decided on in the extra-ordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers, was submitted to the Governor for ratification on June 5, 2013. Taking the caretaker status of the Council of Ministers and considering that the process of forming a new government supported by a majority in Parliament is taking place, the Governor informed the caretaker ministers that they are to send the draft national decree to Parliament for its consent, prior to his signing for ratification. This consent is deemed necessary because dissolving Parliament would mean that directly after an election, a caretaker government could also immediately dissolve the newly formed Parliament again and call new elections if they disagree with the outcome of the elections. And in doing so, the caretaker government could continue to hold the democratic process hostage indefinitely. Moreover, article 33 of the Constitution, states that if Parliament no longer has confidence in ministers they are to make their position available. Noteworthy is that through its motion of May 24, 2013 the majority in Parliament has clearly stated that it no longer supports the caretaker government. In this situation, consent of Parliament to approve its dissolution could be considered part of the system of checks and balances. It should be noted however, that this check would not have been required if the Council of Ministers had not already tendered their resignation,
A final important aspect in the recent political developments, has been the petition by concerned citizens calling for new elections. This matter was brought to the Governor's attention and in keeping with his Constitutional role, the Governor has forwarded the petition to the Council of Ministers for handling and decision making based on which the Governor could act.
In conclusion, it is not the role of the Governor to dictate the result of differences of political opinions. In his constitutional role of Governor, when actions result in concerns, the Governor's role is to warn and emphasize that he will only ratify decisions that are in keeping with the democratic principles as anchored in the rule of law through Sint Maarten's Constitution aimed at safeguarding good governance. With the tendering of the resignation of the entire Council of Ministers on Wednesday evening, May 22, 2013, and considering the motion of Parliament stating that it no longer supports the current government and that it wishes to form a new government, a political choice was made to form a new government supported by a new majority in Parliament.

From the Cabinet of the Governor of St. Maarten

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao:--- Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Beers relinquished command of the United States Forward Operating Locations (USFOL) in Curacao and Aruba to Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Reny today. The Change of Command is a time-honored military tradition which symbolizes the continuation of leadership and unit identity, despite the change in individual authority. It also allows other airmen to personally witness the command authority passing from one officer to another. Passing the ceremonial flag from the old commander to the new commander physically represents this transfer.
Commander Beers distinguished himself with outstanding service to the United States as Commander, Detachment 2, 612th Theater Operation Group, Headquarters Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern), Forward Operating Locations Curacao and Aruba. During this period, Commander Beers expertly directed over 110 aircraft and 1900 joint and multinational personnel supporting the United States' Southern Command and Joint Interagency Task Force-South's counter-transnational organized crime operations, resulting in 539 counter-drug missions totaling 3,926 flight hours.
He coordinated with two heads of state, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Department of State in a regional effort yielding 349 arrests and the seizure of 140 metric tons in illegal narcotics worth over US $2.6 billion. Additionally, Commander Beers implemented over US $6.4 million in base infrastructure projects in line with directives from the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Staff, including several force protection and energy saving initiatives which enhanced access control point security and will significantly reduce energy consumption. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Commander Beers reflect great credit upon him and the United States Air Force. Commander Beers received a Meritorious Service Medal First Oak Leaf Cluster for his accomplishments.
Lieutenant Colonel Reny received his commission in 1995 through the prestigious United States Air Force Academy. Colonel Reny has served in various wing, squadron, and air force staff assignments prior to taking command in Curacao and Aruba. (full bio attached)
The U.S. FOL, 429th Expeditionary Operations Squadron, supports multi-national aircraft operations that conduct detection, monitoring and tracking missions supporting counter-drug and counter-smuggling efforts in the region. U.S. FOL Curaçao was formed as a part of a
multi-lateral agreement between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United States, whereby aircraft and crews deploy to the U.S. FOL on a temporary basis to conduct operations.

Distinguished Toastmasters Valerie Brazier was elected to the position of Lieutenant Governor Education & Training (LGET), at the recently concluded Toastmasters International District 81 Conference in Guyana. This position goes into effect as of July 1st 2013 and is the second highest ranking position within District 81. Close to two hundred Toastmasters from across the Caribbean and South America came together for yet another successful Toastmasters District 81 Conference. During the Conference, Toastmasters and guests participated in various educational sessions, social gatherings and Business meetings. A delegation of 14 Toastmasters representing the various Clubs on St. Maarten traveled to Guyana and participated actively in the various events. For the past year, Ms. Brazier has functioned in the position of Lieutenant Governor Marketing, where she has been instrumental in accomplishing the following;

• Expanding District 81 with 3 new territories namely, Antigua, Anguilla, and Dominica bringing the total amount of territories to 20 with 123 Clubs. Upgrading the District 81 website: www.caribbeantoastmasters.com and upholding the Toastmasters International brand refresh.

When asked, Miss. Brazier mentioned that during her upcoming term as Lieutenant Governor Education and Training she intends to work closely with the other District Executive members to implement a 5 year strategic plan. In addition, she will ensure that all district and club officers receive the necessary training and materials needed to help them carry out their roles effectively. She will also coordinate the Toastmasters "Train the Trainers" Program; which will allow for a pool of new presenters and trainers throughout the district.
As LGET it is her responsibility to also guide and work closely with the Conference Planning Committee assisting in planning the two annual District conferences. DTM Valerie Brazier would like to thank all District 81 members for their confidence in allowing her to serve during the 2013-2014 term as LGET.
She encourages individuals who are interested in developing better communication and leadership skills to become a member of the Toastmasters organization by joining one of the many clubs throughout District 81. District 81 comprises the following territories throughout the
Caribbean: Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Barbados, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Sint Lucia, Dominica, Martinique, Haiti, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten / Saint Martin, British Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands, Antigua, Anguilla, Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada and Guyana.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Minister of Culture Hon. Silveria Jacobs wishes to extend congratulations to the people of St. Maarten in the commemoration of Flag Day 2013.

The St. Maarten flag stands as one of our National symbols, depicting the courage of our people, our unity and appreciation of our environment.

When we see our flag, it is with pride and joy at being a citizen and resident of this island where many flock to live, work and play.

We are blessed by the bounty and beauty of nature and I urge each and every one of us to hold that pride dear, but to let our actions show in preserving it for generations to come.

Each and every one of us must contribute to preserving our St. Maarten by pledging to keep it clean, by taking care of our nature - trees, beaches, ponds, hills, flora and fauna.

We can also contribute in a great way by looking out for our even more treasured resource, our children and youth.

Taking pride in our country means we are part of the solution to our myriad challenges.

I challenge each and every citizen to step out and be heard, volunteer and/or donate. We can be the difference.

May God bless St. Maarten and its people - Happy Flag Day!!!

Over the past days the Board of financial supervision Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (College financieel toezicht Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba - Cft) had conversations with the three Executive Councils of the Public Entities and the Island Council of Bonaire. During the consultations amongst other things the annual reports of 2012, the execution of the 2013 budget and the preparation of the budget for the coming year were discussed.

Cautious financial management as well as the increase of the 'vrije uitkering' and its indexation, caused the financial position of the Public Entities to improve. For 2012, for the first time a positive result was achieved for the three Public Entities. For all the Public Entities the financial management has improved as well. The islands are well on their way to realize the priorities for this year.

Now that a positive result over 2012 is accomplished, it is the right time to focus on building up a resistance capital (weerstandsvermogen). The Board pointed out to the Public Entities how important it is to identify the risks the islands confront, such as natural disasters, and the need to develop a policy focused on the development of resistance capital, to be able to cope with these risks.

In this regard it is relevant that the islands have prepared comprehensive development plans for the coming years. The build-up of resistance capital is even more important when the Public Entities apply for loans for these development plans. The payment cost (aflossingslasten) will increase, whereby the flexibility of the budget may decrease. The surpluses of 2012 could partially be reserved for the development of resistance capital.

All Public Entities set important steps in the progress of their financial management. Saba strives for an approved declaration from the accountant concerning a true and fair view presented in the annual reports for 2012. Sint Eustatius however may be experiencing a delay in the submission of its execution report and annual report, but made remarkable progress in organizing its administration. Bonaire expects to stipulate the annual reports again in a timely manner.

With regard to the financial management the Board has stressed on the stipulated standards (normenkader) and the corresponding management tools to make the account able to evaluate the legitimacy of the accountability. The Public Entities have also set this as a priority. This is important to account for the expenditures of the Executive Councils.

The Public Entities expressed their worries concerning the capacity of their personnel. The Board emphasizes the importance, continuous focus on the capacity is taking place to ensure the improvements accomplished.

CFT Press Release

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Parents and guardians as well as others are reminded to attend the 2nd Youth Health Care (YHC) Vaccination Outreach and Family Planning Session to be held in Dutch Quarter on June 13.

It's an opportunity for residents of Dutch Quarter and surrounding areas to come out on Thursday, June 13 at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School from 5:00pm to 7:30pm, to have their children's vaccination status checked, and also receive information about family planning.

The theme for the vaccination campaign this year is "A Shared Responsibility."

Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius de Weever 'Get Checked' campaign is in line with the efforts of CPS and therefore Minister De Weever is appealing to guardians and parents to get their children's vaccination status checked on June 13.

The objectives of the campaign are to stimulate parents to have their child(ren) vaccinated; to bring about awareness as it relates to vaccinations and to encourage parents and the community at large to take responsibility by ensuring updated vaccination records for the children in their care.

In addition the campaign aims to provide the public with general vaccination information; to encourage others such as, health care workers, pregnant women and pre-and exam class students to update their vaccination status.

To encourage risk groups such as waste/garbage handlers, the Police, hotel and restaurant workers, and others to verify and update their vaccination status, particularly on Hepatitis B and Tetanus.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a section of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, has been alerted by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) about an increase in patient visits for influenza-like (flu) illness as well as hospitalizations associated with influenza in countries in the Southern Hemisphere.

The PAHO issued epidemiological alert to Member States pointed out that this time of year is the start of the influenza season in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela.

PAHO has advised Member States to ensure the adequate clinical management of patients, and the strict implementation of prevention and control measures in health care settings, and to reinforce communication to the public on preventative measures.

The Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius de Weever 'Get Checked' campaign emphasizes the importance of individuals taking preventive measures. The primary form of influenza transmission is through interpersonal contact. Hand washing is the most effective way of reducing transmission.

Persons and families planning a holiday in one of the countries in the Southern Hemisphere (South America), should take preventative measures once they arrive at their holiday destination.

Keeping hands clean through improved hand hygiene is one of the most important steps one can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Washing your hands should take 40 to 60 seconds.

If clean, running water is not accessible, as is common in many parts of the world, use soap and available water. You can also use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 per cent alcohol to clean hands.

Your hands should be washed before, during, and after preparing food; before eating food; after using the toilet; after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

Flu viruses also may spread when people touch something with the flu virus on it and then tough their mouth, eyes, or nose. Many other viruses spread these ways too.

Preventive actions entails: try to avoid close contact with sick people; cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze; throw the tissue in the trash after you use it; clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu.

POINT BLANCHE:--- The Port of St. Maarten is working with Seabourn Cruise Line on a long-term home-porting agreement. The Seabourn Spirit has been home porting during the past winter/spring seasons, and because of a successful home-porting experience, a commitment over the long-term is being explored.

The port has the necessary facilities and experience in forming strategic partnerships, and St. Maarten as a cruise destination is in itself a preferred destination for international cruise lines.

Seabourn has already indicated that destination St. Maarten is in alignment with the cruise lines brand.

Seabourn Cruise Line is considered the World's Best Small Ship Cruise Line in surveys by readers of Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure. Seabourn started in 1988 with the 208 passenger Seabourn Pride. Today, the company has six ships with passenger capacity varying between 208 and 450.

In 2009, Seabourn debut the Seabourn Odyssey, which was hailed as a game-changer for the ultra-luxury segment of the cruise market. The vessel is larger than its sister ships with 450 guests.

The Odyssey has since been joined by two identical sisters, Seabourn Sojourn in 2010 and Seabourn Quest in 2011.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Mingo of the St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies says he is working diligently to secure a long-term strategic partnership with Seabourn where home-porting is concerned.

"So far home-porting has been very successful for the destination. Like I said earlier this year, we do not have the infrastructure and logistics to homeport a vessel with 3,000 passengers and 5,000 pieces of luggage. We can handle comfortably 500 to 1000 passengers.

"We are making strides and have now reached the point of securing a long-term strategic partnership like we have with the larger cruise lines. Seabourn is a high end line which is committed. Between 20 to 30 per cent of those passengers of home-porting take a pre and post vacation on the island besides their cruise.

"Our taxi's and hotels are benefiting from home-porting and we now need to move forward in getting other vessels of a similar nature and size to operate out of the Port of St. Maarten where we as a port and as a destination have a lot to offer. Our goal and mission is to become the home-porting destination of the North Eastern Caribbean," CEO Mingo concluded.

Philipsburg:--- The father of a 17 year old girl remains in pre-trial detention for sexually abusing his underage daughter for long period of time. The father who has been identified as G.H. had his third pre-trial detention extended on Monday for another eight days. Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos confirmed to SMN News that police arrested the father after a complaint was filed against him. Mos said the Prosecutor got a third extension on Monday and they are looking at having the suspect in custody for a longer period when he re-appears before the Judge of Instruction on Monday next week. Mos said based on the statements of the victim and other persons, the father sexually molested his daughter for a period of time. He said the incidents occurred prior to 2010 and only now the case surfaced.

Police also arrested the victim's aunt who is an employee of a well-known bank on St. Maarten for physically abusing the child. The aunt spent 18 days in pretrial detention and was released by the judge of instruction on Wednesday. Mos said that the judge believes that the woman spent enough time behind bars for the physical abuse she committed against the teenager at the time. Mos said based on the judge's conclusion, the prosecution will not appeal the release of the aunt that was ordered by the Judge of Instruction. "You have to understand that these offenses took place a long time ago and while the victim was questioned, the prosecution has no physical evidence. I am not saying the victim's statement is not credible but if we had physical evidence such as marks of violence the case would have been much stronger."

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Hennessy Artistry St. Maarten (www.hennessyartistrysxm.com) has scheduled the second annual event for Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013 in Festival Village, Philipsburg. Tickets are currently on sale for the show featuring nine-time Grammy® award winner John Legend as well as Percy Sledge, famous for the song "When a Man Loves a Woman," among numerous others.

Hennessy Artistry Hennessy Artistry St. Maarten is a flexible music communication program blending talents from different genres. It gives the brand a voice to consumer, press and music industry leaders about Hennessy's long-standing legitimate link to music.

The Hennessy Artistry St. Maarten event is organized by CD Entertainment, one of St. Maarten's premiere event organizations with over 30 years experience in the industry.

"We are honored to host this event and look forward to local enthusiasm and international attendance for this amazing celebration of music," said Edward Dest, interim director of tourism for the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau.

This year there will be two ticket options: VIP tickets will be US$150 with advance purchase; US$175 at the door. These tickets include VIP service, premium Hennessy drinks and food.

Tickets are also available for those who would like to experience only the concert aspect of the show for US$55 with advance purchase; US$75 at the door. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

The Westin Dawn Beach Resort & Spa will be the host hotel and is working closely with the marketing and sales team of Hennessy Artistry St. Maarten to finalize vacation packages with tour operators from the Caribbean, North America, Europe, and South America. Westin has arranged for packages for the local market as well.

Percy Sledge's performance will be accompanied by one of St. Maarten's local bands that has been put together by Fred York called "The Musicologists." The band performed for the Bob Marley tribute in February and the Heineken Regatta in March. These 13 highly talented artists will be gracing the stage first that evening with an original performance.

For more information on the Hennessy Artistry St. Maarten visit www.hennessyartistrysxm.com or contact us at Phone: +1 721 520-7120 / 520-1872 or e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Press Release from Hennessy Artistry St. Maarten

"Healthy debate and discussion is an integral part of any democracy."

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams commended and congratulated two events held over the weekend discussing the issue of electoral reform. The first was held at the Philipsburg Cultural Center and was organized by the New Era Foundation and the Concordia Political Alliance Friday's event asked the question on whether or not a change to the electoral system would help or hinder the electoral process. The second event, attended by the Prime Minister, was a debate organized by the St. Maarten Toastmasters Area Council and discussed whether or not electoral reform is necessary in the political environment of the Country.

"Healthy debate and discussion is an integral part of any democracy and I compliment the organizers of both events in the organization of these two very important items that are extremely important to the political development of our new country. Although I was not able to attend Friday's event I did attend the Toastmaster's debate on Sunday and I am encouraged by the interest that the population is showing in the constitutional development of our young democracy," commented the PM.

The Prime Minister has been a long-term proponent of electoral reform, taking the forefront in calling for changes to St. Maarten's electoral system.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Bids on Various Items at Silent Auction

Oyster Bay:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams again expressed her great appreciation and gratitude at being named an honorary member of the Rotary Club on Saturday evening during the Change of Board Dinner at Infinity Restaurant in Oyster Bay on Saturday. The Prime Minister also bid on various items during the silent auction at the dinner, contributing towards the public service organization's various community strengthening initiatives.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- On Friday afternoon, Caretaker Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sports Hon. Silveria Jacobs was just on time to witness the last few minutes of the Interscholastic Water Polo championship match between Hillside Christian Schools and the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) School at the pool at the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex.

Both teams, a mixture of boys and girls in grade 3, competed with heart and soul to be able to claim the 1st place Championship trophy. In the end, the victory was awarded to the Hillside Christian Schools, to the jubilation of students, teachers, staff and parents present.

Though disappointed in their second place finish, the SDA team proved to be troopers who gracefully accepted the 2nd place trophy. Third place had been decided in the previous match which saw the Oranje School team winning over the Marie Genevieve de Weever School which placed 4th.

All winning schools were awarded a trophy while each swimmer received their individual medals. All prizes were donated courtesy of Intermar Shipping, which was represented by Sandra Hazel in the prize giving ceremony.

In congratulating the winners, Minister Jacobs reminded all, especially the adults to continue to encourage competitiveness as well as sportsmanship, and respect for the referees decisions. "Our youth look up to us and learn from us how to behave and react to situations. We must win and lose with pride and graciousness," Minister Jacobs pointed out.

The swimming coaches, teachers, and students were commended for their dedication in making this year's water polo competition an exciting one. Minister Jacobs also thanked the corporate sponsors for their contribution in making the prize giving ceremony possible.

PM: "I do not look at it in terms of Gender. Once you know your stuff you can stand up as a woman, or man for that matter.

Philipsburg:--- During the introductory meeting the Prime Minister the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams held with Minister the Honorable Frans Timmermans, the Minister made some remarks regarding the Prime Minister's efforts to ensure gender equality in the Government Apparatus. "You have you gender balanced better than I do and I congratulate you on that. Promoting equality between men and women is one of my priorities and human rights policies and apparently you have a bigger success as far as your delegation is concerned compared to mine," commented Kingdom Foreign Relations Minister Frans Timmermans.

During a question on the PM's weekly radio show a listener asked if the PM has had to face much adversity because she was a woman. "I do not look at it in terms of Gender; politics is exactly that; the realm of politics. Even in the realm of politics there are basic principles to the rules and regulations that are there. Once you know your stuff you can stand up as a woman, or man for that matter, once you know what you are saying," commented Prime Minister Wescot-Williams.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Philipsburg:--- Newspapers and certain reporters have been reporting that Romaine Laville failed the screening process because of the complaints that were filed against him by his colleague MP Jules James and Sir Isidore York (Mighty Dow). SMN News also reported that the two complaints that were filed against Laville alleging that he pulled a gun or showed his gun to the two St. Maarten citizens played a role in his screening. However, when the national security conducted the screening on the credentials of MP Laville they took several other things into consideration other than the two complaints that were filed against him.

Reliable information reaching SMN News states those that conducted the screening placed a lot of focus on the complaint Romaine Laville filed against the Leader of the United People's Party Theodore Heyliger where he accused the UP leader of offering him huge sums of monies as bribes to go back with the United People's Party in order for Heyliger to return to office. Shortly after Laville filed the complaint against Heyliger, he went back to the UP camp where he decided to throw down the NA/DP/I-3 coalition. "The so called deal made by MP Laville to give up his seat as a Member of Parliament in order for Heyliger to become a Member of Parliament and Heyliger supporting Laville to become a Minister gave the impression that a deal was indeed made, and probably a sizable sum of money was passed in order for Laville to retreat to Heyliger's camp." Another aspect that the screeners looked at is Laville's affiliation with a convicted criminal "Koiman" who was a former police officer on St. Maarten, this raised several questions in the minds of the National Security members who conducted the screening. "Questions such as why Laville needed to hire a criminal as a bodyguard while he fooled several persons including the NA members and civil servants working both at the Government Administration Building and at the House of Parliament saying that since he left the United People's Party he has special security by the Dutch secret services. Laville once told SMN News reporter that he has to inform the Dutch secret services every hour of his location and whereabouts because he was provided with special security when the UP/DP/Illidge coalition fell last year.

SMN News further learnt that Laville has a consultancy contract with former Minister of Justice Roland Duncan. The draft contract Laville agreed on would have gone into effect when the new government takes office. The consultancy contract was for Duncan to represent Laville or check all documents for him because he is not literate in the Dutch language. SMN News was provided with the figures of that contract which states that Duncan would have been paid $15,000.00 for consultancy work, $5,000.00 for the use of his office, and $500.00 per day for each day Duncan travels on behalf of Laville. The former Minister of Justice said several times before that he was ready to serve his country and that he would work as a consultant for government or any of the Ministers because he owns a law firm. Now that Laville is through the door, so is the draft contract he made with the former Minister of Justice.

Who will be the Minister of VROMI?

Questions are also being raised on who exactly will be the Minister of VROMI. It has been reported that the former executive assistant Maurice Lake is the person that was vetted to become the Minister. However, Maurice Lake's identity has come into question because he is allegedly registered as Maurice Arnell married to Marla Shermont on the French side of the island while on the Dutch side he is registered as Maurice Lake who is divorced. This of course raises questions on the identity of the future Minister. Another issue that is now broiling is the allegations raised by St. Peters activist Rene Koto Wilson who said on several occasions that Lake and other members of the St. Peters Community Council embezzled monies belonging to the foundation. SMN News learnt that Wilson has moved one step further and filed a complaint with the National Detectives against Lake, the future Minister of VROMI.

Proposed Minister of Education co-responsible for CKC financial scandal --- Will she become Minister?

SMN News also learnt that the proposed Minister of Education Patricia Lourens is also under the microscope because her husband Freaky Lourens was a member of the now bankrupt Christian Kingdom Cooperative (CKC) that had a huge financial impact on many persons on St. Maarten. According to information provided to SMN News, Patricia Lourens is co-responsible for what happened to the CKC members while her husband was a member on the board.

SMN News also learnt that the proposed Minister of Finance Martin Hassink has problems with his screening because he allegedly has pending tax problems that have to be regulated before the Governor of St. Maarten signs off on the new Ministers Landsbesluit.

The Governor of St. Maarten drs. Eugene Holiday said via a press release that he granted the Prime Minister of St. Maarten (formateur) until Wednesday to submit her report to him but nowhere did the Governor say why the formateur needed more time.

It is believed that the Prime Minister is busy cleaning up the report to see if the Governor will pen his signature to approve these persons to become Ministers in country St. Maarten. So far the Governor did not make an announcement on what he would do with the decision taken by the majority in the Council of Ministers to dissolve the Parliament of St. Maarten.

Plays Under Fifteen Boys Selection In Friendly in Preparation For Anguilla Match

Cay Hill:--- The Oualichi Women's Soccer Team, St. Maarten's National Women's Soccer Team, is gearing up for their first international match representing both sides of the island in a friendly against neighboring Anguilla. The sixteen ladies will be traveling to Anguilla on Saturday morning, with the first match to be played at two in the afternoon.

In a practice friendly the girls played a game against the U-15 boys at the Raoul Illidge Sport's Complex on Wednesday. "This is the first time we played completely as a team against another team," said team manager Danae Daal. "Before this we played against each other but now it felt great to play against another team with all of us playing together.

Although the match was an exciting one, with a goal scored by forward Dagmar Daal, the ladies admit that they have a tough game ahead. "We know we may have a tough team ahead, but we look forward to representing St. Maarten and promoting female soccer on all of the islands.

The launching of the team in November of last year was a first for St. Maarten, with previously women having to join school teams or train on their own or with Associations not specifically geared towards Women's Soccer. The name of the team is also unique as Oualichi, one of the original Arawak names for the St. Maarten, means Land of Strong Women. The team also has an official Facebook Page and newsletter in order to keep the community abreast of the country's women's soccer team. For more information please join the Oualichi Soccer Team's Facebook Page and download the newsletter. Persons interested in having their girls join the free soccer clinic are urged to contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Raising of National Flag on Thursday Followed by National Church Service

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams again encourages the community o St. Maarten to hang the St. Maarten flag from their homes, offices and other buildings on Flag Day, June 13th in order to show pride in Country St. Maarten.

"A flag is a unifier. It represents a group, a nation, a people. It is a call to unite around a common purpose. This is our flag. It is a symbol that represents us," commented the PM.

The National Flag Day Ceremony will start at 08:30 at the Government Administration Building at the Clem Labega Square with the hoisting of the National Flag. The commemoration of the National Flag Day will continue with a church service at the Roman Catholic Church at noon (12:00 PM) with a national service commemorating the National of St. Maarten in general and the importance of the national flag more specifically.

Based on the Island Decree there is a right and wrong way to display the flag. Some of these regulations include that the flying of the flag should only be from sunrise to sunset and the flag should be risen briskly in the morning and slowly in the evening; the flag should not be flown at night while unlit; the flag should not be flown in the rain or in inclement weather; the flag should never touch the ground and when a flag is old or worn out or damaged it should be retired and old flags should be burned or buried but never thrown in the trash.

The Prime Minister further commented that our National Flag is one of our most important symbols and should be given all the necessary respect it deserves, "The St. Maarten flag should be held in the highest esteem as it represents the St. Maarten Nation and those who gave their lives for St. Maarten," commented the Prime Minister.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Recently, there have been numerous complaints of parasitic infections that affect beach-goers. The St. Maarten Nature Foundation has been informed that it has progressed to the extent that a few people have had to visit the hospital in order to extract these worms. A type of worm enters the body from the bottom of the foot and most likely originates from dog or other animal feces. This infection presents red, raised, itchy irritation of the skin in track-like patterns that may migrate day-to-day as the parasite travels beneath the skin's surface. According to an article from Discovery Communications, hookworm eggs found in animal feces hatch and form the larvae that cause cutaneous larva migrans (CLM). "The larvae live in warm, moist, sandy soil and are determined, sturdy parasites that can penetrate human skin, even through something as seemingly protective as a beach towel." (Discovery Health)

Simpson Bay beach is where the majority of these illnesses have occurred. St. Maarten Nature Foundation strongly recommends pet-owners to clean up after their dogs or cats and ensure that there are no exposed feces left on the shores of the beach.

Unfortunately, due to the great number of stray dogs and cats on the island, it is impossible that every animal is picked up after on Simpson Bay beach. For this reason, the Foundation suggests the island have a dog shelter for those strays that are first, unfed, and second, that contaminate the cleanliness of our beaches.

This problem is not only detrimental to the health of the St. Maarteners, but further to maintaining the positive connotations of Simpson Bay beach for tourists. This issue must be targeted to prevent further issues and threats to the health of our beach-goers. More importantly, those who are most at risk are children, sunbathers, or workers; it is therefore key to ensure the least exposure to feces possible for these people.
Preventative measures from contracting the parasite include, wearing shoes or sandals to keep hookworm larvae from penetrating into feet, sit on two or more beach towels, or, better yet, a lounge chair, and lastly, stay away from moist, shady, sandy areas because they are the most likely places for parasites to gather. (Discovery Health)

~Art Saves Lives Program will be held June 24-30 on St. Maarten~

Philipsburg:--- Local Award winning dancer Nicole C. De Weever of Art Saves Lives received a US$ 4000 donation from the St. Maarten Golf Association in support of Art Saves Lives Summer Project. The upcoming Art Saves Lives summer intensive program will feature 16 artists from the United States who in addition to teaching classes will perform community service as part of their contribution to St. Maarten.

Ms. De Weever, founder and President of Art Saves Lives Foundation offered the assistance of some of the summer program's participants to assist the SGA during their tournament which was held from April 5th through 7th at the Mullet Bay Golf Course.
ASLP continues to raise funds to bring this project to fruition to serve local youth who are interested in a career in the arts and strengthen the performing arts on St. Maarten.

Philipsburg:--- Operation Clean Sweep is a joint action consisting of the Immigration and Border Protection Service (IBP), VKS, Marechaussee (Kmar), Inspectorate VSA, Labor Department, Police Department, and SZV.
During February and March 2013 Operation Clean Sweep conducted a number of random controls throughout various areas on the island. During these controls several restaurants, bars, hotels, security companies, supermarkets and casinos were inspected.
The established controlled were advised on regulations, some were issued written warnings and others fined dependent upon the violation.
A total of 19 establishments were inspected including supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, bars, security companies, and casinos.
16 Fines were issued for not complying with the Labor laws.

Immigration:
51 persons were brought in by the Immigration Mobile Control Unit. 6 persons were given a six week period to leave the island. Before leaving they were required to report every other week to the Immigration office. This measure was given due to the lack of holding cells.
30 persons were naturalized Dutch whom, at the time of inspection were not in possession of their documents.
15 persons were in possession of incorrect work permit (working for a different company). They were fined for this infraction.

Inspectorate VSA, Labor Department
One business had 1 person who was not insured, 5 business were not registered,12 businesses did not have a visible work schedule for employees and labor inspectors, 8 businesses did not have a personnel list, 3 businesses did not had an overtime list, 1 business did not have a general provision regarding working hours and rest periods, 1 business did not pay overtime to their employees.

Safety:
2 business were fined for unsanitary and insufficient urinals.
2 businesses did not take measures to prevent irritating vapors, gases or dust in their establishment.
2 businesses did not take measures to prevent accidents or have in place the standard procedures necessary to provide assistance in case of accidents.
1 business did not comply with clean drinking water regulations (must be available to employees free of charge).
These actions will continue this week.
We are hereby advising all businesses to have all of their documents in order, such as business register, a personnel list, overtime register, labor registration list, accident insurance, work schedule, insurance, and working hours list.
All persons should walk with valid identification and residence/work permits.

And for safety compliance:
For all businesses, changes to be made if not present should include:
• Cleanliness
• procedures in case of accidents
• clean drinking water for employees
• sufficient daylight and efficient artificial lighting
• sufficient ventilation

Press Release from Immigration and Border Protection Service St. Maarten

Cay Hill:--- On Monday June 6th at approximately 1:25am, a Philipsburg Police Patrol was sent to the Sint Maarten Medical Center to investigate a case concerning a man that was brought in for medical attention after being involved in a shooting incident. At the hospital, the investigating officer spoke to the man with initials K.M.K. from Jamaica (32) and living on Pond Island. The victim stated that he was attacked in his neighbourhood by two men who tried to rob him and during the robbery he was shot by one of the men. He ran towards his home and was followed by the same two men where he was shot at again. The victim was wounded to his neck, nevertheless he was in a stable condition. The Forensic Department and Detective Department are busy investigating to determine exactly what happened, why and who the persons are that are responsible for this act. The detective later learnt that the victim was flown abroad for further medical attention.

KPSM Police Report

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Central Committee of Parliament meeting that was scheduled for June 12 with the Board of Financial Supervision (CFT) has been cancelled.

The parliamentary secretariat was informed by the CFT that they had to cancel the meeting with the Central Committee until further notice.

The Central Committee was scheduled for Wednesday at 10:00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg in an in camera session.

Members of Parliament (MPs) were to discuss with the CFT the financial management of the country. MPs were also to receive a presentation with respect to the findings documented in the Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) Report which is an inventory of the financial management of the country.

Oyster Pond:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten, joined by her delegation, climbed the Towers at Oyster Bay in order to show Kingdom Minister for Foreign Relations Frans Timmermans the much-contended border between French and Dutch St. Maarten that runs through Oyster Pond. In his comments Minister Timmermans stated that he believed that the border issue is one that needs solving. The Prime Minister gave an explanation on the geography and background of the issue. Accompanying the Prime Minister was acting Secretary General for the Ministry of General Affairs Erno Labega and Acting Head of the department for Foreign Affairs Khalilah Peters.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

I fully support the idea that was presented by Dutch Socialist Party (SP) Member of Parliament Hon. Ronald van Raak to have the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the various countries in the Kingdom share their views on different topics to the Dutch Parliament's Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations.

I believe this avenue will create further constructive and factual dialogue between the two countries, and would be a healthy way to further improve relations within the Dutch Kingdom.

Our people read all the negative comments coming out of Holland in our papers, and not much good comments. Much of this is based on the lack of factual information that the Dutch MPs don't have and is more of political rhetoric of appeasement.

Rather than focusing more on the negatives, the focus and emphasis should also be placed on the positives. There are a lot of positive things going on and happening within our communities.

The more information that is provided, the better the understanding between the countries of the issues and challenges that is faced by small island developing nations.

Even though the Dutch Parliament is not a Kingdom Parliament and serves the interests of The Netherlands, there is room for improving the information flow with facts about developments and the first step should be taken by Sint Maarten.

Our Minister Plenipotentiary could contact the Chair of the Dutch Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations and ask what issues the members of the committee would like to receive additional information or clarification.

This is our Kingdom, Country Sint Maarten is an integral part and we have a role to play.

Drs. Gracita Arrindell
Member of Parliament
United People's (UP) Party

~ Maria Buncamper-Molanus takes Helm as Rotary President, Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams Inducted as Honorary Member ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Saturday evening, June 8th, Maria Buncamper-Molanus officially accepted the role of President of the Rotary Club of St. Maarten, effective July 1, 2013 in the Infinity Restaurant at Oyster Bay Resort. Mrs. Buncamper-Molanus addressed the audience, "becoming a member of Rotary 11 years ago was special for me, and becoming president brings additional sentiments as my father, some 41 years ago on March 17, 1972 became a charter member of this very same club". In her speech, Maria illustrated her plans to take the Rotary International theme of "Engage Rotary and Change Lives" and bring it closer to home. She went on to say, "If we are truly going to engage Rotary and change lives here on St. Maarten, we must address the challenges that exist in our community with respect to poverty and children who have special needs, like Autism and Attention Deficit Disorder, or any other challenge that causes them to learn differently. We do not simply write checks, we get involved and make a difference".

Outgoing President Robert Judd only had great things to say about Maria Buncamper-Molanus. Mr. Judd thanked Mrs. Buncamper-Molanus for her tireless efforts as Secretary and President-Elect for the past year. He also thanked all of the members of the outgoing Board for their hard work and dedication.

One highlight of the evening was the induction of the Prime Minister, the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams, as an Honorary Member of the Rotary Club of St. Maarten. Mrs. Wescot-Williams graciously accepted the honor and was pinned by Maria Buncamper. In her short address to the audience, the Prime Minister said, "Thank you for this great honor. Through cooperation and working together, service clubs, like Rotary, can do so much. St. Maarten is better off today than many years ago because of this type of cooperation. St. Maarten is blessed".

For the new Rotary year, which begins on July 1, Mrs. Buncamper-Molanus has lined up a team of seasoned philanthropists to serve on her Board of Directors and Committee Chairpersons. The new team is Robert Judd (Immediate Past President), Pierre Decelles (Vice President), Deepak (Danny) Ramchandani (Secretary and President-Elect) and Frederick Fleming (Treasurer). Further expanding the ranks, the Club Administration Committee will be chaired by Valda Woodley-Hazel, the Membership Committee will be chaired by Henna Budhrani, the Public Relations Committee will be chaired by Jeffrey Sochrin, the Service Projects Committee will be chaired by Marc Groeneveld, the Rotary Foundation Committee will be chaired by Rik Bergman and Max Pandt, and Franklyn Maynard will serve as Sergeant at Arms. Finally, the Strategic Planning Committee will consist of Maria Buncamper-Molanus, Rebecca Low, Danny Ramchandani and Jeffrey Sochrin.

The evening continued with a silent auction and energetic entertainment from King Beau Beau and the Beaubettes.

For more information please contact the Rotary Club of St. Maarten Press Officer at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the website www.rotarysxm.org.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad & Tobago:--- Things got better in Trinidad and Tobago on Friday, May 24, 2013. This day symbolized a major milestone for NAGICO Insurances when the company officially launched the brand at the newly renovated head office in Port of Spain, Trinidad. The launch event was the climax of preparations since the acquisition of GTM Insurances in October, 2011. "We are here to stay, we are here to achieve great results." remarked Mr. McSood Amjad, Group CEO. The event signaled the "great results" that both customers and staff can expect from NAGICO.
With the exception of the Tobago branch, all branch locations were closed half day for the special occasion. Specially invited guests, including executives from the Central Bank, Agents, Brokers, the media and staff experienced a warm welcome to the refurbished head office. On entrance, they were treated to a "welcome drink" and the colors of the NAGICO brand – green, yellow and gold – were the theme colors of the decor throughout the building. The National Anthem, sung by NAGICO's Account Executive, Ms. Erica Pascall, kicked off the launch promptly at 3:35 pm. Blessings were bestowed on the refurbished building, customers and staff by Ms. Gainder Maharaj, Corporate Services Manager.
Following this dedication, Mr. Christopher Henriques, General Manager, welcomed guests and said "good bye" to GTM Insurances as he formally took the baton to lead NAGICO in Trinidad and Tobago.
Executive Marketing Manager, Mr. Paul Dijkhoffz, commended the Trinidad team for the great job in the transformation of the head office. His presentation of before and after the renovation works testified the company's vision to become "the most trusted insurance company in T&T."
Group CEO, Mr. Imran McSood Amjad, reiterated his commitment to the new territory as he shared the story of its humble beginnings to its present asset base of approximately TT$ 1 billion. He spoke proudly of the transformation since NAGICO purchased GTM. "I promised the staff that we would change the circumstances under which they operated", he said. On that promise, he committed to the investment of over TT$ 6 million on the renovations and promised that an additional TT$ 3 million will be spent in renovations at the San Fernando branch. Mr. Amjad also said that he is counting on the T&T staff to help achieve annual targets and identified staff training and development as key to making the company more competitive in the mature market of T&T.
A token of appreciation to Mrs. Irene Brizan who at 101 years, is the company's oldest customer, demonstrated the company's commitment to customer service. "Insurance is about service and buying trust that if something goes wrong, the company will be there for you." said Mr. McSood. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Ms. Brizan said after receiving her gift of a bouquet of flowers and one year free insurance from Mr. Henriques. The T&T team also took the opportunity to show their appreciation for the renovations and the guidance and support of Mr. McSood with a gift of a brass carving of a cricketer, in recognition of his passion of the sport.
The ribbon and cake cutting in the customer service area ended the formal proceedings, at the same time, signaling the official birth of NAGICO Insurances in T&T. At the end of the program, guests and media toured the refurbished offices and everyone enjoyed the rest of the evening, mingling and dining to make history together – the NAGICO way.

"The Dutch Government, through our work, is now allowing the Caribbean Countries more involvement and more say in what we like to see our foreign policy to be."

Philipsburg:--- On her weekly radio Program on 98.1 Pearl FM, the Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams gave an outline on the foreign relations framework for Country St. Maarten. During the radio show, which was held in advance of the meeting the Prime Minister was to have with Kingdom Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon. Frans Timmermans, explanation was given by the PM on St. Maarten's role in the international sphere.

"The Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs is oftentimes referred to as one of the few Ministers, if not the only one, for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Why? Because Foreign Relations is one of the three tasks that have remained Kingdom Tasks, the others being Nationality and Defense," explained the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister also explained to listeners that, despite them being Kingdom tasks, Foreign Relations is an item that the separate countries within the Kingdom have a certain responsibility for and it is therefore that St. Maarten has a Department of Foreign Relations, which is a part of the Ministry of General Affairs.

"Interesting is the fact that mention has been made of Minister Timmermans' visit to Venezuela before he came to St. Maarten, the purpose of which was to sign off on a Kingdom Memorandum on Cooperation with Venezuela. All countries, especially the Dutch Caribbean Countries of Aruba, Curacao and St. Maarten, see this as an important step towards the development of relations with the Venezuelan Republic. The Prime Minister of Aruba and Curacao both signed off on the MOU but due to the fact that there were pressing issues here at home I requested the Dutch Kingdom Ambassador to Venezuela sign off on my behalf," commented the PM.

"St. Maarten is still in the same sphere of which Venezuela is a part, namely the Caribbean and Central and South American Region. Of course Aruba and Curacao are much more so in that sphere because Venezuela is a close neighbor of theirs but St. Maarten is as well, especially given the fact that as a country we are further developing our relations with Latin America from an economic point of view, so it is therefore important that we reach out to these different countries.

"There have been many developments and evolutions in the process with regards to St. Maarten's International Relations. Since 101010 we have been seeking to have more involvement and decision making as far as International Relations and cooperation is concerned, which for us is extremely important. We are an integral part of what is decided on with regards to International Relations in the Kingdom because it naturally also affects us. For example the matter of international treaties: the Kingdom cannot approve treaties that directly affect St. Maarten unless we give our approval to be a part of that treaty.

"As St. Maarten seeks to develop our International Relations we want some maneuvering space, especially when looking at the wider Caribbean region. The Dutch Government, through our work, is now allowing the Caribbean Countries more involvement and more say in what we like to see our foreign policy to be. For example the functional cooperation between the various countries is extremely important for St. Maarten, more so than the other countries in Kingdom," concluded the PM.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Section General Health Care (SGHC) of the Collective Preventive Services (CPS), a government agency under the Ministry of Public Health, would like to express and commend the different groups, companies and volunteers who are involved in a number of district clean-up campaigns in preparation for the hurricane season.

This activity is twofold in that as the garbage is removed it also contributes to the elimination of mosquito breeding sites and therefore impacting the mosquito population. If there are no containers with water for mosquitoes to lay the larvae there will be no adult mosquitoes.

Dengue Fever is transmitted by the female vector Aedes Aegypti mosquito. The clean-up will prevent the mosquito from finding a place to lay its eggs. The Aedes Aegypti mosquito is distinguished by its markings. The body of the mosquito has alternate black and white horizontal stripes. The Aedes Aegypti mosquito lays her eggs in clear (clean) stagnant water. Within eight days the mosquito can complete its life cycle from egg, to larvae to pupae and to and adult mosquito.

Even after you have cleaned-up your yard and surroundings, it is recommended for persons to walk around their surroundings after every rain event to eliminate all possible breeding sites.

Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius de Weever, 'Get Checked" campaign, is in line with the appeal for residents, and business owners, to check-in and around their homes, and businesses in order to reduce breeding sites of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito.

SHGC is calling on the community especially homeowners to be proactive in implementing mosquito preventive measures on their own property in order to prevent vector borne diseases.

Make use of the clean-up efforts to get rid of possible breeding sites keeping your environment mosquito free. This calls for a district effort and team work. This approach should be realized in all districts by the people for the people and with the people for a mosquito free environment.

Persons are recommended to keep their homes, yards, neighborhoods and work environment free from mosquito breeding sites.

Homeowners can reduce the number of areas where adult mosquitoes can find shelter by cutting down weeds adjacent to the house foundation and in their yards, and mowing the lawn regularly.

Check around construction sites or do-it-yourself improvements to ensure that proper backfilling and grading is realized to prevent drainage problems which can be a source for standing water.

An increase in the mosquito population puts residents at risk. For information about dengue fever prevention measures, you can call CPS at 542-2078 or 542-3003.

Harbour View:--- On June 10, 2013, His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday, discussed the draft report of the current formation process, which he received Friday June 7th, with formateur Sarah Wescot-Williams. Based on the evaluation of the report by the Governor, the formateur requested an extension until Wednesday June 12th to finalize her report.
After completion of the formation report a date will be established for the appointment and swearing-in of the new kabinet.

From the Governor's Cabinet

Every year Employers are required to pay the cessantia or severance premiums to SZV. Cesssantia or severance is a social system put in place for former employees that entitle them to a one-time severance payment. If a former employee is not unemployed by choice then he or she is entitled to this payment.
To fund this it is absolutely necessary that employers pay their severance premium to the SZV. The cessantia or severance premium should be paid before Friday, June 28th, 2013 at SZV's Cashier. The Employer is required to pay Fls. 40 toward severance for each employee who was employed on December 1, 2012. The Employer must fill in and submit the cessantia declaration payment form indicating the number of employees for which the cessantia premium is being paid.
The declaration form Cessantia payments is available at the SZV Cashier in building 1 on level 1 B or online via www.uszv.org. The Cashier is open Monday- Thursday from 7:30 - 12:00 p.m. and again from 1:00 - 3:30 p.m. Fridays until 3:00 p.m.
SZV intends to take strict measures against companies that have not or have only partially paid their Cessantia premium.
SZV is located at Harbour View, Sparrow Road 4 in Philipsburg.

~At The Daily Herald~

The condolences book for the late Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Herald Courtney E. Gibson will remain open at the Daily Herald on Bush Road this week.

The book can be signed between the hours of 8:30am to 4:00pm from today, Monday, June 10 to Friday, June 14, 2013. The book will be presented to Gibson's family once closed.

Gibson was President and founding member of the St. Maarten Guyanese Foundation; a member of the Anti Trafficking In Persons Windward Islands Foundation ATIP and a member of the Anglican Church on Back Street. He passed away among his family members in Tampa, Florida late on Sunday June 2 after a period of illness.

His funeral service was held in New York on Saturday and his body will be cremated today, Monday. Memorial services will be held in Guyana on June 15 and in St. Maarten at the Anglican Church on Back Street on Friday, June 21.

Gibson's passing has deeply touched many persons who remember him as a professional, kind-hearted person with high ethical standards and integrity. The Guyanese community in St. Maarten extends condolences to his wife Liz, his mother, children, grandchildren, his colleagues everyone who is affected by his loss.

The Guyanese community urges everyone who knew Courtney to sign his condolence book.

POINT BLANCHE:--- Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Mingo of the St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies on Friday mapped out to Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Frans Timmermans the concerns of the port authority regarding European Union (EU) funding, interdependence and possible competition from within.

Mingo brought forward the important issue of EU funding and how the mechanism works for Country St. Maarten. "The Minister was very interested in infrastructure and how funding is sourced. You can't have where the French side of the Island develops with EU funding and the Dutch Side of the Island can only get funding based on commercial loans after feasibility studies have been carried out. Both sides are interdependent, but we have to be realistic when it comes to the development of the main pillars of the Island's cruise and stay-over tourism sectors.

Mingo told Minister Timmermans that the Harbour needs support and assistance from the Dutch Government Representatives. "I have been asking for years already to look at this situation with EU funding. As Harbor we are basically fighting our competition on an open market which is normal, but when you see neighboring islands including the French side possibly getting EU funding and not getting the same conditions as our US$150 million commercial loan, you ask yourself how is this possible?.

"We don't want to hold back any developments on the French side, but you can't talk about interdependence and you want to compete with the developments on the Dutch side. If the French side would get EU funding for a port development project, it is fair to say the Dutch Port should also be able to receive the same funding; we can't hide behind the technicalities of this process. We need the support of the Dutch Government Representatives here. I am pleased that Minster Timmermans promised he would look into this issue. At the end of the day, the developments on both sides of the Island should complement each other and not compete, which will increase the value of destination St. Maarten/St. Martin," Port CEO Mark Mingo pointed out.

CEO Mark Mingo also informed the Minister in a detail presentation about a number of other matters such as the ports contribution to national development, corporate governance, how it is dealing with threats to the cruise sector, partnerships and the strengthening of ties with the BES islands.

Corporate governance is a key area of port affairs. Information was provided on the state of affairs in which included the checks and balances of its financing/audits and business development (plans) which falls under the "Audit umbrella". A clear explanation was given on topics such as the shareholders return and the annual concession fee of Naf. 5.2 million paid to government.

Mingo further stated that if government is having issues with balancing budgets, the other government own companies should contribute in such a way as well towards the shareholder which is Government in the interests of national development of the country.

The harbor CEO also called for a joint strategic plan with all stakeholders involved to tackle potential threats which can harm "our only product, Tourism." Security and Safety was a point of concern for Minister Timmermans and wanted to know how the safety of cruise passengers is handled. The destination receives over two million tourists annually and from a security perspective it all depends on the spread of the tourists. Mingo outlined in detail the port's strategic working relationship with the Police, and he would like to see the successful formula used at the Captain Hodge Substation also expanded to the Maho Reef and Cupecoy tourist areas.

Mingo also explained that the Harbour Group of Companies has a strategic partnership with a Dutch Software firm IT Partners to sell its Harbour Software to interested parties in the Caribbean and South America. "In addition to what we do best here, we are also looking for partnerships. IT partner is a company which was a spinoff from UNIPORT, which is a section of the Port of Rotterdam," Mingo explained to Minister Timmermans.

With respect to the BES islands (Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba), Port Executive Mingo said that the Harbour also looks at the links with the BES islands which is still part of the port's strategic plans to strengthen ties when it comes to connecting via SEA links and enhancing commerce to the BES Islands. Mingo was very contented and happy that Minister Timmermans had a listening ear. "The competition is killing and I need all the support from my Kingdom Partners in the Netherlands," the harbour's CEO Mark Mingo concluded.

Brooklyn, New York:--- The late Editor in Chief of the Daily Herald Courtney Emanuel Gibson who passed away last week Friday in Tampa, Florida was given a hero's send off at the St. Gabriel's Church in Brooklyn, New York on Saturday.
The church was packed with relatives and close friends who attended the funeral service of the well known veteran journalist who worked in his native country Guyana, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and St. Maarten. Among those at the service were Member of Parliament Gracita Arrindell, Cleveland Beresford, and SMN News reporter Bibi Hodge Shaw.
A memorial service will be held in Guyana on Saturday June 15th, 2013 at the St. Sidwells Church while a third memorial service will be held on St. Maarten for the late Courtney Gibson.

Philipsburg:--- Member of Parliament Romaine Laville who wanted to become the Minister of TEATT got what was predicted by many persons when he announced that he withdrew his support from the NA/DP/I-3 coalition to become a Minister to form the third Government in a period of three years since St. Maarten obtained its country status.
SMN News learnt that the Laville failed the screening because Member of Parliament Jules James filed a complaint against him for threatening him with a gun in the House of Parliament. A second complaint of the same nature was filed by Isidore York (Mighty Dow) last year when Laville allegedly threatened him with a gun inside the Government Administration Building while arguing over the Tempo Turns 7 show that was sponsored by the Government of St. Maarten. Another concern for those that conducted the screening and those in the justice system is the allegations Laville made against the leader of the United People's Party Theodore Heyliger whom he said offered bribes to him twice.
SMN News learnt that Laville already removed the sign from his office door in the House of Parliament since last week as he was certain that he would become a Minister. Others said Laville is busy negotiating with the leader of the United People's Party Theodore Heyliger because Heyliger is desperate to get back in office. The question now is whether or not Laville will go back around the table to negotiate the price of his seat or if he will remain as a Member of Parliament.

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams submitted her final formation report to the Governor of St. Maarten His Excellency Eugene Holiday late on Friday afternoon. Earlier Friday the Prime Minister explained that she had received from the Governor the formation request that His Excellency had indicated that by the seventh of June he would have liked to have the Prime Minister's response.

"The task of the Formateur is based on a National Decree that has been publicized and as Formateur I need to receive reports by the Prosecutor General and one from the National Security Service of St. Maarten on the incoming Ministers and their Administrations. In addition to that the respective candidates need to sign off to be prepared to live up to the requirements of being a Minister, such as not having another job, not being involved in a business and if they are they would have to allow the Formateur to decide how they will distance themselves from those activities.

"The Candidate Ministers also need to fill out a questionnaire and, with the above mentioned reports this is what will form part of my report to the Governor," commented the Prime Minister.

The Caretaker Ministers Marlin, Tuitt, Jacobs, and Pantophlet submitted their letters of resignation to the Governor His Excellency Eugene Holiday on the 21st of May.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

I would like to use this opportunity on behalf of the UP parliamentary faction in parliament to commend the Middle Region and Defiance Community Councils in taking the initiative of having their own community day on June 23.

The UP thinks this is a great initiative in bringing communities closer together. The wish of togetherness and belonging leads to create a community as a whole. A sense of community is important to establish peace and harmony among the society.

The feeling of association, togetherness, and cooperation helps to establish a healthy atmosphere filled with unity, harmony and friendship. This is very important for every district community to harness the resources of its people in connection with nation building.

The Councils would like to organize a number of activities on that day and therefore have requested certain streets to be closed from 9:00am to 8:00pm. Some of the activities planned are the selection of the fastest man and woman, egg and spoon race, wheelbarrow race and a sack race. The highlight of the day will be the annual basketball knockout for junior and senior players of Middle Region and Defiance.

There will be food and drinks on sale entertained by music from various DJs.

This activity will be a family day event and I encourage all residents of those areas to come out and I also encourage visitors and residents from the other districts to come out to the Middle Region/Defiance Day on June 23.

Sylvia Meyers
Interim Faction Leader
United People's (UP) Party
Member of Parliament

"Personally I think it was a bluff; they wanted to see how far they would have gotten with this but I am sure that they also full well knew that what they were doing was not correct nor was it right and had no basis in the law."

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams on Friday made brief but strong comments regarding the so-called emergency meeting which was held by the four Caretaker Ministers on Tuesday afternoon. The Prime Minister, Without going into allegations that the meeting was akin to committing an illegal act, decided to explain some of the facts surrounding the much contended and discussed meeting.

"What we have with that particular meeting; the meeting that was apparently again called to dissolve parliament; was in fact a transgression of every rule in the book, especially the Rules of Order of the Council of Ministers. You simply cannot have the Deputy PM calling a meeting of the Council of Ministers; that is the prerogative of the Prime Minister. Again the issue came up with a majority of Ministers to so-called dissolve Parliament. However, all processes and Rules of Order were overruled during the meeting. I used the word that the way that this came about was nothing short of insanity.

"Personally I think it was a bluff; they wanted to see how far they would have gotten with this but I am sure that they also full well knew that what they were doing was not correct nor was it right and had no basis in the law. For example: who took the notes during this meeting? It is the Secretary General who records the meeting but this was not the case. I also do not know where the meeting took place; I received a letter by the Caretaker Minister that it would have taken place in the AC Wathey Legislative Hall but I was in a prior scheduled meeting with a Rotary Club delegation at the time when the meeting was to take place so I am not sure when or if a meeting actually occurred.

"I have also not received any documentation from the meeting and again; it is the Prime Minister who schedules the meetings, makes sure that the Rules of Order are adhered to, sends documents to the Governor and I was not involved in any of that so yes, in my opinion that meeting was indeed a bluff," concluded Prime Minister Wescot-Williams.

The Caretaker Ministers Marlin, Tuitt, Jacobs and Pantophlet submitted their letters of resignation to the Governor His Excellency Eugene Holiday on the 21st of May.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams commented recently that she sees the mentoring of young persons to be involved in the field of politics as one of her main priorities as a Prime Minister and as a leader of a political party.

"Within our own political environment, that of the political party that I lead, we have been recognizing the importance of not only for persons to know about the machinations of Government or Politics, but also at looking at future generations to take up leadership positions in the community in general and in government specifically. But in order to do this you need to know what the political reality is.

"Growing up the teaching profession was always my first desire: to be a teacher. In terms of political awareness I think it is so important, and not in the least, that our young people are made aware of how politics and governing works. So many of our people get involved in politics and become totally disillusioned by the reality. People come in with grand aspiration and ambitions and realize that you need to have not a sole individual agenda no matter how well intended, but that we all need to have the need of the people in mind. It should never be about a personal agenda but about the business of the people. And that is our main focus going forward in mentoring the youth of this island who have political aspirations," commented the PM.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Central Committee of Parliament will meet June 12 with the Board of Financial Supervision (CFT) in a not for public session of the House.

The Central Committee will meet on Wednesday at 10:00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg in an in camera session.

Members of Parliament (MPs) will discuss with the VFT the financial management of the country. MPs will also receive a presentation with respect to the findings documented in the Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) Report which is an inventory of the financial management of the country.

PEFA was founded in 2001 and originates from the aid effectiveness agenda as a multi-door partnership between seven donor agencies and international financial institutions to assess the condition of country public expenditures, procurement and financial accountability systems, and develop a practical sequence for reform and capacity-building actions.

The CFT is geared towards the realization of the common goal of all governments in the Dutch Kingdom having a durable public financial administration.

The key values of the CFT are independence, professionalism and transparency. The CFT endeavors to give a positive contribution to good public governance, prosperity and welfare of the inhabitants of Curacao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba.

GREAT BAY:--- The United Volleyball Foundation (UVF) will hold its first pajamathon at the Melford Hazel Complex in Sucker Garden, on Friday, July 5, said UVF secretary Keishan Huggins.

The fundraising volleyball tournament will aid the UVF youth members travel to Orlando, Florida, to attend a Summer training camp this year, said Rhoda Arrindell, UVF founder and program coordinator.

"A unique part of the pajamathon is that the participants are required to wear pajamas to play in the tournament," said Huggins.

Initially scheduled for June 7, teams representing businesses, organizations, schools, and groups of individuals can now register for the July 5 volleyball competition by June 28, said Huggins.

Interested persons and organizations can register by contacting Keishan Huggins at 550-3435 or Rhoda Arrindell at 520-1136 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

On June 1st, the deputy of Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin awarded Mrs. Fleming with the medal of the National Assembly. She received Mr. Gibbs in the presence of her relatives.

"It is with a sincere emotion that I stand before you this morning. For the young Member of Parliament that I am, a medal ceremony is always a special moment - solemn certainly - but also a moment during which many emotions comes to surface, including the opportunity to recall the personal journey of the concerned. And your journey, Madam, invites to the greatest humility and to great respect," said Daniel Gibbs. The MP of Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin was accompanied by 2 elected from Union for Democracy in the persons of Annette Philips and Maud Ascent-Gibs. Mrs. Fleming Hodge received them at her home in the presence of her son, the Senator of St. Martin, his children and grandchildren. "Good manners commends to be silent on the age of a lady, but when this makes you today the witness and privileged actor of close to a century of Saint Martin's history, I have to acknowledge the fact: It would take me a great deal of time to retrace your life in all its fullness. Allow me to briefly recall some of its highlights, such as, on a professional level, your energy in the development of representing large companies such as Air France, of course, but also Ford Motor Company or Texaco Caribbean LTD among others on Saint-Martin. On a human level as well, I want to emphasize on your investment for our community, which led you to be founder of the SKAL Club or the Red Cross of French St. Martin, I also have to mention the numerous land donations you made to our Community. "Daniel Gibbs then presented the medal to Mrs. Fleming Hodge.
"The Order of Agricultural Merit, The National Order of Merit, St. Martin Business Wall of Fame ... I will end here the long list of honors and decorations that you have been honoured with, Madam, to pay a tribute to your success as Head of visionary businesses or as a human with a great heart. Permit me to add today my decoration to these honors, thank you very formally on behalf of Saint-Martin and of the Saint-Martin people, for the example, you give us all, thank you for your humility, thank you for all that you have contributed to this Island" concluded the deputy of Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin. An early ceremony that ended with a friendly snack.

Harbour View:--- On Wednesday afternoon June 5, 2013 His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday, received a draft national decree from caretaker Vice Prime Minister William Marlin regulating the dissolution of Parliament and the holding of early elections. In addition, Governor Holiday, received the report of the current formation process from formateur Sarah Wescot-Williams on late Friday afternoon June 7, 2013. The Governor has informed Minister Marlin and formateur Wescot-Williams that he will evaluate the draft national decree and the formation report taking the pertinent regulations into account.

From the Cabinet of the Governor of St. Maarten

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The 2nd Youth Health Care (YHC) Vaccination Outreach and Family Planning Session is set for the Dutch Quarter community on June 13.

This is the second of three community outreach and "family planning" lecture sessions. It's an opportunity for residents of Dutch Quarter and surrounding areas to come out on Thursday, June 13 at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School from 5:00pm to 7:30pm, to have their children's vaccination status checked, and also receive information about family planning.

YHC is a section of the Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a Department at the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour.

The theme for the vaccination campaign this year is "A Shared Responsibility."

Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius de Weever 'Get Checked' campaign is in line with the efforts of CPS and therefore Minister De Weever is appealing to guardians and parents to get their children's vaccination status checked on June 13.

The objectives of the campaign are to stimulate parents to have their child(ren) vaccinated; to bring about awareness as it relates to vaccinations and to encourage parents and the community at large to take responsibility by ensuring updated vaccination records for the children in their care.

In addition the campaign aims to provide the public with general vaccination information; to encourage others such as, health care workers, pregnant women and pre-and exam class students to update their vaccination status.

To encourage risk groups such as waste/garbage handlers, the Police, hotel and restaurant workers, and others to verify and update their vaccination status, particularly on Hepatitis B and Tetanus.

Immunization protects children from diphtheria, measles, pertussis (better known as whooping cough), pneumonia, polio, rotavirus diarrhea, rubella, tetanus and others.

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten attended a dinner welcoming Foreign Affairs Minister Frans Timmermans at Antoine Restaurant on Thursday Evening. The PM, in the company of His Excellency the Governor Eugene Holiday and President of the Collectivite de St. Martin Madame Aline Hanson, served as an introductory welcome dinner at the popular Front Street restaurant as part of the Foreign Affairs Minister's two day working visit to St. Maarten. Tomorrow the PM will be having a private meeting with Minister Timmermans and will also be conducting a site visit with the Minister at the Towers at Oyster Bay in Oyster Pond.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

~Art Saves Lives Program will be held June 24-30 on St. Maarten~

Philipsburg:--- Local Award winning dancer Nicole C. De Weever of Art Saves Lives received donations from GEBE and Windward Islands Bank in support of Art Saves Lives Summer Project. The upcoming Art Saves Lives summer intensive program will feature 16 artists from the United States who in addition to teaching classes will perform community service as part of their contribution to St. Maarten.

Ms. De Weever, founder and President of Art Saves Lives Foundation thanked the representatives of both companies for their donations and looks forward to providing more programs in the future for the children of St. Maarten.
ALSP continues to raise funds to bring this project to fruition to serve local youth who are interested in a career in the arts and strengthen the performing arts on St. Maarten.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday Saturday June 6, Xtratight Entertainment donated a complete workstation to the Philipsburg Jubilee Library.
Xtratight, the producers of Carnival 2013's premier event "Night of the Hit Makers" pledged to support an institution that was effecting positive change in St. Maarten.
"I made a promise to myself that I would do something good for a positive organization, if my event went well so I made a conscious decision to make a contribution to the library. This contribution, in my opinion, is a contribution to the public of our island. This workstation is specifically for the younger kids, who I find should be familiar with technology as our community continues to become more technologically advanced", stated Bertaux 'Mr Rude' Fleming, CEO and Founder of Xtratight Entertainment.
Managing Directors, Ecedro Richardson and Adolphus Richardson Jr. of Adolphus Office Supplies and Technology, made the donation of the workstation, complete with a desk, scanner, copy machine, printer and mouse possible, by offering them at a discounted price to Xtratight, in support of this worthy cause.
The Philipsburg Jubilee Library expressed their sincerest gratitude to Xtratight for contributing the workstation to the library's Youth Section.
"Every week we have hundreds of youngsters making use of the public computers at our library. A lot of these children do not have access to computers, printers and internet at home. Sometimes we do not have enough computers to serve all of these youngsters. We intend to make good use of this workstation in the Youth Section of our library and encourage other business to follow suit, as we continue to provide quality service to the young growing youth of St. Maarten", remarked Monique Alberts, Director of the Philipsburg Jubilee Library.

Partners with Divi Little Bay Resort to host the event

Great Bay:--- The Youth Development Program in collaboration with Divi Little Bay Resort is hosting its annual Bartender Mix Off competition this Friday June 7th 2013 from 3 pm to 6 pm at the upper pool side at the Divi Little Bay Resort.

Five aspiring bartenders/restaurant servers will compete in a friendly competition which will showcase their bartending and restaurant serving skills. The competition is divided in two segments. The first segment is the formal restaurant setting section in which students will have to set up a formal dining setting in maximum four minutes. This year, the students will also be judged on how they can break down the formal dining setting in maximum 4 minutes. The second segment of the show is the bartending section where students will have to create two of their own drinks (maximum 5 minutes each) which will be judged on creativity, taste and presentation. Each participant will be required to create and uniquely name their two drinks.

The five aspiring bartenders who will be competing in the bartender mix off are Claudine Touissaint, Lisa Ernest, Jericha Matilda, Valon Joseph, and Juan Marte Reyes. The drink ingredients that will be used for the bartending section is sponsored by International Liquors and Tobacco Trading N.V. The judge panel will consist of representatives from Divi Little Bay Resort, International Liquors and Plantation Restaurant.

St. Maarten Youth Development Program is a second chance educational program that aims to train youngsters between the ages of 18 and 24 years who were unable to complete secondary education. The goal of the program is to provide these youngsters with start qualifications so that they can enter the labor market or further their education at the SBO/ASVE. The program is executed by the Division of Educational Innovations (DEI) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs and is fully funded by USONA. For further information about the Youth Development Program, please feel free to contact us at either 543-0497 or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also visit us at the SBO Service Center upstairs Carl and Sons on the Pondfill.

Philipsburg:--- The Division for Educational Innovation is happy to announce that all is in place to start with another Post HBO Management Training for new and incoming school managers and other persons in management at all government subsidized school(s).

In 2009 our Division organized a two year Post HBO Management Training for school managers of all government subsidized schools. The training was executed by NA-CSI, a Curacao based consultancy firm and was funded by USONA through the Innovation in Education Project.

The training started with (24) participants of which (20) successfully completed the training and received their diploma in December 2012.
The remaining (4) participants recently completed the program in May 2013 and are scheduled to receive their diplomas on Monday June 10th, 2013.

At the request of Minister Silveria Jacobs, the Minister of Education of Education, Culture, Youth & Sports Affairs, and the cooperation of USONA, another Post HBO Management training has been organized to train new School Managers in Educational Management, which is required by the Law for Education "Ondwerwijswetgeving – Funderend, voortgezet en secundair beroepsonderwijs"- 2009.

The upcoming Post HBO Management training will be financed partially by USONA through Innovation in Education Project and partially by the Government of St. Maarten.

Presently there are a total of (23) candidates registered for the above mentioned training.
The candidates are all in possession of the required Bachelor Degree in Education.

The training will start on Tuesday June 12th and June 13th 2013 with the first module of -Introduction, Study Guide and Strategic and Integral Management.
The training will be held at the USM and from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

POINT BLANCHE:--- The Port of St. Maarten will receive calls from the 3,600 passenger Royal Princess Cruise ship for the 2013-2014 cruise season starting in November. The Royal Princess is the first of two new-generation ships for Princess Cruises which are being built by Fincantieri at their Italy shipyard.

Royal Princess arrives in Southhampton, UK on Friday, June 7. The new vessel will start a two three-day preview cruise sailing roundtrip from Southhampton, on June 10 and 13 before embarking on its inaugural program of a 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruise between Barcelona and Venice beginning on June 23, but before that, the Royal Princess will sail on her inaugural voyage, a seven-day Iberia cruise from Southhampton to Barcelona departing June 16.

A Port of St. Maarten delegation comprising of Richard van der Mark, Senior Project Manager and Humphrey Mezas, Supervisory Board member, will represent the port and country on the three-day preview cruise.

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge will name Royal Princess, in a ceremony on June 13, and this will be the highlight of week-long inaugural celebrations to welcome the vessel into service.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Mingo of the St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies is looking forward to welcoming another new vessel to the Port of St. Maarten in November.

"St. Maarten/St. Martin continues to be the destination of choice, and because of this, Princess Cruise Lines and the port have a great partnership which makes it a win-win for both. We look forward to continuing working with our partners in order to maintain our preferred cruise destination status," CEO Mark Mingo said.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Wednesday June 5, seven members of the Soualiga Social Movement met at the department of BAK (Dept. of the Interior and Kingdom relation) with representatives of the Team for National Development Andrea Ortega-Oudhoff and Joeri Arion to give feedback on the development of the NDP working group.

The Team for National Development has been inviting foundations and different sectors of the society to the table to get their feedback on how to best engage them in a dialogue process which would be directly used to create the National Vision and Development Plan (NDP). Soon a workgroup of committed individuals will be trained and then given the task to strategize and execute the gathering of the data while presenting their findings to a steering committee. The steering committee will be made up of representatives of the public, private and civil sector and will be responsible to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the National Development Plan. The steering committee has to ensure that the National Development Plan becomes a plan that all subsequent governments must consider when executing any other plans in the future of this nation.

After a short introduction, members of the SSM got right to work, suggesting that the NDP Work Group needs to market to the public what the NDP is about and encourage the entire community to get involved. It was also made clear that holding general public meetings is highly likely to be attended by the same 20-40 people each time, as some people in our society do not have transportation to travel at night and people tend to not show interest in projects unless it is going on in their backyard. Both parties agreed that ensuring that the people of St. Maarten develop a sense of ownership of this National Development Plan, would be imperative and in so doing the plan will be taken to the people.

The SSM suggested that the NDP Work Group would have to go into each community and hold several meetings to gather data from the people on the four focus areas which are divided as Economy, Infrastructure and Environment, Culture and Social and Human Development. Modern technological gateways should also be created to accept dialogue from the community on their views about certain subjects, asking questions like how do you see St. Maarten developing, how would you want it to be developed in different areas?

Just about all members of the Soualiga Social Movement are interested in joining the NDP workgroup and would like to encourage all Foundations and the general public to get involved and have their voice heard when the opportunity presents itself. To find out how you can participate in the National Development Plan work group please contact the Team for National Development by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call +1721 542 08 97.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Head of the Infrastructure Management Department of the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Claudius Buncamper, Emergency Support Function (ESF-3) says that his department is working on several fronts in preparation for the Atlantic hurricane season.

Two out of three of the storm water management pumps in Philipsburg are fully operational. The third smaller pump has a hydraulic leak and technicians are working to repair it.

Lowering water levels in the ponds are on-going and has been taking place from 7:00pm to 3:00am. Every effort will be made not to open the Great Bay Channel this season especially now with the storm pumps in place and fully operational.

The pumps have the capacity to lower the water levels in the ponds by six inches per day running 24 hours. Buncamper added that the Ministry has an excellent working relationship with the Meteorological Department of St. Maarten (MDS) where they receive additional weather related reports/advisories especially where it concerns anticipated heavy and consistent rainfall.

"Once the Ministry receives a lead time of 72 hours that inclement weather is expected, we are able to turn on the pumps and lower water levels within a relatively short period of time in anticipation of the additional rainfall," Buncamper pointed out.

The Ministry has also embarked upon a pre-clean-up exercise in the districts of Beacon Hill, Simpson Bay and Cole Bay, and other districts will follow. The schedule of the clean-up is published in the Government Information Page in both daily newspapers. Residents should take note of the dates and check their yards and surroundings and clean-up in preparation for what is expected to be a busy hurricane season.

With respect to waterways, trenches and drains, these are being readied. Buncamper says that hard-surfacing of the main drains are currently taking place and is an on-going affair.

Civil works is continuing on the Coralita Road with crews working 12 hours a day seven days a week to complete a 400 meter stretch by the end of July.

Work on trenches will start soon and all trench cleaning would be completed prior to the beginning of the busiest part of the hurricane season at the end of July.

The landfill is not an issue and contractors are already in place to carry out post-storm clean-up operations.

Buncamper reminds the populace that the hurricane season has begun and the first named storm of the season is currently impacting the U.S. State of Florida, which is a vehement reminder that you have to be prepared and to finalize preparations in the coming weeks in the event of a hurricane strike. Remember, it only takes one hurricane strike to make it a bad season.

ESF-3 is part of the 10 Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) that forms the country's disaster management system. The ESFs are the first response team in the event of a national disaster.

The remaining storm names for the 2013 season are: Barry, Chantal, Dorian, Erin, Fernand, Gabrielle, Humberto, Ingrid, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Nestor, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, Van, and Wendy.

The 2013 hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- School Busing and Taxi Dispatching Inspection Department of Economic Affairs would like to inform school bus owners and drivers that school bus inspections are scheduled to start July 8 through July 10 known as early inspections and regular inspections from July 22 through July 25.

School bus owners and drivers are hereby advised to take note of the dates.

School bus owners/drivers are requested to call the department to make an appointment.

The key objective is to continue to provide safe, reliable and comfortable transportation services for school children.

For further information about services rendered by the Inspection Section, call telephone number 542-4511 or 542-4509.

Philipsburg (DCOMM):--- On Wednesday, June 5th Minister with responsibility for Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure, The Honorable William Marlin signed an agreement with funding agency USONA, represented by Ms. Angela Dekker. USONA has agreed to contribute an amount of NAf. 115 000.00 guilders while the Government of Sint Maarten will finance an additional NAf. 131 500.00 Guilders to the continued upgrading of the Sewage Treatment Plant Project at the A Th. Illidge Road.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Subsequent to recent inquiries regarding the implementation date for the New Dutch examination requirements, the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports Hon. Silveria Jacobs hereby informs the general public that the implementation of the new Dutch examination requirements has been postponed and will not go into effect this year as had been planned.

The new implementation date for the new examination requirements will take place in the school year 2015-2016. By this date all HAVO and VWO schools within the Kingdom will have to be in compliance with the new requirements in order to be guaranteed acceptance to the college and universities in the Netherlands.

As the PSVE schools will also have to comply with this new requirement, additional measures in the form of sharpened examination trainings which also applies to the HAVO and VWO education levels will have to be devised in order to accommodate this change.

Effective August 1, 2015 the new regulations will go into effect for St. Maarten, which is the same date that they are scheduled to be implemented on the other islands within the Kingdom. As a result of this extension school boards will have the opportunity to further develop, execute and evaluate action plans geared towards improving the passing rate among our students in close collaboration with the Inspectorate of Education which is charged with monitoring the quality of education.

The Ministry believes that our students deserve the same chances as others within the Dutch Caribbean. We must use this opportunity as school boards, management, teachers, students and parents to raise the bar of our own expectations and show the world that we too can achieve at higher than average rates.

The Democratic Party, United People's (UP) Party, and Independent Member of Parliament Hon. Romain Laville condemn the actions of the four caretaker Ministers who are now in a lame duck status until a new Council of Ministers have been appointed.

The DP/UP/Laville new parliamentary majority took note of what the caretaker Minister William Marlin said with respect to calling an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers with William Marlin as the Chairman in which a decision would be taken to dissolve parliament.

These actions are clearly meant to confuse the public and force elections.

The National Alliance for the past weeks has been on a smoke and mirrors campaign to fool the people into thinking that what they said is really true.

These new actions by William Marlin and his three Ministers are now placing the integrity of the country on the line.

This is sending a bad message to the Caribbean region, and to the international community as well as to investors and visitors that the rule of law cannot be taken seriously and brings the investment credibility of the entire country into a serious consequence.

While caretaker Minister William Marlin may consider this whole matter as an entire political joke, the majority of the people of this country do not, and William Marlin should stop playing his political games.

The facts are that a new parliamentary majority came together and withdrew its support from the National Alliance led Government. A motion of no confidence was passed against five of those Ministers in the Council. The Prime Minister submitted the Council of Ministers resignation to the Governor after the remaining four Ministers tendered their resignations.

The National Alliance Leader William Marlin is now making a mockery of our constitutional parliamentary democracy by making such statements and attempting such ploys. William Marlin is continuing to polarize the country with his political games and therefore he and his National Alliance are hurting the image of the country as well as in the long run the people of this country.

Press Release by New Parliamentary Majority
Democratic Party, United People's Party, and Independent MP Romain Laville

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams hosted the Rotary Clubs of St. Maarten Group Study Exchange GSE 5910 Team 2013 on Wednesday. The Rotary Foundation's Group Study Exchange (GSE) program is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for businesspeople and professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 who are in the early stages of their careers. The program provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits in paired areas of different countries. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country's culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas. The Prime Minister welcomed the participants to the island and discussed various matters with the GSE participants, including matters related to the Constitutional Changes of 101010 and the challenges associated with it.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

This is the article published in the newspaper "Midi-Libre" which sparked things off. Guy Durand, the Mayor of the town of Millau in the southwest of France is concerned about the presence in the downtown area of a community of young Antilleans coming for the most part from Saint-Martin, that he says he has difficulty to integrate. Therefore these statements prompted the reaction of the regional councilor of French Guiana, who sent a letter to the Overseas Minister and the Senate.

This article published in "Midi Libre" attracted the attention of the UMP regional councilor of French Guiana, Christiane Ichoung Thoe Finance, who is concerned about such stigmatization of these young Saint-Martiners living in Millau, This elected politician who had already reacted on the occasion of the Vialatte case, alerted the Overseas Minister Victorin Lurel and reported this situation to the president of the Overseas Department intergroup of the senate, Georges Patient.

In her letter sent to the Overseas Minister, who was present in Saint-Martin no later than Monday, Christiane Ichoung-Thoe-Finance, is concerned "about the stigmatization and communitarianism which these overseas French young people are victims within institutional agencies such as the CLSPD". [Local Council of Security and Prevention of Delinquency] "In my capacity as an Overseas elected representative of the Region of French Guiana, she continued, I request from your Ministry to have a special look at understanding exactly why these French youths are stigmatized and communitarized in this commune, and why their presence or stay on the commune territory is creating a problem".

The article published last week by Midi-Libre referred to an inquiry carried out into the community and disclosed at the meeting of the CLSPD. "The dismantling of an important traffic of cocaine from the French Antilles (Midi Libre of 21 and 22 May) managed to deteriorate even further the image of young Antilleans established in the downtown area in the eyes of the local population", the newspaper explained, adding that the inquiry focused on young adults and minors originating from the Overseas departments and territories and arriving in Millau without any adult representatives". According to the mayor Guy Durand, 54 youths have been listed, all involved in the Local Mission [State association in charge of the professional and social integration of young people from 16 to 25 years old]. "The first Saint-Martiners arrived a few years ago in order to follow training at the vocational High School. And then visibly there was a message about a "Millau Eldorado" and many other youths came. But now, it has slowed down", he added.

A MESSAGE FOR THE AUTHORITIES IN SAINT-MARTIN

The working group in charge of the file intends to work with the authorities of origin in order to sensitize the families with the youth's difficulties in France. The town of Millau is in crisis, and cannot welcome youths without training, a population that has difficulty to integrate. That is the message that we want to send to the authorities in Saint-Martin. This community, not more than the others, can make their own law", Guy Durand indicated in the Midi-Libre newspaper.

The elected representatives of Saint-Martin have not yet been contacted by the mayor of Millau, who forgets that Saint-Martin is France and that young Saint-Martiners are totally free to live in the French region of their choice, including Aveyron. The territorial collectivity of S isn'it itself Saint-Martin a welcoming laplace for many French people from France. NL

Original French article in St. Martin's Week N° 1453 bis, Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Philipsburg:--- Minister of Education, Sports, Youth, and Cultural Affairs Silveria Jacobs and the delegation that went to the Netherlands to debate the report put together by UNICEF Netherlands on the situation of children and adolescents on St. Maarten shared information with the media on Wednesday.

Shermina Powel Richardson represented the Minister in the Netherlands because Minister Jacobs could not have left the island due to the political saga on St. Maarten. The delegation said that UNICEF Netherlands, a non-governmental foundation, did research on St. Maarten and other islands and they compiled the report without even verifying the information they received. Angela Dekker who also formed part of the non-governmental foundations on St. Maarten said that she has been defending the rights of the child since 2004 and St. Maarten has come a long way. Dekker said that the first year the Netherlands did not want the Antilles to submit their reports separately but because she contested it the Antilles managed to get that done in 2008. She further explained that a lot of the information UNICEF collected is incorrect information and they could have contacted the various departments to verify their information but that was not done. She said the researchers took the information they gathered, made a report, and presented it as factual. Another flaw in the report is that UNICEF only interviewed 15 children on St. Maarten and they made a report that portrayed a catastrophic situation in certain areas for the entire island.

Minister Jacobs said that one of the suggestions from UNICEF is that a school be built for children that need special education. Minister Jacobs explained that the government of St. Maarten already designated the school that is built in Belvedere for that. Minister Jacobs said that some schools are offering breakfast to students that go to school hungry but one of the hiccups the schools have is that some parents feel that their rights are being infringed upon. "You have parents who feel that children have rights but parents/adults do not have any rights because children are allowed to take the problems they face at home on the streets." The Minister said another suggestion that was made by UNICEF is for St. Maarten to provide early childhood education (day-care) for children on the island. They also feel that St. Maarten should conduct its own research and compile a report of its own.

The delegation and the Minister made clear that some parts of the report are positive and showed that St. Maarten is in a far better position than the other islands. They said that since the implementation of compulsory education on St. Maarten there are far less students in privatized schools. "We are urging parents to come forward and register their children in the regular schools because their immigration status has nothing to do with the registration of students to attend school and obtain an education."

Philipsburg:--- Several persons, including the editors of newspapers on St. Maarten, are misleading and misguiding the population of St. Maarten even though both newspapers have legal experts in their back pockets. On May 6th, 2013 three politicians (Members of Parliament) created political instability on St. Maarten when they threw down the current coalition government in order to form a new one.
Three Governments in three years for a young country definitely places us on the records if not the Guinness Book of Records. It is known that politicians never will come out of the political ring because for them being in office is about politics and not about law and order.
Several persons are asking why this has happened and what the politicians will gain by jumping ship every year while putting the island and its people in total disorder. It is even more appalling to read the unfounded news articles in the newspapers while both newspapers have legal experts at the tip of their fingers. SMN News has been breaking down the Constitution of St. Maarten almost on a daily basis in order to educate the people of this great nation. One of the positive things that will come out of this political mess is that the people of St. Maarten are now reading their constitution. The students in our schools are now asking where they can find a copy of the constitution even though the English version is very much misleading to say the least. In order to further educate our readers and even the haters, we have decided to put some more facts on how the system should function. Since the fall of government and drama on a day to day basis continues, all eyes are placed on the Governor of St. Maarten. It is true that the Governor is the one that has to ratify or countersign the National Decree (Landsbesluit) to dissolve Parliament and call for fresh elections, which was submitted to him by the Council of Ministers. The Council of Ministers can be considered the same as the majority as the Rules of Order of the Council of Ministers (article 20 to be exact) states that decisions are made by the majority. The governor is guided in his work by the "Reglement van de Gouverneur" or the rules of order of the Governor.
Article 21 of these rules of order gives five reasons why the governor may refuse to sign such a Landsbesluit. These reasons are restrictive meaning these are the only reasons why he may refuse to sign. He has no leeway, but can only use the five reasons listed.
Artikel 21.
De Gouverneur stelt een landsverordening en een hem voorgedragen landsbesluit niet vast, wanneer hij de verordening of het besluit in strijd acht met het Statuut, een internationale regeling, een rijkswet of een algemene maatregel van rijksbestuur, dan wel met belangen, waarvan de verzorging of waarborging aangelegenheid van het Koninkrijk is. Hij geeft hiervan terstond kennis aan de Koning als hoofd van de regering van het Koninkrijk. Wanneer bij koninklijk besluit, de Raad van State van het Koninkrijk gehoord, wordt beslist dat zodanige strijd niet aanwezig is, stelt de Gouverneur de landsverordening of het landsbesluit alsnog vast. Het koninklijk besluit, waarbij wordt beslist dat zodanige strijd wel aanwezig is, wordt in het officiële publicatieblad bekend gemaakt.

• Conflict with the Kingdom Charter (Statuut),
• An international Regulation, a Kingdom Law
• A General Measure of Kingdom Governance (Algemene Maatregel van Rijksbestuur),
• A matter whose protection is a matter for the Kingdom Government. If the governor believes that signing would violate any of those five grounds,
• He sends the legislation to the King, as head of the Dutch government. The King will then consult with his State Council (Raad van State) and make a decision.

If the Governor therefore fails to sign a Landsverordening or Landsbesluit that does not violate any of the five refusal grounds, Parliament, in the case of a Landsverordening, and the Council of Ministers in the case of a Landsbesluit, can file a complaint against him with the King for dereliction of duty. Fortunately, this has never happened before, and no Governor should wish to make history in this negative way. There is an unwritten rule, that the Governor always follows the wishes of the Ministers. He is after all, above the fray, and may never be held accountable politically. It is the Ministers who bear political responsibilities therefore the Governor stays clear from political decisions.
Finally, the Governor is also aware that a constitutional right is of the highest order. No lower laws, such as the Rules of Order of the Council of Ministers, or the Prime Minister or the Governor can block any branch of government from exercising their constitutional right.

Click here to read the article that guides the Governor in his function.

Philipsburg:--- Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams is furious about the extra ordinary meeting that was called by the majority to dissolve the parliament of St. Maarten on Tuesday. Wescot Williams told reporters at the Council of Ministers' press briefing on Wednesday that she stated before that she would not be part of any ploy that serves to damage the reputation of country St. Maarten. Wescot Williams said she remains adamant about the stance she took. Wescot Williams explained that what transpired on Tuesday afternoon is nothing short of "insanity". While the Prime Minister said she refused to discuss the matter further, she ended up speaking more about the meeting and the steps that were followed more than anything else during the weekly press briefing. "Every rule in the book has been trampled upon, and if this is accepted as the so called growing pains then God help us all. It is sad to see the level we are seemingly sinking to, I say so because whatever is the outcome we the people of St. Maarten would have to live with it. I expect the Parliament of St. Maarten to come out strongly against the insanity that was committed on Tuesday." The Prime Minister claimed that she was threatened by letter on Monday that if she did not put the disbanding of Parliament on the agenda Tuesday morning then a separate meeting would be called in the afternoon and the chairmanship of the Council of Ministers would be usurped by the Deputy Chairman. "I could not believe what I was told in the letter and so when I received the invitation for the meeting I just placed it aside." Wescot Williams said it is not fair to compromise the position of the governor and she will not participate in the anarchy.

The Prime Minister was quizzed by reporters about the political developments on St. Maarten so she could shed light on the situation. SMN News reporter asked the Prime Minister to explain the rules of law that were broken on Tuesday when the extra ordinary meeting was called and how she would describe her actions pertaining to the letter of May 16th, 2013 that was sent to her and carbon copied to the Council of Ministers.

SMN News reporter also asked the Prime Minister to share a copy of the previously mentioned letter that will show when she booked the letter in with the secretariat. Wescot Williams said that the letter was addressed to her and she cannot understand how it is possible that it ended up on the internet, she felt that should be investigated. Wescot Williams said she will not provide a copy of the letter because she will not perpetrate such practices by divulging or sharing government documents with the media. It should be noted that up to last Friday that letter was not submitted to the secretariat. Wescot Williams said that she took her personal letter she received and distributed it to the Council of Ministers. The Prime Minister said she placed the letter on the agenda as incoming documents on Tuesday. When she was asked by SMN News if the letter was discussed and if the Ministers were given an opportunity to vote on the document. The Prime Minister said that is not how the procedures work and she felt that the rules are being trampled upon.

Reporters also asked the Prime Minister if she received a letter from the governor regarding the petition drive and if she dealt with it as was requested by the Governor. The Prime Minister said that she received two letters one for her consideration and a second letter which is for the consideration of the Council of Ministers. Wescot Williams said that she will soon be sending a response to the governor on the petition. The Prime Minister further stated that the right to petition is also in the constitution.

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands:--- IGY Marinas proudly announces the official opening of Blue Haven Resort & Marina, located on the leeward side of the island of Providenciales. With a draft restriction of 8 feet (at mean low tide), the marina caters to yachts up to 220 feet with no beam limitations. As part of the Blue Haven Resort, marina guests have access to a wide selection of amenities the resort and marina have to offer including a 34-condominium hotel with an infinity pool, private beach and gym.

The marina also offers its guests the use of a conference room with complimentary WIFI, showers, work stations, a volley ball and horse shoe court, and is also located only minutes away from Provo Golf Course, one of the leading golf courses in the Caribbean. Surrounded by the 3rd largest barrier reef in the world, Turks and Caicos offers water sports enthusiasts some of the best diving and fishing grounds in the region. Blue Haven Marina is located on the northeastern tip of Providenciales providing easy access to bottom and flats fishing, diving and day-tripping to uninhabited cays.

As the ideal summer getaway, Blue Haven Resort & Marina is just 575 nautical miles from Florida and is perfectly positioned as the gateway to the Caribbean. Customized itineraries for both on and off shore activities are created upon request, together with the resort and marina concierge. SALT, a brand new crew bar and grill at the marina has recently opened, and an elegant dining experience, is set to welcome diners later this year at the resort.

The marina is currently running The IGY Million Dollar Sportfish Challenge, where vying anglers compete to break the IGFA all-tackle world record, fishing the island's Atlantic waters from May through October 2013 for Wahoo, Dolphin fish and Atlantic Blue Marlin. For more information, see http://www.igymarinas.com/news-events/million-dollar-sportfish-challenge/.

The current dockage offer at Blue Haven is for 2 free nights when you book seven or more. To take advantage of this limited time special offer, contact the marina.

Philipsburg:--- The Rotary Club of Sint Maarten-Mid Isle hosted the Group Study Exchange (GSE) members from Texas at the club's dinner meeting last Tuesday.

GSE is a Rotary Foundation sponsored program, providing educational experiences for young business and professional men and women. The team from Texas will be visiting various organizations on St. Maarten/St. Martin, Anguilla and St. Barths in the field of Law, Police, Nursing and Marine Biology. They will also be visiting government officials and all the Rotary Clubs on the islands, including recreational activities.

The team's leader is Jennifer Bergman, an Attorney and a member of the Rotary Club of Cleveland, Texas. The other members are Nicole Yeats who is in the field of Nursing, Kristopher Benson is a Marine Resource Specialist, Lameka Trahan also an Attorney and Brandy Norris who is an Assistant Chief of Police. Their presentation to the Mid Isle Club included information on their personal and professional life's back in Texas, and some of their experiences on the other islands of Rotary District 7020 which they recently visited.

One of the attractive features of the Group Study Exchange program, which started in 1965, is the opportunity for team members to meet, talk and live with Rotarians and their families in a warm spirit of friendship and hospitality. In addition to learning about another country as the team visits farms, schools, industrial plants, professional offices and governmental establishments, the GSE teams serve as ambassadors of goodwill. They interpret their home nation to host Rotarians and others in the communities in which they visit. Many of the personal contacts blossom into lasting friendships. The Group Study Exchange program has provided Rotarians with one of its most enjoyable, practical and meaningful ways to promote world understanding.

~Condolences book open at The Daily Herald today~

The Guyanese community in St. Maarten will be holding a wake for the late Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Herald Courtney E. Gibson this Friday at Quality Snacks on the Walter Nisbeth Road (Pondfill) from 7:00pm.

A condolences book will also open at The Daily Herald on Bush Road as of 11:00am today, Wednesday. The condolences book will also be open on Thursday and Friday at The Daily Herald from 8:30am to 4:00pm. The book will be available at the wake for signing.

Gibson was President and founding member of the St. Maarten Guyanese Foundation; a member of the Anti Trafficking In Persons Windward Islands Foundation ATIP and a member of the Anglican Church on Back Street. He passed away among his family members in Tampa, Florida late Sunday evening after a period of illness.

His passing has deeply touched many persons who remembers him as a professional, kind-hearted person with high ethical standards and integrity. The Guyanese community in St. Maarten extends condolences to his wife Liz, his mother, children, grandchildren, his colleagues everyone who is affected by his loss.

The Guyanese community urges everyone who knew Courtney to sign his condolence book and to come out to his wake.

Additional information can be obtained from Neville Mars at Tel: 527-9221; Winston McLean Tel: 553-2951 or Vanessa Fraser at Tel: 586-9455.

Pond Island:--- TelEm Group is joining environmentalists all over the world in celebration of World Environment Day today – June 5th.

The theme for World Environment Day 2013 is "Think. Eat. Save." to bring attention to food waste and encourage people around the world to educate themselves and improve global food conditions.

In accordance with the theme, TelEm Group is supporting the St. Maarten Pride Foundation and a group of schoolchildren on an agricultural trek to the Reward Estate where they aim to find out all about planting and growing food on St. Maarten.

The visit, with local agriculturist, Joselyn Richardson, is the initiative of the St. Maarten Pride Foundation, who earlier this year collaborated with TelEm Group on a coloring contest with World Environment Day as its focus.

According to TelEm Group Marketing and Sales Officer, Ms. Cheryl Rismay, an art coloring contest was held earlier in the year with a promise that the winning entry would be placed on a T-shirt to mark World Environment Day 2013.

TelEm Group kept its promise Tuesday when the company presented the St. Maarten Pride Foundation with 150 of the specially printed T-shirts for distribution to the public and/or use in a future fundraising drive.

The art coloring contest winner was named as: MAC school student, Noshavyah Winfield,aged 11-years, whose entry was printed on the T-shirt. First Runner-up was Fancia Adamus, aged, 12, and Second Runner-up was Alincia Brooks Ferdinand, aged six-years. Both are from St. Dominic Primary School.

The three winners will be presented with a surprise gift for their efforts at the TelEm Group Building today to once again focus on World Environment Day.

"Congratulations to our winners and to everyone who took part in the coloring contest and also congratulations to the St. Maarten PRIDE Foundation for once again bringing public attention to environmental awareness," said Cheryl.

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten Sarah Wescot Williams chose to dictate for the Council of Ministers by not recognizing the wishes of the council and the advice given to her by the Governor of St. Maarten on May 16th, 2013.

SMN News learnt that Wescot Williams did add the letter sent to her by the governor as an incoming document but chose to close the meeting before she reached that point on the agenda. The sole purpose of doing so was to avoid letting the other four members of the Council of Ministers vote on the matter, which is to dissolve the Parliament of St. Maarten. At some point, the meeting of Tuesday was adjourned but since the Prime Minister did not deal with the topic that would address the political situation on St. Maarten, the majority in the Council of Ministers immediately sent out a convocation to all the Ministers including the Prime Minister calling for an emergency meeting. SMN News learnt that meeting was held at 3pm Tuesday afternoon and the sole agenda point was the political situation on St. Maarten.

Majority called Urgent Meeting.

SMN News learnt from well placed sources that the majority in the Council of Ministers decided to call an extra-ordinary meeting on Tuesday afternoon where every member of the council was invited. Sources within the Government apparatus said that the sole agenda point that was discussed during the extra-ordinary meeting was the "Dissolution of Parliament". SMN News learnt that based certain articles of the rules of order, the meeting was held despite the Prime Minister's presence since she chose not to attend the urgent meeting that was called by the Members of the Council of Ministers.

The Ministers that attended the meeting voted to have the Council of Ministers discuss the decision they took since May 7th, 2013 to dissolve the Parliament of St. Maarten. A second vote was taken by the majority in the council in which they decided that the Parliament of St. Maarten must be dissolved and early elections be called within a period of three months.

A third vote by the majority was also taken and a resolution was also drafted to give the Deputy Prime Minister William Marlin the power to sign off on the Landsbesluit to dissolve the Parliament of St. Maarten.

Up to press time, none of the Ministers that attended meeting and voted on the dissolution of Parliament could be reached for comment.

Three students from HAVO 4 at the Milton Peters College (MPC) recently visited my office to discuss a project as part of one of their exam assignments.

The topic was, understanding our governmental structures including Parliament, their roles, tasks, responsibilities as they relate to one another.

The students were very excited and eager to receive and understand practical background information about these new institutions of Government and governance, as well about our electoral system, and the function of these institutions and systems under our new status, especially as they relate to our Constitution.

I encouraged them to study the Constitution as well, as they prepared for their school assignment. The Constitution is the blueprint of our country and must be held sacred

I shared their enthusiasm as my office is always open to any student, who is eager to learn, understand and make their own informed opinion about our democratically established institutions under our new 'Country' status.

It is very important that our youth fully understand and comprehend our Constitution and other pertinent laws of the land that allow us to operate as a civilized society.

Drs. Gracita Arrindell
United People's (UP) Party
Member of Parliament

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams attended an afternoon of dance and music at the National Art Institute's first recital on Sunday. The recital, held at the L.B. Scot Sports Auditorium, featured performances by children and adults. "It was very good to see the expression of art from especially the young people who did their performances with so much pride and passion. I am happy to see this first recital of the National Art Institute and I look forward to its ongoing growth as the institute responsible for the cultivation of art on St. Maarten," commented the Prime Minister.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

The Social Economic Council (SER) of Sint Maarten will host its first annual symposium on Wednesday morning, June 12 at the Westin Dawn Beach Spa & Resort. The theme of the symposium will be "Innovate or deteriorate; Corporate Social Responsibility as the Way Forward for Sint Maarten". The event will start at 8 am and will be concluded at 1 pm.
The SER is proud to present Professor Ryan Peterson as the keynote speaker of the conference. Professor Peterson's field of specialization is Innovation Economics. He holds the 'Economics Research Chair on Sustainable Islands' at the University of Aruba.
A panel discussion with representatives of the public and private sectors and the SER itself will further explore the central theme of innovation through 'Corporate Social Responsibility', addressing the question of the best way for businesses to be involved in, and accept responsibility for, the social challenges of our country.
Corporate social responsibility or 'CSR' nowadays is a widely discussed topic in the Caribbean and worldwide. Private enterprises can show corporate social responsibility at different levels; by donating money to charities, by stressing compliance with rules and regulations, or by being pro-actively involved in education, social causes, care for the environment and other long-term social goals.

Organization of the symposium is covered by Dutch development funds managed by USONA.

Further information on the SER and its activities is available at www.sersxm.org.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- "I'd like to extend my congratulations to the SMSEF, it's corporate sponsors, the participating schools including teachers, coaches, parents, and especially the student athletes who put their all into this school tournament. It was an intense and successful endeavor which holds great meaning to the community," Caretaker Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sports Hon. Silveria Jacobs said after the results on the final day of SMSEF Interscholastic Soccer Tournament 2013 which was played on June 1 at the Johan Cruijff Court in Belvedere.

The SMSEF Interscholastic soccer tournament came to a close today June 1, 2013 after 14 weeks of Saturday games. The Interscholastic soccer tournament started on January 26, 2013 with 43 teams representing 16 schools in seven categories: 7 and under, 9 and under, 11 and under, 13 and under, 15 and under, Girls and Champions League.

Prizes for the winners are: first prize winners NAf. 1.000,-, second place winners NAf. 500,- and third place winner NAf. 250,-. This wonderful gift in honor of the organization's 20th anniversary, which is intended to keep on giving to others, was made possible by the generous donations by: PJIA, Telem, Shipwreck Shops, International Liquor and Tobacco Trading N.V., WTN TV, Nagico, The Daily Herald, GEBE, Harbour Group of Companies and Kidsworld-SXM.

"I want to commend the foundation for promoting gender equality for many years in offering our girls the opportunity to compete against each other as well as with the boys. It is also a great achievement for us to also have an adult female team which I hope will grow to be more in numbers so that our young girls can continue to compete as they grow.

"Congratulations to the champions in all age groups. The Sr. Magda School emerged as the biggest winners, while the Leonard Conner School showed the greatest improvement with finalist in every category. I am extremely proud of our student athletes and all who support them in achieving their dreams.

"Congratulations to all teams and continue to strive to be the best that you can be. I have to also commend the foundation for giving back to the schools by awarding monetary prizes to the winning schools to go towards their football programs.

"This will go a long way in promoting the sport at the ground level and thus make for better prepared athletes as they grow towards regional and international competition," Minister Hon. Silveria Jacobs said on Monday.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Collective Preventive Services (CPS), a government agency under the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labour in observance of World Environment Day WED), 5 June, is appealing to the nation from all walks of life to come together to ensure a cleaner, greener and brighter outlook for themselves and future generations.

WED is an annual event that aims to be the biggest and most widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action. WED activities take place all year round but climax on 5 June every year.

The global theme is "Think.Eat.Save." The theme is an anti-food waste and food loss campaign that encourages individuals to reduce your footprint.

According to the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), every year 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted. This is equivalent to the same amount produced in the whole of sub-Saharan Africa.

At the same time, one in every seven people in the world go to bed hungry and more than 20,000 children under the age of five die daily from hunger.

The global WED theme is in line with Minister of Public Health, Social Development & Labour's Hon. Cornelius de Weever's "Get Checked" campaign.

"Take a step back, and reflect upon the theme Think.Eat.Save. Become more aware of the environmental impact of the food choices you make and empower yourself to make informed decisions.

"One way is to choose to buy locally grown foods which means foods are not flown in and therefore limits emissions. Locally grown also means healthier foods with no preservatives or chemicals," Minister De Weever pointed out.

The FAO estimates that a third of global food production is either wasted or lost. Food waste is an enormous drain on natural resources and a contributor to negative environmental impacts.

Due to the enormous imbalance in lifestyles and the resultant devastating effects on the environment, the plant is struggling to provide us with enough resources to sustain its seven billion people – growing to nine billion by 2050.

WED celebration began in 1972 and has grown to become one of the main vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and encourages political attention and action.

PHILIPSBURG:--- As a result of extensive meetings held between the University of the Dutch Caribbean (UDC) and the University of St.Martin (USM) a new NVAO accredited bachelor program will start in August 2013 providing sufficient enrollment.

The program gives St. Maarten students access to Nederlands-Vlaams Accreditatie Organisatie (NVAO) accredited bachelor in applied science in electrical and electronic engineering program which was put together by the Saxion Hogeschool in the Netherlands. Following are some subjects that form part of the curriculum; Mathematics, Analog Technology, Digital Technology, Engineering Programming, Automation, Renewable Energy and Social skills.

To qualify for admittance students must be in possession of either an MBO or SBO level diploma or equivalent and be employed in a technical enterprise (certain waivers will apply depending on technical experience).

The duration of the program is 4 years and internship must be at place of employment.
The total cost for the program is at US $ 8,000 per year, including textbooks and examination fees.
The applied science program is for to those who have working experience, have entered middle management, and want to develop their technical knowledge and skills.

With this UDC-USM bachelor in applied Electrical Electronic Engineering, St. Maarten students are able to earn their BAEEE in four years, including their final thesis without leaving the island.
Additional information is available at the USM Student Service Center at tel: 542-5171 ext. 1000.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Minister of Education and Culture Hon. Silveria Jacobs last Friday attended the opening of the 11th annual St. Martin Book Fair which was held at the Chamber of Commerce building at Spring Concordia. The fair featured words of welcome from President Shujah Reiph and a most riveting Keynote address by bestselling author, Foreign Policy Advocate Professor Randal Robinson.

Dr. Robinson brought key thoughts forward of promoting reading and inspiring this generation and the next to raise the bar on literacy. He spoke of us as a people learning about ourselves, our history and our ancestors as a stepping stone to paving the way to the future. His address brought forth memories of the Minister's first real lesson of the Caribbean in literature such as "From Columbus for Castro" which was required reading in her Literature class at the University of the Virgin Islands.

The evening was also featured a poetic recital by internationally acclaimed artist Mischu Laikah, one of our own, who is currently on St. Maarten on her "Back to my Roots" Tour. The songstress read and sang one of her poems and showed the links between the poetry she has always written which has evolved into lyrics she now pens as an expression of her deepest feeling.

Minister Jacobs was deeply inspired by the entire program, including the featured book launch "Where I see the Sun – Contemporary Poetry in St. Martin, which features 25 poets and spoken word artists.

"This launch must be commended as artists of every age, some as young as sixteen, had the opportunity to be published by this most prestigious House of Nehesi publishing house. Congratulations to Lasana Sekou (editor) and the House of Nehesi on this great achievement, which forms part and parcel of St. Martin cultural development," Minister Silveria Jacobs said on Monday.

The Minister Jacobs would also like to congratulate and commend Robin Boasman, elementary teacher and now author, on the launch of her children's book Lizzy Lizard which was also launched during this 11th Annual St. Martin Book Fair.

"This is a proud moment for Boasman and the entire teaching core, who I believe should be inspired to follow suit. Many teachers have created big books for their students to enjoy, and it would be a great accomplishment for us a country to produce even more literature at all levels, where we can identify ourselves in the stories and poems," Minister Jacobs pointed out.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Minister of Culture Hon. Silveria Jacobs was honored to be the guest at the 1st Annual NIA Dance Recital entitled "NIA in Wonderland" on Saturday evening.

The joining of forces of the Motiance Dance School and Imbali Center for Creative Movement and the Arts signals a growth in the mindset of the creative directors as well as bigger and better opportunities for the all art lovers of St. Maarten, as the institute offers classes in dance, music, drama and art, Minister Jacobs stated on Monday.

The Minister commends especially Clara Reyes and Arlene Halley for the vision and initiative to embark on this very unique journey for the further development of the Arts on St. Maarten.

The performance of the students during the Recital was awe inspiring, as the different genres of dance and the varying ages of the dancers brought joy to the hearts of the spectators.

Minister Jacobs wishes NIA much success in its quest to offer more to the youth and adults of St. Maarten who see the arts as a vehicle for the expression of creativity.

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams presented a personal check to Erika Cannegieter of the Be the Change Foundation in Support of the Art Saves Live program. The Prime Minister, in presenting the check, again commended the organizations and encouraged businesses and individuals to contribute to the Be the Change Foundation as they raise funds for many worthwhile organizations on St. Maarten.

Also in support of the Be The Change Foundation, the Prime Minister attended the Foundation's Fundraising Event and Membership Drive on Sunday evening at the Red Piano Bar.

Be The Change's mission is to encourage the St. Maarten community to actively contribute to various non-profit organizations and local causes. This will be done by way of igniting a social philanthropic movement, hence making a united effort to change and improve life on the island.

Art Saves Lives Program (ASLP) is a cross-cultural exchange between youth in need and experienced practicing artists who seek to use their talents for positive change. This collaborative project will select renowned artists from around the world who use the arts to introduce participants to global and local traditions and empower them with the life skills necessary to effectively deal with the demands and challenges of everyday life. The project will also provide guidance for young artists with aspirations in pursuing a career in the arts.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Minister of Education and Culture Hon. Silveria Jacobs on Saturday night was in attendance at the Maho Theater to witness a concert featuring local and regional artists in the Mischu Laikah tour Back to my Roots.

The concert was a cultural blend of genres from soca, calypso, reggae, rock, rhythm and blues and soulful notes of the headliner Mischu herself. Minister Jacobs said: It was awesome to witness the talent displayed by all the artist performing at this concert.

What made this concert special is the humble, passionate and positive spirit of Mischu and the fact that she collaborated with the many guests to remix her songs as well as theirs in a vibe that touched the audience.

Minister Jacobs wishes to congratulate all of the guest artists, Showtime from St. Eustatius, British Dependency from Anguilla, local artist Ambassodor Junior Lion, King Verse/Versatwizy, and Clau Peterson for their individual and collaborative efforts in making this concert a success.

Minister Jacobs would also like to commend the artist Mischu Laikah for the initiative, passion and drive she has displayed in order to reach this dream of coming back to her roots, St. Maarten, for this tour.

"This young lady not only wanted to share her music with her St. Maarten people, she strived to share her vision and her experiences in the music industry with our young artists. She hosted a free workshop which included various local artists to bring the real challenges forward to our aspiring artists in an effort to better prepare them to follow their own dreams. Mischu also collaborated with sponsors to be able to offer the youth a free concert which was held on Sunday, where she allowed them to join her on stage as well.

"This young lady is destined for stardom, not just because of her hauntingly beautiful voice and lyrics which speak to the hearts and soul of all who hear them, but because of her amazingly beautiful spirit and her need to give back, share and help others achieve their goals. Congratulations Mischu Laikah Richardson, a woman of the soil to be reckoned with - a role model for our times," Minister Silveria Jacobs said on Monday.

Hope Estate:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams and the Governor of St. Maarten His Excellency Eugene Holiday attended a luncheon with French Minister of Overseas France the Honorable Victorin Lurel at Bacchus restaurant in Hope Estate on Monday. Minister Laurel is on a working visit to St. Martin and St. Barths this week and took the opportunity to discuss various items with both the Prime Minister and Governor Holiday.

Philipsburg:--- The St. Maarten Table Tennis Federation (SMTTF) received a drinking water fountain from the Rotary Club of Sint Maarten-Mid Isle, to alleviate the thirst of the children who are practicing at the L.B. Scot Sports Auditorium. The Rotary Club used the funds that were generated from the Rotary Youth Table Tennis Tournament (RYTTT), which was held in March, to purchase the water fountain and filters. The installation was provided by Tony's Air Conditioning at no cost. The previous fountain was out of order for two years, and coach Radjouki often had to purchase water bottles for the children. Radjouki thanked the members of Rotary Mid Isle for this much needed equipment, which will provide the children with clean filtered drinking water. Earlier this year, the Rotary Club also helped with the traveling expenses of the SMTTF children who participated in a tournament in Trinidad & Tobago, which saw the Sint Maarten team advance to the second round, but was unfortunately eliminated by the Dominican Republic. The experience gathered from participating in such international tournaments has helped tremendously in improving the level of the table tennis players on St. Maarten, and Rotary Mid Isle feels proud to have played a role in this.

Philipsburg:--- Last Tuesday, the Rotary Club of St. Maarten-Mid Isle presented the Rotaract Club of Saint Martin Nord and the Rotaract Club of St. Maarten Sunrise each with a donation, to help their members with traveling expenses to the District 7020 Rotaract Conference in the Cayman Islands. The Presidents of both Rotaract clubs were on hand to receive the contribution, and spoke briefly about the numerous community projects and fellowship activities that their clubs were able to execute during the 2012-2013 Rotaract Year. Mid Isle President Jon Hart congratulated both Rotaract Clubs on a successful year, and urged both presidents to continue the good work of Rotaract. At the Rotaract Conference, there will be training seminars and discussions of new ideas, that will help the Rotaract Clubs to effectively carry out their humanitarian works in their respective communities. Rotaractors from various islands in the Caribbean will be attending the Conference, making use of the opportunity to meet new friends, while participating in excursions and parties after the seminars. The Mid Isle Club is happy to contribute to the Rotaractors, as they are widely considered to be the "Future of Rotary".

Sandy Ground:--- The drawing for Cadisco's 15th anniversary grand prize, the 2013 i10 sponsored by Motorworld, was held Friday May 31st, 2013 at the Cadisco gas station in Sandy Ground. Brigitte Carty was the pleased winner out of thousands of participants. The raffle for the i10 began May 20th, 2013 until June 31st, 2013. Scratch cards were given out to customers who came for gasoline. Up to the last minute people were still bringing in their scratch cards in order to have a chance in winning the i10 sponsored by Motorworld. Other participants also got the opportunity to win free gas, free drinks, and many other enjoyable prizes.
Motorworld was voted "The Best Auto Dealer" on St. Maarten by the public of St. Maarten. Motorworld is the car dealer for the brands Hyundai, Honda, Daihatsu, Jeep, Dodge, Ram and Chrysler, for St. Maarten and neighboring islands. For more information visit the Motorworld showroom which is located on Welfare rd #20, Cole Bay, St. Maarten. Tel 1721- 5294 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Philipsburg:--- The St. Maarten Lions Club is finalizing plans for the annual Car Raffle which will be drawn next week Wednesday June 12th, live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 115 (TV15) at 9pm sharp. The first prize for this fundraising raffle is 2013 Hyundai Tucson. Second prize is a 42 inch flat screen TV and third prize is an iPhone 4S.

Each raffle ticket is $10 and is available from any Lions member, this coming weekend on Saturday & Sunday at Le Grand Marche Cul De Sac. Tickets are also available during this week and next week up to the raffle date at the Lions Den at the Upper Princess Quarter Center on the Sucker Garden Road (next to SOL Gas Station) between 8am to 5:30pm. The Lions Club urges the general public buy their raffle tickets as soon as possible as their are a limited amount of tickets available before the raffle date.

The winning tickets will be drawn from a tombola and the St. Maarten Lions Club will attempt to call the winner of Hyundai Tucson live on the air. All income from the St. Maarten Lions Club raffle go to fund various community projects on the island of St. Maarten.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Section General Health Care (SGHC) that falls under Collective Prevention Services (CPS) from the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, is advising persons traveling to the Middle East to be on alert and to take preventive measures to protect their health in connection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which includes viruses that may cause a range of illnesses in humans, from the common cold and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). Viruses of this family also cause a number of animal diseases, however the NCoV itself has not yet been found in an animal.

Travelers who return with symptoms from areas affected by the virus should call their family physician immediately. This is in connection with the Minister of Public Health's 'Get Checked' campaign in order to protect public health.

Globally, from September 2012 to date, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been informed of a total of 53 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including 30 deaths. The Ministry of Health in Italy, through the European Union's Early Warning Response System has notified WHO of an additional two laboratory-confirmed cases, a two-year-old girl and a 42-year-old woman who had recently traveled to Jordan.

Countries that have reported laboratory-confirmed cases to date are: Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Tunisia and France.

In France, Italy, Tunisia and the United Kingdom, there has been limited local transmission among patients who had not been to the Middle East but had been in close contact with the laboratory-confirmed or probable cases.

Common symptoms have been acute, serious respiratory illness with fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties. The infection generally presents as pneumonia. It has caused kidney failure and death in some cases.

To prevent catching any respiratory illness, avoid close contact, when possible, with anyone who shows symptoms of illness (coughing and sneezing), and to maintain good hand hygiene.

Health care providers have been called to be vigilant in monitoring for severe acute respiratory infections and the systematic implementation of infection prevention and control.

Health care facilities are reminded of the importance of systematic implementation of infection prevention and control. The WHO continues to closely monitor the situation.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has carried out a study as it relates to the rights of children and adolescents in the country. This study was presented to the Minister of Youth Affairs last month where according to reports; the overall situation of children and adolescents in St. Maarten is good.

The plus points according to media reports for the country based on the report are, there is almost universal access to health care and education while mechanisms are in place for those who are in need of protection; however there are some issues that require continued attention by the government and stakeholders.

Some of the areas that require attention are high teen pregnancy rate, an increase in obesity among children, challenges in accessing health care for migrant children and that health data was not easily accessible.

In the area of education, the school curriculum should be adapted to needs of local students so that they could be able to learn about local culture; other challenges noted were class size, teachers, school materials and limited interaction between school and parents; limited after-school care opportunities.

The report also found that there was a high level of violence against children at home, in schools and elsewhere. It also found challenges relating to the coordination among actors in the child protection system.

Parliament needs a copy of this report, and the House needs to debate the content of the report and look into the areas that require additional attention.

Our young people are our most precious resource. As a country, we must do all in our power to ensure that their rights are respected. The Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1989.

The Convention lists internationally acknowledged rights of children. The aim of the adoption of the convention was to emphasize that a child is a human together with all the rights a parent has. The rights of a child are human rights.

I am looking forward to calling a parliamentary meeting shortly and prior to the upcoming parliamentary summer recess.

The report was compiled based on research that was carried out by an independent organization. As part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, St. Maarten has a responsibility to report on a regular basis to the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

Drs. Gracita Arrindell
Member of Parliament
United People's (UP) Party

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Some of the reports received from the 10 Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) at last week's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) meeting about the country's disaster management system reveals that more than a majority of preparations are in place for the passing of a hurricane.

The Meteorological Department of St. Maarten (MDS) ESF-10 will be issuing for the first time tropical storm/hurricane watches and warnings without any assistance from the Curacao Met Services.

The Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, and Transportation & Telecommunications (ESF-10) is busy compiling a list of food items – price freeze - in order to prevent price gouging prior and after a hurricane strike.

The Department of Communication (DCOMM) (ESF-8) which is responsible for public information and media is also ready for the season. DCOMM currently has an on-going public awareness campaign to remind residents about being prepared for what is forecast to be an extremely busy season.

The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labour (ESF-6) has been mobilized and will be meeting with a number of stakeholders this week with respect to their preparations for the season.

The Fire Department (ESF-4) is prepared and ready to roll out to assist in an emergency situation.

The Power Utility Company GEBE (ESF-1) reported that they are prepared for the season. Major generator overhauls have been completed no major preventative maintenance is necessary during the season.

Any open trenches where work is being carried out by the company will be closed in the event of the passing of a hurricane.

GEBE will do everything to keep the electricity on, however, if conditions reach a certain level, for the safety of the equipment and if there are downed power lines, the plant will be shut down.

The Department of Social Services (ESF-7) is in the process with several other government agencies to carry out an assessment of hurricane shelters for the season. The department will also commence shortly with an information campaign with respect to the shelter usage and what you can take to a shelter.

The Police Force (ESF-5) is assessing their buildings and already has in place a traffic circulation plan.

Also present during the EOC/ESF meeting last week Thursday was the Adjudant to the Governor's Cabinet and a representative from the Cabinet of the Prime Minister (ESF-9).

Storm names for the 2013 season are: Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dorian, Erin, Fernand, Gabrielle, Humberto, Ingrid, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Nestor, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, Van and Wendy.

The 2013 hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30.

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams yesterday expressed her sympathy and heartfelt condolences at the recent passing of Daily Herald Editor-In-Chief Courtney Gibson. "It is with deep sadness that I learned of the passing of Mr. Gibson in the United States. I would like to express my deepest condolences to his family, friends, acquaintances, his colleagues at the Daily Herald and the Guyanese Community. He was known for his professionalism and dedication to the journalistic field and his absence will be missed by his colleagues in the media as well as by all of those who knew him," stated the Prime Minister.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Philipsburg:--- Several civil servants found themselves in a predicament late last week when they found out that SZV sent a letter to the St. Maarten Medical Center, doctors, and pharmacies informing them that they will not be issuing anymore extensions on the expired government doctor cards.
A few civil servants told SMN News that their doctor cards expired since December 31st, 2012 and to date they have not received their new cards for the year 2013. SMN News has been reliably informed that the management of SZV has been sending emails and other correspondences to government informing them that they will stop the extensions on the old doctor cards because they are of the opinion that all civil servants working for government should now be in possession of their new card.

A source close to the personnel department of government said that the personnel department never responded to the correspondences SZV has been sending them over the past six months, but now that SZV took the necessary actions an email was sent to SZV informing them that there are still a number of civil servants without doctor a card. The source said the personnel department and SZV management are expected to meet on Tuesday to work on a solution. Efforts made by SMN News to reach the interim Director of SZV Reginald Willemsberg by telephone proved futile on Monday.

Grand Case:--- Préfet Philippe Chopin and Préfet of Guadeloupe Marcelle Pierrot escorted French Minister of Overseas Territories Victorin Lurel to a waiting car shortly after his arrival at Grand Case Airport Monday morning for his official visit. He was greeted by elected officials and a welcoming committee from the Socialist Party on St. Martin. The Minister met with President Aline Hanson and the Territorial Council before visiting the new media library and other projects during the day. He is due to visit St. Barths on Tuesday.

Harbor View:--- A small group of people gathered at the Governor's office on Monday morning seeking an audience with Governor drs. Eugene Holiday to get answers from him regarding the petitions they submitted to him to call for new elections. Lisa Alexander, the main organizer of the petition drive, was the only person who was invited inside to speak with Governor Holiday.

Alexander told her supporters after meeting with Governor Holiday that Governor Holiday gave her a letter acknowledging receipt of the petitions that were submitted to him on May 17th and May 24th, 2013. Governor Holiday also stated in his letter that was addressed to Lisa Alexander that he reviewed the petitions that were sent to him and referred them to Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams for her attention and further handling by the Council of Ministers.

Alexander then went to the Government Administration Building where she hand delivered a copy of the letter the Governor gave her to each of the Ministers that were in office on Monday.

Rene "Koto" Wilson told reporters at the Government Administration Building that he noticed that the Ministers accepted the letters with grace but he wants them to know that if his democratic rights are exploited and if the rules of law are not followed then he will be taking a trip to the Netherlands with his lawyer to represent himself. "If it comes to that then I will be bringing down the fire and brimstone on St. Maarten because what I will expose in Holland no politician in St. Maarten will like. I am giving the politicians until the end of this month to deal with the political crisis on St. Maarten and the wishes of the people and if that does not happen by the end of this month then I will do what I have to do in the Kingdom Council of Ministers."

In an invited comment, Deputy Prime Minister William Marlin said that he wrote a letter to the Governor of St. Maarten and he does not intend to give up the fight. Marlin said that the Prime Minister intended to place the Governor's letter that was sent on May 16th and his requests to have the political situation discussed on the agenda of June 4th, 2013. Marlin said that on Tuesday June 4th, 2013 the majority intends to take a step further to ensure that the will of the majority in the Council of Ministers is dealt with and the petitions that were sent to the Governor.

Marlin said that the Prime Minister has been adamant with her position which is not to place the matter on the agenda, the Prime Minister even in her letter stated that now that the cabinet resigned that has strengthened her position. Marlin further stated that the Prime Minister's approach is incorrect because even a caretaker cabinet can make use of article 59 of the constitution to dissolve parliament. Marlin said since May 7th, 2013 they have been trying to exercise their democratic right based on the constitution but the Prime Minister has been abusing her power and blocking them from executing a decision taken by the majority in the Council of Ministers.

Marlin said the letter dated May 16th that was sent by the Governor to the Prime Minister clearly stated that the majority must be allowed to exercise their right, and failure to do that will be tampering with the constitutional process. Marlin said the majority of the Council of Ministers intends to ensure that the decision they took on May 7th, 2013 is dealt with on Tuesday June 4th, 2013.

Click here to view more photos of the small group of protestors that are demanding that early elections be called.

Philipsburg:--- Media workers are in shock, some were at a loss for words on Monday morning when they learned that their colleague and friend Courtney Gibson passed away. Gibson was 62 at the time of his death.

Gibson, a veteran journalist, was working as the Editor in Chief for the Daily Herald Newspaper for quite some years now. Those who knew "Courtney" could tell that he was one journalist that believed in integrity and ethics when it came to reporting news. While Courtney was a friendly, kind, and staunch Christian, he maintained his professionalism as a journalist even when he was placed in situations where he had to stand strong on his beliefs.
Gibson worked as the Bureau Chief for the Caribbean News Agency now known as the Caribbean Media Corporation in his native country Guyana. He was also the Editor in Chief for the Guyana Chronicle for a number of years. Gibson also worked in the Turks and Caicos Islands prior to taking up his position at the Daily Herald in St. Maarten.

Courtney Gibson was the President of the Guyanese Foundation on St. Maarten, he was also a member of the Anti Trafficking in Persons of the Windward Islands Foundation (ATIP).

Courtney Gibson took ill some months ago with a rare medical condition; he sought medical treatment in St. Maarten, Guadeloupe, and Colombia. Some two weeks ago Gibson left the island to continue his medical treatment in Tampa Florida where he passed away late Sunday night.

Courtney leaves to mourn his wife Liz, his mother, three children, four grandchildren, his close friend Neville Mars and the members of the Anglican Church on Back Street Philipsburg. SMN News team wishes the family of late Courtney Gibson much strength in their time of bereavement.

Marigot:--- It is now public knowledge that not only the Gendarmes, the lawyer and his clients located at Orient Beach (AW33) Elisa Cohen and Philippe Just felt that the AOT (Authorization Occupation Temporaire) issued by the Collectivity of St. Martin to Sindextour (Norbert Luftman) was illegal but the Prefet Delegue of St. Martin Philippe Chopin shared the same views. According to information provided to SMN News, Prefet Chopin contested the decision taken by the Collectivity of St. Martin because he felt renewing the AOT for SINDEXTOUR was illegal. Chopin penned a letter on September 26th, 2012 to the former President of the COM Alain Richardson requesting that he review the decision the COM took when they issued the AOT to Norbert Luftman Managing Director of SINDEXTOUR. In that letter the Prefet made clear that in his view the issuance of the contested AOT was illegal and unlawful.
However, the former President did not respond to the Prefet's letter immediately, he did so on November 16th, 2012. The President wrote the Prefet telling him that the Territorial Council considered their decision to be lawful and he also provided a number of arguments including documents to support the decision taken by the COM. Despite the arguments by the former President, the Prefet was not moved by the explanation he was given for the issuance of the AOT to SINDEXTOUR.
SMN News got confirmation that the Prefet Delegue of St. Martin Philippe Chopin submitted an application to the Administrative Courts on January 3rd, 2013 requesting that the court annul the decision of the AOT marked (no 2012-03 of September 14th, 2012). The Prefet also confirmed to the court that on April 17th, 2012, just over two weeks after the RRR Government took office they deliberated on the issuance of the AOT and took a decision to grant it to SINDEXTOUR. He further submitted the decision taken again on September 4th, 2012 by the Executive Council and the decision taken by the Territorial Council on September 14th, 2012.
The operators of Bikini Beach and Kontiki Beach also submitted a request to the Administrative Courts asking that the AOT given to SINDEXTOUR be annulled.
In the meantime, several persons including elected officials were arrested, placed in garde à vue, and are now before the criminal courts for the issuance of the AOT to Sindextour. The case was first called on March 21st, 2013 and  postponed to September 19th, 2013.

Philipsburg:--- On Friday May 31st, 2013 in the presence of Acting Minister of Justice Roland Tuitt, Chief of Police Peter de Witte, and other colleagues, five police inspectors namely, Inspectors Lucy Gachette, Benjamin Gout, Delano Baptist, Carlyle Rogers, and Quinten Rogers received their diplomas for successfully passing their L.M.O. exams (course on managerial level). During a short speech by the acting Minister of Justice he stated to all present that investing in people in any organization, especially in an organization like the police department, is the key to the motivation of its personnel and success of the organization. He then congratulated the inspectors and wished them much success in their future endeavors.

KPSM Press Release

Philipsburg:--- On Friday May 31st, 2013, Chief of Police Peter de Witte awarded certificates to the participants who successfully followed the training in Financial Investigation. Sixteen investigators of the Police Force followed a one week course where skills were taught by experienced teachers of Forensic Services in Curacao, regarding money laundering detection and control, as well as the deprivation of illegally obtained assets.

This brings the Police Force to the level where it meets the development requirements it has set for itself and where the CFATF (Caribbean Financial Action Task Force) insists the Police Department should be. In the near future, the Specialist will follow a three week advanced training in Financial Investigation.

KPSM Press Release

Belair:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams attended the launching of the Children's Book Lizzy Lizard by young St. Maarten Author Robin Boasman at the Closing Ceremony and Book Launch Party of the eleventh annual St. Maarten's Book Fair on Saturday. The Prime Minister purchased a copy of the newly released children's book at the event at the Belair Community College and was honored with a signature by the young writer. "It is really good to see the St. Maarten Book Fair grow in what it is today, being one of the primary literature events in the North Eastern Caribbean," commented the PM. "And it is also very good to see a young and upcoming writer like Robin publish a children's book that covers many important themes. With her book we can introduce our children to the love of reading from a very early age with a book that is set in our beloved country, and that is very, very important," commented the Prime Minister.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Philipsburg:--- On Friday May 31st, 2013, Police Major Giovanni Sprott received his long awaited promotion to police inspector. Sprott was given his Landsbesluit (decree) by the Honorable Acting Minister of Justice Roland Tuitt in the presence of the Chief of Police and other colleagues during a ceremony held on that day at the Philipsburg Police Station. Inspector Sprott was congratulated by the minister and encouraged to continue doing the fine job he has been doing.

KPSM Press Release

Philipsburg:--- On Wednesday May 29th, 2013, a short swearing-in ceremony was held at the Philipsburg Police Station in the presence of the Chief of Police Peter de Witte and other colleagues. During this ceremony Mrs. Tishandra Constant was officially sworn in by the Honorable Acting Minister of Justice Roland Tuitt as a Forensic Specialist/Special Investigator with the Sint Maarten Police and attached to the Forensic Department. Mrs. Constant was congratulated by all present and wished much success.

KPSM Press Release

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Mental health is fundamental to health. This is reflected by the definition of health in the World Health Organization (WHO) Constitution as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."

The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour in collaboration with the WHO and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), have organized a workshop for stakeholders to introduce a new assessment instrument for mental health systems.

A representative from PAHO will be leading the workshop on Tuesday at the Sonesta Great Bay Beach Hotel & Casino with respect to 'Assessment Instrument Mental Health Systems (AIMS).'

Besides local stakeholders such as the St. Maarten Medical Center, Mental Health Foundation, Alzheimer's Foundation, more than 30 organizations and institutions have signed up to participate in the workshop. There will also be representatives from various organizations from Curacao, Bonaire, Saba, and St. Eustatius in attendance.

The AIMS tool will be utilized in St. Maarten in the very near future and will look at our mental health care system. It is not an evaluation but solely an assessment after which recommendations will be given to improve and or maintain standards.

WHO aims to provide health planners, policy-makers, and donors with a set of clear and coherent activities and programmes for scaling up care for mental, neurological and substance use disorders through the 'Mental Health Gap Action Programme'.

Mental health is paramount to personal well-being, family relationships, and successful contributions to society. It is related to the development of societies and countries.

Mental ill-health and poverty interact in a negative cycle: mental ill-health impedes people's ability to learn and to engage productively in their economies, and poverty in turn increases the risk for developing mental disorders, and reduces people's ability to gain access to health services.

The workshop related to mental health also falls within the parameters of the Minister of Public Health's Hon. Cornelius de Weever's 'Get Checked' campaign. Minister De Weever says in order for the country to have a comprehensive approach in dealing with mental health, the country has to 'get checked' first by having the necessary information at its disposal in order to develop the ideal programs and interventions for the people of the country.

AIMS have been carried out on different islands in the Caribbean.

It was used to collect information on the mental health system in Anguilla.

The information collected and gathered on Anguilla would enable the authorities to develop information-based mental health plans with clear base-line information and targets.

It would be useful to monitor progress in implementing reform policies, providing community services, and involving users, families and other stakeholders in mental health promotion, prevention, care, and rehabilitation.

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams urged the community to practice a healthy lifestyle, in particular the avoiding of cigarettes and tobacco related products at the opening of the Healthy Lifestyle Corner at the Philipsburg Jubilee Library last week. "I want to start with congratulate the Collective Service of the Ministry of Public Health as well as the Philipsburg Jubilee Library with the initiative of launching an outreach project that is centered on promoting a healthy lifestyle for the community. I think it is important that we share the available information that is available with regards to encouraging a healthy lifestyle, and of course not smoking is an integral part of living that healthy lifestyle.

"When we look at legislation as complimentary to having people understand that they need to change their lifestyle and habits in order to not only to save themselves but to do the entire community a favor we can see Government's commitment to ensure the health of the people. We have to continue to repeat the message of living healthily as often as we can and I am glad that, with this initiative, St. Maarten is catching up to bringing the message across with regards to living a healthy lifestyle and not entering and eventually quitting bad habits, including smoking. So in the words of this project "Be Smart, Don't Start; Want to Quit, Do it.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams urged the community over the weekend to be vigilant and be prepared for the coming 2013 Hurricane Season, one that is predicted to be one of the busiest season's in years.

"I cannot stress enough how important it is for us not let our guard down as far as hurricane preparedness is concerned. We have been spared for quite some time a direct hit of a major hurricane for which we are extremely grateful to the almighty, but at the same time we need to realize that, as the saying goes, it only takes one. A very busy season is projected so I am urging the community at the beginning of the season to be prepared and to take the necessary precautions," emphasized the Prime Minister.

"We as government will be repeating the message of preparedness as we go along. The Emergency Operations Center has had its first meeting and from a Government perspective we will be looking at, for example, the readiness of the shelters and what needs to be done to ensure the safety of the People. And ensuring that all the essential organizations and entities will do their part to ensure that we are prepared in the event of a hurricane.

The Prime Minister also attended the yearly Prayer Walk, where participants from various denominations offered prayers for the safe passage of the Hurricane Season; "It is good to also recognize that we should recognize that whatever happens it eventually is in the hand of God and as a Country we should indeed offer our prayers for a safe hurricane season," stated the Prime Minister after the walk on Saturday evening.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Hon. Cornelius de Weever, commends the collaboration between NAGICO Insurances and the Police Force of St. Maarten with respect to promoting road safety.

According to a recent World Health Organization (WHO) status report on road safety, 1.24 million people still die in road traffic crashes each year; 53 per cent of them are car drivers or car passengers, and 33 per cent pedestrians.

More than 23,500 pedestrians were killed on the roads in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2010, making pedestrians the most vulnerable group of road users in the region.

Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius de Weever, says the road safety initiative also falls within the scope of public health and calls on the community as part of his 'Get Checked' campaign especially motorists to check your speed and be observant of pedestrians, bike/bicycle riders (by adults and children) and other road users, and remember life before speed.

People walk on a daily basis which is good for one's health and the environment, therefore walking should be a safe option for people everywhere.

Globally, more than 270,000 pedestrians lose their lives on the world's roads each year, according to a WHO report.

The public-private sector collaboration entails erecting six road-side signs at strategic locations promoting road safety such as wearing your seatbelts and helmets, warning of the dangers of speeding and cell phone usage, and avoid drinking and driving.

In the Americas, pedestrians account for 23 per cent of all traffic fatalities region-wide, but the proportion varies across sub-regions, for example, 27 per cent in the Caribbean.

In addition to deaths, millions more pedestrians suffer injuries, which can require long hospital stays and lengthy rehabilitation or be permanently disabling. Given the high costs of care, these injuries can throw victims and their families into poverty and add to the burden of already fragile healthcare systems.