Articles

Not easily should anyone, including Government take statements coming from the Chamber of Commerce very lightly, much less ignore them.
After all, these types of bodies, are very powerful, well-established and well-respected in most industrial countries, as a so called social-partner, along with Government and labor-unions.
Generally speaking, since The Chamber of Commerce is an institution that represents the private sector/capital, it tends to be rather very careful and conservative in its approach and positions vis a vis the social aspects of society.
As a consequence, Chambers of Commerce do not just casually make public statements about social issues and in the rare event it does occur, certainly it makes headlines.
That is exactly what the article (Citizens have to become whistleblowers) which appeared in the daily newspaper today, Wednesday, August 24, 2011 did and why it deserves special attention from all.
(See attached document).
Not only has it received our attention, but admiration - and support as well.
Without going into detail, we would like to quote a number of statements made, by Mr. Glen CARTY, President of the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce, which sounded very familiar in our ears.
"Citizens have to become whistleblowers,"
We need to find common ground for all stakeholders."
We need a real working relationship with the French side,"
a campaign is needed to establish pride in country St. Maarten.
The records will show, that our grassroots movement has in essence, for many years, promoted exactly those requirements and more !
Certainly, we have been ''Whistleblowers', exposing many wrongdoings of Government.
For instance, the exclusion of the St. Martin people from the Constitution and hence their betrayal....
In addition, we have formulated the only 'win-win' concept for all stakeholders on the island, in the form of our 'MARSHALL PLAN'.....
We have more that promoted the working relationship between 'French' and 'Dutch' SXM; we have supported and presented the draft St. Martin pact to the U.N. and have issued the only St. Martin ID-card as expression of the indivisible oneness of the St. Martin people, which can serve as the most fundamental foundation for any cooperation on Governmental level......
Our St. Martin nation building movement is the only such organisation set up with as sole objective to promote our SXM-heritage as such and as foundation for inclusion as part of the SXM nation building process...
Therefore, in fact, it is not so much our movement which now supports the call of the Chamber, but the other way around.....
The Chamber has finally, at least publicly signed on to our big picture of SXM nation building.
And this is what we highly commend the chamber for.
Not only that.
But, considering the very unique situation of this island, with two different administrations, we also would like to add a 'new member' to the 'tri-partite' concept.
A member that represents a group of people, who are one and the same on both sides of the island; the only constant (human-resource) factor on both sides of the island !
Yes, what about the only grassroots, St. martin nation building - and unification movement ?
Too much to digest now ?
Perhaps.
But, who knows that in the not too distant future, we will have 'quatre-partite' consultations ?
In ending, even in order to achieve, the objectives mentioned by Mr. CARTY, a platform would be necessary to bring about a change and mentality, through information, education, discussions on a very consistent basis.
Our movement in fact has embarked on such a platform look forward to the support of the Chamber and others as well to achieve the goals as expressed through its president, Mr. CARTY.

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

Dear 'Diamond Kath',

Thanks very much for having invited me for an interview with you on your radio-program, yesterday, Monday, August 22, 2011.
I am very grateful to you for the opportunity you gave me to get my points across without any unnecessary interruption by you.
Many people, who listened to the interview, shared with me how they were impressed by how well prepared you were by asking the right questions.
Having said that, I also feel that I now it to your listeners and public in general as well to give more detailed information about our St. Martin ID-card.
In particular, about its many potential applications for its holders.
To this end, should you be prepared to invite me again, to answer these and more detailed questions on this matter from the public, it certainly would be my privilege to comply.
In ending, I once more express my appreciation and admiration for your potentials as a young St. Martiner and encourage you to capitalize on your God given gifts .

Respect,

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

School bells started to ring throughout St. Maarten on August 15th at all of our schools besides the Marie G. De Weever Primary School. Being the noble sheriff you truly are, you locked the gates of the school for its students but not the staff. Anyone visiting during the days of the schools closure would have seen much action I am sure, as nothing was ready due to the construction, you say. Is it not ironic media reports have shown lately that the school is still in a deplorable condition? You've prized yourself in being the sheriff in this town, but the only outlaw it seems to have in this town is you. Your reckless handling of the Minister of Education leaves much to be desired. Instead of a photo opportunity you should have gotten your feet wet and do some work towards improving the conditions of the school.
For the first time ever four public schools on St. Maarten have opened its doors without school managers being able to take up their respective roles. Much debate has gone on within the Education system where it pertains to the appointment of the new school managers. Your Ministry decided to validate three of the four persons recommended while by Ministerial decree overturn the decision to place a young professional at the helm of a school. It seems by your continuous reckless behavior you've been able to win over the confidence of the Windward Islands Teachers Union WITU President the noble queen Claire Elshot-Aventurin. While this noble queen trying to be the nice person she seemingly is, apparently got her foot stuck in the sand between two of her members.
The message being sent to our young people is clear when the political forces are against you, then you could never outshine this sheriff in her town. Wonder what the Deputy Prime Minister has to say about his sheriff?
For this reckless Minister who shamelessly continues to make endless blunders in education can still right this wrong she has created. Let the young lad work under the guidance of your hand picked choice and give our young people a chance to excel. I am begging you, Minister Heyliger get your sheriff in order before her hasty behavior continues and makes your lose your next election moment.

Signed,

B. Richardson

Dear Editor,

The continuous reporting about different crimes on this little island made me wonder how bad Sint Maarten is off. I therefore went on Internet and searched for statistics on crime from three major American cities: Los Angeles, Miami And New york.

I didn't expect, of course, that the crime situation on Sint Maarten would be anywhere close to these cities known in movies to be full of violence. For example: did you now that the murder rate in 2009 in Los Angeles was 7.1 killings per 100,000 residents, that New York had a murder rate of 5.1 killings per 100,000 residents and Miami having one of the highest murder rates in the US of 19.2 killings per 100,000 residents in 2009? Oh, by the way: the US itself had an average murder rate of 7 killings per 100,000 residents in 2009. Looking at these numbers I must say that I am glad that I live in Sint Maarten.

Oops!! Wrong conclusion!! Sint Maarten has about 45,000 registered residents and we had 10 killings so far for the year what would take the murder rate to 22.2 killings per 100,000 residents!! To make things even worse, we are only in the 8th month of the year. So if we would calculate the murder rate on Sint Maarten based on these eight months, we would have a murder rate of 33.3 killings per 100,000 residents!! This would mean to say that our murder rate is more than 1.5 times higher than Miami's murder rate, more than 4.5 times higher than Los Angeles' murder rate and even more than 6 times higher than New York's murder rate!!

Welcome to the friendly island where rape, robbery, theft, drug dealing, killing, molesting etc are obviously the most normal things to take place on a daily basis. Increase the penalties for crimes committed against tourist is of course the solution. Why do something about the statistics? As long the tourist is not involved it seems that it doesn't matter. Food for thought!!

Have a great day,

Sjaoel "Shooz" Richardson

Dear Editor,

I was quite shocked reading an article in The Daily Herald heading "Crime against tourists may attract stiffer penalties soon". I am definitely in favour of any measure what could result in a decrease in crime. Stiffer penalties and a three-time strike out are measures I support to the fullest.

But now here comes the joke:....."The Attorney General and Chief Prosecutor were instructed on Thursday to draft a "two-prong" policy that would increase the punishment meted out to perpetrators of crimes against tourists. The policy will use the definition of a "tourist" from the Law on Admittance and Expulsion".....Besides the fact that it seems to be possible to define a tourist and not a Sint Maartener (I leave this open door for others to kick in) I am really upset that it seems that you need to be from somewhere else to be protected. Basically you are telling a crook: "Crime is not good, but if you want to commit a crime......rob a Sint Maartener citizen!!". Are you out of your mind?!?

After asking the rhetorical question "Are you out of your mind?" I went on reading:....."The FCCA is "very adamant" on seeing an increase in punishment for crimes against tourists, Duncan said. It has made similar recommendations to other Caribbean countries, but no one is taking them seriously".....Duuuuh!! Which self-respecting country would protect others more than their own people?

All I have to say is this: DO NOT MAKE ME A SECOND CLASS CITIZEN IN SINT MAARTEN!!! Those who would vote in favour of such a ridiculous law have to face the consequences.

Dun wid it!!

Have a great day,

Sjaoel "Shooz" Richardson

Remember 'the 'Norway massacre', just a few weeks ago, on Friday, July 22, 2011 ?
Well, for convenience-sake, just forget the other riots before; Paris, Tunesia, Greece, Egypt, Libya... and the list goes on and on.
Also, just forget about the open letter I wrote on July 30, 2011 to the Government of the 'Friendly island', asking about its 'contingency plan', just in the very 'remote' event such would
'hit home'.
And what the 'heck', also forget all the 'reward' , I got in the form of total ridicule, among others from my good friend Mr. Hilbert HAAR of the TODAY newspaper.
He implied that I was in fact spreading 'unjustified terror' on the 'Friendly Island' - wattating. (See attachment)
Well, brother 'Hilby' guess what?
Who would have thought such an event could take place on mainland of Great-Britain itself and so quickly after 'Norway' ?
Well guess again.
That too is ongoing 'history'.
So, the question remains to those on the island, at whose 'door-steps', the buck is supposed to stop, whether they and/or Hilbert HAAR like it or not.
And please Mr. HAAR, do again 'jump to their rescue', while taking the easy way out - attacking the 'messenger'.
'Honorable' Prime-minister of Country St. Maarten, Mrs. Sarah WESCOT WILLIAMS, please tell the people what is your government's contingency plan for such 'man-made' disasters, before as customary 'rushing off' a letter of sympathy across the globe, this time to H.M. Queen Elisabeth, while there is smoke 'bellowing' from your own home.
Talk to us, put our fears to rest.
Is that asking too much from a Prime-minister ?
If so, is it up to those in the streets to then devise their own 'contingency plan' ?
Looking forward to your response.

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

Dear Editor,

It is good for us as native people of StMaarten Heritage that we are sometime afflicted, that we might learn our statutes. Afflicted is grievously affected by a situation. In native StMaarten people case to continue fight to be recognized in the constitution. Statutes command or prohibit something, or declare policy. The word is often used to distinguish law made by legislative bodies from case law, decided by courts. Statutes are sometimes referred to as legislation or "black letter law ". The black letter law refers to the basic standard elements for a particular field of law, which are generally known and free from doubt or dispute. (That is native people need protection and special privileges). We can discuss pension, Gebe, roads and many topics but all these issues affect people in our country. And the people are native StMaarten people, the born here and naturalize and legal immigrants. So we can conclude that the importance of any subject is about the people and the primary case of subject is about the StMaarten people and highlighted about the native StMaarten people. So the fact is that if anyone does not want are care less to discuss this subject means they do not care about StMaarten. Until we solve the most important problem first which is about us as people all other issues are minor. The entire economy is about what effects people. So if the importance of discussing about native people of StMaarten Heritage is a problem then feel free not to read the newspapers or look at the TV or listen to the radio or stop surfing the local websites. It will continue get use to it. Until justice is done there will never be peace. Where StMaarten is weak is because many StMaarten people especially who is educated cares more about politics and money. They do not have love for people, until their pockets or finances become threaten. Any thing that is giving easy and freely will never be of value. I must admit this, many foreigners tell me they agree with our cause, but they make a valid point to me, they said until I see more native people defend their interest only then they will help and promote that cause. They said as foreigners it is not their business to interfere. As native people it is up to us to lead and to continue promote our cause. Just imagine if we put in time and interest in this matter as we make time for Carnival or Bastille Day or August Monday in Anguilla. When we portray that kind of love for ourselves and our country StMaarten, victory will come much faster. As native people of StMaarten we must put our priorities first and focus what is important to us as a people. StMaarten day and emancipation day is never complete without recognition of the native StMaarten people in our constitution. If the native people in StMaarten do not stand for themselves it appears in the world eyes that we do not love our selves and heritage. So others will think if they do not care why I should help them. The dagger is not only on our government but also on the native StMaarten people of Heritage to defend their cause if they love not only country StMaarten but more important love of self. So all native people of StMaarten heritage defend your cause and rights and let's go for the gold. The war is first win in the mind, condition yourself for the long term. Remember there are a few people out there who want us to fail let that be our determination to succeed. In the end still forgive them, we continue to take the high and moral road. In conclusion be strong and courageous.

The Patriot Miguel Arrindell

Not too long ago, one of the most popular ways for one to express one-self, was through the (many) call-in radio- and/or t.v.talk- shows.
Those 'venues' now seems to be outdated and possibly, 'on their way out'.
Not because there is no need for public debate - there is more need than ever before.
Clearly, there are other reasons for the 'silent demise' of many talk shows.
What ever became of NATIONtalk, 'In the 'Back yard with the young professionals', 'Online' with Fernando Clark on PJD2 1300 a.m., just to name few.
For a variety of reasons they have gone 'belly-up' or 'moved on to elsewhere' at best.
Who was not removed of the air due to political pressure, gave up out of frustration, or due to lack of sponsorships, or lack of results 'on 'ground zero', or lack of serious callers and what have you more.
Still, there is one on 'Dutch' St. Maarten, that is still 'going where ???' after umpteen years, of the 'same old, same old &*&^', hosted by well known 'Award-winner', Mr. Lloyd RICHARDSON.
Judging from the number and quality of calls to his 'shows', it is over-evident, that either the show has either 'served any serious purpose' and/or, no longer meets the standard of serious callers, or whatever else the case might be.
As a matter of fact, it appears that the 'Award-winner' has 'shifted' the focus of his programs from serious, socio-economic issues to more 'lighthearted' topics such as U.S. basket ball competition, beauty contests, obviously in an attempt to steer clear of any 'negative' and/or politically controversial issues.
Thank God, Fernando Clark still managed to have his program aired on another radio-station and also thank God for other more serious talk-shows hosted by people like Billy D HAMLET and 'Air Supply' (Mr. LAKE)
However, it can not be denied that an other 'platform' is fast emerging, which allows for discussing the really serious issues facing the people of the island.
With the advent of internet-based 'websites', there seems to be more competition and/or even a 'paradigm-shift' in people being able to voice their opinions and to interact with one another on a global basis.
As far as our island is concerned, I must hand it to Mrs. Bibi HODGE-SHAW of the website www.smn-news.com.

With the help of her son, she has built a website, which really offers our people a platform through which they can freely choose any topic to express themselves with, without being 'interrupted' by a host and to solicit debate.
I therefore thank her and highly recommend her for offering this incredible service to the people of the island and outside of the island.
In addition, this would not have been possible however without the steadfast input of serious, controversial 'debate-material' by many of those who comment as well.
Whether those comments are complimentary or negative towards the various authors of articles and letters to the the site, using this 'platform' is clearly challenging 'talk' radio- and/or t.v., like never before
In that sense, we are witnessing a 'paradigm-shift' and the end is not in sight by any emans.
It goes without saying, that if 'talk'-radio and/or t.v. are to survive as relevant platforms, they might need a complete 'metamorphosis' to accomplish such.
If not, their route to the 'Museum of technological artifacts' might be very short.
In ending the grassroots St. Martin nation building hopes to continue contributing towards this process in a variety of ways.

Leopold JAMES

Dear Editor, I would like to go into some labour issues.

1. Late December 2010 Minister Heyliger stated that the airport is in a "very good financial position" and is mentioning making new investments for the high-end visitor.
2. Answering questions from MP Pantophlet early March 2011, Minister Shigemoto is stating that it would not be wise to sell shares of government owned companies to balance the 2011 budget. It would not be a structural solution.

At the same time, the employees at the airport haven't received any increase comparable with the increase of the indexation figures over the last couple of years (2006 & 2007 2,3% - 2008 4,6% - 2009 0,7% and 2010 3,2% and with the increase in ToT and gasoline prices and slow economic growth we can now expect a tremendous increase in the indexation figure for 2011). The CLA at the airport has expired as of December 31, 2010. Negotiations will soon take place for another CLA.

The dollar that the airport has, seems to be going into the direction of investments and pay-out of dividends to government. Is it justifiable to have a "wage freeze" for the workers at the airport? The civil servants and teachers have gotten their 3,3% (5,5% total) increase of their salaries based on the fact that the burden of balancing a budget should be carried by all and not a few. I know that our leaders sold us the idea that there would be money in abundance when it would not be sent to Curacao. I also understand that investments are needed to push for economic growth.

Based on the above mentioned I conclude that the employees at the airport deserve their increase in salaries in the new CLA and should government show their competence by looking for other ways to increase their revenues and cut their expenses.

I am referring in this article to the employees working at the airport, but has government taken notice of the many labor disputes in 2011? Are all laborers wrong? Are all employers wrong? Everybody is hurting "big time", but our "representatives" are flying all over the place and wasting our money while collecting fat salaries. In another article I will elaborate on the cost of living, but for now I say to our "representatives": when you come back from your un-deserved vacation, start working for your money!!!

Have a great day,

Sjaoel "Shooz" Richardson

Dear editor,

Nation-building refers to the process of constructing or structuring a national identity (Native StMaarten identity or people of StMaarten heritage) using the power of the state. And that power of the state is recognition of the native people of that country. This process aims at the unification of the people within the state so that it remains politically stable and viable in the long run. Nation-building can involve the use of propaganda or major infrastructure development to foster social harmony and economic growth. Originally, nation-building referred to the efforts of newly-independent nations, notably the nations of Africa, to reshape colonial territories that had been carved out by colonial powers without regard to ethnic or other boundaries. These reformed states would then become viable and coherent national entities. The word ethnic means relating to or characteristic of a human group having racial, religious, linguistic, and certain other traits in common or in other words identity or Heritage. For example people of StMaarten Heritage and culture. First, it's better if the nation is united with a strong national identity. It hurts if the country is torn into factions (e.g., among ethnic groups). In order to that all groups can be proud of their heritage but must agree that the official identity must be of people of StMaarten Heritage and recognize officially in the constitution. All people that truly love StMaarten want a comfortable and happy life. In case of native and born here and naturalize people in StMaarten it is a sum of two things, personal happiness and better environment. Personal happiness can be obtained in a variety of ways. Basically one becomes happy when one is contented or at peace with oneself. We will talk about how to become happy and contented later on. Environmental improvement is what I call nation building. It is the enabling environment which makes you feels happy to live in, work in and just be a part of it. This environmental happiness also gives us a sense of belonging, makes us feel proud of our surroundings and gives us a sense of ownership. If we create a happy environment for our work and living then we will make this country a great place to live. Each one of us should therefore work towards improving our immediate environment so that it becomes nice and cheerful. Then we will be genuinely proud to be a part of it. And just like all who comes here want to fit in and be a part of even more so for the people of StMaarten heritage. That is why coming together only can happen when point of origin is acknowledge meaning recognizing which was there from the beginning. To understand the concept of nation-building, one needs to have some definition of what a nation is. Early conceptions of nation defined it as a group or race of people who shared history, traditions, and culture, sometimes religion, and usually language. The people of a nation generally share a common national identity and part of nation-building is the building of that common identity. Some distinguish between an ethnic nation, based in (the social construction of) race or ethnicity, and a civic nation, based in common identity and loyalty to a set of political ideas and institutions, and the linkage of citizenship to nationality. In conclusion the nation building in StMaarten must compliment and be beneficial to people of StMaarten Heritage while leaving room of inclusion as those who wants to be included understand where loyalty should be to and recognize originality of who is StMaarten. Only when a nation is build in the right and justify manner only then it can last. Failure not to recognize people of StMaarten Heritage in the constitution will lead to catastrophic social problems. It is simply once people of StMaarten are recognize we all move and live happily together. The question Mr. Editor is why some people will not want to recognize originality when it is a norm everywhere. If people who say they love StMaarten truly love StMaarten they will be more than glad to do that and let the country move on peacefully. For that is the whole purpose of Nation building. Remember we do not include to be excluded. I love this country until I die and it is worth fighting for it to do justice to our native StMaarten people of Heritage and all other who comes here.

Yours truly,

The Patriot Miguel Arrindell

Dear Editor, a quick view of a possible career change. Many law abiding citizens on Sint Maarten are often wondering why criminals are getting away with a "slap on the wrist" after committing a crime. If someone's home is invaded, a person has to stare into the barrel of a gun when an armed robbery is taking place or is being raped, it will leave emotional scars for the rest of his/her life. In no time the criminal is out on the streets and might face his/her victim with a smile on his/her face.
I am of the opinion that crime does pay. Commit forty robberies, get a mild sentence for one and continue doing what you are doing. No long work days, no supervisor, unlimited vacation days, decent pay etc. There are enough vacancies for criminals. You don't need to apply anywhere. You can start anytime you feel like.
We have a "learn on the job" education with police officers and politicians teaching us the "tricks of the trade". Perfect!!
Our system is weak and malfunctioning. Two elements can be applied to (possible) criminals/criminal acts: Prevention and Reprisal. Prevention can be achieved by educating possible criminals and by educating possible victims to protect their selves and their property. Reprisal is needed when a crime has been committed. We need to educate our people and we need harsher punishments on criminals. We will leave it to your imagination of what kind of punishment is needed for criminals.
If neither prevention and reprisal are being persued, I should start thinking about being a criminal and give up my job as accounting manager.
Question: Why all this bickering about relatively minor issues by our members of parliament and not taking the bull by the horns and make some major decisions which could improve our daily lives drastically?

Have a great day,

Sjaoel "Shooz" Richardson

Dear Editor,

Finally an article which should interest Drs. Leopold "The Messenger" JAMES and Miguel "The Patriot" ARRINDELL. Amongst so many topics the deportation of illegal immigrants from Sint Maarten is a topic that lots of Sint Maarteners are talking about. "I am a foreigner in my own country" or "my people are a minority on their own island" are phrases often heard. These phrases are, without a doubt, facts. But why are Sint Maarteners so outspoken on this topic?

• Sint Maarteners feel that they are loosing grip with their own culture (foreign music, foreign bars, celebration of foreign holidays etc).
• Sint Maarteners are feeling that they are not respected in their own country.
• Sint Maarteners feel that jobs are "taken" away by foreigners.
• Sint Maarteners feel the cost of living going up, while there are a lot of foreigners not paying their fair share of taxes.

There are many more points, but let's elaborate on this last point. If Sint Maarten has to pick up a tab for health care costs totaling to some Ang 4.000.000,00 every year caused by illegal immigrants, if Sint Maarten has a problem with criminal illegal immigrants being a burden to our understaffed police force and prison staff, if Sint Maarten has a problem with balancing a budget and yet can not collect wage taxes or income taxes from illegal workers than we should debate out of a financial point of view if Sint Maarten would indeed be better of when the government starts to deport illegal immigrants from Sint Maarten in greater numbers.
I, for one, wish everybody from every walk of life the best of luck on Sint Maarten as long they play by the rules and regulations of this land. Being illegal is absolutely crossing the rules and regulations of this land.
The question is: How many illegal immigrants should Sint Maarten deport who are a burden to the use of our collective tax money and who are filling a lot of vacancies that for example our own youths could fill legally and therefore contribute to increase our collective tax money?

Sjaoel "Shooz" Richardson

One thing that I've realized over the years is that to be an effective leader you can't aspire to be loved by everybody. I think people with this affliction have a hard time being great leaders. They dither on decision-making. They fudge on org charts to appease people. Clarity of purpose in leadership matters.
In my experience it takes a really self-confident and resilient individual to make all of these tough judgment calls on a daily basis. But over time if you make the tough calls with no fudges, if you're fair and don't play favoritism, if you explain your rationale publicly and clearly, if you help soften the blow to the side that doesn't get their way ... people will respect you. And it is far better to be respected as a leader than loved. In my case I expect people to hate me for defending my rights and fighting for native StMaarten people. For me that is an honor. In the end most people will be thankful much more for having had the courage – as long as my decisions were more often right than wrong. This is a concept that seems to elude a great deal of people; probably because it's a very common thing to misconstrue the two. The two ideas are most assuredly not the same though. There are people whom you like but do not respect.(Government of StMaarten against native people of StMaarten Heritage) There are people whom you respect but do not care for.(Those people who appose people people of StMaarten heritage being recognize in the constitution but pretends they love StMaarten)
When you talk about why it's better to be respected than liked, it's important to make a clear distinction between the two. Let's look at how those two ideas dictate human interaction in both social and professional environments: The reason I'm writing on this subject is because at some point we've all felt like some people, while they may like us, do not necessarily respect us. It's an annoying feeling when you realize that a friend may be using you as a social resource and an ego boost.
Being respected, on the other hand, regardless of whether you're liked, is a wholly pleasant experience. Being respected means that people actually listen to what you have to say. It means that people will realize your time is valuable and not waste it. It means that people will honor the boundaries and dynamics of your relationship. It means that people will recognize treat you like a human being of intrinsic importance. It means that people will understand and honor your priorities.
Getting someone to like you is actually pretty easy. One decent joke or common interest will usually do it. It's also easy enough to lose someone's favor. One inconvenience or miscommunication can be enough. On the flip side, getting someone to respect you is very difficult. Normally it requires time, trust, reliability, honesty, and more time. In addition, once you've earned a person's respect it typically takes something big to lose it. No less than a major violation of trust, a personal scandal, or unexplained permanent negative behavioral changes can dislodge a person's respect.
It stands to reason then, that the more difficult one to get is the better one to have.
It's important for me to point out that there's nothing intrinsically wrong with being liked. The people who like you are social lubricant. They're the people who fill out guest lists at parties. They provide a much needed ego boost, and can be valuable resources in times of need. Everyone likes to be liked.
But understand that there will be times in most interpersonal relationships when we are presented with situations where we must either command respect or subjugate to seek approval. When faced with that "either-or" dilemma, don't forget that it is less important to gain someone's approval than it is to gain their respect. If you go for the respect, that relationship is more likely to be healthy and functional, and will probably last much longer. Once respect is lost, it is difficult (and at times even impossible) to regain. There will always be another chance to get them to like you. My native StMaarten people and all people who truly love StMaarten do not bother if some hate you or bad talk you. The fact is they respect us now for finally defending our rights as native people of StMaarten Heritage. And that is the key to victory. Remember it is better to be respected than like.

Yours truly,

The Patriot Miguel Arrindell

Dear Editor, I would briefly like to pay attention to the Sociaal-Economische Raad (Social and Economic Council; SER). (Wikipedia:) The SER is a major economic advisory council of the Sint Maarten government. It represents the social partners, trade unions and employers' organizations. It forms the core organization of the corporatist and social market economy and the main platform for social dialogue.
The SER has three main goals for Sint Maarten social-economic policy:

• To promote balanced and sustainable economic growth;
• To promote full employment;
• To promote a fair income distribution.

The SER has nine members. It consists of three sections, which each have three members in the council. These sections are trade unions, employers' organizations and government appointed members.

With great relief I absorbed the news that the SER finally has been established on Sint Maarten and I will closely follow the subjects discussed within, and the advices coming from the SER. I am eager to see how serious government is going to take this council.

Three most urgent topics to be discussed according to me:

1. Cost of living
2. Tax reform
3. Investment climate

What do you think should be the priority for the SER right now?

Have a great day,

Sjaoel "Shooz" Richardson

Dear Editor,

Please allow me some space to vent my frustration. I recently received my G.E.B.E. bill with the new tariff. I decided to recalculate my bill according to the old tariff and came to the conclusion that I have saved the tremendous amount of USD 8.00!!!!

We had an increase in the turnover tax which caused a price hike on many items, the gas prices went up and the people got frustrated with the ridiculous electricity prices. Icing on the cake were the many power outages causing damages to household equipment and the news that this milking cow that we call G.E.B.E. made a profit of 20 million guilders while having huge energy and water losses.

At that point in time the National Alliance had tabled a motion to have the G.E.B.E. bills cut in half for a certain period of time. Of course, the sheep in the other parties voted against. Reason for voting against was that "they were working on a proposal their selves". The only alternative what I know of are the letters to G.E.B.E. demanding to adjust the fuel clause. For the rest: Nothing!!! Again!!! No delivery!!! Neither did the NA made a next effort to make something happen for the people.

At the moment I have a fridge which I put on the porch, because it isn't functioning anymore. After one of the outages the fridge didn't came back to life. Can I proof that it is because of the outages? No. Will repairs be paid by anyone else than me? No. My washing machine as well as my dryer needed fixing twice thanks to the outages of G.E.B.E. Could I proof that the damages occurred by the power outages? No. Did anybody else pay for the repairs than me? No.

So, now I have extra costs because of a malfunctioning electricity company who is also thieving my money on a monthly basis, I have to deal with increased prices all over the place because of the increase of the ToT, gas prices gone through the roof and I took notice of the intended increase of government price controlled bread by Ang 0,50 and my relief over the month is USD 8.00? Are you serious? Should I be grateful? Hell no!! I am glad that I have a decent paid job, but why do I have the feeling that I am only working hard and I am paying for other people's incompetence? What about my fellow citizens who might no be as fortunate as me?

I just want to express my disgust for the non-representation of those clowns who call their selves parliamentarians whose sole purpose of living seem to be to gather as much money from hard working people and not do a d*@n thing their selves!!!

I am just saying: Dun Wid It!!

Have a great day,

Sjaoel "Shooz" Richardson

While making reference to our website www.stmartinnation.org for more information about our organization, we at this time suffice with the following.

Our organization is the only body which has been established with one purpose in mind.
In short, it is to represents indigenous St. Martin people on grassroots level.
Reason for this is the fact that our indigenous St. Martin people, who are administered by two different (France and The Netherlands) colonial powers, are otherwise were never before represented, let alone protected as a distinct group.
In having decided to protect and preserve our indigenous St. Martin people, our objective is part of a 'bigger picture'.
That of the St. Martin nation building & unification process.
Also, integral part of that 'bigger picture' is the integration of other ethnic groups with an 'added value' to the St. Martin cultural-heritage and traditional way of life.
At present however, the native, indigenous St. Martin people are confronted with a large number of adversities, including 'external threats' to their very existence a a people in their own land of heritage - St. Martin.
Our own local author and historian, Daniella JEFFRY, in her latest book (SAINT-MARTIN Destabilization of the French Caribbean) has termed this existential threat as a 'silent genocide' (page 29)
Although both sides of the island have undergone constitutional reform, both governments have thus-far not yet manged to recognize the native, indigenous St. Martin People in their respective constitutions.
In order to prevent a total genocide by substitution of the St. Martin People, our grassroots St. Martin movement has embarked on an effort to promote amending the Constitution of Country St. Maarten to give it meaningful content for the indigenous St. Martin People.
As by 'Divine intervention', we have come across a document written around 1992, referred to by its authors as the 'Saint-Martin PACT', which we consider to be the precursor of the indigenous St. Martin People's constitution.
This document although formulated some 20 odd years ago, is consider by us to be extremely visionary in nature and the most fundamental 'founding document' for the indigenous St. Martin People.
It is therefore that we wish to inform you, that we hereby fully endorse this document as the precursor of the first Constitution of a sovereign, unified Saint Martin, with strong ties to Europe and the Caribbean.
In addition, after having amended its content, we will present it to the Governments of both sides of the island for ratification and for integration in all legal documents of the Governments of both sides of the island.

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

Dear Editor,

Lately there have been many articles about immigration and the functioning of our government. I would like to focus on us this time. What are we doing to make things better other than complain, complain and complain some more?

What is wrong with our youngsters that the majority of them are not willing to clean the roads or sweeping homes, but rather be on the block? Hearing my father and others, the average Sint Maartener left school and started to work immediately. Some went abroad to study, but the majority took all kind of odd jobs to make some money. Then we have my generation either born here or abroad: not having to grow up with the hardships our parents went through, but being raised with basic principles. When you went wrong you suffer the consequences and when you did right it was the most normal thing to do. Also you learnt about sharing and helping others.

What can we possibly put in our constitution or make it law to prevent us from going astray from our own unwritten principles? That we keep our local music alive? What about our local dishes? Our language? And last but not least: our norms and values, which gave us the name "Friendly Island"? Nothing. But that is my opinion. Government is responsible for the legal framework and we need to keep their feet to the fire to make it happen that such a framework will not only be there, but also maintained. Yes, hiring workers illegally needs to be attacked. Yes, illegal immigration needs to be dealt with. But what are we doing besides putting all the weight of responsibility on our incompetent government and blaming illegal residents? I guess you have the answer.........

In closing I can only state that we can fight for all kinds of things to be made law, but that we are responsible for our own lives and raising our children, and those in our community, according to our norms and values. When we are able to that then we have all the right to criticize our government (who are also children of the soil and put there by us) on not implementing certain laws pertaining the Sint Maartener of heritage. In the mean time I will continue to focus on not only the immigration issue, but also on all issues affecting our daily lives.

Have a great day,

Sjaoel "Shooz" Richardson

Dear editor,

We must come up with an economic plan to stimulate our economy. I believe that tax cuts really do provide a stimulus. The real reason is that they provide flexibility: people who want to consume more can use their tax cut for that purpose; people who want to save more can use theirs to buy or reinvest in a business or use that tax cut to buy shares in a business or start a new business which in turns create jobs. Tax cut is the perfect scenario during a recession, when prior over-investment has resulted in bloated inventory levels and poor private investment opportunities. Tax cuts are really a sneaky way to increase consumers' credit lines. I believe the government should allow local investors to buy shares in the airport, harbor and GEBE and also Telem. This will not only make these companies stronger but they must live up to transparency and financial scrutiny or accountability. At the same time we will be creating StMaarten ownership which is real Nation-building. If we really want to stimulate our economy, we should put money in the hands of the people most likely to spend it, which creates good business and lots of cash flow. Economic growth means an increase in the amount of wealth that exists in a country--and all wealth must be produced. Production does not need stimulation from the government; it needs liberation from the government. What a productive, dynamic economy requires of a government is that it restricts itself to protecting property rights from force and fraud, and refrain from interfering in free production and trade. It is important for our banks to continue to lend money especially for houses, cars and personal business; this is the key for StMaarten, because we are a consuming and service base economy. It is better when people build their own homes than when government build homes for people, the main reason private property and private investment force people to be more responsible and ownership of home via a mortgage or car loan produces insurance business. Insurance is the backbone as security to any investment. I endorse giving all native StMaarten people and Dutch citizens of StMaarten a 3 years tax break for any new business they open. This is how you stimulate an economy and create ownership. That tax break can earn greater profits when you have to rent, those funds can use to buy more products that you can sell. I am not afraid to say we should make a flat tax across the board when it comes to income tax, which is allowing all people to pay no more than 20% of what they earn to government. This will make people qualify for a mortgage loan or a car loan much faster and make the demand to lend money greater. Reducing the income tax will create more spending which in first will make government loose revenues but the reward will l make the government revenues quadruple after because of the amount of jobs and profit that is being made. That is stimulating the economy and not government while at the same time building a prosperous nation with ownership for our StMaarten people. For my reader I will be soon on vacation you will not hear from me for a while. Let the government know if you empty my pockets you're not my friend. And charity begins at home. Tax break should not only be for hotel owners, it should also be for the small business people from StMaarten Heritage and all StMaarten people. Keep hope alive; always condition your mind for the long term.

Yours truly,

The Patriot Miguel Arrindell

Dear Editor,

The fact that a letter of intent has been signed by the two governing parties in no time after the last elections is somewhat strange. Why? Because can any of these parties factually state what their political vision is? No. Here you have the answer that it is strange that a letter of intent was signed so quickly without going into negotiations or basing such an intension on political similarities. Now the news comes that soon a governing accord will be signed. After a year of governing!!

I think that the parties should be more transparent about their political vision. This would also expose the ridiculous moves of politicians from one party to the other or become "independent" without proper explanation to the electorate. What do these individuals stand for politically? They can not be "hit" with facts, because there are none.

I am also of the opinion that it is important that the people of Sint Maarten get a good understanding of the functioning of the governmental system and the different political streams. My political "colors" in a nut shell: I am a Conservative Democrat/Christian Democrat, Center-Right. Right wing issues for example: (Tough Love) harsher punishments on criminal offences, strict control on immigration policies, limited meddling of government in businesses and personal lives. Left wing issues for example: easy accessibility to education and health care for everybody (an educated and healthy nation has a low crime rate, produces sufficient and has a high quality of life in general), protecting rights of laborers. So tell me, my peepz, where do you stand?

Have a great day,

Sjaoel "Shooz" Richardson

The day many people had never expected, has finally come.
It took a very long time.
But, the 'it' happened.
Suddenly, gone are the days when 'living in denial', as well as the 'ostrich-policy' were the 'modus-operandi' for the Government of the 'Friendly Island'.
The Brooks Tower Accord (BTA)- 'bubble' has been 'pricked', according to the editorial (Closure needed) of the Daily Herald of Saturday, August 13, 2011.
After having fooled immigrants for years and after having 'set them up' and 'played them out' against the local, native St. Martiners for political reasons, the 'chickens are coming home to roost'.
Many immigrants now, are realizing, that just like the natives, they too have been betrayed by Government !
And again, according to the Daily Herald, 'Government has to deal with a major throbbing headache called "illegal residents" and it seems clueless about the appropriate remedy'.
Not the words of Leopold JAMES.
Indeed, the 'Friendly Island', now finds itself confronting a 'conundrum' of epic proportions.
We said it before, and care to repeat it again.
Not structurally resolving this problem can result in a 'violent social fall out'.
And for the record.
Simply, giving all the thousands of illegal immigrants on the island amnesty, or any other form of 'regularization' is really a 'non-starter', because the native and legal residents will not accept that anymore....
Deporting them, apart from being a logistical and extremely expensive 'nightmare', has the real potential of immigrants responding with aggression.....
Doing nothing is no option either, since the laws of the land must be upheld one way or the other in order to prevent anarchy....
So, there we are now.
After years of total denial, we are confronting a seemingly 'mission impossible', in 'no man's land', legally speaking, where we can not stay for any extended period of time.
It is against this backdrop, that we were contacted recently by a 'delegation' representing illegal immigrants.
We were made very clear that many illegal immigrants want to stay on the island.
However, they too realize that any form of amnesty by Government, could result in a social backlash against them from the local population.
At the same time, there is a lot of bitterness among them, because they have come to realize that Government alone indeed can not help them and is not to be trusted, as the failure of the BTA now has proven to them.
More than ever, they now realize, that there will never be any sustainable solution, if the St. Martin people are not meaningfully involved in such.
Because, they have heard of our 'MARSHALL PLAN' and its 'win-win' point of departure, they indicated they would be more than willing to support this concept and to promote it within the immigrant society at large.
Our response was as follows.
We are certainly willing to work along with them and with all other interested parties in making our contribution towards creating a harmonious relationship between all relevant stakeholders, whereby in principle immigrant needs to be deported, perse.
However, in order to give Government a last, fair chance to come up with a solution that is mutually acceptable for all involved, we will wait until the end of August before taking a decision of going to the 'next level'.
If by September 1, 2011, Government still seems 'clueless', we will once again make ourselves available to work out the details of our 'MARSHALL PLAN'.
God forbid, that Government at that point in time still does not co-operate.
Then, we will have no other choice then to leave it up to society at large to draw its own conclusions.

Leopold JAMES

Dear 'honorable', Mr. Pantophlet,

Before even responding to your proposal for raising toll at the borders between SXM South- and North, to 'generate income' for the Governments of the island, I have the following rhetorical questions for you.
Did you really for a second, think that everyone forgot, that you were part of 'Team St. Maarten' which brought home the '10-10-10-bacon' ?
The 'team', which has betrayed and deceived the SXM people, under the guise of doing 'we own ting', once we break away from that 'awful' Central Government ?
Do you real think everybody forgot, that led by your much admired leader, Mr. William Marlin, we the people were denied the opportunity to have a 'last check' of the facts (= ratification) before jumping into your oh so coveted Country St. Maarten 'train' ?
Do you also think, that everybody forgot the lies told to the people, that once we were on our own, all the money would now stay on St. Maarten and that we would have millions in surplus for ourselves ?
Well, honorable Sir, not everybody, if anybody at all forgot those deceptions, betrayals and lies.
So, please, instead of now coming up with really brilliant ideas to find income for 'Country St. Maarten', do us a favor and lead by example by first 'digging into your own pockets'.
After all, since you the politicians, were so convinced of the benefits of us going separate status on '10-10-10', without granting us the, people the respect of a last check, it is only fair- and logical, that all elected officials be the first to make financial sacrifices.
How you ask ?
Simply for instance by tabling a motion in parliament, that all members of parliament and all ministers must reduce their salaries and other perks to the level of the average salary of all civil-servants, before taxing any other groups and certainly before taxing St. Martiners.
In addition, that motion should also require them to put all their assets in an escrow-account.
Only then, would you, elected officials have any moral authority to pressure others to pay for the deception you and your fellow politicians have brought upon the people of this island.
Once you do that, I am sure that others would not mind making their contribution to resolving the financial disaster caused by you politicians.
Now, as far as your brilliant proposal is concerned to taxing vehicles crossing the borders with a toll, be advised as follows.
As St. Martin's grassroots nation building and unification movement, rest assured, that the day any impediment on the free movement, in whatever form and/or shape, would be placed on native, indigenous St. Martiner people, 'Crappo will smoke he pipe'.
Since, you are always seem more concerned about the rights of immigrants, and since you like your leader, also do not know what a St. Martiner is, let the following just remind you somewhat.
First of all, the native, indigenous St. Martin people are one, indivisible people, with a common history, family bonds, heritage, succession-land, past and future etc.
Yes, they live on an island, divided and administered by two distinctly different administrations, but they have always lived in the spirit of the Treaty of Concordia as one people.
More than that, the native, indigenous St. Martin people are the very embodiment of the spirit of that Treaty.
In addition, not only is that Treaty applicable (like the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty), but we have lived it for over 300 odd years, making our typically Traditional way of life, in fact an example of 'unwritten law '( 'gewoonte recht') , which is just as legal as any other form of 'written law'.
Therefore, honorable MP, if you ever want to apply that toll on St. Martiners, forget it very fast, if you know what is good for you and if you do not want all St. Martiners up in arms against you.
If you want, you can feel free to place it on your immigrant friends.
After all, they have only received 'papers/documents' for one side of the island and thus in strict legal terms, are (illegal)foreigners in the other part.

Leopold JAMES,
President of the grassroots St. Martin nation building- and unification movement and a proud native, indigenous St. Martiner – without apologies.

Yesterday, Sunday morning, August 28, 2011, I was pleasantly surprised to hear Mr. Dwight BARRAN as guest on 'Breakfast with de Dje Robert' of my friend Stephane de Dje ROBERT.
It was a few years since I had last seen or heard from Dwight, who has left St. Maarten a number of years ago.
Listening to Dwight for me was not only extremely informative as he explained the developments the island had gone through over the last 30 odd years.
It was very emotional as well, considering the lack of interest for his work from those in authority.
Anyone, who knows Dwight and what he has done for this island, can only conclude that he is pioneer and an 'icon' in his own right.
His tireless work in recording, documenting and digitalizing so many historical events, including many St. Martin people, politicians etc, goes way beyond any call of duty.
In fact, that type of work can really never be 'paid' for in cash.
It is a work of total dedication, love, compassion and respect for the people of this island, their history and cultural heritage.
Together with Mr. Franklyn BRISON, Dwight has during many years brought us many really very memorable and captivating documentaries.
Any self-respecting Government, especially any young, Government would be more than happy to pay any amount of money to preserve that type of information in a national archive as a treasure and inspiration to nation building promoting a strong sense of patriotism.
Of course, it comes as no surprise that the Government of the 'Friendly Island' has no interest in preserving such a historical treasure.
Perhaps, because it will show to what extent politicians have sold out the people of the island and have destroyed its natural beauty.
Therefore, we can more than understand the frustration of Dwight, after having done more than his part for the people of this island.
Still I was hurt and shocked to hear him repeatedly state that he was not a St. Martiner
Reason why this really touched me is, because wherever he might have been born, or wherever his roots are from, without any hesitation, we consider Dwight a St. Martiner - one of us - no discussion.
Not only, did he grow up here and knows far more about the history, the people and developments of this island, than most native, indigenous St. Martiners, but he has also contributed more to the consciousness of the St. Martin people, than most St. Martiners themselves.
That realization, prompted me to call in the radio-station and invite Dwight to my home after the program. (See picture in attachment)
During our meeting, I made it very clear to Dwight, that he can say whatever he wants - we consider him a St. Martiner - one of us.
Not only that.
Dwight merits and will receive a St. Martin ID-card from us within short.
It would be totally unfair to Dwight and to the objectives of our movement as well, not to recognize Dwight as a St. Martiner, simply because his roots might be from Guyana.
We have always stated, that our movement,besides fighting for the rights for native, indigenous st. Martiners to come first here on the island, also very strongly promotes inclusion and integration as part of the bigger picture - the St. Martin nation building and unification process.
We thank Dwight on behalf of all St. Martin people for the work he has done and we hope that he will find a way to have all the documentaries he produced over the last 30 odd years, preserved and made available for the people of this island in particular.
We however, advise him that Government might not be the best custodians of this extremely valuable body of work.
In ending we look forward to Dwight accepting our St. Martin ID-card in the near future.

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

Despite some initial reservation about the cultural St. Martin ID-card, launched by the grassroots St. Martin nation building and unification movement, many people are becoming interested in knowing its advantages and how they can apply.
It is a clear indication, that increasingly, St. Martiners are realizing that in order for them to be able to become a stakeholder in their own country and to be able to qualify for any future benefits for st. Martiners, they have to be able to identify properly themselves with some form of ID.
The St. Martin nation building movement is receiving a lot of requests for information about the card.
these request are not only coming from people residing on the island, but from St. Martiners and people with St. Martin background, residing abroad as well.
Needless to emphasize that a large number of these card-holders, will become a very substantial St. Martin's people constituency
In order to answer questions of the public, as well as to allow for the public to propose areas where this ID-card can be used, Leopold JAMES, has been invited as guest on La Voix F.M. 101.5 F.M.

Date: Thursday, September 1, 2011
Time: from 1:00 pm

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

Within soon the first meeting will take place of the committee that will prepare proposals to the Government of St. Maarten in order to have the constitution of Country St. Maarten, amended to include 'outstanding matters' as once termed, by the now honorable Prime-minister of St. Maarten, Mrs. Sarah WESCOT-WILLIAMS.
Already, the organization has received a number of items which can be considered 'outstanding' and which can contribute towards adding real substance to the Constitution in order to make it even more relevant to the indigenous St. Martin people.
However, the committee is still open for serious volunteers and/or for suggestions of how best to have the Constitution amended.
Volunteers should be willing and able to make time available, be computer-literate and have access to the internet.
Preference goes out to individuals with a legal and/or St. Martin background, or others with an affinity to the cause of the St. Martin People.
For more information contact.

Leopold JAMES

When we of the St. Martin nation building grassroots movement said it many years ago, we became public enemy number one of Government, of certain talk show-hosts and of certain other groups and individuals.
Slander, ridicule, threats, you name it were the 'reward' we incurred.
Remember, the 'Friendly Island' was supposed to be 'paradise', where the 'carnival' should never be stopped and where one certainly ought not to worry, but just be happy.
it was also the 'magnet' attracting people, all of sorts, and from every 'hook' and 'nook' of the globe to come and do as they pleased, how they pleased and when they pleased - what the heck.
Nevertheless, we pressed ahead, under all these very challenging circumstances with our efforts, trying to make people aware of possible future 'scenarios'.
But, lo and behold.
Seems that people are reluctantly waking up with a 'hangover', these days.
Why you ask ?
Well, you know, the same old, same old one problem, we predicted that would not go away - the 'plague' of illegal immigration.
We must commend the editor of the Daily Herald, for its editorial on the matter on Saturday, August 13, 2011 - Closure needed.(See attachment)
In this editorial the editor writes; 'The writing has been on the wall for some time'.
Really ?
certainly sounds 'familiar' !
Are the 'proverbial' chickens coming home to roost or what ?
Clearly, dealing with this matter has become a sort of 'Russian roulette' or a 'nuclear conundrum'.
Should, God forbid, Government attempt to resolve this disaster, simply be 'sneaking in' another amnesty, really things could very well go 'South' or even 'nuclear' and all hell could break lose on the 'Friendly Island'.
On the other hand, following the law and deporting those remaining illegal citizens logistically, might not be any less than going 'nuclear' as well.
In other words, reality has finally caught up with Government and the people of 'Friendly Island'.
The time of 'wishful thinking' and 'rhetorical bla,bla,bla, clearly is coming to an end and as the Daily Herald put it, 'Now the time has arrived for Government to take resolute action and bring closure to this knotty problem'.
yeah, right.
But, here is the problem.
What is (are) the 'resolute' action(s) needed ?
Does 'resolute' have any meaning on the 'Friendly island' ?
As was stated b
Were never.
We have a most creative 'win-win' solution to this 'knotty', 'nuclear' problem.
It needs a dose reality though and a pill 'bitter' to some, will have to be swallowed.
Nevertheless, as history has proven over and over again.
Government prefers allowing the country to 'go to hell' than to take any advice from a native.
Meanwhile the 'nuclear clock' is ticking steadily and the 'Friendly island' is on 'code orange-red'.

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

Not that it is new - lawlessness on the 'Friendly Island'.
Of course not.
Nor, that it was on the increase
Neither, that there is a strong correlation between increased lawlessness and increased illegal immigration.
Nor, that many illegals have take lawlessness to the 'next level' of brazenness.
Nor, that the Government of the 'Friendly Island' has responded to this imported culture of lawlessness with acquiesecence, tolerance, acceptance and even rewarding.
No, none of that all is new.
What is new, this time around, although we suspected and expected it would come, sooner that later is the following.
Now that the so-called BTA has run its course and there are still thousands of illegals on the Friendly island, 'honorable' Minister of Justice Roland DUNCAN, finally publicly admitted that in fact Government has no clue what to do with this set of illegal people on the island.
Worse yet.
Reading 'between the lines', it becomes clear that the minister is psychologically, preparing the population to accept that there will be 'solution' - the 'no solution'.
That means nothing less, nothing more than that Government will not deport them and allowthem to 'permanently chill out' right here on the 'Friendly Island'.
Of course, you should not believe me.
But just analyze what he is quoted of having said in the TODAY newspaper of Saturday, August 13, 2011; ....because some of them have families here, children and grandchildren'.
That is the 'set-up', the 'justification' for in fact 'legalizing' their imported lawlessness.
It is becoming more evident by the day, that if no balance is created between the various stakholders on the island, that there will be very, very serious social consequences.
How can it be, that those who broke every law of a country, by being here illegally to start with, can end up having exactly the same rights as native, indigenous St. Martiners and other legal residents ?
That is totally unheard of in any self-respecting state of law.
Not only that.
It is an outright invitation to people in the region and around the world, to come illegally to the 'Friendly island', make children, because doing all of that would protect you against punishment and ultimately even reward you with the same rights of the legal citizens - wattating !
If that is not a recipe for a 'Norway', a 'London' and what have you, what is ?
However, although Government is admittedly 'clueless' in terms of a structural solution, we have very long ago offered such to Government and to the 'honorable' Minister of justice himself.
It is our MARSHALL PLAN, which allows for a 'win-win' for all stakeholders based on a number of premises.
As such, in fact we would not even have to deport one single illegal, but we would have to create 'counter-balances' to protect the other stakeholders.
It should be very clear to the illegal immigrant population, that supporting such a concept would be the best protection for them against deportation or any other form of 'social backlash'.
We have no problem, if they are interested sharing this concept with them as we did with Government.
God knows, one day, together with the immigrant population, we can enter into a 'strategic' relationship to work towards such a socio-economic balance within our society.
Needless to emphasize, that such a relationship would be in their best long-term interest.
Time for finding a solution is found to balance the interest of the native, indigenous St. Martin People, the immigrants, the naturalized residents, the foreign investors and Government is of the essence.
But guess what ?
The 'Friendly Island' is very fast running out of time.

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

Civil society and the media in Jamaica have been challenged to become more aggressive in their efforts to force the country's government to become accountable.
This information also appeared in the Daily Herald of, Friday, August 12, 2011, page 25. (More militant press, citizens should demand government accountability)
While Leopold JAMES, on St.Maarten/St. Martin, has been for years trying to achieve the same objective for his own island of heritage- and birth, certain elements have been targeting and 'demonizing' him personally for such; the latest such 'attacker' being some Cornelis SCHOTEL.
Leopold JAMES has already, this morning made contact dr. Adrain STOKES, Dennis CHUNG, Karen FITZ RITSON and others in Jamaica to consider a 'regional, strategic partnership' for assisting civil societies to become more organized and effective in demanding more accountability from their respective governments.
It is evident, that despite efforts from certain individuals on the 'Friendly island', to deny citizens of this island the right to know governments policies in certain areas, their efforts will remain futile.
Thanks to the potential for effective world-wide communication, it has become possible for groups with similar objectives to easily communicate, network globally and become increasingly effective.

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

Dear Editor,

Let me get personal with the entire population of St. Maarten now. My question to you is; If you love your country and you believe it is going down the wrong road, is it your obligation to do something about it?' If you believe it is so and you do nothing then you become liable and are just as guilty as those in government who are taking those negative actions.
It is just as guilty to turn the blind eye and do nothing while at the same time complaining about what is taking place. Love of country is not only wearing our beautiful flag. Love of country is also fighting and taking a stand to defend your native St.Maarten people and all born here and naturalized St. Maarten people. Love of country must-,be a proactive stance. We have many educated people who disappoint me. They go along hoping they might get a big paying job in government. But they usually never take a stand of defending the principles of our native and all other
citizens of St. Maarten. It is good to see people like the respectable and intelligent young gentlemen as Emilio Kalmera and Sjaoel Richardson (Shooz) speaking their mind on the local websites. It is good to see that the message is being passed on that we must take control of our immigration system. I quote Sjaoel on what he said, "St. Maarten must deport all illegal immigrants back to their country. "My point is, nothing against foreigners, it is wonderful to see our St.Maarten people of heritage speaking and defending what they believe in. Love is not saying it, it is doing it. St. Maarten needs more brave people of character who do not care about negative things being said about them. Cowards, like many people on the internet that say nasty things about people using a false name, are irrelevant in our mind. Look at your children ask yourself will they be able to get a scholarship in the next four or eight years?
Will I be able to buy a car or build or home? What is the government doing to promote ownership among native St Maarten people and all other St.Maarteners? How can I survive in St Maarten as a native person from St. Maarten
heritage when the economic and tax system is unfair to me? Should I sit quietly and allow my native people to become extinct? How can I trust a government that refuses or declines to recognize its native people? And for the legal foreigners that work so hard, will you trust a government that neglects its own? But however you look at it, the point is St.Maarteners should stop being timid for the fear of being victimized which you are already. Learn to put your head on your shoulders and be the real patriots of St. Maarten. If you love your country go out and fight for it. Do not be fooled, the government can and will not change. It must come from you. I quote my friend Minister Frankie Meyers "It's all about you." The buck stops with you the St. Maarten people. God does not help people who refuse to help themselves. If you agree that St. Maarten is going the wrong direction but you continue not to get involved in
the process by being silent then you approve of the situation and you will have to answer to your children and grand children. That will be on your conscience until you die. It is not about Miguel Arrindell, or Leopold James or Jeffery Richardson or Sjaoel Richardson(Shooz) or Emilio Kalmera. If you believe in democracy then live like you believe in democracy. Evil continues to triumph when good men look the other way and do nothing. There is no place for passivism in St. Maarten. Cowardice does not make great people. Only determination and will makes great people. It's about you and your family.

The Patriot Miguel Arrindell

After reading the Daily Herald of Thursday, July 28, 2011 that the UP/DP coalition will finally present its Governing Programme by the second Tuesday in September almost a year before our Separate status on October 10, 2010 it breathes a sigh of relief for me.
Why I am saying this is because there is no way that you would be able to evaluate the governing of any ruling party or parties without writing the vision or the direction that they are taking the country in.

This Governing Accord that will be for a four year term must reflect the way they tend to handle the many problems that we as a country is being faced with, in particular the high unemployment amongst youth and persons that exceeds the age of 45 years of age. There must be a plan of action included in this program. To achieve a comprehensive plan I believe that all hands must be on deck and therefore I commend the Chamber of Commerce amongst others who reached out to Government to inform them that we are willing to sit with you and to assist you with the plans that you have for the further development of our economy.

A study must be made to find out what the true impact of the recession has been for us thus far and how are we going to tackle the many uncertainties we have in the mean time. We as a Government (the people) must become proactive and let our elected officials know what our needs are and how we would be able to work along with them in meeting those needs.

So many families are silently hurting not knowing who and where to turn and sometimes even not wanting anyone to know that they are facing a financial crisis. They prefer to suck salt than to say that they are hurting. The St. Maarten people must realize that this country can and should not build without their involvement. But this involvement can only come if we the St. Martiners demand that we be counted in the development or Nation Building of our Country.

Let us not have ulterior motives by putting our focus in the wrong direction. All of us have our roles to play once we are living on this island St. Martin. The good we do we will do it to ourselves and the bad we do we will do it to ourselves. St. Martiners I'm appealing to you to set the tone and be the examples so that others will follow. Do not have your soul objective just to make sure that your brother or sister does not succeed because you are not taking your responsibility serious and therefore you do not allow or want to see your fellow brother or sister succeed.

Let us move to a new paradigm shift because only together each of us can achieve more. This is the acronym for TEAM work. We are now at a cross road. You can either go down the road of destruction or you can take the road of success. You choose. When the new Government Accord for the ruling coalition is presented I appeal to every citizen to please get one and read it so you can evaluate the content of that document. It is not only for your future but your children's future as well.
We must hold our elected officials accountable for their actions or non-actions regarding the promises they made which is included in the Governing Accord. We will finally have a document whereby we can measure there performance for the next four years and this is very important. However we must also hold ourselves accountable for not voicing our opinion about the matters that affects us as a people.
You must be critical if you want to see change. All of us feel that more can be done for the development of this country and all of us should act as an agent of change. The future of this country depends on you.

Therefore I want to at least commend the Coalition for announcing or informing the general public that the Governing accord is almost completed and will be presented to the St. Martin population in September. They are now moving a step in the right direction which is a good start. St. Maarten you be the judge after the four years of their Governing Period.

Jeffrey Richardson

After having read an article in the Today's newspaper of Wednesday, August 24, 2011 where the St. Maarten Chamber called on citizens to become whistleblowers I would like to comment on this issue.
First of all I would like to commend the Chamber on one hand for appealing to citizens for their involvement in assisting Government for the building of St. Maarten by informing the relevant authorities about any mal-practices by any business or any illegal activities that they may come across.
However on the other hand it is my belief that our Government must not run from their responsibilities by putting the citizens to execute the job that Government must carry out that sometimes even become unsafe for citizens when this is done.
Government in the first place must set the first example by them establishing a proper control unit for the inspection of businesses that does not comply with their legal requirements. This unit is not functioning properly and therefore the Chamber has deemed it necessary to include citizens to take up the responsibility that Government has to carry out.
This for me is unacceptable merely because in my opinion Government is clearly abdicating its responsibility. The buck should stop with our elected officials who must first set the example and become the first whistleblowers by carrying out their responsibility of having a control unit for businesses that are violating the laws of the land.
If citizens are confident that Government is serious about addressing this important matter then I believe that citizens would be more than willing to take a risk by joining along in the battle to ensure that all business are within the margins of the laws. This can only be to the benefit of the Government and its people who will then have sufficient revenues to be able to carry out its responsibilities in a more efficient and expeditious manner.
I am sure this is what all citizens are crying out for. Knowing that their demands and/or needs will be meet.

Jeffrey Richardson

Dear editor,

Illegal immigration is the migration of foreign citizens into a country in circumstances where such people do not meet the legal requirements for immigrating in that country, that is, when they are violating the immigration laws of that jurisdiction.
Illegal immigration has numerous and complex causes, but in general, it consists in people from poor countries seeking better life opportunities in more developed countries. Illegal immigration has impact on many political, economical, social and ethical issues. Illegal immigration is an enormous problem for StMaarten, and one that is growing. We need to stop giving citizenship to the children of illegal aliens and foreign visitors; bar from later immigration those who make frivolous asylum applications and 'no-shows. Bar re-entry to any alien receiving a five-year prison sentence; withhold funds from localities that refuse to cooperate with efforts to end illegal immigration; hold sponsors accountable for immigrants they sponsor; deport immigrants who become public charge limit judicial review of immigration decisions. We need to expand judicial deportation, dedicate investigators to work solely on employment of illegal aliens; expand on-going training programs for inspectors, intelligence officers, and investigators. Provide a facility for immigration service's classified information.

We need laws requiring all public schools to determine the legal status of all students and report their findings to the immigration officials. When the authorities are overwhelmed in their efforts to stop "illegal" immigration, they have historically provided amnesty. I hope Minister Rolland Duncan is not preparing the people of StMaarten to accept thousands of illegal people in the country. If he is initiating that offer, then he has fail and must resign immediately. Illegal immigration creates and exceeds the carrying capacity of an area or environment which results in overpopulation.

As minister of justice does not give you the rights to fool and use people to increase revenues for government.. Even foreigners have rights, do not use people, it is wrong .

Spikes in human population can cause problems such as pollution, water crises, and mass poverty. It will not be in our best interest or wise to give these people amnesty. The net flow of illegal immigration pattern is almost entirely from countries of lower socioeconomic levels to countries of higher socioeconomic levels, and particularly from developing countries to developed countries. While there are other causes associated with poorer countries, the most common motivation for illegal immigrants is the pursuit of greater economic opportunities and quality of life in the destination country. The reason why he must resign he know from day one BTA was use as a way to acquire income from these people as revenues to government. Government should not be in the business of fooling and abusing people especially when the outcome will continue to hurt our country StMaarten. Minister Rolland Duncan mission should have been to restore the laws, principles, safety, and security of StMaarten by obtaining the full implementation of our existing immigration laws. (All pregnant women who are legal or illegal immigrants must go back home and deliver their child in their country) and create laws to help deter and prevent illegal immigration. We need an effective immigration department to go hunt areas and businesses that hires illegal immigrants.

We need immigration patrol officers and the immigration department should be a department separated from the police department under the minister of justice. That is what Minister Rolland Duncan should be doing. The fact that he is not doing such makes him ineffective and must resign.

Martin Lake

Philipsburg:--- Great interests was shown in the 2011 Lifestyles Magazine & Direct Music TV's Caribbean Model & Bikini casting event held on August 20 at Fusion Restaurant on Front Street. On Saturday, August 27 at Sunset Beach Bar & Restaurant are the Model Competition and Model Face Off starting at 9.00pm.

The Tallahassee-St. Maarten Foundation Inc. has teamed up with Direct Music TV America & Lifestyles Magazine Alexander Blaze, PJD-2 Radio and Divi Little Bay Resort among others to organize this modeling event.

The winner of the Lifestyles Magazine & Direct Music TV 2011 Caribbean Model & Bikini Search will receive an all expense paid trip and hotel to Nassau, Bahamas from November 3rd to the 5th for the 2011 Islands of the World Fashion Week.

The winning Model will get a super Star Photo Shoot; gets to model in the 2011 Islands of the World Fashion Week; undergo runway training; photo shoots for Lifestyles Magazine; and gets the opportunity to meet international model agency scouts. This prize is valued at about US$ 7,000.

Great Bay (DCOMM):---  At 7:00pm the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in its bulletin acknowledged the formation of Tropical Storm Irene which developed East of Dominica as an approaching Tropical Wave on Saturday afternoon.

The Department of Disaster Management (ODM) is advising the population of the South side of the island to continue to monitor weather reports as the storm approaches the island chain.

The Meteorological Department of Curacao (MDC) which works closely with ODM says that Tropical Storm Irene is forecast to past approximately 160 miles South of Sint Maarten as a severe Tropical Storm on Sunday morning around 8:00am based on the 7:00pm forecast track by the NHC.

Weather conditions are expected to deteriorate throughout Saturday night into Sunday morning. According to MDC winds are forecast to increase gradually to tropical storm force Sunday morning and persist through Sunday afternoon with possible occasional gusts up to 60 miles per hour, especially in or near showers.

Seas will gradually become rough with wave heights building possibly up to 10-feet. Owners of small boats and coastal facilities are advised to take precautionary actions for safeguarding their properties.

The ODM maintains its advice that during heavy rainfall, to avoid low lying areas; look out for possible street flooding; and if the rainfall is persistent, while driving along hill sides, watch out for possible rock falls.

Heaviest rainfall activity is expected during Sunday morning with rainfall amounts forecast at two to five inches.

The ODM will closely monitor this system and the public will be duly informed.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- 

Keep Off the Roads

The Department of Disaster Management (ODM) advises motorists to keep off the roads if they do not have to be out at this point in time. If you have to work then drive with caution and watch out for street flooding in low lying areas and rock falls along hill sides.

Residents are asked to secure their garbage bins as there have been reports of bins along the public roads. This is creating a hazard to motorists.

Princess Juliana International Airport

PJIA is open to air traffic; however the weather situation is being closely monitored and the airport will determine when and if it is necessary to shut down operations. Those who are scheduled to travel or have friends or family arriving are asked to contact the respective airline for details.

Schools

A decision with reference to whether schools will be open or closed on Monday, August 22 will be issued in a future advisory. At this point in time it's too early to say whether schools will be closed.

Business Community

The South side of the island is not under a curfew and businesses that are open are operating as normal. Employees should report to work. Drive cautiously.

The ODM will continue to monitor this system and the public will be duly informed.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- At 2:00pm the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in its bulletin reported that Tropical Storm Irene is approximately 70 miles East South East of St. Croix or approximately 60 miles South West from Sint Maarten and moving away at a speed of 18 miles per hour.

The Tropical Storm Warning and Small Craft Advisory remains in effect until further notice. It is expected that the Tropical Storm Warning will be discontinued at 5:00pm.

The Department of Disaster Management (ODM) will continue to monitor the progress of Tropical Storm Irene until it has moved away from our area as it is currently heading to the U.S. Virgin Islands/Puerto Rico.

Various Emergency Support Functions from the disaster management organization are out in the field assessing the situation and responding to various incidents such as street flooding.

The ODM maintains its advice that during heavy rainfall, to avoid low lying areas; look out for possible street flooding and drive with caution. If the rainfall is persistent, while driving along hill sides, watch out for possible rock falls.

The EOC/ODM will continue to monitor this system and the public will be duly informed as Tropical Storm Irene moves away from our area.

Philipsburg:--- The Central Committee of Parliament will meet three times this week.

The first meeting will be with Professor De Boer concerning the Civil Law Code in the General Assembly Chamber in the House of Parliament on Monday, August 22 at 10:00am.

The second Central Committee meeting of Parliament is for 2:00pm on Monday in the General Assembly Chamber. The meeting is related to certain amendments to the Turn over Tax legislation 1997 and two financial specialists will be present for the meeting.

On Wednesday, August 24, the Central Committee of Parliament will meet with Professor H. den Doelder concerning the Penal Code. This meeting will take place in the General Assembly Chamber at 10:00am.

The meetings on the Civil and Penal Codes are related to 13 laws that were passed over from the former Parliament of the Netherlands Antilles to be finalized by the Parliament of St. Maarten before October 10, 2011.

Central Committee meetings are public and are carried live by St. Maarten Cable TV on Channel 20.

Philipsburg:--- The Central Committee of Parliament meeting of Wednesday about the Penal Code has been rescheduled until Thursday.

The Central Committee of Parliament will meet with Professor H. den Doelder in the General Assembly Chamber at 2:00pm.

Central Committee meetings are public and are carried live by St. Maarten Cable TV on Channel 20.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) continues to closely monitor the approaching tropical wave/low pressure system.

The 10 Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) will remain on high alert on Monday and Tuesday and prepared to take immediate action should that be required.

The Department of Disaster Management (ODM) is strongly advising the population to continue to monitor the progress of the approaching Tropical Wave (TW)/low pressure system which could be upgraded to either a Tropical Depression or Tropical Storm on Monday/Tuesday.

According to the National Hurricane Center, if the system develops into a storm, tropical storm watches and warnings could be issued at very short notice for the Leeward Islands.

The ODM will continue to closely monitor this system for possible further development and the public will be duly informed.

Philipsburg:--- On behalf of the SIMVA (the Sint Maarten Volleyball Association) the Veterans Volleyball Organizing Committee want to draw the attention of all interested to the upcoming Veteran's volleyball tournament from 25th through 27th of August 2011. This year the tournament will be played in honor of Mr. Glenn Peterson, a great volleyball player from the olden days.

The SIMVA Glenn Peterson Veteran's Tournament, will be played in the evening in the L.B. Scot Sports Auditorium, is open to all players - male and female - with the only conditions being, that the participants can play volleyball (have played in the past) and have been born before August 25th 1970. This means that you must be 40 years or older in order to participate in this tournament.
A token participation fee (to secure the use of the auditorium) of $ 10,00 p.p. or $80,-- per team will be required.

With the above in mind, we want to invite your organization to participate in this recreational and team-building activity,

• by fielding a team of minimum six (6) and maximum eight (8) players of which at least two should be female or
• by passing on this info to individual persons in your organization who would like to participate. (In this case the SIMVA will assign the individuals to a team.)

For additional information and or registration, please contact:
Lorenzo Gibs at nr. 5227066 ;e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or
Reginald Willemsberg at 5811203 ;e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Registration deadline is on August 20th 2011.

Simpson Bay:--- Phil and Patty Lennox, owners of 3 Palm Restaurant, are pleased to announce the reopening of the bar venues at Simpson Bay Resort & Marina, including a newly revamped Beach Bar which will now be called "3 Palms" on The Rocks Beach Bar & Grill. Guests will notice a fresh new vibrant coat of paint as well as new inventive menu items appearing over the course of the next months along with tons of scheduled entertainment and drink specials – including $2 beers!

The new "3 Palms" features increased seating capacity, shaded tables and Reggae vibes throughout, invoking a sense of "I am in the Caribbean – man!"

Patrons will be pleased to recognize all their favorite bartenders who are still there under the new management. The Lobby Bar will now be opening earlier at 7:00 am and will be offering a full range of franchise-style coffees and fresh pastries for guests' morning wake up call.

The new operators look forward playing an integral role in guests' enjoyment of their vacations whether it be a relaxing poolside afternoon sipping cocktails, sumptuous Caribbean fare in a culturally infused open-air environment or the thrilling excitement of the newest addition to Simpson Bay's nightlife. Members and guests are encouraged to consult the weekly list of activities for scheduled entertainment events at each venue.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- At 5:00pm the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in its bulletin reported that Tropical Storm Irene was approximately 25 miles East of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands or approximately 92 miles West of Sint Maarten and moving away at a speed of 17 miles per hour.

The Meteorological Department of Curacao (MDC) has discontinued as of 5:00pm the Tropical Storm Warning for Sint Maarten. Small Craft Advisory remains in effect until Monday at 6:00am.

According to MDC 5:00pm weather bulletin, seas are expected to remain rough through Monday morning; a few rain bands will continue to move at times over the local region, causing periods with thundershowers through Monday morning.

Some flooding of low lying areas could still occur because of heavier showers.

This is the final advisory from the Department of Disaster Management (ODM) with respect to the progress of Tropical Storm Irene.

Monday, August 22 is a normal school and business day.

The ODM maintains its advice that during heavy rainfall, to avoid low lying areas; look out for possible street flooding and drive with caution. If the rainfall is persistent, while driving along hill sides, watch out for possible rock falls.

ODM would like to thank the general populace for their attention, observations and cooperation during the passing of Tropical Storm Irene.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on Monday morning continues to closely monitor the approaching tropical wave/low pressure system.

A recent hurricane center reconnaissance investigation on Monday morning revealed that the tropical wave does not have a closed surface circulation center, but did find winds of near tropical storm force.

The 10 Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) will remain on alert Monday and Tuesday.

The Department of Disaster Management (ODM) advises the population to continue to monitor the progress of the approaching Tropical Wave (TW)/low pressure system for possible further development.

According to the National Hurricane Center, if the system develops into a storm, tropical storm watches and warnings could be issued at very short notice for the Leeward Islands which includes Sint Maarten.

The ODM will continue to closely monitor this system for possible further development and the public will be duly informed.

Rotary Club of St. Maarten brings to the public of St. Maarten another article on Alzheimer's. This time the focus is on Symptoms of Alzheimer's which can develop gradually. If a person is physically healthy, it is easy to ignore unusual behaviour. Below is a memory checklist that can be filled in if you are concerned about yourself or someone close to you. This is meant as a simple guide. If you answer 'yes' to five or more questions, it might be useful to seek advice from a GP.

NO YES

1. Does the person often repeat themselves or ask the same question repeatedly?
2. Is the person more forgetful or having difficulty with short-term memory?
3. Does the person need reminders to do daily tasks, such as shopping or taking medication?
4. Does the person forget appointments, family occasions or holidays?
5. Does the person seem sad, down in the dumps or cry more often than in the past?
6. Is the person having trouble doing calculations or managing their money?
7. Has the person lost interest in their usual activities and hobbies, i.e. reading, watching/listening to the news or other social activities?
8. Does the person need help eating, dressing, bathing or using the bathroom?
9. Has the person become more irritable, agitated, suspicious or started seeing, hearing or believing things that are not real?
10. Do you have concerns in relation to their safety when driving?
11. Does the person have trouble finding words they want to say; do you find yourself finishing sentences or naming people or things on their behalf?
    Calculate your Score

The information in this article was found on www.helpguide.com. This checklist can be completed online as well.
In our following publication we will start with a series on "Caring for Alzheimer's".
For more information please contact the St. Maarten Alzheimer's Foundation on HOTLINE 9220 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. support the campaign please contact any member of the Rotary Club of St. Maarten or The St. Maarten Alzheimer's Foundation.

Cupecoy:--- Porto Cupecoy will join the leaders of the nautical world at the 34th annual Cannes International Boat Show, September 6-11, 2011. Aptly included amidst the glamorous and luxurious exhibitors from 24 countries, Porto Cupecoy will greet more than 50,000 boating enthusiasts and affluent buyers alike who are not only shopping for that perfect boat, but also looking for an ideal destination where their boat as well as their voyagers can be pampered.

Porto Cupecoy, developed by Orient-Express Hotels Ltd., on the Dutch side of Sint Maarten is a private condominium community nestled around a seaside piazza, featuring international boutiques and renowned restaurants. Yachting enthusiasts will enjoy a deep water white-glove marina with 54 boat slips, including 11 for mega-yachts up to 250 feet.

First-class amenities are: premier vessel concierge; high-speed Wi-Fi Internet & satellite TV; fully marked and lit access channel; up to 480 volts, 3 phase 100 amps shore power with double water connections; fueling capabilities offering diesel and gasoline, and a full range of engine lubricants. What's more, Porto Cupecoy provides yachtsmen access to the property's swimming pool, outdoor tennis courts, fitness center, shops and restaurants.

For more information, please visit www.portocupecoy.com.

.

Belvedere:--- Concerned NGOs are hereby inviting all NGOs on the island to an important meeting on Wednesday August 10th, 2011 at the Belvedere Community center at 6:30pm (snacks and drinks will be available).
The agenda points for discussions along with a PowerPoint presentation include:

• The future of AMFO after 2012
• St. Maarten readiness come 2012
• St. Maarten proposed funding agency
• AMFO's role after 2012 if any.
• Government role safeguarding a continuation of funding after 2012
• NGOs role in any new development and financing structure for St. Maarten

These and many more will be discussed on Friday. This meeting will provide opportunity for NGOs to present their case and contribute toward the overall social development on the Island.
For additional information contact: Mr. Alberto Bute 5597995 or Mrs. Jessica Richardson 5546566.

On September 23rd 2011 (marine) VHF Radio exams will be conducted on St. Maarten at the BTP.

Anyone operating or wishing to operate a fixed or portable marine radio on a vessel is required by law to have a VHF operator's certificate.

The VHF radio is an essential tool for safety onboard vessels as it greatly enhances rescue capabilities of personnel aboard a vessel in an emergency. Understanding this technology and knowing how to properly operate this equipment can, in some circumstances, mean the difference between life and death.

The VHF operator's certificate can be obtained by taking the VHF Radio home-study course followed by the exam on September 23rd 2011.

Persons interested in obtaining their VHF operator's certificate can register at BTP until September 14th between the hours of 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. The total cost for participation in the exam is $100.00 per applicant; this amount includes the administration-processing-, the examination - and certification fees. Study material is available at the bureau at a cost of $12.00.

Participants can be aided in their preparations for the exam during the information session to be held on September 20th 2011. For additional information contact the BTP at: Tel: 5424699 or e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Grand Case:--- A lone gunman entered a supermarket in Grand Case on Friday afternoon and attempted to rob the supermarket after assaulting the cashier. Commandant of the Gendarmerie Stephen Brunet said the gunman hit the victim with a shotgun on his head. The victim was transported to the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital for treatment Brunet said.
SMN News learnt that the victim is a middle age man whose name has been given only as "Mr. Hodge" is in stable condition.
No details on how much money the robber managed to escape with was provided by Brunet. The Commandant said the Gendarmerie is busy conducting an investigation.

Bridgetown, BARBADOS:--- Barbadian university student, Shamkoe Pile, is the winner of the 2011 CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank-sponsored Business Plan Competition held by the University of the West Indies' Student Entrepreneurial Empowerment Development (SEED) project.

At the awards ceremony held recently at the 3W'S Pavilion, Cave Hill Campus, Pile emerged victorious from a field of five finalists with her business plan proposal for "Skai Multimedia". She is the holder of a first class honors degree in Mass Communications, and is presently pursuing a Masters degree in Project Management and Evaluation.

Grenadian, Shivelyn Boney placed second with a proposal for "Caribbean Cuisines", while Gamal Chrichton of St. Vincent and the Grenadines was third with "Genephi Monler". Barbadian Heritage Studies graduate, David Michael placed fourth with "Echoes Caribbean" while Leslie-Ann Colbourne of Antigua was fifth with her "Memorable Occasions" business proposal.

All the finalists will benefit from the support of CIBC FirstCaribbean, which was praised by UWI's Head of the Department of Management Studies, and Chair of SEED, Dr. Justin Robinson, and SEED Coordinator, Ms. Ayanna Young Marshall for its generous contribution of US$45,000 to the SEED programme over a three-year period.

In thanking the Bank, Dr. Robinson said he was heartened to see that entrepreneurship was more than a buzzword. "This business plan function is really the culmination of a journey for these students who would have started attending workshops on entrepreneurship and personal development two years ago. So it's a process. We would consider this process a success if at least half of the students took their plans and started a business," Dr. Robinson said.

Presenting the awards on behalf of CIBC FirstCaribbean, Ms. Debra King, the Bank's Director, Corporate Communications said the occasion brought great pleasure to the Bank because it was the culmination of the current Memorandum of Understanding between CIBC FirstCaribbean and the UWI. She also noted the Bank's work with Junior Achievement programmes in promoting finance and business skills, in addition to partnering with Caribbean Youth Business programmes including the Barbados Youth Business Trust.

"CIBC FirstCaribbean through its Corporate Social Responsibility programme supports entrepreneurship and the industriousness of our youth. We have made a commitment through several MOU with regional organisations to foster an entrepreneurial spirit amongst the people of the region as a means of combating youth poverty and unemployment," Ms. King said.

The Director of Corporate Communications added: "As the place where the region's future leaders are forged, the University quite rightly should be at the forefront of finding solutions to real-life issues facing the Caribbean. Furthermore, programmes like this that will offer our young people the viable alternative of being able to develop their own businesses are more than welcome especially in the economic climate across the region."

Great Bay:--- Skin by Drisana Deborah Jack is in the company of Caribbean greats at the University of New Orleans (UNO), said Jacqueline Sample, president of House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP).
The poetry collection by the St. Martin poet/artist is now required reading for "Modern Anglophone Caribbean Poetry." The Fall 2011 course is taught by Prof. John Gery, an Ezra Pound scholar.
The English Dept. course includes books by Kamau Brathwaite, Lorna Goodison, Claude McKay, and Derek Walcott, all world-acclaimed authors. The Oxford Book of Caribbean Verse, edited by Stewart Brown and Mark McWatt is also among the nine main texts that will be studied for the class, said Sample.
"This is another step in having the work of St. Martin writers recognized as part of the canon of Modern Caribbean literature; it's gratifying to have another collection of poetry recognized this way," said Jack after learning that Skin will be studied at UNO.
Skin, published here by HNP in 2006, is Jack's second book used in a US university course.
The students enrolled in the UNO course will study Caribbean poetry in English since 1900; look at the history, culture, politics, and languages of the region; interpret specific poems, and recognize significant themes, stated the course description.
"Last Spring another HNP book published in St. Martin was involved with a US university course," said Sample.
Love Labor Liberation in Lasana Sekou by Howard A. Fergus was a curriculum support text for "Music and Narrative in the Hispanic Caribbean," a 300-level Spanish course taught by Prof. Anibal Gonzalez-Perez at Yale University.
The selected bibliography that included the critical book about the St. Martin writer's work was prepared for the Spring 2011 class by Lidia Uziel, Librarian for Western European Languages and Literature. Yale's Department of Spanish and Portuguese has been ranked #1 in the USA by the National Research Council.
Dr. Fergus, the author of the book of literary criticism, hails from Montserrat.
The Yale University Library has also identified Love Labor Liberation as a book to study topics such as "Language and Literature" and "Criticism and interpretation" in the category of "Caribbean Area Civilization."

Philipsburg:--- Member of Parliament George Pantophlet is calling on government to enforce the rules particularly with regards to the Division of Economic control. It has been almost 20 years since the responsibility of the controls on pricing were transferred by the former Netherlands Antilles government to St. Maarten. It would be interesting to acquire information on how much control was done on the 12 items during this period. But he is guessing that the control would have been based on how the economy was doing. As promised, the Member of Parliament is listing the 12 products that are on government's maximum pricing list that should be controlled by the Division of Economic Control which are as follows: rice, margarine, table butter, powder milk, canned milk, baby cereal, sweet oil, coffee, tea, flour, sugar and corn meal. Maximum prices should be placed on these items more so because they represent our basic necessities. There are also some non government controlled items such as perishable goods for example, meats including chicken, vegetables and fruits. The Member of Parliament says he understands that the establishments involved in this business have to make profits but it is the responsibility of government to protect the consumers from rapidly increasing prices. We are in the slow season which means layoffs are taking place, working hours are being reduced. This translates into the need for an increase in financial assistance which means that government has to pay out more. One does not need to be an economist or a rocket science to figure this out. Simply put people can't even afford to put food on their table not to mention pay their rent, electricity and water bills. The goal is to give the consumers some kind of buying power.

Philipsburg:--- Member of Parliament George Pantophlet says government should hastily pursue the increasing of the fees from casinos and lottery establishments. The amendment to these ordinances which are between 15 to 20 years old should be worked on posthaste. There was no delay in increasing the turnover tax from 3 to 5% and no discussions were held with the affected stakeholders prior to government taking this decision. The casinos and the lottery establishments don't pay turnover tax, I don't know if they pay income tax. But government has no idea what these money making entities generate in revenues annually. The amount of 8 million guilders casinos pay in fees on an annual business dwarfs in what other businesses and workers pay in taxes, 33 to 47% of their salaries& wages. We should not continue these crippling tax percentages but ask that the casinos pay an annual fee of 15 million guilders which represents 12% of their collective annual income based on the WODC report of 125 million guilders. We have no idea what the lottery business generates in revenue but recommend that it be doubled to 3 million guilders which I think is reasonable. If they have objections then open the books by allowing an independent study of their financial affairs over the last 5 years. Again, it is imperative that government makes it a priority to get the casino gaming board in place. Another sector which is flying under the radar is the matter of the condominium fees, where is the ordinance? This matter has to be brought back to the forefront. There are owners generating millions but government does not benefit from this. And how can we forget that government always boasting about having over one million persons coming in on the cruise ships annually. We can charge $1, per person and this can go to the maintenance of sporting facilities and our roads. We can also look at installing parking meters which was suggested in the past. Of course it will mean changes to the traffic ordinance to make this possible. Also the possibilities of having to pay a toll fee which should be placed at the border between the French and Dutch side, needless to say this will call for serious discussions and involves legislation on both sides of the island.

The Principal of the Siméonne TROTT Kindergarten School in Concordia is hereby informing all parents that classes will resume on MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5th as follows :

•  For the children born in 2006 at 8:15 AM
•  For the children born in 2007 at 9:00 AM
•  For the children born in 2008 at 10:00 AM

Parents of the children who are attending the school for the first time and did not do the necessary formalities for their admission are asked to present themselves on FRIDAY,SEPTEMBER 2nd From 9.00AM to 12.00 PM

CHOISY Aline
Principal

Dutch Quarter:--- A police officer accompanied by an officer of the Voluntary Korps and two women (a social worker and another woman) showed up at the I Can Foundation to remove the children of Kaye Lake who were placed at the I Can Foundation by the Court of Guardianship some five years ago.
According to one of the children (a 16 year old boy), on Thursday afternoon the social worker and another woman showed up at the I Can Foundation to inform them that she will be removing them from the I Can Foundation to place him at the MPO Foundation and his sister in the custody of the woman who accompanied her.
The young man said that he told both women that his sister will not be going to anyone's house because she is well taken care of at the I Can Foundation where they have been living for the past five years. He said he also informed the woman that he would not be going to live at MPO. The young lad said he told the social worker that if his sister is to be removed from I Can Foundation then she will be going to live with her biological mother who is willing and ready to take her children to live with her. The young man whose identity we will not reveal said the woman who accompanied the social worker humiliated him and told him that his mother did not train him well and that he was rude. He said the insults took place in the presence of his surrogate mother and the social worker, who threatened him by telling him that she will return on Friday with the police to execute the judge's decision.
On Friday afternoon, the social worker accompanied by the woman and the two officers showed up at the I Can Foundation to remove the children based on the decision rendered by the judge. When they reached there both children could not be found. Police searched the foster home in the presence of the other children and adults at the I Can Foundation and did not locate the children.
In an interview with SMN News, surrogate mother Cassandra Debby Gibbs told SMN News that while she knew the social worker wanted to remove the children two months ago and the mother protested. Gibbs said the head of the Court of Guardianship Joel Arrindell visited the children and he interviewed the young man who told him that he was not going to move from I Can Foundation neither would he allow his sister to be placed at anyone's home since they are both able to visit their biological mother. Gibbs said she also attended a meeting with Arrindell and it was agreed upon that the decision rests with the children since they have a right to say where they want to live. Gibbs said one day after the meeting, the social worker showed up at I Can and was insisting that the children leave with her and again she called Arrindell and he informed the Social Worker that the 16 year old has the last word. Gibbs said she thought the matter was settled and at no time was she informed that the social worker would proceed to the judge for a court order so that the children can be removed. "These two children are in a stable environment, they are happy here and they are well fed and monitored," Gibbs said.
She said she was shocked when she was presented with the judge's decision on Thursday because she was not asked for a report neither was she heard. "Can you imagine the social worker used an old report that I gave them when the mother was not active in her children's lives. She did not inform me that she was going to court now and she needed and up to date report. All I am given is a decision and I intend to protest the decision through a petition to the court, besides that I heard the mother has contacted a lawyer who will be filing an injunction to appeal the judge's decision," Gibbs also confirmed the incident that took place on Thursday afternoon where the 16 year old boy was humiliated by the woman who wants his little sister. Gibbs said she intends to submit an "incident report" to the court of guardianship early next week because what took place on Thursday in the presence of the social worker was totally out of line. "The young man does not want to be separated from his sister, they went through a lot and he has been there through it all with his little sister, Gibbs explained.
The mother of the two children, Kaye Lake said the Court of Guardianship, neither the Social Worker nor the court informed her of the hearing. She said she was shocked when her son told her about the judge's decision. Lake also confirmed that she already contacted a lawyer to appeal the judge's decision. Lake further explained that she is not working at the moment and the social worker who has been intimidating her is using her current status against her to place her children where she wants to have them. "I do not know why this social worker wants to destabilize my children, how could she not understand what the two children went through before being placed at I Can Foundation."
Lake said the only reason the injunction was not filed on Friday was because she could not come up with the $800.00 the lawyer is charging to file the case. She said she is busy trying to get that money because she will stand up for her rights as well as the rights of her children. Lake said the social worker has all her numbers and she also knows where she is living yet she did not contact her to inform her about the hearing. The angry mother said she is willing to take the law into her own hands because a woman who does not know her and her children insulted and humiliated her son and that does not sit well with her.
When asked if she could not be reached by phone on Friday, Lake said that she forgot her telephone at home when she went out to look for money to pay the lawyer and as such she could not be reached by phone. However, she made clear that the social worker knows where she is living and she is in the habit of driving up to her house, so that social worker cannot say she could not reach her to tell her about the court proceedings.
Lake further explained that she intends to file a criminal complaint against the social worker for the alleged illegal proceedings to get the judge to issue an order to remove her children from the I Can Foundation. "I will fight this to the very end, I will make sure this social worker stops harassing and penalizing unfortunate parents and children," Lake said.
It should be noted that Kaye Lake left her children with their father who was abusing her for years some five years ago. Lake said she was abused as child and had to be removed from her mother's home when she was ten years old. She said during her marriage her husband abused her for years and she almost lost her life. She admitted that in the beginning she could not face her children because she left them behind when she ran for safety. "I was removed from my mother's home because of abuse and I tried my best not to let that happen to my children but if I did not run, I might have been dead today. My children were taken by the police to the I Can Foundation when the police arrested my ex-husband for drug possession and drug smuggling. Ever since then I have been trying very hard to re-establish my life and to get my children back, but I am always on six month contracts at the casino where I was working and it has been a while now my contract expired and was not renewed, thus leaving me in a financial predicament which is used against me by the Court of Guardianship and Family Guardianship.
SMN News will be following the developments surrounding Kaye Lake and her two children since the two women and the police hid their faces when an SMN News reporter showed up at the I Can Foundation to witness the removal of Lake's children.

Philipsburg:--- The Police Union NAPB, the Windward Islands Civil Servants Union (WICSU) and the ABVO are scheduled to meet with Minister of Justice Roland Duncan on Thursday to further discuss their positions in country St. Maarten stated President of the NAPB Carlyle Rogers.
Rogers said that he has received several phone calls from his colleagues and NAPB members who are requesting information on their scales. He said because of the queries he decided to make it known that the three unions that are representing the police are scheduled to meet with the Minister this Thursday where they will further discuss the concerns of the police.
Rogers said prior to St. Maarten achieving its country status several information sessions were held for St. Maarten's civil servants that were working for the former Netherlands Antilles. Those meetings he said were organized by the former Minister of Justice of the former Netherlands Antilles and the former Minister of Constitutional Affairs for Country St. Maarten.
Rogers explained that during those meetings and information sessions numerous questions were posed about the legal status (RECHTS-POSITIE) for the police and immigration officers as well as for the civil servants working with the police (Ambtenaar van Politie) and they were told that the negotiations will continue after the status change so that a possible solution could be found.
"It was also agreed upon that the local unions would have been included from the off set in these negotiations. Approaching 10-10'10, it was then explained to us that because of the time constraint, the Police Officers, immigration Officers and all civil servants working for the Police, will go over as is to country St. Maarten until further notice," Rogers said. The NAPB president said they were of the opinion that the police, immigration and civil servants will be transferred as they were under the former Netherlands Antilles. The NAPB President said to date the negotiations never resumed and they were shocked to learn that the legal status for all police, immigration officers and civil servants working with the police was ratified on June 30th 2011 without the input of the unions. Rogers said that the current Minister of Justice Roland Duncan implemented the status dated back to the year 2000. Rogers said back then when they realized that the 2000 status was not feasible they renegotiated it in the year 2005. Rogers said in light of the negotiations some changes were made and dated back to January 1 2006. But the St. Maarten Minister of Justice did not take the changes into consideration when he ratified the document. He said based on the union's information the changes were totally disregarded.
The NAPB president said in light of the new developments the three unions representing the police sent a letter to the Minister of Justice indicating to him that they are not in agreement with the legal status (RECHTS-POSITIE) that was ratified (AFGEKONDIGD) for the Police Force in country St. Maarten, because this did not come about according to the agreements that were made, due to the fact that they (the local unions) were not included. Rogers said during the meeting on Thursday the following points will be discussed.

• That it was mentioned to us before 10-10-'10 that no Police Officers, Immigration Officers and Civil Servants working with then Police Force Police of the Netherlands Antilles, going over to the country St. Maarten will not lose no benefits whatsoever pertaining to their LEGAL-STAUS (RECHTS-POSITIE), and we will remain by this.
• That agreements pertaining to the working of OVER-TIME is regulated internationally and we will remain by these agreements.
• That all outstanding issues will be brought up and discussed once more with the Minister of Justice.
• All results arising from this meeting will be made known to our members of the NAPB-St. Maarten.

On 24 July 2011, a contingent of 50 U.S. Forward Operation Location (USFOL) personnel donated their time to an effort to help clean local beaches near the Piscadera corridor. The project was organized and led by one of the deployed aircrew units. The men and women of the U.S. FOL celebrated the rich treasure that is Curaçao's natural beauty. They regularly work with the community to help protect its unique natural resources benefitting both residents and tourists alike.
A USFOL volunteer observed, "Basically we're coming out to clean up our footprint. We use the running trail quite a bit. So we'd like to leave it better than we found it." The U.S. FOL personnel have been long-time advocates for the local community and this was yet another effort to promote a continued healthy environment and well-being for the citizens and habitat of Curaçao.

The Hague/Great Bay:--- The mayor of Groningen, Mr. Peter Rehwinkel, has pledged his full support for whatever St. Martin could work out in terms of collaboration with the Hanze Hogeschool in Groningen. He made this pledge Thursday when he met with Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, Dr. Rhoda Arrindell during the latter's visit to the school.
Hanze Hogeschool is a truly international school with some 2,500 international students from about 70 countries.
Minister Arrindell seized the opportunity to also visit St. Martin students in Groningen to see how they were settling in, especially where it concerned their accommodation. She exhorted them to make the best of their stay, and encouraged them to settle down quickly so they could focus on the most important aspect of their being in Holland, which is their studies.
The Minister and her delegation also met with the DOU, the executing arm of the Dutch Ministry of Education, which is responsible for study financing among several other matters.
The minister was accompanied at these meetings by her Policy Advisor, Calvin Mardenbrough, the Director of S-4, drs. Marva Richardson and the head of Study Financing in her ministry, Antonio Aventurin.

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao:--- On 10 August 2011, 22 volunteers from the 429th Expeditionary Operations Squadron located at the U.S. Forward Operating Location (USFOL) visited the SILOAM Village to clean the children's play ground. Volunteers donned work gloves, weed eaters and rakes to help spruce up the village property. Volunteers also delivered 10 boxes of donations filled with diapers, clothes, personal items and cleaning supplies.
SILOAM administrators expressed their utmost appreciation. "You have blessed us again!" said Brother Herman Gijsbers, SILOAM owner/operator. The USFOL Chaplain observed, "SILOAM Village always welcomes us with open arms and hearts. It was awesome to know we've left the facility cleaner and safer for the children. Touching lives and making a difference is why our folks volunteer."

Philipsburg:--- The Central Committee of Parliament will be meeting with a representative of the Netherlands Antilles Development Bank (OBNA) and the Small Business Development Foundation (SMDF).

The first meeting will be with the General Director of OBNA D. Cijntje in the General Assembly Chamber in the House of Parliament on Tuesday at 10.00am.

Cijntje will make a presentation with respect to the current state of affairs regarding OBNA and the financial institutions future plans and country St. Maarten.

At 2.00pm in the General Assembly Chamber, members of the Central Committee will meet with the Executive Director of the SBDF Ludwig Quenniche to discuss the foundations current affairs and projects as well as future plans.

Both meetings are public and will also be carried live by St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 20.

Philipsburg:--- St. Maarten Youth Council Program Director and Coordinator for the St. Maarten Youth Parliament Connie Francis, on Monday morning met with President of Parliament Hon. drs. Gracita Arrindell.

Francis briefed Arrindell about the Youth Parliament which was established since 1997 and then reinitiated in 2008 and again in 2011. To date 19 persons have registered to be members and the training program will resume September 1.

Francis has embarked upon an awareness campaign starting this week in order to increase the number of participants to 25. The age range is 13-25. The young people will be exposed to leadership training, parliamentary procedure, public speaking and a host of other life training activities.

"I would like to welcome them and introduce the young parliamentarians to the workings of Parliament. This is a very important process in developing life skills which will benefit them in their further studies and at a later stage in career development.

"I think it is very important for the community and the young people in particular to understand the role and functioning of parliament in the lives of the people. It is totally different than what we had in the past under the Island Council as an island territory and I encourage them to attend the public meetings during school holidays or after school and also visit our website.

"Parliament is co-legislator, and can also submit initiative laws which impact the lives of every individual and the social fabric of society. Parliament needs to live in the minds of the young people and community and this process of educating our populace will be a long-term one," President of Parliament Hon. Gracita Arrindell said on Monday.

President of Parliament during the meeting has extended an invitation to the St. Maarten Youth Parliament to visit the House of Parliament in October where all parliamentarians will be present to welcome them and give them an introduction to parliamentary procedure.

Arrindell has also offered to set-up on an annual basis a "Shadow Your Member of Parliament (MP)" for a month. This is tentatively set for November 1.

"MPs will be paired with members of the St. Maarten Youth Parliament for a one-month period, and the young person gets the opportunity to learn the daily life of a parliamentarian, and exactly what the job entails.

"First-hand experience is very important. An evaluation will be carried out after the one-month 'Shadow Your MP,' program. This type of program will further enhance the training that these young people have received from the Youth Parliament during the course of their participation in the program," Arrindell explained on Monday.

Francis was given a tour of the House of Parliament at the end of the meeting.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- At 8:00am the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in its bulletin reported that Tropical Storm Irene had redeveloped throughout the night farther North therefore bringing the system closer to the islands, but still passing south of Sint Maarten.

The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and Department of Disaster Management (ODM) is closely monitoring the progress of Tropical Storm Irene and is advising the population of the South side of the island to continue to monitor weather reports as the storm passes through the island chain on Sunday.

The Meteorological Department of Curacao (MDC) which works closely with ODM says that Tropical Storm Irene is forecast to past approximately 55 miles South of Saba as a severe Tropical Storm (that is approximately 80 miles from Sint Maarten) on Sunday afternoon based on the 8:00am forecast track by the NHC.

Weather conditions are expected to deteriorate throughout Sunday as Irene passes through the islands. According to MDC winds are forecast to blow temporarily at tropical storm force and will remain strong through the evening with possible occasional gusts up to 60 miles per hour, especially in or near showers.

Seas will be rough with wave heights building possibly up to 10-feet. Owners of small boats and coastal facilities should have completed precautionary actions for safeguarding their properties.

The ODM maintains its advice that during heavy rainfall, to avoid low lying areas; look out for possible street flooding; and if the rainfall is persistent, while driving along hill sides, watch out for possible rock falls.

Heaviest rainfall activity will be during the course of Sunday with periods of thundershowers into Monday. Rainfall amounts forecast are of four to seven inches.

The EOC/ODM will closely monitor this system and the public will be duly informed.

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao:--- United States Consul General Valerie Belon hosted a group of artists participating in Plein Air Curacao to paint the scenic views of Punda and Otrabanda from her residence patio on Monday, August 29. The group included one artist from Curacao and a number of artists from the United States.
Plein Air Curaçao is a new art festival on Curaçao. It presents an opportunity for cultural exchange and the celebration of Curacao's people, beautiful tropical landscapes and unique architecture through painting.
Plein air painting is generally considered to mean painting live, outdoors. Plein air painters can paint in any medium and are not restricted to a particular style of painting. From a practical standpoint, plein air paintings are usually made in a few hours in order to capture the light before it changes, making plein air paintings particularly evocative of a sense of place, time and the emotional feeling at the moment of creation.
The plein air movement has had several phases dating back to 19th century France and the advent of the paint tube, allowing paint to be stable and portable. In the United States, early plein air painting centered on the Hudson Valley and later in California. In recent years, the movement has spread from California across the United States, Canada, Europe, and now to Curacao.
Consul General Belon said, "This is a great opportunity to promote American artists and, at the same time, to promote Curacao's unique beauty. I am delighted to have hosted these extremely talented artists and to have been able to share with them the view of historic downtown Punda and Otrabanda, which we are very fortunate to have here at the Consulate."
Plein Air Curaçao is occurring from August 29th to September 3rd. The event includes a series of paint-outs, workshops, other educational opportunities, exhibition and sale of the paintings produced during the festival. See www.PleinAirCuracao.com for more information and updates.

Cay Hill:--- St. Maarten Medical Center's midwife Anne Roos initiated an information session for first time parents to be together with the White & Yellow Cross Foundation (WYC) and the Baby Wellness Clinic. Some 12 expecting mothers and their support, including two fathers to be, attended the session at the offices of Baby Wellness Clinic part of the Collective Prevention Services department of Government in the Vineyard Office Park building.
"Of course first time mothers have a lot of questions, not just about the pregnancy but also on what to expect after the baby is born," Anne Roos said. "We frequently get the same type of questions during consultations and I thought it would be a good idea to organize an information evening and contacted the Baby Wellness Clinic. The baby wellness clinic in turn contacted the WYC. I'm happy that both were immediately enthusiastic about doing a joint information session," she continued.
Maria Henry, Acting Head Collective Prevention Services opened the evening with some words of welcome. Anne Roos then introduced the new midwife at SMMC, Eveline Geerdink. Eveline started service this week and looks forward to also play an active role and sharing information and educating new mothers on the ins and outs surrounding maternity. "Working in a community as diverse as St. Maarten's really attracted me. I also look forward to work in the intimacy of a small team and build a bond and guide the new mothers and their support throughout the pregnancy," she states. Eveline did her midwifery studies in Holland and Belgium.
Ilse Carter, Head District Nursing of the WYC gave an explanation about the maternity care that the WYC provides for a maximum of 10 days after the baby is born. One of the district nurses will visit the new mother at home and during a period of one hour provide her with practical tips regarding caring for her new born.
The Baby Wellness Clinic was represented by Registered Nurse, Marcella Richardson and Mayra Martina Registered Nurse and Acting Head of Youth Health Care. Both stressed about the importance that the new parents visit the Baby Wellness Clinic for regular checkups and vaccinations of their baby. "Newborns should have their first checkup within the first few days to weeks after birth. Even when things are going well, frequent checkups during the first year are an important way to monitor the baby's growth and development" Mayra Martina said. The services of the Baby Wellness Clinic are free of charge and new parents are encouraged to visit the clinic for the first time as soon as possible after the baby is born.
Anne Roos concluded the information evening with a presentation on what to expect during the delivery, the importance on breastfeeding and advised on the post natal care.
The two attending fathers to be were commended for their presence followed by a short question and answer session after which the information evening was closed.
The participants enjoyed the session and the participating organizations agreed to continue with the information initiative in the future.

Philipsburg:--- The selection committee has submitted their advice to the Minister of Justice Roland Duncan so that he can appoint at least two persons to their positions. SMN News learned that officer Randolf Bloeiman was selected by the committee to fill the position commissioner of police Carl John vacated last year. Bloeiman was selected to head the Philipsburg Police Station while Officer Carlyle Rogers was selected to head Simpson Bay Police substation.
SMN News has been reliably informed that Bloeiman received the highest score in the interview that was given to the candidates that were interested in the vacancies. According to information provided to SMN News, four officers of the law applied for the available positions. They are Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson, Wendell Thode, Carlyle Rogers and Randolf Bloieman.
The committee members were Chief Commissioner of Police Peter de Witte, Head of the Detective Department Denise Jacob, Silvia Martina and a representative from the Minister of Justice Office.

On 25 July 2011, 20 volunteers from the 429th Expeditionary Operations Squadron located at the U.S. Forward Operating Location (USFOL) visited the SILOAM Village to clear debris and weeds. Volunteers donned work gloves, weed eaters and rakes to help spruce up the village property. The main goal of the visit was to reduce fire danger, enhance the property appearance and remove overgrown weeds from the garden. SILOAM administrators expressed their utmost appreciation.
"What you men and women have done in two hours would take me two months!" said Brother Herman Gijsbers, SILOAM owner/operator. A USFOL volunteer observed, "Anytime you go to any deployment it's a good opportunity to interact with locals that have been welcoming us to their country. It's especially humbling to come to an orphanage and help out kids who haven't had the same opportunities that we enjoy in the United States."

Philipsburg:--- Imbali Center for Creative Movement, in collaboration with dance instructor Aparna Samaga, will be hosting a 5 day Classical Indian Dance intensive at the school's studio in the John Larmonie Center on Longwall Road, Philipsburg.
Founder and Director of Imbali Center for Creative Movement, Clara Reyes, said that the dance intensive would run from Wednesday, August 10 through Sunday, August 14 from 8am-1pm. The workshop will be executed by Master Instructor Malathi Iyengar who is the founder of the Los Angeles based Rangoli Dance Company. Rangoli was established in 1992 and aims to educate people about the magnificence of classical Indian dance and Indian heritage. Iyengar seeks to introduce to her students the concepts of discipline and artistic self-exploration through the use of her approaches to dance.
Iyengar will focus her workshop on Bharatanayam, a form of classical Indian dance, which emerged in the southern parts of India and which is over 2000 years old. Reyes said that Bharatanayam is not to be confused with contemporary Bollywood style Indian dancing.
"Bharatanayam is has strict rules, techniques, skills and modes of execution which is steeply based in Indian culture. Contemporary Bollywood dancing is more of a popular social dance drawing on elements from traditional dances, but it is not as codified or bond by tradition as Bharatanayam is," Reyes explained.
Bharatanyam is predominately danced by females; however, there is no traditional reason why males cannot perform the dances. In light of this Reyes is encouraging all interested individuals, regardless of sex, to come out and be a part of this unique opportunity and experience.
"This will be a mixed-age, mixed-level intensive, meaning that even beginners are welcomed to come out and learn more about this form of dance. Malathi Iyengar is at the forefront of this genre of dance and because of this we really wanted to make this intensive open to all those who may be interested in learning more, from beginner to veteran," Reyes said.
More information about the program can be obtained by calling Reyes at 554-9364 or Samaga at 520-6522 or emailing them 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. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. respectively. Total cost for the program is $100 or $20 per day.

Philipsburg:--- GEBE's transformer house maintenance program is currently underway. An outage will be scheduled in Philipsburg on Sunday, August 7, 2011 in the St. Rose Archade area from Secretarissteeg, including partial areas of Frontstreet, partial areas of Backstreet, and surrounding areas from 9:00 am – 4:00 p-m.
This preventative maintenance program is to ensure that key equipment, such as transformers, high and low tension switch gear are maintained in a timely manner. To minimize inconvenience, maintenance has been schedule at a time where no cruise ships are expected in port. Maintenance starts at the scheduled time to minimize downtime for our clients. Changes in schedules are sometimes necessary due to bad weather; updates will also be posted on our website and Facebook page.
Transformer houses are an important part of the electrical distribution network. Switches and other technical gear can be affected by moisture, corrosion and wear and tear. Cosmetic maintenance to the transformer house itself, such as painting and small repairs, will also be carried out.
Residents and businesses can prepare by ensuring they have enough fuel for their back-up generators. Other tips to prepare for an outage are:

• Unplug any sensitive electronics.
• Turn off all lights and electrical equipment. Leave on only one light or radio to alert you when the power has been restored
• Try to minimize the time your fridge and freezer are open to keep the cool air in.
• Gather any flashlights and check spare batteries.
• Visit www.nevgebe.com or www.facebook.com/nvgebe for the latest updates.

Philipsburg:--- The St. Maarten branch of law firm VanEps Kunneman VanDoorne is getting ready for its opening with the addition of two more lawyers: Norbert Hijmans and Marieke Quist.

This expansion follows attorney at law Peter van Dort's arrival earlier this year. In addition, several attorneys fly in from the firm's offices in Curaçao, Bonaire and Aruba on a frequent basis. Amongst them name partners Frank Kunneman and Randolph van Eps. Also, former St. Maarten based attorney Thies Leijsen is frequently working with the new St. Maarten branch as his base. Marouschka van Axel Dongen is assisting the team locally. Moreover, many specialized lawyers are increasingly involved in advising local, regional and international companies and governmental bodies alike.

In February 2011, Norbert Hijmans moved to St. Maarten. In July he joined the Dutch Caribbean tier 1 law firm. Norbert is a very experienced and seasoned lawyer most recently with the Dutch law firm Damsté Lawyers and Notaries, where he was the head of the commercial and corporate law division. Norbert has been appointed as a trustee in many bankruptcies in the Netherlands, inter alia in the energy sector, at companies with several foreign subsidiaries, a professional soccer organization and in the textile sector. Norbert has also been involved with the vocational training of attorneys at law both in The Netherlands and on St. Maarten.

Marieke graduated at the University of Amsterdam in 2009. Marieke Quist started her career as legal advisor to the island government of the island territory of Saba in October 2009. She advised the Island Council, the Executive Council as well as the Island Governor about various legal issues in the areas of civil law and administrative law, with an emphasis on civil servant and employment law. Aside from above mentioned position, Marieke was also acting Island Secretary of the Public Entity of Saba from January 2010 until August 2011.

VanEps Kunneman VanDoorne will officially open its St. Maarten branch on the Sparrow Road 4 later this year. Before doing so, the team will be build up even more to support the full range of commercial and administrative legal services it has to offer to the St. Maarten, St. Eustatius and Saba market.

Philipsburg:--- Detective Jerry Gerardus claims he is a victim in the ongoing investigation of fraud and embezzlement that is being conducted by the St. Maarten Police Department. Gerardus in an interview with SMN News on Saturday said he was surprised when he read on SMN News that he was under investigation when he is the one who notified his superiors of his predicament with Jet Blue on July 13 2011. "I was shocked to learn that Internal Affairs is investigating me and no one informed me of it" Gerardus said.
Detective Gerardus said that he was never held by the US Border Control as was reported last week. "All that transpired happened at the check-in point, there was no police or Border Control involved in this issue. I am the one who filed a complaint when I returned to St. Maarten for embezzlement which was on July 15th 2011."
He said on July 13th, he along with his three children and sister in law approached Jet Blue Airline to check-in as they were in the USA on vacation but when he approached the agent he was informed that the family's tickets were cancelled.
The detective said that he was shocked to learn that his tickets were cancelled since his intention was to spend seven days in the United States and to return to St. Maarten. Gerardus said the Jet Blue agent told him that the person who purchased the tickets with a credit card is the one who cancelled the tickets.
The agent he said further informed him that he had to purchase new tickets to return to St. Maarten. He said at that point he informed the agent that he did not use any credit card to purchase his tickets. He further explained that his sister in law gave a lady the monies to purchase the tickets since this person told his sister in law that she has contact with Jet Blue and could obtain tickets at reduced prices. "While I was at the Airport and I was confronted with this problem I began questioning my sister in law about the person she gave the money to buy the tickets." Gerardus further explained that he then asked the ticketing agent to print out the tickets for him so that he can query it. "When I was given the tickets, I noticed that the price for each ticket was different and they were purchased with different credit cards, at that point I realize something was wrong so I asked to speak with one of the Jet Blue supervisors who made contact with Jet Blue manager on St. Maarten. I also informed Jet Blue agents that I am a detective and I will launch an investigation into the matter. At that point, Jet Blue offered me an office and they allowed me to make as many calls I wanted to clear up the matter and to obtain new tickets for me and my family to travel back to St. Maarten." Gerardus said his wife had to purchase new tickets for them to return home. "I also called the chief of Simpson Bay Police Outpost Mr. Barnabella since I could not reach Detective Krips by phone. Barnebella connected me to Krips and Denise Jacobs, I informed my superiors of the incident. I also provided all the information that was on the tickets so that they could launch an investigation to see if there was fraud going on at the Airline." Gerardus said when he returned to St. Maarten on July 15th 2011 he filed an official complaint for embezzlement with the detective department against the lady his sister in law gave the money. He further explained that he has no update on the case. Gerardus said he also does not know if anyone filed a complaint about their stolen credit card which would allow the Detective Department to investigate.
In the meantime, Chief of Police Peter De Witte confirmed that the investigation is ongoing to determine what role detective Gerardus played in the purchasing of the tickets.

Up to the first half of 2011 the execution organization USONA has approved a total of 298 funding requests. These are all Dutch cooperation funds. The funding requests represent 91% of the total available program budgets, an increase of 7% compared to the results of end of 2010. This is one of the highlights from the first half year progress report of USONA. Of the approved amount 73% has been committed in execution assignments, of which 52% has been paid.

Spread over all islands the status is currently as follows: for the program Institutional Strengthening and Execution Power (Institutionele Versterking en Bestuurskracht - IVB) 79 projects have been approved, for a total amount of 104 million guilders. For the program Education and Youngsters (Onderwijs en Jongeren) a total amount of 137 million guilders has been invested in 43 projects. The program Social Economic Initiative (Sociaal Economisch Initiatief – SEI) has invested 175 million guilders in 176 projects. As from 2008 a total of 304 million guilders has been settled for all three programs in execution agreements, and payments have been made for 159 million guilders.

The countries Sint Maarten, Curaçao and the public entities Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius have agreed with the Netherlands that the latter will grant cooperation funds up till and including December 31st, 2012. For most of the programs it is possible to reach commitments with third parties up till that date. The execution of the cooperation programs can continue up till 2014. Considering the short remaining period of time the execution shall have to take place with a speedy pace. The islands, SONA and USONA dedicate themselves in order to avoid that the funds expire at the end of the cooperation agreements. This is most urgent in the case of the social and economic SEI-projects.

As a consequence of the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles, Stichting Ontwikkeling Nederlandse Antillen has changed its name into Stichting SONA, by means of an amendment of its articles of association.

Highlights
The execution of the SEI (Social Economic Initiative) program is going satisfactorily. The SEI-program has been set up to offer the islands a good starting position in the transition to the new political structure. For Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius the SEI program is completely in execution; this means that just about all funds have been fixed in projects and the execution is developing in the right direction. Sint Maarten and Curaçao still have a few months to put the remaining funds into execution.

In the first half of 2011 USONA has again approved a few projects that are worth millions. On Sint Maarten these are the expansion of the AWZI Illidge road for 14.8 million guilders and the Round About Cole Bay phase 2 for 5,8 million guilders. On Curaçao these are the Foundation Education 2010-2012 RKCS for 6 million guilders and Foundation Education Curaçao 2011-2012 SAE for 11.6 million guilders.

Another highlight is the expectation that the European Commission and the entities of the former Netherlands Antilles will sign financial agreements in November of this year. Considering that all islands have requested SONA and its Execution Organization USONA to remain the administrator, respectively execution organization of the cooperation funds, SONA and the European Commission shall sign new delegation agreements, which will ensure that USONA shall be involved in the execution of the European Union programs, up to 2015 for sure. The 9th EDF programs are all being executed. This entails an amount of over 120 million guilders of European funds for cooperation projects. On Saba the project Under the Hill has started. This project enables infrastructure for the construction of social homes. On Sint Eustatius 28 kilometers of new water pipes are being installed in order to supply the households on the islands of potable water.

Explanation USONA
USONA is the execution organization of Stichting SONA. USONA is responsible for the administration of the development funds made available by the Netherlands and the European Union, and the own contribution of Curaçao or Sint Maarten. USONA is active on all five islands of the former Netherlands Antilles. Only the Executive Councils of Bonaire, Saba or Sint Eustatius (or their representative) or the Council of Ministers (or their representative) of Curaçao or Sint Maarten can submit a project. These projects have to fit within de cooperation programs that was agreed upon with the Netherlands: Institutional Strengthening and Execution Power (Institutionele Versterking en Bestuurskracht - IVB), Education and Youngsters (Onderwijs en Jongeren), Social Economic Initiative (Sociaal Economisch Initiatief - SEI) and Plan Security (Plan Veiligheid), or within the special contributions which (U)SONA administrates upon request of the ministry of BZK or other ministries. In its half year progress report USONA presents the state of affairs programs and projects level, covering the period of January up to and including June 2011. The progress reports can be looked up on USONA's website: www.usona.an.

Great Bay (GIS):--- Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams and Minister of Health Cornelius de Weever attended the end program of the Vision Screening Project, a pilot project that gave young students, who parents gave consent, a thorough eye exam.

The Vision Project is a project initiated by the proprietors of St. Maarten Optical, Rick and Cathy Heemskerk, who donated eye glasses to students who could not afford such at this point in time.

Today, August 5, these students came into the store with their parents or guardian to collect their new facial accessories, two weeks before school starts.

But unlike hearing problems, easier detected than vision problems, Cathy said that it is difficult to detect eye problems. At times, these students think of themselves as less intelligent.

So when kids do not know they cannot see well, a negative perception emerges due to not knowing what the problem is.

Prime Minister Wescot said that the program was invaluable to the community, especially the donation of the eye glasses. I want to thank you very much for that, Rick and Cathy. This program has a come a long way. It is important to have children checked, because you never know. Government looks forward to continuing the program.

Minister De Weever thanked the Heemskerks for their efforts and kindness. This gesture goes a long way, he said. In addition, the children have two weeks to get accustomed to wearing the spectacles, so they will be relax and comfortable with their eye glasses when school starts.

The next activity was to actually put on the glasses on child. Each child received a small "back-to-school" bag of educational goodies, from the store owners.

Philipsburg:--- The Central Committee of Parliament will be meeting with the St. Maarten Insurance Brokers Association (SIBA) on August 11 with respect to the insurance industry.

The meeting is scheduled to take place in the General Assembly Chamber in the House of Parliament on Thursday at 2:00pm.

The SIBA will be highlighting a number of issues including providing information about the current insurance sector.

"Every stakeholder has an opportunity to meet with Parliament where they can bring forth issues that can lead to the betterment of society.

"As I stated a few weeks ago, when parliament returns from recess, it is going to be a very busy time and this is the case since August 8 and will be so for the rest of the year.

"I encourage the public to tune in to Channel 20 on St. Maarten Cable TV and they will be able to see the public sessions of parliament as it takes place. All meetings of parliament are public and broadcasted live unless otherwise indicated," President of President Hon. Gracita Arrindell said on Tuesday.

Philipsburg:--- The Central Committee of Parliament will be meeting with the Minister of Justice Hon. Roland Duncan on August 12 with respect to justice matters.

The meeting is scheduled to take place in the General Assembly Chamber in the House of Parliament on Friday at 10:00am.

The Minister will brief members of parliament about the June summit held between the Ministers of Justice of the four Kingdom partners, Holland, Curacao, Aruba and St. Maarten.

"One of the points that the parliamentarians will receive information about is the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was signed by the four Kingdom partners on human trafficking.

"Another point will be the free movement of persons within the Kingdom," President of President Hon. Gracita Arrindell said on Wednesday.

Tune in to Channel 20 on St. Maarten Cable TV for live coverage of the meeting.

Philipsburg:--- President of Parliament Hon. drs. Gracita Arrindell recently received from the Vice Chairlady of the State Council of Advice (AC) Hon. Mavis Brooks-Salmon the Council's 2010 Annual Report.

Arrindell said during the meeting that a number of issues were discussed, including the difficulty in finding staff and the procedural process to submit initiative laws. Regular meetings will take place between the Vice Chair of the AC and President of Parliament.

"I believe formal as well as informal communication is very essential between the new high councils of state of the new country, especially at the infant stage of getting these institutions off the ground and up and running. There is a lot of work to be done and everyone has their role to play. Both bodies are in the process of putting personnel in place.

"The AC just as Parliament is looking to hire legal advisors and it's basically fishing in the same pond for that expertise. The AC is presently working with guidelines from the Advisory Councils of State of Curacao, Aruba and the Kingdom Council.

"Parliament has also sent its first draft initiative law change to the AC according to article 85, paragraph three of the Constitution. According to that article, Parliament presents a draft law to the AC before Parliament takes it into discussion. I was pleased to have met with Brooks-Salmon and her legal advisor," President of Parliament Hon. Gracita Arrindell said.

The 24-page report covers the first three months of the Council's operations.

The AC is an independent organ of Government which is anchored in the Constitution of St. Maarten. According to the Constitution, the task of the Advisory Council is to advise the Government and Parliament, when it presents an initiative bill, about proposals of legislation and regulation of or with regard to the country.

The AC comprises of five members including the vice-chair and five extra ordinary members.

Philipsburg:--- With a new school year comes renewed sense of responsibility which comes to the students from the teachers. I look forward that our nation's school-going youth will experience another meaningful and engaging academic school year.

No democracy, no country, sustains itself, enjoys stability and prosperity, without an educated populace. Education offers the hope of a better tomorrow. The goal of our nation's educational system is to provide excellent education for every child in every classroom.

For the new school year, everyone has a role to play. We must all work together to support our teachers and parents and together we accelerate achievement for our children.

I would like to wish all the students good luck in the new school year, and I want to thank all the teachers, volunteers and administrators who work so hard to make every school-year a success.

A quality education is the foundation that allows our children to pursue their dreams as adults as the journey continues.

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

...

Philipsburg:--- The planned Central Committee of Parliament meeting, with a representative of the Netherlands Antilles Development Bank (OBNA) for Tuesday morning, has been postponed for a later date.

The meeting with the Small Business Development Foundation (SMDF) is still scheduled as planned for 2.00pm on Tuesday in the General Assembly Chamber.

Members of the Central Committee will meet with the Executive Director of the SBDF Ludwig Quenniche to discuss the foundations current affairs and projects as well as future plans.

The meeting is public and will also be carried live by St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 20.

Fort Willem:--- Scores of police and members of the prosecutor's office were busy conducting house searches on Wednesday evening in Fort Willem. SMN News learnt that police broke into a two storey house not far away from the New Testament Baptist Church. Persons in the area said there were a number of police officers on the scene but they could not say if persons were arrested and what types of items were seized.
Sources say the raids and house searches are related to the double homicide that took place on Wednesday morning on A.T Illidge Road.
Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos confirmed that the area was sealed off and some house searches took place. Mos refused to divulge any information on the cases they are working on and what might have sparked the raid and searches in Fort Willem. Mos said he cannot jeopardize his investigation and as such has asked the media to bear with his office. He also said that his office might able to share more information on Thursday.

Cole Bay:--- Residents of Cole Bay found the body of a well known Italian young man confirmed Acting Police Spokesman Geronimo Juliet. Juliet identified the dead man as 20 year old Andrea Leporini of Italy. Juliet said the body was found in Windsor Lane, Cole Bay.

Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos said the body of the dead man has been confiscated pending an autopsy. Mos said that while there are no visible signs of injuries or a crime, the police doctor could not determine the exact cause of death. Therefore, his office felt that it is necessary for an autopsy to be conducted to determine the exact cause of death. SMN News learnt that Leporni was known to the police. Sources say not long ago Leporni was in police custody but was subsequently released.

Achieve a better understanding of your people, your products, and your business – giving you an unparalleled view of where your organization stands its strengths and future growth opportunities. Have a solid platform on which to make strategic, technical, financial and management decisions that are reliable, well grounded and commercially viable. Gain a clear picture of the telecommunications market and its future direction, with forecasts, timelines and analysis from the experts. Learn best practice leadership techniques and how they can be applied within the telecoms Industry.

What: CANTO Telecoms Caribbean Mini MBA

Where: Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino, St. Maarten

When: 19th – 23rd September, 2011

This award-winning course will ensure you and your company:

• Achieve a better understanding of your people, your products and your business.
• Have a solid platform on which to make strategic, technical, financial and management decisions.
• Gain a clear picture of the telecommunications market and its future direction.
• Ensure you are fully versed in fixed, mobile and convergent network technology.
• Learn best practice leadership techniques.
• Ensure you are fully equipped to take on new challenges.
• Gain lifetime membership to the Informa Telecoms Mini MBA Alumni Network.

The training will be led by Informa Telecoms delivery teams, comprising expert trainers who are fully accredited by Informa, highly experienced, and have built a solid picture of Industry best practice through exposure to many of the top Telco's and vendors globally; specialist presenters covering individual topic areas – all experts in their field. Unique business Simulation ensures training is relevant and keeps participants engaged throughout.

Registration closes Wednesday 14TH September, 2011.

For more information kindly contact Mrs. Teresa Wankin/ Rheyna Wijsman/ Ms. Lianne Dieffenthaller 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./This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel. 868 622 4781 Fax. 868 622 3751.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- On Thursday the quarterly ministerial conference at the political level of the United Peoples party (UP) and the Democratic Party (DP) was held in the H.L. Chance Conference Room at the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facility.

Philipsburg:--- The start of 2011 Primary & Secondary Schools Basketball Tournament will take place on Friday, 30th August 2011 starting at 3:00pm at the L. B. Scott Sports Auditorium.
All the Primary & Secondary Schools on Dutch St.Maarten and on French St.Martin have been or will be invited to be part of these games.

The schools that have been invited so far are:
Primary schools:
Martin Luther King School, Genevieve De Weever School, Sister Borgia School, St.Joseph School, Sister Marie Laurance School, Oranje School, St.Peters Hill Side School, Ruby Labega School, St.Dominic School, Sister Magda School, Prins Willem Alexander school, MAC John A Gumbs Campus, CIA, Sister Regina School, Leonard Connor School, Charles Leopold Bell School, Seventh Day Adventist School, Learning Unlimited, A.C.E School.

Secondary Schools:
St.Dominic High, Milton Peters College Team 1 & 2, ST.Maarten Aacdemy PSVE, St.Maarten Academy Academic, Sundial, St.Maarten Vocational School, Lycee De Marigot, College French Cul de Sac, College French Quarter, College Marigot.

The Double Elimination Knock Out will run from Friday, 30th September to Friday, 25th November 2011.

Games will be played on Fridays 4:00pm to 8:00pm & Saturdays 3:00pm – 7pm.
Games will be hosted at the L. B. Scott Sports auditorium and at the Melford Hazel Sports Complex.

Student / Players / Athletes can only play for the school that they are attending.
In the Primary School division a student / player should not have obtained the age of 14, only students that are 13 years and under are eligible for the games.

There will also be several females exhibition basketball games also during the school games.

Primary Schools: Ruby Labega are the defending champions and Seventh day Adventist are the Sub Champions

Secondary Schools: St.Maarten Academy (Academic) are the defending Champions and University of St.Martin are Sub-Champions.

There will be an All Stars Week-End during the games consisting of 3 Point Shoot Out, Slam Dunk Competition, All Stars games and much more.

Hope Estate:--- Teachers of the Marie Genevieve de Weever School claims they are working under severe stress and deplorable conditions since the renovation work at the school is far from complete. The teachers dispatched a number of photographs to SMN News to show the amount of sewage water still lodged at the back of the school's right wing and the deplorable condition of the school's lavatory.
They said the school reopened two weeks ago and it is un-hygienic for them and the students to be at the school while the repairs are not complete.
Efforts made to reach the contractor on Friday afternoon for an update on the renovation work proved futile. SMN News will bring you a follow up story on the school's renovation next week.

Click here to see photos of Marie Genevieve de Weever School

Philipsburg:--- The Soualiga Corporate Toastmasters Club entertained and enlightened its members, in a Masquerade setting with the theme Behind this Mask during its last meeting.
Guests attending the meeting included the newly formed Evolution Toastmasters Club of French Saint-Martin , District Secretary DTM Valerie Brazier, DTM Richelda Emmanuel and members of the Philpisburg Toastmasters Club.
Toastmasters from the various Ministries within Government namely, Chantale Groeneveldt, Joy Arnell, Emilia Thomas, Catherine Conner-Arrindell and Denise Vijber unveiled their masks and revealed their true identity with their dynamic presentations of the theme Behind this Mask.
These aforementioned Toastmasters were all evaluated on their given speeches, according to the requirements of their various assignments. Evaluations are key component in the the Toastmasters program as it helps to educate both the speaker and the audience on the art of public speaking
The Soualiga Corporate Toastmasters Club revealed the TM International new motto "WHERE LEADERS ARE MADE". This motto echoes the essence of the organization to promote the art of developing one's communication and leadership skills. The new motto is one of many changes the International organization is going through at this time, a new logo has also been unveiled.
SCTC Members and other TM's are urged to invite fellow colleagues and friends to share in the Toastmasters experience as the program is one of the best international self development program that exist. St. Maarten known as Area 6 is now home to 5 clubs.

Philipsburg:--- The Bureau Telecommunications and Post St. Maarten shall issue on consultation the draft proposal of a new tariff structure for the communications industry on St. Maarten, prior to its presentation to the Government of Sint Maarten.

This consultation round is intended to obtain observations and recommendations from participants and stakeholders within the communication industry on St. Maarten, for due incorporation.

The pertinent document shall be on consultation and may be obtained at the BTP office. The consultation period commences on August 1st 2011 and expires on September 1st 2011. Digital copies can be obtained on request.

All participants and stakeholders are encouraged to provide feedback, comments, queries and suggestions no later than September 1st 2011.

An Alzheimer's diagnosis is an enormous adjustment for both you and your loved ones. For many, the secrets to navigating this journey are learning, supporting, and loving. While there is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease, there are treatments available for the symptoms. These treatments cannot prevent Alzheimer's from progressing but if symptoms are diagnosed early enough, they can be effective in delaying the onset of more debilitating symptoms. Early diagnosis can prolong independence and is the first step towards treatment, management, and living life fully.
To find support after an Alzheimer's diagnosis for patients and loved ones, contact The St. Maarten Alzheimer's Foundation on HOTLINE 9220 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For a list of global Alzheimer's associations see: Alzheimer's Disease International
You may not know what to think if you've been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. You may be furious that you have to deal with this, scared about what the future will bring, uncertain about how your memory will change- or all of these emotions at once. These feelings are all normal.
Give yourself some time to adjust. As with any major change in life, don't expect that you will smoothly snap into this new transition. You may feel alright for a while, and then suddenly feel stressed and overwhelmed again. Take time to adjust to this new transition.
Reach out for support. Living with Alzheimer's is not easy, but there is help in this journey. The more you reach out to others and get support, the more you will be able to cope with Alzheimer's symptoms while continuing to enrich and find meaning in your life.
Make your wishes known. While it's not easy to think about, getting your finances in order and figuring out how you want your healthcare handled gives you power over your future. Talk with your family and loved ones and let them know what is important to you. Who do you trust to make decisions for you when you are no longer able to do so?
If a family member or loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, you will also be dealing with a host of emotions. You may be grieving for your loved one, especially if significant memory loss is already present. You may feel like you no longer know this person, as new behaviors and moods develop that are unlike the person you remember. You may start to become overwhelmed with the needs of your loved one, or even resentful that other family members won't help enough.
Learn as much as you can. Understanding what to expect will help you plan for care and transitions. Knowledge will help you both honor a loved one's strengths and capabilities throughout each stage, and make sure you have the strength and resources to carry on.
Don't take on the caregiving journey alone. No matter how dedicated you are, at some point you will need some help in caregiving. No one can be awake and alert 24 hours a day. You have your own health and other obligations to consider. Having support in caregiving is key, whether it be from other family, in-home help, respite care, or making the decision to move your loved one to an assisted living or nursing home.
The information in this article was found on www.helpguide.com.
In our following publication we will provide a "memory checklist".
To support the campaign please contact any member of the Rotary Club of St. Maarten, email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or The St. Maarten Alzheimer's Foundation.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The School Bus Inspection Section would like to inform school bus owners that the final inspection round will take place from Monday, August 8 to and including Wednesday, August 10 from 9.00am to 12.00pm across from the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (Yellow Building on the Pondfill).

School Bus Section Inspection Head M. Thewet told the Department of Communication (DCOMM) on Sunday that most school busses have not been given the green light to transport school children, because did they not show up for the initial inspection last month.

Thewet added that school bus owners who do not show up during the current inspection period will receive an automatic failed inspection status and will not be allowed to transport school children nor will they be compensated for the upcoming 2011-2012 school year.

The aforementioned "no show, no pass policy" was introduced in early 2010 and that policy will be enforced during the new school year.

School Bus Unit Section Head M. Thewet added that school bus owners who have challenges in getting their busses ready for transporting school children on August 15 should contact her department right away.

"The School Bus Inspection Section is responsible for inspecting all vehicles used for school transportation. A meticulous inspection is carried out to ensure the buses meet the rules and regulations governing the safe transport of school children.

"The primary goal of the school bus inspection program is to provide for the safest transportation possible for the children of Sint Maarten. The inspection program is the key component and most effective way to achieve our goal of safe transportation for school children," M. Thewet pointed out.

School bus owners can call the section at telephone number 542-4511 or 542-4509 for additional information or clarification.

The School Bus Inspection Section and Control Unit are looking forward to the public's full support for the new school year 2011/2012, and wishes all students and parents a safe and productive year.

Philipsburg:--- The leader of the National Alliance William Marlin reminded the Chairlady of Parliament Gracita Arrindell on the existing rules and regulation of Parliament about her responsibility when it comes to sending off documents or draft legislations to the Council of Advice. Marlin issued the reminder on Monday during a Central Committee meeting when they met to discuss the draft amendment of the civil code which was submitted by the National Alliance Faction on June 8th. The Chairlady of Parliament placed the draft amendment on the agenda for the Central Committee meeting even though she indicated in her opening statement that she officially sent off the draft legislation to the Council of Advice on July 25th or 26th.
Arrindell said the reason the draft amendment appeared on the Central Committee meeting was because Parliament decided on June 29th to send the draft amendment to the Central Committee meeting for discussion. Marlin said he already gave his advice on how to deal with the matter during a press briefing during the recess of parliament. Marlin again informed Arrindell that it is only when the chair sends the document to the Council of Advice then it is official. The National Alliance leader said he believes that a mistake was made with the procedure but they should strike the agenda point that appeared on Monday's meeting and move forward. Arrindell ruled that the agenda was mute since the document was already sent off to the council of advice prior to closing off the agenda point.

Philipsburg:--- The Tallahassee-St. Maarten Foundation Inc. has teamed up with Direct Music TV America & Lifestyles Magazine, PJD-2 Radio and Divi Little Bay Resort to organize the 2011 Lifestyles Magazine & Direct Music TV's Caribbean Model & Bikini Search. The casting call will be at the former Fusion Restaurant on Front Street in the building Heritage House next to Sea Palace, Saturday Aug 20th 2011, 1 PM to 4 PM for females and males between the ages 18-35.
The Music seminar will be Sunday the 21st of August from 1PM to 4 PM also at the former Fusion Restaurant, open to fashion designers, new artist, photographers, media houses, musicians, band leaders, promoters, producers and models from St. Maarten.
Come out & get to know the fashion & music industry, it can and will make a difference for your future.
If you have a passion for modeling and music, this is a great opportunity to find out more about the Fashion & entertainment industry during the model casting or music seminar, as long as you come out you will have an opportunity to meet Direct Music TV America Alexander Blaze who will be the main speaker at this event.
The winner of the Lifestyles Magazine & Direct Music TV 2011 Caribbean Model & Bikini Search will receive an all expense paid trip and hotel to Nassau, Bahamas from November 3rd to the 5th for the 2011 Islands of the World Fashion Week.
The winning Model will get a super Star Photo Shoot; gets to model in the 2011 Islands of the World Fashion Week; undergo runway training; photo shoots for Lifestyles Magazine; and gets the opportunity to meet international model agency scouts. This prize is valued at about US$ 7,000.
Last year winner of the Lifestyles Magazine & Direct Music TV Caribbean Model & Bikini Search was Lee-Ann Forbes, now crowned the 2011 Miss Trinidad & Tobago World and will represent Trinidad & Tobago at the 61st edition of the Miss World pageant, to be held 8th November, 2011 in London, England.
"This event can be looked upon as a great one for the island as it can profile the island as a destination for model casting and cultural tourism. This is a great opportunity for the destination as well as the young ladies that will vie for this chance.
"I look forward to it becoming an annual event and a contributor to the tourist economy with respect to developing this niche market," Arthur Lugisse said. During the event, discussions will be held with designers, new artist, photographers, media houses, musicians, band leaders, promoters, producers and models from Sint Maarten.
Models 18-35, if you think you have what it takes to make it in the high stress, high stakes world of modeling, call the Executive Director of the Tallahassee-St. Maarten Foundation Inc. at 587-9367 or 587-6682 for local casting details.

Philipsburg:--- On Wednesday President of Parliament Hon. drs. Gracita Arrindell met with the Executive Director of the Tallhassee-St. Maarten Foundation (TLH-SXMF) Arthur Lugisse to discuss the opportunities that exists with respect to the City of Tallahassee, Florida and St. Maarten sister-city partnership.

Arrindell was informed that the TLH-SXMF was established to bring together public and private sectors based on the partnership agreement between the City of Tallahassee, Florida and the island of St. Maarten.

The partnership entails the enhancement of local, regional and global markets into positive involvements in education, economic development, community initiatives, sports and culture, health, tourism, technology and ministry.

On September 23, 1999, the City of Tallahassee signed a sister-city agreement with the Government of St. Maarten. The main emphasis of the agreement is international economic development by means of expanding the economic basis, stimulating opportunities for inward investments and business development and enhancing exposure to today's ever-growing global economy.

"I'm impressed with the great opportunities this sister-city relationship, can provide to enhance the market and experience of St. Maarten.

"We need to pursue this relationship further and look at developing other areas which offers great opportunities for the public sector, but also the private sector.

"The major focus over the past 10-years since the partnership agreement was signed has been in education. Now is the time to explore the other areas especially since we attained the status of country and are in the process of building the various institutions of our country," President of Parliament Hon. Gracita Arrindell said on Wednesday.

Philipsburg:--- Member of Parliament George Pantophlet hopes that the prices in different establishments such as supermarkets and hardware stores are being closely monitored. It is no secret that the prices in some if not most of these businesses are dramatically increased during the hurricane season. This places an additional burden on the people of St. Maarten. It is the responsibility of the Minister of Economic Affairs, specifically the department of Economic Control to make sure that if a hurricane is imminent these prices are frozen and not allowed to be increased before or after the passage of a hurricane. What is also critical, is the list of 12 items that should be controlled in all districts on the Dutch side of the island not only in the major supermarkets. The major supermarkets that are being used do not reflect a true picture of prices everywhere. He will be sending a letter to the Minister of Economic Affairs requesting a report on these items and the areas that were controlled and when they were last published in the media. The Member of Parliament says he is looking forward to receiving the list from the Department of the 2 items which has to be presented to the different supermarkets. What must not be neglected either is the control on perishable items. These controls are important to safeguard or protect the people of St. Maarten against price gauging. The Member of Parliament also must comment on the matter of wages, minimum wage and the indexing thereof to compensate for the increase in the cost of living. Increasing the minimum wage and the indexing has to be supported by strict controls and adherence to the price list established by government in order to benefit the wage earners. On a another issue, he also said that it would be negligent on his part not to question the logic of government allowing the increase in gasoline prices to facilitate the sale of the wholesaler's current stock, which were acquired when the oil prices were higher that they are currently? If this is the case then the Department of Economic Affairs will have to present the Member of Parliament with proof of the purchase and sale of gasoline from January 2011 to present. Also what was paid for the gasoline in Trinidad and what was the final price when it arrived on the island? What the Member of Parliament is vehemently pursuing is the reducing the cost of living on the people of St. Maarten.

Philipsburg:--- Today, Friday August 12, marks International Youth Day (IYD) under the slogan "Change Our World." The focus has been placed on the role young people are playing and have played during the past eight months in overthrowing non-democratic elected governments.

This year's International Youth Day also represented the culmination of the International Year of Youth, designated by the United Nations (UN) to comprise the 12-month period between IYD-2010 and IYD-2011, and the 25th anniversary of the first International Year of Youth.

"On this day I would like to wish them much success for the future. We must work more diligently with them by providing the tools and the right framework for our young people to succeed in life.

"The new school year will be opening on Monday, August 15 and I also use this opportunity to wish them, as well as the teachers, school management and staff all the best for the 2011-2012 school year.

"Young people have very good ideas and are often the leading proponents of sustainability and green lifestyles. We need to continue to work with young people on the local level, but also regionally and internationally in expanding their horizons of opportunity and providing for their legitimate demands in various areas of their development.

"Investments in young people today will pay great dividends in a better future for our country. There is much for our young people to be proud of.

"They have the opportunity when compared to many others around the world, to go to school, study abroad, sports facilities, afterschool programs etc.

"However, there continues to be challenges, and as parliamentarians and as government, we must continue to address those challenges, but parents also have their role and responsibilities as well.

"We all need to continue to work together in providing everything that young people need in order for them to be able to continue to blossom in our community and grow together in making St. Maarten what we want it to be together," President of President Hon. Gracita Arrindell said on Friday in her message on International Youth Day.

On 17 December 1999, the UN General Assembly endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth which was held in Portugal, that 12 August be declared International Youth Day.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Nutrition related health problems in children are increasingly significant causes of disability and premature death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The problem of overweight and obesity have reached epidemic proportions globally, and both developed and developing countries are seriously affected.

In some countries, the epidemic of obesity sits alongside continuing problems of under nutrition, creating a double-burden of nutrition-related ill health among the population, including children.

The St. Maarten Health Study, "How Healthy is St. Maarten,?" indicated that on a daily basis 31 per cent of the participants don't consume breakfast; 63 per cent don't consume vegetables and 66 per cent don't consume fruits. This is an indication that this lifestyle is also practice by their descendants.

Collective Prevention Services (CPS), executing agency of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, therefore strongly recommends to parents and guardians to prepare healthy snacks for their children throughout the new school year 2011-2012 that opens on Monday, August 15. Healthy choices equal healthy children and healthy smiles!

Improving the nutritional status of school-age children is an effective investment for improving educational outcomes of school children.

Establishing healthy dietary and physical activity patterns among young people thereby promotes health and nutritional well-being and preventing obesity and various non-communicable diseases.

In making healthy foods and beverages available at home and for school, and in providing, supporting and encouraging opportunities for physical activity, parents can influence their children's behavior.

Simultaneously parents are advised to live and promote a healthy lifestyle because children's behavior is often shaped by observation and adaptation.

Here are some tips for children and adolescents: provide healthy breakfast before each school day; don't leave home without breakfast; serve healthy school snacks to children (whole-grain, vegetables, fruits); promote the intake of fruits and vegetables.

Restrict intake of energy-dense, micronutrient-poor foods (e.g. packaged snacks); restrict intake of sugars-sweetened soft drinks; ensure an opportunity for family meals; provide information and skills to make healthy food choices.

Promote regular intake of water and physical exercise and get your child involved in sport activities.

...

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Hundreds of students will start the school day and end it with a trip on the school bus on Monday, August 15 and throughout the new school year.

The School Bus Inspection Section would like to thank school bus owners and drivers for their cooperation during the first leg of the annual school bus inspection which was completed last week.

School Bus Section Inspection Head M. Thewet told the Department of Communication (DCOMM) on Sunday that she is calling on all motorists to observe the traffic rules as the new school year opens on Monday, August 15.

All school bus drivers are asked to follow the dress code while transporting school children to and from school; secondly, to also deal with un-rudely school children according to the code of conduct.

The School Bus Inspection section is also appealing to parents to speak with their children about proper behavior while being transported on a school bus to and from school.

"Safety is our main concern! Any bus driver who experiences any challenges while bussing school children, are asked to contact the school principal and the School Bus Inspection Section immediately. Everybody has to abide by the rules and regulations governing the safe transport of school children.

"We would like this new school year to be incident free. We don't want to find school children carrying potential weapons and other things in their bags which do not belong there. You go to school to learn and become productive citizens of your community.

"The Section Inspection is looking forward to the full cooperation of all stakeholders, schools, parents and motorists in order for us to have a safe bussing school year.

"Anybody who sees any unusual behavior on or with a school bus is encouraged to report this to the Inspection Section. Otherwise, have a productive new school year and safe bussing," School Bus Section Inspection Head M. Thewet said on Sunday.

Parents who would like bussing information can call the section at telephone number 542-4511 or 542-4509 for additional information or clarification.

Another school bus inspection will be carried out in six months.

During the Lions Annual "Changing of the Board" Lion Merlyn Schaminee-Miguel took over the reigns of the Lions Club fr om outgoing President Lion Lisandra Havertong. The event took place at the Saratoga Restaurant at the Simpson Bay Yacht Club.

Outgoing President Lisandra Havertong in her outgoing address thanked all the Lions for their valuable and unswerving service and gave an extensive overview of the many c om munity projects which were executed during the Lions Year 2010-2011.

She also thanked the many businesses, organizations and the public at large for their contributions and support throughout the year.

The many projects have truly given substance to her theme for the year "Empowering the Youth"

Inc om ing Lion president Merlyn Schaminee-Miguel sees her year as President as a continuation of placing the attention to the youths of St.Maarten in particular bringing the many youths lost to crime and violence back on the right track through several workshops for youths as well as parents. Getting parents and youths involved in Radio, T.V and written media ads and talk shows making their positive contribution to developing a better society.

Here theme for the year will be "BREAK THE CYCLE".

Other members installed to serve as board members are:

1st Vice Pres.: Lion Richard Boyd

2nd Vice Pres.: Lion Michael van Grieken

3rd Vice Pres.: Lion Jessica Vrolijk

Secretary: Lon Khalil Revan

Treasurer: Lion Carl Th om as

Tamer: Lion Edelmiro Jansen

Directors: Lions: Chantal Schaminee, Rafael Boasman, Richard Gibson Jr.

and Sunil Khatnani.

Membership Director: PDG Lion Wally Havertong

Philipsburg:--- Minister of Finance Honourable Hiro Shigemoto says the Council of Ministers had a very good discussion with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday. The latter has stated its willingness to working along with Government in a number of areas including improving customer service.

The disturbing crime situation was another issue discussed along with the establishment of a national crime committee. The Minister of Justice could not be present for the meeting and a separate meeting will be scheduled between the Chamber of Commerce and the Minister with respect to the fight against crime.

Revamping of the tax system and the involvement of the Chamber of Commerce in this process was discussed at length.

Minister of Finance provided an update about the tax system reform process which the Government has embarked upon in order to make sure everybody is paying their fair share, besides moving away from one system of taxes to another which would be more beneficial to the country.

The Chamber was informed that the Tax Reform Committee has met with various stakeholders seeking their input in this very important process. Some stakeholders provided input while others thought they were to receive information but were not prepared to provide input.

The Tax Reform Committee has now compiled the information received and the next stage of the process will be to review the material that has been collected.

"Once all have had the time and opportunity to assess their area of the tax review, and have come up with the proposed changes, these will be put together in a plan of approach especially outlining the implementation per phase of the national tax system for country Sint Maarten.

"It is not so that the new national tax system will be changed abruptly on a particular date. The process to come to a new national tax system is a dynamic process which involves many disciplines (stakeholders internal and external) and requires a phased approach for implementation.

"More importantly the Tax Reform Committee has informed me that whatever mix of taxes is chosen, this will be done gradually, already starting with phasing out existing taxes through adaptations leading to eventual dissolution of that particular tax or shifts in the legislation to improve upon an existing tax taking many factors (such as but not limited to the economy, socio-economic situation, government's income needs, investment climate, regional competitiveness, existing tax treaties, world financial and economic situation, etc) into consideration," the Hon. Minister of Finance Hiro Shigemoto explained on Thursday.

Minister Shigemoto says that as he receives updates from the Tax Reform Committee, this information will be shared with not only the Council of Ministers, Parliament, and the Chamber of Commerce, but with the general public as well. The main aim is transparency where this process is concerned.

A shift and/or change in fiscal legislation has to go through a lengthy process of advice from the various State High Councils and other entities such as Fiscal Affairs, Legal Affairs, Council of Ministers, Stakeholders, Council of Advice, and the Socio-Economic Council.

The Tax Reform Committee is also addressing the compliance issue by setting up a compliance team which will commence with its work by the beginning of next year.

Preparatory work for the compliance team will commence in the last quarter of 2011. It will work on ensuring that as many tax payers possible are paying their fair share into both the current and future tax system of country Sint Maarten.

The Minister of Finance also informed the Chamber of Commerce that changes to the existing turnover tax will also be looked into as this tax is not free of flaws and in its present state is not the most beneficial tax for the national economy.

Other topics discussed in the meeting with the Chamber of Commerce included the National Health Insurance system, the hospital, education, national economy, and cooperation between the North and South sides of the island.

The Chamber of Commerce is pushing for a Tri-partite committee to tackle problems which transcend our borders.

Philipsburg:--- Faction leaders represented in Parliament met with the new Dutch representative Gerard van der Wulp from the Dutch Ministry of Interior & Kingdom Relations, who is replacing Rob van Maas at the Dutch Head Representation Office in Willemstad, Curacao. Faction leaders were able to discuss exchange views on a host of issues with Wulp. The meeting took place in the House of Parliament's conference room.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The Department of Disaster Management (ODM) is advising the population of the South side of the island to monitor the progress of a Tropical Wave (TW) approaching the island chain.

On Friday afternoon the TW was located 800 miles from the islands of the Eastern Caribbean. According to the National Hurricane Center, the TW shows signs of organization and environmental conditions are expected to gradually become more conducive for development as it approaches the island chain.

The TW is expected to pass on Saturday night into Sunday.

It is still too early to say at this point in time with respect to the type of weather that could be expected if any, however ODM is advising that in case of heavy rainfall, to avoid low lying areas; look out for possible street flooding; and if the rainfall is persistent, while driving along hill sides, watch out for possible rock falls.

The ODM will closely monitor this system and the public will be duly informed if necessary.

Great Bay:--- Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, Dr. Rhoda Arrindell, Wednesday morning, paid an unscheduled visit to the Geneveve de Weever School in Hope Estate, which opened its doors to students on the same day.
The school, which has been undergoing renovation and expansion works, re-opened for the new school year, two days after the rest of the schools on the island, to allow for the contractor to clean up the premises, after this was delayed due to the heavy rains the island had been experiencing.
The Minister was taken around the classrooms by Acting Principal Suwana Moeslikan. Minister Arrindell inspected the grounds and was satisfied that lessons could be given in the classrooms.
Dr. Arrindell met with the class teachers, and spoke briefly to the students, exhorting them to make this the best year ever, and their school the best it could be. She also praised the management and staff of the school for the efforts they put into ensuring that school could reopen Wednesday morning.
The Minister had earlier visited the school on Saturday, August 13, prior to the opening of the new school year, to see for herself the progress that was being made with the expansion project.

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao:--- On August 21st staff of the U.S. Forward Operating Location (USFOL) in Curaçao donated their Sunday morning to paint the sanctuary and classroom of the local Seventh Day Adventist Church. Thirty men and women of the USFOL garnered paint brushes and rollers to put a fresh new face to the church's interior.
First Elder Lionel Diaz and church members demonstrated their appreciation by hosting a "homemade" lunch. A USFOL volunteer observed, "The volunteer effort was very rewarding, both physically and spiritually. Even though I'm of a different denomination, it was great to be helping each other in the community. Seeing the younger folks give of themselves without any expectation of payback was very rewarding to all of us, especially themselves." The U.S. FOL personnel have been long-time advocates for the local community and this was yet another outstanding effort to promote a vital relationship with the citizens of Curaçao.

Simpson Bay:--- The St. Maarten Marine Trades Association (SMMTA) is looking for 2 aspiring sailors to join the after school sailing program of the St. Maarten Yacht Club.
In mid August, The SMMTA, received a request for sponsorship from a local 10 year old boy named Keyon who wanted to continue his sailing lessons at the St. Maarten Yacht Club but was otherwise unable to do so. Young Keyon, so excited about sailing, gave the idea to the SMMTA to expand the opportunity to include 2 other local youths.
Sailing is an independent or team sport, that teaches life lessons as well. If you can sail, you can control a boat, which can take you to another destination, help you to catch a fish, or just relax as you and your boat become one with the water and wind.In order to be the lucky child that gets to join Keyon for sailing lessons this school year:

1. You must be at least 7.5 years of age, and a resident of Dutch St. Maarten.
2. You must know how to swim
3. You must be able to physically get to the lessons which are held at St. Maarten Yacht Club, located next to the Simpson Bay Bridge, in time for your lessons weekly (if not your parents will have to cover some of the cost).
4. You must write one of the two best short essays (250 words or less), about why the Lagoon is such an important part of St. Maarten.
   a. Essays must be submitted in writing, to the office of the St. Maarten Yacht Club by Friday September 2nd. Please include your full name, address, phone number, birthday and school attending, on your essay.
5. Be ready to start sailing the week of September 19th.

Winners will be announced Wednesday September 7th. For more information or questions about the contest please contact: (599) 556 3295 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
For Information about the sailing lessons contact Maaike at the St. Maarten Yacht Club at 586 0850.
If you would like to help us expand the program and sponsor additional children please contact the SMMTA at (599) 556 3295 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Philipsburg:--- The Prosecutor's Office issued a conditional dismissal to someone who used a false birth certificate to obtain a Dutch passport. While not disclosing the name of the suspect, Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos said that in March the Public Prosecutor's Office issued a conditional dismissal to a suspect from Sint Maarten for using a false foreign birth certificate to obtain a Dutch passport for her illegally adopted child. The condition under which the case was dismissed was the payment of Naf. 5,000.00 within six months and the condition that the suspect will not commit any further crime within probation time of two years.
The birth certificate stated that the suspect was the mother by birth of a child born in a neighboring Caribbean country. This information was false, because the child was born from another female inhabitant of that neighboring country.
When the baby was born, the suspect asked the mother of the baby and a local physician to help her illegally adopt the child. By doing so, she not only altered the origin of the child, which in itself is a criminal offense, but she also deprived the foreign government and the government of the former Netherlands Antilles of the ability to properly investigate whether the adoption was in the best interest of the child.
Furthermore, the suspect misled the Government of Sint Maarten in order to obtain a Dutch passport for her child. It was this crime, an application on false grounds, together with the possession of the false foreign papers that was held against the suspect in this case. The suspect confessed to both crimes, Mos said.
Since the illegal adoption happened many years ago, the Prosecutor's Office chose not to prosecute the suspect in court but offered her a conditional dismissal. A public court hearing would most certainly not be in the interest of the child involved.
This month the suspect paid the full amount of Naf. 5,000.00. The case is now closed.
The Chief Prosecutor said in future cases of a similar kind in which only a short time has passed since the illegal adoption, the Prosecutor's Office will aim for a prosecution in a public court session. Suspects will have to reckon with prison sentences and equally high fines. Furthermore, a conviction could affect the civil status of the child involved.

Recently the Nature Foundation has been receiving reports that individuals are trophy hunting the resident shark population within the Man of War Shoal Marine Park and subsequently killing them. Sharks have a very high value to the ecology of the island and the island coral reef ecosystem, and they also are a major attraction to visiting dive tourists. The majority of divers who visit the island hope to see a shark while diving. Aside from the above mentioned items the Nature Foundation as well as local dive operators are using sharks as a control method for the present lionfish invasion. Over the last weeks less and less sharks are being seen, and those that are being seen show disturbing signs of considerable fishing damage. One individual was seen with the left side of its face torn away leaving its eye-socket exposed. Another individual was seen with its jaw broken open being unable to feed. Populations have been going from approximately twenty individuals to now only two or three being seen in the locations where they are known to frequent.

Sharks are an apex predator and are essential to the health of local coral reefs. "If we do not have sharks we will loose our coral reef ecosystem. Sharks keep the reefs clean of unhealthy fish which keeps the ecosystem in balance. Also the majority of visiting divers come to see local coral reefs as well as sharks. A system collapse will occur if we loose these species and this very important tourism product will be lost" commented Nature Foundation Marine Park Manager Tadzio Bervoets.

"We have also been trying very hard to develop a way in which we introduce predatory species, particularly sharks, to Lionfish as a prey item in the hopes of controlling the infestation. We have been catching specimens and presenting them to sharks to increase the learning curve of them recognizing lionfish as a prey item. With the loss of this very important species the lionfish problem will only get worse" continued Bervoets.

The Nature Foundation has investigated the incidents and have found that they are not being caught by local traditional fishermen; rather they are being caught by sport fishermen who use expensive fishing gear and high powered boats. These individuals deliberately chum the water to catch and kill the animals, particularly at night. Many reports have been coming into the Nature Foundation office of persons witnessing the killing of sharks, again particularly at night. Local fishermen are also complaining about these incidents as the sharks are caught and left for dead. Divers have had to on many occasion remove hooks and lines attached to the sharks. Many sharks are not able to feed due to the damage caused by these irresponsible fishermen. There has also been evidence of baby sharks being fished after they have just been born.

It is illegal to fish any sharks and rays within the Man of War Shoal Marine Park. If individuals are found to be fishing for the species there will be severe consequences for them. The presence of sharks are vital to the economy of St. Maarten. Sharks are a major attraction to the island and if current trends continue the island will loose this vital tourism product and important revenue will be lost, not to mention the collapse of the coral reef ecosystem so important for diving and snorkelling but also for coastal protection and beach replenishment. The Nature Foundation will now initiate patrols carried out at night in order to combat the illegal fishing of sharks.

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao:--- The Dutch Caribbean Securities Exchange (DCSX) is pleased to announce that Scotiabank, affiliate of Maduro & Curiel's Bank ("MCB"), has listed five of its Cayman Islands domiciled mutual funds on the DCSX as of September 1st, 2011.
Scotiabank has a successful history growing its various mutual fund businesses around the world and looks forward to growing its presence in the Dutch Caribbean via its continued relationship with MCB in its role as Listing Advisor and official Trader on the DCSX. The five Scotiabank mutual funds being listed include the Scotiabank Money Market Fund, Scotiabank US Dollar Bond Fund, Scotiabank Global Growth Fund, Scotiabank US Growth Fund and the Scotiabank Canadian Growth Fund. These funds provide investors with a broad range of investment choices across the three main asset classes, cash, fixed income, and growth, to help them build an investment solution that best meets their needs. MCB through its Private Banking & Investment Services Department (PBIS) will gladly facilitate local as well as international clients with their investments in these Scotiabank Mutual Funds. For more information on the Scotiabank Mutual Funds, please contact MCB's PBIS department at tel.: 599 9 466 1818 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit us at www.scotiabank.com/ky/mutualfunds.

Philipsburg:--- President of the Central Bank Emsley Tromp and his advisors presented the 2010 annual report of the Central Bank for Curacao and St. Maarten to the Governor of St. Maarten, the Council of Ministers and the media. Tromp said St. Maarten must make every effort to diversify its tourism economy since tourism is the island’s main source of income.

Below is the president’s report on the 2010 report:

The world economy continued to recover in 2010 from the severe recession caused by the international financial crisis, but the pace of recovery was uneven. While the emerging and developing economies registered robust growth, the pace of expansion in the advanced economies was fairly modest as a result of private balance sheet adjustments and weak labor market developments. The economic recovery in the Netherlands Antilles also was subdued. After a contraction of 0.5% in 2009, the economy of the Netherlands Antilles expanded by a mere 0.1% in 2010. The economic expansion in 2010 was attributable mainly to increased government spending. Government consumption rose, owing mostly to increased outlays on goods & services related to the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles. Meanwhile, government investments increased, reflecting the implementation of the Social Economic Initiative (SEI) program. In contrast, private demand shrank as a result of lower investments in 2010 than in 2009. This contraction in private demand was mitigated by increased consumer spending. The economic expansion was dampened by a decline in net foreign demand, as imports of goods and services rose while exports dropped. Over the course of 2010, higher international oil and food prices led to increasing inflationary pressures. As a consequence, inflation in the Netherlands Antilles rose from 1.6% in 2009 to 2.8% in 2010.

A review by sector reveals that output dropped in most industries, but the contraction was most pronounced in the manufacturing sector. The contraction in the manufacturing sector was due mainly to a decline in value added by the Isla refinery as a result of the prolonged shutdown of the refinery between March and December 2010. The construction sector also registered negative results. After the completion of several major projects in 2009, including the expansion of the harbor in Sint Maarten, no major investment projects were reported on the islands in 2010.

Output in the wholesale and retail sector dropped, although at a slower pace than in 2009. An analysis by island reveals that Sint Maarten in particular registered a decline in wholesale and retail activities. In addition, activities in the free zone in Curaçao contracted, reflecting a decline in the number of free-zone visits.

Economic growth also was dampened by the transport, storage, and communication sector, owing to, among other things, poor results in the harbors. In 2010, the number of ships and cargo handled in the harbors declined. In addition, both oil transshipment and oil storage activities contracted. Meanwhile, air transportation activities dropped because domestic airlines transported fewer passengers. The contraction in the transport, storage, and communication sector was mitigated by increased airport-related activities, attributable to a growth in total passenger traffic in Sint Maarten and Bonaire. Moreover, output rose in the telecommunication sector.

Activities in the restaurants and hotels sector contracted also. However, the contraction in 2010 was less pronounced than in 2009. The poor results in the restaurants and hotels sector were ascribable to a decline in stay-over tourism in Curaçao. The decline was caused by a drop in the number of stay-over tourists from South America, in particular Venezuela, but the decline was mitigated in part by a growth in the North American and European markets. In Sint Maarten, stay-over tourism expanded, owing to increased visitor numbers from Europe and South America. In contrast, the number of visitors from North America and the Caribbean decreased. Meanwhile, stay-over tourism in Bonaire performed well as a result of more visitors from Europe and the Caribbean. Cruise tourism in general expanded in 2010 compared to 2009 driven primarily by an impressive growth in Sint Maarten.

In contrast to most of the other sectors, real value added in the financial services sector rose, as a result of an increase in both domestic and international financial services. Growth in the domestic financial services sector was the result of increased net income of the domestic commercial banks. Meanwhile, the expansion in the international financial services industry reflected higher wages & salaries and other operational expenses.

The constitutional reforms within the Dutch Kingdom dominated the public sector developments throughout 2010. As of October 10, 2010, the Netherlands Antilles ceased to exist, and Curaçao and Sint Maarten became autonomous countries within the Dutch Kingdom. Meanwhile, Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius became special municipalities of the Netherlands. As part of the process of dismantling the Netherlands Antilles, the Dutch government financed development projects on the islands under the Social Economic Initiative (SEI) and provided debt relief to the governments of the Netherlands Antilles. The debt relief program was started in 2009 with the governments of the Netherlands Antilles receiving grants from the Netherlands for debt servicing and the payment of arrears. Meanwhile, on October 10, 2010, the Dutch state assumed the legal ownership of all outstanding securities of the Netherlands Antilles. Consequently, the debt-to-GDP ratio of the Netherlands Antilles dropped significantly from 74.0% at the end of 2009 to an estimated 32.3% in October 2010.

The general government recorded a cash surplus of NAf.772.7 million in 2010, a slight improvement compared to 2009. This improvement was the result of increased revenues, mitigated by higher expenditures. Government revenues rose, associated mainly with the transfer of withholding tax grants by the Netherlands related to the BRK agreement combined with the debt relief grants received in 2010. In contrast, tax revenues dropped because of a decline in tax receipts from goods and services, partly offset by increased revenues from taxes on income and profits. Moreover, nontax revenues contracted owing largely to fewer dividend payouts received by the government of Curacao from public enterprises. The growth in expenditures was driven by increased spending on wages & salaries and goods & services, partially moderated by lower transfers and interest payments. Transfers dropped because of fewer disbursements to the island governments and other government institutions since the dismantling of the central government. Meanwhile, interest payments shrank as a result of the debt takeover by the Netherlands in October 2010.

Similar to 2009, the balance of payments recorded a surplus in 2010, reflected by a further increase in net international reserves. However, the net international reserves grew at a slower pace than in the previous year. The surplus on the balance of payments was related to strong capital inflows, offsetting the current account deficit. The average import coverage rose to 4.3 months because the growth in official reserves outpaced the increase in merchandise imports.

The deficit on the current account widened significantly in 2010 compared to 2009, due mainly to a decrease in net current transfers received from abroad combined with a decline in net foreign demand. Net current transfers decreased considerably as the Dutch government transferred fewer funds for the repayment of matured securities that were issued by the governments of Curaçao and the Netherlands Antilles in 2010 compared to 2009. These transfers were part of the implementation of the debt relief program. Meanwhile, net foreign demand contracted as imports of goods and services rose and exports fell. The increase in imports can be ascribed largely to a surge in international fuel prices. Furthermore, increased domestic consumption contributed to higher merchandise imports by the free-zone companies. Exports dropped, led by a decline in the fee received for refining operations in Curaçao because of the prolonged shutdown of the refinery in 2010. In addition, re-exports by the free-zone companies declined, particularly to Venezuela. The export contraction was mitigated by increased foreign exchange earnings from bunkering activities reflecting higher international oil prices. In addition, foreign exchange receipts from the tourism sector rose. Net income received from abroad increased as interest and dividend payments to abroad shrank, while income earned on foreign investments rose.

The higher current account deficit was financed mainly by direct investments and loans and credits from abroad. Net direct investments expanded primarily because of an increase in the liabilities of domestic companies with their foreign affiliates and more real estate purchased by nonresidents. The loans and credits balance worsened due mainly to a transfer from the Netherlands of taxes on dividends paid by Dutch companies to their parent companies in the Netherlands Antilles, related to transactions in previous years. Also, the repatriation of foreign assets by financial corporations, the withdrawal of funds abroad by domestic companies, and increased net trade credits received on imports contributed to the growth in loans and credits from abroad. Meanwhile, capital transfers received from abroad increased significantly as the Dutch government assumed the legal ownership of all outstanding securities of the former Netherlands Antilles on October 10, 2010. This change in ownership also explains the considerable expansion in net portfolio investments abroad, as the creditors of the former Netherlands Antilles now have a claim on the Dutch government.

The monetary aggregates contracted in 2010 due to a decline in net domestic assets. The latter decline can be ascribed largely to a drop in net credit extended to both the central government and the island governments, reflecting the implementation of the debt relief program. Net credit to the private sector also shrank, driven by the redistribution of assets and liabilities of the banks following the constitutional changes. In contrast, net foreign assets increased as a result of the balance of payments surplus, the take-over by the Dutch government of the remaining outstanding debt securities of the Netherlands Antilles on October 10, 2010, and the revaluation of the gold stock.

Similar to 2009, the Bank relaxed its monetary policy further in 2010 motivated by the solid import coverage and the moderate growth in credit extension to the private sector. As a consequence, the reserve requirement percentage was reduced each month by 25 basis points to reach 7.75% as of October 2010. Moreover, during the biweekly auctions of certificates of deposit (CDs), the Bank focused solely on the refinancing of maturing CDs. Meanwhile, the pledging rate, which is the Bank’s official lending rate, was kept unchanged at 1.00%.

Policy considerations

Curaçao and Sint Maarten have been facing several challenges as autonomous countries in the Dutch Kingdom. Among other things, the governments of both countries have had to deal with new tasks and responsibilities, and create a new administrative apparatus while complying with the budget and interest burden rules agreed upon under the debt relief program. At the same time, both countries have had to face a turbulent international environment, stemming from, among other things, sharp movements in oil and food prices. These events served once more to drive home the fact that as small and open economies, we remain susceptible to changes in the world economy. An important lesson that can be drawn is that the new constitutional status alone is not a solution for all our institutional and economic challenges.

An important benefit of the process of constitutional changes, and in particular, the debt relief program, has been a fresh start with sound public finances. For many years, our fiscal deficits and high public debt burden constrained our economic growth. Today, as most countries, including the Caribbean countries, struggle with high public debt levels that hamper economic growth, our debt-to-GDP ratio is sound according to international standards. This is a great advantage compared to our Caribbean neighbors.

Nevertheless, our growth prospects for 2011 are poor. According to the Bank’s latest projection, the Curaçao economy will most likely contract by 0.7% in 2011. In a more optimistic scenario, the economy will expand slightly by 0.1%. However, in a pessimistic scenario, the economy will contract by 1.5%. Meanwhile, Sint Maarten will show no growth this year and might contract by 0.5% in a more pessimistic scenario.

On the other hand, the IMF projects that the Caribbean region will expand by 2.0% in 2011 following a 0.2% contraction in 2010. Apparently, despite having higher public debt levels than ours, most countries in the Caribbean are recovering at a faster pace than we are. In other words, Curaçao and Sint Maarten are lagging behind in the region.

To catch up with the region, we need to conduct policies that foster rapid and sustainable growth. Evidence suggests that well-targeted private investment is crucial for sustained growth. For example, to reach a 2% GDP growth in 2011, similar to the Caribbean average, private investments in Curacao would need to rise by 17%, all other things being equal. In the case of Sint Maarten, an expansion in private investments by 34% would be needed to achieve a real GDP growth of 2%. It does not appear that we will reach these levels of private investment growth in 2011 or beyond.

For private investments to grow at a faster pace, we must improve our investment climate. The Bank has emphasized on many occasions that macroeconomic stability, efficiently functioning markets, and low administrative barriers are fundamental elements for an investment climate that fosters private investments and, hence, economic growth. By addressing these areas, Curaçao and Sint Maarten will become more competitive vis-à-vis the region. Unfortunately, in several of these areas we are moving in the opposite direction.

Policy inconsistencies and uncertainties weaken investors’ confidence. The government of Curaçao and the government of Sint Maarten should provide more clarity and decisiveness about their policy agendas. For example, more clarity must be provided concerning the future tax system. Undoubtedly, both countries have to reform their system of taxation to ensure sound public finances. A central objective of the tax reform in both countries is to create an adequate revenue base to finance government spending. At the same time, the reform of the tax system should promote economic growth. Consequently, the tax rates, in particular the rates of direct taxes, must be lowered to reduce economic distortions created by the tax system. Lower rates also would improve our competitiveness vis-à-vis other countries, in particular those in the Caribbean region. Moreover, the tax system should be simple, more transparent, and more customer friendly, making it easier to administer and improving tax compliance.

In the case of Sint Maarten, reform of the tax system and improvement of tax collection are imperative to increase the government’s revenue base. Such a higher revenue base is necessary to adequately fund the new responsibilities and tasks that came with the country status. In Curaçao, the tax system needs to be reformed to make it more conducive to economic growth. Although reform of the tax system was announced by both countries, its implementation has encountered delays. Moreover, the composition of the final tax package in the reform is still unclear.

Market confidence and, hence, private sector investment also are encouraged when the government applies the rules of good public and corporate governance. Recent experiences in Curaçao underscore the importance of adherence to these principles by the government, in particular when it concerns the state-owned enterprises. In Curaçao, state-owned enterprises are prevalent in several key sectors. Sound governance of these companies is critical to ensure their positive contribution to Curaçao’s overall economic performance and competitiveness. As a consequence, the government should act as an informed and active owner and establish a clear and consistent ownership policy ensuring that the governance of the state-owned enterprises is carried out in a transparent and accountable way, with the necessary degree of professionalism and effectiveness. At the same time, however, the government should not be involved in the day-to-day management of these enterprises and should allow their executive and supervisory boards to execute their responsibilities independently and without interference. The supervisory boards of these enterprises should have the necessary authority, competencies, and objectivity to carry out their function of strategic guidance and monitoring of the management. At the same time, the state-owned enterprises should recognize the rights of all shareholders, treat them equitably, and provide equal access to corporate information. And, state-owned enterprises should be transparent towards the shareholders and the public in general.

Over the medium term, oil and food prices are expected to remain high and volatile on the international markets. Since Curaçao and Sint Maarten are very import dependent, higher prices on the international markets will worsen our net exports. Therefore, it is very important that both countries improve their export performance to mitigate, albeit only in part, a further worsening of net exports, which dampens economic growth. Although tourism has a high import content, it is still a very important pillar for both economies in terms of exports. Both countries need to further develop and diversify the tourism industry by tapping new markets such as the emerging economies in South America, along with the traditional US and European markets. In addition, we need to further develop and diversify our tourism product towards niche markets such as cultural, conference, and medical tourism. Furthermore, skill deficiencies in the tourism industry need to be addressed to employ local workers whenever possible. We also need to strengthen the international financial services industry, which traditionally has been an important pillar of the Curaçao economy and is a potential pillar of the Sint Maarten economy in terms of exports and high-skilled job creation. In light of the upcoming Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) evaluation, it is important for us to be in compliance with the internationally accepted best practices.

The unstable international climate also poses challenges for the monetary union between Curaçao and Sint Maarten. Although the authorities of both countries have announced their intentions to create their own central bank, we still have to deal with the current reality of the union and, hence, the efforts necessary to defend the stability of the common currency. Policy coordination remains a necessary condition to achieve the objectives of the monetary union. Prominent among them is the stability of the guilder. Given the uncertain global macro-economic environment, the authorities have to remain vigilant to pursue their domestic policies without jeopardizing currency stability. Given the anemic performance of the economies of Curaçao and Sint Maarten, changes in the economies of our main trading partners may have a disproportionate impact on our own economies. The fact that the fiscal situation is in order is not a reflection of the policies pursued but rather the result of the debt relief program. The authorities should therefore use this unique opportunity to further strengthen the resiliency of the economy to future crises.

The consistent and timely implementation of the necessary policy measures will result in higher and sustainable economic growth. At the same time, we need to focus on reaching consensus through reconciliation of different views and opinions. After all, policy initiatives will always be more successful when they are broadly accepted in our society. Now that unemployment, particularly among the youth, is a major issue and concern is growing about the recent increase in crime and violence, we need to take the right actions in a timely and consistent way to reach sustainable economic growth levels that can lead to prosperity and well-being of all citizens of the new countries Curaçao and Sint Maarten.


Click here to view the 2010 Central Bank Annual Report

Philipsburg:--- The police department is calling on members of the public to assist them with identifying the Asian man whose body was found on Maho beach on Sunday morning.
Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson is calling on persons who might know of someone that is missing to contact police. "Relatives and friends whose relative is missing should contact the police to identify the victim."
Henson said persons who were on the beach on Sunday morning saw the body floating towards Maho reef and they removed him from the water. The Police Spokesman said police managed to recover the man's clothing in the vicinity of Sunset Beach Bar but there was no identification card in the clothing that would lead police to his identity. Henson said it appeared as though the victim was partying or having a good time and at some point went to swim and encountered difficulties. The victim he said is about 25 to 30 years old, slim, had short black hair and of Asian/Oriental decent. He is about 5 feet, 9 inches tall. Person who may know of someone that is missing or the victim should contact the police at 54-22222.

ANGUILLA:--- A book signing for Because of Prayer by visiting writer Felecita T. Williams, will be hosted by Coral Reef Bookstore at Little Harbour on Saturday, September 3, 2011, according to Dawn P. Reid, the bookstore owner.
The St. Martin author will sign her real-life story book for customers and guests, from 10 AM to 4 PM, and plans to read selections from the autobiography in the afternoon.
"I'm inviting all my friends, writers, aspiring writers, and generally the people of Anguilla, and of course weekend visitors to the island, to stop in at Coral Reef Bookstore throughout the day for a nice, inspiring time," said Felecita.
The book traces the life of Felecita as happy, playful child that is suddenly turned upside-down when it is discovered that her kidneys are "not working." Her parents are told that she will not survive. A minister appears at her hospital bed to say a final prayer. How did it all turn around? Felecita writes about tremendous pain, family sacrifice and love, and the enduring faith of her life, according to her publisher House of Nehesi.

Airport:--- Parents, grandparents, friends, girlfriends and boyfriends gathered at the departure hall of Princess Juliana International Airport on Sunday morning to say goodbye to their children and love ones all of whom left to pursue higher education in the Netherlands. Several parents as well as the students cried openly as they were about to board KLM flight 785 to Curacao then to the Netherlands.
A young lady whose boyfriend was leaving on Sunday captured the crowd's attention when she began crying and holding on to her boyfriend that was leaving. Several members of her family and young man's family pleaded with her to stop the commotion since she would be able remain in close contact with him through today's technology.
Accompanying the students to the Netherlands on Sunday was Minister of Education Rhoda Arrindell who is on her first official visit to the Netherlands and Calvin Mardenborough from the Ministry of Education.

Click here to see photos of the students that left to the Netherlands on Sunday.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname:--- Management and Board Members of the Bureau Telecommunications and Post St. Maarten attended the 27th annual Conference & Trade Exhibition of the Caribbean Union of Telecommunications Organizations (CANTO) last month.

The annual conference was held in Suriname and hosted by Telesur, the largest Telecommunications Service provider in Suriname. This year theme was "Shaping the Future of Information & Communication".

Over 500 delegates, mainly from the Caribbean region, USA and Canada, visited the 4-day event to attend the intensive forums, round the table conferences, minister meetings, business meetings, workshops, presentations and networking diners. Main topics during the conference were: Mobile broadband, Marketing, Communication, Disaster Recovery, Telecom Regulation, 4G, Net neutrality and Regional ICT development.

Key note speaker at the official opening of the 27th CANTO annual Conference & Trade Exhibition was the Honorable Dr. Hamadoun Touré, Secretary General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies. Dr. Toure elaborated on Telecommunication Development in the Caribbean and praised CANTO for its vision and leadership on ICT in the region.

CANTO was established in 1984 to facilitate the development of ICT solutions for the benefit of members and other stakeholders in the Caribbean region. Since the establishment, annual meetings and conferences have been organized whereby government officials, regulators, operators, vendors and ICT-professionals exchange views, experiences, share knowledge and collaborate on ICT development for the Caribbean region.

Interim director of Bureau Telecommunications and Post St. Maarten, Ms. Peggy-Ann Brandon summarized CANTO'S 27th annual Conference & Trade Exhibition as: "Yet another well put together conference by CANTO, through which its members were forced to engage, share, collaborate and seek joint solutions and development means in support of the further and continuous development of ICT; aimed to promote proper socio-economic development".

Philipsburg:--- Starting Thursday August 4, 2011 The Law in Focus will broadcast a three part series on Tax Laws in conversation with Mr. Roland Richardson, Head of tax Inspectorate on Sint Maarten.
General issues that every citizen should know about are shared in a very understandable manner. Everybody living on Sint Maarten is obligated to pay tax to contribute towards the services rendered by government to the citizens. It is an obligation we have towards each other to do our part.
"The Law in Focus" is an informative and educational program for the entire family, aired every Thursday night from 9:30 – 10:00pm on Sint Maarten T.V., Channel 15, with rebroadcasts on the Wednesdays following from 6:00 - 6:30pm, on Sundays from 4:00-4:30 pm on Radio Soualiga 99.9 FM, on Mondays on Cable TV Saba and Tuesdays on Cable TV Statia from 7:00 – 7:30 p.m. The program is aired on Statia radio on Tuesdays at 12:30 noon with a repeat on Sundays at 6:00 pm, and on Channel 9, MSR Cable TV on French Saint Martin. The public is encouraged to send questions on legal issues to email: lawinfocus@ burofocus.com or fax # 5473754.

Philipsburg:--- Kayode Pantophlet, a young student who hails from St. Maarten and has made remarkable strides in both his educational pursuits and sports career was the most recent recipient of a sponsorship from NAGICO towards the purchasing of a Cricket Kit.

According to his proud father; Romeo Pantophlet, Kayode who recently graduated from the University of the West Indies with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and Economics was selected by the St. Catherine's Cricket Club in Barbados as a result of his previous accomplishments in cricket. Kayode's sports resume includes: Leading wicket taker for UWI in the Barbados 1st Division Cup, Barbados U-15 Cricket Team member, Bronze Medalist at Javelin in CARIFTA Games.

Given his impressive resume and continuous progress, NAGICO has agreed to sponsor the young cricketer to purchase the cricket kit he needs for the upcoming cricket season. "We are happy to make this contribution, to Kayode," a statement from NAGICO said. "When you see a young person who finds their passion and goes after it with everything they've got with the drive to be successful, we have to throw our support behind them, because that is what NAGICO is all about."

Romeo accepted the cheque on behalf of his son and extended their gratitude to NAGICO. "On behalf of my son I would really like to say thanks to NAGICO for assisting him with getting the kit he needs to compete in the games, we really do appreciate it."

Philipsburg:--- With the conclusion of Summer Speaks 2011 recently behind them, the organizer and poets of this event, is taking the opportunity to thank the community for its support.
Lysanne Charles, founder and organizer of the annual Summer Speaks event, said that this year's series of nights (Wednesdays, July 13, 20 and 27) had been executed without a hitch and that she was extremely proud of the efforts the poets had put into their performances.
"This was the third year that we held Summer Speaks and I don't feel I'm exaggerating when I say that this was the best one yet. Everyone illustrated that we are growing, both as writers and as performers; that we are pushing each other and really inspiring each other to give it our all. Seeing and experiencing that was really beautiful," Charles said.
Charles said that much of the inspiration and support for the event came from Clara Reyes, the founder and director of Imbali Center for Creative Movement, who had provided encouragement from initial run in 2009.
"Clara's reaction to an idea is usually, immediately, 'Let's do it' and that is how it was with Summer Speaks. I threw it out as an idea to work on over time and within a few months we were doing it. So I'm really thankful to her for always encouraging me to step up make things happen instead of hiding behind excuses and procrastination. Her wisdom and support of local arts and artists is amazing," Charles said.
Charles said that this year's event would not have been possible had a suitable venue not been found and thanked Norman and Su Wathey and the staff of Taloula Mango for providing the much needed space.
"Every year I try to find a different restaurant to partner with, always keeping in mind the mood that I want to set for the poets and for the audiences. Thus far we have worked with Top Carrot and the former Crazy Thyme in Simpson Bay, Sheika's Bistro in Philipsburg and now Taloula Mango on the Boardwalk and in every case the support was beautiful. So I want to thank all of those businesses for helping us on this journey, with a special thanks to Norman and Su for their generosity and support this year," Charles said.
Charles also wanted to thank the members of the community who attended one, two or all three of the nights. She explained that the proceeds collected, after paying for event related expenses like tickets, snacks, etc, would be used to create a foundation which would aim to bring the series to an even higher level and also take spoken word into the high schools in the upcoming year.
"I have to say that community support was terrific this year. Each night we had a strong, supportive audience and that really inspired the poets and they were appreciative of that. So I want to take this opportunity, on their behalf, to thank all of those who came out and supported us. More of their work will be on highlighted during the Winter's Words later in the year and their efforts will be instrumental in developing a new generation of young St. Maarten poet when we launch Soualigan Fyah within short," Charles said.
Finally Charles said she wanted to thank all of the poets and artists who had shown up and made the event a success. She extended deep appreciation to Peter 'Jack Stone' Lake, Giovanni 'Gino' Olivacce, Lenworth Wilson, Jurnice Richardson, Lucinda 'La Rich' Audain, Roberto Arrindell, Anderson Percival, Lorenzo 'Sigma' Gomez, Marianne Tefft, and Stephan 'Stretch' Rodney. She also thanked Morenika Arrrindell and Lena Browne for their performances on night one, 'GC' for their set on night two and House Appliances for bringing down the house on the final night.
"Without the collaborative effort of the poets, the performers, the supporters and the like, this event would not have been successful, but at day's end it was and so I have to be extremely thankful for that. We accomplished what we set out to do, which is raise money towards establishing the foundation and for that we are thankful. So from the poets and organizer to you, Thank you St. Maarten," Charles said.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season has already seen five storm systems form since the start of the season on June 1, a little over two months ago.

With four months still to go, residents should see an increase in the formation of tropical wave and tropical depression systems which can later develop into a tropical storm.

Tropical Storm Emily was the last storm of the season which has been trying to regenerate off the coast of Florida after is passed thru the East Caribbean island chain early last week.

The U.S. National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) last week has also updated its outlook raising the number of expected named storms from its pre-season outlook issued in May. Forecasters also increased their confidence that 2011 will be an active Atlantic hurricane season.

The number of named storms has increased from 12-18 in May to 14-19 and the expected number of hurricanes has increased from 6-10 in May to 7-10 and of those 3-5 could be major hurricanes of Category 3, 4 or 5.

This is one reason why the community should not become complacent, according to the Office of Disaster Management (ODM).

The ODM is calling on the community to make sure everybody has everything in place and are storm ready. Everybody must take the required actions to minimize the risk of injury and damage to property in case there is a hurricane strike, and the time to act is now if you haven't already.

Being prepared is essential prior to a hurricane strike. Businesses and government must survive and recover from a disaster as quick as possible which would ensure that the economy can be up and running and our way of life returns to a semblance of normality.

Residents, business owners and contractors have been already advised from the beginning of the season to draft plans that would protect their families, business operations and construction sites.

When a hurricane threatens our island, what is left for residents, businesses and contractors to do to prepare should be minimal. Remember, it only takes one.

The hurricane season runs through November 30.

Philipsburg:--- Two members of the Disaster Management Team namely Chief of the Fire Department Winston Solomon and Paul Martens made a presentation on the island's preparedness in case of an emergency to the Members of Parliament. The presentation to the Members of Parliament was done through power point.
Solomon in his opening statements said that prior to 1995 and when hurricane Luis hit St. Maarten there was no structure in place to handle any forms of disaster. Solomon said 1995 is a year that he likes to remember since it was after that experience ODM managed to have their disaster plan approved. In this plan, the head of the ODM said there are responsibilities for different organizations, all of whom are responsible for certain areas. He made clear that disaster management is a team effort and the plan that is currently used has been tested each year since its implementation. Solomon said St. Maarten is prepared to take action in the event of an emergency but he also clarified that no country in the world is 100% prepared for disasters and St. Maarten is not different from other countries. He also indicated that the island is ahead of several other islands but Disaster Preparedness is an ongoing effort. St. Maarten is better equipped since 1995 but there is still a lot more that has to be done. The Fire Chief said that St. Maarten does not have all the required tools but they have enough to react in the event of a disaster. Solomon also indicated that the ODM will be sending their requirements to Parliament so that the necessary legislation can be put in place.
Paul Marten delivered the Power Point on the structure of Disaster Management. Several of the Parliamentarians posed questions on the level of the island's preparedness and on the level of cooperation between the French and Dutch side. Martens and Solomon explained that the two sides Fire Departments do have a close working relationship since they have a signed agreement. However, the Dutch side ODM is having some problems with the state representatives who are in charge of disasters. The ODM said the reason is because the French side changes its representatives every two years.

ST. MAARTEN:--- On Wednesday, August 10th, Porto Cupecoy's Summer Concert Series will host its finale concert with an incredible group, Orange Grove, as part of their three-week Caribbean tour!

The Summer Concert Series will finish up on a high note, saving the biggest and best for last! Orange Grove may have gotten their start in St. Maarten 10 years ago, but their positive feel-good vibe has earned them a large following around the globe. They are excited to be back in the Caribbean and gearing up for what will truly be an unforgettable show!

Remember, admission to this phenomenal concert is FREE and the restaurants and shops at Porto Cupecoy have special offerings for concert guests. Porto Cupecoy Marina offers free dockage for event guests that call in advance - 599 545 3300. The Summer Concert Series is sponsored by Porto Cupecoy, La Samanna, and Orient-Express. Visit the Arts in the Plaza Facebook page for event schedule and details.

Philipsburg:--- The Police Department is seeking the public's assistance in locating the owner of a German Shepherd dog they found wandering in Dutch Quarter on August 7th 2011. A press release from Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson states that the animal was found on Christiansted Drive Dutch Quarter when a home owner called for assistance since the animal would not allow her to enter her home. The animal did not have on a collar or mark of any kind that would lead police to its owner. The Police Spokesman said police managed to capture the animal and they are now calling on the owner to present proof of ownership of the animal to the Philipsburg Police Station where they could also pick up the animal.

Philipsburg:--- Fun Miles, the Caribbean's largest free saving and redemption program, is launching its new Facebook page with a bombardment of fun prizes. Facebook users who add the page by clicking the 'like' button can win 100.000 Fun Miles, as well as weekly prizes including mobile phone covers, t-shirts and even more Fun Miles. The new Facebook page is fun and convenient for cardholders who want to be the first to know about Fun Miles' hottest campaigns and discounts. The URL is facebook.com/funmiles.

FUN ON FACEBOOK
Facebook and Fun Miles are a perfect match, since Facebook is largely about sharing fun. The new page provides an up-to-the-minute overview of Fun things that can be done with Fun Miles, from a night at the movies to a trip to Miami. Joining the Fun Miles community on Facebook is as simple as clicking the 'like' button. Doing this during the introduction campaign (which lasts until August 31) is extra rewarding, because of the abovementioned fun prizes. One click to win – who can resist?

DO FUN THINGS WITH FUN MILES
For more than 13 years, Fun Miles has been the Caribbean's biggest free saving and redemption program. With over 100.000 members on Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao and St. Maarten, Fun Miles has become part of the culture. It owes its popularity to the wide range of fun things that it brings within reach. For example, you can redeem your Fun Miles for a Big Mac, jewelry, call credit or gasoline, but also for an airline ticket.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FUN MILES
Please contact Fun Miles customer service at tel. 543-3301 or visit www.funmiles.net.

St. Peters:--- Principals of most of the secondary schools on St. Maarten reminded their students on Monday that students must maintain the school's dress code if not they would be sent out of their classrooms as they wait for their parents to pick them up. Sounding the alarm at the St. Maarten Academy was the school's Principal Shareed Hussain. Hussain said students will not be allowed into their classrooms if they are not properly dressed. He informed the students that the newly elected board of the St. Maarten Academy means business this year and students who refuse to maintain the school's policy will be looking for expulsion. Hussain also warned all students including his first formers that drugs and weapons are strictly prohibited. Students who are caught with any of the prohibited items will be dealt with severely.
At the St. Maarten Academy (academic section), the two security guards held their positions at the gate to ensure that students who entered the school's compound are properly attired. Those students who were seen wearing hoop earrings and fancy headbands were asked to remove them before they were allowed to enter. Students who wore tight pants or short skirts were informed that if they showed up to school on Tuesday in the same attire they would have to return home. Normal school from forms one to five began on Monday at the St. Maarten Academy Academic section.
At the Sundial School, several parents accompanied their children who will be attending the school for the first time to take part in the introduction sessions planned for parents and students this week. Teachers and the Principal of the Sundial School Mireille Regales Peterson also warned students to make sure they wear the school's uniform when attending school. Students of the Sundial School also have to make sure their hair style fits the schools attire.

Click here to view more photos of St. Maarten's students returning to school on Monday 15th August, 2011.

Diamond Flamingo Beach Resort, Simpson Bay:--- "It is with great pride that we begin the launch of the joint SHTA/SMTA hospitality and skills training and certification." announced SHTA Director, Valya Pantophlet. "We begin today the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute's line-level training at Flamingo with two departments; housekeeping and maintenance. We should have five resort properties in on-site training by month's end and hopefully 10 on-property trainings completed by January 1. The SHTA is ecstatic to see the level of participation by our member resorts, which shows that we are all in agreement about the importance of upgrading the skill set of our employees." said Valya.

Chris Warnke, Area Manager for Diamond resorts is on the board of the SMTA and heads its training committee. Chris among other degrees holds the Certified Hospitality Administrator certification from AHLEI, its highest award. Chris made the following statements at today's commencements:

Diamond Resorts International is committed to the highest standards of service to our timeshare owners, club-members and guests and this is an integral part of the company's philosophy in "The Meaning of Yes".

To achieve these high standards the company promotes trainings and continuous education on all levels of employees up to senior executive management.

We are proud to announce that in cooperation with the St. Maarten Timeshare Association, SMTA, we have begun a series of training programs for our various departments including housekeeping, maintenance, front desk and management at both Resorts The Flamingo Beach Resort and the Royal Palm Resort for all levels of our team members. Our goal is it to have all our employees certified as hospitality specialists and later the whole resorts certified as the 'Gold Hospitality Resorts'.

Ongoing training sessions of all our staff are necessary to keep our staff updated on changes in our products, our environment, our infrastructural systems, and also to improve our professionalism for example by learning how to succeed expectations of our guests, owners, and customers.

One employee of the Maintenance department @ DRI Flamingo Resort, who started training today explained how delighted he was to have management invest in training for his benefit, namely to upgrade his skills but also teach him how to interact with guests. He called it a unique and rewarding experience that he will take with him throughout his career.

Since we are experiencing a constant change in our surroundings we are all faced with a life-long-learning process. How one of my educators summarized it: "Only those who are learning permanently are those who are the most successful in their business."

This is also of high importance for the health of our economy here in St. Maarten: Vacationers have many choices, so they are most attracted to visit those places where they receive the best service from well educated and friendly hospitality people.

Fellow St. Martiners,
Residents of our beloved island.
Less than a year ago - 10 months and 7 days to be exact - I took office as your Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs. At the time, the new school year was just about a couple of months old. The budget had not even been passed yet by Parliament, and the challenges of implementing the Compulsory Education Law looked insurmountable.
We are now at the beginning of a new school year. And before I continue, let me welcome all of you back from a well-deserved vacation, especially the education community and all the other stakeholders in this difficult process of preparing our youth for the promise of the future, and ensuring that the realities of the present are adequately met. I hope you have come back refreshed, re-energized, reinvigorated, and ready and rearing to go, so that we can continue to work together to make this new school year the best ever.
It is an honor and a privilege to address you directly and present to you the state of education on our beloved St. Martin: where we are today as policy makers, educators and as a forward-looking community; where we are heading as we build this nation together, one student at a time, and above all, how our students are doing in this system we have been grappling with and trying to improve for the sake of our future generations.
A year ago, it was not uncommon to hear comments that said our education system was in shambles. I did not agree with that assessment then and I still do not now. It is unfair to all those involved in education to make sweeping remarks like that which are not backed by any objective facts. It is easy to generalize based on how we feel about something, however, as educators, we are bound to make statements that can be supported by empirical data. We are not very strong in data collection across the board. It is an area we are working to improve, particularly in education, so that we can better analyze and determine what works and what doesn't work in our system.
Having said that, I am sure no one would deny that we operate a rather complex system, which tends to stream our children at too early an age, and which offers a potpourri of letters that is difficult to understand, especially at the secondary level: HAVO, VWO, SBO, and all the remaining "Os" and the "TKL," "PKL" and all the other "L's". We are working towards simplifying the system so that our children will receive a well-rounded, quality education, sit one school leaving examination at the end of primary school that would allow them to be admitted into secondary school, and have basically one model of secondary education which will offer a curriculum that is relevant and flexible enough for the students to pursue higher education or enter the job market with a set of useful skills.
Our mission as educators is to prepare our students for success in the very competitive world they will have to work in. That is why our Mission Statement in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, is "to deliver service to the population of St. Martin in all areas under our jurisdiction by providing and ensuring the implementation of effective and efficient systems which promote and secure equal opportunities and access to quality education, recreation, social, cultural and physical development for all the people of St. Martin."
Quality here is synonymous to excellence. And what is excellence if it is not positive concentration and good focus at all times on your work. This requires good work ethics. For students, this means doing your homework and turning it in on time; not putting off what you have to do today for tomorrow, asking pertinent questions when you do not understand something, completing assignments and other tasks promptly and above all, listening to your teacher. It is this positive attitude that builds your confidence and your character as well. We need to emphasize achieving excellence because in the St. Martin we are building together there can be no room for mediocrity.
Permit me to seize this opportunity to honor all those students who worked very hard in the last school year to achieve excellence. I pay special tribute to those students who put in the effort to reach the top of their class; to make their parents, families, schools and the entire community of St. Martin proud of their performance. It is my firm belief that every student can achieve the highest levels given the proper motivation.
Of course, we are also mindful of the fact that the results of some external exams, particularly the HAVO, MAVO and VWO exams, last year, fell short of our expectations. The Ministry is analyzing these and other results with a view to determining the reasons why our students did not fare as well as they could have and to offer possible ways of improving their performance in future.
I want to commend the efforts of all those teachers whose hard work, dedication, and commitment to the education of our children has resulted in the success of so many of our students. They continue to make the teaching profession the noble calling it is meant to be, even in times when teachers seem to be losing their place of honor in society. I know and I hear about teachers who go the extra mile to ensure that students in their care perform to the best of their talents.
These are teachers who do not wait on the school board, or government to provide basic needs for their classrooms, but who would spend their time and money to ensure that students have the required learning materials. These are teachers who have cut short their holidays to help clean up, set up and in some cases even paint classrooms in readiness for the new school year. One such educator is Ms. Suwana Musticat of the Geneveve de Weever School, who for the last days, including yesterday her birthday, was in her school cleaning and making sure all was in place for school to start this morning. I salute all such teachers, school administrators, support staff, and yes, parents, too, who have demonstrated that they understand that it takes the whole village to educate the child. It is my intention to institute during this new academic year that we have just started, a reward system for such educators, in the form of an annual "Education Medal of Honor".
Teachers, as I have said before, must be seen as nation-builders and must be treated as such. We are thankful for all those teachers we bring in from abroad to fill in the many vacancies we have annually in the field, however, it is a priority of my Ministry to progressively reverse this trend, and develop our own corps of teachers. We will work even closer this year with the University of St. Martin to ensure that its Teacher Education Programme meets world standards, and can turn out an adequate number of qualified teachers on an annual basis. Although it might be discouraging that only five students applied to enter the TEP at USM this year, I am very optimistic that with the right incentives, and the collaborative efforts of the management of USM and my Ministry, many more students can be attracted to the profession. In particular, the recruitment of male teachers will receive special attention because we need more male teachers in front of our classrooms.
In the meantime, one of the ideas we are working on right now is to see how we can bring back some of our veteran teachers who are now in retirement, but are still very healthy and willing to serve. In this modern age when today's 60 is yesterday's 40, it is a regretful waste of very scarce human resource to condemn such teachers to walking the dog, when they could still do what they have done best all their lives: teach.
The success of every student depends on the quality of teacher we have in the classroom. In other words, if we want to raise the achievement level of our students, we must improve the quality of teachers we employ to teach them. This is why it is imperative that we give all the support necessary to help improve teaching and learning. We must establish standards and best practices for teachers and schools by identifying our most effective teachers and school managers and learn from their expertise.
This requires that we establish an evaluation system, not only for teachers, but for schools as well, that will stress efficiency and effectiveness, using student performance as a key indicator, but not as the only measurement. This process is ongoing, with the all-important input of the Windward Islands Teachers Union, WITU, whose president and board I must commend for their cooperation in this and other matters during the past year.
My Ministry will continue to facilitate a collaborative process with the WITU, school boards, and managers, as well as other stakeholders, to design model teacher and school manager evaluation tools. And I am confident that we can develop a method of evaluation for teachers and principals that is just and fair which can receive the support of the entire education community. Schools can consequently put such evaluation systems to appropriate use in decision-making in areas such as promotion, compensation, and professional development. It would also help guarantee the equitable distribution of effective teachers and school managers in schools which have critical staffing problems, and in subjects and specialty areas for which effective teachers are hard to come by.
I do not want to place all the burden of educating our children on the shoulders of teachers alone: parental involvement in the educational process is just as vital to the success of our students.
Parents can no longer view school as day care centers and teachers as glorified baby-sitters for their children. It is not enough for parents to show up at school, if they do, only when they are called to pick up their children's report cards, etc. It is totally unacceptable for some parents to come to school to tell off a teacher or pick up a fight because a teacher had disciplined their children. Parental involvement in the education of the child starts from home. As a parent, your duty is not over when you drop off your child at school in the morning, or pick them up in the afternoon.
From their physical appearance and health to their academic progress, including supervising their homework and school projects, the parent who wants his or her child to succeed, must be constantly involved in all the school activities the child has to perform. This includes sports and cultural events where, in many cases, parents are visibly absent. I am studying the possibility of enlisting the cooperation of businesses to give time off for parents to attend such activities when these fall during working hours.
Besides, the time each parent spends helping their child with school work, or attending activities in which their child is involved, is real quality time which fosters bonding between parent and child and solidifies the love between both in a tangible way. It is time that is more valuable than all the toys and gadgets we can buy as gifts for the children. I, therefore, urge parents to resolve in this new school year to make a serious effort to be involved more in their children's education. Strengthening the Parents-Teachers' Associations (PTAs) is a good starting point for this.
Collaboration between the home and the school is a vital component in our efforts to improve the quality of our education. The school is not just a physical facility; it is an environment where learning takes place. We continue to enjoy a good working relationship with the various school boards who manage the schools. Government subsidized these school boards to the tune of over 75 million guilders in 2011, an increase of 23% over the preceding year. This amount is more than 73% of the total annual budget of the Ministry! However, school boards are private foundations, which operate independently of government. We will hold the school boards accountable for the tax-payers' money they receive each year.
Furthermore, I am of the opinion that school boards have a responsibility to reduce teacher and student absenteeism, which obviously contributes to lower performance and even an increase in the drop-out rates.
But we cannot demand high standards from all the other stakeholders in education without demanding the same of ourselves as Ministry of Education. The role of government, in this case, the role of the Ministry of Education, is also very critical in delivering the quality of education we all aspire to and expect. As a new Ministry, we have had to take on additional responsibilities in areas such as Inspection, Examinations and Student Support Services, which we did not have to handle before October 10, 2010. The first two divisions are up and running and the third – Student Support Services - will be operational this school year.
However, to succeed as a Ministry of Education, we do not only have to provide leadership and a clear and unambiguous vision of where we want to take education, but most importantly, we have to nurture a close and dynamic relationship with the whole community so that educators can dedicate their precious time to the core business of schools, which is learning.
For me, these are not just fancy words, it is an axiomatic principle which guides my decisions. I see the role of government in education not only as a regulatory and monitoring agency, but also as one of setting standards that meet international norms, providing much needed assistance to the educational community where needed, leveraging best practices and keeping track of results in such a manner that would facilitate constant and continuous improvements at all levels.
We have begun the process of reviewing our educational laws to bring them in sync with our present-day realities. This is a time consuming process that will overlap several school years, but it is important to stress that a new National Education Plan is already in the making. When completed, it will be put before the people for discussion, while efforts are being intensified to re-write curricula at the various levels so that our children would be able to know, for example, about the founding fathers of modern day St. Martin such as Dr. Claude Wathey, Clem Labega, Lionel Bernard Scot, (or L.B. Scot), Milton Peters, Jose Lake Sr., Wallace Peterson and others.
If you ask a 6th grader today who these pioneers are, don't be surprised if all they do is scratch their heads and look into empty space. But we cannot blame them if our curriculum does not teach them about the contributions these men and women made to transform St. Martin into what it is today.
It is also an irony that, for example, works by St. Martin poets and authors such as Lasana Sekou and Drisana Deborah Jack are being studied and taught at universities abroad, while our own students are not required to read them in our schools. We will ensure that there is a compulsory reading list of books by St. Martiners and about St. Martin, which our students will be tested on in national exams.
A new curriculum is, without doubt, critical to our efforts at nation-building. This new curriculum will include subjects such as Music, Drama, Fine Arts, and Sports and would most likely require that we expand our current school hours. We are already in advanced discussions with the Ujimaa Foundation about collaborating in an experimental charter school, which will incorporate many of these ideas before they become the norm in the rest of our school system.
As for Compulsory Education, it is the law and no longer a matter of choice. We are now in the third phase of its implementation which covers children from 9 to 12 years old. We started 2011 with a district by district, town-hall style campaign to explain details of the law. Let me make it abundantly clear that it is against the law for children up to this age group to be out of school without proper permission. In other words, children who are 4 to 12 years' old may not be helping to pack groceries in supermarkets when they should be in school, or found loitering in the neighborhoods while school is in session. Their parents and guardians will be held legally liable in these instances. A Truancy Officer has been appointed who will handle such cases.
With regards to physical infrastructure, the construction of the Hillside Christian school at Cay Hill is nearing completion. This will help with the decongestion of the St. Peters school district. There is a new vocational school (SBO) coming also in Cay Hill, while at Belvedere, two new public schools will be built, a primary and a secondary school. In addition, the expansion and upgrading of the Geneveve de Weever school is also close to finishing. All these will contribute to alleviating the shortage of classroom space and lessen the overcrowding in some of our schools.
We have also established five (5) community schools in a pilot program spearheaded by DERPI, the division of projects and innovations of my Ministry, with financing provided by USONA, the Dutch funding agency.
Now let me turn to tertiary education. A tertiary education law is in its final review stages. This law will regulate tertiary education on the island and set standards for institutions of higher learning. Of course, the University of St. Martin continues to occupy pride of place as the island's premier institution of higher education. It is in our best interest to make sure that USM meets international standards and offers courses relevant to the development of the island.
At present, government subsidy to USM accounts for about 60 (70?) per cent of its annual budget. This year, that subsidy surpassed the 10 million guilder mark, an increase of more than 70% over 2010. For all this infusion of public funds, USM remains an institution run by a private foundation. My Ministry and the Board and Management of the university are in constant discussions on how to improve our cooperation and turn USM into a viable, sustainable center of higher learning with quality programs and faculty that would attract students and lecturers from all over the region and the world.
However, USM is not the only university on St. Martin; we also have the American University of the Caribbean, (AUC), an off-shore medical school which was acquired recently by the well-known DeVry Institute for a whopping $235 million. DeVry has indicated that it would be investing another $20 million to upgrade the facilities at AUC. No doubt, this is a welcome development and I look forward to a very close cooperation with the institution for the benefit of tertiary education on St. Martin. DeVry has already asked my Ministry to draw up a "hit list" or priority list of what we would like to see it contribute to the island. That list will be submitted shortly.
The arrival of DeVry is in line with the policy of this government to encourage our students to study in the region. To this end, I have signed MOUs with Johnson & Wales University and Monroe College, which will facilitate direct cooperation with USM and expand the options of our students seeking higher education within the region. Studying in the region is usually cheaper, closer to home, and less culturally traumatic, while all evidence points to the fact that the majority of our students who study in this region, including North America, finish within an average of 4 years and return home at the end of their studies. The reverse seems to be true for our students who go to The Netherlands. They spend on the average some six to seven years to finish equivalent studies, and many remain there rather than return to the island. This was a topic of discussion with Dutch authorities during my recent visit there.
As you perhaps already know, I accompanied the group of St. Martin students who are recipients of government's study financing. All reports from S4 indicate that they are settling down well. I impressed on them, both here and on arrival in The Netherlands, the need for them to focus on their studies and finish in the allotted time and return home to help build St. Martin. As a matter of fact, the issue has caught the attention of the Dutch who are now considering imposing a fine of 3,000 Euros on those students who do not complete their studies on time.
There are currently about 400 St. Martin students in The Netherlands who S4 takes care of in one way or another. Bringing them back home to make their contribution is a priority of this government. We cannot continue to invest in the education of our children only for others to benefit from our investment. I have commissioned a study on the Return on Investment (ROI) in education, given the challenges we face in the field of human resources. It is untenable for example, that after so many years of pumping money into education, we still cannot boast of enough teachers of our own, nor enough lawyers, or other professionals. The study will help us understand what we are doing wrong and suggest corrective measures we can take to change this.
Change is indeed inevitable in the process of transforming our educational system. Change we can embrace and manage properly. Change that can generate enough enthusiasm to unleash our creative potential. Change that can turn St. Martin into the language capital of the Caribbean because the average St. Martin student that leaves secondary school here should be fluent in three to four languages: English, Dutch, Spanish and French. This is one of the goals I have set for our school system.
Fellow St. Martiners, residents of our beloved island:
In conclusion, I believe we need to ask ourselves the following questions: is our educational system delivering the goods? Does it respond to the needs of a 21st Century St. Martin?
In all honesty, I am of the view that we cannot yet answer either question in the affirmative. The state of our education is not as healthy as it should be. We face numerous challenges which we cannot shy away from. However, we must restore common sense to education and accept the fact that the focal point of everything we do must be the student. Moulding the mind of that student should be the beginning and the end of all our endeavors as educators.
I have an unflinching faith in the St. Martin student. I am also inspired by the incredible passion I observe in the face of most teachers and by the dedication and determination many school managers exhibit in running their respective schools. I salute all educators who go the extra mile to help children whose circumstances and backgrounds are incredibly challenging to reach for higher heights. And I am comforted by the commitment of those parents who take the education of their children seriously enough to make the time to get involved in it in a meaningful way.
I believe, like many of you who have made the education of our children your life's work, that no St. Martin child, indeed, no child, is too dumb to learn. I am also aware that our educators need better tools to work with, better training and re-training, more support and certainly more, not less, funding. And although we cannot yet declare that all is well with our system – and I am sure if you have been following what is happening around the world, nobody is happy with the declining results of their educational systems – I am confident that we are on the right path in our quest to elevate standards. This is the challenge of the new school year: to make it much better than the last.
I want to seize this opportunity to thank all the staff of my Ministry, all the teachers, the school boards, the parents, and especially the students, both old and new. We might not realize how much progress we have made because of the huge challenges before us. This is because, indeed, we have a lot of work to do. However, together, I am sure we shall succeed. Let us now all step up to the plate and give it our best shot as we build this nation, one mind at a time.
I wish you all a most rewarding, a most exciting, and a most successful new school year.
God bless you; God bless St. Martin.

Philipsburg:--- Acting Police Spokesman Geronimo Juliet reported that unknown persons stole a blue Mazda with license plate M-56 which was parked in Pointe Blanche on August 14th 2011.
In an unrelated case, a woman who was waiting for a bus on the Walter Nisbeth road next to Carl & Sons was suddenly approached by a unknown man. They started to wrestle and the man managed to take her neck-lace and run away.
Recently, a man reported to detectives that he and his father were robbed on the May 31st 2011, when they were coming from a restaurant on Hyena Road in Cay Hill between 11:00pm – 12:00am. They were robbed by two men: both were about 1.70 meter tall and wearing dark clothes, one had a light brown complexion and the other had a dark complexion. The robbers stole a Nike backpack, a black LA sport cap, a silver ring, a wrist watch, a blue 4 GB MP3 player, a Samsung hard drive, a black wallet containing $300.00 and a PSVE student card, a touch screen black cellular phone and even the food they bought at the Chinese restaurant. The reason they came only now to the detective department was that they were traumatized by this incident. The father had been robbed for the second time and made an official complaint for theft and for serious ill-treatment.
On August the 10th 2011, unknown persons destroyed the windshield of a car which was parked on the Cape Bay Road with a rock. The owner made an official complaint to the detective department. Unknown persons also stole a white Toyota Corolla number plate M-9909.
On Sint Peters Road between the 14th and 15th of August, 2011 around 2:30pm and 6:00pm, unknown persons went with a big cylinder of cooking gas. The Acting Police Spokesman said it appears as though the thieves are rampant and they are taking any and everything they get their hands on. The Police Spokesman is calling on residents to make life a bit more difficult for the bandits by securing their gas cylinders.
On Monday between 6:40am and 4:45pm, unknown persons forced open the back door of a house in the Kudo Drive and took a 32 inch Flat screen Television, an Acer Laptop, a pair of Jordon sport shoes, a Motorola cell, and 4 era baseball caps.
Also on Monday between 10:30am and 4:30pm, a house in Radish Road was broken into after bandits forced open the side door. They went with some gold jewelry worth $500.00, a 32 inch flat screen Television, and a Sony sound system.
On Tuesday between 2:00am and 3:00am, police patrols of Simpson Bay in conjunction with a police dog arrested a man identified as M.A.H. of St. Maarten as he was caught red handed entering KFC/Pizza Hut after destroying the front glass door. The police dog Tupax managed to grab M.A.H. while he was in the establishment.

...

Marigot: --- Prefet Delegue Jacques Simmonet has issued a decree on the 2011 budget on Tuesday August 16th. The Prefet made the announcement in a press release which states that an order of settlement for the initial budget of 2011 was made by decree.
In its opinion, the Chambre Territorial des Comptes (CTC) found in the Investment section € 31,587,733 in spending and the same amount in revenue. This section was increased in revenue and in expenditure to € 1,148,492 by the vote of "supplementary" budget of July 7, 2011 bringing the Investment section at: € 32,736,225 in expenditures and € 32,736,225 in revenue, which was recorded by the CTC in its opinion, as well as by the prefect in its order.
However, the operating section increased to € 82,275,883 in spending and the same amount in revenue, which has been increased to 6 €345 in expenses and revenues on July 7th by the Territorial Council, was increased by the CTC of 8 600 €000 in spending and 3 800 €000 revenue bearing also these two positions respectively at 95 882 €228 and 91 082 €228 leading to an overall estimate accepted by the CTC of less than € 4,800,000.

In its opinion, the CTC indeed found that had not been taken into account:

• expenses of a general nature (2010 and 2011 bills) for an amount of € 3.3 million;
• bills due to DRFIP for 2009 and 2010 amounting to € 2.6 million;
• the impact of wage settlements for workers and the COM for $ CTOS € 1,200,000;
• bills related to welfare representing € 1.5 million for a total of € 8.6 million that was added to expenses.

In contrast, the CTC found that additional revenues were possible:
• Income Tax: € 2,000,000 due to the competence of sources;
• Corporate taxes: € 5,000,000;
• TGCA: € 1.3 million by an increased rate of 2 to 4% from 1 September 2011.
In his order the Prefet finds that:
• on the other hand, costs can be reduced by € 0.6 million overall from 8.6 to € 8 million due to the smoothing of wage agreements, agents and COM CTOS over 2 years (2011, 2012)
• on the other hand, there is no need at present to increase the TGCA both for economic reasons and administrative;
• Furthermore, it is possible to increase the € 0.5 million income tax due to a recent report on the recovery.

• Finally the licensing right and contribution of the patent (DLCP) which recently replaced the TP (01/07/2011) up to € 3.2 million (TP reported € 4.5 million) and that in fact it should increase to € 0.8 million compared to the estimated CTC.
The prefect has retained these new recipes: € 2 million of income tax due in the jurisdiction of sources; € 1 million of corporate taxes, and € 0.8 million of which is DLCP 3, € 8 million in new revenues to € 8 million in new spending, leading to an imbalance of € 4.2 million while the CTC allowed € 4.8 million, which is a favorable element for the consolidation in 2012.
More generally, the prefet noted that today the tax system is consistent and should be effective, this requires a relentless struggle against fraudsters, especially as this device is significantly better than the time of the commune: IR reduction additional 10% IS - 11 points (33-22) TGCA highly modulated 2% (it recalls the absence of VAT and wharfage) and finally a DLCP, also modulated with respect to the former TP! Not to mention the abolition of wealth tax and the housing tax.
Moreover, in terms of cash, the COM enjoys an advance of 12 M€ 150:
• 7 € 150 million, due to the shift of land given to the issue of roles beginning in 2012;
• € 5 million in corporate taxes and registration fees levied on Basse-Terre.
Of course, this advance payment will be smoothed over time and offset by revenues coming in both positions.
Therefore, the task of recovery is very important and urgent to stabilize the COM financially, and it will have to do just that.
In conclusion, an admittedly unbalanced budget estimates but consistent with respect to income and expenditure and on the rebalancing and promising prospects for future development.

Philipsburg:--- The St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA) and the Victorious Living Foundation (VLF) signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday August 16 at the SHTA office in Philipsburg. In the agreement the SHTA committed to an Annual contribution of $10,000 towards the programs and projects executed by the VLF geared primarily towards rebuilding the community and redirecting misguided youth. Funds will be released over a period of one year and pending approval of submitted program/ project proposals.
Both parties have expressed similar interests in the following areas and as such the SHTA thought it necessary to provide structured support: (1) Employee education & training (2) Increase of the standard of living on the island of St. Maarten and poverty alleviation (3) Creating stronger family units (4) Empowerment of the youth and redirection of misguided youth.
Aside from the annual financial contribution, the SHTA agreed to endorse and promote the trainings offered by the VLF to its members, assist with hotel accommodations of program facilitators when necessary and assist with printing of materials for trainings or programs.
"One of my duties as Director is to outline a Vision for the SHTA. As part of that vision, I emphasized the need to reconnect with the community. Rather than granting ad hoc sponsorship requests, I felt it was more important and impactful to partner with an organization whose programs are in line with our Vision for St. Maarten. VLF Director and Visionary Erna Mae Francis is a tremendous role model in this community and unfortunately her work with the youth is not recognized nearly as much as it should be. I believe that rather than complaining about crime, the direction of our youth and other social ills, we - the business community- should be more proactive and support organizations that are trying to make a difference. VLF offers training programs for personal and professional development, mentorship & counseling, after school activities and a youth entrepreneurship course amongst other things. Just last year, VLF organized a Wealth creation series, in which it brought down self made millionaires to the island to lecture and inspire the youth. I expect much more from this organization in the years to come and am therefore ecstatic about this partnership. I also encourage the rest of the business community to follow suit and support these invaluable organizations within our community," said Valya Pantophlet- Executive Director SHTA.
This contribution could not have been possible without the SHTA's Dollar-A-Day fund. SHTA's Dollar-A-Day program was established in 2005 and has funded, among others: clean-up campaigns, the Caribcert programs, Dollar-A-Day scholarships, Guest Excellence Training program for employees in the Hospitality sector and donations to various youth organizations on the island. SHTA is grateful to its hotel members who have continuously supported and contributed to the program over the years. These include: Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort, Divi Little Bay Beach Resort, Oyster Bay Beach Resort, La Vista Resort, Turquoise Shell Inn, L'Esperance Hotel, Royal Islander Club and Princess Heights.

Ms. Francis expressed her gratitude to Ms. Pantophlet, SHTA, as well as Pantophlet's predecessor Robert Dubourcq who has supported the organization in the past. She also appeals to all persons in the community who desire to make a difference to attend their mentorship symposium at The Great Bay Sonesta Hotel on August 25-26 and at the Melford Hazel Sports Auditorium on August 27th. "This is an essential step for every sector of our community to be mobilized to reduce the wave of violent crimes and juvenile delinquency among our youth." She believes that together we all can make a difference and transform our challenged community. For more information about the Mentorship Symposium persons may drop by SHTA's office, the Department of Youth Affairs, or contact Victorious Living Foundation at 158 B. Back Street, Philipsburg.
For more info on the SHTA and its Dollar-A-Day program, go to www.shta.com.

Philipsburg:--- The new Dutch representative for Curacao, Aruba and St. Maarten Gerard van der Wulp, paid a courtesy visit to President of Parliament Hon. Gracita Arrindell on Thursday morning.

Wulp replaces Rob van Maas who was stationed in Willemstad, Curacao. The Dutch Representation in the Western Hemisphere also comprises of satellite offices in Oranjestad, Aruba and Philipsburg, St. Maarten.

The offices of Dutch Representation serve as a liaison between the Government of Holland and the governments of the three aforementioned countries.

The Dutch representatives ensure the coordination of Dutch policy with respect to the three countries. They also report to Holland about relevant developments and facilitate the working visits of Dutch government officials.

The representatives also advise about projects and programs and play an active role where it concerns relations between Holland, Curacao, Aruba and St. Maarten.

President of Parliament Hon. Gracita Arrindell stated on Thursday that the meeting was of an orientation nature. Wulp wanted to know about the functioning of parliament and the challenges since country status was attained 10-months ago.

Philipsburg:--- As part of the President of Parliament's 'information gathering consultation sessions,' last Friday, a meeting took place with the Director of the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) Eileen Healy and Psychiatrist Sachin Gandotra at their new facility in Cay Hill.

President of Parliament Hon. drs. Gracita Arrindell was given a tour of the facility besides discussing the challenges and progress being made by the MHF.

MHF has 500 clients registered and actively provides services to approximately 260. The facility is well underway to providing 24-hour service and is currently in the process of hiring six to eight psychiatric nurses to the current staff.

Healy mentioned about the challenge of finding local qualified staff and suggested that the island consider developing a nursing program.

"The objective of these sessions is to have a better understanding of entities and institutions that are subsidized by Government. National laws that these institutions are governed by also need to be looked into besides funding requirements with respect to the products and services they offer the community.

"For example, the MHF has been working under legislation that dates back to 1920. In 2010 legislation under the former Netherlands Antilles was revised, however it still does not address certain issues relevant to mental health care.

"Members of Parliament (MPs) have a role to play with respect to the aforementioned. The information received will be passed on to MPs who in turn can prepare themselves in advance for a Central Committee meeting with the MHF," President of Parliament Hon. Gracita Arrindell said on Monday.

Arrindell was also informed about working relationships between the Capriles Clinic in Curacao, Turning Point, the Police and the White & Yellow Cross.

The criminal case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former managing director of the International Monetary Fund, officially ended Tuesday after a Manhattan judge dismissed all charges at the prosecution's request. Prosecutors in the office of Cyrus R. Vance Jr., the Manhattan district attorney, told the judge, Michael J. Obus of State Supreme Court, that they could not prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt because of serious credibility issues with the hotel housekeeper who had accused Mr. Strauss-Kahn of sexually assaulting her as she entered his suite to clean it.

The judge initially had issued a stay on his decision until an appellate court could hear the housekeeper's motion to remove Mr. Vance and appoint a special prosecutor. The appeals court denied the request, concurring with Justice Obus that the argument had no legal basis.

Justice Obus's order of dismissal brought some semblance of vindication to Mr. Strauss-Kahn, 62, after his stunning arrest more than three months ago. He was taken into custody May 14 aboard an Air France jet at Kennedy International Airport and then paraded before news cameras, disheveled and in handcuffs.

For his accuser, Nafissatou Diallo, a 33-year-old Guinean immigrant, the result caps a precipitous fall. Prosecutors initially portrayed her as a credible and powerful witness, only to say that her myriad lies about her past — which included a convincing, emotional but ultimately fraudulent account of being gang raped by soldiers in Guinea — ended up undermining the case.

Ms. Diallo, who has made her identity public, still has a civil lawsuit pending against Mr. Strauss-Kahn for unspecified monetary damages, and her lawyer, Kenneth P. Thompson, has been relentless in his assertion that Mr. Strauss-Kahn sexually assaulted his client and that Mr. Vance's office abandoned the case too soon.

Mr. Thompson made one last desperate attempt to keep the criminal case going, filing a motion on Monday asking that Mr. Vance's office be disqualified. But about an hour before Tuesday's hearing started, a court clerk handed out a one-page decision in which Justice Obus denied Mr. Thompson's motion. However, Mr. Thompson appealed, leading to Justice Obus's suspension of his dismissal order.

The appellate division's ruling was expected to set the stage for Mr. Strauss-Kahn's eventual return to France, where he is a leading figure in the Socialist Party and had been considered a top candidate for the French presidency.

After the hearing, Mr. Strauss-Kahn issued a statement, characterizing the time since his arrest as "a nightmare for me and my family," and thanking the judge, his wife and family and other supporters.

He added that he was "obviously gratified that the district attorney agreed with my lawyers that this case had to be dismissed."

"We appreciate his professionalism and that of the people who were involved in that decision," he continued. Mr. Strauss-Kahn added that he looked forward to "returning to our home and resuming something of a more normal life."

The case has attracted international attention ever since the arrest; each appearance in court has drawn a carnival-like atmosphere outside, with journalists and camera crews mixing with protesters. The scene on Tuesday was no exception: Well before Mr. Strauss-Kahn arrived at 11:03 a.m., about three dozen protesters gathered, most of them in opposition to Mr. Strauss-Kahn.

To them, the case represented an instance of a powerful, wealthy man getting away with something he did to a poor immigrant woman.

But his lawyers, Benjamin Brafman and William W. Taylor III, have maintained that the sexual encounter between him and Ms. Diallo was consensual and that she was simply trying to exploit him for money.

"You can engage in inappropriate behavior perhaps," Mr. Brafman said outside the courthouse after the hearing. "But that is much different than a crime."

Mr. Brafman and Mr. Taylor each characterized Mr. Vance's decision to drop the charges in such a high-profile case as "courageous."

But Mr. Thompson, Ms. Diallo's lawyer, said Mr. Vance not only "abandoned an innocent woman," he also made it less enticing for other women to come forward with claims of sexual assault.

On Monday, prosecutors laid out their reasons for asking that the case be dismissed in a 25-page report that concluded that Ms. Diallo could not be believed.

Click here to view documents presented by U.S.Prosecutor.

The New York Times

"The idea that Alzheimer's is entirely genetic and unpreventable is perhaps the greatest misconception about the disease," says Gary Small, M.D., director of the UCLA Center on Aging.
Researchers now know that Alzheimer's, like heart disease and cancer, develops over decades and can be influenced by lifestyle factors including cholesterol, blood pressure, obesity, depression, education, nutrition, sleep and mental, physical and social activity.
The big news: Mountains of research reveals that simple things you do every day might cut your odds of losing your mind to Alzheimer's.
In search of scientific ways to delay and outlive Alzheimer's and other dementias, I tracked down thousands of studies and interviewed dozens of experts Gary Small, M.D. The results in a new book:100 Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer's and Age-Related Memory Loss

Here are 10 strategies I found most surprising.
1. Have coffee. In an amazing flip-flop, coffee is the new brain tonic. A large European study showed that drinking three to five cups of coffee a day in midlife cut Alzheimer's risk 65% in late life.
University of South Florida researcher Gary Arendash credits caffeine: He says it reduces dementia-causing amyloid in animal brains. Others credit coffee's antioxidants. So drink up, Arendash advises, unless your doctor says you shouldn't.
2. Floss. Oddly, the health of your teeth and gums can help predict dementia. University of Southern California research found that having periodontal disease before age 35 quadrupled the odds of dementia years later. Older people with tooth and gum disease score lower on memory and cognition tests, other studies show. Experts speculate that inflammation in diseased mouths migrates to the brain.
3.Google. Doing an online search can stimulate your aging brain even more than reading a book, says UCLA's Gary Small, who used brain MRIs to prove it. The biggest surprise: Novice Internet surfers, ages 55 to 78, activated key memory and learning centers in the brain after only a week of Web surfing for an hour a day.
4. Grow new brain cells. Impossible, scientists used to say. Now it's believed that thousands of brain cells are born daily. The trick is to keep the newborns alive.
What works: aerobic exercise (such as a brisk 30-minute walk every day), strenuous mental activity, eating salmon and other fatty fish, and avoiding obesity, chronic stress, sleep deprivation, heavy drinking and vitamin B deficiency.

5. Drink apple juice. Apple juice can push production of the "memory chemical" acetylcholine; that's the way the popular Alzheimer's drug Aricept works, says
Thomas Shea, Ph.D., of the University of Massachusetts . He was surprised that old mice given apple juice did better on learning and memory tests than mice that received water. A dose for humans: 16 ounces, or two to three apples a day.
6. Protect your head. Blows to the head, even mild ones early in life, increase odds of dementia years later. Pro football players have 19 times the typical rate of memory-related diseases. Alzheimer's is four times more common in elderly who suffer a head injury, Columbia University finds. Accidental falls doubled an older person's odds of dementia five years later in another study. Wear seat belts and helmets, fall-proof your house, and don't take risks.
7. Meditate. Brain scans show that people who meditate regularly have less cognitive decline and brain shrinkage - a classic sign of Alzheimer's - as they age. Andrew Newberg of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine says yoga meditation of 12 minutes a day for two months improved blood flow and cognitive functioning in seniors with memory problems.
8. Take D. A "severe deficiency" of vitamin D boosts older Americans' risk of
cognitive impairment 394%, an alarming study by England 's University of Exeter finds. And most Americans lack vitamin D. Experts recommend a daily dose of 800 IU to 2,000 IU of vitamin D3.
9. Fill your brain. It's called "cognitive reserve." A rich accumulation of life experiences - education, marriage, socializing, a stimulating job, language skills, having a purpose in life, physical activity and mentally demanding leisure activities - makes your brain better able to tolerate plaques and tangles. You can even have significant Alzheimer's pathology and no symptoms of dementia if you have high cognitive reserve, says David Bennett, M.D., of Chicago 's Rush University Medical Center .
10. Avoid infection. Astonishing new evidence ties Alzheimer's to cold sores, gastric ulcers, Lyme disease, pneumonia and the flu. Ruth Itzhaki, Ph.D., of the University of Manchester in England estimates the cold-sore herpes simplex virus is incriminated in 60% of Alzheimer's cases. The theory: Infections trigger excessive beta amyloid "gunk" that kills brain cells. Proof is still lacking, but why not avoid common infections and take appropriate vaccines, antibiotics
and antiviral agents?

What to Drink for Good Memory
A great way to keep your aging memory sharp and avoid Alzheimer's is to drink the right stuff.
a. Tops: Juice. A glass of any fruit or vegetable juice three times a week slashed Alzheimer's odds 76% in Vanderbilt University research. Especially protective:blueberry, grape and apple juice, say other studies.
b. Tea: Only a cup of black or green tea a week cut rates of cognitive decline in older people by 37%, reports the Alzheimer's Association. Only brewed tea works. Skip bottled tea, which is devoid of antioxidants.
c. Caffeine beverages. Surprisingly, caffeine fights memory loss and Alzheimer's, suggest dozens of studies. Best sources: coffee (one Alzheimer's researcher drinks five cups a day), tea and chocolate. Beware caffeine if you are pregnant, have high blood pressure, insomnia or anxiety.
d. Red wine: If you drink alcohol, a little red wine is most apt to benefit your
aging brain. It's high in antioxidants. Limit it to one daily glass for women,
two for men. Excessive alcohol, notably binge drinking, brings on Alzheimer's.
e. Two to avoid: Sugary soft drinks, especially those sweetened with high fructose corn syrup. They make lab animals dumb. Water with high copper content also can up your odds of Alzheimer's. Use a water filter that removes excess minerals.

In our following publication we will provide will provide more information on "Caring for Alzheimer's"For more information please contact the St. Maarten Alzheimer's Foundation on HOTLINE 9220 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To support the campaign please contact any member of the Rotary Club of St. Maarten or The St. Maarten Alzheimer's Foundation.

Philipsburg:--- President of Parliament Hon. Gracita Arrindell met with the Manager of the St. Maarten Nature Foundation Tadzio Bervoets on Thursday morning to discuss the foundation's role in environmental matters.

Arrindell was very impressed with the amount of work the foundation carries out with only a staff of three.

The mission of the St. Maarten Nature Foundation is to preserve and enhance the natural environment of St. Maarten through proper management, education, public awareness, law enforcement, scientific research and monitoring relating to all aspects of the terrestrial, wetland and marine surroundings.

"The handing over of the management of the recently created official protected marine area 'Man of War Shoal Marine Park' to the Nature Foundation is a major development in the protection and sustainable management of our marine resources.

"The foundation will be able to charge a user fee which will contribute to its long-term sustainability. We are on the right track and this is only the beginning where it concerns the protection of our environment," President of Parliament Hon. Gracita Arrindell said on Thursday.

The meeting with the Nature Foundation is part of the 'information gathering consultation sessions,' that Arrindell started after the parliamentary summer recess.

Bervoets mentioned a number of challenges that the foundation is concerned about such as water runoff (mud, sewage) which is causing damage to the coral reefs; lionfish in local waters; overfishing; foreign sports fishermen catching sharks; sewage in the Simpson Bay Lagoon, coastal development; and spear fishing.

Nature Foundation Manager Bervoets mentioned his concern of plastic bags which he would like to see phased out and biodegradable plastic sacks introduced.

President of Parliament Hon. Gracita Arrindell was very impressed with the work activities of the foundation and informed Bervoets that she will recommend to the parliament Permanent Committee for Public Housing, Spatial Development, Environment and Infrastructure to take a tour of the marine reserve area.

The St. Maarten Nature Foundation has been invited to make a presentation to the Central Committee of Parliament in September.

Maho:--- Officers of the detective and forensic department responded early Sunday morning at Maho Beach when they were notified that the body of an unknown man was floating in the water close to the Sunset Beach bar.
A press release from Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson states that the body was floating in the direction of Maho Reef when police were informed. Henson said the moment they were informed the police patrols, coast guard, the ambulance department and several detectives were dispatched to the scene. The Police Spokesman said when police arrived at the scene they found the lifeless body of a man which was removed from the water by onlookers.

An attempt by the paramedics was made to try to re-animate the victim, but to no avail. The doctor pronounced the death of the victim at approximately 10:55am and deduced that the victim had died of drowning. During the investigation by the Detectives and Forensic Department, no signs of foul play were found. The identity of the victim who seems to be of Asian descent, between 25 and 30 years of age, approximately 1.80 meters tall, with a slim posture and black hair(cut short) is not yet known.

Cole Bay:--- United Peoples (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Jules James says he read last week in the media that the newly appointed Lions Club President Merlin Schamminee will be focusing on developing initiatives around the current crime situation with initial emphasis on the nation's youth.
According to the media report, the civic organization is planning on taking measures to break the cycle of violence. Initiatives will cater to neglected kids and parents who are in a struggle to balance work and developing their children's growth.
"I would like to commend the newly appointed Lion's Club President for coming with an initiative to tackle crime from the perspective of a civic organization. I believe that the non-governmental organization sector needs to come together and combine their resources in manpower to fight crime by offering another way to persons who fall through the cracks of society.
"We must find healthy alternatives to attract our young vibrant and energetic young people. We can blame not only our youths, but parents, social and spiritual leaders for not attempting to find solutions to these social ills. Our young people play an absolute integral part in our society and as such they deserve to find their place. I therefore recommend we provide for alternative alcohol/drug free activities for our youth.
"We must develop different activities throughout the year for and with our youth in mind that are both adventurous and sports oriented. Another area we could concentrate on is developing scholastic activities; such as poster competitions, spelling B's, arts and science competition and even community service projects such as visiting and sharing at the senior citizens home, and helping to educate other youths in the community.
"I believe this as well as other similar ways are but a start to encourage our youths to be responsible citizens that must also give back to society. Every individual, every family and every organization has a role to play," United People's party MP Jules James said on Sunday.
UP MP James is also appealing to the Christian community to deliberate with their membership in playing a role of building morals and values in society which have deteriorated over the years. James added that the church community could play an important role in healing the nation via their youth wings.
"Our country is not the only nation that is facing the challenges of various social ills. St. Kitts and Nevis have already recorded approximately two dozen murders so far for the year.
"Look at England a few weeks ago and the social unrest that broke out in a number of cities across the country over a four day period. The anti-social behavior has been blamed on a broken society. We need all sectors working together in mending the cracks that exist in society. Not one sector can do it alone and I welcome the initiative of the Lions Club," UP MP Jules James said on Sunday.

During the month of August, Chipster (the youth program of Chippie) held a back to school special for Chipster members doing their back 2 school shopping. Any Chipster member making a purchase of $75 or more at Office 1 Superstore, Van Dorp or Klass Electronics would instantly win great prizes provided by various Chipster Buddies. Chipster Buddies are companies taking part in the Chipster program by offering special discounts and bonuses to Chipsters when they shop as their establishments. Chipster Buddies Bubble Tea, KFC, Extravagance Braids, Domino's Pizza, The Movie Stop all provided prizes as well as, of course, Chippie.

In addition to the instant prizes, Chipsters were also eligible to participate in a Raffle to win a Coby Tablet courtesy of Klass Electronics. The winner of this grand prize was announced on Friday, August 26th, 2011 on Laser 101.1FM during The J-Zone by host Party Dude Jason. 10 year-old Allison Healy was the winning Chipster member. This Hillside Christian School Grade 5 student became eligible to win while purchasing her back to school supplies at Office 1 Superstore this summer. "I was buying all my school supplies when the lady out the counter explained the promotion and the Chipster program to me," said 10 year old Allison. "So I went to Pete's Photo and signed up fast. I got my card right away and went back to Office 1 to buy my stuff. I'm so happy I did."

Sign-up for the Chipster campaign can be done for free by visiting Pete's Photo on the Bush road. Participants need to be under 26 years of age and have a Chippie phone. Advantages of the Chipster program are that members call each other at a reduced rate per minute and members also get discounts and special offers at participating Chipster Buddies. Chipster Buddies include Domino's Pizza, KFC, Bubble Tea, Sun Nails and many more.

The Hague/Great Bay:--- Day two of Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, Dr. Rhoda Arrindell's first official visit to The Netherlands went smoothly. She visited the S4 offices, along with her Policy Advisor, Calvin Mardenbrough and Head of Study Financing, Antonio Aventurin. The delegation was given a tour of the offices by S4 Director, drs. Marva Richardson, who introduced them to the staff.
Following a meeting with the board of S4, the minister and her delegation were given a very enlightening presentation by Rubina Boasman on the topic of excellence in higher education and what should be done to better prepare our students.
The Minister, who accompanied a group of 66 St. Martin students to The Netherlands Sunday, continues her visit this week with scheduled meetings with Dutch education authorities.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) from the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labour, is reminding households and business establishments to continue to take preventative measures against rodents.

Rodent control is managed by the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labour in conjunction with the community. In February the CPS had appealed to the community to take measures in order to keep the rodent population under control.

Rodents are a fact of life but we can reduce their numbers by working together in protecting our homes by making them rodent proof. The success of this and any program is dependent upon collaboration between government, citizens, and the community at large. Based on the fact rodents can spread infectious diseases it is recommended to keep the rodent population at a minimum and away from your homes. You can help keep rodents away from your home by depriving them of shelter and food by following a few simple guidelines.

Keep your entire premises clean. Seal garbage in tightly covered metal or heavy rubberized containers; don't use containers like bags or boxes. All garbage should be bagged before it is placed in your garbage bins, a sealed container. Drain and wrap food waste before putting it into can. Keep cans at least 18 inches off the ground and keep can surroundings clean.

Store food items in rat-proof areas and/or into containers. Don't store food in the garage or outside. Clean up any spilled food immediately. Don't leave out uneaten pet food. Clean dog droppings up daily. Don't put bird seed on the ground; rodents will get it first. If you use a bird feeder, the area under and around it must be kept free of seeds and hulls.

Seal cracks or breaks in your foundation and repair holes in the floor, around pipes, screen doors, windows, vents and other openings into your home to prevent rodents from entering. Outside steps should be made out of concrete/masonry. Keep the space beneath wooden steps clean.

Keep all stored material at least 18" off the floor. Set furniture and appliances flush with the wall or far enough away so that the space between them and the wall can be easily cleaned. Keep all areas clean; keep the rodent outside, rodent proof your home.

For more information on eliminating rodents, call 542-2078/23003.

Philipsburg:--- The SHTA on behalf of its hotel members organized a session on Thursday afternoon with representatives of the Ministry of Tourism. The meeting, which was meant to be a marketing strategy meeting, acted as a brainstorming session between the hoteliers and the staff of the tourism bureau on branding and marketing activities.
The hoteliers received updates on:

• The performance of airlines
• Status of the marketing reps
• Plans to reestablish the joint marketing committee with the French side and
• The TSIS –Tourism Statistical Information System-, which will be entering its first phase of testing in the coming weeks.

Additionally, regarding the Tourism Authority, SHTA was informed that it is top priority for the Ministry and that the aim is still to have it in place January 2012.
During the session, hotel representatives had the opportunity to ask questions and relay their concerns regarding the industry; the discussion was open, honest and fruitful.
The President of SHTA, E. Lee and the Director of the Tourist Office, M. Chun reiterated the need for public private cooperation especially in the area of tourism. The meeting concluded with both parties agreeing to develop an island promotion for the upcoming winter season and would like to see support from the business community.
The SHTA is busy organizing a follow up session on Tuesday August 9th at the SHTA office to develop its marketing committee and decide on a winter promotion.

Philipsburg:--- The Central Committee of Parliament will be meeting with the Bankers Association on August 9 with respect to the banker's perception of current developments related to the national economy.

President of Parliament Hon. drs. Gracita Arrindell, says that the discussions with parliamentarians also comes at a good time with the current volatile situation in the global financial markets, where banker's could shed some light on possible implications for small developing countries like Sint Maarten.

The Central Committee meeting will take place in the General Assembly Chamber of Parliament at 10.00am on Tuesday.

"The instability in the United States and Europe is creating an unsatisfactory global climate with talk in the U.S. of a double dip recession.

"The decision on Friday by credit rating agency Standard & Poor's to downgrade U.S. government debt is another issue of concern.

"The European Central Bank on Sunday held emergency talks with respect to how to contain spreading turmoil on financial markets and the debt of European Union member countries.

"We have all witnessed what has played out with respect to Ireland, Greece, Portugal, and now Italy is next in line with possibly Spain not far away.

"Besides parliament getting insight into the current economic situation on the island, the impact of the global situation would give a complete picture of what possible interventions should be taken to safeguard our own national economy," President of President Hon. Gracita Arrindell said on Sunday.

Philipsburg:--- Member of Parliament George Pantophlet says that in order to re-energize the economy government must deal with the tax issues. One of the solutions is to write off taxes owed prior to 2005. After this is done government must be consistent in ensuring that business and people live up to their responsibilities when it comes to filing and paying their taxes. The receiver's office is very strict now in trying to collect taxes and again he understands that it is important or else government can't meet its obligations such as payrolls, infrastructure and so on. What he finds unfair however is that when it comes to refunding business or persons one has to wait months sometimes an entire year before receiving their tax refunds. It would be interesting to know how much the receiver owes persons for tax refunds prior to 2005. It would be interesting to know the amount of assessments by the inspectorate of taxes, it would be interesting to know how many protest letters have been submitted, it would be interesting to know how many court cases are ongoing. It would be interesting to know how much government has spent in pursuing these cases. It would be interesting to know how much is really collectible. In discussions with several persons on this issue a remark was made that especially businesses will benefit or dodge the proverbial bullet especially if they knowingly refuse to file and consequently pay their taxes as the staffing and equipment to make sure that they comply was and still is lacking. The Member of Parliament says he is compelled again to address the problem of the people who have paid the most and are benefiting the least, our pensioners. In 2005, the Member of Parliament said that during a discussion on the 2005 budget he had asked the then Commissioner of Finance Sarah Wescot-Williams to inform the people of St. Maarten on how much was paid in taxes by the pensioners. The response was that this information was private. Can you imagine that information regarding a public document was considered private? The intention behind the question was to get a target of what needs to be raised within the budget to offset the probable loss from excluding pensioners who have already paid their fair share of taxes. First of all, no pensioner should be paying taxes on their pension. Secondly, their additional income which can consist of rent/self-employment should only be taxed for example if it is above 6000 guilders per month or 72000 guilders per annum. The amount of income above the 72000 guilders will be taxed. In other words, if the total income per annum is 90,000 guilders then they would be taxed on the 18000 guilders. Anything below the 72000 guilders will not be taxed. (The proposed amounts are not written in stone).The spirit of the proposal to assist the senior citizens and to recognize that they have already made their contributions and paid their taxes and now should not be taxed again on funds they paid to Government, banks, Insurance Companies etc. to hold for them and return to them during their senior years. In other words, one should not be taxed for their own money that they in good faith entrusted to a third party for some 30/40 years, when it is now being returned to them. The Member of Parliament says that in a subsequent article he will be making suggestions on how to generate funds make up for the shortfall.

La Savane:--- The Gendarmerie managed to secure an additional Captain to their team announced Commandant Stephen Brunet on Tuesday. The new Captain is Matthieu Glavieux who began working as of August 1st 2011 on St. Martin. Glavieux will spend about three years in the Antilles as this is his second appointment since finishing school in 2007.
The new Captain said he wanted to experience working as a gendarme in the Overseas Territories so that he could broaden his knowledge as a young gendarme. He specialized in general security and would be focusing on the island's delinquency. Commandant Brunet said the additional manpower would allow the gendarmerie to focus more deeply in each case they are called to investigate.

Philipsburg:--- Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunications Franklin Meyers, would like to reassure the community that Government is closely monitoring the volatile situation in the global financial markets due to continuing concerns about weak economic growth and high levels of debt in both the United States and in Europe.

Within the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunications, an "Economic Monitoring Committee (EMC)" was established earlier in the year comprising of representatives of various government departments within the ministry to monitor economic developments.

The U.S. Federal Reserve said that U.S. economic growth was considerably slower than expected. Last week when one of the leading ratings agency downgraded the U.S. government's credit rating from the top AAA grade, this sent stock markets across the globe in a tailspin.

"Investors are concerned how the high debt burden in Europe and the U.S. are going to be handled if the global economy slows down further.

"There are a number of factors playing a role. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) already reported back in June that global economic activity is slowing down pointing out that global expansion remains unbalanced.

"This means that in the developed world such as in Europe and the United States, growth remains still weak. The world economy is still in a recession since the financial crisis back in late 2008. At this point in time, we will continue to monitor global developments closely.

"The impact on the local economy will also be closely monitored via our EMC. Based on an analysis, we will determine any future plans of actions. At the moment Government remains steadfast in developing the nation's infrastructure which pumps money into the local economy.

"Secondly, government will work with investors who have shown interests in investing in the island which can contribute to the further improvement in the quality of life for our people. The creation of jobs is first and foremost," Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunications Franklin Meyers said on Tuesday.

The IMF reports that a mild slowdown was observed in the second quarter of 2011. On the positive side, growth in most emerging and developing economies continues to be strong.

Philipsburg:--- Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams announced on Wednesday during the Council of Ministers press briefing that several issues of concern to St. Maarten were discussed during her meeting with the President of the Central Bank Emsley Tromp.
The Prime Minister said issues such as the upgrading of the Central Bank office on St. Maarten were discussed including government's request on a loan through bonds to complete the new government building on Pond Island. Prime Minister Wescot Williams said the President of the Central Bank is busy working on the plans of approach on the separation of the Central Bank and the consequences it would have on the two countries namely Curacao and St. Maarten. Also to be included in the plans of approach are the proposals to deal with the consequences. The Central Bank is also busy preparing a report for St. Maarten on currency as was requested.
Wescot Williams said on January 6th the government of St. Maarten made a request through the CFT for 76 million guilders. These monies she said was to be used to complete the new government building on Pond Island. Wescot Williams said according to the breakdown, 49 million guilders was to be used for the completion of the building while 27 million guilders was to be used to pay off the pre-financing of the building. The Prime Minister said the new government building is costing government monies on a weekly basis. She said government will need another 3.8 million guilders for the site cost that is now building up. Wescot Williams said that it is important for government to acquire the loan through bonds to complete the new government building since it is costing government a lot of monies.
The Prime Minister also confirmed that the Central Bank has been paying the one percent license fee that is collected by the Central Bank for the government of St. Maarten. She said the Central Bank has paid approximately 2 million guilders per month in licenses fee to St. Maarten.

...

Philipsburg:--- The newly elected Club President Toastmaster Joy Arnell, who is the assistant Head at the Social Department enthusiastically challenged the club members to bring the Government sponsored club to President Distinguished status with all 10 goals achieved and promised that all club members will reap the benefits of the program.
During the meeting the Club President introduced her power team/board;
Vice President Education: Toastmaster Julisa Frans of the Section Financial Policy, Taxes and Budgeting Department under the Ministry of Finance.
Treasurer: Toastmaster Catherine Conner-Arrindell of the Section Financial Policy, Taxes and Budgeting Department under the Ministry of Finance.
Secretary: Toastmaster Swinda Richardson, of the Collective Prevention Service of the Ministry of Public Heal Social Development and Labor.
Vice President Membership: Toastmaster Rodney Richardson of the Department of Communication under the Ministry of General Affairs.
Vice President Public Relations: Toastmaster Leona Romeo Marlin of the Civil Registry Department under the Ministry of General Affairs
Sergeant of Arms: Toastmaster Linette Gibs of the Ministry of Education.
For the upcoming term the club members will be approaching each Ministry to share the benefits of Toastmasters and encourage civil servants to join as the purpose of Toastmasters International is to help members improve their communication, public speaking and leadership skills. The next meeting is scheduled for August 24th at 5:15pm in the Claude Wathey Legislative Hall.

Philipsburg:--- Imbali Center for Creative Movement will reopen for the 2011-2012 school year on Monday, August 22nd with a full roster of established and new classes, this according to Imbali Founder and Director, Clara Reyes.
Reyes said that usually classes at Imbali started exactly when all schools on the island re-opened, but this year due to the robberies and attempted robberies at the John Larmonie Center the annual open house which signals the launch of the new year had to be postponed one week.
"The robberies really set us back a bit, because the thieves took all our sound equipment and so we were forced to push back our start date, because we had no music. However, with the help of the community, in particular Bergees Vision and Sound, we were able to at least begin within a short period of time," Reyes explained.
According to Reyes, during the registration and open house period people can try out classes for themselves and their children for only $1 per class. Classes offered are Jazz, African, Hip-Hop, Ballet, Zumba and the newer Gymnastics, Dramatic Reading, and Crochet.
Reyes said that Gymnastics would be offered by Gratienne Riom, an instructor who runs her own gymnastics school on the French side of the island. The class is open to students 6-18 and individuals have to audition for a spot in this class. Auditions will take place next Wednesday, August 24 at 4pm at the Imbali dance studio in the John Larmonie Center and students will be notified immediately if they have been placed.
The dramatic reading class is also new to the Imbali schedule and is a combination of drama and reading. Reyes explained that the class would be emphasizing the mechanics of speech including diction, breathing exercises, dynamic reading and would expose children to literature and theatre.
Finally a Saturday afternoon crochet class is also being introduced this year. Students will learn the traditional art of needle work from instructor Rosemary Whitter-Wyatt from 3-5pm.
Reyes said that in order to give parents something to do while their children were in classes a Zumba fitness and coaching class was being offered by Maribelle Postiena during the Saturday morning hours.
"This way parents can remain in the building while their kids are in classes and do not have leave and come back. They can use the time instead to work on their own personal fitness, by a certified instructor, and enjoy a work-out for themselves," Reyes said.
Reyes said that more information pertaining to the open house and class schedule was available on Imbali's FaceBook webpage. Interested persons can also pass by Imbali's office at the John Larmonie Center on Longwall Road every afternoon between 2-8pm.

The countdown has begun! With just 88 days left, the SHTA will once again be gathering the who's who of the tourism industry and community of St. Maarten on Friday, November 18th 2011 for the 6th Annual Crystal Pineapple Awards Fundraiser.

This event was established by the association in 2006 to recognize outstanding individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the tourism industry and the community in general. Over the years, this event has grown into a prestigious gala affair with significant importance within the community.

The organizing committee is currently reviewing the award categories and is welcoming suggestions from the community. Are there individuals/ organizations that you feel deserve recognition but do not fit in to our existing categories? Send your suggestion to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The start date to submit nominations will be announced in a consequent release.

For more information, please contact the SHTA office at 542-0108.

Philipsburg:--- August 23 will mark International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, as proclaimed by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. This day is observed on an annual basis by the international community.

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) sought to pay tribute to the tireless struggle of the slaves for their freedom.

The uprising that took place on the island of Santo Domingo, today known as Haiti and the Dominican Republic, during the night of 22 to 23 August 1791, shook the slave system to its core and radically and irreversibly provided the impetus for the process which would eventually lead to the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.

"I think it is very important that we take time out to reflect on the causes and consequences, including modern forms of slavery, and to encourage solidarity with the peoples that have suffered because of slavery and to celebrate the abolition of slavery.

"I would encourage our schools to link up with UNESCO every August 23 and commemorate this important day by having class awareness activities.

"UNESCO has a program commonly called "Associated Schools Project Network" (ASPnet). It is a global network of more than 9000 educational institutions in 180 countries. I encourage teachers to check out the UNESCO website and check out the program," President of President Hon. Gracita Arrindell said on Monday.

St. Peters:--- In response to a request from the Starlight Educational Center for assistance with their worn-out school furniture, The Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise contacted some school boards in the Netherlands if they could help out. The result was presented last Wednesday when 40 school desks and chairs for children age 4 to 6 were delivered at the school in St. Peters.

The Starlight Educational Center is one of the unfunded primary schools that relies mainly on volunteers and sponsors to survive. This school year some 130 children are expected to attend the school. Since the school's furniture is in dire need of repair or – even better – replacement, the director Mrs. Carmen Hodge asked the Sunrise Rotary to lend a hand.

The Club's president Hendrik-Jan van Ieperen found the director of the Prins Claus School in Tiel, the Netherlands, willing to make available the school's kindergarten furniture. The transport from Tiel to Sint Maarten was handled by moving company Voerman International. The company was so kind to cover a considerable amount of the expenses. Prof-Pac Moving Services N.V. offered to take care of the handling and transportation on Sint Maarten.

Mrs. Hodge and the staff of the Starlight Educational Center were very happy to finally receive the desks and chairs. As of Monday the children will be able to sit at their new desks and enjoy the rest of the school year. The Club expressed its gratitude to the Prins Claus School, Voerman International, Prof-Pac and the van Ieperen family in Holland who made this first delivery possible. Currently the Sunrise Rotary Club is trying to find desks for the older children as well.

Sunrise Rotary Club meets every Tuesday at the Restaurant Air Lekkerbek (near the Prince Bernhard Bridge) at 7:00AM to 8:00AM

Philipsburg:--- Representatives from the environmental and heritage foundation paid tribute to the late Emilio Wilson on Sunday afternoon where a small ceremony was held for Wilson's 100th birthday. Those represented on Sunday were the Monument Foundation, Heritage Foundation, Sint Maarten PRIDE foundation, SIMARC, Emilio Wilson Estate Foundation, and Emilio Wilson Cultural and Historical Park. Also at the gathering was the President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell.
Jadira Veen of the St. Maarten Pride Foundation said it is the desire of St. Maarten Pride Foundation to have the Emilio Wilson Park is made into a national park. She said Mr. Wilson was a humble St. Maartener who kept his property green and the only one who agreed to donate the property for a park. Veen called on the President of Parliament to do whatever is necessary to make sure the Emilio Wilson Park is preserved.
While the representative for the Heritage Foundation called on Arrindell to make sure a street or road is named in honor of Emilio Wilson.

Click here to view photos of the 100th Birthday Ceremony of Emilio Wilson.

Philipsburg:--- The Government of St. Maarten has launched a training and employment program which is financed by the Social Economic Initiative (SEI). Employability through Training is the merging of two SEI projects said project leader Nikima Groeneveldt-Hickinson. The first project catered to adults who are currently unemployed and are between the ages of 18 to 45 while the second project focuses on persons who are currently on welfare and caters to people between the ages of 18 to 55.
The labor department is currently focusing on 250 people who are unemployed and has registered for the program. Groeneveldt-Hickinson said one of the setbacks for the unemployed is that they are under educated. Government's objective is train the unemployed prior to contacting the stakeholders to secure gainful employment. Groeneveldt-Hickinson made clear that government would need the cooperation of the stakeholders if the program is to be successful.
Persons that are interested in the program are asked to register at the helpdesk in their community. Professional and development skills entail how one should apply for a job, customer service skills are considered to be of high priority, while communication and computer skills are also on list for training. The budget for the program is Naf. 913,500.00 and it is expected to last two years.
The training will take place in four stages, the first phase of the program is already in progress and is scheduled to end in November 2011. The second stage will begin in November which will focus on training the participants. Local institutions will be given the opportunity to bid on the training program.
"Employability through training" will aim at training persons currently registered as unemployed and are on welfare for the job market. Groeneveldt-Hickinson said for the year 2011 106 persons registered as unemployed, 29 of which have high school education while 49 have elementary education.

Betty's Estate:--- Neighbors and relatives of 79 year old Victor Thomas found him alive in the bushes in Betty's Estate late Tuesday afternoon. His niece Sherlyne Winklaar told SMN News that Thomas was found across from the Minister of Health and Labor's house in the bushes where he was trapped. Winklaar said her uncle was found by one of his neighbors who is no stranger to the hills of St. Maarten. "Margaret went up in the bushes on Tuesday afternoon and she found him trapped in a hole." Medical personnel responded to the scene and transported Thomas who is an Alzheimer's patient to the St. Maarten Medical Center for treatment as he was severely dehydrated.
Winklaar said her uncle even though dehydrated told them he went to look for his brother, she said he also responded well to the medical personnel by telling them his name. Thomas was missing since Friday afternoon his niece and other neighbors said.

Philipsburg:--- A small wooden structure located next to Super Plaza in Philipsburg caught fire late Tuesday afternoon confirmed Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson. Henson said the building is the home of a barber but the barber said he does not know how the building caught fire. The businessman's car also suffered damage said Henson. The Police Spokesman said the barber known as "Rafa" was not at home when the fire ignited. The businessman lost all his belongings and is now homeless.
Police and the fire department personnel were at the scene putting out the blaze while conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the fire. Henson further explained that Super Plaza suffered minor smoke damage.

Great Bay:--- It's official. It's a bestseller! From Yvette's Kitchen To Your Table – A Treasury of St. Martin's Traditional & Contemporary Cuisine by Yvette Hyman has sold out, according to House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP).
In a record seven weeks after its June 2011 release here, less than 80 copies of the cookbook are left in bookstores and with the author's family representatives charged with distribution, said Jacqueline Sample, HNP president.
The decision on whether to reprint a new batch of From Yvette's Kitchen ... lies with the family of the late award-winning chef, said the publisher.
"We are very thankful to the people of St. Martin for embracing Yvette's cookbook. The visitors to our island also bought many copies of this beautifully designed book of the nation's cuisine," said Sample.
From Yvette's Kitchen is made up of 13 chapters, including Appetizers, Soups, Poultry, Fish and Shellfish, Meat, Salads, Dumplings, Rice and Fungi, Breads, and Desserts.
The 312-page full color book includes recipes for Souse, the ever-popular Johnny cake, and Conch Yvette's. Lamb stew, coconut tart, guavaberry, and soursop drink are also among the over 200 recipes à la Yvette in this Treasury of St. Martin's Traditional & Contemporary Cuisine, said Sample.
"We hope that this cookbook's success also adds to the indicator of the performance and importance of books published in the Caribbean," said Sample.
The other HNP book that sold out in such a short time was the 1989 poetry collection Golden Voices of S'maatin. That first title by Ruby Bute had sold out in about three months and has since been reprinted, said Sample.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on Monday continued to monitor the progress of an approaching tropical wave/low pressure system, which early Monday evening became Tropical Storm Emily.

Tropical Storm Emily does not pose a threat to Sint Maarten.

A number of tropical storm watches and warnings were posted Monday evening for the Windward Islands and parts of the Leeward Island chain.

EFFECT ON LOCAL CONDITIONS according to the Meteorological Department of Curacao:

Winds: Monday evening, northeasterly to easterly, wind speeds increasing gradually to about 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 40 mph, mainly in showers. Tuesday through Wednesday, easterly, becoming gradually southeasterly, 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 45 mph, mainly in showers.

Seas: Easterly swells will continue to build gradually tonight. Seas will be rough from tonight through Wednesday.

Rainfall: Periods with thundershowers will occur from late tonight through Wednesday morning. Total rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches are possible, resulting locally in flooding of low lying areas.

The Department of Disaster Management (ODM) would like to thank the populace for their attention paid over the weekend and today Monday with respect to this weather system.

Tropical Storm Emily is a stark reminder that the hurricane season is upon us and we are approaching the peak period of the season that runs from mid-August to mid-October. Residents are reminded to maintain a state of readiness throughout this period.

Remember, it only takes one. Be prepared.

Distinguished Guests,
Fellow St. Martiners,
Ladies and Gentlemen;

 

Good morning!
Welcome to The Netherlands!
Today is the first day of your journey into a future that only you can determine. We left St. Martin yesterday with mixed emotions. We left behind family, friends, and loved ones. We also left behind familiar sights, smells, and a tropical climate you are surely going to miss for some time. I hope you have adjusted your watches because even the time here is different.
You are here on a mission. You are here on a personal quest for higher education. And you are also here as ambassadors of your island. Your mission is clear: study. Your personal quest for academic glory must make you do your best in school. And your role as St. Martin's young ambassadors demands that you should be on your best behavior throughout your stay here in The Netherlands.
Although you carry a Dutch passport, which entitles you legally to certain privileges here, you are first and foremost St. Martiners. Don't you ever forget where you come from or who you for. Your stay here is not a permanent one; you are sojourners in a land that you can only call home for the duration of your studies. But your real home is the Rock, the 37-sq. mile island in the Caribbean Sea you just waved good bye to yesterday.
Your purpose here is to acquire as much knowledge as possible that you can use to build up that home we all know as St. Martin. And you have to do so in the allotted time, or else, your hosts might even impose a 3,000 euro fine on you for not finishing on time, if discussions this year in the Dutch Second Chamber regarding higher education are anything to go by. Whether this becomes a reality or not, the fact of the matter is that the Dutch government wants you to finish your studies on time and return to your own island. The St. Martin government wants the same. We want you to complete your studies in record time and return to build the St. Martin nation we can all be proud of.
Is that as easy as it sounds? Yes and No. Yes, if you remain dedicated to your studies and committed to making your contribution to the development of your own island. And No because nothing comes easy that is worth it.
Let me put it bluntly to you: St. Martin has nurtured you to this point and cannot afford to lose you. In fact, St. Martin expects to reap significant dividends from its investment in you. It will not be fair, it will not be just, for you to prolong your stay here unnecessarily or remain here after you have completed your studies to help to further develop a country that is already far more developed than your homeland. This is tantamount to St. Martin having to raise you, and train you for the benefit of The Netherlands! They call that "brain drain" and it is my fervent hope that you will not be counted among that number.
I stress this point because available information is not very heart-warming. For example, it takes an average of six to seven years for students who study in The Netherlands to obtain their first degree, whereas it is only four years for those who study in North America. What is more worrisome is that the same information indicates that very few return to the island who came to study in The Netherlands. I am appealing to you to make sure you are not one of those. St. Martin needs you! Every one of you! It is not just a question of patriotism, it is an urgent necessity as we build this new nation that we want to be the pride of all.
Studying away from home, especially in The Netherlands, has its challenges, but it also has its advantages. You will learn the meaning of "freedom" here because you will be virtually on your own. You will be the CEO of your time and energy. You will be the CFO of your funds. The success of this company called "YOU" will depend solely on you. You will have no one to blame if you fail but yourself. Use your new found freedom wisely, knowing that freedom without responsibility is "freeness" or better yet, "licentiousness". Be responsible at all times; you owe it to yourself.
As young students, I urge you to seize all the opportunities you might have now to travel and see the world. I am sure you will find student rates for travel throughout Europe and beyond. Travel is education; the type of education that lasts a lifetime and that you often won't find in a classroom. And just so that you know, you might not have the time nor money again in future to travel as you wish. The demands of job, family and other responsibilities would diminish your ability to travel after you finish your studies and return home to work.
And speaking of work, you will recall that on several occasions, I had stressed that it is government's duty to provide you with the opportunity to study; it is, however, not government's responsibility to find a job for you. That is something you should start doing from your very first year.
How you might ask? If, for instance, you have to do an internship, consider doing it at home. In that way, you would be establishing a working relationship with a company or agency that could result in your immediate employment after you finish school.
Technology has indeed transformed the whole world into a global village. We live in the Information Age, and with a click of the mouse or a touch of the screen, you can access all the information you need. This means you have no excuse for not staying in touch with home. You may have left St. Martin, but please do not let St. Martin leave you. Communicate as frequently as possible with those you have left behind. Visit the many St. Martin websites where you can keep abreast of developments on the island. In particular, check the government website regularly for information about opportunities in the administration.
Of course, you have S4 and the St. Martin House here to assist you in whatever way possible. But stay in touch with home. Get on Skype or any other Voice Over Internet Phone and have your friends and family join too, so you can speak with them for free.
As your Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, I will remain available to you at all times. Feel free to contact me or my cabinet if necessary. My telephone number is: 5237755. If you can't reach me by phone, send me an e-mail at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. I promise you will receive an answer from me as soon as possible.
You will make many new friends here; people from all over the world. Some of them will be life-long friends; others will be there just for this season. Choose your friends carefully. The company you keep could determine how far you reach with your studies.
Study hard! That is your main mission here. And pray. I will be praying for you, too, and I know the Almighty will never leave nor forsake you.
Welcome, once again to The Netherlands. Your future here means a lot to St. Martin. Make the best of it.
I thank you.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Minister of Plenipotentiary Hon. Mathias Voges on Wednesday received a courtesy visit from Hon. Dr. Minister of Education Rhoda Arrindell and her delegation who are on an official working visit to the Netherlands.

Philipsburg:--- On Wednesday the Secretary of the Committee for Financial Supervision (CFT) C. Van Nieuwamerongen and Jacob de Glee, met with President of Parliament Hon. drs. Gracita Arrindell.

Arrindell described the talks as open and frank. "It is good that we have these types of discussions on a regular basis in order to be able to make a positive contribution to the procedures and processes with respect to financial management," President of President Hon. Gracita Arrindell said on Wednesday.

C. Van Nieuwamerongen also concurred with Arrindell by saying he welcomed the open deliberations.

The discussions focused on the role of Parliament and the CFT as well as the role of the Governor. The annual accounts for 2010, budget preparation and execution as well as the role of the CFT giving advice on elements of economic growth were also addressed.

Philipsburg:--- The Police Internal Affairs Department has concluded their investigation against Inspector Ricardo Henson. In a press release, the Chief of Police Peter de Witte said the "fact finding investigation" done by the Police Internal Affairs against the Police Spokesman Inspector Ricardo Henson, regarding his alleged attempt to get one of his colleagues (a young detective) to tamper with evidence (remove certain information), in a robbery investigation, in which a family member was involved, has been concluded.

The Police Internal Affairs department has concluded that there are no grounds what so ever to conduct a disciplinary investigation against Inspector Henson. This investigation has shown that Henson at no time attempted to pressure his colleague to tamper with any evidence or at any time had any conversation to that effect with his colleague.
Henson merely informed the detective/colleague in question that as a father he would have his son report to the police station to give a statement in regard to that ongoing investigation. With this the investigation against Inspector Henson has come to an end. The Police Department continues to have full confidence and trust in the performance of Inspector Henson.

However, the Chief of Police did not say if the Police Department would be seeking to take any actions against detective Thomas, who accused Henson of pressuring him to remove information from his report.
SMN News will bring you more information on this story later this week.

Philipsburg:--- Some 13 police recruits departed St. Maarten on Monday August 8th to Curacao where they will be continuing their training to become full fledged police officers.
Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson said the recruits will be met by their appointed guardian Keturah Brown at the airport in Curacao.
Henson said the recruits will be taken to a military-base in Suffisant where they will be housed and part of their training will take place. The recruits are expected to be back in Sint Maarten at the end of September or early October. In Sint Maarten, the continuation of training, which is the largest part of the training, will take place. At the airport, family-members of the recruits that were on hand, took pictures, hugged and kissed the recruits as they bid them farewell. Words of encouragement on behalf of the Chief of Police Peter de Witte, who could not be at the airport was given by the Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson. The recruits then departed for Curacao.

Philipsburg:--- The Prosecutor's Office has taken a decision to transfer three of the four murder investigations to the TGO team said Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos in an invited comment. Mos said the three cases that were sent over to the TGO team are the Arrindell brothers (Rodolfo and Miguel Arrindell) and Amador Jones. The detective department was busy investigating four murders that were committed this year and are yet to be solved. Mos said the idea is to see if a larger team would get closer to solving these cases.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams joined members and supporters of the Ready or Not Foundation in an early morning walkathon on Saturday, August 6th, starting at approximately 5 am.
The Prime Minister bought several tickets in support of the event, but also physically "walked the walk".
The walkathon saw a reasonable amount of walking enthusiasts and others who supported the Foundation's initiative in support of a cancer patient.
The walk started at the Maho roundabout and ended at the Emilio Wilson Park, where the first walkers arrived at about 6.45 am and enjoyed the breakfast, prepared for all participants.
Walking along with the Prime Minister were several members of her cabinet's staff and other civil servants. President of the Ready or Not Foundation is Mr. Perry Wilson.

Marigot:--- The three culprits who allegedly robbed a restaurant in Orient Bay on August 9th were arrested by the Gendarms. Two of the three suspects are minors and they are scheduled to appear in court in September and October reported the Gendarmerie in a press release.

Eye witnesses called the gendarmes while the suspects were in the act but two of them managed to escape before the gendarmes reached the scene by foot. The third suspect was caught with an amount of the stolen goods in the back of a getaway car.

The two suspects who escaped were later arrested, one of them turned out to be a repeat offender and was transferred to Guadeloupe.

In an unrelated case, a 20 year old man was sentenced to two years imprisonment, six months of which are suspended for slashing another man with a knife. The fight between two took place in French Quarter reported the Gendarmerie.

Philipsburg:--- The Windward Islands Bank employee Winia Antoine who was arrested last Friday for embezzlement and fraud last week Friday was released by the judge of instruction this Friday. According to Prosecutor Hans Mos, his office does not agree with the judge's decision because they do not believe that it is in best interest of the ongoing investigation. Mos said on Thursday that the suspect confessed to stealing large sums of monies.

SMN News learnt that the suspect fell ill while in custody and she had to be rushed to the St. Maarten Medical Center for treatment. Sources say that Mrs. Antoine is under a doctor's care and that was one of the reasons she was held at the Pointe Blanche Prison and not the Philipsburg Police holding cell.

Mos said the judge extended the detention but later suspended it. Winia Antoine is accused of stealing $150,000.00 from the Windward Islands Bank. He said the investigation is ongoing and they thought that it would have been proper to keep her in police custody.

It should be noted that Antoine held a senior position in the credit card department of the Windward Islands Bank and she placed the monies on her credit card, she also managed to elude the security system. Antoine worked for more than 20 years at WIB.

Cupecoy:--- Porto Cupecoy's Summer Concert Series Finale was a huge success. Orange Grove's last stop on their Caribbean tour rocked the Plaza all night long, with over 400 cheering fans! Guests were able to take in the atmosphere while enjoying the restaurants with both indoor and outdoor seating directly along the Plaza.

The energy was high for the entire night from both the crowd and the band who was looking forward to "rocking out for all their island people." Attendees could be found dancing and cheering, with calls for "encore," which Orange Grove was happy to oblige. With their smooth mix of reggae classics, modern hits and contemporary edge, Orange Grove has proven, once again, to be one of the biggest and best bands today!

Jeffrey Sochrin "Soc" of Island 92, acted as the evening's MC, keeping the night flowing and keeping the energy high. The Summer Concert Series finale concert has, yet again, shown that Porto Cupecoy is the place to be and is by far the best outdoor venue on the island. Orange Grove's performance was the perfect note on which to finish the series.

For more details, visit www.portocupecoy.com or the Arts in the Plaza Facebook page.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Preparations are well underway for the first Pregnancy Market organized by Youth Health Care (YHC), under the auspices of Collective Prevention Services (CPS) in collaboration with the Community Helpdesks under the Department of Community Development, Family & Humanitarian Affairs (CDFHA), both executing agencies of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour.

The pregnancy market is planned for August 31st at the Belair Community Center in Cay Hill from 6:00pm to 8:00pm and the entrance is free. Start marking your calendar.

The pregnancy market is for women who are planning a pregnancy, pregnant women, parents of newborns, and persons who would like information in order to make an informed decision about future pregnancy.

A number of businesses and organizations have already signed up at the YHC to take part in the pregnancy market which is being planned by Youth Health Care and the Community Helpdesks.

St. Georges:--- A Jamaican national known as "Yardie" was transferred to the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital on Wednesday evening after he was attacked by someone in Rue de St. Georges, French Quarter. According to information reaching SMN News, the victim was involved in a machete and baseball bat fight which left him seriously wounded. Commandant of the Gendarmerie Stephen Brunet confirmed the incident.
A press release from the Gendarmerie states that on August 17th shortly after 9pm the gendarmes were informed of a fight between two men in French Quarter. One of the men used a baseball bat to beat the other man known in the neighborhood as "Yardie."
The suspect who was arrested for questioning admitted to the gendarmes that he dealt the neighborhood rogue some blows because of his indecent behavior in the community.

St. Peters:--- At least 80% of the students attending the St. Maarten Academy (Academic and PSVE section) may face lock out as early as Monday confirmed Chairman of the St. Maarten Academy Alstain Van Dyke Bell in an interview with SMN News on Thursday.
Bell said that the Academy School board is forced to take drastic actions against the parents who are delinquent in paying their children's school fees. The newly elected chairman said the lack of payments has placed the school in a precarious financial position which has forced them to take action. Bell said the parental contributions (school fees) are meant to supplement the subsidy given to the school by government. He said every year they are faced with excessive amounts of repairs and the school has to be painted every year mainly because the students cause damages to the property. Bell said it is difficult to pinpoint the students who are constantly vandalizing the school and as such they are not able to go after the parents of the students who would damage the school property. Therefore, they have to use the school fees to conduct the repairs and to reinforce the laboratories with more equipment. Most of the students who are behind in payments come from the Academic section Bell said. Parents are asked to make the school fee payment to St. Maarten Academy account at the Bank of Nova Scotia. Bell said due to the increase in robberies and other crimes the school has decided to give parents the opportunity to make the payment through the bank. He said with today's technology parents do not need to leave their homes or offices to get the monies to pay the fees. The fees he said can be made online via online banking.
When asked if the actions that will be taken by the St. Maarten Academy School Board will not compromise compulsory education that is currently being implemented on St. Maarten. Bell said that the management of the St. Maarten Academy is currently trying to pinpoint all of the students who are behind in their payments for the past two to three years. Bell made clear that the St. Maarten Academy simply cannot continue if the payments are not being made. "There is a large sum of money that is outstanding and the monies can be used to upgrade the computer and science labs while there is need for more monies to purchase books. So we need the monies urgently to execute the projects that are pending."
A meeting he said will be called with the parents shortly to inform them of the decisions that were taken by the newly elected board. The school will also be sending out letters to the parents to inform them of the decision that was taken by the board for the delinquent parents.

Cay Hill:--- Doctors at the St. Maarten Medical Center had to perform an emergency operation on the owner of Total Security, Lester Boland on Friday afternoon. According to information reaching SMN News, Boland was accidentally shot in his home in Cole Bay. Sources say Boland who was celebrating his birthday on Friday was looking at a weapon he wanted to purchase from someone who took it to him.
SMN News learnt that Boland and his wife went home after having lunch when the third person visited him. It is understood that Boland was shot in his stomach. Police Spokesman Geronimo Juliet confirmed the shooting. Juliet said police believes the shooting was accidental.
Detectives and forensic workers were busy processing the crime scene on Friday afternoon. It is not known if anyone was arrested at this time.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- A number of staff members from various government departments recently attended a workshop to prepare them for the execution of the new Integrated Neighbourhood Development Program (INDP).

The departments involved were Department of Community Development, Family & Humanitarian Affairs, Labor Affairs, Social Affairs and the Department of Collective Prevention Services.

The workshop was a team building exercise for the aforementioned departments that would be involved with providing services at the community helpdesk.

The staff learnt elements of working as a team to ensure that optimal service is provided to members of the community and what constitutes a healthy attitude in human services.

Another element dealt with was community empowerment and a participation based approach to working in the community.

The Community Helpdesk to be established in three of the most populace districts will offer one-stop-shop community public services.

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

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

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

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

Facilitator for the workshop was Aisheline Maduro.

The SHTA was disappointed to learn that several thousand BTA applications have been denied with no further efforts planned to ensure that these individuals are legalized. While we all agree that the BTA process may not have run as smoothly as it could have, the strenuous circumstances which these undocumented residents chose to undergo in order to become part of the formal economy, pay taxes and contribute to the development of this Country should not be overlooked. The BTA process was finally a solution for them to become legal in an island that they've called home for years and more importantly to minimize the large illegal sector on the island and stem the abuse with regard to labor and taxation. If several thousand people are going to be rejected, then clearly the primary goal of legalizing long term residents was not achieved.

The SHTA is also concerned about the fees collected by the Island territory. As we understood, persons were not supposed to have to pay those fees unless there was acceptance and validity by the immigration department. Will those fees be refunded now that there is no validity?

The SHTA believes a structural solution needs to be found for these several thousand applicants. SHTA would recommend that this issue be picked up in a tripartite setting.

Sint Maarten:--- Sonesta Resorts Sint Maarten has partnered with Sunwing to debut new vacations packages on November 6, 2011. Operating year-round, charter flights will fly from Toronto and Montreal to the Caribbean island of Sint Maarten and feature all-inclusive stays at Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort & Casino and Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino.

"We are very excited to feature such a well-reputed Canadian operator," says Armando Pizzuti, general manager of Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino. "This initiative will help increase the island of Sint Maarten's awareness amongst Canadian travelers, with potential to welcome an additional 1,000 guests per week."

The new partnership originated with a conversation between Sonesta Sint Maarten, the St. Maarten Tourist Office and Sunwing during SMART 2011, the island's annual tourism conference held each May. Both parties saw the opportunity to expand St. Maarten's business in Canada.

Sunwing's charter flights will offer a capacity of 200 seats. Four flights will depart per week during high season December to April, with two flights available per week from May to November. www.sunwing.ca

For pricing, travelers can check with their local Sunwing agent in Canada or online at www.sunwing.ca.

Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort & Casino lies beachfront in the oasis of Great Bay Harbour in Sint Maarten's capitol Philipsburg, with 257 rooms and miles of white-sand beach near duty-free shops and restaurants. The 534-room Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino is known as Sint Maarten's "destination within a destination", featuring a Las Vegas-style casino, nightclub and tantalizing dining options.

For more information, please call 1-800-SONESTA or visit www.sonesta.com/stmaarten.

Philipsburg:--- A solid waste facility will cost St. Maarten over 120 million US dollars in capital while there will be an operational price tag of 22 million per year announced Deputy Prime Minister Theodore Heyliger on Wednesday when asked about the Solid Waste Facility that he has been working on. Heyliger said currently St. Maarten is spending 1.5 million guilders per year to manage the current landfill which he knows is not the ideal solution for garbage disposal.
Heyliger said he contacted a company in the United States that claimed they can construct a solid waste facility on St. Maarten at no cost but for him the proposal sounds more like "a holy grail" when St. Maarten does not have to invest any money. He said the company in question does not have working plant that he could depend on. He said St. Maarten will not be a guinea pig for anyone. When an agreement is reached with any company they must have a back up facility elsewhere that is working that they can fall back on in case the one constructed here does not work.
The deputy Prime Minister said trying to find a facility for St. Maarten with a price that the island can afford has been a real trial for him. He said several discussions went very far but the cost of such a facility is what poses real problems for St. Maarten. He said purchasing energy from the plant is not only government's intention but it must be the same for GEBE. He said if government had good cooperation with GEBE they would have gotten further especially since cost of energy is constantly rising.
Heyliger made clear that he has no intention to go to the people of St. Maarten to tell them that they would have to pay $200.00 per household to dispose garbage when these people have to deal with the additional taxes government implemented. He referred to a statement his late grandfather made to one of his colleagues years ago when he was told that he should be shot at dawn. "I don't want my grandfather to come back and haunt me if I add more bills to the people of St. Maarten," Heyliger said.
The Deputy Prime Minister said he is still looking for a possible solution but he feels that a solution with the debt relief would help the island greatly. The Deputy Prime Minister said St. Maarten has agreements with the Dutch that has not yet been met and he intends to bring the matter up when Her Majesty visits the island later this year.
When asked if he held discussions with the companies that worked on St. Maarten's road network, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of VROMI said these are some of the problems they face since the companies are using outdated contractual positions. He said the companies are only offering a one year guarantee. The VROMI Minister said he was told that rats dug away the foundation for Front and Back Street causing the road to be high and low.
Heyliger said since executing these road projects he is learning something new each day and right now he has to indicate on bids that government is looking for rat resistant asphalt and concrete work. He also indicated that both Front and Back Street will be repaired while maintenance will have to take place every three years.

Philipsburg:--- Close to ten businesses who signed for persons who are not working for their company will soon face prosecution announced Minister of Justice Roland Duncan on Wednesday.
Minister Duncan said the inter-departmental committee that was installed with the consent of Council of Ministers to vet the 2,588 Brooks Towers Applications submitted their report on August 17th. Based on the findings by the committee, some 1,610 persons who applied for a Brooks Tower Permit (BTA) will be denied since there are indications that certain companies committed fraud when they signed for the applicants. Minister Duncan said they also know that these companies charged monies for the bogus job contracts and letters.
Minister Duncan said it appears as though the real employers for the applicants who requested a BTA permit did not want to sign for their workers so the immigrants then sought out other companies who were willing to sign for them by providing bogus job contracts and letters. However, when the committee vetted the dossiers they realized that some of the employers are operating out of a small office and they have not filed any taxes for the persons they signed for, as such these persons will not be considered for a BTA permit.
The Minister said 207 dossiers falling under category one are clean and ready for processing while there are others that are incomplete. These permits the Minister said could be ready as early as September 15th.
Minister Duncan said the biggest problem he is confronted with falls under category two and three where there is a large number of bogus employers.
The Minister said the committee submitted three types of advice to his Ministry, one which is to grant the permits, another to reject the permits while the third advice is for the applications to be held.
Minister Duncan said the committee looked at three categories which are category one for people who were on St. Maarten before the year 2001, category two were for immigrants who arrived on St. Maarten between 2002 and 2005 while the third category were for persons who arrived on St. Maarten after December 31 2005.
Minister Duncan said the committee found that 447 of the 2, 588 dossiers were already dealt with before the launching of the criminal investigation which started in January 2011. He said about 900 applications will be processed but the fraudulent ones will be handed over to the prosecutor's office so they can be dealt with according to the law.
The Minister said he will be discussing with the Minister of Labor where he intends to ask the Labor Ministry to give the legitimate employers one last chance to come clean and deal with government for their workers.
The Minister also called on the SHTA, the IMA, the Bankers Association, Chamber of Commerce and all other associations that represent employers to encourage the employers they represent to come clean and sign for their workers. Minister Duncan said he is totally against persons including government who would engage in hiring people illegally. Minister Duncan said he took note of what the SHTA had to say about the BTA applications but they should not push the blame on government. He said he is giving the SHTA a good opportunity to encourage their membership to come clean since they know the employers that have people working for them illegally. He said the workers tried to cover themselves by trying to legalize their status. "Right now we know who the people are, we know the bogus employers who charged people for the job letters and contracts. Besides that, there is a fine of Naf.100, 000.00 which will be implemented," Minister Duncan said.
Minister Duncan said the Simpson Bay prison facility is almost completed and very shortly the immigration department will begin raiding again.
Minister Duncan said government mainly his Ministry recognizes that there are 1,610 persons that will be added to the amount of illegal people living on St. Maarten.

Every year the Royal Dutch Marines and several of the agencies responsible for disaster relief such as the Fire Department train together during the annual Hurricane exercise (HUREX).

On Wednesday August 24th, the Royal Dutch Marines received training from the Fire Department at the Fire Station in Cay Hill. The Marines were trained in several techniques that are needed while assisting the Fire Department after
a hurricane. These techniques included using a chainsaw, fire extinguishers and stabilizing and cutting a vehicle. The focus was on stabilizing a situation, creating a safe work area and putting one's own safety first. All exercises where performed under the supervision of the fire department's instructors. During the coming two weeks one more group of Royal Dutch Marines will receive the same type of training.

The last training together with the Fire Department will be one big exercise where most local disaster relief agencies will be involved. The scenario will include up scaling, the response of the local disaster relief agencies and the assistance of the Royal Dutch Marines.

This person has been missing since Friday. Mr. Thomas suffers from Alzheimer's disease. Relatives are asking that anyone who sees this man can contact the police at 5422222 or Sherlyne Winklaar at 5545120. Mr. Thomas was last seen in a yellow shirt and he moves around with a stick.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Prime Minister Hon. Sarah Wescot-Williams recently attended a symposium on Mentoring organized by the Victorious Living Foundation. The prime minister also addressed the gathering that comprised of a number of organizations and other attendees along with speakers from abroad.

Philipsburg:--- The police department has established the identity of the man found drowned and drifting in the Maho Reef area on Sunday August 28th. This man has been identified as Nicolas Paul Manji SAGAR, born in the United Kingdom, he was 33 years old. Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson said in a police press release that friends of the victim who did not see him at the night club he visited regularly went looking from him at the place he was staying in Beacon Hill. The detective department also indicated that there was no foul play involved. The body which was confiscated was released by the Public Prosecutors Office.

Philipsburg (DCOMM):--- The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports & Youth Affairs hereby makes it known that candidates who wish to take the Naturalization Examination can register at the Division of Examinations, located at Brooks Tower Suite B2 & B3 Falcon Drive #7, Harbour View during the period of August 15th to the 26th 2011, hours of operation will be 9am – 12pm.
For successful registration candidates are required to bring along the following documents:

1. Original Identification Card
2. Colored copy of Identification Card
3. Original Passport
4. Colored Copy of Passport
5. Copy of the receipt of payment

The examination fees have been stipulated in the regulations the Minister of Justice of the Netherlands on December 23rd, 2010 no. 20957. Candidates are required to deposit the examination fees on either the Windward Islands bank account number 3248003 or submit payments at the receiver's office on Pond Island next to the Festival Village.
Examination fees breakdown as follows for candidate sitting the exam for the first time:

• Exam, Part I
  o "Orientation on Society & Political System" – Cost Naf. 275.00
• Exam, Part II
  o "English Language Skills" – Cost Naf. 225.00
• Exam, Part III
  o "Dutch Language Skills" – Cost Naf. 110.00

For candidates who have to sit Re-Examinations the fees breakdown as follows:

• Exam, Part I
  o "Orientation on Society & Political System" – Cost Naf. 140.00
• Exam, Part II
  o "English Language Skills" – Cost Naf. 225.00
  o "Reading Comprehension" – Cost Naf. 75.00
  o "Writing" – Cost Naf. 75.00
  o "Listening Comprehension" – Cost Naf. 75.00
  o "Speaking" – Cost Naf. 75.00
•  Exam, Part III
  o "Dutch Language Skills" – Cost Naf. 110.00
  o "Reading Comprehension" – Cost Naf. 37.00
  o "Writing" – Cost Naf. 37.00
  o "Listening Comprehension" – Cost Naf. 37.00
  o "Speaking" – Cost Naf. 37.00

For more information please contact the local Registrar for the Caribbean Examinations Council Drs. Yvette Halley at telephone: (599) 542-3296/542-3458, Fax to (599) 542-3191 or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Food wholesalers and warehouse depots are requested to have a plan in place to prepare and secure their properties in the event of a storm/hurricane threat.

With the peak start of the hurricane season less than two weeks away, every effort must be made to be prepared to take timely action in clearing properties in the event of a weather related threat.

The primary objective is the protection of the people first and foremost, property and surrounding residential areas.

Materials such as plywood, shipping pallets, food pallets, pieces of metal used to secure pallet shipments, can easily become flying missiles capable of impaling brick walls or anything in its way.

It is the responsibility of the business owner to have plans in place to remove any materials and/or have them properly secured on the property within a short period of time in the event of a storm/hurricane threat.

When a tropical storm or hurricane watch is issued 48-hours before a system is forecasted to hit the island or area, businesses should activate their business resilience hurricane preparedness plans which should also include the aforementioned.

Philipsburg:--- The first Central Committee meeting of Parliament after the parliamentary recess will be held on August 8 with respect to the state of national disaster preparedness.

President of Parliament Hon. drs. Gracita Arrindell, back in March had expressed that the Central Committee should meet with disaster management officials to be briefed on national disaster preparedness.

The Central Committee meeting will take place in the General Assembly Chamber of Parliament at 10:00am next week Monday. Presentations will be given by Fire Commander and Disaster Management Coordinator Winston Salomon and Section Head Disaster Management Paul Martens.

The Director of the Seismic Research Centre in Trinidad & Tobago Dr. Richard Robertson, in a media report back in March says Caribbean countries should take heed of the damage caused by the powerful earthquake and tsunami.

Robertson added that in the Caribbean because of increase in population and the distribution of the population, we have actually increased our vulnerability to certain kinds of hazards, in particular to things like tsunamis and earthquakes, pointing out that the region need to put its house in order by putting measures in place to build greater resilience in a long term perspective to those kinds of hazards because they can affect us and it's just a matter of time before we have a similar kind of natural disaster.

According to contingency planners, the type of resilient measures include designing buildings to withstand the impact of tsunami waves, having in place a early-warning system, public education programmes on what to do and most importantly evacuation strategies.

"I believe that we need to take the time to review our own state of preparedness and what other measures need to be taken for the long-term. We cannot afford to wait and be caught off guard. We have to have our house in order with contingency plans in place.

"We are a resilient people and have experienced disasters in the past and have overcome these. The Central Committee meeting comes at a time when we are approaching the peak period of the hurricane season.

"I am looking forward to the meeting in which the public can hear directly from the disaster management team the current state of preparedness for this hurricane season as well as in other areas and plans for the future," President of President Hon. Gracita Arrindell said on Tuesday.

Philipsburg:--- The St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) on Wednesday said it was very pleased with Minister Franklin Meyers announcement that the annual subsidy for Carnival will be increased from NAf. 180,000.00 to NAf. 500,000.00 for Carnival 2012. The SCDF praised Meyers for coming through with the increase as he said he would when the foundation met with him prior to Carnival 2011.

President of the SCDF Stuart Johnson said the increase in subsidy, as discussed with the Minister, will in large part be devoted to marketing of Carnival as the island premier cultural festival in an effort to attract more visitors. "We are pleased to note that after years of lobbying for an increase, the Minister understands that Carnival can be of significant economic value to St. Maarten once significantly supported by government," Johnson said.

"The board of the SCDF continues to think long term with Carnival. This long term vision includes elevating St. Maarten's Carnival in the Northern Caribbean to the level and stature of Trinidad's in the South. We have a unique product, St. Maarten is strategically located, we intend to take full advantage of all those aspects. Additional funding only helps to serve those causes," Johnson said.

Johnson said the SCDF now looks forward to meeting with the Minister to go over some of the details of the increased funding and what his expectations are. Carnival 2012 is scheduled to run from April 19, 2012 to May 2, 2012.

Philipsburg:--- The University of St. Martin (USM) announced last week that the official exams for the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) will be held on August 2 and 3, 2011.
The exams will be held in rooms 102, 203 and 208 at USM.
According to GED Tutorial Program Coordinator Patricia Arrindell, the duration of the testing will last approximately until 5:30pm. She also noted that approximately 80 persons have signed up for testing on the various days.
The University of St. Martin is the only recognized GED testing center on St. Maarten. The GED Tutorial Program Coordinator noted that persons need to bring along a valid ID or passport for the exam and they should make sure all forms are filled in before testing date.
Registration for the upcoming GED Tutorial Program sessions has also started. The next sessions (morning or evening) start on August 29 and run until January 6, 2012. Persons interested in applying for this program should contact Ms. Arrindell at 542-5171 Ext. 1002 to make an appointment.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Collective Prevention Services (CPS), executing agency of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, supports the renewed call by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/World Health Organization (WHO) for commitment from all sectors of civil society to create supportive environments for breastfeeding.

This week is World Breastfeeding Week which is also part of CPS

Health Observance Calendar (HOC). The HOC is used to promote particular health issues or topics during a specific identified period in the year.

The 2011 Breastfeeding theme is "Talk to Me! Breastfeeding – a 3-D Experience."

This year's emphasis is on how to ensure breastfeeding in public-friendly environments such as parks, public transportation, workplace and other places outside the home where mothers of young children carry out their daily lives.

WHO/PAHO has slated a time line from May 1 to September 30 to commemorate World Breastfeeding Week by means of information and various activities.

Breastfeeding is everyone's responsibility. Breastfeeding is the single most effective preventive intervention for preventing deaths of children under five, and research shows that about 20 per cent of neonatal (under one month) deaths could be prevented if all newborns began breastfeeding during the first hour of life.

In addition, children who are breastfed for seven to nine months have on average six point's higher IQ than children who are breastfed for less than a month. Breastfeeding also helps mothers lose weight and reduces their risk of breast and ovarian cancer as well as type-2 diabetes.

Although breastfeeding has been increasing in many countries in the Americas, much remains to be done to optimize breastfeeding practices.

In most countries of the Americas, fewer than half of babies begin breastfeeding within the first hour of life, as recommended by PAHO/WHO.

Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months which is also recommended is low, ranging from eight per cent to 64 per cent of babies in different countries of Latin America.

CPS would like to take this opportunity to remind parents about Breastfeeding, a task that should be shared between Father and Mother!

Philipsburg:--- Students who successfully complete courses of English as a Second Language (ESL) at the University of St. Martin (USM) will now be able to transfer into other ESL courses in other countries that follow the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages.
The ESL courses at USM have been revamped and the first one is scheduled to run from August 15th, 2011 to October 17th, 2011 and classes will meet for 40 hours in total.
According to USM Humanities Division Head, drs. Mariska Dias, the ESL courses have been reorganized and will now follow European standards for learning languages which are in line with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages. She adds that this, for example, will allow students who have completed an ESL level 2 course at USM to qualify for an ESL level 3 course in France, Spain or some other country. This offers the students flexibility and the possibility of learning English on St. Maarten and continue with this elsewhere.
Ms. Dias explains that the ESL courses at the USM will focus on the five competences which include reading, writing, listening, speaking, and grammar. USM is also using new textbooks for the ESL courses. The new textbook is published by the Cambridge University Press. This textbook focuses on current topics such as 'the world around us and the human endeavor.' There is also a review examination at the end of each unit.
The ESL courses are designed for persons who want to learn English or want to improve their basic knowledge of the English language. If you are interested in learning English as a Second Language, you can register today. A placement test to determine which level students should be placed in will be held on August 8th, 2011, from 5pm to 7pm and August 10th, 2011 from 3:30pm to 5:30pm.
Persons seeking more information on the ESL courses at USM can contact the USM admissions office at tel. 542-5171 Ext. 1008.

The Hague/Great Bay:--- Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, Dr. Rhoda Arrindell continued her first official visit to The Netherlands Wednesday with meetings with a number of Dutch education authorities.
The Minister visited the Haagse Hogeschool where she held discussions with Anna Maria Andriol as well as the Chairman of the Board of the school, Mr. Rob Brons. Ms. Andriol has been involved with minority organizations for many years, and had visited the USA several times to seek possibilities that would help students from minority cultures in the Dutch community to excel and be more successful in their studies. Ms. Andriol was impressed with the Minister's vision and pledged her full support in every way possible to make it a reality.
Next stop was the much anticipated visit to the Dutch Ministry of Education where the Minister met with the Director General Renk Roborgh, accompanied by the legal advisor, Aldrik in 't Hout, and two other officials, Winny Flippo-Claproth and Marije Feersma Hoekstra respectively.
Minister Arrindell discussed the of the CXC students under the same conditions that were arranged for students from Saba. She further discussed the study financing funds that are set aside yearly to assist Dutch Caribbean students with studying in the region and the need for St. Martin to urgently submit its request for the 2011 funds to be turned over to her.
The Minister gave an outline of her vision for education on St. Martin, stressing the need to educate our young men in particular as a start in the efforts to repair our society. She also gave a detailed explanation of the experimental education project with Ujima Foundation.
Mr. Roborgh was very receptive to the Minister's ideas and even offered many valuable suggestions on how to achieve some of her goals. He clarified the issue of the Euro 3000 fine imposed on students who take too long to complete their studies. He also spoke of the cooperation protocol as well as the planning for the Ministers' conference in 2012, preparations for which are to commence with a meeting of top civil servants in January.
Minister Arrindell and her delegation then visited the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament where she was given a guided tour. This was followed by a meeting with the representative of the PvdA, Tanja Jadnanansing who is also charged with education. The Minister once again had a very fruitful exchange of ideas. The two discussed the issue of the fine for students who fail to complete their studies on time as well as what can be done to better prepare our students who choose to further their education in Holland.
Earlier in the morning, Minister Arrindell and her delegation paid a courtesy visit to the offices of Minister Plenipotentiary, Mr. Mathias Voges in The Hague. Mr. Voges gave an outline of his tasks and how he had been keeping himself busy thus far since his move to Holland in December 2010. Minister Arrindell took the opportunity to share her views on the future of education in St. Martin.

...

American professor Dr. Ivette Romero affirmed that one can experience “Defiance, movement, and renewal” by reading the bilingual anthology Corazón de pelícano – Antología poética de Lasana M. Sekou / Pelican Heart – An Anthology of Poems by Lasana M. Sekou edited by Emilio Jorge Rodríguez. But I think that Passion for the Nation is what comes out of Sekou’s poems at a first glance and at a deeper reading.

The book is a selection gathered from eleven of Sekou’s poetry collections between 1978 and 2010. Rodríguez is an independent Cuban academic, writer, and essayist. He has been a researcher at Casa de las Américas’s Literary Research Center and founded the literary journal Anales del Caribe (1981-2000). María Teresa Ortega translated the poems from the original English to Spanish. A critical introduction, detailed footnotes, and a useful glossary by Rodríguez are also found in the book of 428 pages. The collection has been launched at conferences in Barbados, Cuba, and Mexico.

Rodriguez’s introduction to Pelican Heart refers to Dr. Howard Fergus’s Love Labor Liberation in Lasana Sekou, which is the critical commentary to Sekou’s work that identifies three cardinal points in his poetics. I would add as cardinal points: Belief or Driving Force of people in political processes, like his political commitment to make St. Martin independent, as the southern part of the Caribbean island is a territory of the Netherlands, while the northern part is a French Collectivité d’outre-mer; Excitement over his literary passions, which led him to found House of Nehesi Publishers at age 23; co-found the book festival of St. Martin, organized with Conscious Lyrics Foundation and to expand his culture considerably; Enthusiasm, which springs out of his eyes and words when you listen to his poetry being performed or when you speak to Sekou in person.

In his proliferous production Sekou has published fifteen books, among which resides thirteen collections of poems since the 1970s: Moods for Isis – Picturepoems of Love & Struggle (1978); For the Mighty Gods…An Offering (1982); Images in the Yard (1983); Maroon Lives – A Tribute to Grenadian Freedom Fighters (1983); Born Here (1986); Nativity & Dramatic Monologues for Today (1988); Mothernation: Poems from 1984 to 1987 (1991); Quimbé: The Poetics of Sound (1991); The Salt Reaper – poems from the flats (2004, 2005); 37 Poems (2005); The Salt Reaper – selected poems from the flats (Audio CD, 2009), Corazón de pelícano – Antología poética de Lasana M. Sekou / Pelican Heart – An Anthology of Poems (2010), Nativity/Nativité/Natividad – Trilingual edition (2010), and two collections of short stories: Love Songs Make You Cry (1989) and Brotherhood of the Spurs (1997, 2007). Among his critical works are The Independence Papers – Readings on a New Political Status for St. Maarten/St. Martin (1990); National Symbols of St. Martin – A Primer (1997); Big Up St. Martin – Essay & Poem (1999). He also produced Fête – The First Recording of Traditional St. Martin’s Festive Music by Tanny & the Boys (LP/cassette/CD, 1992, 2007).

The poems elected (an anthology is a selection and election of the best poems by a poet) are from Moods for Isis, For the Mighty Gods..., Images in the Yard, Maroon Lives, Born Here, Nativity, Mothernation, Quimbé, The Salt Reaper, and 37 Poems. From Moods for Isis (1978) we can read a poem like “Rebel hunt,” which professes the Black thought and unity. Despite being an early collection, Moods for Isis hints at revolution and struggle against capitalism, imperialism, and poverty.

The Cuban writer Nancy Morejon recognized in Sekou “ritmo de tambor innombrable,” unmentionable or is it shocking drum rhythms that echo the African origins of this oral poetry, this performative storytelling, modus narrandi typical of Sekou, which moves from African griots to contemporary dub poets to Rastafari. Its parallels with Cuban literature have already been imbricated and compared to Cuban writers like Nicolás Guillén. But the relation that comes to my mind between Cuba and Sekou’s poetry is related to runaway slaves and to what I define as his “aesthetics of the village and the maroon” (English maroons, French marrons, Spanish cimarrónes, Brazilian quilombos), see for instance his 1983 collection Maroon Lives—A Tribute to Grenadian Freedom Fighters, written that same year during the period of crisis for the Grenadian Revolution. The “aesthetics theory of the village chiefs and the maroons” of the St. Martin poet is concerned with a general attitude of Caribbean heads of states or politicians being very much xenophiles and suppressing their people’s culture or even the spirit of marronage among the nation’s population.

For instance, in the poem “Maroon Lives,” dedicated to Walter Rodney, Sekou addresses, in a Rastafarian tone, the Brazilian maroons, the “quilombos”: “Oh, restate the quilimbos / Organize there / In the camps of Accabre,” inspiring principles of the Cuban revolution and the struggle for freedom. But the theme of the maroon is still haunting Sekou’s poetics less than a decade after in the collection Quimbé (1991), where in “maroon nation,” he spans to the politics of Haïti, Argentina, Jamaica, and the US. That is how this phenomenon of the “runaways” and indefatigable warriors can be grouped under a same “family” or what I term, “resistance nation.” Similarly in The Salt Reaper’s “Visit&Fellowship II,” Sekou claims freedom and liberation: “para sembrar luces de libertad,” “to kindle fires of freedom.”

The poem “On Caribbean Aesthetics,” which was recited during Pelican Heart’s book launch in Santiago de Cuba by the poetess Teresa Melos, is taken from the 1986 collection Born Here, an affectionate chant to his own roots and origins and appropriation of identity:

I still question

The way my fathers danced

While our mothers bore children

Stooped in labor over the clean Salt Ponds of Great Bay

Where you can still see them

Chanting ponums (...)

So many musical references are made in Sekou’s poems that Rodríguez identified Sekou’s versatility as “fusion works.” In his poems we find a fusion of several different styles and rhythms, like the merengue, the Dominican bachata, African drums, new age, soft jazz, steelpan, electronic music, Spanish guitar, as in the CD he recorded in Hong Kong in 2004 when he was on a literary Fellowship at the Hong Kong Baptist University. Sekou shows other musical influences, such as the Caribbean musical forms of calypso, reggae, ponum, and quimbé.

After an “aesthetics of music/ality,” we can speak of – as I recognize in a study of the poet’s work – “an aesthetics of salt & sugar,” because the recurrent themes of Salt Pond as crop and sweat, of the hard labor of the enslaved in the colony translate into a “salty,” “tangy” wittiness in the use of language and of poetic forms. In his introduction to Sekou’s The Salt Reaper the academic and calypsonian Hollis “Chalkdust” Liverpool defined the poet as “the salt reaper, for his land, his labors, his ideals, and his values.”

Sekou’s use of language and graphic layout are variegated as his polymorphous use of graphic signs – such as brackets, periods, lower case, extension of vowels and reverberations of sounds – and his Plurilingualism, his use of French, Spanish, Dutch, and English (languages of European colonial successive dominations of the Caribbean), creole languages, as well as German or Chinese (the languages of his travels).

The delivery of the word comes across as a powerful performance both visually cemented on the page by means of many typographical devices and inventiveness and orally with his strong use of the voice. His rough poetics, and aesthetics, have been compared to those of the most-prominent Barbadian poet Kamau Brathwaite and his Video Style, with a graphic use of the fonts, spaces and pauses indicated in a written text by means of different font sizes or brackets and spaces, as in Sekou’s Nativity.

In 37 Poems there are what can be defined as his “Hong Kong poems,” among which particularly pregnant is “xinXin,” chosen by Rodríguez. Now, the word “xin” in Mandarin could mean “star” and “heart,” but also “new” or “fishy.” The word “star” might hint at the five stars on the Chinese flag. By describing his missed trip to the imperial palace of Beijing, the “forbidden city,” he thinks about certain historical incidents that occurred in China, this allows the poet to consider the different experiences or viability of various political or governing systems in the Caribbean region and to draw poetic international comparisons.

Enjoyable for the ear, powerful for the heart, this brain-teasing collection, Corazón de pelícano – Antología poética de Lasana M. Sekou / Pelican Heart – An Anthology of Poems by Lasana M. Sekou, is available at bookstores, www.amazon.com and www.spdbooks.org.

Simpson Bay:--- WINAIR boasts 50 dynamic years of safe and dependable service to the northeastern Caribbean on August 25th 2011.

WINAIR was established in 1961 by Mr. Georges Greaux, Mr. Faustin Ledee and Mr. Chester Wathey with the aim of connecting St. Maarten to St. Barths and St. Eustatius with future goals to spread its service to the outside world. This operation proved to be a success. Today, the airline is owned by both Country St. Maarten and the Netherlands and has flown to more than 15 Caribbean destinations throughout its 50 years of service. WINAIR remains proud to be one of the oldest and safest airlines in the Caribbean Region.

Over its 50 years of existence, WINAIR has withstood challenges ranging from high fuel prices, strict aviation regulations, increase in operational costs etc., all of which played a major role in the airline's financial health. WINAIR also contributed to the economical development of the surrounding islands. Together with its new shareholders and management team, the airline looks forward to a more positive future.

On this 50th year anniversary WINAIR intends to show appreciation to its customers. We recognize that without our dedicated and committed customers, it would have been impossible to celebrate this great milestone. As a result, we are committed to offering airfare specials which will be available on our website, facebook page, radio stations and news papers throughout the oncoming weeks and months.

This year's celebration will also include giving special recognition to the Islands of Saba and St. Eustatius as they played a vital role in the airline's history and survival over the past 50 years. The celebration will start with a church service on the 20th of August, 2011. In addition, the Island of St. Maarten are invited to come out and support the WINAIR Walk-a-Thon which will be held on September 3rd 2011, where all funds will go towards community projects.

A hearty thank you from the management and staff at WINAIR, for remaining loyal to us throughout the years.

We look forward to having you celebrate our 50th Anniversary with us!

The Minister of Education hereby notifies all parents and guardians of students attending the Marie Genevieve de Weever School that there will be no school on Monday August 15^th and Tuesday August 16^th, 2011 for the students of Marie Genevieve de Weever School.

Classes at Marie Genevieve de Weever will resume on Wednesday, August 17^th, 2011.

This is due to unforeseen circumstances surrounding the construction and renovation presently taking place at the school.

ALL teachers and other staff members are to report to school on Monday, August 15, 2011!

Philipsburg:--- Several persons filed reports with the police department regarding various robberies and house break-ins reported Acting Police Spokesman Geronimo Juliet.

Juliet said on Wednesday unknown persons broke into a car that was parked on Camelia Road. The intruders stole the DVD player from the vehicle.

In another case, a car that was parked on Longwall road was also broken into, the culprits destroyed the window and took off with the radio set.

Two young women who was parked on Rhine road and was preparing to go to a well known disco was robbed by two unknown men. The men pulled knives and threatened their victims. They took a Nokia cellular phone, $20,- in cash, and a Sony digital camera. The two culprits jumped in a car which was passing by and took off. The two men are of dark complexion, slim and both are about 1.80 meters tall. One was dressed in a white shirt and the other in a black shirt.

In the meantime, some residents of Sucker Garden reported that unknown persons entered their home by forcing the sliding doors. The thieves stole two Yamaha dirt bikes, red and blue in color.

Another home was also broken into on Little Bay Road said the Acting Police Spokesman. The culprits stole a computer, removable speakers, a collection of Swiss watches, perfumes, sports shoes, and some external hard drives.

Juliet said bandits also robbed a newspaper vendor on the corner of Wellington Road. The robber he said placed a knife on the victim's throat and took away her daily sales including her cellular phone. The suspect was dressed in a black three quarter pants, he is about 1.80 meter tall with a stout build.

A woman made an official complaint with the detective department saying that unknown persons entered her house which was not locked and took a grey color laptop computer (HP), a play station, a gold color neck-lace with a pendant, and a pair of silver/gold earrings.

A woman was walking in Romondt Steeg when suddenly a man of dark complexion about 1.80 meter tall took her Blackberry cellular phone from her hand and took off in the direction of board-walk. He was dressed in a red shirt and black pants.

Juliet said police is also investigating a case of assault after a man identified as T.J. chopped his mother in law after a quarrel. T.J. took a machete and hit his mother in law with it in her head. Her ring finger also sustained a deep cut.

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GREAT BAY/MARIGOT:--- As the new school year opens, the poster entitled "St. Martin cuisine as culture" is heading for the island's schools.
The St. Martin Book Fair Committee (BFC) is distributing the poster, said Shujah Reiph, BFC coordinator.
The House of Nehesi Publishers poster uses Yvette's cookbook as its central theme. "House of Nehesi asked the book fair to team up on getting this gift to our schools," said Reiph.
"The poster distribution-early contact with the schools in the North and South is a BFC activity to raise awareness about the upcoming 10th anniversary of the St. Martin Book Fair in 2012," said Reiph.
This activity further promotes reading, writing, books, and "the posting of unifying St. Martin cultural images on the schools' hallway or classroom bulletin boards," said Reiph.
Schools can contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to obtain their free poster, said Reiph, who is also host of Conscious Lyrics, the popular weekend radio magazine.

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten Sarah Wescot Williams announced on Wednesday that the Council of Ministers began discussing the first draft of the 2012 budget on Tuesday. The Prime Minister said based on the figures that were provided by the different Ministries the budget for the year 2012 will have a deficit, something which she said is not permitted by the CFT. The Prime Minister refused to divulge the extent of the deficit as the budget she is still being discussed and is still not yet finalized.
Prime Minister Wescot Williams said the various Ministries now have to review their budget while the government is also faced with a deadline based on the law on financial supervision but the Council of Ministers she said plans to resume its discussions next week to see where they can begin cutting their expenses and trying to increase the incomes. She said the government finds itself between a rock and hard place in this respect which is nothing new to them.
Wescot Williams said St. Maarten is faced with these predicaments at a time when it is clear that St. Maarten is in dire need of more manpower to fill some critical positions. The Prime Minister said the filling of the vacancies in all the Ministries could not take place in 2011 and it appears as though it will not be possible in 2012. She further explained that St. Maarten would have liked for the revenue sharing from the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles be transferred to St. Maarten to assist them with the financial woes they are currently facing.

Philipsburg:--- The Minister of Education Dr. Rhoda Arrindell met with the President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) Claire Elshot and WITU member Stuart Johnson on Wednesday to discuss the much contested appointment of the Lionel Conner School management position that was awarded to Glenda Mathew White.
The meeting was arranged on the request of the President of the WITU Claire Elshot. Elshot told members of the media in a brief statement that she as President of WITU wants to address the possibility of an appeal on the appointment. Elshot said Johnson is a member of the Windward Island Teachers Union and he wants to address the situation since he applied for the position. Elshot said that the meeting with the Minister was fruitful and the Minister plans to get back to the union with her final decision on the appointment after she meets with the division head of Public Education on the matter.
In the meantime, Minister of Education Rhoda Arrindell said eight persons applied for the four vacation positions, she said they all went through the selection process and during the final selection process the law on FBE and LLMA was used as the basic criteria to select the candidate. Minister Arrindell said the selected candidate Glenda Mathew-White met all the criteria based on the law.
President of the WITU Claire Elshot said Glenda Mathew-White did follow part of the Management Training on FBE and that what was reported earlier was not the total truth.
SMN News further learnt that Mathew-White submitted an appeal to the Minister after the budget amendment debate which took place in parliament at the end of July. The source said that Mathew-White who was on sick leave for two years scored very poorly during the interviewing process but she managed to explain the Minister her reason for the poor scoring in the appeal. It should be noted that Glenda Mathew-White held the position of Acting Manager of the Lionel Conner School for some 17 years. She took over from Leader of the National Alliance William Marlin and now Member of Parliament when he took leave of absence to take up his position in public office. The position of school manager became totally available earlier this year when Marlin made his 60th birthday.
Those appointed are Silveria Jacobs as Principal of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School, Rita Bourne-Gumbs as Principal of the Genevieve De Weever School, Glenda Mathew –White as Principal of the Lionel Connor School, and Alice Samuel as Principal of the Charles Leopold Bell School.
SMN News also learnt that Stuart Johnson dispatched a letter to the Council of Ministers when he learnt that his appointment was overturned by the Minister of Education and the position was awarded to someone else. It should be noted that while the Division on Public Education called Johnson by phone and informed him that he was the selected candidate for the position they did not submit an advice to the Minister prior to making the phone call. The appointments were highly discussed during the Council of Ministers weekly meetings on Tuesday. SMN News posed several questions to the Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams at the Council of Ministers press briefing on the issue since the Minister of Education who was in the Government Administration Building at the time did not attend the press briefing. Prime Minister Wescot Williams made clear that each Minister is responsible for the decisions they take when she was asked if the decision by the Minister was already carved in stone and if the appointments were made in accordance with the law. The Prime Minister said there is no mention in the constitution of St. Maarten when it comes to representation in front of the courts because each Minister is responsible for the decisions they take.
In the meantime, the head of the Department of Education Quincy Harrigan informed SMN News that he being head of the Department did not make any contact with Johnson to inform him on the selection. Harrigan said he could not say if the Division head of the Public Education Sector made the call. Harrigan said he understands the statements and the reference to the Department of Education because in the past public education fell under his command but that is no longer the case.

Marigot:--- The five suspects that were arrested early Wednesday morning for allegedly raping a 19 year old girl last week Thursday night in La Saline, French Quarter appeared before Prosecutor Jacques Louvier on Wednesday afternoon. SMN News learnt that three of the suspects confessed to raping the young woman while the other two claimed they looked on. The suspects have been identified as W. K. F., B. J., A. R., D.C. and C. G. and they are between the ages of 14 to 19.
It was further learnt that Prosecutor Louvier has decided that the five suspects will be transferred to Basse Terre as early as Friday. If convicted the suspects can face as much as 20 years in prison even though some of them are minors, however, that would be at the discretion of the presiding judge.
In the meantime, the victim's mother Sharon told SMN News that the victim (S.S.) was admitted to the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital on Thursday after her first session with a psychologist. Sharon who was in Guadeloupe for medical treatment returned to St. Martin on Wednesday evening to care for her daughter. She said after seeing the condition of her young daughter who is highly traumatized and perturbed by the ordeal she took her to see a psychologist on Thursday morning.
"A few minutes after speaking to my daughter the psychologist decided that my daughter must be admitted to the hospital for medical attention. The psychologist said my daughter is so traumatized that she has begun to lose time," Sharon said.

Cay Hill: --- Relatives and friends of Sheldon Thomas are mourning his sudden demise while police are busy trying to find the persons who are responsible for yet another execution style murder on St. Maarten.
Several detectives and members of the forensic department responded to Cay Hill early Friday morning when they were informed that the body of man was seen lying alongside the road with gunshot wounds to the head.
Sources say the residents of G. Alexis Arnell Road heard someone screaming followed by gunshots around 04:05am but they did not pay much attention to the commotion.
The body was found just before the second turn on G. Alexis Arnell Road in Cay Hill. Police Spokesman Geronimo Juliet identified the victim as Sheldon Thomas formerly of the St. Peters area. Thomas was also well known to police. SMN News learnt that Thomas was in police detention and he was recently released. The source said Thomas was a suspect in an ongoing investigation, that investigation they said will now have to be shelved since there is no longer a suspect.
According to residents of Cay Hill, it appears as though the killers called the young man out of his house and shot him. They said Thomas lives in close proximity to where his body was found with his girlfriend. While it is believed that Thomas must have been shot and killed on the spot, police and forensics who were on the scene on Friday morning did not find any spent shells at the scene of the crime.
However, Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos said he could not and will not say if Thomas was killed on the spot or if the killers dumped his body there. When asked if knew if the recent murder victims knew each other Mos said he did not know that for sure.
When asked if the same team of detectives from Team Grootschalige Opsporing (TGO) will be leading the Thomas murder investigation Mos said a different team will be handling the case because the TGO team currently has five murder cases and one attempted murder case to focus on and they do not want to lose track. The Chief Prosecutor said if the team that is investigating the murder of Sheldon Thomas gets information that would form a link to the other cases then the two teams will be put together.
Sheldon Thomas is the third person to be murdered in the past two days and the tenth for the year 2011. SMN News learnt that the murder victims this year were all friends, but this information could not be confirmed.

The Justice Department has asked a federal judge to freeze about $30 million that prosecutors say forms the laundered proceeds of a massive illegal gambling operation in the Dutch Caribbean.
In federal court documents unsealed Friday in Washington, prosecutors said the funds are spread among three UBS investment accounts in Miami held by shell companies, which in turn are controlled by Robertico Alejandro dos Santos, a Curacao national who runs legal gambling operations on both Curacao and St. Maarten under the name "Robbie's Lottery."

Authorities in Curacao have been investigating allegations that dos Santos has collected about $54 million in illegal profits since 2004 through the sale of forged lottery tickets, using his legitimate businesses as a front, according to court documents.

According to the Aug. 12 application, dos Santos and his wife declared a joint income of $67,500 in their most recent tax return, but prosecutors say they've traced $28 million in the UBS accounts to dos Santos and shell companies he controls.

The bank did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Dos Santos has not been charged in Curacao. According to local press reports, authorities raided dos Santos businesses and home last month, a flash-point in the two-year investigation.

A lawyer for dos Santos in Miami, J. Everett Wilson, did not respond to a request for comment. Dos Santos has denied the allegations.

On Aug. 12, the Justice Department, acting at the behest of the public prosecutor's office in Curacao, filed an application with U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly to enforce a restraining order issued by a court in Curacao.

Kollar-Kotelly did not grant the request. Instead, she sharply criticized the Justice Department application, writing that it "does not mention, let alone explain how" the freeze order would be consistent with previous court interpretations of a Patriot Act provision allowing U.S. judges to enforce judgments by foreign courts.

She has asked the Justice Department to back up its legal argument with another brief by Aug. 22.

Congress amended the law in December to give the Justice Department greater flexibility to seek freeze orders against the assets of suspects under investigation by foreign governments.

Click here to see Court Documents

The Wall Street Journal

Cape Bay:--- Two men armed with a gun and a large knife entered Easy Ta Chinese Restaurant in Cape Bay on Monday reported Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson. Henson said when the patrols reached the scene they were told that the armed gunman fired a shot at one of the employees who resisted. The gunshot missed the employee however, the armed bandits managed to rob the establishment of a small sum of monies. The case is still under investigation.

Also on Monday, two young men attempted to commit a robbery on Front Street in the vicinity of Oranje School and they were arrested. The police spokesman said the two culprits were spotted on Backstreet by police patrols that were in the area. The suspects have been identified as initials S.E. and J.J.S. from St. Maarten. During a search of one of the suspects, a machete was found and confiscated. Both suspects were taken to the police station and handed over to the Special Robbery Unit. They remain in custody for further investigation.

Philipsburg:--- MNO Vervat submitted a bogus bill to the government of St. Maarten when they claimed some Naf. 86,000.00 for damages the company sustained during a fracas with an off duty police officer.
Minister Duncan said when he looked at the bill and the list of damages the company claimed to have endured he realized that the bill was bogus and as such he will not be taking any responsibility for the bill. The company is claiming lost time, lost materials and the decisions they took should not be tagged to government.
The Minister said the officer was off duty when the incident occurred and he was not acting on behalf of the police when he threw rocks and got on.
The Minister further explained that he believes that the officer in question "Aswin Martina" should be the one to take up the responsibility since he was off duty when the incident occurred.

Philipsburg:--- Justice Minister Roland Duncan said that the crime rate on St. Maarten is not escalating. According to the Justice Minister, the rate of armed robberies has decreased as well as other crimes compared to previous years. The Minister made the statement on Wednesday during the Council of Ministers press briefing when an SMN News reporter asked him what his Ministry is doing to curb the current crime rate especially the increasing amount of murders. The Minister said he does not know if the murder rate has increased compared to last year, however he does not believe the crime rate is escalating. The Minister said the murders that took place last week has been described by the Prosecutor's office as "axe grinding".
He said the Police and Prosecutor's office are totally engaged in solving the current cases and on Tuesday he swore in three more RST officers that will be working on the cases. Minister Duncan said some 22 officers from the various departments have come together to work on the murder cases. However, he said the current crimes are targeted.

Due to the large amount of seaweed washed ashore on Guana Bay Beach and Gibb's Bay, the Nature Foundation has approached the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication in order to discuss the closing those beaches to swimming until further notice.

The Seaweed, known as Sargasso Weed, has been plaguing the Caribbean and St. Maarten for some weeks. The resulting large influx of Sargasso Weed is due to a suspected southward shift in the Gulf Stream, which has pushed the Sargasso Sea– an area of the Atlantic Ocean where SargassoWeed is in a thick concentration. Initially Government and the St. Maarten Nature Foundation were in discussions on how to remove the seaweed from the beaches, however based on Aerial Surveys, which were recently conducted, there is still a significant amount of Sargasso Weed headed in the direction of the Windward Islands rendering a cleanup futile at this present time.

There were initial concerns that the decomposing seaweed on the beach could be detrimental to the public. Based on studies, conducted by the Nature Foundation, once the Sargasso weed is out of the water and drying out it simply decomposes like any other seagrass. The Nature Foundation has also removed patches of the seaweed from areas on both beaches were there are presently sea turtle eggs incubating, "we have removed the seaweed from the turtle nests and will wait until they are closer to being ready to hatch. Once we arrive at this period we will remove the eggs and free the hatchlings on a beach where there is no weed present so that they will make it to the sea safely, "commented Tadzio Bervoets, Nature Foundation Marine Park Manager.

The Nature Foundation is deeply concerned about the safety of swimmers and advises the public in general, that one should refrain from swimming in both Guana Bay and Gibbs Bay. This due to the possible risk of entrapment in the thick mixture of seaweed and garbage in the water.

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Philipsburg:--- The ousted Minister of Labor and Health Maria Buncamper Molanus has submitted an application for the position as Director of the SZV. SMN News has been reliably informed that 30 persons applied for the coveted post.
Sources say the vetting of the applications which includes the interviewing process is scheduled to be finalized by October this year.
The source said when the vetting is completed it will be sent to the Supervisory board so they can select the candidate that they believe should be appointed. The final selection and appointment will then be sent to the current Minister of Labor and Health Cornelius De Weever for approval.
Maria Buncamper Molanus during her tenure as Commissioner of Health worked on the National Health Insurance Plan which she said was to be implemented in January 2010, if she was in government.
However, sources say that the National Health Insurance Plan is far from ready. Buncamper Molanus took office as Minister of Health in October 2010 and made her position available to the Democratic Party on December 23rd 2010 to escape a motion of no confidence when the scandal surrounding the selling of the economic rights of lease land broke.
A complaint was filed with the Prosecutor's Office who said that they will be investigating the Buncamper Molanus case.
Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos said his office conducted a fact finding investigation surrounding the notary deed and all other information that was printed in the various newspapers. Mos said the attorney general gave his office the green light to conduct the fact finding as well as to launch an official investigation into the case but the Prosecutor's Office is hampered by the lack of human resources. Mos said the Buncamper Molanus case will be investigated but that investigation has not yet begun.

Willemstad, CURACAO:--- On 15 August 2011, a contingent of 13 U.S. Forward Operation Location (USFOL) personnel donated their time to mentor elementary age children at the FUIK community center. The men and women of the U.S. FOL partnered with volunteers from the community center to help mentor children through games, school work and crafts. The 429th EOS Commander, LtCol Bailey, observed, "Spending time with the children at Fuik was absolutely inspiring - their energy and positivity are palpable and contagious.
The efforts made every day by Emma and her volunteers are worthy of our highest praise and respect - their dedication to the children here in Curacao will have enduring positive effects, and it was a pleasure and an honor to play even a small supportive role in their ongoing efforts." The U.S. FOL personnel have been long-time advocates for the local community and this was yet another outstanding effort to promote the welfare of Curacao's youngest members.

Philipsburg:--- September 30th 2011 will mark the commencement of the use of the dialing code 1-721 for St. Maarten.

During the Permissive Dialing Period September 30th, 2011- September 30th 2012 calls to St. Maarten using either 00-599 or 1-721 shall be processed regularly be it that callers using 00-599 shall be advised that the dialing code has changed and the new code should be used.

After this one (1) year period the Mandatory Dialing Period will commence and remain in effect until March 31st 2013. In this period calls using 00-599 to St. Maarten shall not be processed and callers will be advised to dial 1-721 for calls to St. Maarten.

The use of country code 00-599 will be discontinued for St. Maarten but this dialing code (00-599) will remain in effect for Curacao, Sint Eustatius, Saba, and Bonaire.

Local dialing remains the same and persons and businesses can be reached through dialing of the 7-digit local numbers. International dialing will change by September 30th 2012 as the dialing pattern to make overseas calls from St. Maarten will change. BTP shall undertake an educational program to duly inform the public on dialing during the permissive dialing period.

Countries participating in the North American Numbering Plan are the United States, Canada and most of the Caribbean region: "Anguilla, Antigua, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St. Kits & Nevis, St. Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago". Dialing to these destinations will be easier as all these destinations share the country code 1 with St. Maarten.

St. Maarten's participation in the NANP also marks its integration in the Eastern Caribbean, a region in which it is located, with which it interacts and serves.

Throughout the permissive dialing period the BTP shall undertake instruction and educational campaigns to aid the transition and to ensure understanding, preparedness of the entire community of St. Maarten, so the community may embrace the changes and enjoy the benefits that this transition will bring.

Bureau Telecommunication and Post St. Maarten requests all residents and businesses to get informed and to take serious note of this important development for country St. Maarten. Everyone is urged to make the necessary preparations and inform all their personal contacts and business relations timely of this upcoming change.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Recently Sint Maarten author Dr. Neville Smith author, presented a copy of the second edition of his book "Memories of Gold, Sint Maarten 1945-1960," to Prime Minister Hon. Sarah Wescot-Williams. The book is a publication of the St. Maarten Heritage Foundation.

Philipsburg:--- Creative Arts teacher Clara Reyes of the Imbali Dance School is still motivated and determined to continue with her dance classes despite being robbed. Reyes in an interview with SMN News said that the John Larmonie Center was robbed early Sunday morning. The thieves she said removed almost everything from the building leaving the Imbali Dance School, the Senior Citizens Home Away from Home and the Motiance Dance School naked.
Reyes said the bandits must have used a dump truck to conduct the robbery because huge equipments such as speakers were taken. Reyes said Imbali suffered the greatest loss since the thieves went with all their electronic equipments which includes video cameras, televisions and DVD players. She said they lost everything that she has to use for her students. The Senior Citizens she said lost flat screen televisions, hot plates, and water coolers while the John Larmonie Center lost their weed-whacker.
Despite the robbery, several students showed up on Monday to continue their classes, while on Wednesday some 25 students participated in the Creative Movement. Reyes said everyone brought out their own equipments so that they can continue with their classes.
Imbali she said will be organizing a fundraising event to purchase new materials.
Reyes said she reported the robbery to the police department. She said the forensic and other departments processed the crime scene shortly after they were called.
However, the Police Department is yet to announce the robbery of the John Larmonie Center.
In a press release, Reyes said "No one can stop the music or the dance, in spite of the thieves robbing and leaving Imbali Dance school incapacitated, Imbali dance school still managed to dance on Wednesday morning. Some 25 students from Imbali Center showed up to a dance work shop with world renowned master teacher Malalthi Iyengar. The Imbali dance students will undergo four days of intense dance training in the traditions of Bharatanatyam, Reyes said. Malalthi Iyengar flew into St. Maarten on Tuesday night from Los Angeles. She is the guest of teacher Aparna Samaga, who brought the traditions of classical Indian dance to St. Maarten four years ago. Iyengar has donated her time while on vacation here to conduct workshops.

Philipsburg:--- Police arrested an employee of the Windward Islands Bank last week for embezzlement and fraud confirmed Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos.
The employee who was working in the Credit Card department has been identified as Winia Antoine who abused her power in the department and stole the monies from the bank.
Mos said the suspect was in charge of monitoring credit cards and instead she misused her power, since Antoine was the one in charge, the warning bells did not go off when the suspect withdrew the money. Mos said the bank filed an official complaint when they realized that the employee embezzled money from the bank.
The suspect was arrested last week Friday and her detention has been extended. The suspect also confessed to stealing the money the Chief Prosecutor said.

Philipsburg:--- Justice Minister Roland Duncan informed Parliament on Friday during a Central Committee meeting that he intends to charge NAF. 900.00 to process residency permits. Minister Duncan said he already submitted a draft change to the Admittance and Expulsion law to the Council of Ministers which still has to go the Council of Advice for vetting. The Minister said when this new law is implemented then he would be able to raise as much as 4.5 million guilders for his Ministry's budget. Minister Duncan also said that his Ministry intends to charge people for other services that are granted by his Ministry and is currently free of charge. Persons who request permits to have police work overtime would have to pay a fee for the services that will be granted. All of this he said will take place when the legislations are changed.
While not giving much detail on the amendment of the law, Minister Duncan said he was expecting discussions to take place on the issue.
The Minister also confirmed that persons who were granted a residency permit does not have the right to legal aid and social assistance based on a clause that is within the permits. He said he is of the opinion that persons who are in possession of permanent residency should be able to acquire legal aid. He said he is also of the opinion that persons with permanent residency should be treated equally to the Dutch citizens. However, his opinion is not shared by the labor Ministry. He further explained that he is of the opinion that person's that are married to Dutch citizens should not have to renew their residency permits annually and they too should have access to legal aid. The Minister said his Ministry is also reviewing some of its policies some of which will have radical changes.
The Minister made the clarification after Member of Parliament George Pantophlet asked him for clarification on the clause that is on residency permits. Minister Duncan explained to Parliament that currently one person from the Ministry of Justice is meeting with persons from the labor Ministry to find a solution to the problem.

Several Thousands will be left Illegal BTA did not Solve Immigration Calamity.

The Minister of Justice also announced to Parliament that St. Maarten will have to find solution and take a decision very shortly as to how they will deal with several thousands of people who applied for Brooks Tower Permits. The Minister gave the response to parliament after Member of Parliament Frans Richardson asked him for an update on the BTA process. Member of Parliament Richardson said the Minister has to give clarity on the Brooks Tower Accord 2 which was placed on hold after an investigation began late last year.
Minister Duncan said the committee already vetted all the dossiers that were before them and already they have indicated that several thousands of people will not get the permits, especially those falling under category 2 (2005 and after). Minister Duncan said there were just over 2000 dossiers that had to be vetted and more than half of them will be rejected.
Minister Duncan said that he also got information from the committee which indicates that some companies signed for people while those companies are not providing work for the people they signed for. He said there are not many companies that are involved in the practice but his Ministry still has to decide on how they will deal with the delinquent companies. Minister Duncan said he has no intention of re-opening the Brooks Tower Accord (BTA) procedure but a solution he said has to be found since the BTA did not solve St. Maarten's immigration problem.
Minister Duncan said there are people who have been living on St. Maarten for more than 20 years and they did not take the time to apply for the BTA permits. The Justice Minister made clear that he is not creating an alarm but this was one of the reasons he felt people who did not apply the first time when the BTA was launched should have had the opportunity to apply during the renewal period but his idea was misconstrued back then. St. Maarten he said though will have to prepare to deal with a few thousand illegal people in the near future.

Kingdom Partners Not willing to Assist St. Maarten with Prison Space.

Minister of Justice Roland Duncan told Members of Parliament on Friday during a Central Committee meeting that St. Maarten has a huge problem to deal with since none of its Kingdom Partners are willing to assist the island even though there is a signed agreement in place to assist each other with prison space should there be the need.
The Justice Minister said he made several requests through the Attorney General to the Netherlands and Curacao but so far he has seen several reports none of which is in favor of assisting St. Maarten with much needed space.
Minister Duncan said he was told that it would be too expensive for St. Maarten to send prisoners to the Netherlands since the cost to St. Maarten would be Euros 233.00 per day while the Netherlands basically said they do not want anymore criminals from the islands in the Netherlands. He said he was advised to check with Curacao and Bonaire as well as to see if it was possible to send these prisoners to the prison ships. As for Curacao, he said they claimed that they too do not have space but that he said is not true. The Minister said the problem facing Curacao is the lack of sufficient personnel and repairs have to be done at certain facilities.
"Curacao went as far as giving me a bill for the 12 St. Maarten prisoners that are currently there. The Justice Minister wants Naf.180 per day for each of the prisoners that are currently there. However, Curacao did not say when they will pay St. Maarten for keeping the six prisoners that is housed on St. Maarten for Curacao." Minister Duncan said that each time a person is arrested, the prosecutor's office is confronted with having to find space for the prisoners.
Minister Duncan said he did not send a bill to Curacao but he sent the bill Curacao presented to St. Maarten to the Attorney General. The Minister said the agreement that was signed is not being executed and in his opinion the Kingdom Partners are not functioning.
Minister Duncan said he was criticized for not finding a solution for the lack of prison space but he has petitions on his desk for the BOX in Cay Hill and for the Simpson Bay Outpost.
Member of Parliament Ruth Douglas asked the Minister if it was possible to introduce "bail" on St. Maarten and if this would create more revenue for the Justice Ministry. The Minister said he is willing to see if St. Maarten could introduce the bail system since this would assist with creating prison space.

Donner Threatens to take St. Maarten's Justice Minister to the Kingdom Council of Ministers.

Persons travelling through St. Maarten's Airport (PJIAE) should know that their personal information is being shared with Curacao's immigration as well as the Tourist Office of Curacao announced Minister of Justice Roland Duncan. The Minister also acknowledges that Curacao is invading people's privacy by sharing such information with their Tourist Office.
Minister Duncan said the ICT for the Justice Ministry which is the Border Management System (BMS), Foreigners Management System (FMS) and other software that is used by the public ministry, Court of Guardianship, is managed by Curacao. He said the servers are on Curacao and St. Maarten has terminals that feed their information to Curacao. Minister Duncan said he refused to sign an agreement which would allow the servers to remain on Curacao. He said he requested copies of the software so that St. Maarten can manage its own information but Curacao and Minister Donner has threatened to take him before the Kingdom Council for refusing to sign the agreement.
Minister Duncan said he has no problem sharing information with Curacao but he does not think that St. Maarten should remain dependent on Curacao to process its passengers when they arrive on St. Maarten. He further explained that processing these passengers take up unnecessary time since there are times when the servers move extremely slow. Duncan said St. Maarten is co-owner of the software and he informed Minister Donner of this in June 18th when they had a discussion on the matter, therefore St. Maarten is entitled to it. He said he asked for copies of the software so that it can be managed here.
The Minister said St. Maarten has the Franco Dutch Treaty while there are agreements with Anguilla that Curacao should not be concerned about. Minister Duncan said St. Maarten also wants to allow persons who apply for residency permits and gun permits to track their requests online since these are all web programs. He also explained that the Minister of Justice is responsible for people's privacy, he cannot guarantee ones privacy if their information is shared with another country.
Other issues discussed at Friday's Central Committee meeting is the duties of the Coast Guard, the radar station, the processing of police records, purchasing of police cars, the hiring of Marechaussees and Marechaussees in immigration booths, and the use of the crime fund which is still to be divided and the camera surveillance system.

Mullet Bay:--- Management of BBW who is currently executing the demolition of the Mullet Bay ruins plans to take drastic actions as early as Thursday should they not be allowed to dump waste materials from the Mullet Bay demolition at the Sanitary Landfill in Philipsburg.
Managing Director of BBW Fernando Williams said that the head of Maintenance of Public Works Claudius Buncamper has stopped the company from dumping old carpets and other materials that cannot be recycled. Williams said the stoppage began since last week and he is to the point where he is ready to file a court injunction against the person behind the scheme. Williams said other companies are allowed to dump their waste on the landfill except BBW and he wants to know how it is possible for a senior civil servant to stop his work men from executing their duties while the landfill management was outsourced to Windward Roads.
Williams said the concrete and trees are being crushed and stored on the site but old carpets and other materials that cannot be crushed has to be taken to the landfill and Buncamper he said instructed the security guard and Windward Road not to allow any dumping from BBW. The owners of BBW have already threatened to take action on Thursday if the matter is not resolved before the end of Wednesday.
Efforts made to contact Buncamper by phone for a comment on Wednesday proved futile as he could not be reached. SMN News also contacted the Minister of VROMI Theodore Heyliger by email for a comment on the ongoing issue but Heyliger did not respond to the email we dispatched to him.
It should be noted that the Sanitary Landfill in Philipsburg is nearing the end of its life span and the government of St. Maarten promised years ago to begin constructing a Solid Waste Management Plant, but the plant is still not in sight. Just recently, a large fire broke out at the dump causing great concerns to the residents and workers that are being affected by the constant dump fires. The Prosecutor's Office is also conducting an investigation into the management of the landfill, that investigation is still ongoing.
When SMN News got word of the new developments and the predicaments BBW is now faced with, we asked Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Wescot Williams who was participating in the weekly Council of Ministers press briefing about the new developments but the Prime Minister said she was not aware of the developments. SMN News then asked the Prime Minister about the construction of the Solid Waste Management Plant which the Minister of VROMI and current Deputy Prime Minister Theodore Heyliger said he has been working on these past years. Prime Minister Wescot-Williams said the construction of a Solid Waste Plant is a priority for her government but there is a huge price tag to it regardless of which route government takes in Solid Waste Management. Wescot Williams said despite the price tag the landfill remains a priority for the government she is heading. When asked what does her government plan to tell Her Majesty on her scheduled visit the end of this year since Her Majesty has on more than one occasion raised concerns about the Sanitary Landfill in the center of Philipsburg. The Prime Minister said no one can be more concerned about the Solid Waste Management Plant more than the people who are in charge of managing country St. Maarten to which she is at the head table.

Philipsburg:--- The prosecutor's office has decided to add the two additional murders that took place on Wednesday morning on A.T Illidge Road to the list of murder investigations that are being handled by the Team Grootschalige Opsporing (TGO) said Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos. Mos said that no one was arrested for the brutal slaying of Aric Lake and Kevin Gumbs who was shot to death on Wednesday in the vicinity of Cat's Guest House on A.T Illidge Road.
While the detective department and the prosecutor's office do not know the exact motives for the recent spate of killings they have decided to keep their options open and to allow one team of detectives to investigate all the killings that took place this year and seem to be drug related. Mos said the TGO team is now investigating the murders of Amador Jones, Rodolfo Arrindell, Hector Arrindell, Aric Lake, Kevin Gumbs and the attempted murder that took place in Dutch Quarter involving Omar Jones earlier this year.
When asked if the raids that took place in Fort Willem Wednesday evening had anything to do with the current murder investigations Mos said that he will not say why they raided the homes in Fort Willem. "All I would say at this time is that the judge of instruction permitted the raid and he was also on the scene. We had reasons to conduct the raids and I will not release that information to the media at this time," Mos said. When asked if anyone was arrested during or after the raid, Mos said he will not comment on that either.
In the meantime, residents of St. Maarten are beginning to express outrage and frustration with the increased amount of murders all of which involved guns and violence. Already for the year 2011, nine people have been killed through gun violence. Of the 9 murders, three of them have been solved thus far leaving the investigators with six unsolved murder cases for this year. Those that are unsolved are the Dutch Quarter murder of Emilio De Leon Reyes, Amador Jones, Hector Arrindell, Rodolfo Arrindell, Kevin Gumbs and Aric Lake.
Those that are considered solved are the three regatta killings. The three Dominican suspects behind bars confessed to killing Ludovic Guillevin (the chef of Cheetah Moon), Fiodel Louis (the Haitian Security Guard) and Edwardo Nova Valdez (the Spanish Pastor.) Those murders were committed between February 26th and March 4th 2011.

Philipsburg:--- On Friday the 19th of August the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunication the Honourable Mr. Franklin Meyers took the historical step in marine environmental protection. The Minister signed the Management Contract between Country St. Maarten and the St. Maarten Nature Foundation for the management of the Man of War Shoal Marine Park.

The boundaries of the Marine Park are between 18̊ ̊N and 17 ̊-57.0 N and 63 ̊-01.03 W and 63 ̊-04.05 W, is in an area better known as "the Proselyte Reef Complex ". This area includes the island's most ecologically and economical important marine habitat, including extensive coral reef areas and sea grass beds.

This area was chosen to be a priority for official conservation because of its intrinsic ecological, economic and cultural value. The Man of War Shoal Marine Park is a home and migratory stop over or breeding site for 3 IUCN Red List Species, 10 CITES Appendix I species and 89 Appendix II species. It is an area with a relatively healthy population of marine mammals including migratory whales and dolphins, numerous species of shark, sea turtles and numerous fish species.

Studies conducted by the St. Maarten Nature Foundation have shown that biodiversity in this area, particularly coral reef density, is high and the economic goods and services which the ecosystem provides are in excess of fifty million dollars annually. The establishing of the Man of War Shoal Marine Park is also in accordance with the Specially Protected Areas of Wildlife (SPAW) Protocol and with the Federal Decree on Maritime Management.

An economic valuation study of St. Maarten's coral reef ecosystem has placed the monetary value at close to US$58 million in contributions to the economy of the country from tourism and fisheries. The Minister of Economic Affairs says the contributions made is very important especially the dive tourism sector and eco-tourism which is a priority area for Government. The Minister added that the signing of the agreement with the Nature Foundation demonstrates Governments commitment to the environment and the beginning of more to come with respect to nature conservation.

Minister Meyers says the island is rich in natural resources above and below the water and that the trend will be to work closely with stakeholders in developing additional nature conservation areas that will protect areas for current and future generations to enjoy and which also is a plus for the promotion of the island as a tourist destination especially eco-tourism.

Previous plans to develop a Marine Park for St. Maarten were too complex by design which led to discontent with various stakeholders, especially fishermen who saw their traditional fishing grounds being encroached upon. Through various consultations and meetings between the various stakeholders it was decided to implement Marine Conservation on St. Maarten in stages, of which the establishment of the Man of War Shoal Marine Park is the first and most important step.

"We have been working very hard for a very long time to realize Marine Environmental Protection for St. Maarten, and now, with the hard work and guidance of the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunications, and through the appointment of the Honourable Minister Meyers, Country St. Maarten has its first National Park, a protected area which will not only seek to protect natural marine habitat but which will also enhance St. Maarten as an environmentally sustainable tourism product", commented Nature Foundation Marine Park Manager Tadzio Bervoets.

The biodiversity of St. Maarten waters has been steadily degrading over the last four decades. The "eleventh hour" so to speak, has come and gone. The man of War Shoal Marine Park also has significant economic importance as diving in Marine Parks is globally on the rise and generally accepted by the diving tourist as a "must do" vacation activity. With proper protection and management in place the establishing of a Marine Protected Area will add additional value to the countries tourism product. Local fisheries will also be enhanced through environmental protection. Research has shown that Marine Protected Areas increase fish populations and fish size of commercial species in nearby fishing grounds.

With the official appointment of the Nature Foundation as the Management Authority for the Marine Park the Foundation will be able to collect user fees for the Management of the Marine Park and will also be able to increase its research, law enforcement and patrolling activities. In the past the Nature Foundation used to act as the unofficial authority for the Marine Park but now the organization will have the opportunity to levy fines in case of infringements of the laws pertaining to the Marine Park with regards to illegal fishing and other illegal activities within the Marine Park.

As mentioned the Man of War Shoal Marine Park also includes Proselyte Reef, which was named after the HMS Proselyte, a 32 gun frigate which struck the "man of War Shoal" on September 4th 1801. Artefacts such as large anchors, cannons, barrel hoops, cannon balls, and pottery are still evident on this popular St. Maarten Dive site. The site is also considered a Marine Archaeological treasure.

Efforts to establish a Marine Protected area for St. Maarten were started by the Nature Foundation upon its founding in 1997. After a considerable length of time during which numerous stakeholder consultations, meetings and deliberations were held, this important first step has been taken by the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunications of new country St. Maarten.

The Nature Foundation would like to acknowledge the help and support of the Honourable Minister Franklin Meyers and his Cabinet, Mr. Miguel de Weever, Mr. Lou Halley, Mr. Mike Stamm, Mr. Len Dijkstra, Mrs. Lucy Gibbs, Mr. Eddy Johnson, the VROMI Department, Mr. Keith Franka, Ms. Olivia Lake, the late Mr. Joseph Vliegen, the late Mrs. Marjolijn Richardson, Andy Caballero, Paul Ellinger, Beverly Nisbeth, Robbie Cijntje, current Board Members and of course the dedicated staff of the St. Maarten Nature Foundation.

The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) has been a continuous source of support and a resourceful partner of the St. Maarten Nature Foundation and has contributed greatly towards the realization of Nature Conservation in general and Marine Conservation more specifically for the island. In the coming weeks the St. Maarten Nature Foundation will launch a broad based information campaign explaining to the citizens of St. Maarten about their newly established Man of War Shoal Marine Park.

When a person with dementia finds that their mental abilities are declining, they often feel vulnerable and in need of reassurance and support. The people closest to them - including their carers, friends and family - need to do everything they can to help the person to retain their sense of identity and feelings of self-worth.
Everyday Care: If you are caring for someone with dementia, it's important to help them remain as fit and healthy as possible - both physically and mentally. The better they feel, the more they can enjoy life, making life more pleasurable for both of you.
The way we dress says a lot about who we are. But as dementia progresses people increasingly need more help with dressing. As a carer, if you help the person with dementia to retain their own individual style, you can help them to preserve their identity.
Source: www.alzheimer.org
For most adults, washing is a personal and private activity. When you are helping someone with dementia to wash it's important to be sensitive and tactful, and to respect their dignity.

For more information please contact the St. Maarten Alzheimer's Foundation on HOTLINE 9220 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To support the campaign please contact any member of the Rotary Club of St. Maarten or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. T-shirts will be on sale at Le Grand Marche Bush Road and Union Road on September 3.

Philipsburg:--- Residents of St. Maarten are still trying to cope with the recent spate of execution style murders that took place last week and in recent months. Many believe that the police or those investigating these deadly shootouts have some clue as to who might be killing known persons in the community. However, Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos said the detectives that are handling the case have no clue as to who the killer or killers might have been. Mos further explained that the detectives working in the TGO team do have lots of information that they are currently sifting through. The Chief Prosecutor said sifting through this information will take time as they need to put all scenarios together. "Actually I have no news on these investigations for the media but we do have information as we investigate that cannot be released," Mos said.
Some residents and known persons in the community told SMN News that the recent spate of killings began since Amador Jones was shot to death earlier this year. They said they believe that the police had the killer of Amador Jones and that person they said was deported to his native country St. Kitts. Some felt that the gang is slowly wiping out themselves because of the crimes they are involved in.
Speaking to SMN News on the condition of anonymity, a well known person in the community said the killer or killers have made known that they will wipe out 17 persons. "There is a list of people who will be shot to death. The names of the victims were posted on the blogs and the police just have to follow the trail if they are interested in solving these cases."
Those killed for the year 2011 through gun violence are Ludovic Guillevin, Fiodel Louis, Edwardo Nova Valdez, Emilio De Leon Reyes, Amador Jones, Hector Arrindell, Rodolfo Arrindell, Kevin Gumbs, Aric Lake, and Sheldon Thomas.
The Prosecutor's office announced earlier this year that they managed to solve three of the murder cases all of which they said were committed by the same group of people who were robbing innocent people at night. Those that are solved are the murders of Ludovic Guillevin, Fiodel Louis, and Edwardo Nova Valdez.

Philipsburg:--- Officers from the Customs Department of St. Maarten in collaboration with the Police Department intercepted a substantial amount of marijuana. The total amount is about 12 kilograms. The drugs were hidden in an ingenious way in a stove/oven that was destined for Antigua said head of Customs Anthony Doran.
One person, a male of Antiguan nationality was detained in connection with the transporting of the above mentioned quantity of marijuana as result of the investigation that Customs was conducting in the harbor.
At this moment Customs are investigating, the possibility of more arrests cannot be ruled out.
Due to the ongoing investigation and the premature stage of the investigation, further information on this case cannot be released at this moment.

Philipsburg:--- Several police officers are to be commended for their swift actions on Monday morning in capturing escaped prisoner Omar Smith Nelson better known as "Chucky". Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson told reporters on Monday afternoon that Chucky was captured in an apartment in Nazareth Dutch Quarter shortly before 7am Monday August 29th. Police also arrested three persons that were also in the apartment for aiding and abetting an escaped convict.
Henson said Omar Smith Nelson better known as Chucky escaped from the Pointe Blanche Prison facility on March 20th 2011 while in pre-trial detention for the murder of Wouter Romejn. Chucky Nelson has since been sentenced to 18 years behind bars for the killing of Romejn, Henson said his sentence is irrevocable.
In the meantime, Nelson will soon appear before the judge of instruction to answer three additional charges. The Police Spokesman said Omar Smith Nelson will be charged for escaping from the Pointe Blanche Prison, while he will also be charged for two armed robberies and a kidnapping that took place last week.
Henson said police received a phone call shortly after 6:00am on Monday morning informing them of Nelson's location in Nazareth and police managed to make the arrest just before 7:00am. Henson said Nelson resisted his arrest but the 8 to 10 detectives that responded to the scene managed to bring in under control quickly. The Police Spokesman said Nelson was not armed when he was arrested but police found a rifle in the apartment.
The Police Spokesman said police will also go after the persons that aided and abetted Nelson from the time he escaped to when he was captured. "As long as we know who helped him during the time he was wanted we will go after them," Henson said.
The Police Spokesman said the Police Management team strengthened their efforts and team to find Omar Smith Nelson when they learned that he was preparing to leave St. Maarten. Henson said several police officers worked over time as they tried to gather information on his exact whereabouts. Those officers he said need to be commended since they worked extremely hard to find Chucky Nelson. Henson also extended gratitude to the person who called police on Monday morning to inform them of his location.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- There has been a venue change for the first Pregnancy Market organized by Youth Health Care (YHC), under the auspices of Collective Prevention Services (CPS) in collaboration with the Community Helpdesks under the Department of Community Development, Family & Humanitarian Affairs (CDFHA), both executing agencies of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour.

The pregnancy market planned for August 31 originally at the Belair Community Center in Cay Hill will now open at the YHC Vineyard Building office from 6.00pm to 8.00pm and the entrance is free. The venue change was due to unforeseen circumstances.

The pregnancy market is for women who are planning a pregnancy, pregnant women, parents of newborns, and persons who would like information in order to make an informed decision about future pregnancy.

A number of businesses and organizations have already signed up at the YHC to take part in the pregnancy market which is being planned by Youth Health Care and the Community Helpdesks.

Philipsburg:--- A team of police officers raided the Border Bar house of prostitution early Wednesday morning and arrested the owner Angele Priest, while taking all the dancers at the club to the police station as possible witnesses.
SMN News learnt that some of the exotic dancers filed an official complaint against Priest for alleged sexual molestation. The source said Priest allegedly was in the habit of demanding unprotected and kinky sex from the dancers, while having them work under deplorable and unacceptable conditions. SMN News further learnt that the detectives are busy questioning about 20 dancers that were at the club at the time of the raid. The detectives they said are doing a general investigation on Border Bar and its operations.
In 2008, the owner of Players Club Sweet Leroy was convicted for the same type of crimes. Sweet Leroy spent over two years at the Pointe Blanche Prison after he was convicted.
So far police have been very tightlipped about the raid and the ongoing investigation.
A press release from the Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos states that at least 30 police officers conducted a house search at Border Bar and a suspect was arrested for apparent human smuggling. The Chief Prosecutor said the judge of instruction and the prosecutor's office was also involved in the search and raid of Border Bar on Oyster Pond Road.
This search and further investigation was executed because of information that came to the attention of the Police and the Public Prosecutor's Office that the "labour circumstances" in this erotic animation club were a strong indication of human trafficking (vrouwenhandel).
"Vrouwenhandel" is a serious crime under article 260 of the Penal Code and has a maximum prison sentence of five years. On the premises one person, I.P., was arrested.
During the search several documents and money were confiscated. Because of the scale and the interest of the investigation no further details will be given at this time the release concluded.

...

Hope Estate:--- Several teachers of the Marie Genevieve de Weever School are peeved at the state of their classrooms and the sewage water that is still running behind the right wing of the building. The teachers were at the school on Tuesday cleaning their classrooms for the opening of school on Wednesday August 17th.
Behind the right wing of the building there was fresh sewage water running while marabunta wasp nests could be seen on all the window ceilings. The teachers who spoke to SMN News on the condition of anonymity said the classrooms are not in order and they are worried for the safety of their students especially those in cycle one where the most danger lurks. The teachers said the younger students of the Marie Genevieve School face severe health risks since they have to inhale sewage water all day long. Besides the inhalation of sewage which is coming from a private home further up the hill, the students and teacher have to deal with the marabunta wasps that would fly into the classroom to sting them.
The management of the school said they are not in a position to make statements to the media and the only authorized body to comment on the renovations and construction of the upper floor is the department of education.
However, the supervisor for FM Constructions Alexis Bryan said the workers and teachers were busy cleaning the classrooms and school compound for school to reopen on August 17th. Bryan assured that while construction workers will be on the scene for the next few weeks they will work in the best interest of the students. Bryan said they faced a number of setbacks with materials and other matters which kept them back. The construction he said was to be completed some three weeks ago but the setbacks were not their fault.
He said the construction company addressed the sewage situation with the pertinent authorities while they also tried to clean up as much as possible but the situation regarding the sewage has not changed. Bryan said when the construction began at the school there were bushes behind the school and the marabunta wasp nests were on the trees and when the trees were cut the insects moved to the ceilings. His advice to the education department is to have the area sprayed to get rid of the wasps once and for all.
Fabian Badejoe from the office of Minister of Education Rhoda Arrindell said the re-opening of Marie Genevieve de Weever School will take place on Wednesday August 17th 2011. Badejoe said that the Minister was scheduled to tour the facility on Tuesday afternoon but she could not due to the heavy rain. Badejoe said he believes the Minister will make her visit on Wednesday morning.

Click here to view photos of the Marie Genevieve de Weever School.

Philipsburg:--- Teacher of the Marie Genevieve de Weever School Stuart Johnson whose hopes were highly raised by a promise by the head of the department of education that he was the selected candidate for the position of Principal of the Lionel Conner School was not appointed by the Minister of Education.
SMN News learnt that the Minister of Education Rhoda Arrindell appointed four of the candidates to positions by Ministerial decree. Those appointed are Silveria Jacobs as Principal of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School, Rita Bourne-Gumbs as Principal of the Genevieve De Weever School, Glenda Mathew –White as Principal of the Lionel Connor School and Alice Samuel as Principal of the Charles Leopold Bell School.
The appointed candidates along with Stuart Johnson applied for the vacant positions and they were interviewed by a special committee. SMN News has been reliably informed that the head of public education informed Johnson that he was selected by the committee for the Lionel Conner School before sending the advice they prepared for the Minister of Education to make the actual appointments.
Glenda Mathew White a principal for 17 years they said was on two years sick leave from her position at the Lionel Conner School, while an acting Principal who managed the school for at least two years was not nominated. Sources close to the Lionel Conner School said the acting principal ran the administration for two years because the current principal does not believe in Foundation Based Education and has refused to participate in any of the trainings for the new system. They said Glenda Mathew White is not participating in the management course that is currently taking place.
Several teachers at the school felt that the Minister handpicked the Principal of Lionel Conner School while not taking into consideration the advice of the committee. Questions are now being asked how the Minister of Education could go against the advice of the committee or the head of the department of education to make the appointments even after the legal process had taken place.
Nine persons applied for the four available positions as school managers for the public schools. Johnson reportedly scored the highest, and persons have questioned if he wasn't selected because of him being the only male applicant or if it was because he ran as the number 7 candidate on the Democratic Party slate during the 2010 elections.

Several teachers also expressed concerns that persons were hand-picked to attend the teacher's management courses while others who showed interest were denied the possibility.

French Quarter:--- About 50 gendarmes surrounded an area in Le Palmier located in Quartier d' Orleans early Wednesday morning to arrest five young men ages 14 to 19 who allegedly violently raped a 19 year old girl. The victim has been identified as S.S. who is well known to her attackers. The alleged violent rape took place last Thursday night in an old house located next to a garage in La Saline, French Quarter her mother Sharon told SMN News in an exclusive interview on Wednesday morning.
Sharon identified the culprits whom she claimed raped her daughter as W. K. F., B. J., A. R., D.C. and C. G. Sharon said two of the five suspects raped her daughter while the other three held her down so their friends could perform the sadistic act. The distraught mother said she only became aware of the situation when someone noticed that her daughter had a message on her Blackberry Messenger saying she wanted to go to sleep and never to wake up again. "When this person saw the message on my daughter's Blackberry they called me on Monday and told me they are concerned about my daughter and that I should make contact with her immediately." Sharon said she had a hard time getting the information from her daughter because she is not only devastated but now suicidal. She said when she found out what exactly happened she convinced her daughter to file an official complaint with the Gendarmerie even though a few days had passed since the incident took place.
Sharon a mother of five children said the suspects allegedly took some dance tickets from her 15 year old daughter and the older sister decided that she would go to them to either get back the tickets or collect the monies for the tickets her younger sister sold them. "When my oldest daughter S.S. reached the garage, the boys pushed her in the old house and violently raped her. My daughter was so ashamed and worried at the same time for me since I was traveling on a medical emergency the next morning that she hid the rape from me. The gendarmes took my daughter who was not sexually active to the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital on Monday and the doctors there found extreme damages. I now have to try and get back to St. Martin, I am expecting to get out of Guadeloupe sometime Wednesday so that I can offer my daughter support and further medical care."
Sharon has already contacted a lawyer who will be representing her daughter in the current investigation. The mother vowed to seek justice since the alleged suspects are friends of her daughters, one of whom she said is a constant visitor to her home. "One of the attackers would come to my house and sit and eat and he of all people violated my daughter whom he said he is his friend. I believe that these boys were after my younger daughter who sold them the dance tickets but when my oldest daughter showed up they raped her instead. I want to sound the alarm very early that I will get justice for my daughter one way or another, so while I know the Gendarmes are working on the case I want them to know that I will get justice for my child," Sharon said.
Sharon who is currently in Guadeloupe seeking urgent medical attention said the incident took place the night before she departed for Guadeloupe and her daughter who was violently invaded hid the incident from her knowing her medical condition.
Commandant of the Gendarmerie Stephen Brunet confirmed that the five suspects were arrested early Wednesday morning. Brunet said due to the nature of the investigation he was not in a position to divulge any information on the ongoing investigation. It is not yet known if all five of the suspects were placed in preliminary detention. However, relatives of the victim informed SMN News that the alleged suspects were taken to the Palais de Justice late Wednesday afternoon.

Philipsburg:--- Sparks from an air-conditioning cable and a loud bang created some fear as well as confusion inside Afoo Extra Supermarket in Philipsburg on Tuesday morning. At least two fire trucks and other personnel from the fire department rushed to the scene when they were notified that a wire inside of Afoo Supermarket was sparking.
Clive Richardson of the fire department said that the sparks came from an air-condition cable. Richardson said the wire sparked and it made a loud noise before the air-condition unit shut down.
Workers and customers who were inside the supermarket at the time rushed outside of the building as they made way for the firemen to locate the damaged cable.
One of the workers rushed back inside the supermarket to grab his hand bag because his passport was inside the bag. About an hour after, business at Afoo Extra was back to normal.

Philipsburg:--- The Ad Hoc Committee of the Rules of Order of Parliament will be meeting on Wednesday, August 31 to review the rules of order which the committee has been looking at.

The Ad Hoc Committee Rules of Order will meet in the General Assembly Chamber at 10:00am.

Committee members are Members of Parliament (MPs) Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson, MP Hon. Patrick Illidge, MP Hon. Roy Marlin, and MP Hon. Sylvia Olivacce-Meyers.

The Ad Hoc Committee meeting is a public meeting and will be carried on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 20.

Philipsburg:--- Several tenants living in the government low income homes in Belvedere claim that the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF) is threatening them with eviction if they are not able to pay their full rent. Many tenants said they received letters two weeks ago informing them government has cut their subsidy and they are now in arrears with the foundation. Letters that were given to the tenants state that the subsidy was cut since January 2011 but the tenants claim they were not informed before. "I got a letter telling me that I owe the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation Naf. 3,000.00 and if I don't pay it by a certain time then I will face eviction."
Another tenant said the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation collects maintenance fees but they do not maintain the homes. "Some of the houses don't have electricity in all the rooms, while in others the locks are broken but SMHDF does not repair or fix anything even if they are notified several times."
Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams said in an invited comment that some people also contacted her office on the issue. The Prime Minister further explained that the subsidy that is granted to persons living in the low income homes are for persons whose salary are very low. She said the subsidy is renewed every year and government was informed that several persons did not submit the required documents while others situation had changed. She said the eviction procedures remain the same, tenants she said are given the opportunity to make payment arrangements and they are given notification. Besides that, government will be notified when drastic decisions are taken.
In an interview with SMN News, the Managing Director of the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation Henry Lynch said the foundation is busy taking corrective measures by placing people in apartments they can afford. Lynch said the past management of SMHDF made some irrational decisions when placing tenants. He said the foundation has changed managing directors and finance managers about eight or nine times, furthermore each managing director had their own rules.
Lynch said there are 474 apartments in Belvedere of which 318 of them qualify for rental subsidy. The Managing Director said the foundation is busy taking some important corrective measures. Lynch said while everyone has a right to rent subsidy, that he said is granted to persons that has the need for it. He said the past management blindly approved subsidy for all senior citizens living in Belvedere but since he took office he has been asking questions in order to rectify the situation. He said there are cases where senior citizens are living in three bedroom apartments and their rental subsidy surpasses Naf. 700.00. Lynch said he had a report compiled and the report shows that some of the tenants (senior citizens) are in violation of the rental contract. According to the report, some senior citizens are holding on to their apartment to accommodate their children and grandchildren should they return to St. Maarten while one of them is operating a day care center in her apartment.
The Managing Director said he has a long list of people waiting for two and three bedroom apartments while there are people violating their rental contracts.
He further explained that political favors and nepotism does not help people, on the contrary this hurts people and there are cases where people were granted the wrong apartments and given subsidy for apartments that does not fit their situation. He said the SMHDF is willing to relocate the tenants that were misplaced and those tenants that are refusing the SMHDF's offer is also refusing their subsidy and home.

Illidge Road:--- A drive-by shooting in close proximity of Cat's Guess House on A.T Illidge Road has left two men dead while a female victim remains in critical condition confirmed Acting Police Spokesman Geronimo Juliet.
The two deceased persons have been identified as Aric Lake and his cousin Kevin Gumbs. Aric Lake it is understood was a person of interest to several gang members and one who might in one way or another be linked to the murder of Amador Jones and the murder of the Arrindell brothers.
On the scene there were several detectives along with the forensic department collecting evidence. Chief Commissioner of Police Peter de Witte and Acting Police Spokesman Geronimo Juliet confirmed that there was a shooting at Cats Guess House located on Illidge Road and as a result two persons are now dead while a third person is in critical condition.
SMN News learnt that the recent spate of killings is gang related and it can be considered as the settling of accounts in the criminal world.
On the scene, there were about six marked spots where the detectives found spent shells on the A.T Illidge road.
Several persons in the area said they heard the shots including the owner of Cats Guess House. Acting Police Spokesman Geronimo Juliet said the shooting took place outside of the beauty salon that is located in the small arcade underneath Cat's Guess House. Detectives were also seen questioning the occupants of the salon that were there at the time of the shooting.
Detectives that were processing the crime scene were also checking the surveillance cameras of several businesses in the area to see if they could pinpoint the shooters. Detectives also took away a video camera from a photo journalist who made his way into a private home inside of the crime scene and was filming the actual processing of the crime scene.
A bystander on the scene said that shortly after the shooting he was returning from the French side when he noticed a white car with dark tinted windows speeding towards the French Border. The unidentified man said the speeding car drove pass him and large truck in his bid to probably escape. He said he could not ascertain if the culprits in the white tinted vehicle was in anyway involved in the brutal killing but felt it odd that drivers would risk an almost head on collision with a huge truck to get over to the French side.

Click here to view more photos of the crime scene.

Philipsburg:--- Residents and business owners on the Dutch side of St. Maarten will need to brace or arm themselves better for the upcoming holiday season to combat the current and future load shedding of GEBE. It has been weeks if not months and as recent as Monday and Tuesday residents of the Dutch side of St. Maarten are experiencing load shedding and GEBE management has not been updating their clients as to the true cause of the load shedding. Reliable sources at GEBE has confirmed to SMN News that the 620 Generator is currently down and major repairs on this generator can only take place next year because the repairs are not on the 2011 budget. The source said that the 620 generator has been down for quite some time and management claims that if "something" is not on their annual budget then they cannot deal with it until the following year. The source further explained that the 620 generator feeds the system with 12 megawatt of power each day and the minute something goes wrong with any of the other generators the community will feel it with constant load shedding.

SMN News further learnt that GEBE is currently performing regular maintenance to one of its newer generators, that they said will be completed in a few days. However, the current load shedding residents and businesses are experiencing is due to a high tension wire that was broken by workers at the Indigo Bay project on Cole Bay Hill. The source said that GEBE workers are still working on repairing the high tension wire that was damaged.

In an invited comment, Minister of Energy Theodore Heyliger said that GEBE did not inform him about the generator that is currently not working. Minister Heyliger said even though he is the Minister that is over Government owned companies, GEBE does not provide him with any type of information on the company even though he requested information.
The Minister said GEBE has never informed him about the types of generators they purchased for the company and those they intend to purchase. "Basically, I have no official information on GEBE. I have sent them numerous letters and I am still waiting on a response." Heyliger said the management and supervisory board did not even inform him on the load shedding that the residents and businesses have to endure on almost a daily basis.
Minister Heyliger further explained that to date the supervisory board of GEBE has not informed him about the decisions they took on the renewal of the Managing Director's contract. "I have not been officially informed about Ir. Brooks contract, I have no information on the recruitment drive GEBE is holding to replace the CEO and CFO," Minister Heyliger said. Furthermore, government he said is still busy trying to determine the real owners of GEBE Saba and Statia before they can take actions against the inner workings of GEBE St. Maarten. "The Saba, Statia ownership is still plaguing government, but there are agreements that were made prior to the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles that government has to abide by," said the Minister of Energy.
In the meantime, SMN News learnt 40 persons applied for the two positions that will become available by the end of this year.
Efforts made by SMN News to secure the names of the possible candidates have proved futile thus far. Constant rumors have it that the former Minister of Health Maria Buncamper Molanus and Mark Mingo are among the candidates who applied.
Mingo is known to have an engineering degree while Buncamper Molanus a degree in Economic Administrative Education.