Articles

Chances are, if you're asking "Is God against premarital sex?" you're either looking for an excuse to engage in premarital sex or you are hoping for a reason to NOT feel guilty because you already have.
The good news is: You CARE what God thinks. Even better news is: He cares what you do.
Is God against premarital sex? In the Bible, premarital sex is lumped in with other "fornication" or "sexual immorality." The short answer is: God is very much against it.

News that a Florida-based Advanced Orthopedic Center is looking to set-up a multi-disciplinary clinic on the island to cater to residents and visitors is most welcomed – medical tourism.

Discussions have already taken place with government officials and the talks to date have been described as of an "exploratory" nature.

Medical tourism is a new trend in the healthcare industry and is gaining popularity especially in developed countries. The Medical tourism market has grown significantly and could reach US$100 billion by 2012. Persons seeking medical treatment abroad do so for various reasons. A May 2008 Mc Kinsey and Company report regarding medical tourism indicated that 40 per cent of medical travelers sought advanced technology, while 32 per cent sought better health care; another 15 per cent faster medical services and nine per cent for lower costs.

Most US citizens traveling abroad for medical services usually choose the following categories of medical tourism procedures: dental, cosmetic, orthopedic and cardiovascular. Americans go to Mexico, Costa Rica or Panama for dental or cosmetic surgeries due to their close proximity to the US while those for orthopedic and cardiovascular cases go to Southeast Asia and India.

Business organizations in the US are looking at offering offshore medical treatments for their employees because it would be a considerable savings for them. Insurance companies are also collaborating with global healthcare companies to provide overseas options to members.

The Caribbean overall and Sint Maarten in particular have much to benefit from the development of medical tourism, and those islands that already have a certain level of infrastructure, airlift etc., will be at the forefront of this new phenomenon. Our proximity to the US alone is a key asset.

Dr. Devi Shetty is an investor who will be constructing a 2000-bed hospital two billion Cayman dollar investment in the Cayman Islands in order to exploit medical tourism. Construction is expected to start in September or October with the first phase to open in early 2013. This part of the investment is valued at 100 million dollars. The Healthcare accreditation organization Joint Commission International has already accredited Dr. Shetty's heart hospital in Bangalore, Southern India.

The Cayman hospital will be called Narayana Cayman University Medical Centre, which would operate under Joint Commission International standards. The first phase involves the construction of a 150-bed hospital that will provide tertiary care currently not available in the Cayman Islands, including open-heart surgery, cancer treatments, bone marrow transplants and organ transplants.

A 1,500-unit assisted living section, a hospital, a medical education facility, a medical research unit and wellness, rejuvenation and recovery facility, will be housed in 10 buildings, to be constructed over the next 15-years. The assisted living would be built over the next 10-years.

The benefits for the Cayman Islands includes access for Cayman residents to more medical care on the Island, unlimited employment opportunities, spending from medical tourists and training and education opportunities at the medical centre's medical university. The hospital expects to cater to 120 patients per day in its first year of operation and eventually expand to 1,400 a day when fully operational. Patients would stay on the island for an average of nine and a half days.

The medical tourism market is a niche market. Approximately 1.3 million Americans are expected to seek medical care outside of the United States this year. This number is projected to increase annually by 35 per cent.

The spinoffs identified for the Cayman economy is the tourism sector, restaurants, hotels, taxi drivers and other hospitality service providers. The medical tourism sector could become just as important as the timeshare sector on the island.

Roddy Heyliger

Only the people of a country can make it successful. Government has its obligations and duties, but it is the individual citizens that control the success. Read the Constitution and educate yourself as to what government is expected and obligated to do and then look at how far we have strayed, from the original intent. StMaarten was, still is, and has always been country of hand out. The general electorate in StMaarten believes and thinks it is the government obligation to feed them and take care of them. This manner of thinking from a handout mentality creates poverty by choice and alleviates personal responsibility which should be practice by all citizens. Handout mentality foster a careless life style because people is of the opinion no matter how I fail in life it is the government responsibility to take care of me. That is totally wrong and immoral. In the previous constitution before it was amended, it was said that government was to provide housing to all citizens which is an entitlement. Entitlement is the fact of having a right to something. This is in reality not possible; the burden to have a house is the responsibility of the individual. In our new constriction it is amended as Article 21

“2. The provision of adequate residential accommodation shall be a matter of constant concern for the government.” I do not see where it is said an entitlement, this part of the constitution is revise better. In my opinion it is wrong to tell people that government is responsible for their life, and then they will never practice personal responsibility. This kind of mentality creates handout and devalue the meaning and worth and self value of life. Government is to provide opportunity to give a better chance of enhancing your quality of life. Education I agree should be an entitlement but not housing. We are and will continue to fool ourselves asking government to do something which we know is impossible to do and is wrong to spoil or baby sit people. It is the government task in trying to make people more self reliant. Unfortunately in StMaarten we make people more dependants when we buy their vote, give them free money when they are unemployed. Government instead should be giving them food and clothes coupons to attain these necessities from specific groceries and clothing stores. We must always keep the pressure on people to try to provide for themselves, a social benefit is to help but never a way of life. People and the electorate of StMaarten have to understand we get the government we deserve when we accept lies and false promises from politicians we know for a fact that they cannot accomplish. Governments continue to deceive people when those that know better does not challenge and expose deceitfulness of government in power. We put political interest before love of country and therefore we become weak as a country and that foster personal interest which in most case become destructive to the vital interest of the country. The problem in StMaarten is the people. People are quick to go and fight for freeness and handout, but never willing to stand and speak out for what is of importance for the country in general. Until we stop the handout mentality only then StMaarten can foster a chance of a self reliant country.

Kevin James

It was a great honor to be the guest speaker on Saturday, May 28th at Lady Ruby Bute Gardens in Friar's Bay for the launching of Daniella Jeffry's latest book « Destabilization of the French Caribbean ».
I could only encourage each and every saint -martiner to get a copy of this book that I would consider a "wake- up call" for the people of Saint Martin. On the eve of great political decisions, reading this book will open the eyes and the minds of many of us. We cannot continue to ignore our past over the two last decades on the Northern side. When we listen to the cries of our people on a daily basis, we must understand that the actual painful situation did not occur overnight. It was part of a master plan for we, the saint- martiners! With this book, You will be able to discover and define the causes of the social and cultural downfall that is taking away our identity as saint martiners!
I would like to thank all those of you who heard the call and attended the evenings of presentation. It was very sad however to see that none of our elected representatives nor community activists from the North was present. I ask myself what were the reasons: Does the truth hurt so much? Are they afraid to realize their responsibility in the chaotic situation of the Country? How long are they going not deny that Saint Martin, in order to regain its rightful place, has to be re-born, thus with the input of each and every one of us! But as we say : The truth cannot be hidden forever even though sometimes it is so convenient to do so!
Daniella, Congratulations to you once more for such a powerful and strong book that I believe will be a great source of therapy for those of us who have lived out the rough battles reported throughout the pages. I am convinced that the People of this country will regain the strength to rebuild their Nation, the courage to demand what they know is best for the Saint Martiner and the togetherness that they once knew! Let this book be synonym of Great Hope for the youth of Saint Martin!

Aline CHOISY

Dear Editor,

For a long time I have sit back and read articles some I agree with and some I do not agree with. But lately things have taken a turn for the worst. I finally admit to myself that if we all sit back and do not get involved in the process that is taken place we are just as guiltier as those who institute wrong practices and immorality. My topic is not just about premarital sex or homosexuality or adultery or fornication, murder or crime in general. It is about the church, who I always believe should take the lead in preaching and teaching about morality. For all those people that write about morality I commend them for taking their time to teach people of what is wrong and right. My question is what is the purpose of the church and is it still credible or is it still relevant. And do the pastors of today's church first live and lead by example and do they have the back bone or stomach to preach truth. I believe most pastors try the best to live by example but surely definitely not all. But I believe most pastors just do not have the courage to preach conviction. And from going church I notice how often times they elude preaching hardcore facts for fear of members leaving the church. In my opinion the church is not only to help and assist those who need, but more importantly to in store hope for a better life by teaching people to live pleasing to Christ and to keep his commandments while thanking God for his most precious grace we do not deserve. We only have one life to live and we should live it to the fullest while being happy, but more important pleasing to Christ. We must teach people why God put laws for man to live by. To be tempted is not an excuse to sin. This is what God says 1 Corinthians 10:13, (No temptation has seized me except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let me be tempted beyond what I can bear. But when I am tempted, he will also provide a way out so that I can stand up under it. ) God laws is also to create wealth if we work honest and put our money to good use ( not going casinos or adult clubs) we will see we all will be able to afford a decent home. The nature of man is to destroy himself that is why God make his laws to protect us from ourselves. If we continue living to please ourselves it is guaranteed it will lead to our destruction. It is all of us choice to live how we feel best, but when you continue to mess up then I believe you should suffer the consequences. And then keep your problems to yourself. Remember the wages of sin is death. If you choose to continue to sin then you choose death. It is simple as that. Even forgiveness has a limit. People should learn from their mistakes we must be forgiven and loving to each other but I re affirm there is a limit. The choice is yours choose wisely. I choose to please Christ above pleasing myself and so far I am happy and contented.

Joyce Williams

Dear Editor,

For the past week I have read articles and opinions from various people in stMaarten about rights, Heritage or born here. So I went online and locate the constitution of Country StMaarten to see what is stated in it. Article 43 # 1 Dutch nationality is a prerequisite of eligibility for appointment as a minister, and candidates may not be excluded from the right to vote. Prerequisite means required or necessary as a prior condition. So in other words you must have Dutch nationality which can be obtain in many ways. It can be passed on from grandfather or grandmother and born in a Dutch territory, or you can born here and born with Dutch rights or you can born from foreign parents and then naturalize Dutch.

So it is a fact that those inherited Dutch rights and born here is important. Only someone with ulterior motives will tell you born here or inheritance is not important. China, Japan, India and most of those Arab nations only accept you as one of them when you are of the same ethnic background or race while born there. T o be a President of the United States you must be born a United States citizens. That's why Arnold schawnegger only could be governor and not president, he was born in Austria. So born here and even more important heritage is a big deal and important. Because our constitution demands that you must have Dutch nationality. I believe that it should be modify to state that Prime Minister, Governor and Parliamentarians in the future should not be only Dutch citizens but should be born in StMaarten. May be now it is not possible but in the next 10 years it should be required. Gravity of leading and being chief should be someone you can identify yourself with. Leader should be proud to say I born here and this is my country that I am willing to die protect my life with. Seeing your fellowman born here in the highest offices in land builds love of country and nationalistic pride. Any person tells you that born here is not important to get a job is usually people not born of the country and have no inheritance, they are wannabee. I respect foreign people that come here and defend StMaarten as their home, I welcome that. And I am sure they will agree what I am saying is important because one day they grand children will be of inheritance and the children will be born here. So they must agree with me or else they are hypocrites. And to be fear and earnest in my mind and heart, the people of StMaarten who can trace their roots back to their great grand father or mother must be recognize, it is simple they are the real deal. Without them we would not have a StMaarten. That's why George Washington and Abraham Lincoln are so important to American heritage, it signals original. The same we should we do with St.Maarten people who were here before most of us. I believe in honor where it is deserve. In closing Heritage and born here is important and a big deal. I am proud to born here and a StMaartener of inheritance, I believe it is disrespectful when parliamentarians use their office and power to insult the precious right of people who are of inheritance and born here. Those people should not be in power. I say again, heritage and born here is important.

Kevin James

Dear Editor,

Allow me to begin by saying good day to you and to the citizens of St. Maarten.

I am writing regarding to lots of the negative developments on our island that has been publicized in the media. The society tends to rely solely on
pointing fingers and playing the blame games. The most common target for finger pointing and blame games has been our Government. The elected governments of past / present/ future are only there to help represent us.
It is us who rules this country in this democracy. We, the society of St. Maarten, are also to blame. Many of us have become laid back and constantly depending on others to solve our problems for us. It is our duty, each and every single one of us, to contribute to our country and show to the world how truly devoted we the St. Maarteners are to our island.

We also need to know, remember and honor our history and culture. It is the backbone that makes us who we are and identify us to the rest of the region and to the world. By not knowing our past, we won't know who we truly are. As a result of this we will be walking blindly into our future. Our heritage is molded into all of us. Don't leave our heritage and history become extinct! We must ask ourselves: how many of us besides the senior citizens even know how to dance the different folklore dances that we have or at least even know their names? There are many other aspects of our heritage and culture many of us don't even know or remember.

Despite how modern the world has become, many countries hold strong to their cultural heritage as it identifies them to the world and also reminds
themselves of their ancestry. It is time we do likewise and not put our forefathers to shame.

It is sad to hear how violent and unsafe St. Maarten has become recently. And this image is what people, especially visitors, will remember more
easily about us. There was a time we used to proudly call our island; "The Friendly Island". It is time we gave this nickname true meaning again. We
shouldn't be leaving it all up to the police, the VKS, the court to solve this problem. St. Maarten is our home and each and every one of us should do our part to win back our island, make St. Maarten earn back its name as the Friendly Island. When we work together we are stronger. We shouldn't live in fear. Fear should live in those who want to provoke fear in us and our visitors. This is our island and I say enough is enough! We can achieve it without having to stoop down low to their level.

The younger generation will be nothing if we turn our backs to them, ignore them, and leave them deal with our mess we leave behind for them. Many of us claim that the younger generations no longer have respect, and are violent. It is not their fault, it is our fault, because many of the generation of now and before us got side tracked and lost sight of doing our part to guide the youth on the proper path. All of us suppose to be role models for the generation to come. What kinds of examples are we teaching when we cheat, lie, steal, disrespect our bodies, abuse and disrespect others?! How do we expect for us to be respected if we can't show respect?! "It takes a village to raise a child"; an old saying goes, therefore the way the society of St. Maarten functions affects the way each and every child is raised.

The youths, even us the adults as well, need role models to help get St. Maarten back on the right track. When we look back into our history many of our historical icons didn't do anything big or grand. Each of them simply with their own little parts and together contributed tremendously to our
island, because they loved and cared deeply for St Maarten and its citizens. In short each and every single one of those individuals made an impact for our island no matter how small it was. The impact to our island was greatly enhanced when more people joined in doing their own contribution. These historical icons should be role models to us on how we, the citizens of St. Maarten, should be. The same can happen still, today and in the future, if each of us does our little part/contribution in trying to save what is left of St. Maarten's History and Culture out of love/compassion/ before it crumbles to dust and be forever forgotten. For those of us who are skeptical about the Impact of one individual, look at other world's historical icons who did their small part that started spreading like fire: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Mother Teresa, Robert Baden-Powell and Mahatma Gandhi, just to name a few. These historic icons didn't do what they did to gain fame. They did what they did because they felt in their heart it was the right thing to do which caught the attention of others and eventually the world. Even a droplet of water can have an impact when it hits the surface of water, creating a ripple effect across the surface. That is the Impact of One.

This is our moment to shine and change our words into action. The future of St. Maarten lies with each and every one of us who is a citizen of this
island. It isn't the country that makes the people! It is its people who make a country! The future of St. Maarten begins with us now. Together we
can make a brighter future for St. Maarten if we are true patriots of our island! We have only one St. Maarten and she can never be replaced once she is gone! Semper Pro Grediens!

So let us the people, the inhabitants and visitors find ways in bettering and preserving our island and its culture!

Sincerely yours,

Georgino Barnes

Patriotism is love of country and willingness to sacrifice for it.

It is taking ownership in your country. A country without patriots is about to fall -- or has fallen and doesn't know it yet. Only a patriot would willingly lay down his life for his country.
Only a patriot would serve in public office and attempt to resist the tide of corruption there.
Only a patriot would run his business in a fair and just manner even if it cost him something in the short term. And yes, many patriots are also Christians. True patriotism is identifying what is wrong with your nation, and giving anything (sometimes even your life) to fix it. Patriotism is not following the crowd blindly and ignorantly because of a political party.
True patriotism is important because the true patriots are the ones that change the real important issues to make StMaarten a better place. Patriotism means questioning what's wrong with your country in an effort to constantly make it better. Patriotism can be defined as the love and loyalty that we feel towards the country we live in. It is considered to be the duty of every citizen to be a patriot to StMaarten, especially in its time of need. Patriotism is important for so many reasons, but without the presence of patriotism in citizens of a country, it cannot succeed . A citizen must take pride in his/her country's achievements, both in the past and in the present in order for the nation to achieve greater prosperity in future. As we needed patriots to be free from foreign domination in the past, we need patriots in the country now, to hold on to what we have achieved and make further progress. It is true that the media is responsible for bringing in limelight the faults, corruptions, evils and shortcomings of StMaarten and it helps the citizens of the country understand the true situation within the nation. StMaarten can never be truly free of all its negative aspects; the younger generation will find it hard to develop any patriotic feeling for his/her country. If we do not have patriots left within our country and also do not allow our children to develop patriotic sentiments, who is going to stand up against corruption and fight for our country and what we believe in? If the spirit of patriotism is really important, i.e., if the way of life for which it stands is really worth preserving, then it behooves us all to discover precisely what it demands of us (in good times and bad). It means nurturing a strong sense of civic pride and sustaining the attitudes, principles, traditions and institutions that make our way of life possible. For it is only by not taking things for granted, but by conscientiously remembering how much we have and hope to hold onto, that we will confidently be able to pass the blessings of liberty we enjoy to future generations - or preserve them for ourselves. In the fullest meaning of the term, then, let us indeed keep patriotism alive. Love country first before any political party, country is the people. Until we put our people and love for StMaarten first only then we can and will become a country.

Miguel Arrindell

Dear editor,

It has become a norm that many legislators are expressing and is of the opinion that being born in StMaarten as a Dutch citizen does not qualify you for a job in stMaarten. Those legislators say the most important thing is experience. Let me be very honest here, I am taking notes and I have 4 legislators with this anti StMaarten attitude. And I will expose and call all of their names at a later point. But first I will challenge any of them in an open debate about what patriotism and love of country entails and how to really build a country. I can't wait to see our legislators passed a law describing that original StMaarten people should not be recognize and that children born here of illegal immigrant have just as much rights as other Dutch citizens. My question to those legislators is who are they representing? Are they representing foreigners first over Dutch citizens born in StMaarten, because they made it crystal clear born here Dutch citizens does not means you are entitle to a job. By they own decree I will lobby to bring 4 Dutch people from Holland who I know is more qualify and have more experience than those 4 anti StMaarten legislators and replace their position in parliament. I hope they go ahead and vote their self out of parliament. The StMaarten electorate must wake up and punish all senators or legislators no matter what political party that is pursuing the goal of Dutch citizens born in StMaarten does not entitle them for a job if they are qualify. All these legislators are wicked and deceitful people with dangerous ulterior motives. Tell me if you ever hear any legislators in Anguilla, StKitts , Nevis , Dominica, Jamaica, Antigua, Barbados, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Trinidad, Puerto Rico, Cuba, ever past legislation putting their people of heritage and ancestral back ground to third or fourth class citizens. The answer is no, only in StMaarten we have our unpatriotic legislators championing foreigners as equal citizens to our Original StMaarten people and Dutch citizens born here. I will continue to keep the dagger on these deceitful senators or legislators until they are out of office. What we want in government are people who will recognize original StMaarten people first along with Dutch citizens born in StMaarten and promote nationalistic pride. In every country in legal terms by any cadastre an individual will have to prove who his mother and father is before he can claim inheritance to land. My point is that's why original StMaarten people must be recognize or else we would not have a country and the true culture of the real StMaarten. These are the same legislators who do not have the back bone to defend laws in StMaarten interest, but is always willing to put down StMaarten people. The parliament in StMaarten will make history in the world when they determine that original StMaarten people never exist and that children of illegal immigrants are real StMaarteners. This will be the first ever parliament of a country to deny their own and go down as professional jackass for terminating their real StMaarten people. What a contradiction. First original StMaarten people never exist and last become original people. In closing what is in the darkness must come out in the light. We need legislators that are patriotic and that have nationalistic pride that is always willing to fight for StMaarten people first. Anything short of that is betrayal. My challenge is real and is open; let me see if those legislators are willing to step in the debating octagon with me. I will fight for the original StMaarten people including all born here Dutch citizens and all other Dutch citizens you all could continue fighting for the foreigners.

Yours truly,

Miguel Arrindell

"Is it ok to have premarital sex?" That is a common question among teens and engaged couples. Perhaps you are in a relationship that is progressing in that direction, but you're not sure what to do. In your mind, you are probably weighing the pros and cons of premarital sex. On the positive side of the scale, there is acceptance from your peers, hope for pleasure, and the fulfillment of sexual desires. The negative side of the scale carries the weights of morals, fear of pregnancy or disease, and guilt. How do these scales balance? What is the right decision? Let's take a look at some of the facts. God created the sex act for a man and woman within a marriage. Besides being pleasurable, sex is meant to be a spiritual experience that extends past the marriage bed into the everyday life of a married couple. It is not just setting up house together. The sex act locks the couple together in the purpose that God has set before them. The couple opens up emotionally to each other through the marriage act, which solidifies the continuing unity of the couple in living their lives for God. God intended for sex to help couples work out indifferences between them, along with the need to procreate.
Rarely does a premarital sexual relationship stay together long enough to make it to marriage vows. People engaging in this activity will experience the heart rending emotional upset that comes with breaking up. And when people experience multiple breakups, it numbs them to a marriage commitment of "until death do us part." They have conditioned themselves to run, instead of working out the problems that arises within marriages. Divorce statistics are higher when the couple engaged in premarital sex or lived together before deciding to marry.
The teenage years constitute a normal rise and fall of emotional hormones. Adding sexual activity to their curriculum compounds this process of becoming fully adjusted young adults with properly balanced emotions, physique, and spirituality. Peer pressure to have sex before marriage creates a need to make decisions pertaining to problem solving. Statistic rates are high in being emotionally/physically/sexually abused within their premarital sex relationships. Without a good family support system in place, a teen could easily make unwise problem solving decisions and slump into a state of depression that would cause the teen to consider suicide. If you or your child is struggling with sexual addiction, consult a local Christian counselor or a leader in your church.
When people choose to participate in premarital sexual activity, they will take virus, fungi, bacteria, yeast, spores, or parasitic contamination into the marriage bed once they decide to commit to one partner. Saving oneself for marriage keeps the marriage bed pure from the attack of the germ world. Premarital Sex - Is it Safe physically and emotionally?
Another consideration when deciding about premarital sex is safety. Did you know that 50% of the people who currently have HIV are between the ages of 15 and 24? Using a condom only reduces the risk of contracting HIV by 85%. Condoms do not significantly reduce the risk of contracting other sexually transmitted diseases. Take these statistics into consideration when making your decision.
Most people don't consider the emotional effects of premarital sex. You see, sex is an emotional experience and it affects our lives in ways we don't understand. After engaging in premarital sex, many people express feelings of guilt, embarrassment, distrust, resentment, lack of respect, tension, and so much more. As you read the next section, consider God's love for you as a primary reason for sexual purity. God does not want you to experience unnecessary emotional pain! God does not limit sex to married couples to rob pleasure from those who are unmarried. Rather, God commands against premarital sex in order to protect unmarried people from unwanted pregnancies, from children born to parents who do not want them, and to protect children from parents who are not prepared for them. Imagine, for a moment, a world without premarital sex. There would be no sexually-transmitted diseases, there would be no un-wed mothers, there would be no unwanted pregnancies, there would be no abortions, etc. According to the Bible, abstinence is God's only policy when it comes to premarital sex. Abstinence saves lives, protects babies, gives sexual relations the proper value, and most importantly abstinence honors God. Do the wise, right and moral decision.

Michael Peterson

Dear Editor,

I noticed some of our legislators love bashing and indulging that people of StMaarten origin have too much of privilege while always defending people born in StMaarten from illegal immigrants. In the opening of the new parliament building it was make clear by a particular legislator that soon there will be names of legislators that will not be of StMaarten origin, and that we are all equal as Dutch citizens of StMaarten. This particular legislator seems to be proud of his party (Democratic Party) accomplishment of the last 25 years of making the original StMaarten people a minority in their country. The confusion exists for the last 25 years in StMaarten is that we were not building a nation but we were dividing it. Any person from original StMaarten people roots is always the people to be challenge to get a good position in government, and we always have to hear from legislators when they are not qualify and when they are over qualify. And it goes across party lines. The only StMaarten people who have no problem getting a job are those from the elect few families in government.  Our people in StMaarten are train to bash each other when we are affiliated with different political parties, which is being real low. The same legislator did not tell you that the opportunities provided in StMaarten are for the elect few, so the nonsense of equality is only good to score political capital but the reality is far from truth. Look how Senator Laville (naturalize StMaartener) was coerce when he took a different angle from the elect few (Leader of UPP and other members from the UPP Party). For that legislator who was born in Aruba he knows well that in Aruba he could not make it this far in politics or attain financial success as he did in StMaarten, because his color of his skin is not consider in Aruba as being real Aruban.  It is hypocritical to come here and talk about equality. This man should thank the original StMaarten people and recognize them as people of greatness for helping him.  I personally have no problem with anyone who have Dutch Nationality that was born here, I have problem with deceitful politician bashing the Original StMaarten people and making the general electorate believe that the original StMaarten people is the problem in StMaarten. When it is the DP and NA  along with some politician in the UPP party who so gladly endorse the bashing of original StMaarten people not by saying it, but their actions for privileges is loud and clear that original StMaarten people is not wanted any more. The born here StMaartener and the naturalize StMaartener is also realizing they are use only for votes, and they beginning to see clearly that the UPP DP & NA are the same people who could care less about them and that they are put in the same category as original people of StMaarten. People of StMaarten did you ever hear any legislator or minister say he is proud of the original StMaarten people for opening their hands which help so many neighboring countries and countries far away to attain a better living and that they are proud of living in StMaarten?  A friend of mine who is not from StMaarten tell me with all respect, you people in StMaarten are real fools for voting  a government that does not promote nationalistic pride and love of country, he notice that the original StMaarten people is omitted from climbing up the ladder of success. I told him when people put love, duty, honor of country before political party it is only then change for better will come. The group that hates to recognize the original StMaarten people is DP, UPP & NA. The legislators that loves and enjoys not recognizing the original StMaarten people the most is William Marlin, Roy Marlin George Panthophlet. The good news is this that even the bad things will come to an end.  It is the same people you all love not to recognize is what got you all in that position. And people like you are ungrateful. As from now I will pin point any or all politicians who hates or goes after the original StMaarten people and will do all in my power to make sure they are not re-elected.  In conclusion the original StMaarten people will prevail.

Yours Truly,

Miguel Arrindell

St. Peters:--- A group of angry band members from the St. Peters area attacked and assaulted blogger Judith Roumou on Sunday. Roumou in an exclusive interview with SMN News said that she was attacked on Sunday on the St. Peters main road close to the St. Maarten Academy.
Roumou said that she called the police but they never came (responded) to the scene. She said someone from among the group of attackers convinced them to leave her. She said she went home and it was at her gap where she was attacked, slammed and beaten. The attackers she said had bats, wrenches and other mechanical tools during the first confrontation.
The attack she said happened in the presence of the main attacker's parents whom she named. Roumou said she eventually went to the police station because an officer told her on the phone that she had to go to the police station to file the complaint. Roumou said she was advised to go to the St. Maarten Medical Center to get a doctor's report for the injuries she received to take back to the police station. Roumou had in her possession a copy of the doctor's report when she was interviewed by SMN News. "I went to the doctor like the police told me and they told me to come back with this report but when I returned there they told me I should go back on Monday and they will take an official complaint from me," Roumou said.
Roumou said three years ago she began making videos for the bands that participate in St. Maarten's Carnival, these videos she said are done free of charge and is uploaded to "YouTube". This year, Roumou said she made videos for Four M Band, Youth Waves Band and the Official Band. Besides that, Roumou said she also made videos of the carnival which was also uploaded to "YouTube". Roumou said this year the videos and the amount of hits each band got created some anger among the various bands. She said the members of Official Band felt that she was not giving them equal treatment and she was giving preference to other bands which she denied. She said the other two bands Four M Band and Youth Waves received more hits on YouTube and that is what created the anger and jealousy with Official Band. She said the members of Official band confronted her several times and places before but on Sunday a group of them met her and got physical.
Roumou said one night at the Carnival Village she was there and witnessed a confrontation between Official Band and Four M Band. The confrontation she said started when Official Band began to cause trouble with the members of Four M. "I was there speaking with Stuart Johnson and I witnessed what happened and I recorded it." Roumou said her other encounter with the Official Band members was in South Reward during the opening night but by then she was slandered on Facebook by these band members and she was not aware of it. She said other people who are part of her group on Facebook rebuked the persons who were slandering her and eventually she removed the music from YouTube hoping the controversy and constant attacks would stop because she is related to the members of Official Band. One of them even agreed to stop the attacks and move on but on Sunday that was not the case.

Felt Attacks are Politically Motivated.

Judith Roumou is well known to St. Maarten community because she has been writing and releasing emails that politicians wrote to each other. Roumou also attacked DP advisor Julian Rollocks after he refused to pay her for the work she did for him. For the past two weeks Roumou was on several radio programs and television programs speaking out against politicians since she claimed to have written proof on her allegations. Asked if she felt that the attack on Sunday had anything to do with the interviews she did on radio and television. Roumou said she believes that the attack on Sunday has everything to do with her being vocal on the matters she has spoken out about. Roumou said during the attack someone kept telling her the people she spoke out about will get her and they will sue her and her response was no one can sue if the information is true. Roumou said the attacker's mother and sister kept mentioning her blogs.

Philipsburg:--- Honourable President of Parliament Drs. Gracita Arrindell would like to announce that an additional point has been added to the agenda of the public session of Parliament for Monday, May 23.

The first agenda point is the advice from the Presidium for the temporary appointment of a 1st Deputy Secretary-General.

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

The second agenda point is the advice of the Presidium of Parliament concerning the appointment of a deputy Secretary-General of the Parliament of St. Maarten.

Philipsburg:--- A delegation led by the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister of St. Maarten Theodore Heyliger travelled to St. Barths on May 6, 2011 to meet with St. Barths President Bruno Magras to discuss tourism strategies between both island nations. The meeting also included St. Maarten Minister of Tourism Hon. Franklin Meyers, Minister of Justice Hon. Roland Duncan and Director of Tourism Regina LaBega as well as St. Barths Vice President, Yves Greaux and Member of Collectivity Maxime Desouche.

The main objective of the meeting between St. Maarten/St. Martin and St. Barths was to establish relations with the government and tourism representatives from both islands, helping to enhance security, marketing, air service, development and maintenance.

Information was presented on the new Tourism Statistical Information System (TSIS) launching on Nov. 1, 2011, which was designed to improve information flow between the islands in terms of relevance, accuracy and distribution.

Another important focus discussed at the meeting was the strategies for improving the visitor experience while travelling between St. Maarten and St. Barths by land or sea.

"Our commitment to ensuring our visitors have a quality experience when transferring between both our islands is essential," explains Minister Heyliger. "St. Maarten, like St. Barths, is an ideal vacation destination and offers travellers a variety of activities, therefore working with St. Barths to help provide a smooth transition from island to island will only drive tourists to experience more than one Caribbean destination on their next vacation."

Another strategy discussed was the cooperative marketing activities with South American, European and U.S. airlines with St. Maarten and St. Barths pooling financial resources to position Princess Juliana International Airport as a major hub in the Caribbean. The representatives explored ways of accessing European Union funding for joint tourism projects.

The meeting concluded with all delegates reaffirming their commitment to the partnership and jointly working together to enhance economic environments of both island nations.

Philipsburg:--- Honourable Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunications Franklin Meyers, is calling on the business community to come out and support the Inspirational Business Symposium that will take place on Monday, May 16 at the Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort and Casino.

The objective of the event is to establish connections, build networks and develop new formulas for doing business, as an active player within distinctive markets throughout the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the region.

The event is being coordinated by the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

A delegation of 15 representatives of the ABC islands, Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, and from Saba, St. Eustatius, Suriname and the Netherlands, will be attending the event.

"This symposium presents an opportunity for our business leaders. I encourage them to sign-up and be part of the further development of our countries business sector.

"Our business leaders will be able to explore business partnerships and trade opportunities among the companies that will be present representing various fields of business," Hon. Minister of Economic Affairs Meyers said on Friday.

The Hon. Minister of Economic Affairs will be delivering the opening address at the symposium on Monday.

Philipsburg:--- Former Head of Finance Bas Roorda was condemned by the court of first instance where he filed an injunction to hear at least five witnesses.
In its ruling, the court decided that Roorda cannot return to work since his employers claim that they have lost confidence in him while Roorda claimed that the Minister of Finance was not authorized to sign the letter of termination. The judge ruled that based on the Accounting Law the Minister of Finance was authorized to enter into contracts as long as it concerned matters that fell within the purview of his budgeting authority. The court held that the same obtained in the Netherlands. Therefore the Minister of Finance had the authority to terminate the contract with Roorda.
The court further ruled that Roorda could not make any demand to be reinstated because he no longer had a contract with St. Maarten.
The judge said that there is no legal obligation to provide work, and in this case there is a labor dispute. During the court hearing it became evident that the Secretary General and the Minister had absolutely no confidence in a working relationship with Roorda. The court held that Roorda was engaging in wishful thinking if he still believed it was possible to have a fruitful working relationship, seeing that the position and responsibilities that Roorda held required mutual trust.
The judge stated that he learned that Roorda had filed a request to hear five witnesses and that was granted.. The court also rejected Roorda's demand to be reinstated and have his salary continued while ordering Roorda to compensate government with Naf. 1000.00 towards their court fees.
Bastiaan Roorda was hired on December 2, 2009 as head of Finance according to a civil law contract.
On March 30th 2011, Roorda informed a senior policy worker in the Ministry of Finance that he intended to file a criminal complaint against civil servants for collecting travel allowances for days they were not traveling, but were on St. Maarten.
The Minister of Finance and the Minister of Economic affairs called a meeting of the council of Ministers to be informed about this matter. Roorda was invited. This meeting took place on March 31st, 2011. The Minister of Justice informed Roorda that he could not stop him from filing a criminal complaint, but asked him at the same time if he was not over reacting. Roorda explained his position and insisted on filing an immediate complaint.
Roorda filed his complaint with the Landsrecherche that same day, and upon his return to his office he received a letter dated March 31st, 2011 informing him, that in accordance with his contract and taking into account the notice period of one month the council of ministers had decided to terminate the working agreement with him as per May 1st, because he did not behave as a good employee. In spite of many warnings he had violated the oath of secrecy by giving information to third parties without prior permission from his superiors or the Minister. He was placed on non-active duty and ordered to return the keys to his office and to return all documents to the acting Secretary General of Finance Ms. Sherry Hazel.
On April 15th 2011 his lawyer Maarten Le Poole informed the council of Ministers that their letter was not of consequence because only the Governor was authorized to terminate Roorda. In addition, he said that the reasons for termination were not reasonable, because a contracted worker who is considered the same as a civil servant cannot be reproached for complying with a legal responsibility. Roorda summoned Country St. Maarten to allow him to return to work.
In a letter dated April 7th, 2011, Roorda's lawyer requested the Minister of Justice explain exactly what facts formed the basis for his accusation that Roorda had violated the oath of secrecy.
In a letter dated April 15th, 2011, the government's lawyer answered that Roorda had given highly sensitive information about the pension premiums to the CFT without the permission of the Minister, or his direct superior, Ms. Sherry Hazel. This all took place during the politically sensitive 2011 budget debate. Furthermore, it was pointed out the intention to dismiss Roorda had already been taken before he had filed the criminal complaint concerning irregularities with travel allowances which he claimed to had uncovered. So the complaint was not on the basis for his dismissal,
Furthermore, it was pointed out there were doubts about Mr. Roorda's loyalty to the St. Maarten's government. The Minister heard in November of last year that Roorda had been telling third parties that St. Maarten should be placed under higher supervision. This was brought to the attention of Roorda. Additionally, information reached the Minster that Roorda had been bad mouthing St. Maarten and the Finance department. The violation of the oath of secrecy and the negative comments about St. Maarten the lawyer concluded had led to a loss of confidence in the ability of Mr. Roorda to function as head of Finance.
Roorda's lawyer contested these claims in a letter of April 18, 2011 stating that St. Maarten was aware that the issue of pension premiums had already come to the attention of the CFT. The letter concluded by regretting the fact that the reason for ending the contract seemed contrived and arrived at after the fact, but still government was holding fast to its position. Roorda's lawyer stated he remained ready to perform the agreed tasks.
Roorda requested the court to allow him to continue working and to continue paying him his salary until he had been lawfully dismissed.
In the summary injunction, Roorda claimed his working relationship still existed and that in a substantive case he would be reinstated. He stated that he was ready and willing to work, but St. Maarten was not making use of his services, so he was entitled to his salary.

Member of Parliament George Pantophlet is looking for assistance from the Committee for Financial Supervision in locating funds due to St. Maarten from the former Netherlands Antilles. Wanting to have a hand in preparing the 2012 Budget for St. Maarten in accordance with their role is welcome. But the Member of Parliament also wants this assistance in other areas which he will elucidate later on. The Committee for Financial Supervision has certain rights such as access to all information required for them to execute their task which includes insight into services, administration and all related documentation. Of course the all secrecy law applies. But am sure secrets will not be kept from the representatives of the people of St. Maarten. The Member of Parliament remains adamant that to build country St. Maarten having the Finances and Human Resources to do so are essential. These will translate into better being able to improve law enforcement, education, health, infrastructure and the likes. On the issue of Human Resources, the Member of Parliament must insist that instead of bringing in Dutch (European) retired civil servants or those who have been laid off because of Dutch Budget constraints should not be entertained. One has to first look at our civil servants who have had to retire because of reaching the pensionable age to fill these positions or vacancies and then if need to we can look outward. Now to the elucidation I alluded to earlier in this article. The people need more clarity on the Naf. 183 million. Is it a grant or a loan? So far Naf 65 million has gone into the St. Maarten pension fund. The problem is that we are still waiting on the Dutch to approve invoices totaling Naf 40 million owed to creditors from St. Maarten. The Naf. 78 million apparently will not be granted or loaned because St. Maarten was late in presenting some documentation. The assistance that the people of St. Maarten needs from the committee for Financial Supervision is the following: Can you please assist us in finding out what happened to the naf 60 million that was placed on an account to pay former creditors of the Netherlands Antilles? The Minister of Finance Mr. Hiro Shigimoto stated that St. Maarten has no insight into this account and since the Member of Parliament believes that the Budgets for country Curacao are also scrutinized by the committee for Financial Supervision this makes it possible for them the CFT) to assist us in finding out where those funds are. What the Member of Parliament is inquiring about also is the crime fund. The last time he mentioned this word as a Member of Parliament of the former Netherlands Antilles he was told he was opening a Pandora box. He wants to know whether it is true that there is an amount of Naf. 8 million available for St. Maarten from the crime fund. He (the MP) understood that some Naf. 1.7 million or so was approved for the Justice Ministry of St. Maarten. If this is the case what happened to the balance? Finally and he hopes he can phrase this question properly. Is there an account on a Curacao private Bank or the Central Bank where notary fees were paid into prior to the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles? The Member of Parliament of the Netherlands Antilles at the time Mr. Faroe Metry had brought it up several times in meetings stating that the Parliament nor the government of the then Netherlands Antilles has insight into this account which runs into the millions of guilders. It is important for the people of St. Maarten to get what is due to us especially as it relates to finances. If we must share in the debts we must also share in the revenues of the former Netherlands Antilles. We need the CFT's assistance.

Philipsburg:--- Legendary zouk artist "Jeff Joseph" of Grammacks will be performing live In concert this Saturday May 28th at Lido Bar-Restaurant and Events Center in Cole Bay. "Also performing will be DJ Emile and the 4 Musqueteers Band featuring rising Konpas/Zouk Star OSWALD with Miriam," said Francisco Machado of Mercury Sun who is organizing the event together with the Lido Management.

"Lots of people have been wondering if Lido has space for this event. What they should know is that Lido Bar-Restaurant has expanded by taking over the former supermarket next door. It's a big enough venue to host the Jeff Joseph event. They've added a bar and stage; and airco. And there is enough dancing floor available. Come on down this Saturday 28th and enjoy a night of good music with Jeff Joseph ," Machado.

He hinted that Joseph is familiar with the St. Maarten zouk lovers. "It's not his first time here; he's performed in St. Maarten many times over his career, his last performance here was for carnival 2009. He looks forward to giving his usual energetic live performance."

Dominica born Jeff Joseph is lead singer of Grammacks, one of the most significant and original musical experience to come out of the Caribbean in the seventies. Energetic and charismatic Joseph, has taken the band and its music around the world, performing up to 100 shows a year. His bio describes him as a man whose experience is so vast, it's almost impossible to summarize what he represents. His followers and lovers of his music most likely know what to expect from the show in Lido next Saturday.

Ticket (priced at US$20) are available at LIDO & Music Caraibes in Marigot.

Philipsburg:--- The University of St. Martin (USM) Lecture Series organizing committee paid a courtesy call on FirstCaribbean International Bank's Country Head Mr. Robert Judd on Friday, May 6, 2011 to thank him for a donation to the USM Lecture Series and to update him on the lectures which are open to the public. In photo USM Acting Dean of Academic Affairs and Lecture Series organizing committee member Glen Yeung ( r) shakes hands with Mr. Judd (l) thanking him for the US$1600 donation. Other committee members are Khalilah Peters and Michel Chance (not in photo). The Lecture Series continues this Wednesday, May 11, 2011 with an ICT & Me lecture entitled "E-commerce Dead or Alive in St. Maarten?" The lectures are open to the general public and seating is on a first come first serve basis. The USM Lecture hall has a seating capacity for 200 persons.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The deadline for the "2011 Business Outreach and Placement Program" known as the Summer Job Program, is Friday, May 13.

All interested students are hereby requested to submit their application forms by Friday to the Department of Social Cultural Development located in the Vlaun Building, across from the Post Office.

The summer job program will take place from July 4th through August 12th 2011.

Private sector companies are also encouraged to sign-up as well giving the nation's school going youth an opportunity to gain some experience during the summer holiday period.

The program consists of an application period, trainings, pre-selection for interviews and final selection for a job within the Government Administration or the Private Sector.

Students wishing to apply for a Summer Job can do so by contacting the Department of Social Cultural Development or their school office for an application form.

To apply, students must be:

• 16 years or older;
• in the pre-exam or exam class of Secondary Education;
• attending a College or University.

To be eligible applicants must submit besides the application form;

1. An application letter directed to the Government of St. Maarten,
2. A Curriculum Vitea (CV)
3. A copy of a picture I.D.
4. Proof of School/University attendance.

For further information the Department can be contacted at phone 542-2056 or fax 543-1172 or e-mail address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Philipsburg:--- Honourable President of Parliament Drs. Gracita Arrindell would like to announce that there will be a public session of Parliament on Monday, May 23.

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

The agenda point is related to the advice of the Presidium of Parliament concerning the appointment of a deputy Secretary-General of the Parliament of St. Maarten.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Section Head of the Office of Disaster Management Paul Martens and Program Manager at the Department of Interior and Kingdom Relations Loekie Morales - who represents the Prime Minister as the Territorial Authorizing Officer (TAO) representative on the R3I project board – on Wednesday attended the opening session of the Regional Risk Reduction Initiative (R3I) workshop.

The conference is funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) office in Barbados is being held from May 3 through 6 at Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino.

Great Bay:--- NAGICO Insurances made hefty donations of educational materials to more than ten schools and playschools on the island, on Monday, as part of their move to facilitate and support 'Foundation based education'.
According to NAGICO'S Marketing & Communications department, this donation was just one of the many ways in which the company wanted to play their part in preparing the way to a brighter future for young children on the island by giving back to the community.

"We don't need a special occasion to make a contribution like this, because we believe that for the educational system to work, students and teachers must be properly equipped with the basic tools they need to lay the foundation for a good education. Therefore, some primary schools and daycares were randomly chosen and presented with items to jump start the process."

Among the items distributed were: crayon books, pencils, crayons, erasers, pencil cases, back packs, driver's manuals, folders and tote bags. Some of the schools which received these items were: The Methodist Agogic Center, St. Joseph Elementary School, The Oranje Elementary School, Hillside Christian School, Sr. Magda Primary School, The I Can Foundation, The Seventh Day Adventist School, Ryle, Ryan & Friends Playschool, Barney Playschool, St. Dominic Primary, Joan's Afternoon School, Bob the Builder School and AHEAD Center of Excellence.

"NAGICO is more than just an insurance company, we pride ourselves in being social partners and as such we try to focus on key areas in the society and to inspire the young in education, sports and culture."

Meanwhile, internally NAGICO has also been inspiring their young employees to further their education by giving them the opportunity to pursue various degrees, diplomas, certificates and courses financed by the company. "To be successful in a business you have to have the right people, with the right qualifications and training to offer good service and good service means happy clients.

ANTIGUA, St. Johns:--- Chairman of LIAT (1974) Ltd, Dr. Jean Holder, members of the Board of Directors and executive management were hosted by representatives from Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer in Barbados at a breakfast event culminating in a one hour demonstration flight on their new Embraer E-190 aircraft which is in the region en route to be delivered to the airline, Jet Blue.

The Embraer E-190 has a capacity of 100 seats that can be configured to accommodate both business and economy class.

Dr. Holder indicated that "in this era of competition LIAT is not standing still but is seeking ways of offering a better product to the people of the region. We have found the flight to be quite comfortable, now our technical people will analyze the how, when and what as it pertains to the expansion of our fleet and our network."

Dr. Holder stated that "the demonstration flight is the result of discussions currently being held with Embraer, which is among several aircraft manufacturers including Bombardier and ATR that we are consulting as the airline seeks viable options to replace its current fleet with more efficient models."

Following the Barbados flight, the aircraft journeyed to LIAT's headquarters in Antigua where another demonstration flight was launched taking a mixture of LIAT's executive and technical staff, personnel from the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority and media representatives, on a short flight.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The commemoration of the International Day of Families 2011 focuses on the "Confronting Family Poverty and Social Exclusion."

This day is observed on the 15th of May every year as proclaimed by a United Nations (UN) General Assembly resolution in 1993.

It reflects the importance the international community attaches to families as a means to confront the many challenges facing communities all over the world.

Prime Minister Honourable Sarah Wescot-Williams in reflecting on this day, not only placed the focus on families themselves to build strong families, but also on governments to provide assistance for families and their members where in need such as schooling, employment, care for the young and generally providing a better quality of life for all.

The family constitutes the basic unit of any society. The widest possible protection and assistance should be accorded to families so that they can fully assume their responsibilities within the community according to the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Declaration on Social Progress and Developments and the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against women.

Benchmarking is important as our young nation seeks to elevate the level of our society on all fronts. The Millennium Development Goals offer such benchmarking and establish targets according to which we are judged in the area of for example combating poverty.

Over the decades, the structure of families on Sint Maarten has changed, from earlier days when mothers were left in charge of the family, as fathers sought employment elsewhere, from the days of expanded families and close-knit kinship to single-parent households, young mothers and fathers, working and relocated (older) family members.

If this day serves nothing else than raising awareness in families of the importance of their strength for the strength of our community's its purpose would be served.

Family structures can be fortified with the basic ingredients of respect, communication and love. Ingredients that cost little, if anything at all.

And in a special appeal, the Prime Minister concluded: "On this day do something in and with your family that recognizes the importance of the family, and throughout the year work on building stronger families.

"Strong families make strong communities and strong communities make a strong nation. Our nation needs every family, none excluded."

The Board of financial supervision (College financieel toezicht – Cft) visited on the one hand Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba and on the other hand Curaçao and Sint Maarten between May 9th and 20th. All entities are showing progress: most of the 2009 financial statements and the 2008 and 2009 financial statements of the government companies have been submitted to the Cft. The communication with the various financial institutes and authorities is also satisfactory. However, the Board frowns on some aspects of the public finances of mainly Curaçao and Sint Maarten.

Public Entities

For the Public Entities Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba this was the first visit of the Board in 2011. The Board met with the Executive Councils, the Island Councils and employees of the Finance departments. The Cft observes that the Public Entities are actually taking the necessary steps to achieve sound public finances; the preparation of the 2011 budgets was done correctly and for the first time the budgets all balanced out. The 2011 budgets have become considerably smaller, since a substantial part of the previous tasks of the island territories has been transferred to the Netherlands as a consequence of the state reform as per October 10^th, 2010.

Execution

With regard to the execution of the budget, the Public Entities were not able to submit reliable information, since they are faced with lack of capacity. The second execution report is expected to offer more reliable information about the financial situation of each Public Entity. The entities have fully picked up on the backlog in the financial statements in a short period of time; which is an enormous performance. These financial statements still have to receive a positive declaration of the financial control, and that is a very important point for consideration. There are still some other aspects that require attention, since they hamper a structured budget process.

More than 25 million of the payments in arrears, which have developed in the recent years, is now settled. This settlement has become possible based on advices of the Cft to the Minister of Internal Affairs and Kingdom Relations. The last part of this settlement will be paid in the next month, which will improve the debt position for the Public Entities.

On Sint Eustatius and Saba the Code Corporate Governance has not been implemented yet. On Bonaire the Corporate Governance has been published, but the articles of association of all government companies still need to be adapted. At the beginning of this year, the Preceding Supervision on personnel which is applicable on Bonaire, was transferred from the Cft to the Representative of the National Government, based on the Law on public entities BES. Upon request, Bonaire accepted for the Board to continue for this year to execute Preceding Supervision with regard to subsidies and transfers.

 

Curaçao
The supplementary budget 2011 of Curaçao shows a modest surplus. The Cft considers this therefore the right moment to realize necessary changes, especially in those areas where in the future substantial cost increases may be expected, such as Health Care. It is clear that Curaçao is working on various aspects, but the actual implementation of those measures is still pending. Other measures that were already taken, such as the casino tax, have been adapted repeatedly. The Board would like for the proposed measures to be execute consistently. In this regard it is positive that the Cft and Curaçao have agreed to cooperate closely when producing the 2012 budget.

Furthermore Curaçao seems to acknowledge the importance of good insight in the financial position of the government companies and their possible implications on the financial position of the country. Meanwhile the financial statements of several government companies have been submitted and the recent appointment of the members of the Supervisory Boards was based on the Corporate Governance Code.

The Board regrets the fact that there was no opportunity to meet neither with the Council of Ministers nor with the Parliament of Curaçao. The Board considers these meetings very valuable and useful since this way the respective parties can all be informed on the progress of the strengthening of the public finances and the vision of the Board’s on this matter. The Board therefore has expressed the hope that during the next visit there will be an opportunity to meet with all parties involved.

Sint Maarten
On Sint Maarten did meet with both the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister, as well as with the complete Council of Ministers and the Parliament. The main subject was the budgetary process 2011, which has progressed only with great difficulty and has not finished yet, considering that the budget still needs to be adopted by the Parliament. Parties have decided to work on an agreement on systematic planning and communication so the budgetary process will lead to a timely adoption of a 2012 budget that complies with the requirements in the Kingdom Act. Although the communication between the Cft and the official authorities can already be qualified as good, it has been agreed to work on its further improvement.

The Board is concerned about the delay in timely submittal of information on the budget’s execution. This is primarily necessary to allow for well-timed adjustment. The backlog in the execution reports has been caused by the complexity of the matter and the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles on October 10^th, last year. Sint Maarten has indicated to continue striving to comply with the deadlines in the Kingdom Act.

The Cft has received a great deal of the requested financial statements over 2008 and 2009 of the government companies. Sint Maarten ensured that the Corporate Governance Council will shortly dispose of enough financial means in order to be able to execute its tasks.

With both Curaçao and Sint Maarten the five-year plan for the improvement of the financial management was discussed, and in both countries the survey on the interest burden norm is almost completed.

 

Two Boards

Since the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles there are two Boards of Financial supervision: the Cft Curaçao and Sint Maarten and the Cft BES. The members of the Cft Curaçao and Sint Maarten are Mr. Hans Weitenberg (President), Ms. Margo Vliegenthart (upon proposal of the Netherlands) and Mr. Alberto (Chos) Romero (upon proposal of Curaçao). Sint Maarten has not proposed a member as yet. For the Cft BES Mr. Weitenberg and Ms. Vliegenthart the same functions as for the Cft Curaçao and Sint Maarten. The third member of the Cft BES is Mr. Max Pandt, upon proposal of the Public Entities Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba.

The organizers of SMART: St. Maarten Tourist Bureau, Office de Tourisme de St. Martin, St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association and L’ Association des Hoteliers de St. Martin are inviting all interested properties to attend the SMART seminars intended to help improve business. The seminars will be held on May 27, 2011 from 9:00am – 12:30pm at the Westin Resort. Seating is limited so all interested persons should contact the SHTA on 542-0108 or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 5 pm on Wednesday to reserve a spot.

See schedule below:

9:00 am -10:00 am

Update on Tourism Statistical Information System

This long awaited system should be established at PJAIE this year and will allow the island to collect information of all incoming and outgoing visitors. With this system in place, you will have access to data that will allow you to promote your property to the right markets.

10:15 am – 11:15 am

Maximizing exposure through Tourist office’s marketing tools: website and iPhone application

Reps of the St. Maarten Tourist office will enlighten you on some of the new & innovative marketing tools available to expose your property free of charge.

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Effective ways to reach your markets through Internet and Social media

This seminar will focus on using social media effectively to reach your target markets and will go further into the benefits of using the advertising opportunities available on these social media sites.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Aruba's Prime Minister Honourable Mike Eman and his delegation visited the Cabinet of the Minister of Plenipotentiary in The Hague on May 27.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Section Head of the Office of Disaster Management Paul Martens is currently in Aruba to attend the launch of the disaster risk reduction activities on that island and within the region.

A Regional Risk Reduction Initiative (R3I) workshop funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) office in Barbados is being held from May 3 through 6 at Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino.

The workshop entails the launching of the R3I project in Aruba. A presentation will be made by Aruban disaster officials about their main challenges and opportunities in terms of disaster management, and more specifically GIS applied to risk information, identified.

A project board will also meet with reference to the governance of the R3I project, project status, and decide on the main orientations for the project implementation. There will be a meeting of the Technical Management Team (TMT) of which Paul Martens is a member. The TMT will decide on technical aspects of the project.

The European Union (EU) has made funding available for several regional projects in the field of disaster management and risk reduction.

One of the projects is Early Warning Systems of which Sint Maarten is a beneficiary. The coastal bathymetric survey carried out earlier this year is one of the elements of this particular project.

Program Manager at the Department of Interior and Kingdom Relations Loekie Morales will be representing the prime minister as the Territorial Authorizing Officer (TAO) representative on the R3I project board.

Disaster management falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of General Affairs and the prime minister.

Previous R3I workshops were held in Anguilla in January and in Sint Maarten, October 2010.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) along with the World Health Organization (WHO) have called on health authorities in the Americas to recommend vaccination against measles and rubella for all travelers visiting countries in the Americas.

PAHO also recommends that any resident of the Americas planning to travel to other regions of the world should be protected against measles and rubella prior to departing on their trip. This recommendation is also relevant to residents of Sint Maarten, according to the Collective Preventive Service (CPS) of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour.

Travelers who have not been vaccinated against measles and rubella are at risk of contracting these diseases when visiting countries where the viruses are currently circulating. Special efforts should be made to ensure vaccination for women of childbearing age in order to prevent possible infections caused by the rubella virus during pregnancy.

There is currently an outbreak of measles in 30 European countries. Since the beginning of the year, the WHO has reported at least 6,500 cases of measles with significant outbreaks observed in 30 countries, including Belguim, France, Serbia, Turkey, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Spain.

Measles are highly contagious and remains one of the world's biggest causes of death among young children, an estimated 164,000 people died from the virus in 2008. This disease can be prevented through a safe and effective vaccine.

Due to various cultural and sporting events that will be hosted by countries in the Americas, PAHO urges all travelers visiting any country in the Region to get vaccinated for measles and rubella before arriving in the Americas, in order to reduce the risk of reintroducing these diseases that have already been eliminated in the Americas.

International travelers must show evidence of immunity to measles and rubella.

French Quarter:--- Several staff of the French Quarter Primary school have been expressing fears and concerns over the increased amount of cases of tuberculosis (TB). SMN News learnt that several students have been diagnosed with the disease while authorities are doing their best to contain the disease.
Last week, it was reported that there was at least one case of tuberculosis (TB). However, sources close to the school said that there were about 12 to 15 cases reported this week. The source said the DSDS and the Collectivity of St. Martin are fully aware and is involved in the situation.
SMN News also learnt that a meeting will be held on Thursday with the staff and parents concerning the spread of the disease. Personnel of the DSDS said meetings were held last week with the school representatives and Parents Teachers Association.

WEEK OF REVIVAL SERVICES FROM SUNDAY MAY 15TH TO SUNDAY MAY 22ND.

GUEST SPEAKER: THE YOUNG AND DYNAMIC REV. ADOLF DAVIS FROM THE GUYANA DISTRICT.

VENUE: TELBERT CARTI STADIUM IN FRENCH QUARTER.

SUNDAY 15TH AT 6.00 PM
MONDAY 16TH TO FRIDAY 20TH, AT 7.00 PM
SUNDAY 22ND, AT 9.00 AM

ALL ARE INVITED TO ATTEND AND TO EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF GOD IN NEW AND REFRESHING WAYS.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- On Friday morning Hon. Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams met legendary singer and five-time grammy award winner Dionne Warwick at her office in the Government Administration Building.

Warwick will be the keynote speaker at the Peridot Foundation's Mothers Day weekend programme about domestic violence at the Belair Community Center on Saturday from 8:00pm to 10:00pm.

Cole Bay:--- United Peoples (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Jules James on Sunday said he was very pleased with the turnout to the Town Hall meeting last week Thursday that attracted approximately 100 persons.
The Town Hall Meeting held at Carl's Unique Inn Conference Room was organized by the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Development, Environment and Infrastructure.
MP James made some opening remarks and assured residents of Cole Bay and Cape Bay that they have someone in parliament who will look out for their districts and that much more was in the pipeline for the areas.
"The Government's central focus is about improving the quality of life for residents in their districts. There are many quality of life issues that impact our daily lives. Infrastructure is one of them. Neighborhoods need to be strong, attractive and thriving.
"The main road will be resurfaced starting from the Kruijthoff round-a-bout all the way down to Welfare road to Wellington and Wigley roads. Proper water drainage culverts will be constructed.
"The cemetery will be cleaned and maintained and plans are being worked on to include parking. Installation of additional lighting and paving of certain streets will result in gravel and stones being left on the main road after rainfall a thing of the past.
"The UP Leader Hon. Minister for Infrastructure Theo Heyliger is also busy with plans for a neighborhood community center. Plans related to this will be released at a subsequent Town Hall meeting," MP Jules James disclosed.
Issues addressed in the meeting by residents in attendance were sewage water at Wyoming road; falling light pole by Theophilis A. Kruijthoff drive; immediate repairs of potholes on the Orange Grove road; water and sewage issues on different streets during and after rain fall which will be looked into on a case by case basis.
"The issues that residents brought forward are key to building a strong and thriving community. Government is now able to build on the discussions relayed to it from persons who live and work in their neighborhoods.
"Community Councils also have an important role to play and we need to give them incentives in order to bring back community spirit. They need to have greater control over what happens in their neighborhood. They can inspire communities and this is the direction where we need to head," MP Jules James said on Sunday.

Cole Bay:--- United Peoples (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Jules James said he was saddened to learn about the tragic death of 12-year-old school girl Silvia Lynch last Friday and therefore would like to express his deepest sympathy to the family, friends, classmates and teachers for their loss.
James added that the tragedy that took place at Naked Boy Hill cannot and will not go unnoticed. The 12-year old pupil of Genevieve de Weever School died while crossing the street after she had exited a school bus. A dump truck filled with gravel ran over her. According to media reports, the brakes failed as the truck came down the hill.
"I will be calling for a parliamentary inquiry into this tragedy. It has happened too many times in the past where lives have also been lost, and once again another family is left in mourning.
"The time has come to do something about it. We have heard where brakes failed in the past; trucks were either overloaded with gravel material, steel or lumber. We need to make our country roads safer for all.
"Our road network is already congested and we also have a limited network system utilized by different types of road users especially during daylight hours. As parliamentarians, we need to gather as much information as we can about past accidents, the causes etc and what if anything was done to correct those situations. Of course it all depends on what occurred in order to implement recommendations made to improve road safety.
"As we review current legislation, we need to make improvements to make our roads safer. The purpose of this inquiry will be to meet with the various stakeholders who can provide the relevant information and also at the same time inform us about their challenges and recommendations as well as solutions in making our roads safer for all," UP MP Jules James said on Sunday.
The intention is to have meetings with representatives from the Traffic Department, Tour Bus Companies, Truckers and other stakeholders with the Permanent Committee for Transportation before taking it to Parliament.
MP James said he would bring the matter to the UP Faction for further discussion and to get the ball moving in calling for either a central committee meeting of parliament or a permanent committee meeting.

The University of St. Martin in close collaboration with the Philipsburg Jubilee Library presents a puppet show. The event takes place on the 17th of May at the Philipsburg Jubilee Library at 5:30pm.

Nine students who are enrolled in the "Teacher Education Program" at the University of St. Martin will perform three puppet shows.
This is an assignment for their course in Children's Literature class.

They will be displaying 3 shows:

• "Chicken Little" by Julietta White, Yoly Hawley and Naromie Pierre.
• "The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs" by Jennie Stapleton, Barbera Thomas and Danissa Walker
• "The Tortoise and the Hare" by Zamada Solomon, Allison Harry, and Jennifer Oduber.

Their teacher Patricia Maier said "I like to have the students perform this each year for the children, so they can see how it would feels when they organize this when they are teachers".
The puppet show is free for all ages, but we are assured that children of all elementary school would enjoy themselves.
Please come out and enjoy these 3 wonderful shows.

Marigot:--- On Thursday May 5th, 2011, a closing ceremony was held at the Beach Plaza Hotel on French Saint Martin FWI, to culminate an annual 3-day seminar which was co-organized by the French Customs, the Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council (CCLEC) and the World Customs Organization (WCO) and was themed; "Caribbean Customs Enforcement Network".

The 3-day seminar began on Tuesday May 3rd and ended on Thursday May 5th, during which the forum's discussion points included:

• Customs Enforcement activities,
• Sharing of the best practices,
• Exchange of information and
• Planning of work programs for the upcoming year.

Custom representatives were in attendance from across the Caribbean region and the world such as; Anguilla, Aruba, Antigua, Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Greneda, Guyana, Jamaica, Haiti, Montserrat, Panama, St.Lucia, St.Vincent, and the Grenadines, St.Kitts and Nevis, Sint Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago and Canada, the Netherlands, and the United States of America.

In addition, within the next two weeks the Minister of Justice confirmed that he will be travelling to Barbados to finalize Sint Maarten's membership in the Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council (CCLEC).

The St. Maarten Zoo received a call Thursday morning from a tourist who found a booby bird tangled in some fishing line in the Pelican area.
A representative from the Zoo was able to free the bird. The bird flew away before the extent of any injuries could be determined.

We are aware that local St. Maarten dive companies, as well as Nature Foundation divers, recently cleaned coral reefs of debris and garbage. Apparently items such as fishing line, old anchors and plastic were collected..
Such debris obviously damages coral reefs and ,as evidenced from the incident above, can cause injuries to birds who get caught up in it.

The Zoo is concerned about all wildlife on St. Maarten and urges island residents and visitors to please take care when discarding anything like fishing lines or plastic.

Clients and Staff of the Mental Health Foundation, distributed candles made at the Faraja Center of the Foundation to Nurses on the Island for nurses day, they visited St. Maarten Medical Center, White Yellow Cross and the Youth Health Care Nurses at the Ministry of Health.

The International Council of Nurses, theme for 2011 is:

Closing the Gap: Increasing Access and Equity

MHF supports the message of the president of the Council of Nurses, by quoting her message:

The ability to access health services is key to improving the health, well-being and life expectancy of all. Yet, achieving this fundamental requirement remains limited by cost, language, proximity, policies and practices, as well as many other factors. As the principal and, in some cases, the only group of health professionals providing primary health care in many of the most challenging settings, nurses are essential to improving equity and access to health care and adding quality to the outcome of care.

MHF staff has chosen 'community health' as their theme and main focus for 2011 Staff has been active in the community and will remain active attempting prevention of unsafe situations and acceptance of persons who are mentally challenged.

Philipsburg:--- Bureau of Telecommunications & Post (BT&P) St. Maarten congratulates all workers in the telecommunications and information and communication technologies (ICT) on the occasion of World Telecommunications and Information Society Day (WTISD) celebrated on Tuesday, May 17.

BT&P has organized a seminar under the theme, "Cloud Computing in the Hospitality Industry." Keynote speaker is William Sullivan of University of Delaware. The seminar will be held at Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort & Casino on Tuesday, May 17 with registration and opening at 8.30am and the seminar starting at 9.00am.

World Telecommunication Day has been celebrated annually on May 17 since 1969, marking the founding of International Telecommunications Union (ITU). In November 2005, the World Summit on the Information Society called upon the United Nations General Assembly to declare May 17 as World Information Society Day to focus on the importance of ICT and the wide range of issues related to the Information Society.

The General Assembly adopted a resolution in March 2006 stipulating that World Information Society Day shall be celebrated every year on May 17.

The theme this year is: WTISD 2011: Better life in rural communities with ICTs.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The Inspection Department are advising parents and guardians to speak with their children regarding not playing in or around the infrastructure works site in Middle Region.

Children could get injured while playing in or around construction sites. These are not playgrounds, and children should also be informed not to walk through the construction site.

Parents and guardians are also advised to walk their kids to the school bus in the mornings when they are going to school and to also pick them up when the bus drops them off.

The organization of SMART was feared to be difficult this time around with both Governments (St. Maarten/ St. Martin) having to slash their tourism budgets. Furthermore, as the Global financial crisis continues to affect the local economy, most companies were cutting back on expenses, many of which opted to slash their marketing budget. In contrary, marketing became the most important tool for companies eager to attract business in times such as these. It also became clear that people weren't refraining from taking vacations but were looking for cheaper options. Accordingly, hotels and Tour operators began creating better deals and searching for new network possibilities to supply the demand for travel specials. This is why events such as SMART are so important. SMART provides the perfect setting for these hotel and tour operators as well as excursion operators to discuss business in preparation for upcoming season.

This mixture of Buyers and Suppliers delegates will have the opportunity to sit down one-on-one to discuss future business possibilities during SMART 2011. The event takes place on May 25-27, 2011 at the Westin Dawn Beach Resort & Spa. It all kicks off with a Welcome reception on May 25, 2011 hosted by the Westin Dawn Beach Resort & Spa. This will also be the first opportunity for SMART delegates to mingle and socialize before a full day of appointments on May 26, 2011. The SMART farewell party will be held later that evening at Mercure St. Martin Hotel & Marina. The SMART selling floor will be open on May 27, 2011 for those whom have made additional appointments and workshops have also been organized on this day for interested properties.

The SHTA would like to thank all SMART Sponsors in advance to the event. This unique marketing event could not be made possible without the help of the island's business community. Sponsors to date include: Windward Island Bank; Bank of Nova Scotia; PDG Supplies; HCP Abroad; SMITCO; Office World; Hair & Body Works; NAPA Auto, Truck & Marine Parts; Goddard Catering Group; Boolchand's; Ace Home Center; BSL Laundry; Shipwreck Shops; First Caribbean Bank; Price Waterhouse Coopers; Antek; Safe Cargo Services; GEBE; International Liquors & Tobacco Trading; Xerox.

The organizers of SMART: St. Maarten Tourist Bureau, Office de Tourisme de St. Martin, St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association and L'Association des Hoteliers de St. Martin are pleased to bring you the only tradeshow catered to the Islands of the North Eastern Caribbean Region.

Philipsburg:--- Honourable Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunications Franklin Meyers, says the US$10 million of tax payers money to be pumped into a National Tourism Organization (NTO) has to be accounted for and those who will have to do that are the appointed Ministers and the elected parliamentarians – the people's representatives.

The Minister added that he does not have to be given a lecture on whose money the US$10 million belongs too, but the point is that accountability on how every cent is spent comes back to those who have been appointed and elected by the people of Sint Maarten.

"I have never accused any particular private sector group or any stakeholder of wanting to take over the NTO. To the contrary, the NTO is good for the destination; however Government must have some involvement. I believe in privatization.

"The NTO will guarantee a public/private partnership. The board will comprise of nine members and the Sint Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA) as a private sector stakeholder, will have 1/9 of the say," Hon. Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications Franklin Meyers, explained on Wednesday.

Minister Meyers added that while Sint Maarten may be one of the few islands in the region lacking an NTO, the Aruba NTO was only approved by the Parliament of Aruba two months ago.

"Tax payer's money has been spent in researching our own NTO. In the case of Aruba, the hotel association covered the costs of all studies, not the public sector of Aruba, but the private sector.

"I would like the public to understand that the NTO is part and parcel an entity that would assist where we want to be from an economic perspective. All stakeholders must have an input, must be involved in coming with realistic ideas and solutions in order to move our country forward.

"We have done so in the past, and we can do so now. What makes a successful destination involves many variables including having sufficient room inventory which translates into additional airlift. Everybody has a role to play and have to do their part, including when we do have an NTO.

"Every member represented on the board, representing various stakeholders within our country, will have a role to play in moving this country forward including the Government and Parliament of Sint Maarten. Any relationship is based on the principles of mutual respect and trust. Let us work together and practice what we preach in dealing with the challenges that confront our country," Hon. Minister of Tourism & Economic Affairs Franklin Meyers concluded.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Honorable Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams, Chairman of the Island's Disaster Emergency Management Organization, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), comprising of 10 Emergency Support Functions (ESFs), will chair the first meeting of the EOC for the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season on Wednesday, June 1.

The Prime Minister during the meeting will be briefed with respect to the national state of preparedness for the 2011 Hurricane Season. Hurricane scientists have forecasted an above-average season in terms of named storms, hurricane and major hurricanes (category 3 or higher).

"Reminders of preparing for a forecasted busy season shouldn't take much to get people's attention, after hearing and witnessing week after week about the deadly tornados in the United States and other natural disasters world-wide.

"Taking extra precautions for an active hurricane season is the sensible and right thing to do now, and not wait for the last moment," the Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams told DCOMM on Monday.

The Prime Minister was referring to the most recent tornado activity in Joplin, Missouri which has killed more than 140 persons to date. The US town is still reeling from a direct hit by a powerful tornado. This spring, more than 500 persons have lost their lives due to an active tornado season across the mid-Western United States.

"We hope and pray that whatever storms make their way across the Atlantic Ocean that they turn and remain out in the open ocean posing no threat to land. But, there's no way to tell where a hurricane will go and therefore we must be prepared.

"We have learnt from several recent seasons, when our nation was under threat of a hurricane or directly or partially impacted by one that being prepared allowed us to weather the storm until things normalized.

"The majority of us are well aware of the destruction a hurricane can bring, but also aware of how early preparations can save us much anxiety and loss. Remember, it only takes one," Prime Minister Wescot-Williams concluded.

The 2011 hurricane season officially runs through November 30.

DATE: SATURDAY MAY 7TH

TIME: 8-10 PM

PLACE: BELAIR COMMUNITY CENTER

DRESS: ISLAND ELEGANT

ENTRANCE: FREE

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Sint Maarten’s Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams recognizes the important role of a free press and that of the Sint Maarten media on World Press Freedom Day, which is celebrated every year on May 3, worldwide.

By United Nations (UN) decision 48/432 of December 20, 1993, the UN General Assembly proclaimed May 3rd as World Press Freedom Day.

May 3 is also the anniversary of the ‘Declaration of Windhoek.’  The aforementioned calls for free, independent, pluralistic media worldwide characterizing free press as essential to democracy and a fundamental human right.

The Declaration of Windhoek is a statement of free press principles as put together by newspaper journalists in Africa during a UNESCO seminar on “Promoting an Independent and Pluralistic African Press” in Windhoek, Namibia, from April 29 to May 3, 1991.

2011 marks the 20^th anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek.  Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers.

The thought-provoking theme is: “21^st Century Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers.”

It is an opportunity to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

“I would like to congratulate the Sint Maarten media on their day.  Government recognizes the importance of the media, in its ideal form being the fourth estate of our democratic system.  Undoubtedly, the media plays a very important role, if not the most important role in the general dissemination of information to any community.

“This role must be respected by all, community and media.  Let’s not underrate the importance of a vibrant and free press, like we enjoy on Sint Maarten.

“Congratulations to all involved in the media on this day, and congratulations to the Department of Communications for its work where it concerns the dissemination of information to the media as well as to the community via avenues such as television, print and internet,” Hon. Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams said.

The Department of Communications (DCOMM) falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of General Affairs, the portfolio of the Prime Minister.

In accordance with Article IX Subsection 2 of the WICSU/PSU Constitution, the Board of this Union hereby declares May 31, 2011 as the day on which members may cast ballots to fill the positions of:

• President
• General Secretary
• Treasurer

Any ordinary or honorary member of the WICSU/PSU may postulate himself/herself for any one of the above Board positions.
Prospective candidates must fill out and submit the attached Postulation Form to the WICSU/PSU office on or before May 10, 2011. The completed Postulation Form must be accompanied by a list of names and signatures of at least ten (10) members who support your candidacy.
Members are here by urged to participate in this important democratic process to the furtherance of the WICSU/PSU.

On Friday the 6th of May at approximately four in the afternoon the St. Maarten Nature Foundation was alerted to what was the fifth recorded nesting leatherback sea turtle of the 2011 nesting season. The 6 fit long, approximately 400 pound female crawled up on Guana Bay Beach at approximately four in the afternoon and returned to the ocean one hour and forty minutes later. There were several onlookers to witness what has been called one of the most unique events in Nature occurring right here on St. Maarten. Nature Foundation staff took several measurements of the animal, recorded nest location, and took identification pictures of the nesting female. Recorded data will be entered in Nature Foundation Sea Turtle Research Program database and the nest will be monitored on a daily basis. The eggs are expected to hatch within a few months.
Based on ARTICLE 16 and 17 of the Nature Conservation Ordinance St. Maarten it is illegal to kill, wound, capture, pick-up, possesses, or disturb sea turtles and their nests. It is also forbidden to disturb damage or destroy its nest as well as to to pick-up or to destroy the eggs of animals belonging to a protected species.
The Nature Foundation asks that people do not drive on the nesting beaches and that they walk their dog on a leash. To report any activity regarding sea turtles, please call the Nature Foundation Sea Turtle Hotline on 9229 or call the Nature Foundation office at 5444267 or email the Foundation at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

POS, Trinidad (Sonique Solutions):--- As plans unfold for the staging of the 30th anniversary of the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) in Trinidad and Tobago anticipation is at an all time high. Music fans and industry insiders are eagerly awaiting the host of performances for the renowned awards show as well as the major concert event "Reggae meets Soca/Chutney".

The prestigious IRAWMA ceremony which will be held at the National Academy for Performing Arts on Saturday May 28th will offer the very best in regional talent such as T&T's very own Machel Montano HD, 'She's Royal' singer Taurus Riley and Jamaican music legends Freddie McGregor and Dean Fraser. Patrons can also look forward to dynamic performances by Dancehall divas Macka Diamond and Tifa, Denise 'Saucy Wow' Belfon, Queen Ifrika and St. Maarten's leading pannist and Calypsonian 2011 Road March King ,TLH-SXMF Man of the Year, Isidoe York aka The Mighty Dow. Reggae icons Shaggy and Tony Rebel will serve as MCs for this fun-filled evening.

Shaggy will work double duty during this upcoming weekend as he will transition from the role of host to performer at the Sunday 29th May event "Reggae meets Soca/Chutney" at the Queen's Park Savannah. At this concert spectacular Shaggy will display his Grammy Award winning talent alongside longtime cohort Rayvon and will share the stage with the cream of the Caribbean music crop including the 'King of the Dancehall' Beenie Man, reggae crooner Jah Cure, Gramps Morgan (of Morgan Heritage fame), The Roy Cape All Stars with Blaxx, Addie Richardson ake Shadowman of St.Mararten will be a presenter and also several chutney and soca artistes.

Attendees of these events can expect 2 world class productions complete with multi-genre all star casts and memorable surprises. As the IRAWMA weekend approaches more artistes will be announced.
The 30th IRAWMA anniversary is sponsored by Blink/Bmobile, Angostura Bitters, the Hyatt Regency Trinidad, T&T Ministry of Tourism, Tourism Development Company Limited (TDC), Tobago House of Assembly (THA), Tobago Department of Tourism (TDT), Direct Music TV America, Soca 91.9 FM, M.O.R.E. 104.7 FM, Boom 94.1FM, Caribbean Rumour Mill, Jlehsiek, The Hook Record Shop and TrinJam Foods.

For information on IRAWMA, tickets and travel log onto www.irawma.com

or call 312-427-0266 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            312-427-0266      end_of_the_skype_highlighting (North America) OR 868-475-1000 (Caribbean).

Philipsburg:--- Member of Parliament George Pantophlet says that you can't pour new wine into old wine skins. The new wine being the Parliament and the Council of Ministers of St. Maarten and the old wine skin being the old mind set, in particular that of the two Ministers Mr. Hiro Shigemoto of Finance and the Minister of Public Works with responsibility for the Harbor Mr. Theo Heyliger who know the ins and outs of government. Just to refresh the people's memory permit me to state the following;
In the case of the Minister of Finance during a Public meeting of Parliament convened to discuss developments surrounding the Budget 2011 some 100 questions were posed to him in writing. The Member of Parliament learnt that the answers are ready and the Minister of Finance is waiting on Parliament to set a date to resume the meeting. Member of Parliament says that the responsible and respectable of the Minister is to send the answers to Parliament as soon as possible and not to follow the old behaviors of the past and wait until the day of the meeting to do so. With respect to Minister Theo Heyliger it was some 6 weeks ago 12 questions were sent to the Minister through the President of Parliament in a letter of March 22, 2011 asking for clarification on the expansion at the Harbor. A picture on the expansion appeared in the Daily Herald of March 16, 2011. The Member of Parliament learnt through a statement in a newspaper article attributed to Minister Heyliger that the expansion was approved in 2007 by the then Island Council of the Island Territory of St. Maarten. He (The Minister) could not give any clarity as to the status of the financial statements of the last 3 years. He even put the onus on the General Shareholder at the time the former Lt. Governor Franklin Richards. This would appear that the Minister was not aware of what is taking place at his harbor, sorry, the people's harbor. Member of Parliament George Pantophlet says that he will follow up with a reminder through the President of Parliament and if still no answer is received he will be calling for a Public meeting and have the Minister come to the floor of Parliament to answer these questions. We need transparency, after all the Harbor is owned by the people of St. Maarten. This behavior has to change because it is hindering the growth of St. Maarten. We cannot pour new wine into old wine skins.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- On Thursday morning recently sworn in Council of State representative Dennis Richardson paid a courtesy call to the Sint Maarten House in The Hague where he was greeted by Honourable Minister of Plenipotentiary Mathias Voges.

Zaggersgut:--- It was indeed an emotional day for students and teachers of the Marie Genevieve De Weever School, while relatives of the late 12 year old Silvia Lynch struggled to hold themselves together at the Seventh Day Adventist Church where the home going ceremony was held on Friday.
Silvia Lynch was a sixth grade student of the Marie Genevieve De Weever School who was killed on Friday last week as she exited a school bus. Her body was carried in a blue casket that was air brushed with her photograph as an angel since viewing was impossible.
Her grandmother was hardly able to compose herself while several other family members tried their best to console her as she mourns the loss of her granddaughter. Her twin brother who was suppose to address the gathering barely managed to say that he really missed his sister before breaking down in tears.
Addressing the gathering on behalf of government was Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams who also recited a poem. Wescot Williams urged the family to believe in God and to know that Silvia will continue to bloom on the other side of the wall.
Several of the students who sat in the balcony of the church were visibly shaken as they stared at the casket that bore their classmate and friend's body. Many of them trembled as they listened to the tributes that were given by several of her friends, band-mates and church members. While Silvia was just 12 years old she led a very active and full life. Besides attending school where she is known as one that had the best behavior, she was a member of the STM New Generation Status Band, Repairers of the Broken Wall Ministry and Prayer Furnace. Silvia Lynch a front-liner of the STM band was surely missed on Friday as the band members made sure her drum was present with a tee shirt bearing her photograph hanging around it. Her sister Jessica and other church friends danced to a song they were all practicing for Easter and Mother's Day.
At the close of the ceremony, the STM band and another band that is associated with the Marie Genevieve De Weever School drummed their way to the Cul de Sac cemetery as the hearse carrying her body and other mourners followed. The students and classmates of Silvia Lynch who were all dressed in their uniforms also marched to the cemetery. The band and its members including those that attended the funeral had to brave the rain as they march to the Cul de Sac cemetery, her final resting place.

Click here to view photos of the Home Going Ceremony of Silvia Maria Lynch.

Click here to view photos of the Home Going Ceremony of Silvia Maria Lynch 2.

Philipsburg:--- Honourable Minister of Finance Hiro Shigemoto met with the board of the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT on Monday regarding a number of matters related to the countries public financial management system.

It was the first official meeting since the CFT gave a positive advice for the first country Sint Maarten 2011 budget as it met the norms of the Kingdom Law regarding public finances.

The CFT Board will be meeting with the Council of Ministers on Tuesday at 3.00pm. Some of the agenda points for this meeting are: the budgets of 2010, 2011 and 2012; financial management; and corporate governance.

"My discussions with the CFT were positive as we work towards a healthier financial administration. The focus of the meeting was on various timelines related to the provision of various documents and reports.

"For example, the CFT was informed that the essential government tasks analysis will be ready in the second half of 2011. The CFT were informed that 22 annual financial reports of Government owned companies and foundations have so far been received and that these in the meantime have been sent to the CFT Secretariat.

"An update on the status of the first quarter 2011 report was provided and this will be finalized within short, and the concept 2010 annual financial report should be ready by July 1.

"Everybody within the Ministry of Finance are working diligently to create a modern country public finance management system with the help of the CFT where they make recommendations. We are all working in the same direction and towards the same goals," Hon. Minister of Finance Hiro Shigemoto said on Monday.

The Minister of Finance was supported by a number of advisors from the Ministry of Finance during the meeting with the CFT.

The Naf.420,916,597 million budget is Naf.23,526,328 million less than the one that was approved by Parliament on December 23, 2010. The amount at that time was Naf.444,442,925 million.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Youth Health Care (YHC), a section of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, is currently preparing for its annual vaccination open house for Saturday, May 28.

Immunization is a way of protecting children against serious vaccine preventable diseases. Once a child or an adult has been fully vaccinated, their bodies can fight those diseases if one comes into contact with them.

The Open House will take place at YHC offices at the Vineyard Office Park, W.G. Buncamper Road #33 in Philipsburg from 9.30am to 5.00pm on Saturday.

The vaccination open house is part of YHC program tied to the annual Vaccination Week of the Americas under the theme, "Vaccinate your Family, Protect Your Community."

Parents are reminded that with the change in the vaccination schedule, the second Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) is now given at four-years of age.

All children between four and nine-years of age will now get their second MMR vaccine.

The DTPolio vaccination will continue to be given when the child is nine-years of age.

Other changes in the vaccination schedule apply to children between two and 12 months of age.

Parents are reminded to make sure that their children between the ages of 0-18 are up to date with their vaccinations which are necessary in order to reduce the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases.

DTP, MMR and catch-up Hepatitis B (Hep.B) vaccines will be given to children in the target age group who are not up to date.

The Cole Bay Outreach held on May 17 at the Charles L. Bell Primary School catered to 17 children who received DT/IPV, MMR and Hep.B and Pentaxim. Most of the children were up to date. YHC is considering carrying out outreaches in other neighborhoods.

Parents who will be going to the Open House on Saturday should bring along with them their child's vaccination booklet/card. If you are not sure of the vaccination status of your child, you should contact your general practitioner, pediatrician, or YHC for children up through 17 years of age.

YHC can also be contacted if you want to verify your own vaccination status by calling Tel. 542-3003, 542-2078 or 542-3553.

Philipsburg:--- On Tuesday, May 17, some of the teachers in training from the University of St. Martin entertained children and adults with three puppet shows at the Philipsburg Jubilee Library. The puppet shows were one of their assignments for this semester's Children's Literature course taught by Patti Maier. The students included Yoly Hawley, Naromie Pierre, Julietta White, Barbera Thomas, Zamada Solomon, Allison Harry, Jennie Stapleton, Jennifer Oduber, and Danissa Walker. The students performed the stories Chicken Little, The Tortoise and the Hare, and the True Story of the Three Little Pigs. Approximately 50 people attended the puppet shows. The shows will be performed again at the library on Saturday, May 28 at 11am.

Philipsburg/Marigot:--- Minister of Public Transportation Franklin Meyers is scheduled to meet with the President of the Collectivity of St. Martin on Friday where they would further discuss the introduction of the parking taxes that are to be levied on taxi and tour bus operators.
In an invited comment on Wednesday at the COM press briefing Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams confirmed that a meeting has been scheduled for Friday. Prime Minister Wescot Williams also confirmed that taxi drivers from both sides of the island are already paying fees to operate at the AC Wathey Cruise Facility and the Princess Juliana International Airport. Wescot Williams said the official notification from the French side was received some days ago and it was discussed in the Council of Ministers meeting on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister also acknowledged that several attempts have been made to restructure the meetings between governments of the two sides. Wescot Williams also said that the next meeting is scheduled for June 30th.
Asked if government has been taking stock with the Dutch Taxi Association to see what is being done with the fees they are collecting on a monthly basis from taxi drivers to operate at the AC Wathey pier. Wescot Williams said she does not know if accountability was addressed in the Memorandum of Understanding between the DSTA and Government. However, she said she is quite sure the Minister of Transportation will be addressing these issues when he meets with the French side officials on Friday.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- On Thursday, the Prime Minister will take some time out of her schedule to tour the Sr. Basilia localities, honouring the invitation to attend the open day activities at the three locations.

This open day has been organized in observance of the 25 years of service to the residents and clients of the Sr. Basilia Center and will take place at South Reward, St. John and Hope Estate.

The goal of the Sr. Basilia Center has always been to give optimal care to its clients, but also to promote as much as possible the self reliance of the clients of the Center(s).

The Prime Minister's "tour" will start at 10.30 am on Thursday at the Center's Day care in South Reward.

"In recognizing the progress of the clients of the Sr. Basilia Center, recognition should also be given to the workers, care-givers and volunteers of these Centers who over the years have taken care of the Centers' residents and clients," Honourable Prime Minister Wescot-Williams told the Department of Communications (DCOMM) on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister also expressed her gratitude to the Board of the White Yellow Cross for its many years of service in the health care of our country.

Marigot:--- Association Bâtiment Travaux Publiques (BTP), organisers of the demonstration of heavy equipment continued with their protest early Wednesday morning through the streets of Marigot.
BTP began protesting fearing that many construction companies would have to file bankruptcy if the State does not give them financial assistance. BTP says construction work in both private and public sectors continues to dwindle each year. BTP said they are not receiving any subvention due to the Collectivity's financial crisis. Wednesday's protest was the second for this month.

The St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) has congratulated Isidore "The Mighty Dow" York on his Lifetime Achievement Award at the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) held over the weekend. The SCDF also recognized local super star Addison "Shadow Man" Richardson who was a presenter at the event.

"The Mighty Dow has shown that he is indeed 'Mighty' and now the world and his peers have recognized that fact," President of the SCDF Stuart Johnson said. "He is an icon here on St. Maarten and his position and influence on Caribbean culture and music has now been recognized, and well deserving too," Johnson said.

Johnson said Dow's contributions to Carnival on St. Maarten over the years cannot be measured. " How can you put into words what his participation year after year meant to St. Maarten's Carnival? He has guided many young people in the art of pan music, calypso and road-march music. He has offered countless hours of advice and constructive criticism because he loves our fete. The SCDF and we are sure many Carnival lovers out there are grateful for the selfless work Dow has done for Carnival," Johnson said.

The SCDF President closed by congratulating Dow's extended musical family as well as the people of St. Maarten. "Dow's award is for St. Maarten as much as it is for the artist. The SCDF hopes that St. Maarten will recognize the importance of this award and honor and say thanks to Dow in a similar way. If we support our own, they are inspired to go on to make great music and great contributions to culture. One day perhaps Shadow Man or another artist from St. Maarten will be recognized for their body of work the way Dow has been this year," Johnson concluded.

The Mighty Dow is the reigning Road March King for Carnival 2011. He has won the Road March title and Calypso Monarch title on several other occasions.

Great Bay:--- The just-released program of the St. Martin Book Fair, June 2 – 4, is a mix of workshops, discussions, book launches, book sales, book signing by new and famous authors, and original literary readings, said book fair coordinator Shujah Reiph.
The festival's main book launch will go so far as to cater refreshments from the new Yvette's cookbook and prepared by Yvette's Restaurant, said Jacqueline Sample, editor of the title for House of Nehesi (HNP).
On Thursday, June 2, the ribbon cutting ceremony, which will honor the nation's fishermen and declare the book fair open, will be preceded chiefly by an evening with Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott, making worldly comments and reading from his newest works, said Reiph.
This opening ceremony takes place at the Chamber of Commerce Bldg., Spring Concordia, Marigot, at 8 PM. Admission is free and new books will be available.
The first highlight on Friday is the Presidents Forum at the University of St. Martin (USM), starting at 4 PM.
The forum focuses on freedom of speech and expression in St. Martin relative to the work of the four speakers. The panelists include author and political scientist Joseph H. Lake, Jr. and Kaiso Brat, St. Martin Calypso King 2011. The new USM president, Annelies van den Assem, LL.M., will introduce the panel, said Reiph.
Books galore, authors around to sign them, "I'm just excited about all of this," said Reiph, "but don't miss the workshops for the entire family."
Among the Book Fair workshops on Saturday are: 'The Great Salt Pond: Untangling the History of Salt in St. Martin' by Dr. Jay Haviser; A literacy workshop by Dr. Rene Baly for at-risk youth and their parents. The 'Language in literature' workshop by Dr. Rhoda Arrindell. Participants can bring their own poems and fictions to be critiqued in this creative writing workshop.
"Don't miss the spiritually-based motivational workshop," said Sample. It is entitled, '365 Secrets for a Healthy Mind, Body, and Spirit' by author and former Essence editor Stephanie Stokes Oliver. The photography workshop will be conducted by by Drisana Deborah Jack. At the end of the day Mix Master Pauly will give a live DJ Workshop: 'Mixing sound, A freedom of expression.'
Then comes the evening party to "step out" to. The book party for From Yvette's Kitchen To Your Table – A Treasury of St. Martin's Traditional & Contemporary Cuisine by Yvette Hyman will take place at Belair Community Center, Cay Hill, at 8 PM
Tourism director Regina LaBega is the guest speaker at the Closing Ceremony and Main Book Launch. Award-winning musician and kaisonian Mighty Dow, will perform on pan, and the Presidents Award will be presented at the end of the Saturday evening program, said Sample. For more about the St. Maarten Book Fair program, visit www.houseofnehesipublish.com or
http://www.houseofnehesipublish.com/book_fair2040.html.

Kim Collins continues his stunning track season with an exciting win at the FBK Games on Sunday. The St.Kitts-Nevis sprint icon, who came out of retirement , in January clocked 10.05 seconds to win the 100 meters edging home favorite Churandy Martina. Martina finished in 10.10 in his first race as a Dutchman after switching from his native Netherlands Antilles. Olympic silver medalist Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago crossed in 10.13 to take bronze.

Kim's victory comes on the heels of a much publicised race in Rome where he finished just behind World Record Holder Usain Bolt and Jamaican Asafa Powell. Kim has had a very impressive season with victories in the IAAF Grand Prix in Japan, the Norwich Union International as well as the fastest 60m time for the year in Taipei in February.

Collins is expected to lead his St.Kitts-Nevis team at this years World Championships and is scheduled to appear at the National Championships on June 19th.

The 35 year old Collins is expected to face-off once again with World Record Holder Usain Bolt and season best holder Steve Mullins in Ostrava, Czech Republic on Tuesday.

Philipsburg:--- Omar Jones, brother of the late Amador Jones surrendered last Thursday confirmed Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos. Mos said Jones was wanted for a shooting in Dutch Quarter and police was looking for him. Omar Jones has been identified by the victim K who was shot in his leg on April 16th.
Mos said Jones denied his involvement in the shooting but since he was clearly identified by the victim he was taken before the judge of instruction where his pre-trial detention was extended for eight days as the investigations continues.

During a Curacao television interview on Monday, May 2nd, U.S. Consul General Valerie Belon gave her reaction to the news of the U.S. operation against Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden by saying "Justice was done."
Bin Laden was a sworn enemy of the United States and a danger to all humanity. He was responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocents on 9/11 and through attacks on men, women and children of many nationalities and faiths - including many Muslims. He was committed to killing many more in the United States, Pakistan and around the world.
As President Obama said, "It was nearly 10 years ago that a bright September day was darkened by the worst attack on the American people in our history. The images of 9/11 are seared into our national memory. And yet, we know that the worst images are those that were unseen to the world, the empty seat at the dinner table, children who were forced to grow up without their mother or their father, parents who would never know the feeling of their child's embrace. Nearly 3,000 citizens taken from us, leaving a gaping hole in our hearts."
President Obama also recently described the American reaction to these tragic events by saying, "We were united in our resolve to protect our nation and to bring those who committed this vicious attack to justice. We quickly learned that the 9/11 attacks were carried out by al Qaeda, an organization headed by Osama bin Laden, which had openly declared war on the United States and was committed to killing innocents in our country and around the globe. And so we went to war against al Qaeda, to protect our citizens, our friends and our allies."
This is by no means the end of our effort against al Qaeda. But it does signal that the United States will be relentless in pursuing al Qaeda's leaders, preventing terrorist attacks, and ensuring that justice is done. The United States - and the world - will be safer in the long run because of Osama bin Laden's death.
The United States is not, and never will be, at war with Islam. We are at war with al Qaeda, a terrorist organization that is committed to killing as many innocents as it can.
NEWS
Bin Laden's defeat is a victory for the United States and for all human beings who seek to live in peace, security, and dignity. He dedicated his life to destroying innocent lives and human progress. His demise will ultimately make the American people safer, and empower those around the world who seek to build - not destroy.
The U.S. Consulate General in Curacao continues to maintain a heightened security posture the details of which are not public information for security reasons.
On Wednesday, May 4, Consul General Belon said, "We are grateful for the many expressions of support for our efforts to defeat terrorism. We greatly appreciate the sense of solidarity that we feel from the people of the Dutch Caribbean. While we focus on building partnerships to address common challenges and to build positive initiatives together, we also reaffirm that terrorism is our common enemy."

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) of the Ministry of Public Health is appealing to the community to step-up actions related to cough etiquettes and good hygiene at all times.

This appeal is being made after a large number of cases were reported in the Americas of Influenza A (H1N1). Venezuela's health minister according to media reports in early April said that almost 1000 patients were being treated for the aforementioned. Influenza A (H1N1) reappeared in Venezuela on March 18 in Merida state, where one person at that time had died of the virus.

The H1N1 flu pandemic started in April 2009 and ended August 2010. A potentially deadly combination of influenza virus genes never seen before in people and animals mobilized health authorities to protect world populations.

CPS is reminding residents that high standards of personal hygiene entail covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough, and washing your hands frequently with soap and water, especially after contact with respiratory secretions (e.g., after sneezing and coughing).

Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way. Try to avoid contact with sick people.

Persons who are traveling are advised to take precautionary measures such as maintaining high standards of personal hygiene at all times. Another preventive measure is eating healthy foods, getting a lot of exercise and maintaining an eight hour sleep schedule.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Today marks the beginning of nurses week, an annual celebration of nurses everywhere. It runs from May 6 to May 12 each year. During the week, two days have their own theme: May 8 is National Student Nurses Day and May 12 is International Nurses Day. The celebration of the latter falls on the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who played a critical role in the development of modern nursing. I am honoured to acknowledge nurses week and to celebrate the people who are part of the backbone of our health system. Let us also take a moment to remember those nurses who have passed away, those who are retired, those who may not be feeling well – may they always keep us inspired to care.
It is the past, present and future of nursing as a profession that makes me confident about the level of care on St. Maarten. Nursing will continue to play an even greater role in delivering a better, more convenient health care service for St. Maarten. We must always recognize the potential for our nurses to contribute to improvements in the health care of our population.
Our nurses, because of their close relationship with our communities, are taking up the challenge. They are the healthy role models for their own families and our families, the patients and our community. Our nurses are key partners in making St. Maarten ready for the future. We are counting on them to make a difference just as they also count on us for support.
On behalf of the people of St. Maarten and the Government, may I express to all nurses in St. Maarten our most heartfelt gratitude and our utmost respect. Without your sacrifices and your devotion in caring for the sick, we would not have made as much progress as we have and we would not be standing on the threshold of victory over disease.

Philipsburg:--- After some 12 years flags are flying high at the University of St. Martin (USM) again courtesy of the University of St. Martin Ambassadors and the Mid-Isle Rotary Club of St. Maarten. On Saturday, May 7, 2011 the USM Ambassadors held a flag hoisting ceremony at the tertiary institution in Philipsburg which was made possible with a donation by the Mid-Isle Rotary Club of St. Maarten of a St. Maarten and Dutch flag and a posting board. The flags were previously located at the entrance to USM but when the campus was destroyed in 1999 by Hurricane Lenny, the flag poles were dismounted and put aside. The posting board will be used at the entrance of the institution for notices. On hand for the brief ceremony on Saturday were USM Board Members, Mid-Isle Rotary Club officials, USM management, USM Ambassadors and USM students. The flag hoisting ceremony is part of USM Ambassadors efforts to beautify the campus. (Photo Courtesy Michel Chance)

With a team of the island’s leading chefs set to titillate appetites and one of St. Martin/St. Maarten’s top bands on the entertainment line-up, the fifth annual Childfest Gala fundraising dinner this Saturday evening promises to be a memorable night of fine dining and great entertainment for a good cause.

The gala dinner, which will be held at Princess Port De Plaisance  Pavilion starts with cocktails at 7:00pm. Barbara Warren will be on hand as fashion police and Michael Ferrier and Jeffrey Sochrin will be the MCs for the night. Patrons can reserve their tickets and businesses can reserve their tables by contacting any of Childfest Foundation Board members or by contacting Port de Plaisance (PdP) at tel: 544-5226 or 544-5222.

The Family Fun Day will be held on the PdP property on Sunday, May 15 from 10:00am – 7:00pm. Entrance is free and a small cost is attached to the activities.

In addition to the Gala Dinner and Family Fun Day, patrons can also get a chance to win some great prizes in the Super Childfest Raffle. First prize is a cruise for a family of four persons along with four airline tickets; second prize is a one week stay in a two-bedroom suite in Orlando, Florida USA along with two airline tickets and third prize is a one-week stay in a two bedroom suite in Panama. The raffle will be drawn on stage at the Childfest Family Fun Day on Sunday, May 15 at 6:00pm. Tickets are available from any Childfest Foundation member, at all Childfest events and at PdP.

Gala dinner

Reputed restaurateur Chef Dino Jagtiani from Temptation and Rare restaurants is again coordinating the gala dinner. He is working with Chef Leslie Martina of Big Fish Restaurant; Benjamin Laurent of Bacchus, Iwan Pennings of Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Floris van Noort of Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort.

This year’s dinner will feature two menus: one for meat lovers and the other for vegetarians.

The first course will feature mixed green salad with five different lettuces prepared by Laurent. Van Noort will whip up the second course comprising smoked salmon terrine with fresh dill, soft curry and salmon eggs. The vegetarian option will be a terrine of vegetables with red pepper coulis, and basil crème.

The main course will be red wine braised veal osso bucco with saffron scented orzo pasta, spring vegetables, and lemon peel-parsley gremolata prepared by Jagtiani. The vegetarian option is Saffron Orzo with grilled vegetables, Parmigianino, and fresh basil cress prepared by Martina. The dessert: a homemade Rote Grütze, freshly prepared crème patisserie, and mini profiteroles will be prepared by Pennings.

Jagtiani said patrons will be taken on a culinary adventure of great taste and surprises. Some 400 persons are being catered to.

Entertainment

Patrons should walk with their dancing shoes as the entertainment line-up for the gala dinner promises to be electrifying. The versatile Youth Waves band is the main entertainer for the night. They will perform at the end of the gala dinner.

Iowa-based Russian pianist Marcelina Turcanu as well as the four children of Katsiaryna and Sudi Özkan - Princess Katherina, Sudi Han, Royal and King - will also provide some brief piano entertainment during the evening to get patrons warmed up.

Youth Waves Manager and keyboardist Alex Piper said patrons can expect “the best of Youth Waves.”

Youth Waves band comprises the entertaining Betty Nisbeth, Lyndon Connor and Christine Gordon as lead singers; Angel Richardson on base; Sylvere Mingau on drums and Patricio Piper as lead singer and guitar player. The band blends Afro-Caribbean sounds of Zouk, Salsa, Soca, Kompa and Reggae and is known as one of the most versatile bands in this part of the region.

The band will play some of its classical hits as well as its latest carnival jams.

Fun Day

The fun-filled Family Fun Day is packed with activities for the entire family including the very popular singing and dancing competitions Childfest Star and Childfest in Motion. There will also be food representing St. Maarten’s cultural diversity, games and activities for everyone at a price that won’t burn a hole in your pockets.

Activities will include Ford Mustang, Hummer, Harley Davidson,Quads   and Pony rides; Jumping castles and trampolines; Children’s TV characters; Clay sculpting; Arts and craft activities; Cupcakes decorating; T-shirt, face and rock painting; Airbrush tattoo; Cupcake decoration  Dunk tank; Sculpting; Kite flying; Applying Henna (Mehendi) and Princess Parlour - Little Princess Parlour (where girls can get makeovers).

Games will include Jumping in the sack race; Lime in the spoon race; Chicken race; Crab race

Pie throwing; Ring the bottles; Pie throwing competition; Pop the water balloons; Pin the donkey

Board games and Shoot the basketball.

Tickets for all events and other enquiries can be obtained from any Childfest Board member or from PdP at tel: 544-5226 or 544-5222.

Philipsburg:--- The Landsrecherche is busy conducting an investigation at the Pointe Blanche Prison confirmed Prison Director Rudsel Ricardo. Ricardo said the prisoner whom he identified as Aaron Moese was scheduled to be released on Sunday. He said Moese was entitled to $1, 255.55 since he was working while incarcerated.
"The money was given to one of the watch commanders (supervisor) on Friday and that person placed the money in the safe so that the prisoner would get his money on Sunday when he was released. Somehow, that money disappeared from inside the safe and there were four supervisors (watch commanders) that worked between Friday and Sunday," Ricardo said.
Ricardo said the prisoner who was deported to St. Lucia was given back his money. "Currently the Landsrecherche is investigating to see who is responsible for the theft," Ricardo said.

Philipsburg:--- The new Secretary General of the Parliament of St. Maarten Josef Semeleer took the oath in front of the Honourable President of Parliament Drs. Gracita Arrindell on Tuesday afternoon at 5.00pm in the General Assembly Chamber of Parliament.

The oath taking also took place in the presence of members of parliament and Hon. Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Cornelius de Weever.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Honourable Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams who is currently in Curacao on a working visit, drafted identical letters along with Curacao Prime Minister Gerrit Schotte to send to the Governors of Curacao and Sint Maarten regarding both governments' nominations for the supervisory board of the Central Bank.

With respect to Sint Maarten's nominations, the Council of Ministers ratified the nominations on December 14, and when candidate Ralph Richardson withdrew, on April 19, the nomination of Jairo Bloem was approved.

Sint Maartens two other nominees are Robbie Ferron and Marciela Illidge.

Curacao has nominated N. Navarro, G. Camelia and R. Maduro on March 23. Both countries according to Prime Minister Wescot will issue national decrees with the six members.

With respect to the position of chair person, the bank charter stipulates that this should be a joint decision and it was agreed that the finance ministers will consult further on this.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Youth Health Care (YHC), a section of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, says its vaccination outreach for the residents of Cole Bay and Cay Bay for Tuesday, May 17 is an opportunity for children in their neighborhoods to get vaccinated.

The Outreach will take place at the Charles L. Bell Primary School and YHC is encouraging parents and guardians to come out in strong numbers and vaccinate the younger members in their family which will ensure a protected community from Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) and a host of other child related diseases that are preventable.

The outreach is being organized as part of the annual Vaccination Week of the Americas under the theme, "Vaccinate your Family, Protect Your Community."

Parents and guardians are reminded that with the change in the vaccination schedule, the second MMR is now given at four-years of age.

All children between four and nine-years of age will now get their second MMR vaccine.

The DTPolio vaccination will continue to be given when the child is nine-years of age.

Other changes in the vaccination schedule apply to children between two and 12 months of age.

Parents are reminded to make sure that their children between the ages of 0-18 are up to date with their vaccinations which are necessary in order to reduce the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases.

DTP, MMR and catch-up Hepatitis B vaccines will be given to children in the target age group who are not up to date.

Immunization is a way of protecting children against serious vaccine preventable diseases and parents and guardians are encouraged to participate in the outreach. Once a person has been fully vaccinated, their bodies can fight those diseases if one comes into contact with them.

Parents should bring along with them their child's vaccination booklet/card. If you are not sure of the vaccination status of your child, you should contact your general practitioner, pediatrician, or YHC for children up through 17 years of age.

YHC can also be contacted if you want to verify your own vaccination status. You can call 542-3003 or 542-2078.

Philipsburg:--- Monday was World Telecommunication Day and UTS visited the teachers of the Sister Marie Laurence school to present each member of the teaching staff with a BlackBerry Smart phone, courtesy of UTS and Research In Motion (RIM), manufacturer of the Smart phone devices. 'Teachers fulfill a very important role in our community because they are charged with the education of our children.' Says UTS Marketing and Communications Officer, Ivy Lambert. 'This is sometimes an under appreciated task and we thought it would be nice to use World Telecommunication Day to recognize a group of teachers and show them that their hard work has not gone unnoticed.' The phones were presented in a general assembly with all students and faculty of the school. Students in attendance were equally as thrilled by the surprise as the teachers themselves.

'We are certain that having these devices will allow the faculty to make even more efficient use of their time and focus even more on the fine job they do with our kids.' continues Lambert.'When we contacted RIM about working together on this, they were on-board right away.' Each year Telecommunications Day is on May 17 and the day is used to recognize the important role of information technology in our society. The theme of Telecommunications Day for 2011 is 'better life in rural communities with ICT's. 'For us this means bringing ITCs to sectors that normally may not be able to invest in such technologies.' Lambert continues. 'What better group to single out than the teachers at a public school in a neighborhood like Middle Region. More information on World Telecommunication Day is available on the ITU website at http://www.itu.int.

Philipsburg:--- Honourable Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunications Franklin Meyers, would like to congratulate all telecommunication and information and communication technology (ICT) workers on World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) which will be observed around the world on Tuesday, May 17.

The purpose of WTISD is to help raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the internet and other ICT can bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide.

May 17 marks the anniversary of the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention and the creation of the International Telecommunication Union.

This year's theme is, "Better life in rural communities with ICTs." ICTs are increasingly in demand to meet the Millennium Development Goals. In the rural context, ICTs provide enhanced opportunities to generate income and combat poverty, hunger, ill health and illiteracy.

Half of the world's population – three billion people - resides in rural districts and far flung communities. The half represents the poorer, less educated, and more deprived people, and they are also among the least connected to the benefits of ICTs.

"The theme this year focuses on rural communities around the globe. Even though our country does not have any rural communities and is very much connected to internet and other modes of telecommunication, we are in solidarity with other governments and entities that are diligently working to bridge the gap that exist.

"We must be proud of what we have been able to achieve with respect to this technology and we must use it to our benefit in bettering ourselves, our community and our country," Hon. Minister of Telecommunications Meyers said on Monday.

Philipsburg:--- The University of St. Martin (USM) Board is formally announcing the appointment of a new President at the institution of higher learning.

As of May 1, 2011, Annelies van den Assem, LL. M. has been appointed as the new President. Van de Assem is presently familiarizing herself with the institution and making an assessment of operations and programs.

Van de Assem studied law at the University of Leiden and Public Law at the Erasmus University of Rotterdam. In her professional life she worked at the Council of State, the General Audit Chamber and at the (former) Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management and the Ministry of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations in The Netherlands. Her specialty is setting-up organizations from the ground-up as well as transforming and fostering innovation in existing organizations. Her last job was the setting-up of the Cabinet of the Governor of Sint Maarten.

Philipsburg:--- The Presidium of Parliament has decided that they will appoint Atwell Terrence Rey to the position of deputy clerk of parliament. A public meeting is scheduled to be held on Friday for the appointment. Atwell Terrence Rey was the campaign manager of the President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell. Atwell Terrence Rey also worked for parliament for some weeks as he had applied for a position long before the advertisements for the position were made public. It is not known if Rey was ever paid for the services he rendered to parliament.
A faction leaders meeting is also scheduled for Friday morning preceding the public meeting of parliament.
In the meantime, Cassandra Janssen has withdrawn her application after she did not get the position she applied for which was the Griffier. The two other candidates that applied for the position were interviewed and Atwell Terrence Rey was selected for the position by the presidium.
SMN News has been reliably informed that Rey applied for the 2nd Deputy Clerk who would also work as the policy advisor of parliament. While the first deputy clerk would have be the acting griffier of parliament should the griffier be away.
Members of the presidium are Gracita Arrindell, Leroy De Weever and Patrick Illidge.
Based on the decision taken by parliament on April 21 2011, the candidate that occupies the deputy clerk position will be appointed griffier after three years. The deputy clerk would also receive the necessary trainings to take up such position when Jozef David Semeleer's first contract expires.

How seniors in Sint Maarten think about the old age pensions in Sint Maarten.

This week Friday May 27 at 6pm and on Saturday May 28 at 8pm we will see and hear on Channel 15 of the St Maarten Cable TV the participants at this first seminar of the SMSPA. These participants have discussed in working groups about the information that was shared during the seminar concerning the income of the seniors in Sint Maarten and about how to improve the pensions situation for the elderly in Sint Maarten. Every group reported what were their thoughts, conclusions and suggestions to improve the pension income for the seniors in Sint Maarten.

If you want to know how the participants thought about these issues and you want to form your own opinion about what should be done to improve the old age pensions in country Sint Maarten, than you must watch this Episode 4: 1st Day Workshop Conclusions.

Two weeks ago episode 02 of the First Seminar of the Sint Maarten Seniors and Pensioners Association was aired. Informaton concerning the pension systems of the public servants in country Sint Maarten, the governor's pension, the pensions of the Ministers and Parliamentarians of Country Sint Maarten, and the Civil Servants pensions was presented. Government officials Drs Jorien Wuite and drs Susan Aafjes explained the scenario for the old age pension system for Country Sint Maarten.

Last week, St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 15 aired the 3rd episode of the First Seminar from the SMSPA dealt with the indexation system to adjust the pensions in Sint Maarten to the cost of living increases, and with the question if old age pensions in Sint Maarten can become equal to the old age pensions in the Netherlands like is the case for instance with the old age pensions on the French side and in France.

All these episodes have been made possible by the SMSPA, the speakers, the participants and last but not least the sponsors of the First Seminar of the SMSPA .

Every Saturday evening at 8pm St Maarten Cable TV on Channel 15 will repeat Friday's 6pm broadcast of the episode for the viewers who have missed the program on Friday or for those who want to see these very informative and educative seminar episodes once more.

Philipsburg:--- Honourable President of Parliament Drs. Gracita Arrindell on Friday morning met with the Hon. Minister of Finance Hiro Shigemoto to discuss a number of issues related to public finances.

It was also an opportunity for the Minister of Finance to meet the new Secretary General of Parliament Jozef Semeleer.

"I discussed several items pertaining to the issues surrounding the 2011 country budget. I was also informed by the Minister that preparations for the 2012 budget are well underway.

"The details regarding the handling of the 2011 country budget will first be conveyed in a meeting of the Senioren Convent," Hon. President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell said on Sunday.

The President of Parliament says she is expecting to receive the complete package pertaining to the 2011 country budget soonest.

The Senioren Convent comprises of the parliamentary leaders, namely Member of Parliament (MP) United Peoples (UP) party Parliamentary Leader Honourable Romain Laville, National Alliance (NA) MP Parliamentary Leader Hon. William Marlin, Democratic Party (DP) MP Parliamentary Leader Hon. Roy Marlin and Independent MP Hon. Patrick Illidge and the chairperson President of Parliament Hon. Drs. Gracita Arrindell.

Philipsburg:--- Several persons who were traveling in a bus on Cannegieter Street on Sunday around midday had to struggle to get out of the bus after it capsized on the road. No one was hurt in the accident but the passengers it is understood are still shaken over the freak accident. Up to press time police did not release any information on this latest accident.
This is the third bus that overturned on public roads in recent weeks. Twice last week a bus overturned on Cole Bay hill in separate accidents. The traffic department is yet to release any information to the press on these freak accidents.

Esteemed Guests,

Good evening and Welcome to the first Queens Birthday celebration in honor of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix on St. Maarten as a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The theme of this evening's celebration is "A Cultural Aubade to Her Majesty Queen Beatrix".
The celebration of Queen's Birthday, KONINGINNEDAG, in the Kingdom of the Netherlands dates back to 1890 when it was first celebrated on Augustus 31th, the birthday of Queen Wilhelmina. Since the succession of the Throne by Queen Juliana in 1948 Queen's birthday has been celebrated on her birthday on April 30th. Queen Beatrix, born on January 31th, following her coronation in 1980, decided in honor of her mother the late Princes Juliana, to maintain April 30th, as the day to Celebrate Queen's Birthday.
The initiative to celebrate Queen's Birthday in 1890 was taken to emphasize national unity. Promoting unity just over six months since obtaining the status of country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands is just as important now for Sint Maarten and for the Kingdom, as it was in 1890.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Tonight's celebration of Queen's Birthday on the eve of April 30th in St. Maarten as part of the Kingdom, has a long tradition. As a symbol of our ties with the Royal Family, Queen's Birthday celebration in St. Maarten has in past years been characterized by cultural manifestations of song, dance and games; For what better way to demonstrate notable ties than through customs and culture. This evening's celebration under the theme "A Cultural Aubade to Her Majesty" seeks to revive and continue that tradition. In carrying on that tradition it is important that we stand still and reflect on the things Her Majesty Queen Beatrix stands for and which we as the Friendly Island, are known for.
Fine and noble human virtues such as friendliness, fairness, respect and love for our fellowmen are important for Her Majesty and are the driving forces behind her thoughts and deeds; Thoughts and deeds which accentuate Her Majesty's status as the symbol and personification of unity within the Kingdom. This evening's cultural tribute of storytelling, song and dance is an expression of our appreciation for Her Majesty Queen Beatrix. It is intended to highlight some features of our community and the historic ties with the royal family.
Let us in keeping with our standing of the Friendly Island embrace mentioned principles by living in solidarity with each other and within the Kingdom as we pursue our goals of building a stronger and better St. Maarten. In appreciation of persons who display these fine human qualities Her Majesty in recognition of their kind, valuable and selfless deeds for the community places persons in the spotlight every year. It is my view that such selflessness is critical for the development of St. Maarten. Persons who selflessly volunteer their time and contribute to our community and in particular to the cultural and educational development of St. Maarten are important because they help to form a stronger, more principled people and community. Such voluntarism helps to form a people grounded in common norms and values which are critical to the promotion of the overall governance of and unity within our newly founded country, Sint Maarten.
As Governor of Sint Maarten I am therefore pleased, on behalf of Her Majesty, to recognize a number of persons later this evening, as is the custom; Persons who, in various ways have dedicated a significant part of their lives to serving, to helping and to forming others, without seeking something in return.
Esteemed guests,
At this Queen's birthday let us celebrate these fine human values and move forward selflessly to serve and build a united St. Maarten community within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Let us do so based on shared values, united in good human principles. Lets us do so mindful of the saying: Unity is Strength.
In closing, let us use this moment and every occasion to unite, to be kinder, gentler persons and to rally for and to respect each other as a Sint Maarten people and as Citizens of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
In the fall of this year Her Majesty Queen Beatrix, our symbol of unity in the Kingdom, will be visiting St. Maarten; A visit I am looking forward to and based on your presence this evening, I am sure you are too. Thus as we prepare to celebrate Queen's birthday this evening and anticipate her upcoming visit I conclude by wishing you an enjoyable Celebration of Queens Birthday this wonderful spring evening and continuing into tomorrow.

 Thank you and May God Bless You.

 

ROYAL DECORATIONS CEREMONY 2011 INTRODUCTORY WORDS BY H.E. EUGENE B. HOLIDAY GOVERNOR OF SINT MAARTEN.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good Evening once again. The performances of the respective artists, singers and children this evening was entertaining, wonderful; Yes simply delightful. I am sure that a number of the children in the group will, as they sharpen and develop their talents, one day be recipients of Royal Decorations.

As I said in my welcome address, every year Her Majesty recognizes persons in the community for their selfless and valuable contributions to society. Traditionally this is done on April 29th and it is my honor as Governor of Sint Maarten to represent Her Majesty and present Royal Decorations to a number of persons this evening. But before doing so, I will like to use this opportunity to thank the members of the RODAC committee for their preparatory work in identifying eligible persons for Royal Decorations. My Sincere thanks to each of you for your contributions in helping make this evening possible.

Moreover I will like to use this opportunity to say a few words about the Royal Decorations and about who qualifies for Royal Decorations.
Eligible persons for Royal Decorations can receive a decoration from one of the two civilian orders of the Netherlands.
The first is the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands which can be bestowed on people who have rendered exceptional services to the community, often through achievements or efforts stemming from special talents that are of great public benefit. The Order of the Lion of the Netherlands is divided into three classes of Knighthood, namely: Knight Grand Cross, Commander and Knight

The second is the Order of Orange-Nassau which can be awarded to people who have rendered outstanding services to the community for a considerable period. They are often people who carry out voluntary work for civil society organizations. The Order of Oranje-Nassau which is divided into six classes, namely: Knight Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, Knight and Member.

The RODAC Committee has in the past year gathered the pertinent information on several eligible persons residing on St. Maarten and prepared an advice for Royal Decorations for the Council of Ministers. For these persons, I as Governor, based on a nomination from the Council of Ministers, made recommendations to the responsible Minister in the Netherlands for a final decision. Having in turn received advice from the Advisory Council of the Civil Orders, the responsible Dutch minister has decided positively, leading to the granting of the Royal Decorations by Royal Decree.

It is my pleasure to inform you that tonight I have 7 signed Royal Decrees awarding Royal Decorations to persons in the Order of Oranje Nassau for outstanding services rendered to the community for a considerable period. I am therefore honored, on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix, to in the next few minutes move to pin the respective Royal Decorations on the deserving candidates.

I will therefore like to call on Mr. Havertong to the read the individual profiles based on which it was decided to bestow Royal Decorations to the individual candidates.

Marigot:--- The suspect that was arrested for the murder of the General Manager of Rendezvous Tours, Lianne Burns allegedly confessed to murdering her said her boss Ian Gurr in an invited comment. Gurr said on Thursday he missed his employee and friend on Thursday morning when several persons who were trying to contact her expressed concerns. "Lee was a workaholic and when she could not be reached several persons became concerned." Gurr said.
Lianne Burns he said "was a friend and an employee for 12 years and she was living with her boyfriend an Italian national Younese El Mami for some five months in one of my apartments in Agrement."
El Mami he said strangled Burns in an apparent act of rage. Gurr said when he woke up last Thursday he thought that Burns had gone to work since she is a dedicated worker, later he found out that she was scheduled to be off on that day, the day she was killed. "When I did not see her car, I thought she had left for work but it turned out that her boyfriend had left with the car." Gurr said when he started to look for Burns her boyfriend returned to the house and he asked him for Lee and he said he had taken her to work. "As I continued to search for her, I noticed the office door was closed so I did not think she was in there. Shortly after, I went into the office and when I found her body I called out to her boyfriend and he began acting emotional.
Gurr said he found the body at 1:45pm and he immediately contacted the Gendarmerie. Gurr said both of them were taken to the Gendarmerie to be questioned but by 10pm that same night the gendarmes returned to his house and arrested the prime suspect Younese El Mami. Captain of the Gendarmerie Sylvane Jouault said the suspect was transferred to Guadeloupe where he appeared before the prosecutor general. Jouault said they opened an inquiry on the murder; further information on the ongoing investigation he said can only be released by the prosecutor in Guadeloupe.
"The couple seemed happy and no one saw something like this coming," Gurr said. Relatives of the victim and her twin sister Lisa Burns is expected to arrive on the island this week.

Philipsburg:--- Honourable President of Parliament Drs. Gracita Arrindell is honoured to be part of the special memorial service and official wreath laying ceremony on Wednesday, May 4 at the war memorial near the Cyrus Wathey Square. Other ceremonies will be taking place throughout the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The national commemoration of May 4 recognizes all civilians and military in the Kingdom of the Netherlands or anywhere in the world who have died or been killed since the outbreak of the Second World War, in war and in peace operations.

"This is the first war memorial ceremony that will be held as country Sint Maarten. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize all Sint Maarteners who have participated and fought in wars on behalf of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

"We must honour our war dead, as we always have and as we will do once again on May 4th. The men and women who fought in these wars were ordinary citizens who responded to the highest call of duty to serve their country. They represent courage, to be bold and resilient, to believe in our ability to succeed for the common cause.

"The unknown soldier honours the memory of all those men and women who laid down their lives for the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

"This memorial is a testament of the ultimate sacrifices made by past generations for our countries as much as it is a reminder of encouragement to the present generation of people of the sacrifices of war and the gains of peace and prosperity we should cherish," Hon. President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell stated on Tuesday.

Philipsburg:--- The Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure are inviting residents and business owners to attend a town hall meeting regarding the infrastructure improvement project for Cole Bay and Cay Bay.

Invitations have also been extended to the Community Councils of Cole Bay and Cay Bay as well as the Task Force.

The town hall meeting will take place at Carl's Unique Conference Room on Thursday, May 5 at 7.30pm. Residents, business owners and community leaders will be provided with information about the project and will be able to ask questions as well.

Infrastructural works will be executed along the Welfare Road from the Kruthoff Round-a-bout to the Daily Extra Supermarket, Wellington Road and Wigly Street.

Civil works are expected to start on May 9. The project entails the construction of a bus stop and infrastructure related to water drainage and sewage.

Part of Wellington Road and Wigley Street will be closed to vehicular traffic. Additional information will be made available via the town hall meeting.

One of the priorities of Honourable Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Theo Heyliger is to improve neighbourhood communities by making sure that proper infrastructure exist in every community.

This project and others currently in the execution phase is part of improving the quality of life of residents in every Sint Maarten neighbourhood.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Former Lt. Governor of Sint Maarten Dennis Richardson will be sworn in on May 9 at 5.00pm as Kingdom Advisory State Councillor for Sint Maarten. The oath taking will be officiated by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix at the Palace Huis ten Bosch, HM Queen Beatrix is also the President of the Council of State.

During his stay in the Netherlands, Richardson will commence with work related orientation and tasks associated with the Council of State of the Kingdom.

The Council of State is the highest administrative court in the Netherlands. It is an independent adviser to the Government on legislation and general administration.

It is called upon to monitor the quality of legislation both from a legal perspective and from the point of view of good policy.

Honourable Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams is very honoured that a Sint Maartener has been appointed to this highest advisory body within the Dutch Kingdom.

The appointment of Richardson was done via Kingdom resolution of March 31, 2011. Richardson left the island on Tuesday for the Netherlands.

Philipsburg:--- A 16 year old boy identified as Molando Robinson who is currently being held at the Philipsburg police holding cell attempted to take his life early Wednesday morning confirmed Commissioner of Police Carl John. John said the underage suspect was held for criminal investigations but the prosecutor's office decided they will not prosecute him therefore he must be deported since he is residing illegally on St. Maarten.
SMN News learnt that the detainee has been in police custody since December 2010 and he attempted to take his life on 16th birthday which was Tuesday May 3rd. The source said, the young man was born on St. Maarten but he has no passport since his parents are of Jamaican decent. Relatives of the young man said Jamaica is giving the family a hard time to issue a passport since he was not born in Jamaica. It is further understood that the relatives of the young lad are busy working with the Jamaican consulate in Trinidad to regulate his status but so far that has not been finalized.
Sylvester Robinson, an uncle to the young man said Molando's mother left him here ten years ago when she moved to England. He said the young man was living with his brother and he attended school on St. Maarten. The elder Robinson said the lad's father is living on St. Maarten legally but he refused to take on his parental responsibilities. Robinson said police placed the lad in a home in St. Peters and while he was there he had an argument with one of the youths staying there and he allegedly hit the other child. Police intervened and ever since then they arrested his nephew and kept him in police custody saying they will deport him.
The relatives said that while Police have arrested the young man and have him in jail for the past four months they are not attempting to regulate his documents with Jamaica.
The Commissioner of Police further explained that the suspect was placed in one of the homes but he threatened to stab the surrogate mother of the home as such the police were forced to take him back to the police station. Sylvester Robinson said his nephew never threatened to stab anyone because he personally went to the home and spoke to the surrogate mother and she told him what had occurred.
Commissioner John said it has been a while now that the immigration department has been dealing with Jamaica to obtain travel documents for the young man but that he said is delayed. Commissioner John confirmed that the suspect attempted to take his life by hanging but failed. He said the doctor and ambulance was called to the Police Station where they examined the young man. Police also made arrangements with a psychologist who will meet with the detainee on Thursday.

Philipsburg:--- The Detective Department is busy investigating a case of assault that resulted in death. Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson said on April 30th a fight took place in Margaret Bruce's Drive in Middle Region between two men identified as E.A. and O.A. The two men were allegedly fighting over a cigarette. During this fight the victim O.A. was struck in his head with a stone.
According to the suspect E.A, O.A attacked him with a knife causing him to defend himself with a stone.
The suspect was arrested and taken to the police station for further investigation. The victim (O.A) who later became ill at the police station was treated by paramedics and then transported to the Sint Maarten Medical Centre for treatment and was admitted in the ICU.
At the hospital, the attending doctor stated that the victim was in critical condition and had suffered a massive concussion. The victim O.A. died during the evening of Wednesday May 4th 2011 as a result of the injuries he had sustained. The case is currently being investigated.

Philipsburg:--- Students of Imbali Center for Creative Movement outscored competitors from across the region to take top honors at 'Le Concours Federaton Regional De Dance Guadeloupe 2011', which was held April 21.
The students, who were trained by Imbali Founder and Director, Clara Reyes, dance instructors Peggy Oulerich and Aparna Samaga, placed 1st in the group categories African dance and modern dance, and also as soloists in Bharatanatyan, African and modern dance.
Reyes explained that while the competition was a one day event, it was in fact, an event which was held annually by two separate organizations, one from Guadeloupe and the other from France. In this way the morning contest was a regional session, while the one held later in the afternoon was an international one. The students placed high in both.
According to Reyes the entire experience was indicative of the dedication and disciplined training with the students had approached preparation for the competition.
"The kids were really amazed that they placed so high. I mean we trained very hard, but I had warned them from before that the competition was extremely tough and that while we were going to compete, we were also going for the experience, to see what it was like to be exposed to competition on that level. So, in the back of my head, of course we wanted to win some prizes, but once they started to announce the winners and just kept calling up Imbali students, we were really, really astonished," Reyes said.
Jeremiah David, the only male Imbali student entered in the competitions this year, was a standout, placing 1st with honors, from amongst 26 other competitors.
"The young people he competed against had a lot of skills and artistic interpretation and still he beat them all and placed 1st with honors, which is actually above 1st prize. For me and for him this was a big deal, because he was being judged by people who have been around the world and seen all different genres and levels of dance. It also allowed him to establish connection with important artists who got to see him and his amazing potential. I'm extremely proud of him and of them all," Reyes said.
"Guadeloupe had some remarkable dancers; after all, they have a strong tradition of competition dancers, who know what is expected of them. The dance school which hosted the event has a deep connection to the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre and a tradition of using serious judges who have educated eyes for dance and they were really impressed with the Imbali students. This means our hard work is paying off and our vision of exposing our students to the infinite possibilities and opportunities in the area of dance is also materializing," Reyes said.
Reyes said that all of the judges were seasoned professionals who treated the competition with a seriousness which left an imprint on the minds of the young students.
"These are people who look for both technical skills and a mastery of the artistry of dance and I pushed the students hard to get that. I repeatedly told them that it is not just about doing the steps, but also feeling the techniques and expressing that. After going to the competition and doing so well the kids are getting a clearer picture of what is possible with dance as a full career and not just as a hobby if that is what they want," Reyes said.
Reyes explained that by placing 1st in the regional competition, students were eligible to compete in France in June 2011 in various categories against 2000 entrants from France and its regions. Their high winnings in the international competition ensured that they could participate in Euro Dance 2011 scheduled for October in Luxemburg.
Jeremiah David and Diovanni Diaz will both be traveling to France come June, along with Reyes and a parent who will act as co-chaperone. Reyes noted that Imbali would now be initiating activities to raise funds to cover the cost of the four individuals' travel expenditures.
The youngsters, who also took part in advance jazz and beginners ballet workshops while in Guadeloupe, were thrilled to be received by Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs Rhoda Arrindell upon their return to St. Maarten.

Philipsburg:--- The 62 year old driver of the dump truck that crushed 12 year old Silvia Lynch to death on Friday is residing on St. Maarten illegally. SMN News learnt that the national of the Dominican Republic is in possession of a Brooks Tower Application receipt and he is not in possession of a Dutch Drivers License. SMN News was reliably informed that the driver has a license from the Dominican Republic and he has been living on St. Maarten since 2002.
The source said the man has no working or residency permit and it is not clear if the insurance company will honor the insurance policy they granted to COMPRO NV for the vehicle.
Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos confirmed that the driver is residing on St. Maarten illegally. Mos said while the driver was arrested on the day of the accident he had to be released since police do not have enough evidence to charge him with manslaughter. Mos said the driver can be charged with causing death by negligence and the law does not allow police to keep persons who are charged with negligence in custody. If convicted, he can receive a maximum of one year prison sentence.
The Chief Prosecutor said the driver was turned over to immigration but was subsequently released. Asked if the driver was in possession of a driver's license, Mos said he did not know. Police already determined that the brakes and clutch from the vehicle failed when the driver was descending Naked Boy Hill which caused the deadly accident.
It must be noted that only persons who are residing legally on St. Maarten are able to obtain a Dutch drivers license. Therefore, if the driver was an illegal he could not in obtain a Dutch drivers license, the police and prosecutor's office would have to take a decision as to how they will proceed with the case since the driver was neither legal or insured based on the laws of St. Maarten.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Minister of Health Cornelius de Weever met with Dr. Louis Jeffry, Vice-President of the Collectivite of Saint Martin, in order to plan a joint Women's Health Symposium to be held in June. Stakeholders like the Positive Foundation represented by Ms. Shelley Alphonso and Collective Preventive Services, represented by Daphne Illis, were also invited to begin with the initial brainstorming and expansion of the proposed project.

We are making a concentrated effort to ensure that both sides of the island's medical skills and social partners are in synergy, we need to break through the invisible borders, Minister de Weever was quoted as saying.

Dr. Jeffry said:" St. Maarten is missing a health event of this ambition, designed to inform and educate the largest number of women. This joint program, Women's Health Symposium, is now in the process of becoming a reality."

The entire population of women are invited to participate in the conference, take advantage of personalized consultations with health professionals and participate in the fitness coaching sessions or cooking classes. The committee will be meeting and involving more stakeholders to ensure a successful event and they are kindly asking you to look out for more information as it becomes available.

On Saturday the 7th of May staff of local St. Maarten Dive Companies headed out to various reefs within the Man of War Shoal Marine Park to clean various coral reefs of debris and garbage. Various types of debris were collected, including several meters of fishing line, old anchors and plastic. The Nature Foundation Marine Park Patrol Vessel Yellowtail and Nature Foundation divers were also on hand to clean debris from reefs within the Man of War Shoal Marine Park. "The initiative for the underwater cleanup on the reefs within the Man of War Shoal Marine Park came from various dive operators who reported a large amount of debris on the dive sites while they were guiding their customers. Although this cleanup happened on short notice, various dive operators including Aquamania Dive Adventures and Dive Safaris, used their staff and their boats during their free time to cleanup our coral reefs", commented Tadzio Bervoets, Nature Foundation Marine Park Manager.
The cleanups will occur on a regular basis, not only within the Marine Park but also on various other dive sites surrounding St. Maarten. Coral reefs are one of the islands most important natural resources and are both ecologically and economically valuable. They provide important habitat for reef fish, protect the shores from large damaging waves and storm surge, and provide a significant contribution to the tourism product of St. Maarten.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The Civil Registry Department in connection with an ongoing updating of its registry, is asking persons residing on the island but born on the islands of Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire, and whose name is listed on the Government Website under "What's New," to provide the aforementioned department with a copy of their birth certificate so that their personal information can be completed.

Individuals are asked to visit the official Government of Sint Maarten website and click on new tab "What's New." The website address is www.sintmaartengov.org.

Parents and/or guardians are also asked to check the listing on the website of minors and to present the original birth certificate with the required legalization to the Civil Registry Department.

All persons are kindly asked to provide the information before June 1st, 2011.

Philipsburg:--- Honourable President of Parliament Drs. Gracita Arrindell received a copy of Because of Prayer by Felecita Williams on Monday in the library reading room of the House of Parliament.

Williams presented her autobiography to Drs. Arrindell for the library's formative reference collection during a tour of parliament's offices.

The legislature's president conducted the tour for House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP) whose projects director Lasana M. Sekou had expressed interest in especially the library and plans to facilitate researchers of government and legislative studies, and freedom of information processes.

Sekou said that Drs. Arrindell pointed out that the library is still in its early development stage and that emphasis will be placed on digital storage and retrieval systems for parliamentary data. HNP invited Williams as one of its newest St. Martin authors on the tour.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) of the Ministry for Public Health, Social Development & Labour, has commenced the mosquito fogging campaign.

For the residents information the fogging schedule for the next three days is as follows:

May 11th, 2011          4:30am - 7:00am           Welfare Road, Pelican,

                                  5:00pm – 7:00pm          Simpson Yacht Club Bay,

                                                                        Simpson Bay Bridge,

 

May 12^th, 2011          4:30am - 7:00am.           Simpson Bay, Beacon Hill,

                                  5:00pm - 7:00pm            Maho, Blue Mall, Sapphire,

                                                                         Low Lands, Welfare Road

May 13^th , 2011         4:30am – 7:00am            Welfare Road, Round-about,

                                  5:00pm - 7:00pm            Cole Bay Hill, Round-about,

                                                                         Belair, Link 1

The remaining of the schedule of the fogging schedule campaign will be published in the Government Information Page (GIP) in both daily newspapers on Thursday.

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

There will be no spraying in the event of rain as this defeat the purpose of the campaign.  Homeowners during the time of the spraying should open all doors and windows.

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

 

Last week episode 01 of the First Seminar of the Sint Maarten Seniors and Pensioners Association was aired. We could see the openingspeeches of SMSPA-president Mrs Patricia Flanders, Prime Minister Mrs Sarah Wescot-Williams, and SMSPA-secretary of education Mr Carl Coonner. The main speaker Mr Neil Henderson brought his views on "Private Sector Income Products for Seniors."

 This week end on Friday May the 13th and on Saturday the 14th, St Maarten Cable TV Channel 15 will air the 2nd episode of the First Seminar from the SMSPA.

• If you are interested to know how our tax money is paying for the civil servants pensions and how much is involved to pay the old age pensions in Sint Maarten, than you must watch this 2nd episode!
• If you want to know why there are differences in the pension systems for government and for the general public, and who has established the norms for these pension systems, than you cannot miss this 2nd episode of the SMSPA seminar!!
• If you want to know how these pensions compare to the pensions in the Netherlands and which norms are characteristic for the difference in pension systems within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, than this episode will definitely give you a good insight!!!

The main speakers we will see on tv this week end are :

Episode 2: Government Pension Plans & Public Pension System in Country SXM

• drs Raymond Jessurun – Government Pension Plans in Country Sint Maarten.
• drs Jorien Wuite & drs Suzan Aafjes– The Public Pension System of Country Sint Maarten.

Every Saturday evening at 8 pm St Maarten Cable tV on Channel 15 will repeat Friday's 6 pm broadcast of the episode for the viewers who have missed the program on Friday or for those who want to see these very informative and educative seminar episodes once more. These episodes have been made possible by the SMSPA, the speakers, the participants and last but not least the sponsors of the First Seminar of the SMSPA .

Philipsburg:--- Civil Servants from the Finance Department are still busy working out the technical issues regarding the disbursing of the Naf.400, 000.00 that is allocated as an advance to the council confirmed Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams on Wednesday.
While the Prime Minister and Finance Minister said the monies were made available to the council some weeks ago, SMN News has been reliable informed that the council is yet to receive or have access to the funding.
Sources say a meeting was held with the Secretary General of Finance Sherry Hazel and the chairman of the corporate governance council on April 15th but to date the technical difficulties have not yet been regulated. SMN News learnt that the council cannot deal with finances directly and government must open an account for the council and appoint someone to access the account when the council needs money. Prime Minister Wescot Williams said in an invited comment on Wednesday that Finance Department are busy working out the matter so that the council can get the necessary funding.
Asked if the Naf.400, 000.00 covers the 2010 budget that was submitted by the council Wescot Williams said they are no longer looking at the 2010 budget rather they are looking at the amount of monies spent by the council during that year.

Hope Estate/ Sucker Garden:--- Relatives of the late Silvia Lynch have organized a protest march which will be held on Thursday afternoon at 6pm. The march is a form of protest against the tragic death of 12 year old Silvia on Friday. Napolina Richardson Gumbs, aunt of the deceased girl said the march will commence at the Marie Genevieve De Weever School in Hope Estate and will conclude at the scene of the accident which is next to Gas King on Sucker Garden road. Richardson –Gumbs said the aim of the protest march is to create awareness since heavy equipments are not supposed to be driving on the road between 12 noon and 2pm while school children are on their way home.

The points that will be discussed on Thursday are:-

• The lack of Respect for the Traffic Ordinance (laws and regulations) on St. Maarten
• Road Safety
• Intimidation on the road by specific vehicles
• The rights of the pedestrian on public roads.

The general public and students of the Marie Genevieve School are asked to gather at the school in Hope Estate at 5:30pm.
In the meantime, Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams announced on Wednesday that she is in support of the calls by residents of St. Maarten to amend the traffic ordinance on St. Maarten so that persons responsible for serious accidents can be held responsible. Wescot Williams said she understands the feelings of powerlessness the families are going through at this moment.

Hope Estate/Sucker Garden:--- Close to four hundred persons gathered at the parking lot of the Marie Genevieve de Weever School in Hope Estate to march in protest of the tragic death of 12 year old Sylvia Lynch. The Marie Genevieve de Weever sixth grade student was killed tragically in a road accident as she exited a school bus last Friday. She was crushed to death by an illegal resident who is not in possession of a Dutch driver's license. The Generation New Status Band (STM) members drummed throughout the march. Taking over Sylvia's spot on the Frontline was her grieving sister Jessica Lynch who could not compose herself when she reached the scene where her sister was killed. Jessica was one of the many people who witnessed Sylvia's death last Friday. As Jessica arrived at the location she fainted and had to be removed by other grieving family members and supporters.
At the scene of the accident several of her friends and mothers who partook in the march as they supported the grieving family laid flowers, some teddy bears, while others placed a lighting candle at the location where the young girl was killed last week.
Arranging the flowers and candles next to the boulder was Christopher Emanuel whose mother and aunt were killed by a runaway driver on Bush Road some years ago.
Relatives of the deceased girl said they will not rest until justice is served and they will go after the parliamentarians to make sure the traffic ordinance is amended. Jessica Lynch the grieving sister consoled the grieving friends and community that her sister is in heaven with the God she worshipped. "Sylvia was someone who would dance as she worshipped God, he was her everything and I can assure you she is in heaven with him right now looking down at us who are crying."
She called on those that will be attending the funeral on Friday to compose themselves and not breakdown since she would be depending on them for strength.
Among the marchers on Thursday evening were Judge Wally Haverthong, Senator Romaine La Ville, and several civil servants and President of the Pride Foundation and member of the UTFAC (United Task Force Against Crime) Jadira Veen. In an interview with SMN News, Veen said she could not believe what was she was reading when the story was published on Friday. Veen said to date she has questions about the accident while several persons in the community are still very angry at the prosecutor's office for releasing the driver of the truck hours after he crushed the little girl to death. Veen said the man has no residency papers neither driver's license and her biggest question is who employed someone without papers and license to drive such a vehicle on St. Maarten's road. Veen said her hope is that the march held on Thursday evening would create more awareness since the victim could have been anybody's child. Veen said it is her opinion that the driver should be deported if he is not in possession of his Brooks Tower Permit. She said no one should reward the driver with documents after what he has done.
Parliamentarian Romaine La Ville, who also marched with the mourners said he does not think the traffic ordinance need to be amended because according to him there are lots of laws on the books which is not being enforced. La Ville said that one of things that have to be done is to look at the laws and to see why the laws are not being enforced. He agreed that the police force is undermanned and that the Minister of Justice is looking into ways of recruiting more local men for the job. One of the things the Justice Minister is trying to do right now is to see if he can make English the first language of instruction in the police academy.
La Ville said while understands the relatives of the deceased girl and residents who are sharing their concerns, he believes that anyone could have been involved in such an accident. He said his father owns a construction company and he too has heavy trucks and it could have been anyone involved. He called on the community to be more vigilant when driving on the public roads especially during school hours.
A wake was held at the John Larmonie Center Thursday night. Funeral is scheduled for Friday at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Zaggersgut.
Click here to see more photos of the Sylvia Lynch Protest March.

Philipsburg:--- Honourable President of Parliament Drs. Gracita Arrindell would like to announce that the Central Committee of Parliament will be meeting with the Sint Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA) on Thursday, May 19.

The SHTA requested the meeting in a letter dated April 26, 2011.

The main agenda point is the state of affairs regarding the national economy.

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

In collaboration with St. Maarten AIDS Foundation and Scotiabank, the Maho Group's Stronger Together campaign concluded on March 25, 2011, with a grand fundraising total of $51,840 to benefit the St. Maarten AIDS Foundation. Generous guest donations over the three-month period propelled funds above the original goal of $30,000.

"We are sincerely grateful to our guests for their generous donations and to our front desk staff at each resort for serving as ambassadors for this program," says Saro Spadaro, President & CEO for the Maho Group. "Together, we have joined hands as a global community of awareness, contributing to the progress of HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention on our island".

As Sint Maarten's leading leisure, real estate and resort company, the Maho Group invited guests of Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino, Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort & Casino and Royal Islander Club's La Terrasse and La Plage to voluntarily donate $1 per room, per day, with a company daily match. The campaign launched Christmas Day and ran through March 25, 2011.

Stronger Together funds will benefit the St. Maarten AIDS Foundation in order to promote awareness within the Caribbean, to educate children and adults on prevention and to assist with care and support for persons living with HIV/AIDS. Special programs include the Boys Program, Girl Power and rapid testing days.

For more information or to volunteer in future programs related to the HIV/AIDS awareness on Sint Maarten, please visit www.sxmaidsfoundation.org.

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Philipsburg:--- Area Governor CC/CL Emilia Thomas will lead a delegation of 25 St. Maarten Toastmasters at the next District 81 Caribbean Toastmasters Conference, which will be hosted in Tortola, Virgin Islands from May 20-22, 2011. The May conference slogan, "Your Voice: the Tool of Choice", will offer an opportune educational experience combined with the camaraderie and fun networking with other aspiring Caribbean professionals and leaders, the Area Governor remarked. On Friday, May 20th, the conference commences with an array of workshops and trainings on proven methods of for communicating. Day 1 will culminate in the Conference Opening Ceremony.

On Saturday, May 21, delegates will continue to actively participate in additional workshops centered on Leadership and team building at which St. Maarten's Toastmaster ACG Sinatra Rouse will be a presenter. These sessions will be followed by the business meeting at which pertinent matters relating to all clubs representing the District 81 will be addressed. The highlight of Saturday's agenda will be the Table Topics Speech- and the International Speech Contest. St. Maarten's Toastmaster CC Malcolm Jacques will vie for the coveted Table Topics Contest, competing with other Toastmasters from the region in this category. Day 2 will culminate in an Installation Banquet, at which International Director DTM Dave Hollingshead, will be the featured speaker.

"Toastmasters have a proven process to help people become better speakers, leaders, and communicators. Besides weekly club meetings, part of that process is attending the spring and fall conferences which offers high value workshops and trainings", the Area Governor said.

The delegation is scheduled to depart on Thursday, May 19th and return on Sunday, May 22nd, 2011. "We are looking forward to yet another wonderful toastmasters experience and the splendor of Tortola together with our fellow Toastmasters from as far as Guyana, the United States of America and Toastmasters representing most of the Caribbean islands", the Area Governor concluded.

In the early morning hours of Thursday, UTS encountered some problems on the prepaid Chippie platform after conducting maintenance to our systems. Due to a technical error, the balance of our prepaid customers was affected; Customers received a certain amount of free call credit on their prepaid accounts.

During the course of Thursday the situation was corrected, and all prepaid customers balances were restored to the original amounts prior to the maintenance. Any calls that were made from the incorrectly received extra credit were NOT deducted from the original balance. In other words, the original balance remained intact after the correction was made.

"To make up for the inconvenience caused by our system error, all prepaid customers will receive ANG 5.00 of free call credit on top of their original balances," states UTS Marketing and Communications Officer, Ivy Lambert. "We sincerely apologize to our valued customers for any inconvenience caused. Our team has worked diligently to restore all prepaid accounts to their original state as quickly as possible".

Philipsburg:--- Honourable Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunications Franklin Meyers, says he was surprised to learn about plans by French-side authorities to levy a mandatory yearly fee of 150 Euros on every Dutch-side taxi wishing to operate on the French-side of the island.

Minister Meyers contacted President of the Collectivite Frans Gumbs on Thursday morning and the matter is under discussion.

"I have spoken with President Gumbs at length with respect to this matter. Mr. Gumbs has to follow-up with me after having discussions with his officials regarding the issue.

"Once I receive more information I will inform the public in due course," Hon. Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications Franklin Meyers, said on Thursday.

The Minister added that the Council of Ministers did not receive any formal notification with respect to this measure that the Collectivite had approved to implement.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- According to the World Health Organization (WHO), years of healthy life expectancy can be increased five to 10-years if individuals make an effort against the major health risks, section General Public Health of the Collective Preventive Services (CPS) within the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labour said on Friday.

As part of section General Public Health annual calendar of observances, the focus is on high blood pressure and stroke. According to the WHO, high blood pressure is one of the top 10 preventable risks.

World-wide, high blood pressure is estimated to cause over seven million deaths, about 13 per cent of the global fatality total. According to the WHO, research indicates that about 62 per cent of strokes and 49 per cent of heart attacks are caused by high blood pressure.

Blood pressure is a measure of the force that the circulating blood exerts on artery walls. High blood pressure levels damage the arteries that supply blood to the brain, heart, kidneys and elsewhere.

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance found in the bloodstream that is a key component in the development of atherosclerosis, the accumulation of fatty deposits on the inner lining of arteries of the heart and brain.

The section encourages the following interventions: reducing salt in processed foods; cutting dietary fat; exercise; higher consumption of fruits and vegetables and lowering smoking and maintain a regular exercise schedule.

Have regular consultation with your physician on the progress of your health and medication. Follow your physicians advice and treatment and if you are not sure ask your physician to explain.

These are effective interventions identified to reduce high blood pressure which can be the source of cardiovascular disease. Consult your physician, ask questions and maintain open discussions.

Marigot:--- Historical writer, former English teacher and politician Daniella Jeffry will be launching her new book this coming Thursday at the Philipsburg Jubilee Library at 7pm. A repeat of the event will take place on Saturday at the Silk Cotton Cove Yard in Friars Bay.
The new book entitled the Destabilization of the French Caribbean will be available in two languages the English and French. Jeffry is the author of "1963 A Landmark Year in Saint Martin", and " The Status Scandal of the Island of Saint Martin."

Jeffry's latest book covers the period 1975-2009 and is required reading to understand the French overseas policies and subsequent development the island went through over the past 30 years.
"There are many layers of issues which I have tried to portray in the book," explains Jeffry. "The book illustrates how the St. Martin population was impacted by the defiscilisation law of 1986 which led to an influx of French European settlers together with an illegal element of Caribbean workers."
"A blind eye was turned towards illegal immigration in order to perpetuate the construction boom and real estate development facilitated by defiscilisation. Investors discriminated against St. Martin workers because it was cheaper for them to hire illegal workers."
She continued: "But at the time of the Gulf War in 1990, tourism dropped off and with it the development and those construction workers remained on the island illegally and bore many children. Statistics show that those illegal persons accounted for 60 per cent of the population. That resulted in the hospital and clinics becoming over stretched and saturated. France then had to introduce social services to deal with the illegal immigration problem and legalise at least 3,000 of them. That programme lasted about eight months."
Jeffry indicates France was more interested in solving the illegal immigration problem than dealing with the problems of the indigenous St. Martin population.
"It was a painful situation for St. Martiners as they were just pushed aside," she said.
She noted the population of the French side tripled between 1983 and 1990, from 8,000 to 28,000, largely made up of French metropolitans or Europeans. St. Martiners became a minority in their own country. And, Jeffry states, French policies were responsible for disrupting families and creating the juvenile delinquency we have today.
Today, in her opinion it was not good timing to change the constitutional status of the French side when the Commune already had its financial problems. With more autonomy under a Collectivité there was supposed to be more financial support but that didn't follow, she said.
"They (elected officials) were in too much of a hurry to get a new status. And I think the socio-professionals thought it would help them, but it hasn't. Today we are seeing that the "status scandal" was not an exaggeration."

Philipsburg:--- Honourable Minister of Finance Hiro Shigemoto says he will be seeking clarification from the board of the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT regarding comments made to the media last week Friday regarding the countries nominee for the CFT board.

The CFT in a press release summarizing its visit to Curacao, Sint Maarten and the BES islands, reportedly stated that, "Sint Maarten has not proposed a member as yet." referring to the countries representation on the CFT board, when the CFT gave an explanation with respect to which islands have representatives on the board since the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles.

"I am at odds with this statement, and the Council of Ministers will be seeking clarity with respect to such a statement which is totally untrue and is misinforming the people of Sint Maarten. I'am sure it must be an oversight on the part of the CFT and they will clarify what they have stated publicly," Hon. Minister of Finance Hiro Shigemoto said on Sunday.

The Council of Ministers months ago submitted its candidate local businessman and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Directors of the Sint Maarten Harbour Group of Companies Michel Soons, to the Hon. Minister of Kingdom Relations Piet Donner.

"At the moment Minister Donner has failed to submit the name to the Kingdom Council of Ministers for decision-making, and secondly, the Council of Ministers is still waiting to be informed of why this has not been done," Hon. Minister of Finance Shigemoto concluded.

Philipsburg:--- Honourable Minister of Finance Hiro Shigemoto has taken note of the comments made by the Sint Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA) with respect to the country's marketing representative in the United States according to media reports attributed to the SHTA, "not being paid for months" by government.

Minister of Finance Hiro Shigemoto disclosed on Wednesday that due to an internal investigation that was carried out with respect to the Tourist Bureau, the disbursement of funds was frozen by the former Head of Finance and the Controller of the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications, until the investigation was completed.

"The funds will be paid to the US marketing firm once the invoices have been cleared by the controller and these will be made payable by the Finance Department shortly," Hon. Minister of Finance Hiro Shigemoto said on Wednesday.

Philipsburg:--- Honourable Minister of Finance Hiro Shigemoto said on Wednesday that the Ministry of Finance is preparing the countries budget to send to the Governor who will then forward it to Parliament.

After the budget came back from the Council of Advice, it was handled in the Council of Ministers meeting on Tuesday.

The Naf.420,916,597 million budget is Naf.23,526,328 million less than the one that was approved by Parliament on December 23, 2010. The amount at that time was Naf.444,442,925 million.

Minister of Finance Shigemoto will be meeting with the President of Parliament on Friday to discuss the handling of the countries budget in Parliament.

The St. Maarten Lions Club will be holding a special public sale this Saturday and next Saturday for their newly printed cook book "In the Kitchen with St. Maarten Women".

This cook book which was launched in March features various recipes from local women such as soups, breads, cakes, meats, sauces, beverages and various side dishes.

Members of the St. Maarten Lions Club will be selling the book on Saturday, May 28th and June 4th from 10am to 4pm at Le Grand Marche on the Bush Road and Cole Bay, Ace Mega Center in Cole Bay and Fresh Market in Madame Estate.

This book makes an excellent gift for a family member or friend and the general public are urged to purchase it while supplies last. The cost of the cook book is $15 and all proceeds from this fundraising event will be used for the various community projects that the St. Maarten Lions Club members work on throughout the year.

French Quarter:--- Emergency personnel from the Fire Department and doctors from the SMUR tried effortlessly to revive an elderly Haitian man who collapsed on the French Quarter main road on Sunday. The elderly man felt ill on his way home and apparently fell under a genip tree. Residents in the area saw the man and called the ambulance. The emergency workers were seen giving him CPR for about 20 minutes before the SMUR reached the scene and they too continued with emergency care but the elderly man did not survive. On the scene there were several gendarmes who made contact with the deceased man's relatives.
Several members of the Nazarene Church in Lamigeot said the man worshiped with them on Sunday morning and at no time he indicated that he was not well. They identified him as Rickless living at Dollison Drive Dutch Cul De Sac.

Click here to view more photos of the scene.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Honourable Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams, Hon. Vice Prime Minister Theo Heyliger and Hon. Minister of Finance Hiro Shigemoto, on Friday met with President of the Central Bank of Curacao and Sint Maarten (CBCS) Emsley Tromp with respect to the current state of affairs regarding the financial institution.

"The Council of Ministers has been closely following developments in Curacao. The situation is a very sensitive one in Curacao and we would like to see a speedy resolution," Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams told the Department of Communication (DCOMM) on Sunday.

The Prime Minister added that the Council of Ministers will be meeting in the new week for a strategic session which includes a meeting regarding the country's position on monetary matters.

Central Banks are the guardians of the financial system of a country. It is a public institution that issues the currency, regulates the money supply, and controls the interest rates in a country.

With respect to Sint Maarten's nominations, the Council of Ministers ratified the nominations on December 14 and April 19. The countries nominees are Jairo Bloem, Robbie Ferron and Marciela Illidge. The Prime Minister drafted a letter mid-May and sent it to the Governor regarding the countries nominees for the supervisory board of directors.

Regarding the position of chair person, the bank charter stipulates that this should be a joint decision and it was agreed that the finance ministers will consult further on this.

The CBCS on Friday was represented by its President Emsley Tromp who was accompanied by Romero and Haselmeijer.

Philipsburg:--- As announced, Flamboyant Broadcasting streamed live via internet the Jouvert Morning Jump Up on Friday, April 29th, and the Grand Carnival Parades on Saturday, April 30th, and on Sunday, May 1st. With a total of over 1050 viewers watching, the internet broadcasts was a success for the newly established internet broadcasting company.

Flamboyant Broadcasting is pleased to publish that especially the Jouvert Jump Up Parade was quite popular with over 800 viewers from around the world. Eventhough the majority of the viewers were located in The Netherlands and the USA, visitors to the www.flamboyantbroadcasting.com website hailed from Aruba, Antigua, Canada, Curacao, France, The United Kingdom, St. Kitts and Nevis. Of course, many locals were among the viewers on the website.

With the successful broadcasting of the three carnival parades via internet, the St. Maarten Carnival, as the island's largest cultural event, has proven in no uncertain terms that it is capable of attracting international viewers with website visitors from as near as French St. Martin and Anguilla and as far as Japan tuning in to view the carnival celebrations online.

Flamboyant Broadcasting wishes to thank the following sponsors whose contributions made the live broadcasts possible: Caribserve, Maynard Agencies, Abu Ghazi Schwarma, Distributor Agency, Archyon Integrated Solutions and StMaartenFlowers.com. Flamboyant Broadcasting also wishes to thank the crew that made the three days of streaming possible and also a word of thanks to the many contributors to the online shoutbox who kept the discussions lively with their opinions and feedback.

Flamboyant Broadcasting is an internet-based broadcasting company that can now boast the successful streaming of Carnival 2011 jump-ups and parades via the internet besides past events such as the 2010 election campaigns and the Elton Richardson's November 11th "St. Maarten in Retrospect" 2010 show. Besides streaming public events live via the internet, Flamboyant Broadcasting, with its modern internet broadcasting technology, will also be streaming Pay Per View events and also private events, such as weddings, online with password protected access for authorized viewers.

The company is presently assessing the feedback received internally in order to improve the quality of its service delivery for its next live streaming event and is currently working on uploading the recordings to the website. All three broadcasts will be permanently available on demand-basis on the website at www.FlamboyantBroadcasting.com. That way, those who missed the live streaming broadcasts can watch it at their convenience.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Honourable Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams will be one of the government officials to take part in the war memorial ceremony on Wednesday morning May 4.

His Excellency Governor Eugene Holiday and President of Parliament Hon. Gracita Arrindell along with the Acting Clerk of Parliament, the Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers and the Chief Police Commissioner, will partake in the ceremonies to mark the observation

The ceremony starts at 8.45am near the Cyrus Wathey Square and Capt. Hodge Wharf in Philipsburg and is expected to last approximately 30 minutes.

Upon the arrival of the Governor, there will be an opening invocation followed by the hoisting of flags.

This will be followed by the laying of wreaths and the observation of a moment of silence followed by a salute by the uniformed forces.

The St. Maarten Nature Foundation concluded its Marine Mammal Census project which lasted from February until May 2011. The goal of this project was to conduct a wide scale census of all Marine Mammals found in St. Maarten territorial waters, including within the Man of War Shoal Marine Park. "Many on St. Maarten might not be aware that there is a relatively significant Marine Mammal population in the waters surrounding St. Maarten, including numerous species of whales and dolphins," commented Tadzio Bervoets, Nature Foundation Marine Park Manager. Several questions were answered as a result of this study, including most numerous species, migration routes and dates and the feasibility of regulated wild whale and dolphin watching trips. The study relied heavily on sighting forms developed by the Nature Foundation and distributed to Dive Centers, Yacht Charter Companies and Marinas. "We would really like to thank all those who provided valuable data to us, and it is through their efforts that we were able to compile such a comprehensive list of sightings.

The most abundant Maine Mammal species was the Humpback Whale, with the total number recorded at 33 individuals, including calves. The second most abundant species was the Bottle Nose Dolphin, with total of 19 individuals; the third most abundant species was the Long Snouted Spinner Dolphin with nine individuals recorded within the territorial waters of St. Maarten

The Man of War Shoal Marine Park had a considerable number of recordings of both whale and dolphin species which adds considerably to the biological value of the Park. Acoustic recordings of Male Humpback Whales singing were also taken at various points in the waters surrounding St. Maarten, and the public is urged to listen to the local whale songs on www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfpsnuUNXDW.

Click here to view Marine Mammals Report

Philipsburg:--- The Minister of Justice Roland Duncan has waived the detention of a Jamaican youth who attempted to take his life in the police holding cell while awaiting deportation. Information provided to SMN News states that relatives of the young lad hired the services of Attorney at Law Denicio Brison who filed an injunction with the court of first instance on Thursday. Brison asked the court to grant him an early hearing based on the fact that the youth attempted to take his life while in police custody. However, shortly after filing the court case Brison was informed that the Minister of Justice has decided to release the young man to the custody of his relatives pending the arrival of his passport which will be issued by the Jamaican High Commissioner in Trinidad.
Brison said while the young man identified as Marlando Robinson is released he must report to the police once per week until his documents are finalized and he is deported from St. Maarten.
Robinson was born on St. Maarten to Jamaican parents. However, the young man never obtained a passport since his mother migrated to England some ten years ago leaving him behind with relatives.
Brison said the young man was in police custody for ten weeks which pushed him over the edge and he attempted to take his own life on his birthday which was Wednesday May 4th.
In the meantime, the police department in a press release said that in regard to the recent unfortunate incident at the Police Head Quarters in Philipsburg, which took place on Wednesday May 4th, where M. R. 16 years of age who was being held for immigration purposes attempted to commit suicide by hanging, the Police Department is making the following statement.

The police department confirmed that this incident took place and immediately after the police officers on duty were alerted by the other prisoners of what was going on in the cell where the victim was being held and they prevented the attempt. The paramedics were notified of the incident and they arrived shortly after to give the victim the necessary medical attention.

Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson said M. R. is no stranger to police because of his involvement in several criminal investigations. R. was arrested on October 30th 2010 as a suspect in an armed robbery. The arrest took place in an old shack on the "dump" where the suspect was residing alone. He was not prosecuted neither convicted for this robbery case and he was handed over to the Immigration Department due to the fact that he could not provide any sort of identification.

Several attempts by local immigration officials was made to have the family members of M. R. bring in proper identification, to no avail. The victim has been abandoned by his family because of his negative behaviour said the police spokesman.
However, the young man's mother Diana Robinson who is currently residing in England said she left her son with relatives, namely her mother. Ms. Robinson said she left St. Maarten to seek a better life in England and her intention is to send for her child. Ms. Robinson said her mother passed away and her son is taken care of by her other siblings and close friends. Ms. Robinson said her son's father resides and works on St. Maarten but the man she said refused to take up his parental responsibilities. "When I was living in St. Maarten I went to the court of guardianship and my son's father said he is not the father of my son even though my son resembles him. I am urging authorities on St. Maarten to take a DNA sample from my son and his father so that man would take up his responsibilities." Ms. Robinson further explained that while the police and immigration on St. Maarten is determined to send her son to Jamaica, the youth she said has no surviving relatives living in Jamaica. "Right now all my relatives are living on St. Maarten. My mother died so I don't know who they are sending my son to," Ms. Robinson said.
The distraught mother said that she supports her son and that he lacks nothing, but it seems as though he is following the wrong company like most youths today. "While I was in St. Maarten I could not provide for me and my son because I had no documents and immigration once held me so I could not continue working for people on the island and remain illegal. I left St. Maarten to seek a better life for me and my son."
Besides that the international treaty on the protection of the rights of the child clearly states in article three that a child cannot be held accountable for his or her parent's shortcomings. Marlando Robinson was held in police detention for ten weeks even though the immigration department knows that the young man has no travel document and deporting him seems impossible; a clear violation of the LTU which states that no one can be held in detention when there is no prospect of obtaining a travel document for the illegal immigrant.

The police spokesman said in January 2011 through the intervention of the Court of Guardianship a caretaker was located, where M. R. would be able to stay until his identification was properly established. He was then released in the hands of the care taker. In February 2011 the caretaker informed immigration officials that due to the uncontrollable and negative behaviour of M. R., he would not be able to stay any longer. The caretaker also stated that M. R. was involved in the excessive use of drugs and at one time pulled a knife on her and threatened to use it. The caretaker was forced to flee her home to avoid being injured. The immigration officials were obligated to again place M. R. in custody because he seemingly became a threat to public safety.

In the meantime, regular communication and consultation with the Jamaican High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago and the British Counsel have been taken place. They have also been informed of this recent incident. Immigration officials have also received confirmation from the Jamaican High Counsel that M. R. who, has a Jamaican passport, will receive travel documents to travel to Jamaica after all necessary costs have been covered. These documents will be delivered to the Immigration Department within the coming days. M. R. is not stateless. He is a Jamaican national. He left Sint Maarten as an infant to live in Jamaica with his grandmother and returned to Sint Maarten in 2006.

A psychiatric evaluation was conducted by Dr. Sachin Gondotra who declared that M. R. is not suffering of any mental defects.

In the meantime, M. R. will be released in the custody of a friend of the family who will allow him to stay until all arrangements have been made for him to travel to Jamaica where he will be in custody of children services.

Julisa Frans, President of the Soualiga Corporate Toastmasters club, announced yesterday that Leona Romeo Marlin attained another award as Advanced Communicator Gold. This award adds to the clubs accomplishment and will assist the club in obtaining it Distinguished President Club award.

Toastmasters International is a worldwide nonprofit organization that encourages and helps members become more experienced and comfortable in front of an audience. Participants learn and practice public speaking skills, such as delivering a prepared speech or demonstrating an impromptu performance.
Leona Romeo Marlin is the immediate past president of the club and is currently assisting the Division Governor in Education and training. She has one more requirement to fulfill to obtain the Distinguished Toastmaster Award.

Sucker Garden:--- Residents, bystanders, students of several schools including those of the Marie Genevieve De Weever school created an emotional scene on the Sucker Garden's main road where 12 year old Silvia Lynch was killed on Friday. Two sisters of the deceased girl, her twin brother and adopted mother wept uncontrollably when they saw her dead body lying on the road. One of the sisters said she was not far away from the scene of the accident and she heard a loud bang and screams and when she ran to the road she saw her sister lying dead on the road with her eyes bulging out of her head. Her mother Ruth Gumbs was screaming and wanted to see her daughter's body but bystanders at the scene restrained her from looking at the body, since the truck apparently ran over the young girl's head killing her instantly.
An eye witness identified as "Louis" said he was sitting in front of the Chinese Supermarket and he saw when the school bus stopped in the middle of the road to let off the students. The elderly man who was obviously angry said he also saw a huge truck with licenses plate Z-81 speeding down Naked Boy Hill and the driver was blowing his horn to get the bus out of the way. Louis said the young girl was almost on the other side of the road and the truck ran her over as if she was nothing. Louis called on authorities to jail the truck driver who was immediately removed from the scene by police and taken to the Philipsburg Police Station.
Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson said it is believed that the truck had faulty brakes and the driver was not able to bring the vehicle to a stop when he saw the school bus across the main road letting off students. Henson said the driver of the truck from the Dominican Republic told police that when he realized he lost brakes he had to swerve away from the bus and he did not see the girl. Henson said the traffic and forensic department were busy re-creating the scene of the accident before they removed the body from where it was at the side of the road covered with a white sheet.
Several bystanders expressed outrage saying that heavy vehicles are seen all over St. Maarten's roads speeding at all hours of the day. Some said authorities are not enforcing the law because these heavy vehicles are not supposed to be on the road during peak hours.
Students who were on the school bus were seen crying openly as they all witnessed the accident and death of their friend. Several teachers from the Marie Genevieve De Weever School were at the scene of the accident providing support to their students and relatives of the deceased girl.
Silvia Lynch (12) was in the sixth grade of the Marie Genevieve De Weever School, she was also a member of the Generation New Status STM band managed by Urmain Dormoy. Dormoy said Silvia was one of his best students was on the frontline of the band. "St Maarten just lost one of its brightest. Silvia was looking forward to going to Milton Peters College, she was a very mannerly child who would always strive for the best. Hearing this tragic news has left me in a state of shock," Dormoy said. Silvia was also a member of the Restorers of Broken Walls Congregation on the French side of the island.

Click here to view the photos of the scene of the accident.

Philipsburg:--- Relatives and friends of Malcolm Maidwell are mourning their loss as he passed away at age 73 on Saturday. Maidwell was a well known sports pioneer. Maidwell became a recognized sportsman on St. Maarten since early 1970. He was born in 1938 and came to the island in 1968 from Grenada where he met and married Liz Lyder after crossing the Atlantic in a 25 ft boat from South Africa. He made St. Maarten his home and started the first boat building yard in Cole Bay (the old Land Sea Air) with Peter Spronk. He was a runner; he founded the Road Runners in the 1980's, followed by the Triathlon Club, FITA in 1992, the Cycling Club, FICA in 1998, and the Kayaking Club and FIAC in 2002.
He was decorated by the Queen Beatrix in 2005 for his years of contribution to sports. After a ten year battle with cancer he passed away in the arms of his family at his home on Saturday afternoon.
He will be mostly remembered for the tireless motivation that he gave to beginner athletes.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The application process for Mobility Passes for the 2011 Hurricane Season that started April 15 will conclude on May 20. Potential applicants from the business sector and vital organizations have less than two weeks before the deadline to submit their request.

The pass allows the aforementioned groups to assess possible damage to their property after the passing of a hurricane.

For the 2011 season, the application form as well as information sheet can be downloaded from the Fire Department's website www.brandweersxm.net

under the link "Hurricane Information."

The hurricane pass application procedure is only intended for businesses and vital organizations with respect to their key personnel receiving an exemption to a curfew.

The Office of the Fire Department & Disaster Management is handling the application process for the passes on behalf of the Prime Minister.

The application form has to be completed and submitted to the secretary at the offices of the Fire Department & Disaster Management, located at Jackal Road 5, Cay Hill by May 20, 2011, with all necessary documents attached.

L'Union des Parents d'Eleves de St. Martin informes all parents that they are available on:

the first Wednesday of each month
at office of the District Council No. 6
in Marigot which is at the School old Evelina Halley

Parents can come discuss and get information about their children school life - ask questions - share a concern, get involved in their children school.
Contacts: 0690 88 25 14     E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: http://upesm.webnode.fr/

Philipsburg:--- The St. Maarten Pride Foundation said in a press release that in recognition of the upcoming World Environment Day on June 5th and World Ocean Day on June 8th the foundation will be hosting eco-documentaries in order to further bring across awareness and education on the state of the worlds environment.
The United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and encourages political attention and action. The local environmental organization St.Maarten PRIDE Foundation believes that apart from cleanup campaigns, youngsters should learn about their local environment through the eyes of what others are doing in other parts of the world, on the global level.
With this in mind, the Pride Foundation is inviting all primary schools from grade 5. and 6 and high schools to sign up for this educational activity.

On June 7th, the Movie "TAKING ROOT" (Theme this year is the "Forest").

This documentary tells the struggles of Nobel Peace Prize Winner Wangari Maathai of Kenya. Her simple act of planting trees grew into Kenya's Green Belt Movement. Maathai mobilized women to rally against deforestation, poverty, embedded economic interests and government corruption. She became a National political force that helped to bring down Kenya's 24 year dictatorship.

On June 8th, World Ocean Day, the Movie "SHARKWATER" (theme this year "YOUTH" next wave of change).

This eco-thriller is a true life adventure of biologist and film maker Rob Stewart who risks his life to stop the man slaughter of sharks. The eco-film is packed with action, gun boat chases, pirate boat ramming. The film showcases why sharks play an integral role in our marine environment and should not be slaughtered.

Both films start at 10am at the Philipsburg Cultural Center.

Schools must register to attend by calling Jadira Veen on 5200650 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., space is limited. The movies are free of charge. Schools may attend both days or choose one of the days.

We hope to see many students and teachers take this opportunity to attend the World Environment Day and World Ocean Day educational film events.

Seventeen year old Jeanne L. Royer of the Commonwealth of Dominica walked away with the first prize in CANTO's 5th Annual WTISD Essay Competition. Jeanne, who attends the Dominica State College, placed first out of many top notch essays from students in the Caribbean and the USA.

When asked about her placement, an ever jubilant, Jeanne exclaimed that she was elated and surprised. She entered the competition after being convinced by her mother and though she worked arduously on the essay, she did not expect to emerge as the winner.

The World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) spearheaded by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is observed on the 17th of May annually. To commemorate this occasion the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organizations (CANTO) based in Trinidad & Tobago held the 5th annual essay competition dubbed:- CANTO's 5th Annual World Telecommunication Information and Society Day- Essay Competition under the ITU theme: "Better life in rural communities with ICTs". Students from 15 to 17 years were invited to write a 600 word essay on the impact of ICTs in rural communities in their respective country/ island.

The competition was staged among participating member countries of CANTO. Entries were judged by a panel of experts in the field of telecommunications and education on creativity, organization, mechanics and educational/technical merit. The top four (4) essays were selected and will be awarded the following prizes:

• 1st Place: Trip for 2 plus hotel accommodation to CANTO's 27th Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition
                    in Suriname from the 10th – 13th July, 2011; a Netbook computer plus US$1,000
• 2nd Place: A Netbook computer plus US$500
• 3rd Place: A Smartphone plus US$250
• 4th Place: A Smartphone

The winners were as follows:

First Place: Jeanne L. Royer of Dominica State College, Dominica

Second Place: Christopher A. Nelson of St. Dominic High School, St. Maarten

Third Place: Dhanishka Pohuja , Learning Unlimited Prepatory School, St. Maarten

Fourth Place: Asabi Rawlins, Naparima Girls High School, Trinidad & Tobago.

The essays were of a very high standard and CANTO believes that the entrants got a firm grasp of the role and impact of ICT on rural communities and life in general.

CANTO would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the entrants from Antigua, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent & the Grenadines , St. Maarten, Trinidad & Tobago and the USA. We would also like to thank all the members for promoting the campaign in their respective countries and last but not least a hearty thank you to the following judges for their time and patience: Amanda Charles (ACS), Vydia Bhagan (TSTT), Julian Wilkins (Digicel-Trinidad ), Joyce Zijler (Ministry of Education-Suriname).

The Board of Directors and CANTO Secretariat extend a happy World Telecommunication and Information Society Day to its membership and urge all to make a better life in rural communities with ICTs.

As a thank you for the SHTA's involvement in the development of the Millennium Development Goals for Country St. Maarten, SHTA's President Emil Lee was presented with a copy of the report by UNDP liaison office for St. Maarten and Curacao, Okama Brook and Project coordinator Loekie Morales. Upon receiving the report, Lee mentioned that the SHTA has always taken a holistic approach to the development of this Country and referred to the SHTA's Vision for St. Maarten which focuses on improving the quality of life on St. Maarten. Furthermore, he emphasized the significance of improving tourism, our main economic pillar, in order to achieve some of the goals outlined in the report, such as poverty alleviation. "Issues such as seasonal employment and shortened work weeks/ hours are all consequences of a much larger problem: an unstable tourism industry. Once the industry is stabilized, it will have a positive effect on the economy and quality of life." Lee said.

Great Bay:--- Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams was presented with the results of the Integrated Neighbourhood Development Program pilot assessment, which was conducted in St Peters in March 2011.
The assessment focused on the social needs of the St. Peters community and consisted of interviews with residents as well as representatives of various organizations and schools in the St. Peters area.
The outcome of the needs will be addressed with the soon to be established Community Help Desk. Another 9 assessments will follow within the very near future in the various communities on the island.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The Civil Registry Department will be publishing a list of names of individuals in the Government Information Page (GIP) on Friday, May 20 as well as on Monday and Tuesday, May 23 and 24.

These persons are asked to visit the Civil Registry Department at Pond Island by Friday, May 27, 2011 to verify their residential address.

The persons on the list must bring along with them a GEBE utility bill in their name with their correct address and their Sint Maarten Identification Card.

Those requiring additional information can contact the department at 542-2457.

Philipsburg:--- The appointment of the deputy clerk of Parliament which was scheduled to take place on Friday had to be postponed until another meeting of parliament is scheduled. It appears as though some members of the United Peoples Party Faction are not in favor of the appointment unless more clarity is given by the presidium members who chose to appoint Atwell Terrence Rey to the position.
On Friday morning, it was obvious that the members of the UP faction were not satisfied with what was presented to them during the week when they caucused. After the faction leaders meeting on Friday morning, UP faction leader Romain LaVille called in his members into a private meeting to explain to them what he learnt during the faction leaders meeting, and to update them on the concerns of the National Alliance faction. While that meeting went pass the time that parliament was supposed to convene chairlady of parliament Gracita Arrindell sent two messages to her faction members telling them that she was ready to start and they needed to sign in to give her a quorum, but when the message was sent the second time Member of Parliament Jules James chased the messenger out of the room telling him he should not disturb them again.
Sometime, after Arrindell went to the meeting room to call her members but instead of coming out they invited her to sit in the meeting that they were holding. By the time the members of the United Peoples Party Faction was ready to move forward with the people's business the time for convening the meeting based on the rules of order had already elapsed forcing the chairlady to postpone the meeting until another time. That meeting will now be called on Monday at 10am. Members of the United Peoples Party met on Friday afternoon where they continued the discussions on the appointment of Atwell Terrence Rey. Sources close to the party said they are considering appointing Rey as a policy advisor and financing administrator instead of deputy clerk.
After that, Leader of the National Alliance William Marlin told reporters that it has been years now that he has been voicing his opinion on how the chair should deal with the opening and closing of meetings when there is no quorum. Marlin said that while his faction did not sign in for the meeting they were looking at the coalition since all their members were there and they did not sign in.
Marlin further explained that the National Alliance faction will not be supporting the appointment of Atwell Terrence Rey since Rey was the campaign manager for the chairlady of parliament Gracita Arrindell. Marlin said when Arrindell was appointed to the chair she allowed Rey to work in the position he is now getting and according to him, the position was promised to Rey and parliament is not following good governance.
Marlin said he raised several questions during their faction leaders meeting because the advice they received stated the presidium interviewed one candidate for the position which is the proposed candidate. Besides that Marlin said parliament did not attach the person's curriculum vitae (CV) neither have they received any type of information about the proposed candidate.
Marlin said the presidium did not say what salary scale the candidate would receive neither did they say how long he would be hired for. Marlin said they were advised that if they needed more information on the candidate then they need to check at the General Secretary's office for confidential perusing. Marlin said he perused the candidate information only to find out that the candidate does not have a college degree neither does he have the legal background as is required by the advertisement published by parliament.
Marlin said the process has been tainted and it is not in keeping with good governance, and it is not transparent since the person in question was the campaign manager of the chairlady and the candidate (Rey) made several public statements stating that he will be appointed to the position. Marlin said based on that it is clear that a political promise was made to this person. Marlin reminded that the same person sat in the past among the secretarial staff and he was the one who distributed the ballot papers when parliament was voting for Franklin Hanze as their General Secretary. Marlin said he asked questions in the past as to who hired Atwell Terrence Rey. He said during the faction meeting on Friday morning he was told the person was volunteering at the time. He asked how someone could volunteer for a position he applied for or one that he was promised. He said Cassandra Janssen trained for more than a year and she (a civil servant) was not given the opportunity to work neither was she appointed.
Marlin said there are several persons that applied for positions in the secretariat, but subsequently withdrew their application. Three of which are lawyers that are currently practicing on St. Maarten.
Marlin said Atwell Terrence Rey has no legal background and parliament is telling them that when he is appointed, parliament will provide the legal training which will meet the requirements. That alone he said makes the process improper.
Marlin said his faction believes that the application process should be reopened and if they are not able to find candidates that have the educational requirements based on the advertisement then they would have to lower the requirements which would give all the candidates who are interested in applying a fair chance to apply.
Marlin also confirmed that the three lawyers who applied in the beginning for the position claimed to have withdrawn their application.

Major League Soccer Vancouver Whitecaps striker Atiba Harris is out indefinitely after successful knee surgery team management has confirmed.

The Kittitian international and former SKNFA League St.Peters FC striker was injured during a practice in Mid April tearing cartilage in his right knee.

Harris underwent surgery to repair his right meniscus. The operation was performed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Bob McCormack

Harris was claimed from FC Dallas in the second round of the 2010 MLS expansion draft. He had two goals and three assists in five games before his injury.

HIs prolonged absence increases the chances that understudy strikers Omar Salgado and Long Tan will get increased playing time in the very near future
Vancouver also signed 33-year-old midfielder Peter Vagenas. The American spent the past two seasons with Seattle and has played 10 seasons in the MLS.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Youth Health Care (YHC) as well as the Baby Wellness Clinic of the Collective Preventive Service (CPS) of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, will be closed from Wednesday, May 25 through Friday, May 27.

Other services such as the mosquito eradication program and the dental program will continue on those days as normal.

Staff from YHC and Baby Wellness Clinic will be busy with training sessions in connection with Vaccination Week of the Americas during those three days.

CPS apologizes for any inconvenience that the aforementioned will cause.

Philipsburg:--- Honourable President of Parliament Drs. Gracita Arrindell would like to announce that the permanent committee for Kingdom Affairs and Inter-parliamentary Relations is set for Monday, May 23.

The meeting will take place in the General Assembly Chamber in the House of Parliament at 2.00pm and is open to the public.

The agenda for the meeting is to discuss the concept program for the parliamentary consultation that will take place in The Hague from June 14 through the 17 in the Netherlands.

Committee Members of Parliament (MP) for the Kingdom Affairs and Inter-parliamentary Relations permanent committee are Hon. MP William Marlin, Hon. MP Roy Marlin, Hon. MP Dr. Ruth Douglass and Hon. MP Patrick Illidge. All members of parliament have been invited to attend the meeting.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The Civil Registry Department in connection with an ongoing updating of its registry, is informing individuals who have not yet visited the department on Pond Island, that there is no need for alarm as the June 1 deadline approaches.

The department continues to undergo its updating of the basic administration of which part entails the completing of profiles of individuals listed on the government's official website www.sintmaartengov.org

under the tab "What's New."

The Civil Registry Department is asking persons residing on the island but born on the islands of Aruba and Curacao and whose name is listed on the Government Website under "What's New," to provide the aforementioned department with a copy of their birth certificate so that their personal information can be completed. The department will also contact the civil registries of Aruba and Curacao to retrieve the information as an alternative option in order for country Sint Maarten to have an updated basic administration.

The Civil Registry Department has already received the information related to individuals from Bonaire and Saba.

Parents and/or guardians are also asked to check the listing on the website of minors and to present the original birth certificate with the required legalization to the Civil Registry Department. All persons are kindly asked to provide the information by June 1st, 2011.

Philipsburg:--- Several police patrols and detectives were directed to Sucker Garden road in the vicinity of "El Capitan" at approximately 03:15pm on Thursday May 19th after the police Central Dispatch received several phone calls informing them of two armed men dressed completely in black clothing standing across the road in the bushes opposite that establishment.
A detective patrolling the immediate area spotted the suspects in the bushes and immediately requested  back-up, reported Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson. Henson said the detective approached the suspects at which time the suspects took off running towards The Keys. A foot chase started in order to apprehend the suspects. During the chase, a warning shot was fired by detectives forcing one suspect to stop fleeing. This suspect that was apprehended has been identified as A.J. from Curacao. The second suspect continued fleeing and succeeded in his escape through the bushes. The surrounding area was searched for the second suspect. However, he has not yet been arrested in connection with this case. The detectives are conducting an investigation into this case.

The Frock & Other Poems by Laurelle “Yaya” Richards celebrates her memory, her words, her thoughts, the sentiments and feelings that drove her actions in favor of a more vibrant cultural expression, and a recognition of what it means to be from and for St. Martin.

When the book was launched in Marigot in February 2011, as the highlight of the UNESCO International Mother Language Day, it served as the best way to honor the late Yaya, a contemporary St. Martin woman of significance and an activist in her own right.

Over the last few days, re-reading The Frock & Other Poems and attempting to refresh a brief critique of the book, stirred aspects of my whole being, my past, my present, my future, my foundation as well as the identity I am still busy building, my internal construction, my nature.

I refer to Laurelle Richards as an activist because I believe that activism is needed in fields other than politics. Culture, the promotion of culture, the rightful definition of culture and its proper positioning and/or repositioning within our reality calls for activism. I called Yaya an activist because I remember her as the kind of person to: 1. SPEAK UP and address the issues regarding our culture; 2. EDUCATE herself before she took on the world; 3. STAND UP for what she believed in; 4. BUILD a solid network, a coalition, a movement; 5. PUBLICIZE her message to reach a broader audience  (And her book is a concrete example of her message that lives on even after she passed away on May 27, 2010).

Consider her words in the opening poem of the collection:

Wake up this morning

Praising God and stretching to the new day

Under the green shadow of Paradise hill

The cool breeze of Kawtah…

In her words, there’s a close connection between geography and cultural production. Immediately, right from the start of the book, voice is given to the volatile geography of St. Martin. Whatever the writer is involved in does not prevent her mind from wandering across her land. As she does this, she uses models of her own to express the realities of St. Martin as if to say that European literary models could not have allowed her to express herself.

Poetry and nature, expressed in most of her poems in the mother tongue, are implicitly linked in the idea of a kind of garden of Eden, a safe place, a place of hope. For her, this fusion, this blend with the land is also inseparable from a natural association with the “home” and the sense that the domestic space provides an obvious and uncomplicated site of belonging – a place which should, and can, be protected from outsiders, from colonial intrusion. Yaya’s unobtrusive subtlety in this regard may appear surprising or even subversive to some.

It can be said that Laurelle Richards writes exclusively in “S’Maatin English,” the everyday or domestic language of most St. Martiners, what Brathwaite has termed “nation language” (others have termed it mother tongue, mother language, or nation tongue, all implying that language and identity are linked).

The folkloric work of Yaya, for at least 10 years, has been highly influential in establishing S’Maatin English language and culture as an alternative, as an alter/native, indigenous, cultural resource instead of the appealing exclusively for acceptance and sole legitimization from European or “Yanking” cultural forms. Yaya, folklorist, spoken word artist (to use a current term), presents in The Frock & Other Poems the choice of employing S’Maatin English as a deliberate and self-conscious rejection of inherited poetic models. She creates her own, she draws from her own!

Though it is just one slim volume, I feel strongly that Richards’s work signals a shift away from purely innocent or passive landscape and nature, a shift from a constant focus on outside and the outsider to a consistent focus on St. Martin people and the privileging of St. Martin language as a powerful source of agency and national identity.

What I am foregrounding here is the importance of literary history manifesting itself before our eyes; what it excludes and includes at specific cultural moments and how this might be gendered; and what kind of writing it might, in turn, engender.

Yaya’s archive also encapsulates the strong, black Caribbean woman. In “Precious Black Woman in Patchwork,” which is actually a modern set of fragments for the poet from Freetown, this monumental woman is perceived as rooted in the soil and having a robust physicality. Her vibrant speech provides amplitude with which to challenge European cultural norms that are elemental to the crude language that denies this Caribbean woman her womanhood; such definitive norms that even causes her own men and women folk to “dis” her very own femininity (hair, skin, facial features).

When reading this posthumous work, it is essential to “listen” to the author’s tone of voice at times. The diverse range of representations suggests that Richards’ is able to negotiate a variety of poetic paths through the somewhat contested terrain of Sweet St. Martin Land. In doing so, she perhaps negotiates different poetic models but for sure, she challenges and transgresses them deliberately.

For example, I love how Yaya presents tilling soil, picking salt, or ponging pan as a way of reading or interpreting history. As she puts herself in the place of the one she describes and carries on her activity she shares with the reader what she finds buried in the village soil, in the salt pond, in the steel pan. Here nature is not presented as innocent or outside of history, nature becomes always already imbricated in history; earth, our land, becomes an archive, which, with patience and humility, can be read.

To endorse Richards’ work and the St. Martin language, is to recognize her description of the home or the yard, our home, our yard, as separate and distinct from public spaces and institutions in which politics, mediated through “standard” languages, take place. She dares to present these private spaces as representative of areas uncontaminated by an unmediated outside influence, by colonial culture. In this way, Yaya’s work is essentially representative of mother tongue and mother culture at work, and not in any simple way, it is representative of St. Martin, the whole island, as an industrious and creative motherland or “mothernation” (as Sekou termed it in the early 1990s).

In closing, the poems of Laurelle “Yaya” Richards serve us now, to assess: Our language is an archives collection, a library and a wealth of knowledge; Anyone who denies us access to information in our mother tongue actually denies us a fundamental right.

It is a serious error to think that a nation, a territory or a country, can reach its full productive potential if the people of that nation are forced to work, in their own land, in a language that is foreign to them. Multilingualism is a political obligation essential when attempting to democratize the society; it gives each one an opportunity to lend his/her contribution. Language is a source of creativity, spontaneity and self-esteem; it is an element of our identity.

Someone said: “To have English as mother tongue, is to dominate the world.” In the title poem “The Frock,” Laurelle Richards puts it this way: “St. Martin culture opens us to the world and opens the world in us.”

We language, therefore, provides us with a fair chance of playing a more significant role. Let’s embrace our reality and prove to Yaya and to all those who went before that we will preserve and generate dynamically what’s ours and thereby make our contribution to the redefinition of our villages, our nation, our island, and our region, the Caribbean!

The Frock & Other Poems was published by House of Nehesi Publishers and is available at Arnia’s, Van Dorp, and Roland Richardson Gallery.

Philipsburg:--- St. Maarten will join the rest of the world on Sunday in marking the observance of the 28th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial. Most other countries held their observance ceremony last week, however the finishing touches were being placed on a very special evening for the St. Maarten population.
"The theme this year is Touching Lives and so we wanted to really ensure that our observance will do just that, touch people in a manner that helps them to understand that those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS remain a part of our community and there is no need to shun them. We are also seeking to yet again give comfort to those whose lives were touched by someone who lived with HIV and AIDS and has now left for eternal rest," HIV/AIDS Programme Manager Suzette Moses Burton said.
"To some touching lives seems a tall order, but we can do it every day in simple ways like a smile when we think no one is looking, an e-mail that helps to brighten a person's day, the wearing of a red ribbon or sharing in a remembrance like the one we have planned for Sunday," Moses Burton added.
This year's memorial will, like in previous years, combine speeches with cultural performances. The speeches will give community leaders and people directly involved in the work of HIV and AIDS a chance to tell the community where we are in the fight against what is still a global pandemic. The cultural performances are meant to show in a creative way that life continues in spite of HIV and AIDS, and should be celebrated.
This year's memorial will be held at the Philipsburg Community and Cultural Center and begins promptly at 6:30 p.m. The hosting of this grassroots event is a partnership between the HIV/AIDS Program Management Team, the St. Maarten AIDS Foundation and H.O.P.E., the support group of persons living with HIV/AIDS. People who cannot attend are urged to take a moment to light a candle in their home.

Philipsburg:--- On Wednesday May 25, 2011, His Excellency Eugene B. Holiday and Mrs. Holiday paid a working visit to Oranjeschool. This working visit is part of the Governor's program to obtain a firsthand view of developments in the community and forms part of his objective to promote Education and Culture. Previous working visits included amongst others the St. Joseph School in 2010, Milton Peters College in January and the Museum and the Library in April.

At Oranjeschool, the Governor and Mrs. Holiday were welcomed by School Principal Mrs. Kay L. Philips and the pupils with the singing of the National Anthem. Following a meeting with the management of the school, principal Mrs. Philips, acting principle Ms. Jacobs and adjunct-director of Public Schools Mrs. Glenderlin Davis on developments within the school, the Governor and Mrs. Holiday were given a guided tour of the school. The tour included a short demonstration about the schools' Information and Computer Technology Center and an exchange with one of the classes.

Given the annual Book Week and to emphasize the importance of reading the Mrs. Holiday read to a grade 4 from a children's book entitled "Mina Marina" of Loeki Morales. At the end of the visit the Governor presented the book to Ms. Tamara Richardson, teacher of grade 4 as a donation to the school.

The Governor and Mrs. Holiday amidst the many challenges facing the school were encouraged by the enthusiasm of the pupils and particularly impressed with the innovative work being developed in the Information and Computer Technology Center of the School. The governor therefore encouraged the management and teachers of the Oranjeschool to continue with its 160 year tradition of educating the children of St. Maarten and urges the community at large to support the Oranjeschool and other educational institutions on the island in this critical tasks.

On May 26th, the St. Maarten Marine Trades Association had its annual general meeting and elections. The new board consists of:

President: Brian Deher (IGY)
Vice President: Kass Johnson (Dockside Management)
Treasurer: Lorraine Talmi (The Wired Sailor)
Secretary: Valeska Luckert (Palapa Marina)
Patrick Barrett (Yacht Club Port De Plaissance)
Michael Ferrier (NAPA)
Robbie Ferron (Budget Marine)
Mark Mingo (Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority)
Garth Steyn (Aqua Mania)

Simpson Bay:--- An independent third-party report conducted by the unbiased St. Maarten Timeshare Association (SMTA) in the aftermath of the foreclosure of Pelican Resort Club cites the Board of the Tenants Association Pelican Resort Club's (TAPRC) mismanagement as a major factor along with adverse economic conditions.  The independent analysis states: "there is nothing to show that Royal Resorts acted in anything other than good faith."

The analysis confirms that "the resort was owned from 1996-January 2011 by the Pelican Resort Club, the Owner Company N.V. and managed by the Pelican Resort Club, the Management Company N.V., both of which were wholly owned by the TAPRC, comprised of all timeshare owners who were then in good standing."

The SMTA report goes on to reiterate that the: "TAPRC was more than just an influence. It was the actual shareholder and through instructions to Royal Resorts which are substantiated by extensive documentation, Pelican Resort Club groups under its direct ownership made independent and unilateral decisions regarding, budgets, payment and non-payment of loans, and assessing of maintenance fees."

The report traces the history of Pelican Resort Club back to its first bankruptcy in 1996 when the TAPRC's "acquisition of the property was mostly financed by the bankruptcy trustee of the Vlietman phase, with the resort being valued at $8,500,000 based upon unsold timeshare intervals and a starting debt to the trustee of $6,500,000 to be paid over 18 months.  The trustee later accepted an extension of the time to pay off the purchase as the TAPRC did not have the funds.

"From November of 1996 through July of 1997 the resort had major problems as a succession of General Managers produced nothing but failed attempts.  On July 31, 1997, the TAPRC hired the Royal Resorts Group, one of the world’s leading developers and management companies with a stellar reputation as a co-managing director of the management company and to provide management services to straighten out what was a fiscal and operational mess.  During that time estimated losses were 1.5 million dollars," the report noted.

The report details how "over the next several years there were continuing shortfalls in operating money including sorely needed repairs and replacements. Due to the shortage of funds, Royal Resorts was not paid its fee and the trustee was only partly paid."

SMTA explains that "Royal Resorts' advice on maintenance fees were not followed by the TAPRC Board," and how the Board "did not make efforts to collect outstanding fees that would normally be done resulting in large write-offs of outstanding maintenance fees and assessments."

The analysis points to a positive chapter in the Pelican Resort Club's history when "4,004 unsold inventory were sold by the owning company to Friendly Island Properties (FIP) in 2000 and 2001, an affiliate of Royal Resorts, and over the next two years all these intervals were sold or transferred to individuals – almost exclusively to Royal Resorts’ membership base in Cancun, Mexico.  This resulted in the first year of no operational losses in 2001 and again in 2002."

Unfortunately, as detailed in the SMTA report, "the resort’s timeshare owners were still reluctant to increase maintenance fees to a sufficient point to bring the resort up to proper standards out of fear that each raise in fees would result in people abandoning their timeshares.  Ironically, it can also be argued that keeping the fees too low also resulted in deterioration of the product that resulted in people abandoning their timeshares.

"By the end of 2004, the TAPRC group finally paid off the original bankruptcy trustee for the purchase of the property – again through borrowing.  The system deciding who to owe money to, continued to be a drag on operations, but interestingly Royal Resorts group consistently forgave all or most of any interest owed on accumulated debts to it over the years," said the report.

"Consistent operational losses [continued] to weaken the capital of the property resulting in a complex web of planned and budgeted borrowing via the PCIP and deferred payments to various parties."

The study explains how profits from the Pelican Marina Residences project were intended to be used to retire all debts and for much needed renovations.  "This plan, conceived by the TAPRC Board and Royal Resorts group in 1999 should have worked, but events over the next eight years would conspire to doom these efforts.  The future events to unfold were complex and few of them could have been foreseen," according to SMTA.

The report provides background into the investment climate in the Caribbean during the time the Pelican Marina Residences project was conceived.  "Timeshare construction loans and the required receivable financing loans were not easy to obtain in the Caribbean. None of the local banks had an interest in this and there were very few banks and lending institutions that would even consider a Caribbean project and all of these were requiring personal financial commitments of the developers; despite its internal discussion, something not available to TAPRC and affiliates.  Royal Resorts was able to arrange these loans through personal connections with Quantum Investment Trust (QIT) without the personal guarantees but with full collateralization of the immovable assets of the resort, not just the new project.

The analysis clarifies that Royal Resorts' "personal connections were fully disclosed" and that, "as part of a standard clause in these types of loans, a contract with an experienced and successful sales and marketing company was required"

The report shows that "since its inception in 1996, the TAPRC was way undercapitalized for the project and efforts to improve this were hampered by a lack of strong commitment until the plan to develop their way out of their problem [via the Pelican Marina Residences] emerged.  This involved some risk taking as any developer must do, whether it is an individual, a group or in this case 12,000 timeshare owners.  With no capital cushion, the risk in this case resulted in a loss to the developer.  This is a normal occurrence in business, which cannot be regulated by law.

"The current board of the TAPRC is attempting to show that this was some sinister plot on the part of Royal Resorts and QIT to 'steal' their property," however, the analysis shows that, "had TAPRC properly funded itself from the beginning, there would have been no need to assume additional risk. The debt service it had from the beginning, as even countries such as our own Netherlands Antilles discovered, was resulting in financial failure."

The SMTA confirms that "beyond unsubstantiated allegations, there is nothing to show that Royal Resorts acted in anything other than good faith in attempting to shepherd the timeshare owners through their trials. The number of supportive deals and forgiving of debt and timely payment on the part of Royal Resorts is well substantiated."

The report notes that "sales [for the Pelican Marina Residences] began in 2006 pre-construction and through 2008 performed reasonably well," but goes on to explain that "serious questions on the part of the outside financial auditing company, Ernst and Young, were raised in 2008 on the sustainability of the operation as balances on equity and income were all in negative territory.

The study also notes that the Pelican Marina Residences project "faced serious headwinds due to various groups of Pelican timeshare owners that were for a long time publicly engaged in bashing Royal Resorts."

SMTA explains that these owners "improperly sought access to all TAPRC timeshare owner contacts, blaming all financial problems on Royal Resorts," concluding that "without this headwind, the superior quality of the Pelican Marina Residences project could have produced far better results."

In its findings, SMTA recognized the impact of the economy on timeshare sales, which along with the destructive influence of current TAPRC Board Chairman Jeffery Borowick and his followers, played a significant role in diminishing sales for the Residences.

"In 2009, at Pelican as well as throughout St. Maarten and the rest of the western world, timeshare industry sales literally fell through the floor as the 'Great Recession' took deep roots in discretionary spending of the upper-middle and middle classes.  The resort and QIT renegotiated the terms of the financing at this time in an effort to forestall foreclosure on default.  Interest rates were reduced and the loans were fully restored to good standing.

"In summary of this period, one can look at what was considered a reasonable plan to resolve financial issues that began in 1996, whereby initial undercapitalization and a non-stop cycle of debt and consequent interest payments constantly threatened the resort as a going concern.  Initial shortfalls in funding at the time of the 1996 takeover by TAPRC and failure to raise needed capital early on through maintenance fees or special assessments resulted in debt service that prevented the TAPRC from having a sustainable business plan," according to the independent analysis.

Contrary to the claims of the current TAPRC Board, which argued that Royal Resorts' commission fees on sales for Pelican Marina Residences was excessive, the third-party SMTA report explains that "even the most successful properties were experiencing combined costs of sales and marketing in excess of 50% and in some cases as high as 65%, all well over the 45% commission rate" and further suggests that, had Royal Resorts and TAPRC "negotiated a raise in sales commissions it might have proved possible to make the project viable."

It also noted that "persons who are now TAPRC Board members have long stated that Royal Resorts' 10% management fee has been way too high and is the cause of the resort’s financial difficulties," but disputes this premise as "research has shown that the average management fee for the timeshare industry is between 8-12% placing Royal Resorts' fee completely in line with standard business practice."

In regards to the unavoidable foreclosure of Pelican Resort Club brought on by the poor financial decisions and lack of foresight on the part of the TAPRC Board, SMTA confirms that "QIT was extremely cooperative in debt restructuring through 2009."

SMTA explains that the "situation changed as the TAPRC board in place from the beginning of [2010] increasingly displayed well-documented hostility towards both the lender and the Royal Resorts group, and had initiated overt actions to have the Royal Resorts group removed from its managing and sales roles.  TAPRC further fanned the flames in June of 2010 when it decided to stop paying the loan servicing and demanded another renegotiation of the loan terms.  This might have worked in other situations, but faced with what was now seen as a hostile resort owner (borrower) deeply in debt and arrears that was further threatening the stability of the entire project by attempting to remove Royal Resorts with no clear plan or prior management and sales credibility, QIT acted within its legal rights in defense of its outstanding loans of over $20,000,000 and subsequently foreclosed on the entire property.

Citing additional evidence of the 2010 Board's mismanagement, the report points to "the decision by the TAPRC to not allow any maintenance fee increases for 2010 and 2011.  This was done despite Royal Resorts’ recommendation for increases of 3% per year, in line or below what other St. Maarten timeshare properties were finding necessary due to rising resort operations costs, which were in excess of general inflation rates.  In 2010 this action led to the closing of units, the reduction in work-week from 5 days to 4 for union and non-union employees, and reduction in needed repairs and replacements."

The report summarizes "TAPRC’s vision was to delay payments to government, vendors and the lender even further for 2011; a short-term solution with no exit strategy."

The analysis emphasized that, "as a result of [the TAPRC Board's] consistent refusal to increase maintenance fees and aggressive actions against their lender QIT, the foreclosure took place, and undermining via a strong internet campaign among owners the credibility of the project all helped to reduce sales of the Pelican Marina Residences in addition to influence of the recession."

 

It also detailed how the "auction was unsuccessfully challenged in court prior to the auction date by TAPRC" and that "the judge then ruled that TAPRC could then in no way supply reasonable proof that it would be in a position to cure its default within any reasonable time.  The financial history and all the correspondence were evaluated by the court at that time as a basis for the decision. This independent analysis of the documentation confirms this opinion."

Reflecting on the current state of affairs at the Simpson Bay Resort & Marina, the SMTA acknowledges "a significant shortfall in the maintenance revenue collected and available for operation of the resort in 2011" and explains that this is a direct result of "financial decisions made by the previous owner."

The analysis also points out that "pending court cases initiated by the TAPRC can have major consequences," explaining that the "TAPRC is trying to have the auction annulled, which if successful could result in another closure due to lack of funds to operate by the TAPRC.

"Another potential area of problem is that TAPRC was the owner of the resort furnishings, these not being part of the loan collateral, and recently transferred the ownership of the furnishings to a foundation.  TAPRC has demanded the sum of $5,000,000 for the furnishings from Simpson Bay Resort & Marina, [which] has responded with an offer to forgive the monies used by TAPRC group for 2010 expenses taken from the 2011 maintenance fees collected starting in October of 2010.  As the resort was operating in arrears this amount is quite substantial, so the Simpson Bay Resort offer seems to be quite fair.

The report comes to the same conclusion as Royal Resorts and other concerned parties, suggesting "it seems likely at this time that TAPRC will maintain a series of court cases for as long as they can afford to pay legal fees."

Simpson Bay Resort & Marina hopes that this unbiased, independent report will shed some light on the history of the resort's difficulties and the TAPRC's significant contribution to the decline and foreclosure of Pelican Resort Club.

It feels that most TAPRC members are level-minded individuals who simply wish to enjoy the resort and hopes this third-party analysis will motivate them to become more involved in TAPRC elections in order to prevent further damages to their timeshare investments.  It would like to remind members that the reckless actions of Borowick and the rogue group currently in control of the TAPRC were made possible by the widespread voter apathy which allowed them into power in the first place, despite overwhelming evidence of their shortsightedness and destructive influence.

In the meantime, Simpson Bay Resort & Marina remains committed to working with the current TAPRC Board – despite its aggressive and unreasonable stance – toward a lasting resolution that will allow timeshare members to enjoy their vacations without further unnecessary drama or the burden of continuing litigation costs.

Starting Friday May the 6th on Channel 15 of St Maarten Cable TV every friday afternoon at 6 pm episodes of the first seminar of the Sint Maarten Seniors and Pensioners Association will be aired.

Every Saturday evening at 8 pm St Maarten Cable tV on Channel 15 will repeat Friday's broadcast of the episode for the viewers who have missed the program on Friday or for those who want to see these very informative and educative seminar episodes once more.

This week you will see the openingspeeches of SMSPA-president Mrs Patricia Flanders, Prime Minister Mrs Sarah Wescot-Williams, and SMSPA-secretary of education Mr Carl Coonner.

This first episode also includes the presentation of one of the main speakers at the seminar Mr Neil Henderson. The topic of his presentation the first day of the seminar was: "Private Sector Income Products for Seniors."

The St Maarten Cable TV also joined the sponsors of the "WE VALUE OUR SENIORS" - campaign initiated by the SMSPA and the sponsors of the first seminar of the Senior Citizen.

By sponsoring the airing of this seminar of the SMSPA all seniors, pensioners and their family members can get the information, opinons expressed in the presentations and discussions.

The first seminar of the SMSPA dealt the first day with the income situation of the seniors in Sint Maarten and on the second day with the health care situation for seniors and their familymembers in our country in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Each and everyone is invited by the SMSPA and their sponsors to watch these episodes as of this week.

St. Maarten Cable TV, in keeping with its pledge made in 2010, will be covering the monetary prizes for the winners of the Senior Carnival Parade for Carnival 2011. The Carnival friendly company first contributed in this manner for Carnival 2010 and opted to contribute to Carnival and the St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) once again.

"St. Maarten Cable TV is true partner of Carnival, a terrific corporate citizen," President of the SCDF Stuart Johnson said. "Covering the prizes for the parade is one thing, but Cable TV also contribute to the SCDF and Carnival in general in various other ways. So we are very grateful once again that management has recognized the importance of the private sector supporting St. Maarten' largest cultural manifestation," he added.

The total sponsorship is for US $10,500.

Philipsburg/Guyana:--- Five of the seven suspects that were arrested on March 28th as suspects of a crime ring that were selling false Guyanese passports, false St. Maarten residency papers and identification cards have been deported to Guyana. Three of the suspects were deported weeks after they were arrested but the two main suspects identified as Bibi Yasmin Hussain and Katip Kholadin were deported on Saturday May 7th and they were subsequently arrested in Guyana when they arrived there. Two of the seven suspects that were arrested were released since they were in possession of valid working papers for St. Maarten. The two suspects that left St. Maarten on Saturday had to request travel documents from authorities in Guyana so that they could have travelled back home. Hussain told authorities on St. Maarten that she had lost her passport while Kholadin could not use the false document he was in possession of when arrested.
Hussain and her two sons were arrested on March 28th after police arrested and interrogated her third son who was caught with a false St. Maarten's identification card and residency papers. The suspect Katip Kholadin was also in possession of a valid Guyanese passport that was issued with a deceased man's birth certificate. While the passport bore the photograph of Katip Kholadin, the information such as name and date of birth belonged to a deceased person, whose name was Anthony Jamesie. Police on St. Maarten also released the $34,700 they found during the house search on St. Maarten. According to information provided to SMN News, one of Hussain's son's who was working as a bartender claimed the money belonged to him since he did not have a bank account.
SMN News learnt that police on St. Maarten bungled the investigation, thus giving lawyers who represented the suspects the upper-hand while the suspects were in pre-trial detention. Police say they did not have enough evidence to prosecute the suspects, therefore, they felt it was a best to deport them to Guyana where the crime of falsifying documents was committed.
Guyana's Crime Chief Seelall Persaud said he is aware of the case where several Guyanese nationals were arrested with falsified documents but one of the setbacks authorities in Guyana are facing is the lack of cooperation from St. Maarten's authorities. Persaud said the suspects were arrested some weeks ago in St. Maarten and up to last week he did not receive the documents that were confiscated by the authorities on St. Maarten. Photocopies of the fake Guyanese passports were submitted to Guyana's Consulate in Antigua to verify if the travel documents were authentic or not. However, Persaud said they are not able to work with photocopies of falsified documents to prosecute suspects.
Persaud said he was out of the country last week and he is not able to say whether or not the Commissioner of Police received those documents during his absence. The crime chief said that suspects can only be held for a maximum of 72 hours in Guyana .
Guyana's Crime Chief said that an investigation will be launched to determine how Katip Kholadin managed to get someone to authenticate his photograph which allowed him to apply for a Guyana Passport with someone else's birth certificate.
In meantime, St. Maarten's Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos said that St Maarten and Guyana does not have a working treaty and if Guyana's Justice System (Crime Chief or Commissioner of Police) wants information from St. Maarten they can always make an official request for the evidence (documents that were confiscated) or information which will be given to Guyana's authorities even though there is no treaty. Mos said St. Maarten just cannot send information to another country if it is not requested and those requesting the information also have to state what they intend to do with the information they are requesting. Documents and evidence that were seized have to pass through a certain chain of command when it is used in the criminal justice system Mos said.
It should be noted that while there are over 4000 Guyanese nationals residing on St. Maarten, Guyana still does not have an appointed representative on the island to represent Guyanese. Therefore, prosecuting suspects with falsified documents seems almost impossible.

Cay Hill:--- The Medical Director of the St. Maarten Medical Center Dr. George Scot has finally decided to react to the assault that was committed at the institution by one of the specialists that was hired by the medical institution. In a press release, Dr. Scot said that he is refuting the incorrect statements that were published in the local media about the incident.

On April 27^th SMN News reported the incident where a gynecologist working for the St Maarten Medical Center assaulted the head nurse of the OBYN section of the hospital Nurse Sheryl Carty. The attacker at the time was identified as Dr. Diedrick Smit. SMN News reported that the Minister of Health and the board of Directors of the St. Maarten Medical Center will be investigating the incident. Union representatives said that the gynecologist assaulted the head nurse when she confronted him on the use of unsterile gloves on patients which is against the hospital’s policy. Members of the union also called on the hospital to get rid of the doctor who shows violent behavior. According to the union, the gynecologist is still working and no sanctions were taken by the hospital administration.

In the press release issued by Dr. Scot he admitted that the assault took place and that the hospital has a policy (unwritten) where they do not use unsterile gloves to perform pelvic examinations on their patients. Dr. Scot also said that the hospital intends to take disciplinary actions against the specialist after receiving an advice from the medical staff board of specialists. However, Dr. Scot failed to mention what form of disciplinary actions he as chairman, managing director and consultant of the St. Maarten Medical Center will take against the specialist that was hired by the SMMC. It should be noted that the board of specialists only issues advice to the hospital in cases of medical mal-practice and not in the case of assault where outside forces are investigating an incident of assault. Currently the police and the Minister of Health have been investigating the case since Nurse Carty filed a complaint against Dr. Diedrick Smit. Spokesman for the Medical Union Greg Arrindell said the union is yet to receive a response from the chairman/medical director/consultant on the incident.

The press release further states that the hospital never fired or terminated any of its employees in the past five years for similar incidents. While Dr. Scot might be correct that termination did not occur in the past five years. A head nurse was fired some years ago when she verbally abused a nurse who did not clean the delivery room properly. SMN News covered the incident some years ago when the head nurse (a local professional) who returned from the United States to serve her island was forced to leave St. Maarten due to her aggressive behavior towards her colleague and subordinate.

Below is the full text of the release issued by Dr. Scot on behalf of the St. Maarten Medical Center:

SMMC refutes the incorrect statements which were given in recent press coverage, with regard to the incident that recently occurred between a Specialist and a Ward Supervisor. It damages the reputation of SMMC and by extension the reputation of our employees.

We regard the statements as slander and question the reasons why they were made. It is important that the public receives the correct information so that they know and understand that management and employees will do everything to make and keep the SMMC a safe place when they are in need of medical treatment.

The incident, where a specialist pushed a ward supervisor during a heated discussion, was witnessed by two other employees. The incident happened in the nurse’s station and no patients were present as previous reported in the media.

We regret that the incident occurred and do not condone nor accept that any staff member has any verbal outbursts or physical confrontations with any other person within SMMC.

Disciplinary measures will be taken against the specialist after dr. Scot, Board of Directors of SMMC, receives an advice from the Medical Staff Board of the specialists. The Medical Staff Board is an organized independent body of which all specialists operating at SMMC are member of. The advisory process is a required procedure in line with the rules and regulation of the Medical Staff Board.

The specialist deeply apologizes for the occurrence of the incident and is heavily affected by the reactions it caused as well as the false accusations against him as a professional. He has requested and received approval, to take some time out in order for all parties to be able to focus on the continuity of patient care.

Gloves

All patients at SMMC are examined with new gloves that are only used once. We absolutely refute the statements indicating otherwise. The discussion between the Specialist and the Ward Supervisor regarded the specific use of new sterile gloves versus new unsterile gloves. Sterile gloves have undergone a special process and are separately packed to ensure its sterile state and are only used for medical indications.

Many hospitals in various countries, including the Netherlands, have the policy that if there is no clear medical indications requiring the specific use of sterile gloves, patients are examined with the use of regular gloves (unsterile). There is no scientific proof indicating that the risk of infection by female patients increases with the use of regular gloves.

At the Obstetrics/Gynaecology ward at SMMC there is the unwritten policy to use sterile gloves when performing pelvic exams by patients. Although there is no scientific proof that this will contribute to any extra safety, SMMC has adapted this practice and will continue to do so from a precautionary standpoint.

The new specialist was accustomed to use regular gloves when executing pelvic exams by patients and he was not informed of this unwritten SMMC policy. At the moment of the incident the choice of gloves was brought forward as questioning the medical authority of the specialist.

Dismissing Staff

SMMC also refutes any statement that other staff members have been dismissed for similar or less incidents. In the past 5 years there were 8 incidents where staff members were dismissed on an average workforce of 200 employees, 5 for proven fraudulent actions, 2 for frequent absenteeism and 1 for sexual assault.

As a professional organization we stand for just conduct towards our patients and to our employees. The employees are SMMC. We are working with people for people. Conflicts can happen, therefore it is important to have policies and procedures in place to ensure that they can be addressed in a responsible manner. This means hearing all parties and understanding the root of the issue at hand.

SMMC is giving this matter it fullest attention to ensure a safe and healthy environment for its patients and employees.

Get Your Kids Vaccinated-Check their Vaccination Status.

Parents and guardians are invited to a vaccination outreach for Cole Bay and Cape Bay neighborhoods.  You should bring along your child’s vaccination booklet/card or contact your family physician or pediatrician for the aforementioned.

Date: Tuesday, May 17

Time: 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Place: Charles L. Bell Primary School, Cole Bay

“Vaccinate Your Family, Protect Your Community”

For further information call:

Ministry of Public Health, Youth Health Care

Great Bay:--- The 7th edition of the Boardwalk Mas has been rescheduled from May to December, said Regina LaBega, head of the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau (STB).
"The processing of funds and additional paperwork for the Boardwalk Mas have not been completed in time for us to stage the festival at the usual mid-May date," said LaBega.
"It's sad that we have to reschedule the Boardwalk Mas because of bureaucratic changes that came with the territory's adjustment; bureaucratic changes that the department was not clearly made aware of ahead of time, and in a sufficient way," said LaBega.
The annual family-oriented festival celebrates St. Martin's festive and traditional culture with a colorful afternoon parade on the Great Bay Beach promenade. Marching bands, masqueraders, groups in traditional dress, individual artists, and carnival royals are featured prominently.
The mas' is capped off with an evening concert of music, song, comedy, theater, and dance at the Wathey Square on Frontstreet. The historic Court House serves as the stage backdrop.
STB sponsors the Boardwalk Mas as a heritage event originating from the Tourism Master Plan (TourMap). "We have seen the Boardwalk Mas attendance grow beyond our expectations, from the hundreds of spectators in 2005, when it started, to some 3,000 people last year," said LaBega.
STB also promotes the festival as a genuine St. Martin tourism experience for the financially low-performing off-season. "The Boardwalk Mas is a people's festival that our visitors have started to look forward to in very promising numbers. For all of this I apologize especially to the St. Martin people," said LaBega.
There is a 2007 precedence for moving the mas' to December, when in fact the spectator audience first climbed over 2,000 people, said LaBega. "We should not lose the beautiful momentum of this event by skipping a year, and that is why we are looking to December," said the tourism director.
STB is still looking into the details to avoid a future postponement for the same bureaucratic reasons "that prevent funding from being released in a more timely manner," said LaBega. This week she received a rush of media calls about the festival.
Parade manager Urmain Dormoy has also received an unprecedented number of inquiries about the Boardwalk Mas. "This is the first year that I received so many calls from people who wanted to travel to St. Martin or bring in small tours in time to see the Boardwalk Mas for their vacation. People were calling since January," said Dormoy.
"By the end of February more groups and schools from the island called me to participate than in previous years. By the end of March I was hoping that all of the paper work would be done to have the Boardwalk Mas on May 14," said Dormoy.
The parade manager has been meeting with HNP since January, planning the festival. The Boardwalk Mas is coordinated for STB by Offshore Editing Services, a division of HNP.
Last year over 40 registered groups and individual artists participated in the festival, "and restaurants did brisk business" on the promenade, said LaBega. She reiterated that, "more importantly, St. Martin people came out to make it a memorable family outing with their children."
"The public will be informed about the plans for the Boardwalk Mas in December 2011, as soon as this final stage of paper work is cleared up," said LaBega.

Philipsburg:--- A group of American doctors located in Miami who are represented by Dr. Samuel Hess and the American Clinic are showing strong interest in building a "Care Center" on St. Maarten to provide much needed medical services to the island. SMN News has been reliably informed that the new center will cater to medical tourism and to those persons who can afford to pay for the services that will be provided by the foreign based hospital. "The idea is to cater to tourists coming from North America and persons who can afford to pay for their services locally."
The source said the group already began talks with government, the St. Maarten Medical Center and several other groups about the new project. The group of doctors also approached the Wathey family for a parcel of land located next to Royal Palm to construct the Care Center. Sources say that Dr. Samuel Hess and the Wathey family will be sealing their business deal on Friday afternoon at the Tallulah Mango Restaurant.
SMN News learnt that while several other groups of people have shown interest in investing in medical tourism, this group seems to be much more serious. Their intention is to provide services to clients who are now being sent overseas at government's expense. "When the Care Center is built on St. Maarten, the St. Maarten Medical Center would no longer need to send patients to Venezuela, Colombia, Martinique and Aruba since most of the services will be provided locally at the Care Center." The new set of investors are also looking into doing plastic surgeries and other microscopic surgeries when the hospital is completed and functional. Several well known oncologists from the United States and Europe are also expected to work at the Care Center to treat cancer patients. The source said the SVB and BZV are showing strong interest in the new project since having another hospital that can provide more services will save government money.
While the Care Center will be built in another location, the group of investors is looking at working closely with the St. Maarten Medical Center as they intend to conduct their operations at the St. Maarten Medical Center while they will take their patients to their own location for recovery. "Having another medical institution will boost St. Maarten's economy and the island will have a number of other benefits said one of the persons negotiating with the group on behalf of government."

The "St. Maarten Inspirational Business Trip" is being held in an effort to further stimulate the Kingdom relations and business trade between St. Maarten and the global market. The goal of this effort is tri-fold: 1. establish connections, 2. build networks, and 3. develop new formulas for doing business, as an active player within the distinctive markets throughout the Kingdom/region.

For the St. Maarten "Inspirational Business Trip," we expect a delegation of 15 representatives from The Netherlands, Suriname, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba and St. Eustatius. These individuals bring a wealth of information, resources and multi-disciplinary expertise to explore business and investment opportunities among OUR established company representatives in Country St. Maarten.

"These types of creative business expansions and exposure beyond the shores of St. Maarten are critical to the long-term growth and development of local companies. These companies have to redevelop the current "business as usual" mode of operations, into a more global outlook to compete in the business environment. It will be necessary to build resourceful networks throughout the kingdom and the world. The Chamber of Commerce & Industry is pleased to be leading this initiative on behalf of the business community of St. Maarten," stated Claret Connor, Director of the Chamber.

Delegates arrive on Sunday, May 15 with an official welcome by Prime Minister Sarah Wescott-Williams at a private Welcome Reception.

The "Inspirational Business Symposium" will be held on Monday, May 16 - and is comprised of three core components, which includes:

Part I: 8:30am- 12:00pm

Inspirational Business Symposium: with an official opening by Minister Franklin Meyers, the Business Symposium is FREE & open to the public business community. It includes targeted presentations on the organizations and business opportunities available.

Part II: 12:30 - 2:00 pm

Private Networking Lunch - a limited number of business leaders may attend at the cost of $18/person.

Part III: 2:00 - 5:00pm

One-On-One Business Meetings - to explore business partnerships and trade opportunities among companies representing the specific sectors in the fields of : IT, Banking, Real Estate, Environment, Sustainable Energy, Business Expansion, Investments & Partnership-Building, Asbestos, Construction, Recycling (glas, beton, home), International Sports Activities, Product Launches & Distribution, Government Sectors: Civil Affairs, Public Works (Cement, Asphalt, Asbestos, Technological & Certification), Quality Assurances, Safety & Security Companies, Clothing Production, Uniforms, Safety Materials, as well as other with general interest in forging partnerships and expanding business relations throughout the kingdom territories.

Special note: businesses need to RSVP & pre-qualify for these "One-On-One" match-making sessions.

"This is only the beginning of the proactive programs that the Chamber will be developing to bridge the gap between our St. Maarten businesses and the world. The Chamber is planning other initiatives to further business growth and development worldwide. It is said that "charity begins at home," but in today's global environment our mindset is no longer about charity within the kingdom or otherwise, but about serious business!" said Connor.

In closing, the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce urges businesses to attend the "Inspirational Business Symposium." "These individuals are coming to us, and it is essential that we capitalize on the various opportunities available, states Jacqueline Louis, CEO, IMBRACE; who was contracted by the Chamber to assist with the planning and organization of this venture. Louis encourages businesses further to: "E-mail, call or just come to the Business Symposium on Monday, May 16 and be an active participant to learn, observe and define the most beneficial ventures for the future of your business and the economy of our Country St. Maarten".

RSVPS to the "Inspirational Business Symposium" are required by contacting, Jacqueline Louis 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. and/or 599-581-7973.

The residents of the federation are outraged after being asked to make further adjustments due to yet another increase in taxes.

Minister of Tourism Hon. Richard Skerritt moved to have passed the necessary legislation to effect the tax increase in the form of amendments to the Island Enhancement Fund and the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority Act

Under the new tax system, incoming passengers would continue to pay an existing Passenger Facilitation charge of US $10 while outgoing passengers will be subject to the following increased taxes:-Security Service Charge - US $5.33 (an increase of US $3.49); Island Enhancement Fund - US $12.00 (an increase of US $10.50); and Environmental Levy - US $3.00 (an increase of $1.50). Airport Service Charge of US $16.67 remains unchanged.

"The Denzil Douglas led Administration continues to demonstrate that it has lost touch with the feelings of the common man," said People's Action Movement Deputy Political Leader Hon. Eugene Hamilton. "Bills taxes continue to be introduced and increased at alarming rates. In November 2010 the VAT was introduced at 17%, In February of 2011 electricity rates were increased by 85% and the latest is that Departure tax will be increased by 100% by July 2011. This is outrageous and people are suffering and the government seem not to have a hint as to the hardships poor people are facing due to these plethora of new and raised taxes, Hamilton continued.

This increase in departure tax will see persons between the ages of 2-12 now paying EC$100, possible laying off of those working directly with collection of such tax, and monies being paid to an external company for collection of the new tax.

MP Hamilton continued "The strategy of taxing more and more is not working. The national debt continues to rise and the people of the federation see no relief comfort after paying significantly more in taxes. The People's Action Movement will put in place prudent and appropriate measures particularly in the control of Government spending and a decrease in the cost of living.

It is time for the present administration to step down before the situation gets worse. We need good governance Now."

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- On Monday Hon. Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams received a courtesy call from representatives of the Dutch and Sint Maarten Red Cross. The Prime Minister says the Red Cross is an essential organization that plays a key role during times of disasters.

Philipsburg:--- Honourable President of Parliament Drs. Gracita Arrindell described the meeting the Central Committee of Parliament had with the Committee of Financial Supervision CFT on Tuesday morning as open and frank.

"The meeting ended on a very positive note with the understanding that we all as Members of Parliament (MP) subscribe to having a sound and transparent financial management system for country Sint Maarten.

"Parliament will execute its role as mandated by the people of Sint Maarten, including making sure that Government puts its household in order before or ultimately by the end of 2015, on the basis of having the right balance between public expenditures and financial accountability," Hon. President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell explained on Tuesday after the meeting.

The agenda comprised of discussions related to the 2010, 2011 and 2012 budgets; financial management system; and the Corporate Governance Council (CGC).

The most important point that members of Parliament sought clarity on with the CFT was the right of Parliament regarding the final say on the national budget.

MPs and the CFT discussed the role of Parliament with respect to the 2010 budget, and would like clarity from a procedural as well as from a constitutional perspective, since the law according to the President of Parliament Hon. Gracita Arrindell, is not unambiguous in its interpretation, but mainly when placed in the context of the timeframe of 10-10-10, and the date to submit and approve the budget 2010 before January 1st, 2011 as legally prescribed by our constitution.

Another point discussed was the so-called deadline that Sint Maarten allegedly has not met to be able to qualify for claims in regards to the debt relief process agreed to in 2006 and, the role of government owned companies.

MPs were also informed that the CFT and the Ministry of Finance have been in early discussions and consultations regarding preparations for the draft 2012 country budget along the lines as established by the Kingdom Law on Financial Supervision.

The CGC was also on the agenda. "With respect to the CGC, Parliament has received correspondence from the latter and we plan on following up in inviting the CGC for a meeting so they can update us on their current state of affairs," Arrindell pointed out.

MPs who attended the meeting were MP Sylvia Meyers, MP Johan Leonard, MP George Pantophlet, MP Patrick Illidge, MP Jules James, MP Lloyd Richardson, MP Romain Laville, and absent with notice was MP William Marlin. Absent without notice were MPs Frans Richardson, MP Hyacinth Richardson and MP Louie Laveist.

The CFT was represented by Kees van Amerongen, Geert Bergsma, Hans Weitenberg, Margo Vlieghart, Alberto Romero, Martijn van Keulen, and Jacob de Gleese.

The fourth "Arts in the Plaza" united more than 300 music and arts enthusiasts on Wednesday, May 4, 2011. What has become a sought after tradition since January 2011, locals and international travelers celebrated an array of extraordinary artists from St Martin, the Caribbean and the world.

Dynamic performers at the "Arts in the Plaza" included Connis & Associates (image above), guitarist Dr. Rock, Emmanuelle Arisi's fire dancers, and Sax Mix with Connis and The Miro Borthers (DJ Ra & DJ Jayson Miro). Also celebrated were Laetitia Mah Nyamu, offering feature posters with on-site autograph; and Stephanie Tihanyi, crafting a live painting during the festival.

The public event took place at the picturesque Porto Cupecoy, a Mediterranean inspired waterfront village and marina. The festival will continue through 2011 with new performances and exhibits. A complete listing of featured artists will be announced prior to each event at www.portocupecoy.com. For festival updates like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/artsintheplaza.

Developed by Orient Express Hotels Ltd., Porto Cupecoy is a 184-residence luxury seaside village, which is anchored around the most exclusive and upscale marina on the island.

Philipsburg:--- Seeking and finalizing accreditation for the University of St. Martin is something the University would have to do on its own. "The matter of accreditation for USM is a USM matter and that is something USM would have to sort out," said Minister of Education Rhoda Arrindell on Wednesday. Minister Arrindell said her Ministry is open to assisting USM with whatever they can but when it comes to accreditation that remains the responsibility of the University of St. Martin. The statements made in response to a question posed by SMN News at the Council of Ministers Press Briefing on Wednesday by Minister Arrindell is far from what she said on her campaign trail when she was seeking public office on the United People's Party slate.
Minister Arrindell vowed to better education on St. Maarten including the services offered at USM where she taught for years.
Leader of the United People's Party Theodore Heyliger confirmed to SMN News that Minister Arrindell promised to seek accreditation for USM during the election campaign. When told what the Minister said about accreditation for USM the Minister said that "people need to separate their personal issues and work in the interest of everyone." Accreditation for USM was one of points of discussion and this matter was raised a number of times Minister Heyliger and Leader of the United Peoples Party said.
In the meantime, the education Minister announced that during her visits last week to St. Lucia and New York, she visited the Monroe College both in St. Lucia and New York. Minister Arrindell said that the government of St. Maarten will soon be signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the institution which will allow students from St. Maarten to complete their studies at the St. Lucia campus. The Minister said students who receive government scholarships through study financing will be able to attend Monroe College at a maximum cost of USD $15,000.00 per annum and they can acquire a bachelor's degree within 36 months.
Monroe College holds the two highest accreditations available to any American college or university: the New York State Department of Higher Education accreditation and accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
The St. Lucia campus of Monroe College offers degree courses in Public Health, Criminal Justice, Business Management, Hospitality Management and Information Technology.
The St. Lucia Ministry of Education authorizes the College to grant degrees in St. Lucia. It was interesting to note that the St. Lucia Hospitality Association stands guarantor for the study loans offered to the students, which are paid back by the students after completion of their studies. By so doing, the graduates are also almost 100% guaranteed a job in their industry. Its Culinary and Hospitality program allows the students to spend a full semester of training/internship in Italy. Minister Arrindell said.
At a meeting with the board of the University of St. Martin this week, Minister Arrindell said she gave a synopsis of her visit to Monroe College and suggested the possibility of articulation with Monroe for 2+2 program and transfer opportunities for USM students as well as to begin discussions regarding running some of the Monroe programs locally e.g. Criminal Justice, Forensic Science and especially their Teacher Education Program.
Minister Arrindell said she also intends to update Minister of Justice Roland Duncan immediately upon his return about the discussions held during this trip and continue to explore possibilities for this institution to assist with offering some of the much needed training and degree programs such as Forensic Science at USM.
The Minister said when she met with the board of USM, it centered mainly on the institution's Teacher Education Program. After a very open and frank discussion, it was agreed that and external evaluator would have to assess the program and verify that it meets the required standards for the granting of a Bachelor of Education degree, with emphasis on Foundation Based Education (FBE).
This evaluation will be conducted without delay, and depending on the outcome, which they expect to be positive, but if not, USM may have to offer additional courses to bring the Teacher Education Program (TEP) up to par with standards that would not only enable the graduates to be employed anywhere they choose to work, but also allow them to be admitted to post-graduate courses at any institution of higher learning.
The Minister of Education said her Ministry is committed to working with USM to ensure the quality of its programs and offer its students the very best perspectives possible so that they could graduate with the assurance that they would be able to enter the work force confidently or pursue post-graduate degrees anywhere in the world.

Philipsburg:--- Honourable Minister of Finance Hiro Shigemoto says that he has forwarded answers to questions that were partly asked in the parliament meeting of April 21, 2011 or were provided to him in writing by the faction of the National Alliance (NA).

The NA had requested the meeting and the presence of the honourable Minister at the meeting of Parliament to provide information related to developments surrounding the 2011 budget. The NA sought answers to 102 questions that the faction drafted.

A letter with the answers to questions only related to developments surrounding the 2011 budget was delivered to the Secretariat of Parliament on Monday, May 16, 2011.

Questions posed by NA Members of Parliament (MPs) related to the status of appointment of Sint Maarten's representative on the Financial Supervisory Committee CFT; the Government Program; the countries liquidity position; the role of civil servants and technical advisors in drafting the of the budget and correspondence; status of annual accounts; and if there were any efforts made by the former NA Government to clear arrears with creditors.

Other questions related to information about the status of the report on the minimum cost of running government and how the company Versant has been selected to carry out the cost assessment; the Naf.20 million advance on Governments share of the Netherlands Antilles assets; an overview of the Turn over Tax from October 5 to December 31, 2010, and January 1 to March 31, 2011; the effect of increased gas prices would have on the community.

There were also questions on dollarization; the amount and value of the country's share of the gold tied to the Antillean guilder.

"I fully support transparent and open government. I have kept MPs informed and those who have sent letters with questions have received their information and I have also shared this with the community.

"I look forward to going back to Parliament when the budget discussion takes place to provide information and address any matters that parliamentarians should have," Hon. Minister of Finance Hiro Shigemoto said on Thursday.

The Minister added that questions not related to developments surrounding the 2011 budget were not answered. The Minister of Finance had announced this to the MPs during the April 21 meeting.

"Budget questions will be answered during the meeting surrounding the handling of the first country 2011 budget in Parliament.

"Other questions especially those pertaining to the former Director of Resources can only be handled during a meeting dealing with that specific topic, which has nothing to do with the developments surrounding the 2011 national budget," Hon. Minister Hiro Shigemoto explained.

Marigot:--- Owners of public transportation vehicles using the parking spaces on the French side of the island will soon have to pay parking fees based on a decision taken by the Territorial Council on February 19 2010. The new taxation will go into effect as of June 1 2011 according to the decision that was renewed and modified on February 17 2011. All fees are annual fees, beginning June 1.
Taxi drivers operating on the French side of the island would have to pay Euros 150.00 per year, while tour bus operators will have to pay Euros 500.00 for each vehicle that uses the parking lots on the French side of the island. Public transportation vehicles such as buses and shuttles will have to pay Euros 100.00 per year per vehicle. Besides the new parking fees independent workers such as taxis, buses and tour operators would have to pay an additional Euros 60.00 each year to renew their permits.
Taxi Drivers on the Dutch side of the island reacted terribly when they received a letter that was sent to them by the French Government informing them of the new laws thinking they were being targeted. The four taxi associations on the Dutch side wrote and co-signed a letter rejecting the plans of the French Government claiming that the French side is looking to start an unnecessary war. The decisions taken by the Collectivity of St. Martin has been published in the official gazette on the French side of the island and the laws can also be viewed online.

A free translation of the articles of the transportation tax laws is below:-

The Territorial Council decides:

Article 1: To approve the implementation of a duty for parking on the public thoroughfare to public passenger carriers, just like the other categories of passenger carriers (taxis, occasional tour transportation).

Article 2: To set the amount of this duty to the yearly sum of ONE HUNDRED (100) Euros, per year, per carrier and per vehicle, payable to the Receiver's Office of the Collectivity.

Article 3: To modify article 2 of the resolution N° CT 26-3-2010 of February 19, 2010 as follows:

"Article 2: The amounts of these fees are the following:
- The yearly identification fee is a yearly amount of sixty (60) Euros per vehicle;
- The parking duty is one hundred and fifty (150) Euros per year per taxi operator;
- For tour transportation operators, the parking duty will be five hundred (500) Euros per vehicle per year;
- For public passenger transportation operators, the parking duty will be one hundred (100) Euros per vehicle per year."

Article 4: The provisions of this resolution will be enforced as of June 1, 2011.

Territorial Councilor Daniel Arnel expressed concerns about Newspapers that are publishing information they received without verifying with officials on the French side of the island. Arnel said his government sent letters to former commissioner of transportation Frans Richardson while he was in office requesting meetings to discuss matters related to public transportation but Richardson he said never responded to the letters and emails that were sent to him.
Besides that Arnel said he sent at least four letters and emails to Minister of Public Transportation Franklin Meyers requesting meetings and he too did not respond to the letters or grant them a meeting. The territorial councilor who is in charge of public transportation said ever since the Union Pour le Progres (UPP) took office they tried effortlessly to meet with the Commissioners and Ministers on the Dutch side of the island but the only people meeting with them are the technicians.
Arnel further explained that when French side authorities realized that they are not being respected they sent letters to the four taxi associations on the Dutch side of the island informing them of the laws which was passed by the Territorial Council since 2010 while a copy of the letter which was signed by the President of Collectivity was also dispatched to the to the Prime Minister last week. "We know when the taxi drivers received this letter they would kick up a storm and then government on the Dutch side will get pressure from their people to meet with the French side officials. "I would like for the Government of the Dutch side to respect us as Government of the French side, since whatever decisions are taken will affect people on both sides of the island," Arnel said.
Arnel said people are accusing the French side for disrespecting the authorities on the Dutch side but he wants everyone to know that when the Dutch side decided to stop the renewal of the Dutch Drivers License they issued to French citizens and residents, the French side government was not informed by the Dutch side. "We learnt of this in the media because many people including fire men were affected and so they went to the media. No one bothered to tell us that they were going to stop renewing those licenses and they did not tell the license holders until when they showed up to renew their drivers license. The territorial councilor said when the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE) introduced the law where they would stop accepting French Identification cards as a travel document they learn about it in the media." Arnell said.

Click here to view Transportation Tax Laws 2011

Click here to view Transportation Tax Laws 2010

Philipsburg:--- The six members of the National Alliance in parliament will be submitting a draft amendment to the civil code which would curtail the abuse of the short term labor contract announced the leader of the National Alliance William Marlin at a press conference on Friday afternoon. Marlin said he is waiting on one of his members to return to the island to sign the draft amendment before it can be submitted.
Marlin explained that over the years politicians across the board on St. Maarten have promised during election time to eliminate the short term labor contract which he said is abused by employers on St. Maarten. He said while he spoke on this issue on a number of times he also tried to have the civil code amended in the parliament of the Netherlands Antilles but he was not successful. However, St. Maarten is now a country and he believes politicians who have made the promises should step up to the plate and support the amendment when it comes up for public discussions.
The National Alliance leader surrounded by four of his members said certain businesses such as supermarkets have been abusing the short term contract by hiring people such as cashiers on the six months contracts. He said one of the disadvantages of the abuse is that workers are not able to even rent a house from the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation when they are on these contracts, besides that they are not able to obtain a loan from any bank on St. Maarten, neither can they build up any rights and or job security. Many businesses today he said have been outsourcing permanent jobs to outside companies who are hiring people on a short term basis.
While not releasing the draft amendment Marlin said that this might not fully eradicate the abuse, it will curtail the current abuse which he said is getting worse by the day.
The National Alliance leader said while employers have expressed fear that if they should employ their workers permanently, the workers would in turn abuse them by reporting sick daily. Marlin said he simply does not believe that would happen because workers of today want to work and if they are treated correctly and fairly they would protect their jobs. He gave examples of the Windward Islands Bank and GEBE, companies that have mostly local workers and are not complaining.
When the draft amendment is submitted, parliament would have to send it to the council of advice before bringing it to the floor of parliament for a vote to be taken.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Section General Public Health of the Collective Preventive Services (CPS), executing agency of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, calls on the community to be extra vigilant and to look for possible mosquito breeding grounds in and around their homes and businesses.

This appeal comes after nearly one-week of intermittent rain showers. Due to rainfall, mosquito fogging activities had to be temporarily suspended after the fogging exercise kicked off early May.

An updated schedule of dates and districts of vector control activities will be announced.

In the meantime, the only way to prevent dengue virus transmission is to combat the disease-carrying mosquitoes. Based on the fact that reports of dengue fever in the Caribbean are prevalent, Section General Public Health is requesting residents to remain vigilant in executing measures in eradicating mosquito breeding places.

The assistance of the community is requested to protect themselves, their family and their neighbor from the Aedes Agypti mosquito by means of minimizing mosquito breeding places in their surroundings and close environment.

Preventive actions that every household and each resident should take are: removal of debris, old tires and standing clear/clean water in yards (usually are the main source and breeding ground for mosquitoes bringing about an increased risk of mosquito-borne diseases). These areas should be immediately eliminated.

Immediately check for clear/clean standing water in roof spouts, empty drums, buckets, jars, birdbaths, boats, plant containers, saucers, paint cans and other items that can collect water around your homes and businesses. Where clear/clean standing water exists, one can use small amounts of kerosene, just to cover the surface as a measure to prevent mosquito breeding or just get rid of the container.

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

Consultation with your physician is imperative for proper treatment and registration of the dengue fever case to ensure adequate follow-up by CPS.

Anyone requiring information concerning measures to prevent mosquito breeding or to report areas of mosquito breeding place(s), overgrown vegetation etc should immediately call CPS at 542-2078.

The Boardwalk is Philipsburg's main attraction, and is potentially St. Maarten's premier outing attraction, considering its central location, top restaurants, hotels, beach, and sea view.

It is time to bring the spirit back to Philipsburg, and make the Boardwalk the leading attraction it was created to be. The Boardwalk Fest has been created and organized to attract locals and tourist back to the Boardwalk, in big numbers, every last Friday of the month, during the months of June through October. The date set for the first Boardwalk Fest is June 3rd.

The Boardwalk Fest consists of the Boardwalk's top restaurants promoting their best dishes, unique specials, or buffets for this special event, every end of the month. The Restaurants who have already confirmed are Taloula Mango's, St. Rose Bar, Holland House, and Hard Rock Café.

Four of the island's best bands will be performing and entertaining along the strip of the Boardwalk, at the front and between the restaurants. The bands scheduled to perform are tentatively House Appliance, Official Band, Pedrin Pacheco, and Impak Band.

There will also be a fashion show and several contests, with some of the island's most popular Dj's; Dj Fabolous, Mixmaster Pauly, Dj Silk, Ans Mixin Clinic.

Intermittently at the front of and between the restaurants and the bands, there will be tents placed on the beach with drinks. The Fest will also feature special attractions for kids, such as Bounce House, Pop Corn, Cotton Candy and other kids attractions, street sale items, and special promotions by some of the islands leading companies.

The events, music, and entertainment will be completely free, and food, buffets and drinks will all be sold at attractive prices.

The St. Maarten Cultural, Music & Entertainment Development Foundation led by Clifton Brown, is dedicated to the development and promotion of Culture, Music, and Entertainment on St.Maarten. This initiative will also serve as an incentive and boost to our Boardwalk and its attractions in the slow period of the year.

Montage Marketing, one of St. Maarten's most prominent marketing companies, and a leader in branding, promotions, and event planning is in charge of the promotions, marketing, and organizing of the events. The distribution companies are Antillean Liquors and Tobacco, International Liquors and Tobacco, Caribbean Liquors & Tobacco, and B&C Beverages.

The St. Maarten Harbor Group of Companies who consider the Boardwalk their front yard and close partners have also pledged their support to the Boardwalk Fest. In close collaboration, this organization plans to bring the attention and the festive spirit back to the Boardwalk.

The kick off date will be on Friday June 3rd, 2011. From 6pm to 12am.

San Juan, Puerto Rico/Great Bay, St. Martin:--- The world did not end on May 21, 2011 as the doomsday prophets had predicted, rather a new world unfolded for Minister of Education, Rhoda Arrindell, who successfully defended her doctoral thesis in Linguistics at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, with the highest grading of Summa –cum-laude (sobresaliente). It was the culmination of a brilliant academic pursuit.
Presenting her dissertation, "Language, Culture and Identity in St. Martin", Ms. Arrindell gave the Dissertation Committee of three professors, each an expert in their respective fields, a brief historical background of the island, and her motivation for embarking on a scientific description of St. Martin English.
In introducing her, the director of her dissertation, Prof. Mervyn Alleyne, a pioneer Creole Language Studies specialist, said Ms. Rhoda Arrindell was the first non-Spanish student to complete a Ph.D course at UPR. The doctoral candidate fulfilled the requirements for the course in record time, he also revealed.
In another first, Dissertation Committee member, Prof. Alma Simounet, an expert in Ethno-linguistics, Bilingualism and Applied Linguistics, pointed out that Dr. Rhoda Arrindell would be the first UPR graduate with the "power to translate her thesis into praxis" rather than allow the dissertation to "gather dust on the shelves like so many others."
Prof. Simounet praised the writing skills of Dr. Arrindell, stating that her dissertation was not "dense" but an "easy read." Prof. Simounet recognized the many hurdles and obstacles the Ph.D candidate had to overcome and called her "Wonder woman".
"You did it with such grace and poise that I wonder if when you got home you had your moments," Simounet added.
In over an hour of defense, Rhoda Arrindell gave an eloquent presentation which had everyone in the hall spell-bound. Following her presentation, both Prof. Simounet and Prof. Nicholas Faraclas, the third Committee member and a specialist in Creole Studies, Syntax and Phonology, agreed that Dr. Arrindell's thesis could have been three separate dissertations.
"Your work opens up a window to further studies and is a major contribution to scholarship in the Caribbean," noted Prof. Simounet.

The hall was later emptied for the panel to deliberate and shortly after, the candidate was called in to find out her fate.
"I regret to inform you..." began Prof. Alleyne jokingly, before pronouncing perhaps the most important words for the small gathering, and in particular for the candidate: "You have been accepted into the family of Doctors in Philosophy with a grade of 'sobresaliente' (summa cum laude)."
An overjoyed Dr. Rhoda Arrindell thanked the professors and promised to continue to work hard in the interest of academic excellence and of her people.

Marigot:--- The suspect that shot and killed a 28 year old Dominican man on May 22 2011, managed to flee from St. Martin confirmed the Gendarmerie in a press release. The Gendarmerie also confirmed that the killing was drug related.
Shortly after the shooting, the suspect fled the scene in a car with two other persons inside the vehicle.
The Gendarmes said they have identified the suspect and they issued an international warrant for his arrest as they began a judiciary investigation. The judiciary police arrested the two other persons that were in the vehicle when the suspect fled but they were subsequently released. The victim Peterson Cuffy succumbed to his injuries at the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital shorting after he was shot in the center of Sandy Ground.

Recent comments in the media give the impression that Private sector wants to control the tourism department/ Ministry; this is simply not true. In actuality, the SHTA has always been an advocate of public-private partnership. As a matter of fact, when the Ministry proposed a Tourism Authority consisting of purely private sector representatives, the SHTA commented that Government's presence is critical for this structure to operate effectively.
The SHTA agrees that balance is needed and believes that both Government and the private sector have roles to play in the success of the destination; Government needs to generate interest and the private sector needs to convert this interest into revenue, which goes back into Government's coffers.
The SHTA also feels that the process of establishing the Tourism Authority has been too lengthy (+/- 10 years) considering that every other island has already moved to a Tourism Authority structure or is in the process of moving towards this structure. The framework for such a structure should therefore be available for duplication/ reference rather than Government having to reinvent the wheel completely.
Furthermore, with regards to the Minister's comment: "Wie betaalt, bepaalt" the SHTA is emphasizing that tax money isn't Government's money; it's the people's money. The people of St. Maarten need Government to create demand for the destination, because quite frankly if the destination does well, everyone will benefit.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Planning a summer vacation, then you should use the opportunity to get vaccinated on May 28 at the Youth Health Care (YHC) annual vaccination open house on Saturday.

Currently there is a measles outbreak in Europe. Measles have been reported in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belguim, France, Spain, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Switzerland, Serbia, Bulgaria and Turkey.

If you are traveling to any of the affected European countries, you should safeguard yourself and your family by ensuring that you and your children's immunizations against measles are up-to-date.

Immunization is a way of protecting children against serious vaccine preventable diseases. Once a child or an adult has been fully vaccinated, their bodies can fight those diseases if one comes into contact with them.

The Open House will take place at YHC offices at the Vineyard Office Park, W.G. Buncamper Road #33 in Philipsburg from 9.30am to 5.00pm on Saturday.

Unprotected children are at greatest risk of contracting the virus. Parents and guardians must ensure that their children are protected.

Persons returning from Europe experiencing a sudden high fever accompanied by a rash should seek medical attention immediately by going to their family physician.

Endemic measles has been eliminated in the Americas, with the last case reported in 2002. For the Caribbean, this year marked the 20th anniversary without an indigenous case of the measles.

Parents who will be going to the Open House on Saturday should bring along with them their child's vaccination booklet/card. If you are not sure of the vaccination status of your child, you should contact your general practitioner, pediatrician, or YHC for children up through 17 years of age.

Measles is caused by a virus which normally grows in the cells that line the back of the throat and lungs. It is a human disease and not known to occur in animals.

The first sign of measles is usually a high fever which begins about 10 to 12 days after exposure to the virus from a measles case. A runny nose, cough along with red and watery eyes and small white spots inside the cheeks can develop in the initial stage followed by a rash on the face and upper neck.

YHC can also be contacted if you want to verify your own vaccination status by calling Tel. 542-3003, 542-2078 or 542-3553.

Willemstad:--- The implementation of the new cooperation programmes for the Social Economic Initiative ('SEI'), Institutional and Governmental Strengthening ('IVB'), Education & Youth, and Security Plan II ('PVNAII') signed in 2008, went off satisfactorily in 2010. The political transition per 10-10-10 led to a higher workload for all parties. The open communication between the representatives of the Netherlands, the entities Saba, St Maarten, St Eustatius, Bonaire, Curaçao and (U)SONA provided a decisive continuation of the work. The progress made in the cooperation programmes has contributed in a positive manner to the creation of the new constitutional entities.
The SONA Board states to be pleased with the fact that since the inception of the programs in 2008 until the end of December 2010, a total of 269 financing agreements for projects have been signed with the entities. Together they account for more than 84% of the total cooperation funds allocated by the Netherlands for these programs.
The countrywide projects within the cooperation programmes of the former Netherlands-Antilles have been transferred to the new countries Curaçao, St. Maarten and the BES Islands. In the context of this transfer, in various meetings the new administrators of the entities have been informed on the operation and content of programmes and projects.
On the BES Islands, the implementation of the projects funded by the Netherlands through (U)SONA had a very smooth transfer in this transitional phase. Where possible, the implementation of the projects was accelerated with the support of (U)SONA and the Netherlands.
In all programs a clear shift of accent is noticeable, from submission of projects to implementation. Because of the end of the programmes and the impending deadlines for concluding of implementation obligations for instance, in a short period of time the project owners and (U)SONA took on a tremendous amount of work. In 2010 (U)SONA has approved on average 40% more financial commitments than in 2009; 112 projects have been approved.

In addition to the Dutch development funds, (U)SONA also manages other funds, such as those of the 9th European Development Fund (EDF). At the end of November the last of the 12 contracts for the implementation within the Bonaire Sewerage & Sanitation program and Urban Infrastructures for the Socially Deprived Areas program on the 5 islands of the Netherlands Antilles, was signed. With that, almost all the resources of both programs have been converted into implementing contracts. The Islands and (U)SONA have successfully completed a decisive phase in the programs thanks to their drive. That has secured 40 million Euros of European development funds for the Netherlands Antilles. The implementation of these projects from the 9th EDF is still continuing for some time to come. Currently the implementation of the 10th EDF is being prepared.
The Netherlands, together with the islands of the former Netherlands Antilles have agreed that up to and including 2012 deposits will take place for the current cooperation programmes that run through SONA. The implementation of the projects within the programmes can continue until 2014. Since its foundation in 2004, SONA has dedicated itself to the managing of the effective and rightful use of the funds made available by the Netherlands, and will continue to work for a good use of the resources.
The annual report 2010 can be found on www.usona.an.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The Marriage Hall at the Civil Registry Department has been renovated into an ultra-modern hall.

The Marriage Hall is the designated location by law to perform marriages; however they can also be performed at other locations such as at the beach a hotel or restaurant.

Head of the Civil Registry Department Leona Romeo-Marlin said that she would like to especially thank Rosemary Lejuez for her wonderful work in coordinating the renovation of the hall.

Marriages have been performed at the hall located at Soualiga Road #6 for more than 20-years. The remodelled hall can accommodate up to 24 persons, with another six to eight standing in the back of the hall.

Of the 189 marriages performed in 2009, 96 took place in the marriage hall. In 2010, 218 marriages were performed of which 115 took place in the marriage hall.

The renovations were carried out in March and April and entailed changing the carpet, all chairs were recovered, retiling of the floor, repainting, and improved lighting with a chandelier.

The windows have been tinted and additional accessories have been added throughout the hall to give it that professional and inviting look.

Philipsburg:--- Persons who submitted an application for the first time between November 24th and December 30th 2010 for a Brooks Tower Permit are now facing deportation if caught by immigrations officers. This is according to the lawyers that represented the Minister of Justice in the court of First Instance on Monday.
The attorneys from Gibson and Associates presented a letter from the Minister of Justice to the court where the Minister gave clarity on the BTA extension process. The Minister in his letter said that based on Article 24 of the constitution anyone can petition government but that does not mean their request will be granted.
Persons who submitted the request for the first time during the extension period and remained on the island for a response has no legal basis neither a guarantee to reside on the island even though they may be in possession of BTA receipt. The BTA procedure from November 24 to December 30th 2010 was only meant for extension of their BTA permits confirmed the Minister in his letter to the court.

The case on Monday involved a national of the Dominican Republic who was deported in January 2011 even though he was in possession of a BTA receipt. The judge asked the Minister to clarify if persons were allowed to apply for the first time during the extension process and if those applicants were allowed to remain on St. Maarten as their applications are being processed. The judge also asked the Minister to provide him with the minutes of parliament and what exactly he told parliament about the BTA extension procedure. The Minister informed the judge that he does not have the minutes of parliament and that it is in parliament's possession.
Gibson and Associates said that it was not possible for anyone to submit an application for a BTA permit during the extension process but persons could in fact petition government based on Article 24 of the constitution. The lawyers did not say if first time applicants could have applied elsewhere during that same period.
Based on what was said in the courts on Monday persons who submitted their applications for the first time last year will not be receiving any permits and if caught by immigration they will be deported. The Minister's lawyers pointed out to the court that the only types of forms that were available during the extension period were "extension forms" which the BTA staff used to process first time applications as well as the extensions.

Attorney at law Denicio Brison pleaded with the court to grant his client a more extensive interpretation of the Minister's letter which he said was not clear enough. The judge will render his verdict on June 27th.

Click here to view the Minister's Response to the Judge's questions.

Philipsburg:--- The Department of Statistics (STAT) will conduct a Business Cycle Survey for the first half of 2011, starting on Friday June 3rd until July 15th. This survey is conducted twice per year with a purpose to collect up-to-date information on business and economic developments for industries and the business sector as a whole. Additionally, STAT hopes to capture the current opinions and expectations of entrepreneurs in the areas of economic development and the investment climate on St. Maarten.
The survey will be conducted among all businesses with more than ten employees, and a sample is drawn for those businesses with three to ten employees.
STAT interviewers will approach and distribute the questionnaires to the businesses. Should the business require any additional assistance, a STAT interviewer will gladly provide such.
Businesses can expect questions on the level of their turnover, investments made, their competitive status and the company's personnel situation over the first half of 2011. Additionally, a few questions relate to the entrepreneur's perception on a number of indicators and his/her confidence in the St. Maarten economy during the coming period.
With this information available, government and entrepreneurs can take better, quicker and well-founded decisions. The input of the private sector in this survey will be highly appreciated and is essential for its success.
STAT therefore appeals to all businesses approached to cooperate, only then can STAT timely analyze and publish the survey results for the benefit of the government and the private sector.

Chapel Hill, NC:--- Divi Resorts announces the hiring of Cedric Pas as general manager of its Divi Little Bay Beach Resort in St. Maarten. Pas, whose background includes more than 17 years of experience in hotel management, will head up all aspects of Divi Little Bay's operations including marketing activities, supplier relationships and guest services.

Pas has a diverse range of management experience with a number of prestigious hotels, helping them successfully surpass performance objectives in business financials and ensure guest, associate and ownership satisfaction. His experience and leadership skills will play a vital role in the Divi Little Bay's operations as the summer vacation season approaches.

Quite familiar with the island, Pas once lived in Point Blanch and attended high school at St. Maarten Academy. Pas's father was the manager at the Dawn Beach Hotel in St. Maarten before the family moved to Aruba in 1988.

"We are thrilled to have someone on board with such an impressive background and enthusiasm for the area and the hospitality industry," said E.J. Schanfarber, CEO of Divi Hotels Marketing, Inc. "His energy and drive combined with a proven track record for success in a variety of hotel management positions will be a huge asset to the resort."

Pas was most recently a club manager at The Landings Club in Savannah, Ga. Prior to that, he spent more than a decade with Hyatt Hotels Corporation serving various leadership roles within the company and its hotels across the U.S. Pas holds both a bachelor's and master's degree in hotel management from Florida International University.

Located on a private peninsula between two beautiful bays in Dutch St. Maarten, Divi Little Bay Beach Resort is minutes from the Caribbean's best shopping and dining, but feels worlds apart. The resort offers beachfront guestrooms as well as studios, suites and newly renovated Casita suites with fully-equipped kitchens.

Philipsburg:--- The director and staff of Eric Ambulances are demanding an explanation from the Chief of the O.C.R.T.I.S (L'Office Central pour la Repression du Traffic Illicite de Stupefiants) as they file an official complaint with the Gendarmerie.
Director of the Eric Ambulances Eric Javois said that two of his staff were on their way to the Grand Case Airport around midday on Wednesday 4th May to pick up a heart patient when an unmarked car tried to block the ambulance twice. Javois said his workers were working at the time and they were in an ambulance with their siren on when the unmarked vehicle blocked their way. "To make matters worse the occupants in the tinted vehicle doubled the ambulance on La Savanne main road and blocked their way. The driver of the ambulance Benett Hunt managed to maneuver the ambulance to avoid hitting the car. When they came to a stop two men approached them with guns in their face telling them they were abusing the use of the siren on the ambulance," Javois said. Javois said he intends to file an official complaint with the Gendarmerie because his workers are emergency workers who were performing their duties. "My men were not stealing neither were they selling drugs so I need to know why the OCRTIS men stopped them."
Benett Hunt said he was the driver of the ambulance and his assistant was Dominique Fleming. Hunt said they received an emergency call and was responding to the call when the incident occurred. Hunt said while on Mount Valois Hill he tried to signal the driver of the unmarked car that he wanted to pass but the driver he said made no effort to pull aside. Hunt said he managed to overtake the car but the driver of the car began following him and when he reached La Savanne, the driver overtook him and blocked the road. "I had to maneuver the ambulance and bring it to a stop at the side of the car that was in the middle of the road. When I came to a stop, two men jumped out of the car and only then they showed me their badge telling me they are police. They came to me with guns in my face. At that point, an argument started because the two cops could not tell me why they stopped me and what I did wrong. One of them said I was abusing my rights as the driver of the ambulance when I put on my siren, but he does not know where I was going and why I had to use my siren. The plane that transported the patient to St. Martin came in without warning and I received an emergency call to transport a heart patient to the heart specialist," Hunt said. Hunt said the incident cost him about 45 minutes since the two officers and him were engaged in an argument. He said the gendarmes responded to the scene to calm the situation before they could have proceeded to pick up the patient. "All I want to know is what I did wrong and why they stopped me, I also want to know how I should know that they are police officers driving around in tinted cars and why they pulled guns on us," Hunt said.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Youth Health Care (YHC), a section of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, says its vaccination outreach for the residents of St. Peters on April 27 was a success.

Twenty-six young people up to age 23 made use of the two-hour opportunity to check their vaccination status. The outreach took place at the St. Peters Rupert I. Maynard Community Center.

YHC officials are looking forward to repeating the same success at the Outreach planned for Cole Bay on Tuesday, May 17 at the Charles L. Bell Primary School and are encouraging parents and guardians to mark their calendar.

The outreach is being organized as part of the annual Vaccination Week of the Americas under the theme, "Vaccinate your Family, Protect Your Community."

With respect to St. Peters Outreach, a few file cards were updated and some corrections and updates made to other vaccination cards that parents and guardians brought with them to the outreach.

Parents are reminded that with the change in the vaccination schedule, the second Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) is now given at four-years of age.

All children between four and nine-years of age will now get their second MMR vaccine.

The DTPolio vaccination will continue to be given when the child is nine-years of age.

Other changes in the vaccination schedule apply to children between two and 12 months of age.

Parents are reminded to make sure that their children between the ages of 0-18 are up to date with their vaccinations which are necessary in order to reduce the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases.

DTP, MMR and catch-up Hepatitis B vaccines will be given to children in the target age group who are not up to date.

Immunization is a way of protecting children against serious vaccine preventable diseases. Once a person has been fully vaccinated, their bodies can fight those diseases if one comes into contact with them.

Parents should bring along with them their child's vaccination booklet/card. If you are not sure of the vaccination status of your child, you should contact your general practitioner, pediatrician, or YHC for children up through 17 years of age.

YHC can also be contacted if you want to verify your own vaccination status.

The St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) and International Liquor Tobacco and Trading (ILTT) have joined forces again for Carnival 2011, continuing their long-standing working relationship. "Carnival is everyone's business, and Heineken, as a corporate sponsor has also stepped up to the plate for us, once again," remarked Stuart Johnson President of the SCDF.

Heineken beer and Captain Morgan Rum have served as the official beer and rum of Carnival 2011, respectfully. "We are making a substantial contribution towards Carnival in the amount of US $20,000 and other promotional materials," Marketing Manager of Heineken Nila Rambhadjan said. The planning of St. Maarten Carnival is a costly affair and we applaud the efforts of the SCDF, as the task of organizing Carnival isn't easy," she added.

Johnson said with Carnival 2011 coming to a close, the SCDF is looking forward to maintaining a working relationship with Heineken in 2012 and beyond.

Philipsburg:--- The driver of the dump truck that crushed 12 year old Silvia Lynch to death will face prosecution confirmed Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos. Mos said the traffic department is still busy with the investigation and when they submit their report to his office a decision will be taken on what charges will be laid against the driver of the dump truck Z - 81. Mos said they already know that there has been gross negligence but that can change when the technical side of the investigation is completed.
The police traffic department is busy trying to determine if the brakes and clutch of the vehicle indeed failed or if the driver was speeding. Relatives of the deceased girl expressed outrage when they learnt that the driver of the truck and illegal resident who does not have a drivers license for St. Maarten was released hours after having crushed the Marie Genevieve De Weever student to death.
Several residents of the island also expressed concerned with how the preliminary investigations were handled some went as far as saying that St. Maarten has become an island that harbors lawlessness.

U.S. Consul General Valerie Belon hosted a visit of Commander U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) General Douglas M. Fraser and U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands Fay Hartog Levin, May 9-10, 2011.
General Fraser is Commander of USSOUTHCOM based in Miami, Florida. USSOUTHCOM is responsible for all United States Department of Defense security cooperation in the 45 nations and territories of Central and South America and the Caribbean Sea, an area of 16 million square miles. Consul General Belon said "I was delighted when we learned that General Fraser would be coming to Curacao and even more delighted when Ambassador Hartog Levin was able to make arrangements to join him. This high-level visit demonstrates the importance that the U.S. attaches to our bilateral cooperation with the Dutch Caribbean islands and reinforced the mutually-beneficial partnerships we have on a number of important issues."
Based in The Hague, Ambassador Fay Hartog Levin is the 65th Ambassador of the United States of America to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Appointed by President Obama, she is also Chief of Mission for an Embassy in The Hague that includes many diverse U.S. Government agencies. Unlike most U.S. consuls, Valerie Belon is also Chief of Mission, responsible for all six islands of the Dutch Caribbean as the senior representative of the United States Government. This was only the second U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands to visit the Dutch Caribbean in the last 20 years, the last visit being in 2005 along with the then head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
The visitors had scheduled meetings with Governor Frits Goedgedrag, Acting Representative of the Netherlands Patricia Grollé, Dutch Marine Brigadier General Dick Swijgman, and U.S. Forward Operating Location Commander Lieutenant Colonel Brian Bell.
Ambassador Levin's visit began with a joint meeting with Curacao Prime Minister Schotte, Aruba Prime Minister Eman, Aruba Infrastructure Minister Sevinger, and Curacao Economy Minister Hakim. The meetings covered topics of common interest including tourism development and regional security.
NEWS
Ambassador Hartog Levin was also able to visit the historic Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue and Museum Kura Hulanda including its exhibits on the history of the slave trade. The Ambassador said that she was very impressed with the unique beauty, culture, and architecture of Curacao and hopes to make a return visit to the Dutch Caribbean as soon as possible.

Philipsburg:--- Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams chaired the first meeting of the SER (Social Economic Council) on Tuesday. The Prime Minister said that during the first meeting the members of the council were appointed and the resolution of the appointment is now at the governor's office for signature.
The appointed members are representation is from both the employers and employees.

The nine appointed members are:--

• Will Helmus
• Willy Haize
• Theophilus Thompson
• William Reed
• Junior Lake
• Arthur Bute
• Evelyn Henriques Dijkoff
• Dwight Williams
• Elaine Gumbs Vlaun
• Rene Richardson

Substitute Members are:-

• Edwin Smith
• Patricia Pantophlet
• Denicio Connor
• Hubert Pantophlet
• Marc Van der Bilt
• Valva Pantophlet
• Tazio Bervoets
• Suzy Cartocomo
• Marcus Stemmer

Rene Richardson was nominated chairman of the council by the members and substitute members while Dwight Williams was nominated vice chairman. All appointments and nominations she said has to be formalized by a national resolution.

Great Bay (GIS):--- Minister of Health Cornelius de Weever along with the Inspector General (Health) of St. Maarten and the BES Islands and several advisors from the health sector attended a meeting with the French side to discuss with Vice-President of the Collectivite of Saint Martin Dr. Louis Jeffry and French Medical Regional Agency Stephan Barlerin several health topics and the current issues involved.

The objective of the meeting is to share information, increase cooperation and improve efficiency where possible.

Minister De Weever said that it was a pleasure to be here in the council hall and thanked all for coming to the meeting. Although this is an introductory meeting, I wanted to discuss several important and pressing matters.

The agenda was as follows:

1. Inventory of the services that are offered by the French side and its current status, and the refinement of the continued working relationship,
2. Look at the quality care, referrals, and ways to collaborate more
3. Update on Women's Health Symposium
4. Blood Bank cooperative possibilities
5. Mental Health treatment capacity

The two groups shared information and updated each other on recent developments, and revealed the areas of more cooperation. There were discussions as well relating to French side medical fees, surveillance challenges, like Dengue and flu, guarding quality of the health care system, expansion plans, preventive issues, amongst other issues.

Sprint Legend Kittitian Kim Collins' semi retirement from athletics has done very little to slow him down as he continues to impress with victory after victory . The latest was at the IAAF World Challenge Series Grand Prix meet held in Kawasaki Japan.

Collins ran a modest 10.40 to beat Australian Aaron Rouge-Street and Japan's Ryota Yamagata.

Collins next appears at the Manchester Great City Games on Sunday May 15th where a dozen Olympic medallists will take part in the annual event.

This year the showcase events will include the 200m where Shawn Crawford, the 2004 Olympic champion and runner-up in Beijing three years ago will face Kim Collins of St Kitts, winner of the Commonwealth Games 100m in Manchester nine years ago and the 2003 World Champion as well as multiple times World Championship Bronze medallist.

Tyson Gay set a world best time of 19.41 over 200m on a the straight track at this event last year, and it is down to the four competitors in this event in 2011 to beat this. These include Britain's Rikki Fifton along with Crawford and the track veteran Kim Collins who came out of retirement in January to have one of the best season';s of his stellar career.

Results from Sunday May 8th athletics Grand Prix in Kawasaki, Japan, the third leg of the world challenge series were:

Men

100m (wind: -0.8)

1. Kim Collins (SKN) 10.40sec

2. Aaron Rouge-Serret (AUS) 10.42

3. Ryota Yamagata (JPN) 10.51

4. Shintaro Kimura (JPN) 10.54

5. Masashi Eriguchi (JPN) 10.54

6. Zheng Dongsheng (CHN) 10.55

7. Simon Magakwe (RSA) 10.65

Anthony Alozie (AUS) did not start

Cay Hill:--- SMMC is pleased to announce that, in the presence of the Mediator Mr. D.
Holiday, the CLA Protocol has been signed between SMMC and WIHCUA. With signing the CLA Protocol SMMC and the WIHCUA confirmed in writing the main points parties' reached agreement on that will be incorporated in the new CLA.

SMMC recognized that with the signing of the CLA Protocol an important milestone has been achieved. After lengthily discussions and all that is said and written, SMMC maintained its professional stance, as completion of the new CLA would be in the interest of the employees of SMMC.

The package outlined in the CLA Protocol significantly benefits the labor conditions of the employees and also fits the guiding principles of SMMC.

Among others the Protocol arranges implementation of a new performance evaluation system, increase of the vacation allowance, increase of the start amount of vacation days, introduction of an a scarcity allowance, a structure to implement a cost of living adjustment based on the height of the CPI increase and the objective to work out a cooperation framework in a social contract.

The new CLA will be effective as of June 1, 2011 for a period of 3 years.

The new CLA will not just be a document for covering the Labor conditions within the
SMMC, but also provides a framework where parties can work together. Within this framework committees will be established to give special attention to common objectives and goals.

Therefore, above all the CLA Protocol underlines the commitment to jointly move forward to create a safer and healthier hospital organization that exceed the satisfaction of patients and employees.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- On Monday, May 16 at the Cabinet of the Minster of Plenipotentiary in The Hague, a get-together was organized to honour the Motiance Dance School as one of the 10 nominees for the Appeltjes van Oranje. Council of State member Dennis Richardson was also present at the Sint Maarten House.

On Tuesday, the winners and nominees were also invited to Her Majesty Queen Beatrix Palace Noordeinde in The Hague where they met HM Queen Beatrix, Prince Willem Alexander and Princess Maxima.

Philipsburg:--- Sint Maarten and Anguilla have agreed to what Chief Minister Hubert Hughes calls a "functional cooperation" between Anguilla and Sint Maarten similar to the kind of cooperation that exists between the Scandinavian countries.

At a meeting held in Anguilla on Friday, May 13th, between a high-powered Sint Maarten delegation led by the Honourable Vice Prime Minister Theo Heyliger, which included the Hon. Minister of Justice, Roland Duncan, Chief Minister Hubert Hughes stressed the long-standing relationship between the two islands and the strong family ties that bind them together.

"These are indeed reasons for us to have a stronger and more structural relationship," concurred Vice Prime Minister Heyliger. "There are many areas in which we can make our cooperation more functional and meaningful," he added, pointing to the Princess Juliana International Airport as a sub-regional hub, the possibility of joint marketing activities and the Tourism Statistical Information System (TSIS) among others.

The Sint Maarten delegation, which also comprised Angelique Roumou who represented Minister of Tourism Franklin Meyers, Director of Tourism, Regina LaBega and officials of the Sint Maarten Tourist Bureau as well as Peter Mazereeuw, gave a presentation on the TSIS to the Anguillan authorities who were reportedly "very excited" about it.

"The TSIS offers the opportunity to obtain psychographic information about the visitors, which means not just their profiles but also their behavior patterns," explained Director of Tourism Regina LaBega.

"There is an opportunity to build on the system and add Anguilla's inventory to it, thus being able to provide valuable information about visitors going to Anguilla from Sint Maarten, information that would be important in attracting visitors by air as well as strengthening the hub facilities," Labega added.

Providing residents and visitors of Anguilla "smoother entry" into Sint Maarten was another major point of discussion at the talks. It was agreed that the process for visitors to Anguilla via Sint Maarten needs to be simplified, and service needs to be improved.

Sint Maarten needs to facilitate the immigration processing of in-transit visitors to Anguilla, which, according to the authorities of that island, sometimes takes visitors up to five hours waiting time. It was suggested that an in-transit line and an information desk could hasten this process.

Justice Minister Roland Duncan mentioned the strategy of the Immigration office at the Simpson Bay bridge staying open late to accommodate visitors heading for Anguilla via Sint Maarten.

Duncan also revealed that the immigration process is already being worked on to allow for example, Guyanese legal residents of Anguilla to travel to Sint Maarten to shop, given the fact that Sint Maarten is viewed as a shopping mall for Anguilla residents.

Another area of cooperation that was discussed was cooperative marketing, in particular a US$90,000 joint venture with Sint Maarten and COPA airlines to attract visitors from South America.

Furthermore, Anguilla demonstrated initial interest in cooperating with WestJet and Jet Blue from Puerto Rico in view of the loss of the American Eagle flight from said market. However, it was noted that the increase of flights by Jet Blue should take the transfer in and out of Anguilla into consideration.

Also, the Anguilla government and private sector indicated their commitment to attending the 10th anniversary of the Sint Maarten Annual Regional Trade Show, SMART. This would be an opportunity for Anguilla to learn first-hand about the TSIS system and how it can enhance their individual products, Anguilla and the sub-region in general.

"I am very happy at the outcome of the meeting," stated Vice Prime Minister Theo Heyliger. "Although we met on Friday the 13th, there was nothing scary nor superstitious about the talks," he mused, adding that these were overdue and would be structured into a periodic consultation between the governments of these islands.

Heyliger had led a Sint Maarten delegation to St. Barths on a similar mission a week earlier and explained that these meetings formed part of government policy to establish a closer working relationship with our immediate neighbours which would be beneficial to all parties.

The Anguillan authorities applauded the initiative taken by Sint Maarten and expressed confidence that it would yield concrete positive results for both parties.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Honorable Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams, Chairman of the Island's Disaster Emergency Management Organization, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), is calling on the Sint Maarten community to begin to prepare timely for the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season and to have the necessary plans in place by June 1st, the beginning of the season.

Colorado State University hurricane team Phil Klotzbach and William Gray have forecasted in their April report an above-average hurricane season with 16 named storms, of which nine will become hurricanes, and five of those will become major hurricanes with over 111 miles per hour winds. Another forecast will be presented by the hurricane team early June.

Even though the official start of the season is about two weeks away, the Prime Minister is urging residents to use this period to prepare themselves adequately by reviewing their annual hurricane season preparatory list.

The Prime Minister added that the country's disaster preparedness and emergency management mechanism are expected to be ready to deal with any eventuality arising during the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season.

"It has been projected that the 2011 season will be an active one. I am encouraging the nation to begin to prepare now, so as to mitigate the effects of a hurricane disaster. Use the time now wisely to prepare our homes, businesses and other buildings.

"It makes no sense to leave major preparations until days or hours before a hurricane is forecasted to strike. Save yourself the stress and prepare now by reviewing your disaster plan and reviewing your disaster supply kit.

"Prepare early and avoid being caught unprepared. Minimize your dependence on government, family or friends. Preparedness starts with every one of us within our communities," Hon. Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams told DCOMM on Wednesday.

Some of the preparations that should be carried out now are the removal of debris from around homes and businesses; checking hurricane shutters and the roof of your home or business to make sure windows close securely and there are no weak spots in the roof.

Persons living along coastal areas as well as those in flood prone areas should start looking at what measures they would take in the event of a hurricane or flood.

The 2011 hurricane season officially runs through November 30.

Philipsburg:--- Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams attempted to clear up the confusion on the appointments of the new board members of WINAIR at Wednesday's press briefing.
Last week during the Council of Ministers press briefing, the Prime Minister said the members of the board were already appointed but she did not have the names of the persons that were appointed. This week she said while all the statements that were given by different parties last week are factual apparently there were more questions on the issue.
Prime Minister Wescott Williams said three of the four persons that were submitted are no longer available for the position. Wescot Williams said she will be submitting the names of at least three other persons but has declined to say who the nominees are. She said the next shareholders meeting will be held during the first week of June.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- On May, 17th, the Millennium Development Goal Workgroup (MDG) came together to celebrate the publishing of the final version of the first MDG Report for Sint Maarten and Curacao, and to discuss the following steps to address Sint Maarten's development issues.

Okama Brook, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Liaison Officer for Curacao and Sint Maarten, was very happy to meet with the MDG workgroup. The latter has gone through the process of completing several development trajectories in order to meet the outputs.

The MDG Workgroup is being led by Loekie Morales, Program Manager and European Union (EU) and UNDP development cooperation focal point for the Government of Sint Maarten.

A copy of the report was presented to the Sint Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) President Emil Lee, who took part in the process that led to the final MDG report for the country.

Sint Maarten is exploring the possibilities in working together with the UNDP on topics such as: a National Development Plan, Nation Building, an implementation trajectory for the MDGs that are lagging behind among some other areas.

Between May 27th and 30th, UNDP experts will evaluate the components of the program from last year such as the DevInfo workshop, the One United Nations System Workshop, the MDG workshop and Lecture, the process of the MDG Report, and the Change Management Workshop.

Loekie Morales told the Department of Communication on Wednesday the following: "We will take the lessons learned from this program to the next level in national development.

"The MDG report will serve as a basis for our National Development Plan. We are ready to execute and incorporate the findings of the MDG report into the upcoming National Development Plan, whereby the needs of the people will be taken into consideration."

UNDP Liaison Officer Okama says: 'The UNDP supports Sint Maarten with whatever assistance we can provide in the trajectory to realize a good National Development Program.

'UNDP considers a democratic dialogue as an essential tool in the national development of the country. The people need to have an input in the direction of the development of their country'.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Honourable Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams on Thursday reacted to statements made by several Members of Parliament of the Dutch Second Chamber's Permanent Commission for Kingdom Relations.

"It is with disbelief that the Government of Sint Maarten took note of the personal name calling by some members of the Dutch Parliament directed to the Prime Minister and Vice Prime Minister of the Country Sint Maarten.

"The Government of Sint Maarten has become accustomed to the often times critical remarks from members of the Second Chamber directed at the Government of Sint Maarten, but a few members during the meeting on May 18, clearly overstepped the boundaries of decency," Hon. Prime Minister Wescot-Williams said on Thursday.

The Prime Minister in her comments expressed appreciation for the handling of the issue by Hon. Minister for Interior and Kingdom Relations Piet Donner and the Chairperson of the Committee, but condemns the statements by members V. Raak and Lucassen in the strongest possible manner.

In musing over this matter, the Prime Minister remarked that it is a public secret that some members of the Second Chamber had opposed Sint Maarten's new status up to the very end.

"No reason however for the disrespectful display by these same members. Let it be made abundantly clear that the Parliament to whom the government of country Sint Maarten is accountable sits in Philipsburg.
"Parliaments' duties include the scrutinizing of the work of their Governments, and in this respect, have all right and perhaps the duty to call their government and its individual ministers to give account.
"Dutch legislation, like our own legislation describes the (political) relationship between the Parliament and the Government. Now, maybe, locally we make too much fuss about what individual members of Parliament say about Sint Maarten. Perhaps even there are just a regular few who make the Sint Maarten dossier their preferred past time.
"However, it needs to be said and it needs to be said clearly that the Dutch Parliament's concern (and supervision if you wish) is on the Dutch government and these direct and subtle threats towards Sint Maarten serve no purpose and have no place in our constitutional system.
"The counterpart for the Dutch Parliament is the parliament of Sint Maarten as far as Sint Maarten is concerned and not like some members of the Dutch parliament seems to think that because Sint Maarten is now a country, somehow that grants them a new responsibility towards this island.
"Let's keep the constitutional lines clear. In fact, not any more than any other citizen of the Kingdom, the members of the Dutch parliament can ask any question they feel like, but they should not be showering their minister of Kingdom Relations or any other minister with questions that regard the internal workings of the governments of the other countries in the Kingdom.
"If we overstep our bounds in the area of foreign relations and international relationships, then by all means. If we engage in actions that compromise the interests of the Kingdom, then by all means.
"But some-one would need to explain us the Dutch parliament's role with respect to Sint Maarten's budget and Sint Maarten government-owned companies. Better yet, explain the parliament's role regarding a meeting between the government of Sint Maarten and the CFT.
"The government of Sint Maarten has gone to great lengths to establish institutions to provide the necessary checks and balances, not because the Dutch Parliament said so, but because it is good for Sint Maarten.
"And mind you, if the criticism and the subtle threats are leveled with the objective of helping find solutions for whatever perceived misgivings, then again by all means.
"Until then, we demand respect from members of the Dutch Chamber and in fact from all partners in the Kingdom," Hon. Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams said on Thursday in addressing the remarks made by Dutch parliamentarians.

UTS pledged its support for the fundraising efforts of the Milton Peters College (MPC) graduating class by offering a BlackBerry Smartphone. This device is a prize in a series of raffles to raise funds that will go toward the expenses of the graduation ceremony of the 2011 class. Raffle tickets are only $2 a piece and are available at Van Dorp, The administration office at MPC and from members of the 2011 graduating class. The drawing of the winner will be on June 8th at 12:20pm at the school. "We commend the students for being so proactive in making their graduation ceremony a memorable experience. They are working hard to make the graduation a very special occasion and we didn't hesitate to assist them in achieving this goal" said Marketing and Communications Officer of UTS, Ivy Lambert.

Philipsburg:--- Fourteen members of the Parliament of St. Maarten voted unanimously in favor of appointing government civil servant and attorney at law Alsain Van Dyke Bell as the 1st deputy clerk (First Secretary General). Van Dyke Bell will serve temporarily until a replacement is found for the position.
The chairlady of parliament Gracita Arrindell sent the advice to the members of parliament indicating to them that a second agenda point was added to the agenda of Monday's which was to appoint the first assistance secretary general on a temporary basis. Van Dyke Bell will be appointed if his employers which is the government of St. Maarten grants him the permission to assist parliament should the need arise. On Monday morning, shortly before she adjourned the meeting the chairlady distributed copies of the advice to the parliamentarians so they could caucus on the advice of the presidium.
Deputy Chairman and member of the presidium Petrus Leroy De Weever requested that parliament postpone the second agenda point of the day which was to discuss and appoint Atwell Terrence Rey as the second deputy clerk. Several members of the coalition mostly from the United Peoples Party seconded the request to postpone Rey's appointment.

UTS has pledged its support to the "Get off the block, Get on the bus, Get Busy" ("GB3") project of Minister Rhoda Arrindell by donating 2 BlackBerry Smartphones to the two coordinators of the project. Accepting the two devices was Shermina Powell, one of the two coordinators of the project. With the recruitment phase of the GB3 initiative completed, the program is now moving into phase of mentoring, training and guiding the recruited youths so that they may acquire the skill-set to secure gainful employment in future in a field that is best suited for them. Over 50 youths have joined the program and must attend the mandatory coaching sessions. The goal is to ultimately help the participants find employment or to help them develop a skill or talent that they can further utilize to make a living. "Monitoring the progress of the over 50 candidates is a mammoth task and allowing the coordinators to keep in touch and react to situations immediately through the donated smartphones seemed like a logical step to us" said Ivy Lambert, Marketing and Communications Officer of UTS. "The devices will allow them to improve their efficiency within the program and supporting this initiative was very important to us. This is a project that affects everyone on this island in one way or another. Aside from preparing the youths in the program to be part of the workforce, a new generation is being prepared to work in whatever area of the service industry they are best suited for. Fact remains that the tourism industry is the bread-and-butter of our island. The positive experience and good reviews from our tourists is what will keep visitors coming to this island. If this program will prepare a group of youngsters with the right skills and mindset to offer that positive experience, then we will all benefit as an island. As a company with the future of our island at heart naturally we are in full support."

Hindus have sent greetings to Trinidad and Tobago, one of the wealthiest nations in the Caribbean, as it celebrates "Indian Arrival Day" on May 30.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, expressed warmest greetings on upcoming "Indian Arrival Day", wishing that it brought joy, happiness, blessings and cheer to all the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, said that he would pray for this great country's well-being, which is known for Carnival, mesmerizing beaches and calypso music.

"Indian Arrival Day" commemorates the arrival of the first Indian indentured laborers from India to Trinidad on May 30, 1845 on the ship Fatel Razack. It is an official public holiday since 1994. During 1845-1917, over 140,000 Indians were transported here, who brought with them a new culture.

Celebrations this year reportedly include cultural shows, parades, patriotic songs, exhibition, chutney songs, dances, folk (Sohar, Khajari, Bhojpuri, etc.) songs, awards distribution, fashion show, concert, Bhangra-Giddah, etc., to mark the 166th anniversary of the arrival of East Indians to this country. High Commission of India in Port of Spain, with Malay Mishra as High Commissioner, is also said to be assisting in the celebrations.

Kamla Persad-Bissessar, first female Prime Minister of this island nation, who took Oath of Office on ancient Hindu scripture Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord) on being elected last year, will address various events during this day. George Maxwell Richards is the President.

Said to be settled at least 7,000 years ago, dual-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago in southern Caribbean, is heavily influenced by petroleum industry. A $14-million Hindu temple and community center has been planned for Freeport, according to reports.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.

Cole Bay:--- United Peoples (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Jules James on Wednesday stated he is very pleased that the UP Leader and Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Theo Heyliger, continues to demonstrate his commitment to fulfill his promises made during election time with respect to the development of the islands communities.
"Personally speaking, I too have made some promises to the residents of Cole Bay and Cape Bay, and I will make every effort to have these delivered to the aforementioned communities. The residents of both communities will see some infrastructural improvements taking place in their community within the coming weeks which is necessary and long overdue. It is a start and there will be much more in the months and years to come," UP MP Jules James pointed out on Wednesday.
James added that he is looking forward to members of the community coming out to the Town Hall Meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 5 at Carl's Unique Inn Conference Room to learn more about the project works. The Town Hall Meeting is being organized by the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure.
"These town hall settings are essential to bring the people and government officials together to learn more about the positive developments for their community. It is an opportunity to address issues related to the project and to also make suggestions.
"This type of engagement is necessary as Sint Maarten moves forward. Together we have to build our country and the communities of Cole Bay and Cape Bay. Additional investments will need to be made in road resurfacing, sewage and drainage issues, proper street lighting and sidewalks.
"These are essential to the quality of life. People don't want dust constantly flying into their homes due to unpaved roads. The people don't want open sewage running on the street creating a health hazard for the neighborhood.
"The people want street lights that will light up the area and create safe neighborhoods to walk in and around rather than having to walk along the road fearing to be struck down by a car. There are also many young people living in Cole Bay and Cape Bay communities. They need proper youth and sporting facilities where they can go and occupy themselves during their spare time after school.
"These are some of the things that I would like to see addressed and the UP will address them over time. As they say, Rome was not built in one day, and we can't expect to do everything all at once. I wish we could, but as we all know, public finances won't permit that at this point in time, however, we will prevail," UP MP Jules James said on Wednesday.

Marigot:--- The Gendarmes arrested the driver of a car that was driving with excessive speed through Concordia on Sunday.
According to a press release from the Gendarmerie, the driver refused to obey the orders of the Gendarmes when they tried to stop him. The Gendarmes managed to stop the man later and they arrested him. Preliminary investigations show that the vehicle was stolen on the Dutch side of the island on April 28th. At the time, the vehicle had no license plates.
The Gendarmes also arrested two persons ages 16 and 18 who are suspected of robbing a business establishment in Marigot on April 22nd. The investigators also found two toy guns which it is believed were used in the robbery. The two suspects have been summoned to appear in court at a later date.

Philipsburg:--- The body of an elderly woman of Chinese decent who was reported missing by members of her family was found on the beach next to Great Bay Hotel on Monday night. The victim who has not yet been officially identified is 86 years old and resides on the French side of the island said Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos.
Mos said the body was confiscated and an autopsy was conducted on the body on Tuesday afternoon. The cause of death is not yet known to the public prosecutor's office.

Philipsburg:--- Honourable President of Parliament Drs. Gracita Arrindell would like to announce that the Central Committee of Parliament will be meeting with the Committee of Financial Supervision CFT on Tuesday, May 17.

The meeting will take place in the General Assembly Chamber in the House of Parliament at 10.00am.

The permanent Kingdom Affairs and Inter-parliamentary Relations Committee will also be meeting on Tuesday, May 17 at 2.00pm in the General Assembly Chamber.

Parliamentarians have a five-point agenda for discussion, namely, the Parliament of Curacao proposed concept agenda for the next contact plan meeting; the set-up of the contact plan as proposed by the chair person of the commission; the Democratic Deficit report; the Kingdom Travel Law; and the set-up of the contact plan delegation.

Committee Members of Parliament (MP) for the Kingdom Affairs and Inter-parliamentary Relations Permanent Committee are Hon. MP William Marlin, Hon. MP Roy Marlin, Hon. MP Dr. Ruth Douglass and Hon. MP Patrick Illidge. All members of parliament have been invited to attend the meeting.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Honourable Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams told Inspirational Business Symposium leaders on Sunday during a cocktail evening that the Government of Sint Maarten is keen on developing business relationships with all potential partners and in different areas such as health, tourism and trade, starting right here in the Caribbean.

"You do your business and if in doing so, the people of the islands and countries are better served through better service, new employments and fresh investments, then I say, 'You have my blessing,' the Prime Minister pointed out to the gathering.

The Prime Minister added, for Bonaire, Curacao and Aruba, and Saba, Sint Maarten and St. Eustatius, collaboration is a must, adding that because of the new constitutional statuses, the islands must guard against falling into the trap of creating constitutional barriers to potential business initiatives.

It is already more than seven months that the former Netherlands Antilles ceased to exist and in its place, five new entities were created. This momentous occasion triggered a change in the relationships between all kingdom partners.

"I remain convinced that –and I speak for Sint Maarten- our new status offers new opportunities, especially because Sint Maarten is now able to chart its own course.

"Some would view this statement with scepticism, as the new relationships have also brought with it new types of cooperation that do have a bearing on some internal matters, such as monetary and financial matters and of course justice.

"This has not only come about because of the change in our statuses, but also because as more autonomous states in the Kingdom, we have climbed a notch on the international stage as far as complying with international obligations is concerned. Still within those parameters, there is a lot of room to manoeuvre.

"And maybe just because we still have those cords and a common history that binds us, finding common and fertile ground in the area of business, is a logical initiative," the Prime Minister told attendees at a special welcome reception on Sunday.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The Civil Registry Department hereby announces that the Identification Card (ID) machine is out of order until further notice.

The department apologises for any inconvenience that this may cause.

Persons who have any questions can contact the Civil Registry Department at 542-2457.

Last week episode 02 of the First Seminar of the Sint Maarten Seniors and Pensioners Association was aired. We could see drs. Raymond Jessurun detailing the pension systems of the public servants in country Sint Maarten, the governor's pension, the pensions of the Ministers and Parliamentarians of Country Sint Maarten, and the Civil Servants pensions. Drs. Jorien Wuite and drs. Susan Aafjes explained the scenario for the old age pension system for Country Sint Maarten.

This week end on Friday May the 20th and on Saturday the 21rst, St Maarten Cable TV Channel 15 will air the 3rd episode of the First Seminar from the SMSPA.

If you want to know how the pensions are being adjusted to the cost of living developments in Sint Maarten, than you must watch this 3rd episode!
If you want to know if differences in the old age pension systems in the Kingdom of the Netherlands can be eliminated, and which are the arguments to achieve equal pensions in the Kingdom of the Netherlands just as French Sint Maarten has equal pensions as in France, than you should not miss this 3rd episode of the SMSPA seminar!!

The main speaker this week end will be drs Raymond Jesssurun who will be covering two topics :
Episode 3 Indexation vs Cost of Living &Equal Old Age Pensions in the Kingdom of the Netherlands

These episodes have been made possible by the SMSPA, the speakers, the participants and last but not least the sponsors of the First Seminar of the SMSPA .

Every Saturday evening at 8 pm St Maarten Cable tV on Channel 15 will repeat Friday's 6 pm broadcast of the episode for the viewers who have missed the program on Friday or for those who want to see these very informative and educative seminar episodes once more.

St. Peters:--- The detective and forensic department are currently investigating the tragic death of an 11 year old boy whose body was found hanging at the family's residence on Cherry Nut Road.
The detective and forensic teams were at the scene conducting their investigation early Saturday morning. Police confirmed that the investigation into the child's death is still ongoing.
A press release issued by Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson said several police patrols, detectives and forensic investigators were directed to a home on Cherry Nut road in South Reward, to investigate a case in which the lifeless body of an eleven year old boy identified as Safan Gregory Charmes was found by his parents. On the scene, the investigating officers spoke to the parents of the victim who directed the officers to the victim's bedroom. The victim was found hanging by his neck in his clothes-closet and was not showing any signs of life.
The police doctor arrived on the scene and pronounced the death of the victim. The forensic investigators and detectives are conducting this investigation to determine exactly what transpired prior to the death of the victim. The body has been confiscated for further investigation, the police spokesman said. It is believed that the young boy was a student of the Sr. Magda School in St. Peters.

SMN News visited the parents at their home on Saturday hoping that they would release some information and a photograph of their deceased son but they said they wanted the media to respect their privacy as they mourn. The family who hails from Suriname expressed dissatisfaction that their son's death was posted on Facebook. They even asked how SMN News reporters knew where to find them and how we learnt of the tragedy. SMN News will be following the developments as the investigation continues.

Marigot/Sandy Ground:--- The gendarmes are busy investigating the third homicide committed on the French side for this year. Commandant of the Gendarmerie Stephen Brunet said a 28 year old man from Dominica was shot just before midday on Sunday. He died of his injuries at the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital.
Brunet said so far the killer has not been apprehended and an investigation is now underway.

Philipsburg:--- Honourable Minister of Finance Hiro Shigemoto sent his Financial Overview Memorandum (Voorjaarsnota) to Parliament last week.

The Financial Overview Memorandum to Parliament gives an outline about the status of financial affairs of the country Sint Maarten since the memorable day of 10-10-10.

The Minister of Finance in his overview provides insight into the period prior to 10-10-10 and the many changes that took place and directly impacted the financial situation of the new country Sint Maarten.

The Minister mentions changes, some with no impact, some with positive and negative consequences as well as opportunities and opportunities to improve the quality of life of the nation, opportunities to build towards an efficient satisfying level of public services.

Minister Shigemoto in his introduction to the 12-page document points out that there must be the will to work together and not work against each other in order to realize the opportunities that exist for the country and its people.

The Financial Overview Memorandum sections provide information on economic growth; informal sector, shadow economy; national debts and budget deficits; public service level and quality of life; dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles; the year 2010 up to 10-10-10; the period 10-10-10 up to December 31, 2010.

Other areas covered are: the first quarter of 2011; other (budget 2011, acceptable tax burden, interest norm, budget 2012); structural measures to balance the budget on the long-term; and closing remarks.

"I am looking forward to debating the Financial Overview Memorandum during the handling of the first country Sint Maarten 2011 budget which has a zero deficit

"During this debate our community will learn more about the national financial state of affairs of our country and what is being done to improve our countries financial management with the quality of life being the main goal," Hon. Minister of Finance Hiro Shigemoto said on Wednesday.

Philipsburg:--- Some 18 students who completed the Teachers Education Program (TEP) that is offered at the University of Saint Martin (USM) are now in limbo as the Minister of Education Dr. Rhoda Arrindell decided that she will not sign or distribute their certificates unless an assessment of the school's curriculum is completed. Graduation is scheduled for June 18th.
Minister of Education Dr. Rhoda Arrindell said last week that her Ministry and USM had decided to have an assessment done on the institution's curriculum by an external agency. During the Council of Ministers Press Briefing on Wednesday this week, Minister Dr. Arrindell explained that she entered into discussions with USM after the institution sent her two letters, one requesting that she recognize USM as the authorized agency to grant students the Bachelors of Arts degree and the other requesting that she distribute the certificates during the graduation ceremony.
The Education Minister said during those discussions the institution agreed to conduct the studies of which her Ministry will pay half of the cost. Minister Arrindell said government cannot take a decision to make them the authorized institution on St. Maarten unless USM complies with the required curriculum for a Bachelors of Arts degree in Education. Minister Dr. Arrindell said government has no way of knowing if the students completed the full course for such degree. She said when the study is completed and if it is found that the students did not complete a full course then those students would have to complete the program before being given a Bachelors of Arts degree. The Minister said unless government can guarantee that USM's curriculum complies with the requirements, government cannot grant them the recognition they requested neither can they recognize the degrees.
Dr. Arrindell said a meeting was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon with her and the graduating students. In an invited comment Chairlady of USM board Valerie Gitterson Pantophlet referred SMN News to the institution's president who took office on May 1.
In an invited comment, President of USM Annelies van den Assem said she informed the students of the current situation. Van den Assem said the Ministry of Education is already in contact with two companies that can handle the assessment. However, she does not know which of the two companies is going to be used. Van den Assem said they are hopeful that the outcome of the assessment is positive which would not affect the students.
Acting Dean Glen Young said that the only set of students that are affected are the TEP students. Young said it is his opinion that all the students including the TEP students will graduate come July 18th.

Marigot:--- Relatives of a 21 year old man identified as William Jeune held the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital hostage for quite a few hours on Wednesday afternoon when they learnt of the young man's death. Several Gendarmes and Territorial Police were called to the scene to bring about order when some of the angry relatives and supporters began throwing rocks at the building. Workers who were about to leave the hospital could not leave the premises as the Haitians nationals converged on the scene.
A close friend to the family said the young man is a French national since he was born on St. Martin to Haitian parents. She said about a year and a half ago William was sent to Martinique where he did a biopsy and he was supposed to be sent to France for a liver transplant but that never happened. The woman said the young man was the holder of a French passport and he was covered 100% by Social Security. The woman who spoke to SMN News anonymously further explained that while William's health must have degenerated over the past year causing other complications with his heart and lungs the family is mostly upset because when William passed away no one from the hospital informed the parents. She said his father slept with him Tuesday night and on Wednesday afternoon when he went to visit his son he found him dead on his bed. "All of the machines that he was hooked up to were removed and they placed his hands across his chest". The father walked in and saw his son like this and when he asked what had happened someone reacted very rudely to him. Later they asked him for the young man's mother who was not yet on the scene. The woman said the doctor who was caring for him jumped on his scooter and left the premises without saying one word to the relatives.
The relatives on the scene were heard saying that the hospital killed William because the young man was suffering terribly since Tuesday. They said William was diagnosed with liver disease two years ago and if he was sent to France he would have been alive. Another friend of the family said the young man attended a training program all week last week even though he knew he was scheduled to leave for France since his parents were making the necessary arrangements to send him for further treatment. She said when he fell ill on Saturday the family called for an ambulance to transport him to the hospital and they were told that there are no ambulances available. "His father had to put him in his car and drive to the doctor's office in Concordia who later admitted him to Louis Constant Fleming Hospital."
Some locals felt the Haitians were over reacting and the only reason they were holding the hospital hostage was because the State allowed it by having expatriates living on social welfare on the French side.
Father of the victim Yves Marie Jeune in an interview with SMN News said his son was ill for the past two years with a severe liver disease and he has been seeing Dr. Vassell for his illness whom he said has been treating him. The bereaved father said he asked the doctor on several occasions to repatriate his son to France for further medical treatment but the doctor he said kept telling him today or tomorrow. "In my view the doctor refused to send my son to Paris for better treatment. He promised us that he will look for a hospital in Paris which he never did. When I saw that the doctor was not willing to help my son I asked my other son who is currently living in France to contact some doctors in Paris and to see if they are willing to admit my son there. My son spoke to two doctors in France and they both gave him their fax numbers and said Dr. Vassel should fax over my son's medical file but he never did," the elder Jeune said. The father said this past week he bought a ticket to send his son to France for better Medicare but the his son took in on Saturday and he took him to see his doctor who immediately admitted him to the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital.
The father said during the weekend when his son was hospitalized, he begged the doctor to repatriate his son to France but everyday he was saying "tomorrow". The father said on Wednesday morning the doctor finally decided to send his son to France but by afternoon his son was dead.
Another relative; Catherine Joseph said on Tuesday she visited her cousin at the hospital and he was suffering and they called the nurse who told them that he should remain sitting. Joseph said they told the nurse that William could not lie down neither could he sit since he was having severe pains in his stomach but the nurse told them that his condition was not serious. Efforts made to obtain a comment from the hospital management proved futile on Wednesday evening.

Click here to view more photos of Hatians at LCF Hospital.

Marigot:--- The President of the Collectivity of Saint Martin Frantz Gumbs has agreed to meet with all taxi associations on Dutch side of the island to further explain to them why his government has decided to introduce an annual parking fee for all taxis and buses that choose to use the Marigot Waterfront, Center of Marigot, Grand Case Parking Area, Orient Bay and Oyster Pond (Captain Oliver). This was agreed upon during a joint meeting on Friday morning between the Minister of Public Transportation Franklin Meyers and the President of the COM Frantz Gumbs.
Minister Meyers said he felt the meeting was a good one and they have agreed to have a protocol in place where they will meet more regularly to discuss matters pertaining to public transportation. Minster Meyers also admitted that a letter was sent to his office on February 28th by the French side, the same day he departed St. Maarten for medical reasons, then not long after he was confronted with the death of his mother. Meyers said the representatives of the COM indicated to him that they were trying to schedule a meeting with the Dutch side for a few years now. He said while not making excuses for himself this past two months were turbulent for him. He also said that the meeting held on Friday was a step in the right direction.
President Gumbs said the meeting in his opinion was an excellent one since they were able to exchange information and bring clarity to the information that was filtered through the media. Gumbs said the reason he agreed to meet with the professionals themselves (Taxi Drivers) was because there is a lot of misconceptions about the introduction of the parking fees. President Gumbs said he is of the opinion that taxi drivers do not understand what the French side's intentions are when it comes to the introduction of the parking fees. President Gumbs said when he meets with the Dutch side associations he intends to discuss transportation in general, especially how it affects tourism. Some of the issues that the COM President intends to address include the gypsy operations.
Responding to questions about fees that taxi drivers are paying to operate at the A.C Wathey Pier and the Princess Juliana International Airport. President Gumbs said those fees were discussed in debt. However, he said the discussions centered on the $18 per month (Euros 150.00 per year) fee that the French side intends to levy on taxi and bus operators which is not compulsory for all drivers to pay. The president said he does not want to divulge more information on the intended taxation until the talks with the associations who are protesting the fees are completed.
In the meantime, sources say the Minister of Transportation Franklin Meyers has agreed to look into the concession that was granted by the Dutch Government to the Dutch Taxi Association. The source said Minister Meyers promised to get back to the French side when he gathered more information on who exactly is benefitting from the fees that are collected by DSTA and ATA.
Several taxi drivers operating at the taxi stand in Marigot shared frustration about the fees the French side government decided to implement without consulting them. The drivers said many days they do not make any monies since there is no work on the French side.
Members of the St. Martin United Taxi Association (SMUTA) said they too were not informed about the parking taxation that will be levied on taxi drivers. The SMUTA members said on one occasion Territorial Councilor Daniel Arnel approached them at their office in Marigot and he informed them that he intended to introduce a parking tax which the association strongly objected to. "Arnel left the meeting without presenting his project because the SMUTA made it clear to him that they will not support additional taxation," the SMUTA member explained. "Those of us working at the harbor have to deal with more discrimination from the DSTA and its dispatchers because they think we knew about the parking fees. Already they were taking away the good jobs even though we are paying more than them and keep it for themselves and their friends. Now since this parking tax we are not getting proper work there either."
The French taxi drivers called on the President of the COM and his councilors to collect the number plate tax and make sure every vehicle owner on the French side purchase their vignette (sticker) if the COM needs money. They said so far the only people buying the vignette are the taxi drivers and adding more taxes on them are unfair.
As for the vendors who sell on the waterfront, they said they have nothing to lose if taxi drivers from the Dutch side do not stop in Marigot. Several of the vendors said the only reason the taxi drivers stop in Marigot is to allow the tourist to use the public restrooms. "The Dutch Taxi Drivers do not bring business for us, they take their passengers to RIMA on the Pondfill Road because RIMA gives them a commission on their sales, and then they would stop at the jewelry stores in the Center of Marigot where they would also get a commission from the store owners. As far as we are concerned the taxi drivers are not thinking about the vendors and the restaurants it is all about what they can make on every tour," one vendor said.

Philipsburg:--- Several homes on the Dutch and French sides of the island have been invaded this past week by robbers. While police and the gendarmes are called and they would normally visit and process the crime scenes the news is often not reported.
Several civil servants working at the Government Administration Building in Philipsburg claimed their homes were robbed. Their homes they said were invaded on more than one occasion by thieves who would not only steal their valuables but would ransack the place and leave it in a total mess.
The victims of these robberies said that police and detectives were called to their homes and the police took their reports and processed the crime scene but the crimes are not being reported in the media. Several of the victims said they believe the police will not release the amount of armed robberies simply because they do not want the people of St. Maarten to panic.
They said the police are not arresting robbery suspects for the lack of prison space at the Pointe Blanche Prison. "Even if the police know who the culprits are they are not making any arrests because they will be released days after they were arrested." One victim told SMN News that since the prosecutor's office was forced to release suspects who were held for armed robberies to make space for murder suspects, the invasion of homes increased dramatically. "Homes are broken into high day and in many instances neighbors would see what is taking place and just cannot do anything because when they call the police they would rush to the scene with their sirens on which gives the thieves the opportunity to escape." One retired police inspector said his house was broken into and he investigated the case himself and he notified police who the culprits were and even though they arrested the suspects they were released by the judge of instruction.
In an invited comment, Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos said suspects of armed robbery are arrested when they are caught but these suspects can only spend up to 26 days in pre-trial detention for the lack of prison cells in Pointe Blanche. The Chief Prosecutor said it is diabolical for him to take these decisions but when one is confronted with a situation where there are no prison cells then his office has to decide which suspects to release and which ones to send up to Pointe Blanche. Mos said his office has sent a proposal to the Minister of Justice advising him that he release prisoners who have almost completed their sentence but the Minister he said still has to take a decision. "I suggested that the Minister use the instrument of grace to release prisoners who have a few months left on their convictions but so far the Minister has not taken a decision and the prosecutor's office has no jurisdiction on prisoners who are already convicted, the only person who can suspend prison sentences is the Minister of Justice and the Governor," Mos said.
Mos further explained that the police have formed a special team who is working successfully to solve home invasion and armed robbery cases but they are now hampered for the lack of prison cells. The Chief Prosecutor said these robbery suspects can get as much as two years depending on the robberies they commit and it is his belief that they can send home a prisoner that has a few more months remaining on their sentence to make room for the robbery suspects and or convicts. Mos said it is very sad when people's homes and privacy are invaded and when their valuables are stolen but for now his office does not have a solution for the lack of cells.

Philipsburg:--- The Public Prosecutor's office has no choice but to release suspects that are held at the Pointe Blanche Prison and Philipsburg police holding cells due to the lack of cell space announced Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos. The Public Prosecutors office released 19 suspects, some of which were held for armed robberies to make space for murder and rape suspects.
Mos said his office had no choice but to release two suspects that were held at the Pointe Blanche Prison to make room for two of the Gypsy gang suspects while the third suspect who was held for fencing stolen items has been released from pre-trial detention.

Thursday 5th May, the prosecutor's office sent the two suspects of the three recent fatal crimes and a number of violent robberies and rapes up to Pointe Blanche Prison. The judge of instruction ordered that they would have to be incarcerated in the Pointe Blanche prison within 48 hours from yesterday (Wednesday). The judge decided that the third suspect in this case who allegedly fenced the stolen goods from the violent crimes several times, was to be suspended from his pre-trial detention. He was ordered to hand over his passport to prevent him from fleeing from his trial.
The Chief Prosecutor said since Pointe Blanche prison is full, the Public Prosecutor's Office again had to take the decision to send two other suspects home from Pointe Blanche, thus creating space for the two who had to be sent up (Gypsy gang).

The two suspects who had to be released from their pre-trail detention were sent up only recently. They both are suspects (29 and 31) in a burglary case in which they stole a flat screen TV, phones and watches from a private house on March 31st 2011.

Mos said having to send home these suspects is a major setback to the newly installed Police team that investigates home burglaries and which has shown to be very successful. Yet, due to the lack of prison cells, those who were arrested since, had to be sent home after 26 days, the prosecutor's office not being able to comply with the judge's order to have them sent up to Pointe Blanche.
The prosecutor's office only has the authority to send suspects home who still are in pre-trial detention and whose verdicts are not yet irrevocable. Once the judge has given the verdict and this is irrevocable, this prison sentence will have to be executed and cannot be overruled by a prosecutor's decision, Mos said.
Mos said enquires were made by the media as to how they intend to house the gypsy gang suspects now that there is no space at the Pointe Blanche Prison. He said it is beyond doubt that these suspects will have to be kept in detention at all costs. Given the judge's consent, that is what is going to happen.
Mos said counting from March 1st 2011, the prosecutor's office had to send 19 suspects home due to lack of prison cells at the Pointe Blanche detention centre.

Awaiting renovation of the Pointe Blanche detention centre and the possible extension of prison facilities elsewhere on the island, the public prosecutor's office submitted plans to the Minister of Justice back in February to alleviate the problems of having to send pretrial detainees home because of lack of prison cells. These plans in brief consist of the possibility to order that the new police cells in the police station in Philipsburg be considered a place where pre-trial detention can be executed (which now is forbidden by law, since those cells do not have that formal status) and the possibility to grant detainees, who have been irrevocably convicted and who are closest to their early release date, grace for the rest of their term, but only when and if their place is needed to lock-up new pre-trail detainees. In these plans, serious crime convicts or repeated criminals are to be excluded from this possibility of grace.

The Minister of Justice has not yet decided on these plans. Awaiting his decision, the prosecutor's office will be forced to send pre-trial detainees home due to lack of prison cells.

Philipsburg:--- Honourable Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunications Franklin Meyers, is pleased to learn that international tourism continues to recover from the global financial crisis and downturn of 2008-09, with figures rising in every region of the world except the Middle East and North Africa.

International tourist arrivals grew by almost five per cent to more than 124 million in January and February this year compared to the same period in 2010, according to the United Nations (UN) World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) figures released last week.

South America and South Asia were the best performers, with international visitor numbers leaping by 15 per cent in both regions, while Sub-Saharan Africa and Central and Eastern Europe respectively posted strong gains of 13 per cent and 12 per cent.

Europe overall performed better than expected, partly because of travel redirected to Southern and Mediterranean Europe following the unrest in many nation in North Africa and the Middle East, where visitor numbers slumped by nine and 10 percent respectively.

Receipts from international tourism are estimated to have topped US$919 billion last year, up from US$851 billion a year earlier.

"The latest data indicated according to the UNWTO that the tourism sector is consolidating the recovery began last year. For our country, we hope that 2011 will be a better year for us for stay-over visitors, but the United States is still fighting to recover.

"Government has taken a number of initiatives to solidify our own tourism based economy by looking at developing relationships with our tourism neighbours and also looking for additional airlift besides increasing current airlift to the destination.

"Our country has also been impacted by the global economic recession, but at a later stage than when the global economic decline first began, however we are a resilient nation and we shall overcome the external shocks of high fuel prices and other challenges that come our way.

"As we approach the low season, let us use the time to look at new opportunities and innovations to move our country forward. I urge all Sint Maarteners to maintain a spirit of optimism.

"Everybody has a role to play in society and we must together confront our socio-economic challenges head-on. It is due to the collective spirit and response that we as a country are able to overcome and move forward together," Hon. Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications Franklin Meyers, said on Sunday.

Sint Maarten has recorded increases in the number of persons visiting from Europe, North and South America and the rest of the world when looking at tourism figures over a period of years up until and including 2010.

Newly crowned Miss St. Maarten Senior Carnival Queen Trumane Trotman has a very busy year ahead of her. Praised for her intellect and confidence on stage, Trumane has publicly been hailed as a very impressive candidate to represent St. Maarten in regional pageants, and the St. Maarten carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) aims to provide her with ample opportunities to do so.

Since being crowned on April 26, the SCDF has been considering number of invitations that St. Maarten has received to enter a contestant in various shows. Though not every invitation will be honored, the SCDF's intention is to enter Trumane into pageants from which she could take away personal growth experiences.

As such, Trumane will carry St. Maarten's flag first into the prestigious 50th edition of the Jaycees Caribbean Queen Show on July 29, in Antigua. The pageant and activities planned are designed to provide each participant with the opportunity to promote their own country and culture and at the same time learn more about their Caribbean neighbors, thereby encouraging Caribbean integration and living up to the theme this year: "Integrating the Caribbean Through Pageantry."

This year, in celebrating the fiftieth anniversary, the pageant will take an interesting twist. The production will be hosted on two days. Wednesday July 27 and Friday July 29, 2011. The pre-show will be held at an Exclusive Hotel Resort with an ambience set for excitement and pageantry. On this day two of the four segments will be performed with an equally exciting supporting International act. Both segments will be judged and the scores sealed to form part of the overall points on the night of July 29 2011.

Following the pageant in Antigua, Trumane and the SCDF will turn their attention towards Jamaica and the Miss Global International Pageant to be held on September 26, at the Grand Palladium Hotel Jamaica. Pageant organizers has described the event as "one of the biggest pageant the Caribbean has ever hosted as he has been getting calls from girls all over the world to participate in the pageant."

Trumane will not only be competing against young women from around the Caribbean, but from Congo, Sweden, Moldova, Cameroon, USA, Romania, to name a few. "With Trumane, St. Maarten has a wonderful contestant to compete in these pageants and, we are confident, one who will do herself and her country proud," President of the SCDF Stuart Johnson said.

"We are currently in the planning and preparation stages for these pageants as Trumane and her readiness now fall under the auspices of the SCDF. We have a team in place, which includes her chaperones, to ensure that Miss St. Maarten is properly prepared to compete on these regional stages," Johnson added.

Trumane said recently that competing in these pageants is something that she is looking forward to.

"Attending various pageants, regionally and internationally, while informing individuals of what my integrated, friendly country St. Maarten has to offer, is one of the many things I look forward to doing in my reign. Besides that, getting more young ladies motivated and excited about participating in next year's Carnival queen show, as well as having my fellow St. Maarteners support me in a soon-to-be announced community project. I strongly believe in the development of our people in order for our country to progress and be known worldwide," she said.

Cole Bay:--- The Detective and Forensic department are busy investigating a shooting on Water Front Road Cole Bay that left a well known Spanish national dead. Residents in the area identified the victim as Miguel Arrindell owner of Cappuccino Bar. Sources say Arrindell was shot seven times close to Tropicana Casino but the victim ran in a bid to escape and fell somewhere close to the Waterfront Lagoon. The body they said fell into the pond and was later removed by friends. SMN News learnt that the victim's girlfriend witnessed the entire shooting spree. While police are tightlipped about the investigation they confirmed that the shooting took place and that the victim died on the spot.
Miguel Arrindell was arrested last year when he was found with a large amount of drugs. He was in police custody for a period of time but was later released when police bungled the investigations. So far indications are that the brutal killing is drug related.

Click here to view the photos of Cole Bay Murder Scene.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- On Wednesday, a number of Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) from the Emergency Operations Center participated in a table-top exercise at the Princess Juliana International Airport. According to Head of the Section Disaster Management Paul Martens, the exercise met its goals and is a good preparation for the live drill that is planned for June 15.

A St. Maarten delegation of 25 Toastmasters recently returned to the island after attending the May District 81 Conference in Tortola, BVI from May 20-22. The St. Maarten Team has recorded tremendous success at the Conference.

Several of the St. Maarten delegates were involved in all aspects of the Conference from Judges, Speech Contestants, workshop Presenters and as candidates in the election for District Leadership.

District 81 boasts a little over 3000 members in 16 territories throughout the Caribbean. The structure consists of 95 clubs divided into 24 Areas and 4 Divisions. The four layer structure (Club, Area, Division and then District) is overseen by the District Leadership

DISTRICT LEADERSHIP:
St. Maarten now has two persons occupying the number 2 and number 5 positions at the Top level of the Caribbean District 81 Executive. Distinguished Toastmaster Rolando Tobias has been elected to the position of Lt. Governor Education & Training. In this new function, Tobias will be responsible for the training of some 3000 Toastmasters throughout the Caribbean. His primary responsibility will be to ensure that all leaders receive mandatory training in their roles and responsibilities twice a year. In addition, he will be responsible to lay out a training program that will provide for development of future leaders in the District. Tobias will also be responsible for overseeing the District Conferences that are held twice annually. The October 2011 Conference is slated to be held in Puerto Rico, while the May 2012 Conference is slated for St. Maarten. Tobias had been the Lieutenant Governor Marketing for the past year and was responsible for club growth, retention and rescue.

Valerie Brazier has been elected to the position of Secretary on the Executive. Her primary responsibilities will be to serve as the center of information for the entire District. She will ensure that all records are kept and that the database of the membership is kept up to date.
Valerie Brazier who is now an Advanced Communicator Gold and just one step away from being a Distinguished Toastmaster (the island's third DTM), replaced Richelda Emmanuel as Division A Governor last year and has taken the Division to the second position amongst the four Divisions (29 clubs) in District 81.

Annette Berkel has been appointed as the new Area Governor for Area 6, which will again comprise all 4 clubs on St Maarten. Advanced Communicator Annette Berkel will succeed Emilia Thomas who for the past year in her capacity as Area Governor has taken Area 6 to the President Distinguished Distinction, the highest award an Area can obtain.

DELEGATES PARTICIPATION

Several of the other St. Maarten Toastmasters featured prominently in the other activities at the Conference.

Toastmaster Malcolm Jacques was a contestant in the Table topic contest amongst 8 other contestants. The table topic contest is the most challenging contest where participants are required to display mental agility and the skills taught in Toastmasters for effective impromptu speaking. Although he was not successful in winning, for Toastmasters Jacques, it was a great experience to share the stage with other contestants and having the opportunity as the winner to represent the District (Caribbean) at the International Speech contest at the Convention in Las Vegas in August 2011.

Advanced Communicator Gold and Advanced Leader Sinatra Rouse was one of the presenters of a workshop during the conference. She gave a very impressive presentation to a room filled to capacity with Toastmasters from across the Caribbean. Her presentation focused on the importance of needing to rescue the member as the avenue to actually rescuing the club. ACG Sinatra demonstrated the importance of the Coaching program as a structured way to empower Toastmasters in the leadership roles. Her presentation was well received.

Several other Toastmasters such as Competent Communicator Joy Arnell and Advanced Communicator Bronze Julisa Frans served as introducers for the various speakers. As introducers, they were required to not only introduce the presenters, but also demonstrate their active listening skills in summarizing the session at the end. ACB Catherine Connor-Arrindell and Angela Gordon served as Counter and Timer respectively for the Speech contests. At the same time, ACG Leona Marlin and TM Rodney Richardson served as judges for the Table topic and International Speech contests.

The Conference experience allows Toastmasters from St. Maarten to demonstrate their skills and expertise and exposes them to the other Toastmasters. The result is that St. Maarten has gained a tremendous amount of respect for the professionalism and is being rewarded by having their members ascend to leadership roles within the highest District Executive Level.

St. Maarten will get the opportunity next year to see the St. Maarten Leaders demonstrate their skills and expertise. St. Maarten has won the bid to host the May 2012 District Conference. As such, plans have started to realize a great conference on St. Maarten and the general public will be hearing much more in the coming months as plans take shape.

St. Maarten Toastmasters are making their mark throughout the Caribbean by developing and exposing great communicators and leaders. Toastmasters International is a worldwide Communication and Leadership organization that focuses on the self development of the individual through a learning-by-doing interactive meeting process. There are four clubs on St. Maarten. Three of these are community clubs, which are open to the general public and anyone interested in developing their communication and leadership skills are welcome to join.

St. Johns Estate:--- Reports reaching SMN News state that two unknown bandits entered the home of former Minister of Labour and Health Maria Buncamper Molanus and held her at knife point. Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson said in a press statement that on Tuesday May 31st 2011 at approximately 12:45pm police were notified of the armed robbery which took place at Ponam Road, St. Johns Estate.
Henson said when detectives arrived on the scene they met with the victim, Maria Buncamper Molanus and her husband Claudius Buncamper who told them that two armed men had forced their way into their home. Mrs. Buncamper Molanus was held up by one the bandits while she was in her kitchen where the attacker placed a knife at her throat and threatened to injure her if she did not cooperate with them. Mrs. Buncamper told police she was attacked from behind by someone who had his face partly covered. The Police Spokesman said because Mrs. Buncamper resisted her attacker, she was slightly injured on her right hand. Buncamper Molanus also told police that she did not realize a second intruder was also inside the house with a rope and wire in his hand. The two robbers wrestled Buncamper Molanus to the floor where they attempted to tie her up but they were interrupted when Claudius Buncamper walked into the house. The robbers then fled when they realized that someone else had entered the house. They managed to escape through the bushes in the area. Police combed the area in search of the robbers and they recovered a flat screen television which was already removed from the house. Henson said the Armed Robbery Unit and Forensic Department are busy investigating the robbery while no one was arrested for the crime. The Police Department is also calling on persons who may have any information on the intruders to contact the police department.

Philipsburg:--- Shooting suspect Omar Jones who surrendered to police some weeks ago has been released from pre-trial detention confirmed his lawyer Brenda Brooks. Brooks said her client appeared in court on Monday May 16th and the judge of instruction released him from police custody.
Omar Jones, the younger brother of slain Amador Jones was arrested by police after he was identified by a Dutch Quarter shooting victim as the person who shot him during a drive by shooting.

The SHTA recently donated $1500 to Isidore York aka the Mighty Dow to assist with travel expenses related to his trip to Trinidad, where he will be inducted into the International Reggae and World Music Awards Hall of Fame (IRAWMA) and receive a lifetime Achievement Award on May 28th, 2011. "We are extremely proud of the Mighty Dow and believe that this accomplishment is significant for the island. The Mighty Dow is an exceptional role model and we are glad to see his years of hard work and lifelong commitment to music paid off in such a tremendous way," Executive Director, Valya Pantophlet, said. The Mighty Dow is also a two-time winner of the SHTA's Crystal Pineapple Award. In 2008 he received the award for Outstanding Community Tourism and last year for Outstanding Achievement with Youth.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Section Head of Disaster Management Paul Martens, says that the department will be using social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook in order to get information quicker to members of the community who utilize the aforementioned sites.

Social media are media for social interaction, using highly accessible and scalable communication techniques. Social media is the use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into interactive dialogue.

People gain information and news by electronic media and print media. Social media is relatively inexpensive and accessible to enable anyone to access information.

"People will be able to sign-up for our Facebook and Twitter accounts once these are active and receive information and storm news right away once this information has been drafted by the Office of Disaster Management.

"Blackberry users who use their device to access Twitter and Facebook will be able to receive storm warning and advisory information instantly.

"This new mode of communication and dissemination of official information to the community should be seen as another step in trying to provide information as quick as possible to the community.

"The department will continue to utilize the traditional media as well for the dissemination of official storm information," Section Head of Disaster Management Paul Martens told the Department of Communication (DCOMM) on Thursday.

The 2011 Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1st. Various weather forecasters and agencies have in the past six weeks forecasted an active hurricane season.

The number of named storms varies between 12-18, of which six to 10 could become hurricanes; and three to six of those could become major hurricanes with over 111 miles per hour winds.

The 2011 hurricane season officially runs through November 30.

Philipsburg:--- Businesswoman and local entrepreneur Florencia Williams who is part of the Global Wealth Trade will be challenging the decision of Chief Public Prosecutor Hans Mos who forced her investors to leave St. Maarten. Williams sought the services of a lawyer on Monday to proceed with a court case since the investors she said came to St. Maarten to teach and train the local investors on St. Maarten.
These people she said owns homes on St. Maarten but originate from Canada. Williams said she advertised the training and other events that were scheduled to take place at the Yogesh Center as of Thursday last week. Williams said on the first night of the meeting which was the Thursday night they had close to 300 persons who attended the meeting including two Dutch men whom she did not know. Williams said she personally attended to the "white Dutch men" and asked them who invited them to the meeting and they gave her a phony story but she allowed them to stay at the meeting. Williams said later that evening the two men accused them of being a part of a Ponzi Scheme. Williams said she wants to know if someone who is conducting Ponzi business would be conducting business in 52 countries around the world including 21 islands of the Caribbean where she is the lead representative as the leader and founder of the Caribbean Explosion Team. Williams said in 2009, former leader of Government William Marlin joined them while the Prime Minister cut their ribbon the following year when they held their meetings.
Williams said if the members of Global World Trade have to close shops then Avon, Five Links, Amway and other networking businesses would also have to leave. Williams said she wants to know if they had any intention to hide why they would publicize the event and invite the public including government.
Williams said on Friday the three investors were invited to the Philipsburg Police Station where they were held all day and interviewed by police. The police she said asked the three persons to sign documents that were written in Dutch, two of three persons she said signed the documents out of fear while the third did not, saying he would not sign any document that he could not read. Williams said the investors were not given legal counsel and the two Dutch detectives also held on to their passports but told them that they must leave the island. Williams said Global Wealth Trade has over 800 members on St. Maarten and they are the ones turning the local economy. "Some of the members managed to fix their house roof others bought cars, while they are the ones turning the economy. Williams said Friday night the members were at Yogesh Building waiting for the gala event but that could not take place because they were called and told that if they continued with their meetings the two Dutch officers would return and destroy their meeting.
Williams said on Sunday while at the airport, the three investors had to wait on the detectives to bring their passports since police kept their passports for three days. "While at the Princess Juliana International Airport, I saw the same two detectives who told the investors they are deporting them because they were participating in a scheme. The two detectives read something from a piece of paper and told the investors that they are being deported and they cannot return to St. Maarten for the next three years." Williams said to date the investors neither her were not given a copy of the deportation order.
Asked if she is in possession of business license Williams said she filed a request with government for the permit but to date she did not receive an answer as yet.
In an invited comment, Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos said he sent the two officers to the meeting on Thursday because he got information that there were people who are not residing on St. Maarten conducting illegal business there. Mos said the investors were invited to the police station and they were not detained. The Chief Prosecutor said the investors are not in possession of a business license and they were hiring people illegally. Asked if the investors were asked to sign a document written Dutch, he said he wrote up a conditional dismissal which was in the English language and the investors refused to sign it. Mos said his intention is to prosecute the foreign investors who were caught conducting business illegally on St. Maarten and he will ask the judge for a conviction during the hearing even though the suspects will not be able to attend.

Philipsburg:--- Honourable President of Parliament Drs. Gracita Arrindell says that four parliamentarians are currently in Havana, Cuba attending permanent commission meetings of the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).

Parlatino is a regional single chamber parliamentary body comprising of parliaments from Latin America and the Caribbean with the primary goals of defence of democracy, non-intervention, self-determination of nations, legal equality of States, the rejection to threat and to the use of force against the political independence and territorial integrity of any State, and the peaceful, fair and negotiated solution of international conflicts.

The purpose of Parlatino is to promote, human rights, and economic and social development; to maintain and foster relations with other geographic parliaments, as well as international organizations; and to defend against imperialism and colonialism. Parlatino was created on December 7, 1964.

Members of Parliament (MPs) who have travelled to Cuba and who represent the country of Sint Maarten on the permanent commissions of Parlatino are faction leader Honourable William Marlin, member of the Gender Equity, Childhood and Youth Commission; Hon. MP and Vice President of Parliament Petrus De Weever, and member of the Health Commission.

Hon. MP Jules James, member of Economic Affairs, Social Debt and Regional Development Commission; and Hon. MP Ruth Douglass, member of the Health Commission.

The MPs left on Tuesday and are expected back over the weekend.

The Library's book sale is just around the corner.
Saturday June 4th, 2011 from 10 am to 1pm, there will be a book sale like no other.
The best used books in both Dutch and English, from adult collection and children's collection many are by well known authors.
Everything must go! Come prepared to buy. Walk with money and your boxes to collect all that you can carry. Summer is coming and you need books to read, why not come to the library book sale? Prices are reasonable and it is the happening place to be!
The money earned goes to help with programs for all ages and special projects at the library.
Come out and support your library.

Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Minister of Plenipotentiary Mathias Voges along with the Aruba Minister of Plenipotentiary Edwin Abath was welcomed by the Commissioner of the Queen in Overijssel Ank Bijleveld-Schouten at the Nijenhuis Castle in Heino.

Approximately 80 persons that included ministers, politicians as well as Pieter van Vollenhoven, attended the reception "Spring in Overijssel."

Minister Voges thanked Bijleveld-Schouten for her input in the dismantling process of the former Netherlands Antilles when she served as State Secretary for the Netherlands. Minister Voges presented her with a small gift on behalf of Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams.